IDENTILIN$$ F13900B|1635|pp. 170-72\JH copied A\4-18-91\P:EWS\o(CSmH 60123;MH[STC7046(A)])\6-13-01;8-2-02\C:JMK\7-13-01;JSC\7-27-01;8-26-02\P:DAS\cd(MH*)\2-20-02\C:JSC\4-24-03\P:js\fc(TxAM)\10-31-05
139.00B.0HE %X%1To the Countesse of Bedford%2. /%X%1On New-yeares day%2.
139.00B.001 T%+His twilight of two yeares, not past nor next,
139.00B.002 Some embleme is of me, or I of this,
139.00B.003 Who (Meteor-like, of stuffe and forme perplext,
139.00B.004 Whose %1what%2 and %1where%2, in disputation is,)
139.00B.005 If I should call me %1any thing%2, should misse.
139.00B.006 I summe the yeares, and me, and finde me not
139.00B.007 Debtor to th'old, nor Creditour to th'new,
139.00B.008 That cannot say, My thankes I have forgot,
139.00B.009 Nor trust I this with hopes, and yet scarce true.
139.00B.010 This bravery is since these times shew'd me you.
139.00B.011 In recompence I would shew future times
139.00B.012 What you were, and teach them to urge towards \(such.
139.00B.013 Verse embalmes vertue;'and Tombes, or Thrones of /(rimes,
139.00B.014 Preserve fraile transitory fame, as much
139.00B.015 As spice doth bodies from corrupt aires touch.
139.00B.016 Mine are short-liv'd; the tincture of your name
139.00B.017 Creates in them, but dissipates as fast,
139.00B.018 New spirits; for, strong agents with the same
139.00B.019 Force that doth warme and cherish us, doe waste;
139.00B.020 Kept hot with strong extracts, no bodies last: [CW:So]
139.00B.021 So, my verse built of your just praise, might want [p.171]
139.00B.022 Reason and likelihood, the firmest Base,
139.00B.023 And made of miracle, now faith is scant,
139.00B.024 Will vanish soone, and so possesse no place,
139.00B.025 And you, and it, too much grace might disgrace.
139.00B.026 When all (as truth commands assent) confesse
139.00B.027 All truth of you, yet they will doubt how I
139.00B.028 (One corne of one low anthils dust, and lesse,)
139.00B.029 Should name know or expresse a thing so high,
139.00B.030 And (not an inch) measure infinitie.
139.00B.031 I cannot tell them, nor my selfe, nor you,
139.00B.032 But leave, lest truth b'endangerd by my praise,
139.00B.033 And turne to God, who knowes I thinke this true,
139.00B.034 And useth oft, when such a heart mis-sayes,
139.00B.035 To make it good, for, such a praiser prayes. 
139.00B.036 He will best teach you, how you should lay out
139.00B.037 His stocke of %1beautie%2, %1learning%2, %1favor%2, %1blood%2;
139.00B.038 He will perplex securitie with doubt,
139.00B.039 And cleare those doubts; hide from you,'and shew \(you good,
139.00B.040 And so increase your appetite and food;
139.00B.041 He will teach you, that good and bad have not
139.00B.042 One latitude in cloysters, and in Court,
139.00B.043 Indifferent there the greatest space hath got,
139.00B.044 Some pitty'is not good there, some vaine disport,
139.00B.045 On this side, sin, with that place may comport.
139.00B.046 Yet he as he bounds seas, will fixe your houres,
139.00B.047 Which pleasure, and delight may not ingresse, [CW:And]
139.00B.048 And though what none else lost, be truliest yours, [p.172]
139.00B.049 He will make you, what you did not, possesse,
139.00B.050 By using others, not vice, but weakenesse.
139.00B.051 He will make you speake truths, and credibly,
139.00B.052 And make you doubt that others doe not so:
139.00B.053 He will provide you keyes, and lockes, to spie,
139.00B.054 And scape spies, to good ends, and he will show
139.00B.055 What you may not acknowledge, what not know.
139.00B.056 For your owne conscience, he gives innocence,
139.00B.057 But for your fame, a discreet warinesse,
139.00B.058 And (though to scape, then to revenge offence
139.00B.059 Be better,) he shewes both, and to represse
139.00B.060 %Ioy%2, when your state swels, %1sadnesse%2 when 'tis lesse.
139.00B.061 From need of teares he will defend your soule,
139.00B.062 Or make a rebaptizing of one teare;
139.00B.063 Hee cannot, (that's, he will not) dis-inroule
139.00B.064 Your name; and when with active joy we heare
139.00B.065 This private Gospell, then 'tis our New Yeare.
139.00B.065om
139.00B.0$$ 13 five-line sts; ll. 2,4,5 of each st ind 3 sps; *cd MH image 
from different copy than that EWS proofed