To _E._ of _D._ with six holy Sonnets.
See Sir, how as the Suns hot Masculine flame
Begets strange creatures on Niles durty slime,
In me, your fatherly yet lusty Ryme
(For, these songs are their fruits) have wrought the same;
But though the ingendring force from whence they came 5
Bee strong enough, and nature doe admit
Seaven to be borne at once, I send as yet
But six; they say, the seaventh hath still some maime.
I choose your judgement, which the same degree
Doth with her sister, your invention, hold, 10
As fire these drossie Rymes to purifie,
Or as Elixar, to change them to gold;
You are that Alchimist which alwaies had
Wit, whose one spark could make good things of bad.
[Divine Poems. _A18_, _N_, _TC:_ _In 1635-69 this is the title
at head of each page, but the new section is headed_ Holy
Sonnets.
To E. of D. _&c._ _so headed 1633-69 but placed among_
Letters _&c._, _and so in O'F and_ (_but_ L. of D.) _W:_
_removed hither by Grosart_.]
[4 their fruits] the fruit _W_]
[6 doe _1633:_ doth _1635-69_]
[8 six;] six, _1633_
maime. _W:_ maime; _1633-69_]
[11 drossie] drosse _1650-54_]
_To the Lady Magdalen Herbert: of St. Mary Magdalen._
Her of your name, whose fair inheritance
Bethina was, and jointure Magdalo:
An active faith so highly did advance,
That she once knew, more than the Church did know,
The Resurrection; so much good there is 5
Deliver'd of her, that some Fathers be
Loth to believe one Woman could do this;
But, think these Magdalens were two or three.
Increase their number, Lady, and their fame:
To their Devotion, add your Innocence; 10
Take so much of th'example, as of the name;
The latter half; and in some recompence
That they did harbour Christ himself, a Guest,
Harbour these Hymns, to his dear name addrest.