For should the voice directly strike the brain, It would astonish and confuse it much; Therefore these plaits and folds the sound restrain, That it, the Organ may more gently touch! As streams, which, with their winding banks, do play, Stopt by their creeks, run softly through the plain; So in the Ear's labyrinth, the voice doth stray, And doth, with easy motion, touch the brain! It is the slowest, yet the daintiest Sense! For even the ears of such as have no skill, Perceive a discord, and conceive offence, And knowing not what's good, yet find the ill! And though this Sense, first, gentle Music found; Her proper object is the Speech of Man! But that speech chiefly which GOD's heralds sound, When their tongues utter, what his Spirit did pen. Our Eyes have lids, our Ears still ope we see! Quickly to hear, how every tale is proved; Our Eyes still move, our Ears unmoved be! That though we hear quick, we be not quickly moved. Thus by the organs of the Eye and Ear, The Soul with knowledge doth herself endue! Thus She her prison, may with pleasure bear; Having such prospects, all the world to view! These Conduit Pipes of Knowledge feed the Mind: But th'other three attend the Body still; For by their services the Soul doth find What things are to the Body, good or ill. [Sidenote: Taste.] The Body's life, with meats and air is fed, Therefore the Soul doth use the Tasting power! In veins, which through the tongue and palate spread, Distinguish every relish, sweet and sour. This is the Body's Nurse! But since Man's wit Found th'art of cookery to delight his Sense: More bodies are consumed and killed with it! Than with the sword, famine, or pestilence. [Sidenote: Smell.] Next, in the nostrils, She doth use the Smell, As GOD the breath of life in them did give; So makes He, now, His power in them to dwell; To judge all airs, whereby we breath and live. This Sense is also mistress of an Art, Which to soft people, sweet perfumes doth sell; Though this dear Art doth little good impart, Since "they smell best; that do of nothing smell!" And yet good scents do purify the Brain, Awake the Fancy, and the Wits refine. Hence Old Devotion, incense did ordain, To make men's spirits more apt for thoughts divine. [Sidenote: Feeling.] Lastly, the Feeling power, which is Life's Root, Through every living part itself doth shed; By sinews, which extend from head to foot, And like a net, all o'er the Body spread.