IDENTILIN$$  F138WN1|BedfWrit|Dolou Cothi ms.|pp. 154-56\JW\EWS hwt\2-3-95\P:TLP\o\5-13-95\C:JGW\9-29-99; JSC 11-8-99
138.WN1.HE1  To the Countesse of B [p.154]
138.WN1.001  To haue written then, when yow writt, seemd to mee
138.WN1.002  Worst of Spirituall vices, Simonee.
138.WN1.003  And not to haue written then seemes littell lesse,
138.WN1.004  The worst of civill vices Thankelesnes.
138.WN1.005  In this my debt, I seemd loth to confesse;
138.WN1.006  In that I seemd to shun Beholdennesse.
138.WN1.007  But tis not so: Nothings, as I am, may
138.WN1.008  Pay all they haue, and yett haue all to paie.
138.WN1.009  Such borrow in ther Paments, and owe more
138.WN1.010  By havinge leaue to write so, then before
138.WN1.011  Yett since rich Mines in barren grownds are showne
138.WN1.012  May not I yeild (not Gold) but Cole, or Stone?
138.WN1.013  Temples, ware not demolished, though profane;
138.WN1.014  Here Peter, Ioues, the Paul hath Dians Fane;[sic]
138.WN1.015  So whether my Hymus[sic] yow admitt, or chuse
138.WN1.016  In mee, you haue hallowed a Pagan Muse,
138.WN1.017  And Denizend a stranger: who mistought
138.WN1.018  By blamers of the tymes they mard, hath sought
138.WN1.019  Vertues in Corners, which now brauely doe
138.WN1.020  Shine in the Worlds best part>e%>s<, or all itt. You.[sic]
138.WN1.021  I haue bene tould, that Vertue in Courtiers hartes
138.WN1.022  Suffers an Ostracisme, and departes:
138.WN1.023  Proffitt, Ease, fittness, Plentie bid itt goe;
138.WN1.024  But whether only knowinge you. I knowe.
138.WN1.025  Your, or you, Vertue, two vast vses serues,
138.WN1.026  It ransomes One sexe it One Court preserues
138.WN1.027  Theres Nothing but your worth, which beinge true
138.WN1.028  Is knowne to any other not to yow. [CW:om]
138.WN1.029  And yow can never know itt; to admitt [p.155]
138.WN1.030  No knowledg of your worth, is some of itt.
138.WN1.031  But since to yow your prayses discordes bee
138.WN1.032  Stoope, others ills to meditate with mee.
138.WN1.033  Oh to confesse wee knowe not what wee should,
138.WN1.034  Is halfe excuse, wee know not what wee would.
138.WN1.035  Lightness depresses vs; Emptines fills;
138.WN1.036  Wee sweate, and faint, yet still goe downe the Hills.
138.WN1.037  As new Philosophie arrests the Sunne,
138.WN1.038  And bids the passiue Earth about itt rvnne
138.WN1.039  So wee haue duld our mynde: It hath no ends;
138.WN1.040  Only the body is busie; and pretends
138.WN1.041  As dead low Earth, Eclipses and controules
138.WN1.042  The quick high Moone; so doth the body Soules.
138.WN1.043  In none but vs are such mixt Engines found
138.WN1.044  As hands of double office; for the ground
138.WN1.045  Wee till with them, and them to heauen wee raise.
138.WN1.046  Who Praier-lesse labours, or with out this prayes
138.WN1.047  Doth but one halfe; thats none. Hee which said Plough
138.WN1.048  And looke not back, to looke vp, doth allow
138.WN1.049  Good seede degenerates, and oft obaies
138.WN1.050  The Soyles disease, and into Cockle straies.
138.WN1.051  Lett the Myndes thoughts bee but transplanted so
138.WN1.052  Into the body, and Basterdly they growe
138.WN1.053  What hate could hurt, or bodies like our loue
138.WN1.054  Wee, but no forreine tyrans could remoue
138.WN1.055  These not ingraued, but inborne Dignities
138.WN1.056  Casketts of Soules, Temples, and Pallaces,
138.WN1.057  For bodies shall from death redeemed bee
138.WN1.058  Soules but preserud, not naturallie free
138.WN1.059  As Men to our Prisons now, Soules to vs are sent,
138.WN1.060  Which learne itt there, and come in Innocent. [CW:First.]
138.WN1.061  First seedes of every Creature are in Vs; [p.156]
138.WN1.062  What ere the world hath bad, or pretious,
138.WN1.063  Mans bodie can produce; hence hath itt bene
138.WN1.064  That Stones, Wormes, froggs, and snakes in Man are seene
138.WN1.065  But who ere saw, though Nature can worke so,
138.WN1.066  That Pearle, or Gold, or Corne in Man did growe? 
138.WN1.067  Wee haue added to the world Virginia, and sent
138.WN1.068  Two new Starrs lately to the Firmament.
138.WN1.069  Why grudge wee vs, not heaven the dignitie
138.WN1.070  To increase with ours, those faire Soules Companie
138.WN1.071  But I mvst end this letter: Though it doe
138.WN1.072  Stand on two truthes, neither is true to yow;
138.WN1.073  Vertue hath some perversnes; for shee will
138.WN1.074  Neither beleeue her good, nor others ill.
138.WN1.075  Even in yow, Vertues best Paradise,
138.WN1.076  Vertue, hath some, but wise degrees of Vice.
138.WN1.077  Too manie vertues, or too mvch of one
138.WN1.078  Begetts in yow vniust Suspition;
138.WN1.079  And ignorance of Vice, Makes Vertue lesse
138.WN1.080  Quenchinge Compulsion of our wretchednesse.
138.WN1.081  But these are Riddles: Some aspertion
138.WN1.082  Of vice becomes well some Complexion.
138.WN1.083  Statesmen purge vice, with Vice, and may Corrode
138.WN1.084  The bad with bad, a Spider with A Toad.
138.WN1.085  For so ill thralls not them, but they tame ill,
138.WN1.086  And make her doe mvch good against her will:
138.WN1.087  But in your Commonwealth, or world in yow.
138.WN1.088  Vice hath no office, nor good worke to doe.
138.WN1.089  Take then no vitious Purge, but bee content
138.WN1.090  With Cordiall Vertue, your knowne nourishment
138.WN1.0SS  [scribal slash]
138.WN1.0$$  not divided into sts; even-numbered ll. ind; scribe skipped l.26, wrote l.27, caught error, 
scraped out 27, then wrote ll.26, 27, etc.; original numbering = pp.174-6