1O my afflicted solitary soul,

2Why

dost2

thou still

in dust and ashes roll3

,

3As if thou were not of celestial birth,

4

Or4

thy beginning and thy end were earth?

5Believ’t thou art a

sparkle5

of that light

6Which is

invisible to our mortal sight6

;

7And thou art capable of endless bliss;

8

Thou knowest nothing, if thou knowest not this7

.

9Enlarge thy hopes

(poor soul)8

, then reassume

10Thy ancient right; thou needs no

borrowed plume9

,

11For thou hast noble wings to take thy flight.

12Why dost thou in this dunghill earth delight?

13We talk of

summers and delicious springs10

;

14I am resolvéd here are no such things.

15Of flowery valleys and

salubrious11

hills,

16Of shady groves, and purling

crystal12

rills13

,

17

We14

do but dream: in them, we laugh or

weep15

,

18And never wake until in death we sleep.

19Then what’s this world we keep ado about?

20We weeping enter, and go, sighing, out.

21(

Ay me!16

) this thought of death my courage dashes;

22Must I and mine turn all to dust and ashes?

23Death hath already from my weeping vine

24Torn

seven fair branches17

; the grief and loss is mine,

25The joy is theirs, who now in glory

shine18

,

26And as they were to me of infinite price,

27So now they

planted are in paradise19

28Where their immaculate, pure, virgin souls

29Are now enthroned above the stars or

poles20

,

30Where they enjoy all fullness of desire.

31O when shall I increase that heavenly

choir21

?