The Practice of Piety

The Soul (finding no comfort in the Eyes) speaks to the ears. O ears, who were wont to recreate your selves, with hearing new, pleasant discourses, and Music's sweetest harmony; can you hear any news or tidings of the least comfort for me? The Ears are either so deaf that they cannot hear at all: or the sense of hearing is grown so weak, that it cannot endure to hear his dearest friends to speak. And why should those ears hear any tidings of joy in Death, who could never abide to hear the glad Tidings of the Gospel in his life? ⟨p. 102⟩The Ear can minister no comfort.

The Soule (finding no comfort in the Eyes) speakes to the eares. O earaes, who were wont to recreate your selues, with hearing new, pleasant discourses, and Musickes sweetest harmonie; can you heare any newes or tydings of the least comfort for mee? The Eares are eyther so deafe that they cannot heare at all: or the sense of hearing is growne so weake, that it cannot endure to heare his dearest friends to speake. And why should those eares heare any tydings of ioy in Death, who could neuer abide to heare the glad Tydings of the Gospell in his life? ⟨p. 102⟩The Eare can minister no comfort.

Then she intimates her grief unto the Tongue. O Tongue who wast wont to brag it out with the bravest; where are now thy big and daring words? now (in my greatest need) canst thou speak nothing in my defence? Canst thou neither daun• these Enemies with threatening words, nor entreat them with fair speeches? Alas, the Tongue two days ago, lay speechless: it cannot in his greatest extremity, either call for a little drink, or desire a friend to take away with his finger the flegme, that is ready to choke him.

Then shee intimates her griefe vnto the Tongue. O Tongue who wast wont to brag it out vvith the brauest; where are now thy bigge and daring words? now (in my greatest need) canst thou speake nothing in my defence? Canst thou neyther daun these Enemies with threatning wordes, nor entreat them vvith faire speeches? Alas, the Tongue two dayes agoe, lay speechlesse: it cannot in his greatest extremitie, either call for a little drincke, or desire a friend to take away with his finger the flegme, that is ready to choake him.