Of Fame: A Dialogue between Two Supernatural Opinions

1

1 Opinion
Who knows, but that man’s soul in fame delights2
After the body and it disunites?3
If we allow the soul shall live, not die,
Although the body in the grave doth lie,
And that some knowledge still it doth retain,                         5
Why may not then some love of fame remain?

2 Opinion
There doth no vanity in souls then dwell;
When separate, they go to Heaven or Hell.

1 Opinion
Fame’s Virtue’s child,4 or else5 ought to be;
What comes not from her is an infamy.                                  10

2 Opinion
Souls of the world remember nought at all;
All that is6 past into oblivion fall.

1 Opinion
Why may not souls, as well as angels, know,
And hear and see what’s done i’th’world below?

2 Opinion
Souls neither have ambition nor desire                                   15
When once in Heav’n,7 nor after fame inquire.

1 Opinion
Who can tell that? Since Heav’n doth love8 good deeds,
And fame of piety from grace proceeds.

  1. Of Fame: A Dialogue between two Supernatural Opinions] A Dialogue between two Supernatural Opinions Concerning Fame. 1664; A Dialogue between Two Supernatural Opinions concerning Fame. 1668
  2. in fame delights] with Fame is pleas’d, 1664, 1668
  3. After the body and it disunites?] When from the Bodie’s prison it is eas’d? 1664; When from the Bodie’s Prison it is eas’d? 1668
  4. child,] Ofspring, 1664; Off-spring, 1668
  5. or else] or 1653
  6. All that is] Things that are 1664, 1668
  7. Heav’n,] Heaven, 1653
  8. Heav’n doth love] Heaven loves 1653