XLVII. RO. VN.. A Similitude. Edward Farr, ed. 1847. Select Poetry, Chiefly Sacred, of the Reign of King James the First

Edward Farr, ed. Select Poetry of the Reign of King James the First. 1847.

A Similitude

XLVII. RO. VN.


THIS 1 body then, I say, is like
An house in each degree;
The soule the owner of the house
I do account to bee.

As touching first this body, then,	5
I did of late declare,
Is like an house in euery poynt;
But now I will compare

This house vnto a commonwealth,
Or as a cittie faire,	10
Or like a corporation,
Consisting of a mayer,

And many other officers
There needful to bee had,
And the commons too, among the which	15
Are people good and bad,

And therefore need of gouernment,
Such people for to guide;
And as each towne and commonwealth,
Or cittie, hath beside	20

Appoynted places for to kepe
Their courtes of common law,
Yea, and their courts of conscience too,
To kepe these men in awe:

So hath each house his magistrates	25
And officers to serue,
Yea, commoners too, and places fitt
For courts which do deserue.

The chiefest seat in euery house
It is the hart of man,	30
Wherein if that the sperit of grace
Do sit as judge, euen than

The court of conscience uery well
We may it call; but see
These officers vpon this court	35
Always attendant bee.

Note 1. XLVII. RO. VN.—Vaughan or Underwood—“Bachelor of Divinitie,” wrote a small poem which consists of only a few pages. [back]