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 whence? in thee can harbour 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; then retires
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 unapprovd, 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 disheartnd then, nor cloud those looks
That wont to be more chearful and serene
Then when fair Morning first smiles on the World,
And let us to our fresh imployments rise [ 125 ]
Among the Groves, the Fountains, and the Flours
That open now thir choicest bosomd smells
Reservd from night, and kept for thee in store.
So cheard he his fair Spouse, and she was cheard,
But silently a gentle tear let fall [ 130 ]
From either eye, and wipd them with her haire;
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 feard to have offended. [ 135 ]
So all was cleard, and to the Field they haste.