The happinesse of a departed Soul, From St. Austin's Manual English'd by Thomas Rogers Chapter 6, "Blest is the Soul which loos'd from sordid earth". MS Wellesley, pp. 111-113. See Annotated Chronology No. 257. See also An Annotated Bibliography: Primary and Secondary Sources for all Finch's translations (paraphrases), imitations and adaptations.

• It is to be noted that for Finch's second adaptation from Rogers, we can see in the manuscript that her title was much longer than the one printed by Hinnant and McGovern (and Ellis d'Alessandro). A longer title written in smaller letters has been erased and (as in other places in this and the other two manuscript books of Finch's poetry) in thickened letters Heneage obliterated what he did not care for others to read.

Finch takes her source text from Chapter Six, "The happinesse of that soule which is delivered out of the earthy prison of the body", pp. 16- 19.

O HAPPY is the soule, which loosed from the earthly prison (a), soareth without let unto Heaven, which face to face beholdeth thee (b), the most gracious Lord, which is touched with no feare of death at all, but triumpeth with an incorruptible crowne of perpetual glory!

O quiet and secure is such a soule, and feareth now neither enemy nor death (d).

Shee enjoyeth thee her good Lord whom long she sought, and always loved.

Now joyned to the singing quire, she soundeth out without ceasing unto the praise of thy glory, O Christ her King, O sweet Jesu, most melodious Psalms she singeth of (p 17) aye-lasting joyfulnesse.

For she is satisfied with thy fatnesse (e), thou doest give her drinke out of the river of thy pleasures.

Happy is the fellowship of supernall Citizens, and glorious is the solemnity of such as return unto thee from the painfull toile of this pilgrimage, unto the surpassing glory, unto the excellency of all comelinesse, where continually the citizens, O Lord, behold thy face (g), there nothing is heard to trouble the mind (h).

What mirth! what melody! what singing! what Psalmes be there sung without ceasing.

There the pleasant Organes doe sound out most heavenly hymnes, the blessed Angels most sweet doe sing; and songs of rare excellency are uttered out by the supernall Citizens, unto the praise and glory of they Name.

There is neither gall nor any bitternesse in that blessed region (k). For there is no wicked person, nor any wickedness at all.

There is neither enemy to impugne, nor any inticement to offend.

There is no lack (m), no shame, no contention, no upbraiding, no blaming, no feare, no unquietness, no punishment of doubtfulnesse, violence, discord there is none.

But singular peace, and perfect love, and lasting triumphs, and praising of God, & secure quietnesse, which never shall have end, and continuall joy in the holy Spirit, there is.

Oh how happy should I be did I hear those most comfortable songs of thy Citizens & the sugred verses (p 19) uttering forth with due reverence the praises of they sacred Trinity!

But most singularly blessed should I be, might I did I hear those most comfortable songs of they Citizens & the sugred verss uterring forth with due reverence the praises of thy sacred Trinity?

But most singularly blessed should I be, might I also with them, sing to my Lord Jesu Christ one of the pleasantest songs of Sion (n).

• In the margins by each letter: a: Phil 1:23; b: 1 Cor 22; d: Rev 21:4; e: Psalm 36:8; f: Heb 11;13: g: Rev 22:4; h: Rev 31:4; k: Rev 21:4; m: 1 Cor 29; N: Psal 137:3.

From A Pretious Booke of Heavenly Meditations: Called A private talke of the Soule with God Which, so so zealously will use and peruse, shall feele in his mind, an unspeakable sweetnesse of the everlasting happiness.

• Written, as some thinke, by that reverend and religious Father Saint Augustine, and not translated only, but purified also, and with most ample and necessary Sentences of holy Scriptures adorn'd. By THO. ROGERS. 1640.
• This manual for prayer consists of three books, the second, A Right Christian Treatise, Entituled St. Augustins Prayers; and the third Saint Augustine's Manuall.
• The book is dedicated to "the honourable Master Thomas Wilson, Doctor of the Civill Lawes, one of her Majesties principall Secretaries, and of the most Honourable Privy Councell; Grace and Peace in our Saviour Jesus Christ.
• In a short preface Rogers says that his book is a translation of holy meditations "written by the Reverend Father Augustine which he calleth his private talk with God". He then explains the religious purpose of his book and how he has organized it accordingly.
• It consists of 37 chapters, 198 pages.
• The other chapters have similar titles: Chapter 1, "Of the unspeakable sweetnesse of God"; Chapter 3, "Of God's wonderful light", Chapter 14, "That the eyes of the Lord are continually upon the doings and cogitations of men".
• The source texts are written in a personal vein. The author chooses texts that have reference to his own injuries in life. For example, on the first page he quotes as a epigraph: PSAL. 119. VER. 113, "I hate vain inventions, but thy Law do I love." They are often peculiarly apt to what we find in Anne's sense of injury in her poetry.

A second free paraphrase which throughout refers personally to her own feelings, history, desires. This time Finch emphasizes the music very strongly; her love of sound and music dominates her serious poetry throughout her work.