Madam,
Reason is our soul’s left hand, Faith her right,
By these we reach divinity, that’s you;
Their loves, who have the blessing of your sight,
Grew from their reason, mine from fair faith grew.
But as, although a squint lefthandedness
Be ungracious, yet we cannot want that hand,
So would I, not to increase, but to express
My faith, as I believe, so understand.
Therefore I study you first in your Saints,
Those friends, whom your election glorifies,
Then in your deeds, accesses, and restraints,
And what you read, and what yourself devise.
But soon, the reasons why you are loved by all,
Grow infinite, and so pass reason’s reach,
Then back again to implicit faith I fall,
And rest on what the catholic voice doth teach;
That you are good: and not one heretic
Denies it: if he did, yet you are so.
For, rocks, which high-topped and deep-rooted stick,
Waves wash, not undermine, nor overthrow.
In everything there naturally grows
A balsamum to keep it fresh, and new,
If ’twere not injured by extrinsic blows;
Your birth and beauty are this balm in you.
But you of learning and religion,
And virtue, and such ingredients, have made
A mithridate, whose operation
Keeps off, or cures what can be done or said.
Yet, this is not your physic, but your food,
A diet fit for you; for you are here
The first good angel, since the world’s frame stood,
That ever did in woman’s shape appear.
Since you are then God’s masterpiece, and so
His factor for our loves; do as you do,
Make your return home gracious; and bestow
This life on that; so make one life of two.
For so God help me, I would not miss you there
For all the good which you can do me here.