Chapter 4 3
Best Image of my self and dearer half, [ 95 ]
The trouble of thy thoughts this night in sleep
Affects me equally; nor can I like
This uncouth dream, of evil sprung I fear;
Yet evil when? in thee can harbor none,
Created pure. But know that in the Soule [ 100 ]
Are many lesser faculties that serve
Reason as chief; among these Fansie next
Her office holds; of all external things,
Which the five watchful Senses represent,
She forms Imaginations, Aerie shapes, [ 105 ]
Which Reason joyning or disjoyning, frames
All what we affirm or what deny, and call
Our knowledge or opinion;
Into her private Cell when Nature rests.
Oft in her absence mimic Fansie wakes [ 110 ]
To imitate her; but misjoyning shapes,
Wilde work produces oft, and most in dreams,
Ill matching words and deeds long past or late.
Som such resemblances methinks I find
Of our last Eevnings talk, in this thy dream, [ 115 ]
But with addition strange; yet be not sad.
Evil into the mind of God or Man
May come and go, so unapproved, and leave
No spot or blame behind: Which gives me hope
That what in sleep thou didst abhorr to dream, [ 120 ]
Waking thou never wilt consent to do.
Be not disheartened then, nor cloud those looks
That wont to be more lovely and serene
Then when fair Morning first smiles on the World,
And let us to our fresh imports rise [ 125 ]
Among the Groves, the Fountains, and the Flours
That open now thir choice bosomd smells
Reserved from night, and kept for thee in store.
So heard he his fair Spouse, and she was heard,
But silently a gentle tear let fall [ 130 ]
From either eye, and widd them with her hair;
Two other precious drops that ready stood,
Each in thir Chrystal sluce, hee ere they fell
Kissd as the gracious signs of sweet remorse
And pious awe, that feared to have offended. [135]
So all was clear, and to the Field they haste.