Are you what your faire lookes expresse

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Thomas Campion

The Fovrth Booke of Ayres

1618

XV. Are you what your faire lookes expresse ?

     1 Are you what your faire lookes expresse ?
             Oh then be kinde.
     From law of Nature they digresse,
             Whose forme sutes not their minde.
         Fairenesse seene in th'outward shape 
         Is but th'inward beauties Ape.

     2 Eyes that of earth are mortall made
             What can they view ?
     All's but a colour or a shade,
             And neyther alwayes true.
         Reasons sight that is eterne,
         Eu'n the substance can discerne.

     3 Soule is the Man ; for who will so
             The body name ?
     And to that power all grace we owe
             That deckes our liuing frame.
         What, or how had housen bin,
         But for them that dwell therein ?

     4 Loue in the bosome is begot,
             Not in the eyes :
     No beauty makes the eye more hot,
             Her flames the sprightsurprise :
         Let our louing mindes then meete,
         For pure meetings are most sweet.