Lumen de Lumine

This Fire or Prester is the Throne of the Quintessentiall Light, from whence he dilates himself to Generation, as we see in the effusion of the Sun-beams in the great world. In this Dilatation of the Light consists the joy or pleasure of the passive spirit, and in its Contraction his Melancholie or sorrow. We see in the great Body of Nature, that in Turbulent weather when the Sun is shut up and clouded, the Aire is thick and dull, and our own spirits by secret Compassion with the spirit of the Aire are dull too. On the contrary in clear strong Sun-shines the Aire is Quick and Thin, and the spirits of all Animals are of the same rarified, active Temper. It is plaine then that our joyes and sorrows proceed from the Dilatation and Contraction of our inward Quintessentiall Light. This is apparent in despayring Lovers, who are subject to a certain violent, extraordinary panting of the Heart, a timorous trembling pulse which proceeds from the Apprehension and Feare of the spirit in relation to his Miscarriage. Notwithstanding he desires to be dilated, as it appears by his pulse or Sallie wherein he doth discharge himself: but his Despaire checks him againe, and brings him to a suddain Retreat, or Contraction. Hence it comes to passe that we are subject to sighs, which are occasion’d by the suddain pause of the spirit: for when hee stops, the Breath stops, but when he looseth himself to an outward Motion, we deliver two or three Breaths that have been formerly omitted, in one long Expiration, and this we call a sigh. This passion hath carried many brave men to very sad Extremities. It is originally occasion’d by the spirit of the Mistris, or affected party: for her spirit ferments or leavens the spirit of the Lover, so that it desires an union as far as Nature will permit. This makes us resent even smiles and frowns, like Fortunes and Misfortunes: Our Thoughts are never at Home, according to that well-grounded Observation, Anima est ubi amat, non ubi animat: the soule dwels not where she lives, but where she loves. We are imploy’d in a perpetuall Contemplation of the absent Beauty; Our very Joyes and Woes are in her power: she can set us to what Humor she will, as Campian was alter’d by the Music of his Mistris.