Reason is our Soules left hand, Faith her right,
By these wee reach divinity, that's you;
Their loves, who have the blessings of your light,
Grew from their reason, mine from faire faith grew.
But as, although a squint lefthandednesse 5
Be'ungracious, yet we cannot want that hand,
So would I, not to encrease, but to expresse
My faith, as I beleeve, so understand.
Therefore I study you first in your Saints,
Those friends, whom your election glorifies, 10
Then in your deeds, accesses, and restraints,
And what you reade, and what your selfe devize.
But soone, the reasons why you'are lov'd by all,
Grow infinite, and so passe reasons reach,
Then backe againe to'implicite faith I fall, 15
And rest on what the Catholique voice doth teach;
That you are good: and not one Heretique
Denies it: if he did, yet you are so.
For, rockes, which high top'd and deep rooted sticke,
Waves wash, not undermine, nor overthrow. 20
In every thing there naturally growes
A _Balsamum_ to keepe it fresh, and new,
If'twere not injur'd by extrinsique blowes;
Your birth and beauty are this Balme in you.
But you of learning and religion, 25
And vertue,'and such ingredients, have made
A methridate, whose operation
Keepes off, or cures what can be done or said.
Yet, this is not your physicke, but your food,
A dyet fit for you; for you are here 30
The first good Angell, since the worlds frame stood,
That ever did in womans shape appeare.
Since you are then Gods masterpeece, and so
His Factor for our loves; do as you doe,
Make your returne home gracious; and bestow 35
This life on that; so make one life of two.
For so God helpe mee,'I would not misse you there
For all the good which you can do me here.
[To the Countesse of Bedford. _1633-69:_ _do. or_ To the
Countesse of B. _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _L74_, _Lec_, _M_, _N_,
_O'F_, _RP31_, _S_, _S96_, _TCD_]
[3 blessings _1633_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec:_ blessing _1635-69_,
_B_, _Cy_, _L74_, _N_, _O'F_, _S_, _S96_, _TCD_
light, _1633-69:_ sight, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _L74_, _Lec_,
_N_, _O'F_, _RP31_, _S_, _TCD_]
[4 faire _1633-69_, _L74_, _N_, _TCD:_ farr _B_, _Cy_, _D_,
_H49_, _Lec_, _M_, _O'F_, _RP31_, _S_, _S96_]
[16 what] that _Chambers_
voice _1635-69_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _L74_, _Lec_, _M_,
_N_, _O'F_, _S96_, _TCD:_ faith _1633_, _RP31_, _S_]
[19 high top'd and deep rooted _1633_, _N_, _TCD:_ high to
sense deepe-rooted _1635-54_, _O'F_, _Chambers_ (_who has
overlooked 1633 reading:_) high to sense and deepe-rooted
_S96:_ high to sun and deepe-rooted _L74_, _RP31_, _S:_ high
do seem, deep-rooted _1669_, _Cy_ (_but MS. with_ and): high
to some, and deepe-rooted _D_, _H49_, _Lec:_ high to seeme,
and deepe-rooted _B_. _See note_]
[25 But _Ed:_ But, _1633-69_]
[36 This, _1635-69_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _L74_, _Lec_, _N_,
_O'F_, _RP31_, _S_, _TCD_, _Grosart and Chambers:_ Thy _1633_,
_Grolier_. _See note_]
_To the Countesse of Bedford._