Euen so the _Soule_ which in this earthly mold The Spirit of God doth secretly infuse; Because at first she doth the earth behold, And onely this materiall world she viewes: At first her _mother-earth_ she holdeth deare, And doth embrace the world and worldly things: She flies close by the ground, and houers here, And mounts not vp with her celestiall wings. Yet vnder heauen she cannot light on ought That with her heauenly _nature_ doth agree; She cannot rest, she cannot fix her thought, She cannot in this world contented bee: For who did euer yet, in _honour_, _wealth_, Or _pleasure of the sense_, contentment find? Who euer ceasd to wish, when he had _health_? Or hauing _wisedome_ was not vext in mind? 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. _Wit_, seeking _Truth_, from cause to cause ascends, And neuer rests, till it the _first_ attaine: _Will_, seeking _Good_, finds many middle ends, But neuer stayes, till it the _last_ doe gaine. Now God, the _Truth_, and _First of Causes_ is: God is the _Last Good End_, which lasteth still; Being _Alpha_ and _Omega_ nam'd for this; _Alpha_ to _Wit_, _Omega_ to the _Will_. Sith[145] then her heauenly kind shee doth bewray, In that to God she doth directly moue; And on no mortall thing can make her stay, She cannot be from hence, but from _aboue_. [Footnote 145: In 1599 and 1608 editions, 'since,' as before. G.] And yet this _First True Cause_, and _Last Good End_, Shee cannot heere so _well_, and _truely_ see; For this perfection shee must yet attend, Till to her _Maker_ shee espousèd bee. As a _king's_ daughter, being in person sought Of diuers princes, who doe neighbour neere; On none of them can fixe a constant thought, Though shee to all doe lend a gentle eare: Yet she can loue a forraine _emperour_, Whom of great worth and power she heares to be; If she be woo'd but by _embassadour_, Or but his _letters_, or his pictures see: For well she knowes, that when she shalbe brought Into the _kingdome_ where her _Spouse_ doth raigne; Her eyes shall see what she conceiu'd in thought, Himselfe, his state, his glory, and his traine. So while the _virgin Soule_ on _Earth_ doth stay, She woo'd and tempted is ten thousand wayes, By these great powers, which on the _Earth_ beare sway; The _wisdom of the World_, _wealth_, _pleasure_, _praise_: