slie Impostor silently did flye Into her Chamber and with cunning creep Under the ey-lids of her heart where he Himself presented in fain'd Claritie 408. But as the Virgins Soule began to start Fear not said he for Phylax is thy friend These Rays of mine did never terror dart But to thy Weaknes Strength and Comfort lend And Heav'n forbid that I should prove unkinde Now thou my favour most deserv'st to finde 409. The Gallantrie of thy Devotion I Come to applaud and to increase its Fire I grant thy zealous Wings have towred high But yet thy Spouse would have them labour higher And as immoderate in their answer prove As is to thee the Challenge of his Love 410. The Watches frequent are and long which thou In deer attendance upon Him dost keep Yet oftner generous he and longer too To purchase rest for thee did loose his sleep Be noble now remembring thou shalt have Sufficient sleeping time in thy still Grave 411. Low hast thou pluck'd thy Bodies Plumes but He Was rent and torn and furrow'd up with Lashes And can the Zeal of thy Austerity More legibly appear than in such Gashes I know thou lovest not thy Skin but yet 'T were not amisse thus much were writ on it 412. Severe and resolute thy Fastings be If scanned by the faint Worlds vulgar fashion But Fourty Dayes thy Spouse did Fast for thee And now expects thy faithfull Imitation 〈◊〉 As well He may who an eternal Feast 〈◊〉 To quit a few Dayes Fast in Heav'n has drest 413. Since then He means that thou with Us shalt reign Betimes it will become Thee to prepare Thy Selfe for out Society and strein Out all the Dreggs thou hast contracted here That raised to the Purity in which We Angels shine thou mayst our Region reach 414. By Moses and Elias who beheld At such vast distance Jesu's glimmering face Shall Psyche be in Abstinence excell'd Can she on whom the Euangelick Grace With such full luster beats by those whom blinde And shady Types invelop'd be out-shin'd 415. O no dear Pupill since thy generous Breast Dar'd wish to be enflamed by that fire Whose Aime's Perfection Let no lazie Rest Clog the brave Wings of thy sublime Desire What though thy Death it hastens Thou and I Shall but the sooner to Lifes Kingdome flie 416. Thus sought the wily Tempter to invite The Virgin to a fatal Precipice But as the Lamb is taught by natural Fright To fear and hate the Wolfe though in the Fleece The honest Fleece of the milde Sheep he be Array'd and courts her with smooth Flattery 417. So Psyches Heart for heav'nly Charis there Close in the Centre of her Soule did lie Misgave her at the Sight and quak'd for fear Of this fair-tongued Angels Courtesie For all his dainty Look and Skin yet She Assured was it could not Phylax be 418. None of those soft and blessed Heats she felt Which sweetly when her Phylax us'd to speak Did all her Breast into Complyance melt And way to their own gentle Conquests make Besides the Voice though woudrous Sweet it were Yet something out of tune it seem'd to her 419. Too high it seem'd and of too loud a Strein Still was the Musick of her Spouse and she No Saints remembred that did e'r complain That Jesus call'd them to Extremity That Trumpets did the Gospel usher in And Wars Alarm the Calme of Peace begin 420. Had this great Message from her Spouse been sent She knew her Heart which now did pant and move By His sole Motions must needs relent And by Submission His Command approve But now she by reluctant Nausoousnesse Felt whosefoe'r it were 't was none of His. 421. Awakning therefore all her Confidence And with three Invocations having sued Her Saviour to engage in her Defence Upon her faithfull Forehead she renued His potent Signe and then with courage cri'd In Lights fair Looks why dost thou Darknesse hide 422. Whate'r thy face doth preach unto mine Eye The language of thy Tongue-unto mine Ear Sounds nothing lesse than Phylax wherefore hie Thee hence false Fiend and seek thy Booty where A beauteous Count'nance and a snowie Pair Of Wings the full Proof of an Angel are 423. As when the Suns neer Beams burst out upon A waxen Idoll straight its goodly Face Too weak to bear that glorious Dint doth run Away in droiling Drops and foules the place Which it before adorn'd So here the Fiend Melted as soon's this servent Answer shin'd 424. Off fell his Coat his Periwig his Wings His roseal Vizard and his Milkie Skin And in the room of those usurped I hings His proper shape of Horror did begin To clothe him round at which indignant He Least Psyche should triumph his shame to see 425. Tore his Way down to Hell that there in Night He might his Head and Ignominie hide A thousand Stinks behinde him at his flight He left and being gotten home he tri'd Upon the Soules which in his Brimstone Lake All yelling lay his vexed Spight to wreak 426. Mean while as Psyche those quaint Spoils admired Which dropped from her beauteous-hideons Foe And with her Sacrifice of Thanks aspired Unto the foot-stoool of her Saviour who Had in that fight her faithfull Champion been Her true and genuine Phylax flutter'd in 427. O how her Heart leap'd at the welcome sight And thus broke from her Lips Thou Thou art He I know thee at the dawning of thy Light In which no Fawnings no Impostures be Spare all Probations Thou needst not tell Me who thou art I know my Phylax well 428. This said Her selfe down at his feet she threw Which hugging fast she welcom'd with a Kisse He gave her Passion leave a while to shew The meek Impatience of this sweet Excesse Then up he took her and return'd upon Her Lip what she unto his Feet had done 429. And Joy said he my dearest Dear of thy Victorious-Encounter with thy Foe That goodly Furniture of Treason I As well as thou who art the Victor know I saw the pilfering Traytor when he pick'd It up and when with it himselfe he trick'd 430. Close at his heels I followed when he His forgerie advanc'd and hither flew I was Spectator when he set on Thee And in Heav'ns Name his Hell against thee drew Unseen I saw the dangerous Battell and By it I stood but aided not thine Hand 431. No thy dear Spouse who never doth forget His humble faithfull Servants did supply Abundant Power and conveied it By ever-ready Chari's Ministry I claim no share at all thy Thanks to none But Him and Her are due and must be done 432. Thou se'st how bountifully They repay The Loyalty of thy Mortification And what thou gainst by giving Thelema To Him who will not be in Debt Thy Station Is now Secure unlesse thou back dost start And fondly home again recall thine Heart 433. Surely thou never hadst so much thy Will As since thou hadst it not for All things now
Beams Epitomize the Worlds estate of Gems 84. His sword look'd Lightning through its chrystall sheath Whose round Hiltits Victorious blade did crown But yet his Scepter did more terrout breath Such Majestie about it he had thrown The Ball in 's hand was swell'd to that Degree As if it meant indeed the World to be 85. At his right Hand stood Scorn turn'd was her Head Over her shoulder with contemptuous Eye Through a thick frowne her fullen mind she spred And seeing scorn'd to see the Company Nor did she mend or mollifie her Brow But when Agenor's growing rough she saw 86. At his left hand stood gaudie Philautie But dwelt more on a Chrystall Glass she held Eternally neer her admiring Eye In which her foolish self she read and smil'd On her faire lession though the brittle Glass Admonish'd her how vain her Beautie was 87. Before him on a golden Pillar at Whose foot a Laurell and a Palme did grow Upon the back of triumph glory sate Whose dazeling Robes did with more lustre flow Than breaks from Phebu's furniture when He Through Cancer rides in all June's gallantry 88. About Him round his whole Retinue was Dispos'd in royall equipage His owne Attendants had the credite of the place Which glittered neerest his illustrious Throne Then stood the Passions all admiring how This Sceen of Wonders could so quickly grow 89. Crafty Agenor having paus'd a while To give respect to his own State and let Psyche both bite and swallow down the Guile About which He so fair a Bait had put By soft and proud degrees vouchsaf'd to stirre And being risen thus accosted Her 90. Did Pitties generous and Soveraign Law All points of Ceremony not forbid Agenor must not have descended now To stand at Psyche's Gate But I am led Below my selfe by Virtue that my Might May help these wronged Passions to their right 91. 'T is Fortunes pleasure that casts me upon These mercifull Designs and I 'm content The Honor's Gain enough this Pay alone My Pains expect Indeed the common Rent By which my most renowned Self I keepe Are the Revenues I from Glory reap 92. And for these sillie Creatures sake who thought I had been but some single Errant Knight I let this glimpse of what I am break out To teach their Error my authentick Might Needs no supplies from them This Part of my Ne'r-conquer'd Train dares Heav'n and Earth defie 93. I was resolved by this Swords dread Flame To sacrifice you to my Wrath But now You are a Female thing I hold it shame To make my Conquests honor stoop so low I 'm loth the World should say Agenor drew His Sword and like a Man a Woman slew 94. In Womans blood my Weapon never yet Blush'd for its base Exploit nor will it now Begin its shame and a vile Victory get Unlesse enforc'd by Fortune Fate and You. But I forget my selfe through Courtesie Pretious are Princes Words and few should be 95. Love knew her Cue and stepping gently forth Great Queen said she I chosen am to be My suppliant Sisters Mouth And may this Earth Ope hers to close up mine if Falsitie Break from my lipps or any Fraud conceal What They and Truth and Justice bid me tell 96. What Heav'n has made Us 't is our Blisse to be And that 's your Subjects Though cross Error now A confident Blot throws on our Loyalty The lest of treacherous Thoughts We disavow Alas what would the Members gain if they Combine their Wit and Strength their Head to slay 97. Yet your wise Majesty full well doth know That as your Self a Free Prince are so We Are Free-born Subjects Nature does allow In our sweet Common-weal no Tyranny She knew this mutuall Freedome best would bless Both Prince and People with joint Happiness 98. But what broad Innovations rush'd of late Into our State justling out Liberty O that wee could not feel Had it been 〈◊〉 Which thrust on Us this boistrous Misery We had been silent But wee know what Hand Hath stoll n our Freedome and by whose Command 99. Nor I nor any of my Sisters were Suffer'd our Selves in quiet to possesse We could not Love nor Hate nor Hope nor Fear We could not Sorrow know nor Joyfulnesse Nor any thing that pleas'd not Them who had A Prey of all our Priviledges made 100. Surely wee had a legall Title to What ours by reverend Natures bounty was Yet snatch'd from thence wee must be press'd to goe And serve abroad we knew not where alas Nor e'r shall know for how should wee comprise Mysterious things and Matters of the Skies 101. Nor is this sad Case onely ours who are Inlanders here Your Subjects too abroad Who at your Cinque-ports with perpetuall care In gathering your royall Customes stood Are loaded with like Grievances and they Pray'd Us with our Complaints theirs to display 102. They have not leave poor leave to Hear or See Or Smell or Taste or Feele what is their own But chain'd up in unnaturall Slavery Of their starv d Lives and Selves are weary grown Yet this Griefe more than all their hearts doth break That their Religion too lies at the Stake 103. They must a new Devotion learn and be Tortur'd with Watchings Prayers and Prostrations With Ceremonies of pale Piety With Fastings and severe Mortifications And if this Superstition they refuse Some Mulct on the poor Confessors ensues 104. And by what Law must either They or We Under this Arbitrary Power lie Where is the Free-born Subjects Liberty Who have no power at all unlesse to Die And surely Death a greater Blessing were Than such a Life as We doe groan in here 105. Mistake not gracious Soveraign what I speak As if I charg'd the guilt of these our Woes Upon your Soule My heart-strings first should crack With their own Torments loud e'r I would loose My Tongue in such a slaunder you alas May with your Subjects for a Sufferer passe 106. A Sufferer in that which nearest lies And dearest unto every Princes Heart Your royall Honor in our Miseries Is rack'd and tortur'd and torn part from part Ask not by Whom but recollect who were They whose bold Charms in Court did domineer 107. Logos that wiley Fox Was never well But when on you and Us he made a prey Some hansome Tale or other He would tell Whereby to your Mistake He might betray Your unheard Subjects From your Highness thus He stole your Eare onr Liberty from Us. 108. His Majors Minors Maxims Demonstrations With most profound Deceit He gravely drest And by these sage and reverend Conjurations Pour'd Cruelty into your Gentle Breast And made you count his Plots good sober Reason Which in the Passions must have gone for Treason 109. Hence issued those Commands which day by day Illegall Burdens on our Backs did heap And to this sad Necessity betray Our loth Soules that they could no longer sleep In patient Silence Though all Warrants came From his fell Hand
Blemish Wrinckle Frown Mole Scar or Blot The inconsistent Stranger out she shut 144. Within rose Hills of Spice and Frankincense Which smil'd upon the flowrie Vales below Where living Chrystall roll'd its influence Whose musicall Impatience did flow With endlesse chiding the pure Gems beneath Because no smoother they had pav'd its Path. 145. The Nymphs which plaid about this Currents side Were milkie Thoughts tralucid fair Desires Soft Turtles Kisses Looks of Virgin-Brides Sweet Coolnesse which nor needs nor feareth Fires Snowie Imbraces cheerly-sober Eyes Gentilenesse Mildnesse Ingenuities 146. At full length on the Beds of floures did lie Smiling Content Ease Sweetness Softness Pleasure Whilst in the carpet-Walks there danced by Calmeness Long-days Security and Leisure Accomplish'd Growth brisk Firmitude and Health The onely Jewell which makes wealthy Wealth 147. Your Roses heer would onely spend their Blusn On their own Ougliness should they compare With those pure Eys with which the Rosie Bush Looks up and views its beauteous Neighbours there Nor are your Lilies white if those were by Whose leaves are all fair-writ with Purity 148. Liban and Carmell must submit their Heads To Paradise's foot the Balme Nard Myrrh And every Odour of Arabia's Beds Would begge to borrow richer Sweetness heer Nor would Adoni's Garden scorne to be Their fellow-suiter for true Suavitie 149. The early Gales knock'd gently at the doore Of every floure to bid the Odours wake Which taking in their softest Arms they bore About the Garden and return'd them back To their own Beds but doubled by the Blisses They sipp'd from their delicious Brethrens Kisses 150. Upon the Wings of those inamouring Breaths Refreshment Vigor and new Spirits attended And wheresoe'r they flew cheer'd up their Paths And with fresh Aires of Life all things befreinded For Heavn's all-sweetning Spirit its breath did joyn To make the Powers of these Blasts divine 151. The goodly Trees their fertile Arms did bend Under the nobler load of fruit they bore That Orchard which the Dragon did attend For all its Golden Boughs to this was poor As well the greater Serpent knew who crept Hither betimes and heer his curs'd Watch kept 152. Of Fortitude there stood a goodly Row Heer of Munificence a thick-set Grove Of Industry a Quick-set there did grow Heer flourished a dainty Copps of Love There sprung up pleasant Twiggs of ready Wit Heer a large Tree of Gravity was set 153. Heer Temperance grew and wide-spred Justice there Under whose moderate Shaddow Piety Devotion Mildness Friendship planted were Next stood Renowne with Head exalted high Then Peace with Plenty Fatnesse Happinesse O blessed Place where grew such things as these 154. Yet what are these ifby Death's envious Hand Or they or their fruition blasted be This to prevent at carefull Heav'ns Command Amidst the rest sprung up an helpfull Tree Which nobly prov'd it self a Branch to be Pluck'd from the grand stock of Eternity 155. Amidst them all it sprung for well it knew Its proper Seat and chose the Gardens Heart What place could more than that to Life be due Whence Vigor round might flow and reach each part Fresh Heat and Spirits hung about it thick The leav's did breath and all its fruit was quick 156. By this the mighty Tree of Knowledge stood For where should Wisdom dwell but next the Heart Its Leavs were written fair but writ with blood Holding forth Learning and capricious Art O fatall Tree how wise had Adam grown If He thy woefull knowledge had not known 157. High in the shady Galleries sate a Quire Well worthy such a Chappell Birds of Praise Whose most harmonious Throats did all conspire To pay for their sweet Home in sweeter Layes With whom soft Echo needs her skill would shew And though she kept slow time yet she sung true 158. This Mapp ofWonders this Epitomie Of all Heav'ns Pride this Court ofRarities This Confluence ofblessed Gallantry Was that so much renowned Paradise Renowned yet ô how much higher than The loftiest Praise it ever reap'd from Men 159. The great Creator hither Adam brings As to the Portall of Celestiall Blisse And See said He of these illustrious Things I give thee free choise bating onely this One Tree of Knowledge all the rest are thine Eate what thou wilt but let that still be mine 160. If thy presumptious Hand but touch that Tree Thy liquorish Crime must cost thy Life and thou By Deaths immediate Tallons seized be Death Adam Death hangs thick on every Bough Loe there the Tree of Life 's as neer as that Take heed thou di'st not for thou knowst not what 161. O Noble Master whose vast Love did give A world at once and yet require no more But that his Creature would have care to live And so in safetie possesse his Store Who ties Him to no homage but to shun Being by his own needlesse fault undone 162. After this easie Charge upon a Throne Built all of Power He his Lieutenant set To exercise his new Dominion Upon his Subjects for before his seat By Heav'ns Command the Beasts now marshell'd were In modest equipage all Pair by Pair 163. When Adam fix'd on them his awfull Eye The Lyon couch'd the Horse let fall his crest Behemoths Tail mounted before so high Melted down to the ground the Bull deprest His Horns the Boar suck'd in his foam the Bear The Wolfe the Tiger louted low for fear 164. Like reverence bowed down the other Crew Flat on the ground when from their Soveraigns Face Such full beams of imperiall Brightnesse flew As spake it plainly the Creators Glasse Fair the Reflection was which could command The rudest Beasts the truth to understand 165. As these their duty did the Eagle drew Up every rank and file of winged Things Thither the Estrich Vultur Falcon flew Thither a flock of every Bird that sings Thither the Peacock but with train full low For down fell all its Stars ecclipsed now 166. The most magnanimous Cock came strutting on Disdaining Heav'n and Earth till he drew neer His mighty Soveraigns all-awing Throne From whence upon his surly neck flew Fear His wings flagg'd low his fiery gullet grew Languid and pale his combe and forehead blue 167. Wise Adam mark'd them all and sent his Eye To scarch their bosoms Cabinets where He read Th' essentiall Lines and Characters which by Natures late Hand were 〈◊〉 fashioned Their Difference their Kinred and Relations Their Powers their Properties and Inclinations 168. Thus of their inward Selves inform'd He thought What Titles would most correspondent be To their own Bosoms sense and having wrought Up in one Word each Natures Mystery He took Acquaintance of them all by Name Then with a Princely Nod dismissed them 169. They went in loving Pairs Which as He saw He fetch'd a gentle Sigh to think that He His nobler Life in Solitude should draw Whil'st all things else enjoy'd Society What boots it him that He raigns Soveraign Lord If all his World can Him no Queen
poisnous Misery 13. Your scorn by wretched Me so deeply ern'd My wronged Freinds at length let me obtein O Charis my all guilty Soule is burn'd By those fair Flames which in thine Aspect reigne How can such Night-birds as vile I endure The holy Lightning of a Look so pure 14. And Yoa deare Phylax lose your Pains no more Upon an undeserving hideous Thing Why should proud Psyche dwell as heretofore Under the shelter of thy scorned Wing O let it free it self and take its flight Why should black I defile an House so white 15. The odious Bat with more decorum will Flutter about a Thing as dark as she And lend her sooty Wings to make a veil For correspondent Ouglines in me The ominous Raven will fitter be to spread Her swarthy Plumes on my polluted Head 16. Let me enjoy the sad Inheritance Of my deep-stained Birth Was I not born Apparent Heir to an entayld Mischance Did not my wretched Beings lowry Morn Dawn with eternall Night Dwelt not Death in The fatall Spring of my Parentall sin 17. Why must my breath defile the Virgin Air Why must I load the harmlesse Earth with Guilt Why must I stain the World which would be fair If I were gone My Tombe is ready built In any place where Filth and Dunghils lie Let Justice have her course and let me die 18. My due Home is where Arrogance and bold Rebellion dwell O Let me thither goe May worthy Eys behold the Sunns fair Gold And view their way to Heav'n I have to doe With nought but Pitch and Darknes which may hide The equall Horror of my wilfull Pride 19. My heav'nly Spouse ô why doe I blaspheme That Spouse who long desired to be mine Me thinks from Heav'n doth with a piercing Beam Full on my face and faithlesse Bosome shine And by that Light read all that Treason I Have wrought against his loving Majesty 20. O it will scorch Me up I my Sinnews crack My Bones are burnt and all my Marrow fries My Bosome melts the Flame devoures my back My Heart flows down and wofull Psyche dies I die and yet I breath My Death lives still No kinde of Slaughter e'r like this did kill 21. Surely the Flames which make all Hell so black Are cool and gentle if compar'd with these Why goe I not to take my Kinder Rack And in th' infernall Torments finde some Ease Have done fond fruitlesse Tears you are too weak The greater Torrent of this Fire to slake 22. Here Phylax here loe I my selfe ungird This Token can no treacherous Heart befit Return it back to my abused Lord And beg my Pardon who have stayned it What will it not unbuckle Must I be Still Pris'ner to his wronged Courtesie 23. And must this Girdle now besiege Me round With an indissoluble Check of my Disloyaltie Must I thus close be bound Up in my Selfe and not have room to flie From what I hate far more than Death and Hell The sinfull Blots of which this Breast is full 24. So strait upon my griped Soul the Chains Of deep Damnation can no Torments tie As this sweet Cincture bindes me to the Pains Of self-confusion O Me Here her Crie Did with her Spirits faint and down she fell Griefs totall Prey and Pitties Spectacle 25. Pitty was neer For Charis stood close by Whose yearning bowells all this while did move But rous'd more by herfall she instantly Obey'd the nimble Violence of Love Love mov'd her Heart and that her Hand by which To fainting Psyche she reliefe did reach 26. She took her up and with a sweet Imbrace Instilled gentle Warmth into her Breast Whose never-failing Virtue did displace Griefs vast Plethora which had her opprest And by delicious degrees restore Her ship wrack'd Thoughts to their composed shore 27. So have I seen a wise Physition New spirits to his swowning Patient give Who though his Heart before were sunk and gone Doth by the Potion it again receive Whil'st in the cheerly salutiferous Cup A draught of liquid Life he drinketh up 28. Awakened Psyche with amazed Eyes Beheld her Friends but wonder'd more to see Her stout Disease made a tame Sacrifice Unto that heav'nly Cordiall which she Felt reigning in her breast and which did seize Her Heart both with Astonishment and Ease 29. Ambiguous Fancies toss'd her up and down Uncertain whether some Dreams Flattery Into a vain Elysium had thrown Her cheated Soul or whether truely she Was by some courteous Gale snatch'd from the Billows And on the Bank laid safe on Peace's pillows 30. Which Charis seeing You may trust said she Your sudden Happinesse which wears no Cheat. But see that you misplace no thanks on Me Which all are more than due unto your great And constant Spouse who though forgot by You Could not his Love away so quickly throw 31. Those life-renewing Sweets I brought you down Were none of mine He sent both me and them He knew your Wants and counted them his own Who longs to have you be all one with him Then by these Comforts which have cur'd your Smart Learn who it is that most deserv's your Heart 32. O'r-powred with unweildy Thanks and Praise At this vast Tide of her obtruding Blisse Here Psyche strove her labouring Breast to ease Yet neither Thanks nor Praise she could expresse For what she had conceived was so great She neither could contain nor utter it 33. But Phylax seeing her sweet Agonie Cri'd 't is enough Heav'n can hear mute Desires Come Psyche you shall travell now with me To finde full fuell for your amorous Fires It will be worth your voyage when you see What Balm did grow to heal your Miserie 34. The God of Goodnesse by his powerfull Eye Reaching those Things which yet were short of Being Did in the Volumes of Eternity Read all the future World where clearly seeing What mischiefe would be done by foolish Pride A potent Remedie He did provide 35. Indeed had no Redemption invited Thy Spouse to Feast the World with his dear Blood Yet to Mans Nature hee would have united His own that the Creation might have stood Fast ti'd unto its Maker and by this Conjunction been neer sharer in his Bliss 36. But seeing by Hereditarie Stains The Stream of Humane Blood runs foule and black It found work for the virtue of his Veins The Poyson of the tainted Flood to check Which nobly he perform'd as thou shalt see When I have led thee through his Historie 37. As she now cheer'd her heart and count'nance up A radiant Chariot caught her wondering Eye The winged Steeds foam'd at that little stop And though their Wings were down their thoughts did fly Speed was the Chariots Mettall and each Wheel Composed was of never-tyring Zeal 38. Come Psyche come this Couch for haste doth call Cri'd Phylax fear not 't is no cheating one Nor like thy last will bear thee to thy Fall I mean to hold the Reigns Come let 's be one If you
their Fire-branes mixed heavy Chains 262. His Strength deceiv's him and his Bed is now His onely throne where he the King doth raign Of mighty Torments all his Bowells 〈◊〉 Exulcerated with deep-gnawing Pain And Water swelling underneath his Skin Adds scoffing torture to the fire within 263. His shamfull Parts are made more odious by Right down Corruption which grew fertile there With monstrous Vermin whose impatient frie Their most unpittied Prey aforehand tear The leisure of his grave they scorn'd to stay But undermine his Heart and eat their way 264. And yet a Worm far worse then those was got Thither before which did his Conscience gnaw To stisle which long did He labour but The trusty Torment still did stronger grow And wound about his guilty Soule so close That no Inventions power could get it loose 265. His Sinews shrunk and all his Joynts forgot The ready service of their wonted motions The Aire which He had long defil'd would not Wait on his Lungs but frequent Suffocations Forc'd him to die as many deaths as He Indebted stood for by long Tiranny 266. Oft did he call his Freinds but neither they Nor his Physitians durst come neer his Bed For his hell-breathing stinck obstructs the way To Physick and to Freindship Never did The Feinds below more loud for Pitty crie Nor finde lesse comfort for their Misery 267. The dismall scene of Bethlehem-slaughter now Was open layd unto his burning Soule The running shreiking Mothers there he saw And all the Infants Blood which seem'd to roule Into his Bosome in a violent stream Yet not to quench but to augment the flame 268. An hundred Furies at hot contestation Which first upon his bloody Heart should seize With Hells wide mouth and the grand Preparation To entertain him there at large he sees And seems to hear all Ages poure a stream Of cursing Detestations on his Name 269. To Heav'n He would not and he could not cry But let the reins loose to wilde Desperation And now resolved once for all to die Contrives how He might his owne murther fashion And by his never-daunted cruelty Upon himselfe conclude his Tyrannie 270. He thought of Poyson but He had no friend Who would that cruell Courtesie supply Besides he fear'd no Venome could contend With his extreemly-posnous Malady At length by woefull Fortune He 〈◊〉 His Fauchion hanging by his 〈◊〉 side 271. Which as He snatch'd a venturous Page ran in And stopp'd the stroke but could not stop his throat Which straight He opened to an equall Sin And in the face of Heav'n spew'd out his hot Impatient Blasphemies next which He threw His Courses upon all the World he knew 272. Mean while to prison where his Son in Chains He kept the false News of his death was spred Which whil'st Antipater gladly entertains His Smiles became the price of his own head Herod but heard he smil'd and now the Worms Had eat his Bowells at his Son he storms 273. Yet shall that Villan know that I said He Have Life and Rage enough Him to destroy Now by these finall Spirits which pant in me I swear His Life shall answer for his Joy Fetch me his Heart that with these Vermin here Their fellow-trayter I all torn may tear 274. Their fellow-trayter and their Fellow-Son For from my Body sprung both He and They And both conspire in my destruction By Gnawing they by smiling He. Away Fetch me his Heart that having bless'd mine Eye With that deare sight I may the cheerlyer dy 275. Yet not content with this sole Sacrifice To his vast fury he contrives a way How all his Nobles to his Obsequies No lesse than all their Blood and lives might pay That Sighs and Tears might wait upon his Herse If not for his own Death at least for theirs 276. But Heav'n prevented this fell Plot and He Now having five dayes liv'd and felt his Death No Prayers but his wonted Blasphemy Repeated and blew out his finall breath So an old Dragon when his Spirits flit Breaths his last Poyson and his Life with it 277. Hell had his Soul no sooner swallowed But pious Josephs Angel hither came And as the Saint lay on his sober Bed Painted the News unto Him in his Dream Bidding Him now return to Jewry where The storm was over and the Coast grown clear 278. Thus did th' Angel his own Word fulfull And justifie the Prophets Vision For great Hosea did of old fore-tell That out of Egypt God had call'd his Son Joseph awakes and unto Mary shews The long-expected and now welcome News 279. His thrifty House-hold-stuffe then packing up And tenderly providing for his dear And mighty Charge He makes no doubt or stop A pious Breast allows no room for fear When e'r Heav'n summons it but cheerly sets Onward his Way before the Day permits 280. For now the Morn lay long before she rose And dull Aquarius would not wake the Sun Till it was late Thus did thy hardy Spouse In the Years most disconsolate Portion His journey take and teach Thee what to doe At any time when Heav'n shall bid Thee goe 281. This the Ninthe Winter was which seal'd the Earth With Ice and covered his Seal with Snow Since by his own to Wonders He gave Birth Who in a Soil most like to that did grow Bate but the cold and churlish Qualities And what 's a Virgins Womb but Snow and Ice 282. This Age had more inabled Him to bear A speedy Journey and did much allay The scruples of his tender Parents Care Who now with greater haste devour'd their way Than when to Egypt they did pick their Path And thus in peace reach'd their old Nazareth 283. Their Nazareth for sacred Prophesies By adamantine Bands are surely tied To their Effects The Fire shall sooner freeze All Mettalls in a Bank of Snow be tried The Sun because of Night of Drought the Rain Then Falsehood any Prophets Tongue can stain 284. Those quick-ey'd Seers long agoe had seen His Habitation there and had foretold His humble Surname should be Nazarene A Name of holy Dignity of old Which sate fair on all pious Heads untill It was out-shined by the Christian Stile 285. And Psyche what should We doe longer here Come let Us follow their deare Steps and see Some further Marvells of thy Spouse and where He prosecuted Loves sweet Mystery This said He gave his Steeds the Rains and they Together with the Winde snuff'd up their Way PSYCHE OR LOVES MYSTERIE CANTO IX The Temptation ARGUMENT IN the dead Desert Love Whom salvage Beasts Acknowledged by eager Famin is Assail'd who forty Dayes upon Him feasts To her sharp Teeth slie Satan joyneth his Soft Tongue yet both their utmost Powers set But ope the way unto their own Defeat 1. WHat reach of Reason e'r could Fadome why Slight Dust and Ashes vile Corruptions Son The Heir apparent to the Misery Which lives in Death and blends Destruction With all its Life the Worms own
frown on Thee who betray'st its Son The Lord of Life to Death thy Saviour to Most sure most undeserv'd Destruction Into one Bolt let all Gods Thunders goe And on thy cursed Heart his Justice throw Which scorned all the Mercie He could show 226. That Stroke will send Thee down into thy Place Of Death but yet of never-dying Pain Where melted with the flames of this my face Thy thirty silver Peeces I will drain Into thy Heart that Thou mayst shreik and roat Whilst there they burn and boile for evermore 227. This said th' infulting Prince of Tyranny In scornfull Spight with-drew being confident Maturity would get her Wings and flie To overtake his Plot yet e'r he went Seav'n times he thresh'd the Conscience with the flaile Of his enormous poyson-pointed Taile 228. As when the Deluge in great Noahs time Broke out upon the World and with a Sea Of universal Woe surpriz'd the Crime Of that impenitent Age their Misery To those unhappy Mortals op'd their graves In Desperation first then in the Waves 229. So Judas taken in this mighty flood Of deepest Anguish had no power to think How to escape or that his Saviours blood Might drown that sea in which he fear'd to sink O no! the thought of that dear blood alone Pour'd on his face Guilts blushing Ocean 230. Since long ago his Trust He rather built On Money than on God he durst not hope That Mercie now could reach his heightned guilt And thus by fear to impudence set ope The way for by this dread of goodnesse he Gives flat defiance to its Lenitie 231. And now sees vengance aiming at his head And his foule Treason flying in his face He sees the whole Worlds anger marshalled Against his odious crime He sees the place Deep in the heart of Hell where damned He Designed is for evermore to be 232. With that his Cloths his Hair his Flesh he tore He roar'd he rav'd and thus to cursing fell May that unhappy day be read no more In any Calendar but that of Hell Which to this balefull Life did me betray A Life to living Death the dying way 233. Curs'd be my Father who did me beget Curs'd be my Mother who did me conceive Curs'd be my Nurse because in every Bit She mix'd not Poison which might Me repreive From this most damned Night And cursed be All sicknesses which would not murder me 234. Curs'd be this Hand of mine which oft has had A Knife and yet forbore my throat to cut Curs'd be these Feet which oft their way have made Over the brows of Precipices yet Would never stumble that I might have fell Then but to Earth who tumble now to Hell 235. Curs'd be that Day which me acquainted brought With Jesus and enroll'd my ominous Name Amongst his Chaplanes Cursed be that thought Which spur'd me to the Priests to trade with them Curs'd be the project which hath curs'd me so Curs'd be the Bargain and the Chapmen too 236. Curs'd be this Garden upon every bed May fatall Hemlock Woolfbane Poppy grow May Vipers Adders Basilisks be spred In every corner on each Tree and Bough May Ravens and Scritchowls dwell that something may Resemble Judas here another day 237. Another day ô no! may thickest Night Upon this Sceen of Treason ever dwell That neither Sun nor Star may reach their light More unto this than to the other Hell The bloody beams of Ghosts and Furies will With fittest lustre this black garden fill 238. But may the deepest of all Execrations On you my thirty silver torments fall How shall I be reveng'd on your temptations Which thus have drown'd me in a Sea of Gall Is there no way base pale and paltry Clay How I may you as you did me betray 239. Shall I take you along with me to Hell And hold you fast amidst my endlesse flames Or send you back unto your former Cell The High-Priests wicked Bag surely this seems The blacker and the deeper Pit and I Thither again will damn you instantly 240. This said