Andrew Marvell: A Dialogue between the Soul and Body

怀抱花朵的孩子

A Dialogue between the Soul and Body

Andrew Marvell
  
Soul.  O WHO shall, from this Dungeon, raise   
A Soul inslav'd so many wayes?   
With bolts of Bones, that fetter'd stands   
In Feet; and manacled in Hands.   
Here blinded with an Eye; and there          5
Deaf with the drumming of an Ear.   
A Soul hung up, as 'twere, in Chains   
Of Nerves, and Arteries, and Veins.   
Tortur'd, besides each other part,   
In a vain Head, and double Heart.   10
   
Body.  O who shall me deliver whole,   
From bonds of this Tyrannic Soul?   
Which, stretcht upright, impales me so,   
That mine own Precipice I go;   
And warms and moves this needless Frame:   15
(A Fever could but do the same.)   
And, wanting where its spight to try,   
Has made me live to let me dye.   
A Body that could never rest,   
Since this ill Spirit it possest.   20
   
Soul.  What Magick could me thus confine   
Within anothers Grief to pine?   
Where whatsoever it complain,   
I feel, that cannot feel, the pain.   
And all my Care its self employes,   25
That to preserve, which me destroys:   
Constrain'd not only to indure   
Diseases, but, whats worse, the Cure:   
And ready oft the Port to gain,   
Am Shipwrackt into Health again.   30
   
Body.  But Physick yet could never reach   
The Maladies Thou me dost teach;   
Whom first the Cramp of Hope does Tear:   
And then the Palsie Shakes of Fear.   
The Pestilence of Love does heat:   35
Or Hatred's hidden Ulcer eat.   
Joy's chearful Madness does perplex:   
Or Sorrow's other Madness vex.   
Which Knowledge forces me to know;   
And Memory will not foregoe.   40
What but a Soul could have the wit   
To build me up for Sin so fit?   
So Architects do square and hew   
Green Trees that in the Forest grew.

kokho

What but a Soul could have the wit   
To build me up for Sin so fit?