Sunday, September 27, 2009

As the Faire and Cheerfull Morning Light

In What Manner The Soule Is United To The Body
by Sir John Davies

But how shall we this union well expresse?
Nought ties the soule; her subtiltie is such
She moves the body, which she doth posesse.
Yet no part toucheth, but by Vertue's touch.

Then dwels shee not therein as in a tent,
Nor as a pilot in his ship doth sit;
Nor as the spider in his web is pent;
Nor as the waxe retaines the print in it;

Nor as a vessell water doth containe;
Nor as a liquor in another shed;
Nor as the heat doth in the fire remaine;
Nor as a voice throughout the ayre is spread;

But as the faire and cheerfull Morning light,
Doth here and there her silver beames impart,
And in an instant doth herselfe unite
To the transparent ayre, in all, and part:

Still resting whole, when blowes th'ayre divide;
Abiding pure, when th'ayre is most corrupted;
Throughout the ayre, her beames dispersing wide,
And when the ayre is tost, not interrupted:

So doth the piercing Soule the body fill,
Being all in all, and all in part diffus'd;
Indivisible, incorruptible still,
Not forc'd, encountred, troubled or confus'd.

And as the sonne above, the light doth bring,
Though we behold it in the ayre below;
So from th'Eternall Light the Soule doth spring,
Though in the body she her powers doe show.