Of the Animal Spirits

Those spirits which we animal do call
May men and women be, and creatures small,
And may the body into kingdoms wide1—
As muscles, nerves, veins, arteries—divide.2
The head and heart, East and West Indies be,                         5
Which through the veins may traffic, as the sea;
In fevers may by shipwreck many die,3
For when the blood is hot, and vapors high4
Do rise, as waves they toss, and when they5 hit
Against rocks of obstructions, life doth6 split.                       10
I’th’head, th’East Indies,7 spicy fancy grows;8
From oranges and lemons sharp satyr flows;9
I’th’heart,10 the West, where heat the blood refines,
The blood’s like gold, the heart like silver11 mines.
Those from the head, in ships their spice they fetch,12       15
And from the heart, the gold and silver rich.13

  1. may the body into kingdoms wide] in the body Kingdoms may divide, 1653
  2. muscles, nerves, veins, arteries—divide.] Nerves, Muscles, Veines, and Arteries wide. 1653
  3. may by shipwreck many die,] great by shipwrack many dyes; 1653
  4. high] rise 1653
  5. Do rise, as waves they toss, and when they] On boyling pulse, as waves they tosse, if 1653
  6. rocks of obstructions, life doth] hard rock of great obstructions, 1653
  7. I’th’head, th’East Indies,] Head the East Indies, where 1653
  8. spicy fancy grows;] Spicie Fancies grow, 1664; Spicy-Fancies grow; 1668
  9. From oranges and lemons sharp satyr flows;] Orange and Limon Satyr there doth Flow; 1664; Orange– and Lemon-Satyr there doth flow. 1668
  10. I’th’heart,] The Heart 1653
  11. The blood’s like gold, the heart like silver] Which bloud is gold, and silver heart the 1653
  12. Those from the head, in ships their spice they fetch,] Thus from the Head in Ships are Spices brought, 1664; Thus, from the Head, in Ships are Spices brought; 1668
  13. And from the heart, the gold and silver rich.] And in the Heart is Gold and Silver wrought. 1664; And, in the Heart, is Gold and Silver wrought. 1668