Southwell on Imagination
Jesuit Image Theory, c. 1595
“The mind a creature is, yet can create,
To nature’s patterns adding higher skill.”
“Man’s soule of endlesse beauties image is,
Drawne by the worke of endles skill and might,
This skillfull might gave many sparkes of blisse,
And to discerne this blisse a native light,
To frame God’s image as his worthesrequird,
His might, his skill, his word, and will conspired.”
“All that he had his image should present,
All that it should present he could afford:
To that he could afford his will was bent,
His will was followed with performing word.
Let this suffize, by this conceive the rest,
He should, he could, he would, he did the best.”
From Robert Southwell, “Looke home,” in St Peters Complaint. p. 40.
Commenting is closed for this article.