Like that tormented Man in whose Possessed heart a Legion of Feinds Did tyrannize He to the Citie goes Where in the Temple he his Chapmen findes Unhappy Temple which was now Possest With them as was with Satan Juda's Breast 241. With hideous yelling he amongst them ran Flinging about his hands his head his eyes And having strein'd his ejulation Wide as his throat could reach O Me he cries My sin burns in my breast and domineers Too high to hope for quenching from my tears 242. No Expiation does that Altar know Which for my deep di'd guilt can satisfie The stream of Jesu's blood so full doth flow On my unpardonable Soule that I Am drown'd for ever in my deep offence Being Condemned by his Innocence 243. Take your vile Money and my Curse with it May all Heav'ns wrath your bloody Bargain crown Here with indignant furie having spit On Them first on his Silver next and thrown It at their hated Heads away He flung Raving and Cursing as he ran along 244. For all the way he thought he struggled through An Army of reviling Detestations Over his head he both his Arms did throw To sh heild it from his own Imaginations Through which from heav'n and earth such arrows flew As wounded Him at every stop a new 245. For Melancholy dark as is the Pitch Which on the throat of Hell so thick doth grow Chok'd every glimpse of Sense and Reason which Offer'd to dawn in his Soules sphear and show Him by what torturing Mistakes he had Himselfe unto Himselfe a Tyrant made 246. Thus came He to a secret silent Place Without the Town yet could not think it so For still he fancied all the City was Hot in the chase of Him 〈◊〉 Saviours Foe Each Bird or Flie that moved made him start Each Winde that puffed blew quite through his heart 247. His Eyes distracted were first looking up For fear least Heav'n should fall upon his head Then down least Earth her dread full Mouth should ope And snatch him to his grave e'r he were dead Till tired with this fear his breast he stroke And into right down Desperation broke 248. Adieu all hopes he cries and fears adieu Come Veng ance come my heart is ready here I see how vainly I my Money threw Back to the Priests whose burden still I bear The Rust sticks close and heavy still upon My knawed Soule and I must be undone 249. If Heav'n be just why does it yet delay To poure its Wrath on my deserving head Am I not Judas He who did betray Its onely Son Is not my Conscience red With his most innocent Blood and yet must I Be still endur'd to live when He must die 250. At least great Satan doe not thou deny Thy Servant Pay for this grand Work which He Hath compass'd with unparalleld Treachery In high obedience to thy Hell and Thee No Soule did ever more than I have done Nor ernd
Such genuine beams of Piety descrised As soon dispell'd all mists of Jealousie Which serupulous Fear had rais'd unknown untried She is receiv'd Besides the holy Priest By Heav'n was warn'd to entertain this Guest 180. Phylax withdrew his nimble Selfe into His Closet of Invisibility Yet still attended on his Psyche who Approached to the royall Mystery With such brave fervor that her hungry Haste Almost as boundlesse seemed as the Feast 181. O how her Soule into the Dish did leap And dive down to the Bottom of the Cup With what Inamorations did she weep What sighs of Joy did break her bosome ope How did Fear strive with Love How did she groan Between Humility and Ambition 182. O how She thinks her Lips and Heart impure And yet she cannot for a World refrain She knows not how this Life she should endure If from the Life of Life She must contain She knows not how her Iron should for beak To meet the Loadstone now it was so neer 183. Whilst in this dainty Agony she lay Into her Mouth the Priest gives her her Blisse Which to her Heart directly took its way And drown'd it in exuberant Sweetnesses She now no longer Psyche is for she Is all converted into Ecftafie 184. O most Miraculous Feast how fain my Song Would be Luxuriant in admiring Thee But neither mine nor Phylax's high Tongue Knows how to reach that lofty Harmonie Of all united Sweets and Joyes which lie In bounteous Loves protoundest Mystery 185. Yet may my pained Soule have leave to lay At this Songs foot its just and heavy Sighs Which never since mine Eyes first op'd on Day So deeply rellished Lifes miseries The more my shame whose mighty Sins for Me Have earned this Heart-knawing Agonie 186. Time was when Heav'n in this late happy 〈◊〉 Kept open house when this Celestiall Feast Did freely wooe all Hearts to come and fill Their holy Appetites with all the best Of antidated Blisse and grow Divine With this Spirituall mighty Bread and Wine 187. But now both Feast and Bord devoured are By a new Banquet as jejune and drie As barren Air for all this Pulpit Cheer Feeds but the itching Ears strange Boulimie Whilst still the Heart remains as lank and thin And nothing fatter grows but lusty Sin 188. Sin fatter grows so fat that now it dares Kick both at Earth and Heav'n and scorns to be Aw'd by those generous and ingenuous Fears Which are the Reins of Virtuous Modesty It mocketh Veng'ance and derideth Law Because their patient Sword they slowly draw 189. O how come Christian Soules so well content To want the choisest Viands Heav'n could give O how preposterously Abstinent Are they who with all riotous Dainties strive To fortisie the Belly but can finde No Time to Victuall and enforce the Minde 190. Surely those Hero's were more prudent far Upon whose nearer hearts the warmer Blood Of Jesus dropp'd not once a Moneth or year Ordivers Years they with this holy Food Cheer'd up their Soules but every Morning fed And made the Lord of Life their Daily Bread 191. With Heav'n this alway kept their bosomes warme This made Them Eagle-like their strength renew With death-despising Courage this did arme Their gentlest Spirits By this they Masters grew Of Earth and Hell which having trampled down Heav'n too by Violence They made their own 192. But ô my Heart why art Thou stealing thus From thine own Woes thy Neighbours to deplore Time was when whilst thine unsledged Wickednesse Flew not at Heav'ns long patient face nor tore This Judgment thence I once a Week at least Could at this Bord of Blessings be a Guest 193. Then with sweet Comfort could I turn mine Eye Back on the year which with Delight did run Then could I count what Gains I reaped by My constant Trading in Devotion Rejoycing in my satisfied Minde That every Sunday I in Heav'n had din'd 193. But now the flaming Coursers of the Sun Are drawing on the fourteenth Moneth since I Attended on the Celebration Of this sweet life-enlivening Mystery Which yet I then was fain to steal and so A Thief that Day to Paradise did goe 194. I went indeed But a Forbidden Tree Strait woo'd my liquorish Hand and foolish I Beleev'd the flattering Bait and would not see How treacherous an Hook beneath did lie Dear wonderous dear this heedlesse Fault did cost Me For all my heav'nly Joyes and Powers it lost Me 195. It lost Me all and no Recruit was nie But I am lest aPrey to this long Fast O how the Palate of my Soule is drie What burning Drought doth shrivell up and waste The Bowels of my Heart how is my Minde With most uncomfortable Squalor pin'd 196. O how my Understandings Pinions tire And flag below when I aloft would soar What leaden Numnesse damps those hopes of Fire With which my Fancie'gan to glow before What Languor cloggs my fainting Will whilst On dark unworthy Earth thus groveling lie 197. O how this drie and barren Verse attests The heavy Truth of these my Lamentations O pitty Me all you whose gentle Breasts E'r felt the Stings of Mysticall Vexations Pitty Me ô my candid Readers now What makes me tire your Patience you know 198. Had I my wonted Share in that dear Feast Which with celestiall Spirits embraves the Heart A fairer Banquet I for You had drest Who now can onely by my pined Smart Warn You to prize and to imbrace with 〈◊〉 Religious Tendernesse what I have lost 199. Lost hitherto But must that Losse run on And can my Life mean while make good its Name Can Day maintain her Self if once the Sun Deny to feed her with his vitall Flame Can Rivers keep their constant full-tide Course If once the living Spring doth them divorce 201. O tender King of Love whose sumptuous Care For hungry Hearts that high Provision made Behold my starved Soule lies gasping here For one dear Crumb of thy mysterious Bread And craves to cool its burning Tongue one Drop Of liquid Life from thy all-saving Cup. 202. I know my Worthlessenesse sweet Lord and how Unfit I am to look for any Share In those peculiar Delicates which Thou For thine own genuine Children didst prepare Yet to a Dogg once more thy leave afford To catch what falleth from thy Childrens Bord. PSYCHE OR LOVES MYSTERIE CANTO XIII The Death of Love ARGUMENT LOve having Liv'd for Man is pleas'd to Dy To make his purchase sure by Life and Death Through Earths profoundest Gulfe of Tyranny And the vast Ocean of Heav'ns mighty Wrath He nobly waded and upon the Shore Having first spent his Blood his Soule did poure 1. SOule of all Sweets ô Life how dear art Thou To all that ever had a Taste of Thee How much of Heav'n it selfe infus'd doth flow Into the region of thy Suavity Indeed Heav'n were not Heav'n did it not joyn To make it Selfe by Marrying Thee divine 2. Thou in the Center of Divinity Before the Birth of
