No More Learning

But (madame) I now thinke on you; and here
Where we are at our hights, you but appeare,
We are but clouds you rise from, our noone-ray
But a foule shadow, not your breake of day. 80
You are at first hand all that's faire and right,
And others good reflects but backe your light.
You are a perfectnesse, so curious hit,
That youngest flatteries doe scandall it.
For, what is more doth what you are restraine, 85
And though beyond, is downe the hill againe.
We'have no next way to you, we crosse to it:
You are the straight line, thing prais'd, attribute;
Each good in you's a light; so many a shade
You make, and in them are your motions made. 90
These are your pictures to the life. From farre
We see you move, and here your _Zani's_ are:
So that no fountaine good there is, doth grow
In you, but our dimme actions faintly shew.
Then finde I, if mans noblest part be love, 95
Your purest luster must that shadow move.
The soule with body, is a heaven combin'd
With earth, and for mans ease, but nearer joyn'd.
Where thoughts the starres of soule we understand,
We guesse not their large natures, but command. 100
And love in you, that bountie is of light,
That gives to all, and yet hath infinite.
Whose heat doth force us thither to intend,
But soule we finde too earthly to ascend,
'Till slow accesse hath made it wholy pure, 105
Able immortall clearnesse to endure.
Who dare aspire this journey with a staine,
Hath waight will force him headlong backe againe.
No more can impure man retaine and move
In that pure region of a worthy love: 110
Then earthly substance can unforc'd aspire,
And leave his nature to converse with fire:
Such may have eye, and hand; may sigh, may speak;
But like swoln bubles, when they are high'st they break.
Though far removed Northerne fleets scarce finde 115
The Sunnes comfort; others thinke him too kinde.
There is an equall distance from her eye,
Men perish too farre off, and burne too nigh.
But as ayre takes the Sunne-beames equall bright
From the first Rayes, to his last opposite: 120
So able men, blest with a vertuous Love,
Remote or neare, or howsoe'r they move;
Their vertue breakes all clouds that might annoy,
There is no Emptinesse, but all is Ioy.
He much profanes whom violent heats do move 125
To stile his wandring rage of passion, _Love_:
Love that imparts in every thing delight,
Is fain'd, which only tempts mans appetite.
Why love among the vertues is not knowne
Is, that love is them all contract in one. 130


[To the Countesse of Huntington. _1635-69_: S^{r} Wal: Ashton
to y^{e} Countesse of Huntingtowne _P_, _TCD_ (_II_)]

[2 man] men _P_]

[3 ate; _1635-39_: eat; _1650-69_]

[11 downward] inward _TCD_]

[14 without] _om. TCD_]

[17 who] that _P_, _TCD_]

[20 you. ] you, _1635-69_]

[26 faithfully, _1635-69_: finally _P_, _TCD_

you smil'd _1635-54_ your smile _1669_, _P_, _TCD_]

[28 down. _1635-54_: down, _1669_]

[30 whispers] whispered _P_: vapours _TCD_]

[31 fever] _feverish_ _1669_]

[32 doth yet] yet doth _1669_

ague] feaver _P_]

[35 paine,] paine. _1635-39_]

[36 women] woman _TCD_]

[37 were one] were but one _1669_]

[47 those dayes] that day _1669_]

[50 both knew _1635-54_: but knew _P_, _TCD_: yet, knew
_1669_]

[52 consider'd _Ed_: considered _1635-69_]

[57 sueth, or] sues and _P_]

[65 womans] womens _P_

women] woman _TCD_

know, _1650-69_: know. _1635-39_]

[67 It must be] It is meer _1669_

sicknesse,] sicknesse _1635-69_]

[69 sigh _P_, _TCD_: sinne, _1635-69_]

[74 and _P_: I _1635-69_, _TCD_]

[76 woo. _TCD_: wooe. _P_: woe. _1635-69_, _Chambers and
Grolier_]

[77 I now] now I _TCD_]

[78 hights] height _TCD_]

[79 clouds you rise from, our noone-ray _Grolier_: clouds, you
rise from our noone-ray, _1635-69_, _TCD_, _and Chambers_]

[81 right] bright _P_]

[83 a perfectnesse] all perfections _P_]

[84 youngest] quaintest _TCD_

flatteries] flatterers _P_, _TCD_]

[86 though] what's _P_]

[87 We'have _Ed_: We have _1635-69_]

[88 straight line,] streight-lace _P_

attribute; _Ed_: attribute. _1635_: attribute, _1639-69_]

[91 These] Those _TCD_]

[98 With earth] _om. TCD_

but] _om.