All things without, which round about we see, We seeke to knowe, and how therewith to doe; But that whereby we _reason, liue and be_, Within our selues, we strangers are thereto. We seeke to know the mouing of each spheare, And the strange cause of th' ebs and flouds of _Nile_; But of that clocke within our breasts we beare, The subtill motions we forget the while. We that acquaint our selues with euery[78] _Zoane_ And passe both _Tropikes_ and behold the _Poles_, When we come home, are to our selues vnknown, And vnacquainted still with our owne _Soules_. We study _Speech_ but others we perswade; We _leech-craft_ learne, but others cure with it; We interpret _lawes_, which other men haue made, But reade not those which in our hearts are writ. Is it[79] because the minde is like the eye, Through which it gathers knowledge by degrees-- Whose rayes reflect not, but spread outwardly: Not seeing it selfe when other things it sees? [Footnote 78: Thomas Davies, as before, misprints 'each' G.] [Footnote 79: Misprinted 'It is': corrected by H... G.] 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;[80] 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. [Footnote 80: Io. G.] And as the man loues least at home to bee, That hath a sluttish house haunted with _spirits_;[81] 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. And while the face of outward things we find, Pleasing and faire, agreeable and sweet; These things transport, and carry out the mind, That with her selfe her selfe[82] can neuer meet.