A DIALOGUE BETWEEN THE RESOLVED
SOUL AND CREATED PLEASURE.
by Andrew Marvell
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| COURAGE, my soul ! now learn to wield
The weight of thine immortal shield ;
Close on thy head thy helmet bright ;
Balance thy sword against the fight ;
See where an army, strong as fair,
With silken banners spreads the air !
Now, if thou be'st that thing divine,
In this day's combat let it shine,
And show that Nature wants an art
To conquer one resolvèd heart.
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Pleasure.
| | Welcome the creation's guest,
Lord of earth, and Heaven's heir !
Lay aside that warlike crest,
And of Nature's banquet share ;
Where the souls of fruits and flowers
Stand prepared to heighten yours.
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Soul.
| | I sup above, and cannot stay,
To bait so long upon the way.
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Pleasure.
| | On these downy pillows lie,
Whose soft plumes will thither fly :
On these roses, strowed so plain
Lest one leaf thy side should strain.
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Soul.
| | My gentler rest is on a thought,
Conscious of doing what I ought.
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Pleasure.
| | If thou be'st with perfumes pleased,
Such as oft the gods appeased,
Thou in fragrant clouds shalt show,
Like another god below.
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Soul.
| | A soul that knows not to presume,
Is Heaven's, and its own, perfume.
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Pleasure.
| | Everything does seem to vie
Which should first attract thine eye :
But since none deserves that grace,
In this crystal view thy face.
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Soul.
| | When the Creator's skill is prized,
The rest is all but earth disguised.
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Pleasure.
| | Hark how music then prepares
For thy stay these charming airs,
Which the posting winds recall,
And suspend the river's fall.
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Soul.
| | Had I but any time to lose,
On this I would it all dispose.
Cease, tempter ! None can chain a mind,
Whom this sweet cordage cannot bind.
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Chorus.
| | Earth cannot show so brave a sight,
As when a single soul does fence
The batteries of alluring sense,
And Heaven views it with delight.
Then persevere ; for still new charges sound,
And if thou overcom'st thou shalt be crowned.
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Pleasure.
| | All that's costly, fair, and sweet,
Which scatteringly doth shine,
Shall within one beauty meet,
And she be only thine.
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Soul.
| | If things of sight such heavens be,
What heavens are those we cannot see ?
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Pleasure.
| | Wheresoe'er thy foot shall go
The minted gold shall lie,
Till thou purchase all below,
And want new worlds to buy.
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Soul.
| | We'rt not for price who'd value gold ?
And that's worth naught that can be sold.
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Pleasure.
| | Wilt thou all the glory have
That war or peace commend?
Half the world shall be thy slave,
The other half thy friend.
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Soul.
| | What friend, if to my self untrue ?
What slaves, unless I captive you ?
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Pleasure.
| | Thou shalt know each hidden cause,
And see the future time ;
Try what depth the centre draws,
And then to Heaven climb.
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Soul.
| | None thither mounts by the degree
Of knowledge, but humility.
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Chorus.
| | Triumph, triumph, victorious soul !
The world has not one pleasure more :
The rest does lie beyond the pole,
And is thine everlasting store.
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