| I PRESSE not to the Quire, nor dare I greet | |
| The holy Place with my unhallow'd feet: | |
| My unwasht Muse pollutes not things Divine, | |
| Nor mingles her prophaner notes with thine; | |
| Here, humbly at the Porch, she listning stayes, | 5 |
| And with glad eares sucks in thy Sacred Layes. | |
| So, devout Penitents of old were wont, | |
| Some without doore, and some beneath the Font, | |
| To stand and heare the Churches Liturgies, | |
| Yet not assist the solemne Exercise. | 10 |
| Sufficeth her, that she a Lay-place gaine, | |
| To trim thy Vestments, or but beare thy traine: | |
| Though nor in Tune, nor Wing, She reach thy Larke, | |
| Her Lyricke feet may dance before the Arke. | |
| Who knowes, but that Her wandring eyes, that run | 15 |
| Now hunting Glow-wormes, may adore the Sun. | |
| A pure Flame may, shot by Almighty Power | |
| Into my brest, the earthy flame devoure: | |
| My Eyes, in Penitentiall dew may steepe | |
| That bryne, which they for sensuall love did weepe: | 20 |
| So (though 'gainst Natures course) fire may be quencht | |
| With fire, and water be with water drencht. | |
| Perhaps, my restlesse Soule, tyr'd with pursuit | |
| Of mortall beautie, seeking without fruit | |
| Contentment there; which hath not, when enjoy'd, | 25 |
| Quencht all her thirst, nor satisfi'd, though cloy'd; | |
| Weary of her vaine search below, above | |
| In the first Faire may find th' immortall Love. | |
| Prompted by thy Example then, no more | |
| In moulds of Clay will I my God adore; | 30 |
| But teare those Idols from my Heart, and Write | |
| What his blest Sp'rit, not fond Love, shall endite. | |
| Then, I no more shall court the Verdant Bay, | |
| But the dry leavelesse Trunk on Golgotha: | |
| And rather strive to gaine from thence one Thorne, | 35 |
| Then all the flourishing Wreathes by Laureats worne. | |
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