Sonnet XII: That Learned Father

by Michael Drayton

Michael Drayton

To the Soul

That learned Father, who so firmly proves
The Soul of man immortal and divine,
And doth the several offices define:
Anima; Gives her that name, as she the Body moves;
Amor; Then is she Love, embracing charity;
Animus; Moving a Will in us, it is the Mind
Mens; Retaining knowledge, still the same in kind;
Memoria; As intellectual, it is Memory;
Ratio; In judging, Reason only is her name;
Sensus; In speedy apprehension, it is Sense;
Conscientia; In right or wrong, they call her Conscience;
Spiritus; The Spirit, when it to Godward doth inflame.
These of the Soul the several functions be,
Which my Heart, lighten'd by thy love, doth see.





Last updated May 02, 2015