Online Texts for Craig White's Literature Courses

• Not a critical or scholarly text but a reading text for a seminar

The Flesh and the Spirit

[1]   In secret place where once I stood
[2]   Close by the Banks of Lacrim flood,        [Lacrim = tears]
[3]   I heard two sisters reason on
[4]   Things that are past and things to come.
[5]   One Flesh was call'd, who had her eye
[6]   On worldly wealth and vanity;
[7]   The other Spirit, who did rear
[8]   Her thoughts unto a higher sphere.
[9]   "Sister," quoth Flesh, "what liv'st thou on
[10]  Nothing but Meditation?
[11]  Doth Contemplation feed thee so
[12]  Regardlessly to let earth go?
[13]  Can Speculation satisfy
[14]  Notion without Reality?
[15]  Dost dream of things beyond the Moon
[16]  And dost thou hope to dwell there soon?
[17]  Hast treasures there laid up in store
[18]  That all in th' world thou count'st but poor?
[19]  Art fancy-sick or turn'd a Sot
[20]  To catch at shadows which are not?
[21]  Come, come. I'll show unto thy sense,
[22]  Industry hath its recompence.
[23]  What canst desire, but thou maist see
[24]  True substance in variety?
[25]  Dost honour like? Acquire the same,
[26]  As some to their immortal fame;
[27]  And trophies to thy name erect
[28]  Which wearing time shall ne'er deject.
[29]  For riches dost thou long full sore?
[30]  Behold enough of precious store.
[31]  Earth hath more silver, pearls, and gold
[32]  Than eyes can see or hands can hold.
[33]  Affects thou pleasure? Take thy fill.
[34]  Earth hath enough of what you will.
[35]  Then let not go what thou maist find
[36]  For things unknown only in mind."

Spirit. 

[37]  "Be still, thou unregenerate part,
[38]  Disturb no more my settled heart,
[39]  For I have vow'd (and so will do)
[40]  Thee as a foe still to pursue,
[41]  And combat with thee will and must
[42]  Until I see thee laid in th' dust.
[43]  Sister we are, yea twins we be,
[44]  Yet deadly feud 'twixt thee and me,
[45]  For from one father are we not.
[46]  Thou by old Adam wast begot,
[47]  But my arise is from above,
[48]  Whence my dear father I do love.
[49]  Thou speak'st me fair but hat'st me sore.
[50]  Thy flatt'ring shews I'll trust no more.        [shews = shows, displays]
[51]  How oft thy slave hast thou me made
[52]  When I believ'd what thou hast said
[53]  And never had more cause of woe
[54]  Than when I did what thou bad'st do.
[55]  I'll stop mine ears at these thy charms
[56]  And count them for my deadly harms.
[57]  Thy sinful pleasures I do hate,
[58]  Thy riches are to me no bait.
[59]  Thine honours do, nor will I love,
[60]  For my ambition lies above.
[61]  My greatest honour it shall be
[62]  When I am victor over thee,
[63]  And Triumph shall, with laurel head,
[64]  When thou my Captive shalt be led.
[65]  How I do live, thou need'st not scoff,
[66]  For I have meat thou know'st not of.
[67]  The hidden Manna I do eat;
[68]  The word of life, it is my meat.
[69]  My thoughts do yield me more content
[70]  Than can thy hours in pleasure spent.
[71]  Nor are they shadows which I catch,
[72]  Nor fancies vain at which I snatch
[73]  But reach at things that are so high,
[74]  Beyond thy dull Capacity.
[75]  Eternal substance I do see
[76]  With which inriched I would be.
[77]  Mine eye doth pierce the heav'ns and see
[78]  What is Invisible to thee.
[79]  My garments are not silk nor gold,
[80]  Nor such like trash which Earth doth hold,
[81]  But Royal Robes I shall have on,
[82]  More glorious than the glist'ring Sun.
[83]  My Crown not Diamonds, Pearls, and gold,
[84]  But such as Angels' heads infold.
[85]  The City where I hope to dwell,
[86]  There's none on Earth can parallel.
[87]  The stately Walls both high and trong
[88]  Are made of precious Jasper stone,
[89]  The Gates of Pearl, both rich and clear,
[90]  And Angels are for Porters there.
[91]  The Streets thereof transparent gold
[92]  Such as no Eye did e're behold.
[93]  A Crystal River there doth run
[94]  Which doth proceed from the Lamb's Throne.
[95]  Of Life, there are the waters sure
[96]  Which shall remain forever pure.
[97]  Nor Sun nor Moon they have no need
[98]  For glory doth from God proceed.
[99]  No Candle there, nor yet Torch light,
[100] For there shall be no darksome night.
[101] From sickness and infirmity
[102] Forevermore they shall be free.
[103] Nor withering age shall e're come there,
[104] But beauty shall be bright and clear.
[105] This City pure is not for thee,
[106] For things unclean there shall not be.
[107] If I of Heav'n may have my fill,
[108] Take thou the world, and all that will."