IDENTILIN$$ F14100G|1669|pp. 166-68\JH copied ?\5-30-91\P:EWS\o(CSmH)\6-14-01\C:JMK\7-20-01;JSC\8-10-01\P:DAS\cd(L)\2-24-02\C:JSC\4-28-03\P&C:MEL\(CtY)\1-30-07\p:mvf\fs(TxAM)\11-15-07
141.00G.0HE %X%1To the Countess of Huntingdon%2.
141.00G.001 MADAM, %/M%+An to God's Image; %1Eve%2, to man was made,
141.00G.002 Nor finde we that God breath'd a soul in her,
141.00G.003 Canons will not, Church functions you invade,
141.00G.004 Nor laws to civil office you prefer. 
141.00G.005 Who vagrant transitory Comets sees,
141.00G.006 Wonders because they are rare; But a new star
141.00G.007 Whose motion with the firmament agrees,
141.00G.008 Is miracle; for, there, no new things are. 
141.00G.009 In women so perchance mild innocence
141.00G.010 A seldom comet is, but active good
141.00G.011 A miracle, which reason scapes, and sense;
141.00G.012 For, Art and Nature this in them withstood. 
141.00G.013 As such a star, the %1Magi%2 led to view
141.00G.014 The manger-cradled infant, God below.
141.00G.015 By vertues beams (by fame deriv'd from you)
141.00G.016 May apt souls, and the worst may vertue know. 
141.00G.017 If the world's age, and death be argued well
141.00G.018 By the Suns fall, which now towards earth doth bend,
141.00G.019 Then we might fear that vertue, since she fell
141.00G.020 So low as woman, should be near her end. 
141.00G.021 But she's not stoop'd, but rais'd; exil'd by men
141.00G.022 She fled to heaven, that's heavenly things, that's you,
141.00G.023 She was in all men thinly scatter'd then,
141.00G.024 But now a mass contracted in a few. [CW: She] 
141.00G.025 She guilded us, but you are gold; and She [p.167]
141.00G.026 Informed us, but transubstantiates you:
141.00G.027 Soft dispositions which ductile be,
141.00G.028 Elixar-like, she makes not clean, but new: 
141.00G.029 Though you a wifes and mothers name retain,
141.00G.030 'Tis not as woman, for all are not so,
141.00G.031 But vertue, having made you vertue,'is fain
141.00G.032 T'adhere in these names, her and you to show, 
141.00G.033 Else, being alike pure, we should neither see,
141.00G.034 As, water being into air rarifi'd,
141.00G.035 Neither appear, till in one cloud they be,
141.00G.036 So, for our sakes, you do low names abide; 
141.00G.037 Taught by great constellations, (which being fram'd
141.00G.038 Of the most stars, take low names, %1Crab%2, and %1Bull%2,
141.00G.039 When single planets by the gods are nam'd)
141.00G.040 You covet not great names, of great things full. 
141.00G.041 So you, as woman, one doth comprehend
141.00G.042 And in the vale of kindred others see;
141.00G.043 To some you are reveal'd, as in a friend,
141.00G.044 And as a vertuous Prince far off, to me. 
141.00G.045 To whom, because from you all vertues flow,
141.00G.046 And 'tis not none, to dare contemplate you,
141.00G.047 I, which do so, as your true subject owe
141.00G.048 Some tribute for that, so these lines are due. 
141.00G.049 If you can think these flatteries, they are,
141.00G.050 For then your judgment is below my praise.
141.00G.051 If they were so, oft, flatteries work as far,
141.00G.052 As Counsels, and as far th'endeavour raise. [CW: So] 
141.00G.053 So my ill reaching you might there grow good, [p.168]
141.00G.054 But I remain a poisoned fountain still;
141.00G.055 And not your beauty, vertue, knowledg, blood,
141.00G.056 Are more above all flattery, than my will. 
141.00G.057 And if I flatter any, 'tis not you
141.00G.058 But my own judgment, who did long ago
141.00G.059 Pronounce, that all these praises should be true,
141.00G.060 And vertue should your beauty, and birth outgrow. 
141.00G.061 Now that my prophesies are all fulfill'd,
141.00G.062 Rather than God should not be honour'd too,
141.00G.063 And all these gifts confess'd, which he instill'd,
141.00G.064 Your self were bound to say that which I doe. 
141.00G.065 So I, but your Recorder am in this,
141.00G.066 Or mouth, and Speaker of the universe,
141.00G.067 A ministerial Notary, for 'tis
141.00G.068 Not I, but you and fame, that make this verse.
141.00G.069 I was your Prophet in your younger dayes,
141.00G.070 And now your Chaplain, God in you to praise.
141.00G.0SSom
141.00G.0$$ 17 four-line sts + a couplet; even no'd ll. except l.70 ind 3 sps (couplet not ind)