So in the Essay of Man

"The spider's touch, how exquisitely fine,Feels at each thread, and lives along the line."

"Heere Sense's apprehension, end doth take;As when a stone is into water cast,One circle doth another circle make,Till the last circle touch the banke at last."

When their reasons eye was sharpe and cleare,And (as an eagle can behold the sunne)Could haue approcht th' Eternall Light as neare,As the intellectuall angels could haue done:

Euen then to them the Spirit of Lyes suggestsThat they were blind, because they saw not ill;And breathes into their incorrupted brestsA curious wish, which did corrupt their will.

We study Speech but others we perswade;We leech-craft learne, but others cure with it;We interpret lawes, which other men haue made,But reade not those which in our hearts are writ.

Is it because the minde is like the eye,Through which it gathers knowledge by degrees--Whose rayes reflect not, but spread outwardly:Not seeing it selfe when other things it sees?

No, doubtlesse; for the mind can backward castVpon her selfe, her vnderstanding light;But she is so corrupt, and so defac't,As her owne image doth her selfe affright.

As in the fable of the Lady faire,Which for her lust was turnd into a cow;When thirstie to a streame she did repaire,And saw her selfe transform'd she wist not how:

At first she startles, then she stands amaz'd,At last with terror she from thence doth flye;And loathes the watry glasse wherein she gaz'd,And shunnes it still, though she for thirst doe die:

Euen so Man's Soule which did God's image beare,And was at first faire, good, and spotlesse pure;Since with her sinnes her beauties blotted were,Doth of all sights her owne sight least endure:

For euen at first reflection she espies,Such strange chimeraes, and such monsters there;Such toyes, such antikes, and such vanities,As she retires, and shrinkes for shame and feare.

And as the man loues least at home to bee,That hath a sluttish house haunted with spirits;So she impatient her owne faults to see,Turnes from her selfe and in strange things delites.

For this few know themselues: for merchants brokeView their estate with discontent and paine;And seas are troubled, when they doe reuokeTheir flowing waues into themselues againe.

Then as a bee which among weeds doth fall,Which seeme sweet flowers, with lustre fresh and gay;She lights on that, and this, and tasteth all,But pleasd with none, doth rise, and soare away;

So, when the Soule finds here no true content,And, like Noah's doue, can no sure footing take;She doth returne from whence she first was sent,And flies to Him that first her wings did make. (p. 87)

Earley, cheerfull, mounting Larke,Light's gentle vsher, Morning's clark,In merry notes delighting;Stint awhile thy song, and harke,And learn my new inditing.

Beare vp this hymne, to heau'n it beare,Euen vp to heau'n, and sing it there,To heau'n each morning beare it;Haue it set to some sweet sphere,And let the Angels heare it.Renownd Astræa, that great name,Exceeding great in worth and fame,Great worth hath so renownd it;It is Astræa's name I praise,Now then, sweet Larke, do thou it raise,And in high Heauen resound it.

Eye of the Garden, Queene of flowres,Love's cup wherein he nectar powres,Ingendered first of nectar;Sweet nurse-child of the Spring's young howres,And Beautie's faire character.

Best iewell that the Earth doth weare,Euen when the braue young sunne draws neare,To her hot Loue pretending;Himselfe likewise like forme doth beare,At rising and descending.

Rose of the Queene of Loue belou'd;England's great Kings diuinely mou'd,Gave Roses in their banner;It shewed that Beautie's Rose indeed,Now in this age should them succeed,And raigne in more sweet manner.

Enuy, goe weepe; my Muse and ILaugh thee to scorne; thy feeble eyeIs dazeled with the gloryShining in this gay poesie,And little golden story.

Behold how my proud quill doth shedEternall nectar on her head;The pompe of coronationHath not such power her fame to spread,As this my admiration.

Respect my pen as free and frankeExpecting not reward nor thanke,Great wonder onely moues it;I never made it mercenary,Nor should my Muse this burthen carrieAs hyr'd, but that she loues it.

------"his delightsWere dolphin-like; they show'd his tack aboveThe element they lived in." (v. 2.)

"Thus doth it equall age with age inioy,And yet in lustie youth for euer flowers;Like loue his sire, whom Paynters make a boy,Yet is the eldest of the heau'nly powers;Or like his brother Time, whose wingèd howersGoing and comming will not let him dye,But still preserve him in his infancie."

That is 'brilliant' but this is 'great,' indeed magnificent, of theSea:--

"Loe the Sea that fleets about the Land,And like a girdle clips her solide waist,Musicke and measure both doth vnderstand;For his great chrystall eye is always castVp to the Moone, and on her fixèd fast;And as she daunceth in her pallid spheere,So daunceth he about her Center heere." (p. 179.)

"Still as a slave before his lord,The ocean hath no blast;His great bright eye most silentlyUp to the Moon is cast--If he may know which way to go;For she guides him smooth or grim.See, brother, see! how graciouslyShe looketh down on him."(Pt. VI.)