The Person

Summary

1

Ye Sacred Lims,

A richer Blazon I will lay

On you, then first I found:

That like Celestial Kings,

Ye might with Ornaments of Joy

Be always Crownd.

A Deep Vermilion on a Red,

On that a Scarlet I will lay,

With Gold Ile Crown your Head,

Which like the Sun shall Ray.

With Robes of Glory and Delight

Ile make you Bright.

Mistake me not, I do not mean to bring

New Robes, but to Display the Thing:

Nor Paint, nor Cloath, nor Crown, nor add a Ray,

But Glorify by taking all away.

2

The Naked Things

Are most Sublime, and Brightest shew,

When they alone are seen:

Mens Hands then Angels Wings

Are truer Wealth even here below:

For those but seem.

Their Worth they then do best reveal,

When we all Metaphores remove,

For Metaphores conceal,

And only Vapours prove.

They best are Blazond when we see

The Anatomie,

Survey the Skin, cut up the flesh, the Veins

Unfold: The Glory there remains.

The Muscles, Fibres, Arteries and Bones

Are better far then Crowns and precious Stones.

3

Shall I not then

Delight in these most Sacred Treasures

Which my Great Father gave,

Far more then other Men

Delight in Gold? Since these are Pleasures,

That make us Brave!

Far Braver then the Pearl and Gold

That glitter on a Ladies Neck!

The Rubies we behold,

The Diamonds that Deck

The Hands of Queens, compard unto

The Hands we view;

The Softer Lillies, and the Roses are

Less Ornaments to those that Wear

The same, then are the Hands, and Lips, and Eys

Of those who those fals Ornaments so prize.

4

Let Veritie

Be thy Delight: let me Esteem

True Wealth far more then Toys:

Let Sacred Riches be,

While falser Treasures only seem,

My real Joys.

For Golden Chains and Bracelets are

But Gilded Manicles, wherby

Old Satan doth ensnare,

Allure, Bewitch the Ey.