No, doubtlesse; for the mind can backward cast Vpon her selfe, her vnderstanding light; But she is so corrupt, and so defac't, As her owne image doth her selfe affright. As in the fable of the Lady faire, Which for her lust was turnd into a cow; When thirstie to a streame she did repaire, And saw her selfe transform'd she wist not how: At first she startles, then she stands amaz'd, At last with terror she from thence doth flye; And loathes the watry glasse wherein she gaz'd, And shunnes it still, though she for thirst doe die: Euen so _Man's Soule_ which did God's image beare, And was at first faire, good, and spotlesse pure; Since with her _sinnes_ her beauties blotted were, Doth of all sights her owne sight least endure: For euen at first reflection she espies, Such strange _chimeraes_, and such monsters there; Such toyes, such _antikes_, and such vanities, As she retires, and shrinkes for shame and feare. And as the man loues least at home to bee, That hath a sluttish house haunted with _spirits_; So she impatient her owne faults to see, Turnes from her selfe and in strange things delites. For this few _know themselues_: for merchants broke View their estate with discontent and paine; And _seas_ are troubled, when they doe reuoke Their flowing waues into themselues againe. (pp. 20-22.) How daintily-put and how divinely ennobled by the sacred reference is this of the soul's yearning after that higher ideal that is ever receding horizon-like to our vision:-- Then as a _bee_ which among weeds doth fall, Which seeme sweet flowers, with lustre fresh and gay; She lights on that, and this, and tasteth all, But pleasd with none, doth rise, and soare away; So, when the _Soule_ finds here no true content, And, like _Noah's_ doue, can no sure footing take; She doth returne from whence she first was sent, And flies to _Him_ that first her wings did make. (p. 87) For condensed and close-packed thought and imagery the 'Reasons' for the 'Immortalitie of the Soule' (pp. 83-99) are not to be equalled anywhere.