Henry Charles Beeching, ed. (1859–1919). Lyra Sacra: A Book of Religious Verse. 1903.
By Ben Jonson (1573?–1647)The Fortress of Mansoul
| NOT to know vice at all, and keep true state, | |
| Is virtue and not fate: | |
| Next to that virtue is to know vice well, | |
| And her black spite repel. | |
| Which to effect (since no breast is so sure, | 5 |
| Or safe, but she’ll procure | |
| Some way of entrance), we must plant a guard | |
| Of thoughts to watch and ward | |
| At th’ eye and ear, the ports unto the mind, | |
| That no strange or unkind | 10 |
| Object arrive there, but the heart, our spy, | |
| Give knowledge instantly | |
| To wakeful reason, our affections’ king: | |
| Who in th’ examining | |
| Will quickly taste the treason, and commit | 15 |
| Close the true cause of it. | |
| ’Tis the securest policy we have | |
| To make our sense our slave. | |
| But this true course is not embraced by many; | |
| By many? scarce by any. | 20 |
| For either our affections do rebel, | |
| Or else the sentinel, | |
| That should ring ’larum to the heart, doth sleep, | |
| Or some great thought doth keep | |
| Back the intelligence, and falsely swears | 25 |
| They’re base and idle fears | |
| Whereof the loyal conscience so complains. | |
| Thus by these subtle trains | |
| Do several passions invade the mind | |
| And strike our reason blind. | 30 |