By merit and desire it doth allure; For truth is so divine and pure, So rich and acceptable, being seen, (Not parted, but in whole) That it doth draw and force the soul, As the great Queen Of bliss, between Whom and the Soul, no one pretender ought Trust in to captivate a thought. V Hence did Eternity contrive to make The truth so fair for all our sake That being truth, and fair and easy too, While it on all doth shine, We might by it become divine, Being led to woo The thing we view, And as chaste virgins early with it join, That with it we might likewise shine. VI Eternity doth give the richest things To every man, and makes all Kings. The best and richest things it doth convey To all, and every one, It raised me unto a throne! Which I enjoy, In such a way, That truth her daughter is my chiefest bride, Her daughter truth's my chiefest pride. VII All mine! And seen so easily! How great, how blest! How soon am I of all possest! My infancy no sooner opes its eyes, But straight the spacious Earth Abounds with joy, peace, glory, mirth, And being wise The very skies, And stars do mine become; being all possest Even in that way that is the best. THE PERSON I Ye Sacred limbs, A richer blazon I will lay On you than first I found: That like celestial kings, Ye might with ornaments of joy Be always crown'd. A deep vermilion on a red, On that a scarlet I will lay, With gold I'll crown your head, Which like the Sun shall ray. With robes of glory and delight I'll make you bright. Mistake me not, I do not mean to bring New robes, but to display the thing: Nor paint, nor clothe, nor crown, nor add a ray, But glorify by taking all away. II The naked things Are most sublime, and brightest show, When they alone are seen: Men's hands than Angels' wings Are truer wealth even here below: For those but seem. Their worth they then do best reveal, When we all metaphors remove, For metaphors conceal, And only vapours prove. They best are blazon'd when we see The anatomy, Survey the skin, cut up the flesh, the veins Unfold: the glory there remains: The muscles, fibres, arteries, and bones Are better far than crowns and precious stones. III