Dumness

Summary

Sure Man was born to meditat on things,

And to contemplat the Eternal Springs

Of God and Nature, Glory, Bliss, and Pleasure;

That Life and Lov might be his chiefest Treasure:

And therfore Speechless made at first, that he

Might in himself profoundly busied be;

Not giving vent before he hath ta'n in

Such Antidotes as guard his Soul from Sin.

Wise Nature made him Deaf too, that he might

Not be disturb'd while he doth take Delight

In inward Things; nor be deprav'd with Tongues,

Nor injur'd by the Errors and the Wrongs

That mortal Words convey: For Sin and Death

Are most infused by accursed Breath

That, flowing from corrupted Intrails, bear

Those hidden Plagues which Souls may justly fear.

This, (my dear Friends) this was my blessed Case;

For, nothing spake to me but the fair Face

Of Hev'n and Earth, when yet I could not speak:

I did my Bliss, when I did Silence, break.

My Non-Intelligence of Human Words

Ten thousand Pleasures unto me affords:

For, while I knew not what to me they said;

Before Their Souls were into Mine convey'd;

Before that Living Vehicle of Wind

Did breathe into me their infected Mind;

Before My Thoughts with Theirs were levened,

The Gate of Souls as yet not opened:

Then did I dwell within a World of Light

Retir'd and separat from all mens Sight;

Where I did feel strange Thoughts, and Secrets see

That were (or seem'd) only reveal'd to Me:

There I saw all the World enjoy'd by One;

There All Things seem'd to end in Me alone:

No Business serious deem'd, but that which is

Design'd to perfect my Eternal Bliss.

D'ye ask me What? It was for to admire

The Satisfaction of all Just Desire:

'Twas to be pleas'd with all that God had don:

'Twas to enjoy All that's beneath the Sun:

'Twas with a steddy, quick, and lively Sense

Duly to estimat the Excellence

Of all God's Works: T' inherit endless Treasure,

And to be fill'd with Everlasting Pleasure:

To prize, and prais. Thus was I shut within

A Fort impregnable to any Sin,

Till the Avenues being open laid,

Whole Legions enter'd, and the Fort betray'd.