did flie Unto the bottome of Nights nideous Sea That now Sins Blacknesse chased was away Earth might behold a double glorious Day 421. But will no Pitty on the Body look Which now has born the utmost spight of spight Yes Arimathean Joseph undertook To pay unto it its Sepulchral Right And now with loving Loyaltie doth mean To prove that he had a Disciple been 422. A true Disciple though a Secret one Witnesse his Fear to generous Courage grown For though his Master now were dead and gone His Faith revives nor shall the High-priests Frown Or Peoples Fury fright his Duty from Yeilding his Saviour his own costly Tombe 423. A Man of honorable Place was he And Pilate easily grants him his Request The Corps resigned is unto his free Disposall which he straight-way doth invest With daintiest Linen that the Winding Sheet Might Delicacie learn by Kissing it 424. Right well he Knew this solemn Paschal Feast For bad him all Pollution by the Dead And yet his pious Love durst not desist Till he this votive Task had finished Being assur'd he could not stained be By handling the dead Corps of Purity 425. But is Ho busie was another Freind Came in good Nicodemus who by Night On Iesus whilst He lived did attend To gain for his obscured Judgment Light And in his blacker Night of Death doth now His gratefull Pietie upon Him bestow 426. Of pretious aromatick Mixtures He An hundred Weight doth bring to sacrifice Unto this Bodies service so to be Enobled and enhanced in its price The O dours smiled as they kiss'd the Skin For by that Touch more Sweetnes they did win 427. Mean while the Instruments of Death for this The manner was were younder buried Where they shall sleep untill a Queen shall rise Out of thy Albion from whose blessed Bed A Prince shall spring who shall exalt above His Roman Eagles the meek Christian Dove 428. Their deer Discovery is reserv'd for none But venerable Helen who when here Hot in her passionate Devotion Her Saviours Sufferings She her selfe shall bear Transfiguring her Miditating Heart Into each severall Torture Wound and Smart 429. Those noble Relicts shall revealed be In recompence of her brave Love and Zeal There for the Jewells She shall Dig and see At length the rude but glorious Spectacle The Crosse and Nail She there shall finde Which her Lords Body pain'd and her own Minde 430. Inestimable shall their Worth be held One of those Nailes to Constantine shall seem Illustrious enough his Head to gild And sit enthron'd upon his Diademe Two in his Bridle shall triumph when He Rides through the World like King of Victory 431. The Fourth shall tame the Adriatik Man And naile it fast unto its bottome so That on its equall pacisied Plain The unmolested Ships may safely goe Then by this Gem shall that enriched Sea More wealthy than the eastern Ocean be 432. But for the noble Crosse no Toung can tell The Wonders that shall spring from that drie Tree Which hew'd out by Devotions Edge shall fill The zealous World and quit that Injury Which from the fatall Bough in Eden spread Through all the 〈◊〉 sown with humane Seed 433. Persia shall take it Captive yet not dare To look upon its Pris'ner Pietie Shall thence redeem it by a 〈◊〉 War And then return it to its Calvarie When great Heraclius his own royall Back A willing Chariot for it shall make 434. But come my Dear here on the Western side Of this now holy Mountain Thou mayst see The pretious Sepulchre of Him who di'd And who was also Buried for Thee This Rock is it Come lets 's into the Cave No Temple is more holy than this Grave 435. Loe here good Joseph did the Body lay Here lay the blessed Head and here the Feet Hard was the Couche and yet no Princes may Compare their Beds with it which was more sweet Than Solomons although Arabia did With all her sweetest Sweets goe there to bed 436. The Phaeni'x balmie grave could never show Such soveraign Riches of perfumes as here Did from thy blessed Saviours Body flow Who soon the truer Phoenix did appear O pretious Place No Mau 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Into comparison with this must come 437. What are the Monuments of Kings but 〈◊〉 Memorials of their putid Rottennesse Whilst odious Worms and Dust inshrined are Iu specious Gold and Marble But in this Plain Sepulchre bold 〈◊〉 found Her Hands were more than the dead 〈◊〉 bound 438. This is that Oratorie Psyche now Whither the 〈◊〉 Soules 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 Themselves and their best 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they Here all their Zealous 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 With their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And in this Air their warmest 〈◊〉 they 〈◊〉 439. Yet time 's at hand when bold Idolatrie Will venture to prophane this sacred Place To turn this Paradise into a stie And holinesses beauty to deface To build Hels soveraign Monster odious Jove Upon this monument of divinest love 440. But all in vain for Christian Eagles still Will to the place of the dear carcase fly And their impatient devotions fill By feasting on its pretious memory Jove though the most impure of things is not So foule as this Toombs puritie to blot 441. And here may'st thou for I thy heats discover Sweet Psyche stay and ease thy burning heart Thy Uows and Prayers here thou may'st run over And with the pious world take thy free part Doe riot in thy zeal I will attend And keep the door till thou hast made an end 442. Psyche who scarcely for this cue could wait Fell on her face and kiss'd the reveren'd floor Where her brave flames so melted her that strait Her armorous sighs and soule she forth did pour And by the strong embrace of Faith and Love Seem'd there to hug Him who was high above 443. Through all his pains and all his wounds she went And on her own heart printed every one Her bowels with his wofull cry she rent And wish'd not 〈◊〉 seeing he found none By bitter thoughts his nails his throns his spear She copied out by tears his Vinagre 444. But comming to his death she fetch'd a sigh Up from the bottome of her soule in hope Her life would have flown in its company And made her passion too compleatly up Striving in meek ambitious love to have The ready honor of her Saviours Grave 445. Desire lay boyling in her ardent breast With secret groans her Aspirations beat With restlesse panting she reach'd at that rest To which her Lord was flown and in the heat Of this contention she was towr'd so high That scarce her Body upon earth did lye 446. But when life held her on this dainty Rack In a full Ocean of Inamorations And mighty Ecstasies she strove to wrack Her labouring heart And yet these perturabtions And strong assaults of loves intestine war She by diviner loves assistance bare PSYCHE OR LOVES MYSTERIE CANTO XIV The Triumph of Love ARGUMENT LOve bindes in his own
Daughter and thou dost resist The course of thy Designe whilst thou dost shut Out Arts and Sciences the Wings whereby Proud Spirits as well as Generous soar high 33. But if thou choosest Virtues craggie Way And dar'st despise whate'r Thou see'st beneath If thy dull Bodies Burden cannot sway Thee downward if this Life to thee be Death If high thine Aim if heav'nly be the Heat Which doth in thy Heroick Bosome beat 34. Right generous is thy Enterprise but yet Strong Difficulties throng about it thick Bold inbred Dangers will encounter it Whilst thy wilde Passions all against it kick Nay thine own Heart unlesse thy Care be great Will Traytor prove and its own Plots defeat 35. Besides All They whose Bosomes tainted be With banefull Sins Contagion will joyn Their malice in a fell conspiracie Thy single Piety to undermine For all thy Virtue checks and chides their Vice And Thy fair Glories shame their Villanies 36. Thou art their Scandal and their Fame doth call Upon their deepest wariest Cares for aid Against that Blot thy Beauty throwss on all Those who of Virtues Hardship are afraid What Weapons wilt thou finde to force back them How shall thy Vessell strive against the Stream 37. Yet through this rampant Sea of Opposition Couldst Thou force ope thy way What wouldst Thou doe Against those stouter Billows of Perdition Which foam and roar wherever Thou dost goe Hell and its Prince their utmost Powers combine To terrifie and to enervate thine 38. And sure this Tempest would effect its Spight On thy weak Bark did not kinde Heav'n descend In pare aforehand did not Grace's light With cordial Assistance Thee befriend Did she not steer thy course and bid thee ride Secure upon the most outrageous Tide 39. Thy Life is nothing but a Tragick Sceen Of most inevitable Death if she By seasonable Help comes not between Thy faint Soule and its dire Catastrophe Grace onely doth condemned Man reprieve From fatall Woes and teach his Life to live 40. T was blessed Charis who so fast did move Phylax his Wings when He to Psyche flew And with the wholsome speed of heav'nly Love Her from the Jaws of the Cerinthians drew By shewing her the horror of that Pit Where Heresie and all her Brood did sit 41. But Phylax from that Grotreturned now His Chariot takes again and her with it Straight Gitton and Samaria sunk below For warned by