Religion

Phantasie a great Comforter, or Tormenter

by John Davies of Hereford c. 1565–1618

From Essaies (1612)

Religion

GIue me Iobs Botches, Naamans Leprosie,
nay, giue me All that plagues the outward sense,
Rather then Terrors of the Phantasie,
crawling from out an Hell of Conscience.

And giue me all the Hels the Damn'd endure,
(this Hell alone excepted) I will be
Able to make them Heau'ns, in Conscience pure,
through Operations of the Phantasie.

Asleepe, awake, in Company, alone,
past-vnderstanding Peace, and Ioyes past Ioy,
In our Mindes Kingdome, then, themselues enthrone,
to ouer-sway the Paines that Flesh annoy:
Then, is this Peace and War, true Heau'n & Hell,
Where Paine and Pleasure doe themselues excell.

MLA

Hereford, John Davies of. “Phantasie a great Comforter, or Tormenter.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/davies_jh/96/.

Chicago

Hereford, John Davies of. “Phantasie a great Comforter, or Tormenter.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/davies_jh/96/.

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