Chapter XIII

What if this present were the worlds last night?
Marke in my heart, O Soule, where thou dost dwell,
The picture of Christ crucified, and tell
Whether that countenance can thee affright,
Teares in his eyes quench the amasing light, 5
Blood fills his frownes, which from his pierc'd head fell.
And can that tongue adjudge thee unto hell,
Which pray'd forgivenesse for his foes fierce spight?
No, no; but as in my idolatrie
I said to all my profane mistresses, 10
Beauty, of pitty, foulnesse onely is
A signe of rigour: so I say to thee,
To wicked spirits are horrid shapes assign'd,
This beauteous forme assures a pitious minde.

[XIII _1635-69:_ IX. _1633_, _A18_, _D_, _&c.:_ _om. B_,
_S96:_ _among_ Other Meditations. _O'F:_ XV. _W_]

[2 Marke] Looke _W_]

[4 that _A18_, _N_, _O'F_, _TC_, _W:_ his _1633-69_, _D_,
_H49_]

[6 fell. _1639-69:_ fell _1633-35_]

[8 fierce] ranck _W_]

[14 assures _A18_, _D_, _H49_, _N_, _O'F_, _TC_, _W:_ assumes
_1633-69_]

XIV.

Batter my heart, three person'd God; for, you
As yet but knocke, breathe, shine, and seeke to mend;
That I may rise, and stand, o'erthrow mee,'and bend
Your force, to breake, blowe, burn and make me new.
I, like an usurpt towne, to'another due, 5
Labour to'admit you, but Oh, to no end,
Reason your viceroy in mee, mee should defend,
But is captiv'd, and proves weake or untrue.
Yet dearely'I love you,'and would be loved faine,
But am betroth'd unto your enemie: 10
Divorce mee,'untie, or breake that knot againe,
Take mee to you, imprison mee, for I
Except you'enthrall mee, never shall be free,
Nor ever chast, except you ravish mee.

[XIV. _1635-69:_ X. _1633_, _A18_, _D_, _&c.:_ _om. B_, _O'F_,
_S96:_ XVI. _W_]

[7 mee should] wee should _1669_]

[8 untrue. _W:_ untrue, _1633-69_]

[9 loved _MSS.:_ lov'd _1633-69_]

[10 enemie: _W:_ enemie, _1633-69_]