These powers the nature of the _Soule declare_, For to man's _soule_ these onely proper bee; For on the Earth no other wights there are That haue these heauenly powers, but only we. THE WIT OR UNDERSTANDING. The WIT, the pupill of the _Soule's_ cleare eye, And in man's world, the onely shining _starre_; Lookes in the mirror of the Fantasie, Where all the gatherings of the _Senses_ are. From thence this power the shapes of things abstracts, And them within her _passiue part_ receiues; Which are enlightned by that part which _acts_, And so the formes of single things perceiues. But after, by discoursing to and fro, Anticipating, and comparing things; She doth all vniversall natures know, And all _effects_ into their _causes_ brings.[137] [Footnote 136: Misprinted 'them' in 1622 edition, corrected as above from 1599 and 1608 editions. G.] REASON, VNDERSTANDING. When she _rates_ things and moues from ground to ground, The name of _Reason_ she obtaines by this; But when by Reason she the truth hath found, And _standeth fixt_, she VNDERSTANDING is. OPINION, JUDGEMENT. When her assent she _lightly_ doth encline To either part, she is OPINION[138] light: But when she doth by principles define A certaine truth, she hath _true Judgement's_ sight. And as from _Senses_, _Reason's_ worke doth spring, So many _reasons understanding_ gaine; And many _understandings_, _knowledge_ bring; And by much _knowledge_, _wisdome_ we obtaine. So, many stayres we must ascend vpright Ere we attaine to _Wisdome's_ high degree;[139] So doth this Earth eclipse our Reason's light. Which else (in instants) would like angels see. Yet hath the _Soule_ a dowrie naturall, And _sparkes of light_, some common things to see; Not being a _blancke_ where nought is writ at all, But what the writer will, may written be For Nature in man's heart her lawes doth pen; Prescribing _truth_ to _wit_, and _good_ to _will_; Which doe _accuse_, or else _excuse_ all men, For euery thought or practise, good or ill: And yet these sparkes grow almost infinite, Making the World, and all therein their food; As fire so spreads as no place holdeth it, Being nourisht still, with new supplies of wood. And though these sparkes were almost quencht with sin, Yet they whom that _Iust One_ hath iustifide; Haue them encreasd with heauenly light within, And like the _widowe's oyle_ still multiplide. [Footnote 137: Thomas Davies, as before, mis-prints 'bring.' G.] [Footnote 138: Thomas Davies and Southey, as before, read 'opinion's light:' but in all the Author's editions it is as above = light opinion: or query is 'hight' = named, meant? G.] [Footnote 139: Davies, as before, 'decree.' G.] THE POWER OF WILL.