No More Learning

Sinnes price seemd payd with brasse, fewe sawe the gold, 15
Yet true stones set in lead theyr lustre hold.
His birth though poore, Prophets foretold his story,
Hee breathd with beasts, but Angels sung his glory.
Hee, so farr of, so weake, yet Herod quakes,
The citty dreads, babes, murderd, feare mistakes. 20
His Circumcision bore sinne, payne, and shame,
Young bloud new budd, hence bloomd a sauiours name.
His paynes and passion bredd compassion, wonder;
Earth trembling, heavens darke, rocks rent asunder.
His birth, life, death, his words, his workes, his face 25
Shewd a rich Jewell shining through the case,
Cast thus, since man at gods high presence trembles.
Heere man mans troth loves whome his sheepe resembles.
The bright Sunne beame a sickly eye may di[~m]e,
A little babe in shallow heart may swi[~m]. 30
Hee heavens wealth to a poore stable brings,
Th'oxestall the Court unto the king of kings.
No Shadowes now nor lightning flames give terro^r.
This light tells with our tongue, and beares o^r erro^r.
Pure infant teares, moist pearle adornd his cheeke, 35
Assignd, ere borne, our erring soules to seeke.
Hee first wept teares, then bloud, a deare redemption;
This bought what Adam sould, that seemd preemption.
Cleare droppe, deare seede, the corne had bloudy eares,
Rich harvest reapd in bloud and sowne in teares. 40
Who this Corne in theyr hart nor thresh, nor lay,
Breake for sinnes debt, unthrifty never pay.
Use wealth, it wastes, a stayd hand heapes the store,
But this the more wee use wee have the more;
Use, not like usury whose growth is lending, 45
Rich thoughts this treasure keepe and thrive by spending;
Th'expense runnes circular, turning returning,
Such love no hart consumes, yet ever burning.


[<The Annuntiation. Additional Lines. > _Ed_: _these lines run
straight on as part of_ The Annuntiation and Passion _in O'F_]

[2 a mayd] _Norton supplies_ a mayd, _Ed_: mayd _O'F_]

[3 was,. . . word, _Ed_: _no commas_, _O'F_]

[6 lowe. _Ed_: lowe _O'F_]

[7 wonder, _Ed_: wonder _O'F_]

[8 thunder. _Ed_: thunder _O'F_]

[13 brooke, _Ed_: brooke _O'F_]

[21 shame, _Ed_: shame _O'F_]

[23 wonder; _Ed_: wonder _O'F_]

[24 trembling, _Ed_: trembling _O'F_]

[26 case, _Ed_: case _O'F_]

[27 trembles. _Ed_: trembles _O'F_]

[28 resembles. _Ed_: res? bles _O'F_]

[29 di[~m]e, _Ed_: di[~m]e _O'F_]

[31 brings, _Ed_: brings _O'F_]

[35 cheeke, _Ed_: cheeke _O'F_]

[37 redemption; _Ed_: redemption _O'F_]

[38 preemption. _Ed_: preemption _O'F_]

[39 eares, _Ed_: eares _O'F_]

[41 lay, _Ed_: lay _O'F_]

[43 store, _Ed_: store _O'F_]

[44 more; _Ed_: more _O'F_]

[45 Use, . . . lending, _Ed_: _no commas_, _O'F_]

[46 spending; _Ed_: spending _O'F_]

[47 returning, _Ed_: returning _O'F_]

[48 consumes, _Ed_: consumes _O'F_]




_Elegy.