the motion of their Bit The lusty Coursers took their sprightful wing And justling through the Clouds away did fling 42. As Psyche wonder'd whether they would flie She found her Selfe rapt to a gentle Sphear No Winde durst ever venture up so high Nor blow up any Tempests tumults there The onely Gales which in this Orb did move Were the delicious Breaths of Heav'n and Love 43. The onely Clouds which there did meet her Eye Thick Volumes of religious Ineense were The onely Noise which rooled through that skie Were holy Echo's that to her did bear The sweet Resounds of those rich Anthems which The Throats and Hearts of joyfull Saints did stretch 44. She mused much to think what Creatures were Inhabitants in that calm Sea of Blisse When loe a Troop of glistering Towers drew neer As her swift Chariot further on did presse And straight a goodly Palace fill'd her Eye With large and high-erected Majesty 45. Directly thither for they knew the way The Coursers speeded neighing as they slew But Phylax pluck'd the Reins to bid them stay When neer unto the outer Gate they drew Then lighting with his Virgin-pupill He Warnd her to ponder well what She did see 46. Never said he my Dear those Eyes of thine Though they have travell'd through the World so far Were honored with Object so divine As these with which they now saluted are No Pile e'r swell'd to such bright statelinesse All Princes Courts are Cottages to this 47. That pompous Fabrick which great Davids Son Built for a greater King was poor and plain If it be brought into comparison With this Magnificence which here doth reign As Shaddows doe the Substance so does that But blindly intimate this Temples state 48. The Gold which shin'd the Stones which sparkled there Were all th' ignoble Sons of dirty Earth But these substantial Glories flaming here Owe to Heav'ns Wombe their most illustrious Birth Nor was the Work atcheiv'd by Mortal Hand Which firm as Immortality doth stand 49. Hadst Thou my Wings and through the Sphears couldst flie Heav'ns most imperial Palace there to read That Spectacle would onely feast thine Eye With a more ample Copie wider spred And fuller drawn a Copie of what here Is written in a smaller Character 50. Mark well its Situation Caucasus The Alps th' Athlantick Mountains Ararat Noble Olympus nobler Lybanus Are in their highest exaltations not Halfe so sublime as is this royal Hill Which almost in both Worlds at once doth dwell 51. It s Head thou see'st to Heav'n next Neighbour is And upon Hell its Foot is surely set On Hell which often has repin'd at this Oppressing Burden and oft strove to get Its neck from under it but still in vain The Powers of all that vexed Pit did strein 52. For loe the Mountain's all one solid Rock Compacted in the Strength of Unity Though Hills of Brasse should yeild unto the shock Of Violence though Earths vast Base should be Shouldred out of its place this Mount would stand And laugh to scorn them who against it band 53. So stands the craggie Promontory sure With head erected high above the Storme When all the Windes against its Site conjure And thousand Waves with high-swolln fury arme It stands and sees the Blasts blown out of breath And all the 〈◊〉 shattered beneath 54. But mark the fabrick of this outer Gate And tell me if thou ever saw'st a more Unlikely Passage to a Court of State Strong the Materialls are but yet the Door Is built so low and so extreemly narrow That Worms not Men seem fit to scramble thorow 55. And Worms indeed the Passengers must be Poor thin and humble Things which enter here Big puffing Pride must never hope that She Shall through this Portal crowd or Worldly Care Swelld with Incumbrances and lagg'd with Sin At this small mystick Needles Eye thrust in 56. He whose unhappy Bosome 's stuff'd with Gold Whilst all his Baggs lie heaped in his Heart He who in Fat and Ease himselfe doth fold And never was shrunk up by any Smart Too burlie is to enter here and fit Through Hells wide-gaping Jaws alone to get 57. All secular Impostumes which doe rise From any Humors Superfluity From any Lusts or any Vanities From inward or from outward Luxury Can at this humble Passage finde no room But damm the Way to all that Laden come 58. This said He led the 〈◊〉 to the Gate Where though she shrunk and closely gatherd up Her selfe within her Selfe yet still to great She found her bulk that she was 〈◊〉 to stoop
〈◊〉 to Crave Enjoy the courteous Sun 〈◊〉 it doth shine And let this Dungeon not forestall thy grave Speak speak and bid Us live with thee or by Thy wilful silence send Us home to dy 231. So pleaded they But Psyche with a Groan Fetch'd deeper than the bottome of her Grot First vanquished their Lamentation Then with this most athletick Answer what Artillery their crafty tongues had brought From Pieties strong hold to force her out 232. I now no longer can the Jailer blame Who tempted me my Liberty to gain By being slave to Joves accursed Name And scorning him who on Heav'ns Throne doth reign Why should I look that Pagan He should be Kinder than you my Parents are to Me 233. My Christian Parents if you yet dare own That holy title who invite me now To kick at Christ. Alas that I am grown So execrable in your Eys that you As if this Dungeon were not deep enough Into Hels bottom Me should strive to throw 234. The sacred Law of Filial Duty I Hold dearer than this World for well I know Nor shall all Torments force me to deny This truth that unto you my Life I ow Which in your service if I shun or fear To spend may I prove an Idolater 235. But that 's the Life by which I Prisner am In this unworthy World A Life I have Which truer is unto its active Name A Life to high and pretious that to save It from the Jaws of endlesse Death his own The King of Heav'n thought not much to lay down 236. That Life I mean by which my Soule doth live A Life which from your Loins I never drew And therefore you doe but your selves deceive To think that this is to your Pleasures due God is my onely Father here and I Intire to Him must keep my loyalty 237. As fast as in this Mire I stick the way Of His Commands I now am running and Though you your Prayers or your Necks should lay Full in my path my passage to withstand I would not hear my mortal duty plead But on your Necks and Prayers freely tread 238. Yet Heav'n forbid I should be forc'd to take This hard experiment of Pietie O rather help to lead me to the stake And of my Combat there Spectators be You 'l ne re repent you to have seen your own Childe climbing up to Martyrdomes fair Crown 239. But since you know so well the vast extent Of Jesus Mercy know it not in vain Your own decrepit years bid you repent With speediest speed The foule and cankering stain Of your Idolatrous Complyance dares The utmost Power of your fullest Tears 240. Mispend not then those pretious Beads on Me Your selves need all their Ornament and I This onely favour crave that you would be But so courageous as yet to rely On Heav'ns Protection Speak ô speak and ease My throbbing hearts tormenting Jealousies 241. I burn I burn in Anguish till I hear You by a brave Profession defie Those Baits of secular ignoble fear Which lured you to your Apostasie Speak then and make my Life be sweet in spight Of all these Tortures which against it fight 242. So pious She. But feeble-hearted They Leaving no Answer but a faithlesse Sigh Their Griefs and Fears to witnesse went their way Confounded by their Daughters Constancy Yet by this foule Retreat They gave her more Soule-piercing Wounds then They had done before 243. For now her ominous Meditations threw Her down into that Gulfe of flaming Pain Which to Apostate Wickednesse was due Where every Torment every Rack and Chain To which her Parents seemed now to goe Pour'd on her tender Heart a Sea of Woe 244. But as She struggled to maintain this fight Of mighty Charitie She gan to faint When loe a sudden unexpected Light A Thing with which that Grot did ne'r acquaint The Place and Her with Glory did surprise Offring a radiant Stranger to her Eyes 245. For at her right Hand She beheld a Mayd On whose fair Head a diamond Crown did shine With gentle Majesty She was arrayd And all her Ornaments appear'd divine Psyche amazed at the heav'nly Sight Would fain have kneel'd to doe the Virgin right 246. But as her Sorenesse Mire and Chains forbad That reverence She fete'd a modest Sigh To which the Stranger this milde Answer made I see thy Minde in thy ingenous Eye Thy Courtesie by thy Desire is done And now my ear'nd Requital must comeon 247. This said She hugg'd her with a strait Embrace Softrait that closer than her Chains or Mire It stuck and deeplyer 〈◊〉 was Than her Disease through which it did 〈◊〉 Into her Heart and 〈◊〉 it up so close That now no Anguish there could interpose 248. As He who is some wager'd Race to run Having his Loyns girt up and being so Collected and ti'd to Himself 〈◊〉 With lighter stouter Nimblenesse doth goe Than when his waste He loose about him ware And there for 〈◊〉 had room to 〈◊〉 249. Embraced Psyche thus perceiv'd her 〈◊〉 Lace'd strait and shrunk into Collections 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 As first She wonder'd her 〈◊〉 Guest So much should presse her 〈◊〉 but it 〈◊〉 As that fresh Vigour glowed in her 〈◊〉 She knew She