Similizing the Heart to a Harp, the Head to an Organ, the Tongue to a Lute, to make a Consort of Music

1

The heart unto2 a harp compare I may,
The passions,3 strings on which the mind doth play.
’Tis4 harmony, when they just time do keep;
With notes of peace they bring the soul to sleep.

The head unto an organ I compare,                                         5
The thoughts, as several pipes, make music there.
Imagination’s bellows drawn, do5 blow
Windy opinions, which the thoughts make6 go.
The little virg’nal7 jacks which skip about
Are several fancies that run in and out.                                  10

The tongue’s a lute, strung with the strings of breath.8
The words as fingers play; the pegs are teeth.9
These moving all, a sweet soft music make,
Wise sentences the ground10 of music take.
Witty light airs are pleasant to the ear;                                    15
Strains of description all delight11 to hear.
In similizing quavers12 lies great art,
Flour’shes13 of eloquence are a14 sweet part.
Stops of reproof are usèd with great15 skill;
Flatt’ring division doth the mind please16 still.                      20
The thoughts are several tunes, which they do17 play,
And thus the mind doth pass its time away.

  1. Similizing the Heart to a Harp, the Head to an Organ, the Tongue to a Lute, to make a Consort of Music] Nature’s Musical Instruments. 1664; Nature’s Musical Instruments. 1668. The title in 1664 and 1668 exists as a marginal note in Cavendish’s 1653 text.
  2. unto] like to 1653
  3. The passions,] Passions to 1664; Passions, to 1668
  4. ’Tis] A 1653
  5. bellows drawn, do] Bag doth draw, then 1653
  6. which the thoughts make] by which the Thoughts 1653
  7. little virg’nal] small Virginall 1653
  8. tongue’s a lute, strung with the strings of breath.] Tongue, a Lute, the Breath, are Strings strung strong, 1653
  9. The words as fingers play; the pegs are teeth.] The Teeth are Pegs, Words, Fingers play thereon. 1653
  10. the ground] as grounds 1653
  11. delight] Delights 1653
  12. similizing quavers] Quavers of Similizing 1653
  13. Flour’shes] Flourishes 1653
  14. are a] a 1653
  15. are usèd with great] wherein there must be 1653
  16. Flatt’ring division doth the mind please] Flattering Division delights the Mind 1653
  17. The thoughts are several tunes, which they do] All Thoughts, as severall Tunes these just do 1653