Since _Nature_ failes vs in no needfull thing, Why want I meanes my inward selfe to see? Which sight the knowledg of my self might bring, Which to true wisdome is the first degree. That _Power_ which gaue me eyes the World to view, To see my selfe infus'd an _inward light_; Whereby my _Soule_, as by a mirror true, Of her owne forme may take a perfect sight, But as the sharpest _eye_ discerneth nought, Except the _sunne_-beames in the ayre doe shine; So the best _Soule_[87] with her reflecting thought, Sees not her selfe without some light diuine. _O Light_ which mak'st the light, which makes the day! Which setst the eye without, and mind within; 'Lighten my spirit with one cleare heauenly ray, Which now to view it selfe doth first begin. For her true forme how can my sparke discerne? Which dimme by _nature_, _Art_ did neuer cleare; When the great wits, of whom all skill we learn, Are ignorant both _what_ shee is, and _where_. One thinks the _Soule_ is _aire_; another, _fire_; Another _blood_, diffus'd about the heart; Another saith, the _elements_ conspire, And to her _essence_ each doth giue a part. _Musicians_ thinke our _Soules_ are _harmonies_, _Phisicians_ hold that they _complexions_ bee; _Epicures_ make them swarmes of _atomies_, Which doe by chance into our bodies flee. Some thinke one generall _Soule_ fils euery braine, As the bright _sunne_ sheds light in euery starre; And others thinke the name of _Soule_ is vaine, And that we onely _well-mixt_ bodies are. In judgement of her _substance_ thus they vary; And thus they vary in iudgement of her _seat_; For some her chaire vp to the braine doe carry, Some thrust it downe into the _stomackes_ heat. Some place it in the root of life, the _heart_; Some in the _liuer_[88], fountaine of the veines; Some say, _Shee is all in all, and all in part_: Some say, She is not containd but all containes. Thus these great clerks their little wisdome show, While with their doctrines they at _hazard_ play, Tossing their light opinions to and fro, To mocke the _lewd_, as learn'd in this as they. For no craz'd braine could euer yet propound, Touching the _Soule_, so vaine and fond a thought, But some among these masters haue been found, Which in their _Schooles_ the self-same thing haue taught. _God onely wise_, to punish pride of wit, Among men's wits hath this confusion wrought, As the proud _towre_ whose points the clouds did hit, By tongues' confusion was to ruine brought. But _Thou_ which didst _Man's soule_ of nothing make, And when to nothing it was fallen agen, "To make it new, the forme of man didst take, "And _God_ with _God_, becam'st a _Man_ with men.