onely 〈◊〉 out her Smart 250. And now such Courage in her Soule did reign That She rejoyc'd She had so hard a Race Her gauntlet She dares give to any Pain And the most tedious Death look in the face Her Chains to her no more then Bracelets are Her boiling Sores as Pearls indeed appear 251. Her Parents Case She to Heav'ns Soveraign Wil t Can freely now resigne that Will which though It bitter seem to worldly Tastes yet still Doth unto uncorrupted Palats flow With all the Soule of Sweetnesse and can make From springs of Galla flood of Honey break 252. She seems as yet not to have gain'd her share Of Pangs and Sufferings and fears not to pray That He Who did such Strength for her prepare Would still more load upon her Shoulders lay More fewell still unto her tervour give Who now by nothing but by Pains could live 253. Nor was it wonder for the Stranger here Thenceforth a Stranger unto her no more Was sent from Heav'n a special 〈◊〉 To heal her Heart beginning to be sore With her Weak Body Willingly She 〈◊〉 And did her Work for 〈◊〉 was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 254. The Eyes of Lambs ne'r darred meeker Raies Then stream'd from hers and yet the Lyons face With stouter Bravery did never raise His royal Looks nor with more Courage gaze Upon and challenge Terrors than does She Though soft as honey or as Oyle She be 255. All over she was nothing else but skars Wnt large and fair to testifie what she Had undergone in Heav'ns victorious Wars And yet these Characters her beautie be For with such silver light they smile that they Much like a Tire of Stars do her array 256. Her busines being thus dispatched she The cheer'd reso'ved Prisner leaves
in fear Waiting the leisure of the Winde again Rise up unbruised and in peace remain 90. Thus I of late thy furious Unkle met One who had vow'd to tear his Birthright back And my poor life with it I Presents set Thick in his way gently to him I spake And by submission grew superior so That from the jaws of Wrath in peace I goe 91. And now because thy Brethren have been gone Abroad these many dayes least they surmise I take no pleasure but in thee alone Feasting mine own on thy all-lovely eyes To morrow thou unto their folds shalt goe And in their Fathers name see how they doe 92. Long e'r the Morn her ey-lids had with-drawn And op'd the East into its hopes of Day Joseph was up and dre'st and by his own Fair eyes being lighted well on in his way A thousand gentle phrases as he went He studied how his Brethren to content 93. But by the various beauties of his Coat Discerning him from farre behold said they The saucie Dreamer comes now we have got So faire an opportunity to slay Our foe t is wisdome to prevent in time That tyranny to which his Pride doth climbe 94. O no cryes Ruben one within whose heart More genuine drops of Jacob's blood did thrill He is a Childe and acts but his own part Dreams are but flitting toies but if wee spill His harmlesse blood the spot upon our head Will be no Dream beleeve 't but Guilt indeed 95. O rather cast him into yonder pit That hee from you may onely have his grave Let any other wrath that think 's it fit Give him his Death and bury in that Cave Your lesse offence doubtlesse nostars will bow To him whom from the sight of heav'n you throw 96. As hungry Wolves upon the helplesse Lamb So they on Joseph fall in vain had hee Studied the sweetest Blandishments to frame Of gentlest words and meekest modestie With loud revilings all his prayers they drown And stripp'd into the deep Pit throw him down 97. When loe a troop of Merchants passing by They money of their richer Brother make The thrifty Ismaelites admired why For such rich ware they would so little take No new-dug Pearl so fair did ever look As he when him up from the Pit they took 98. Yet twenty silver pieces was the price Which soon they paid and now were sure they bore To Memphi's Mart more pretious Merchandise Than all their swelling Packs of Midian store And thus a Slave to strangers Joseph is As were his Brethren unto Avarice 99. But yet his Coat they kept with this said they Jacob vex'd us and wee 'l vex him again A Kid they take as innocent a prey As Joseph was and with its Blood they stain The Roab which they unto their Father sent Blushing for them whose own shame all was spent 100. And well he knew 't O me the good Man cryes It is my Ioseph's Coat all torn and rent And bloody too Be free my weeping eyes Y' have nothing now to doe but to lament That onely day which joy'd and blest your sight My darlings face lyes buried in night 101. Dear Coat behold I rend mine own with thee Which is lesse worthy to be whole than thou Sure some wilde Beast thy Master tore and me Together with him though I felt not how It did indeed for it was spight a Beast Of all inhumane things the salvagest 102. Sweet Childe I hop'd to have prevented thee In seeing Rachel thy departed Mother But surely long behinde I will not bee Thy death brings grief enough my life to smother I 'l come as fast as an old Man can doe And see you Both Peace friends it must be so 103. But Ioseph now was into Egypt brought And set to sale One Potiphar by place Captain of Pharaoh's guard the strippling bought And reading plain in his ingenuous face Pure characters of worth hee doubted not Some more than common trust in him to put 104. Nor did the issue ever flag below His expectation for fidelitie For care for prudence his example now The onely Rule unto the rest must bee No task was set but every servant bid To minde his severall Charge as Ioseph did 105. But how could they keep pace with him who was Both led and hastned on by Heavn's high hand And made through all Successe's Paths to passe Which when his Master 'gan to understand With pious wisdome thus concluded hee My servant has some greater Lord than me 106. Wherefore contented only with the name Of Master him he trust 's with every Key Of highest care and charge and bids him frame As he thought best all his Oeconomy Thus did this unknown slave the Lord become Though not of his owne Lord yet of his Home 107. But whil'st this honoured Steward doth allure All other eys to reverentiall Love His Mistresse's grew sick of an impure And black disease which did it self improve Unto that strength that now abroad it fly's Like Basilisk's beams to poyson neighbour eys 108. At first it slept in that invenom'd lake Which in Hell's bottome stink's from whence a feind It in a red hot viall up did take And flying thither bâ— soft degrees did blend It with Potiphera's blood whose tainted veins Were strait made Chanels of Lust's boyling pains 109. Though Ioseph's Uirtue might aforehand be Assurance of deniall yet her flame With such impatient fury burnt that she All amorous enchantments tries to tame His rigid heart and Lust too oft we see In point of wit 's too hard for Chastity 110. What ever Word is spoke to Ioseph's praise Her echo doubles it and doth supply Some more pathetike and transcendent phrase To raise his merit to a pitch so high That He oblig'd in modestie might seem To render back that honour done to him 111. If any Bit were choise she thought it due To Ioseph's palate more than to her owne The rarest flow'r which in her garden grew Must be cull'd out and wreath'd into a Crown Or some quaint posie which her self invents And every Morning unto him presents 112. If he be well she dares not but be so If he be sick she scorneth to be well And yet about him will be busie too To hold his head or hand his cup to fill His meat to dresse yea and his bed to warm And watch all night that Ioseph takes no harm 113. Whate'r she sees or sweet or rich or rare She something in his Body findeth still To which those pretious things she may compare With his own praises she his ears doth fil And often cries How blessed should I be If Potiphar were such an one as Thee 114. He kend that craftie Language for a while No more than doe's the Lark the fowlers Pipe But when he 'gan to smell her dangerous Wile Whose own stink did betray't He strove to wipe Away those praises she so thick did strow And by his own Blush reach her what to doe 115. Oft would he
never trouble Worms But Psyche's toss'd and torn with civill storms 6. She from her Palace Window saw her Griefe Must'red in terrible Battalia In vain within she looked for Reliefe Where nought but empty Desolation lay Logos and Thelema were absent He To Violence Pris'ner to Enchantment She 7. Syneidesis indeed stay'd still behinde But by her stay made Tortures doe so too Full in the face of Psyche's wounded Minde The guilt of this Rebellion she did throw Blame not the Passions said the if they Revolt Thou to their Treason op'dst the way 8. Had'st thou been carefull how to weild thy Might And in due time approv'd thy self a Queen Strait had'st thou held the Reins and driven right Thy royall Chariot Still your Beasts had been Themselves as loyall unto you and milde As now they salvage are become and wilde ' 9. When in a stealing Preface to the Flood The first streams sliely creep with ease may We Divert their course into some other road But if We sleight what seems so weak to be They grow upon Us strait disdaining more Our strength than wee their Weakness did before 10. You scorn'd the Passion 's breeding Garboils You Forsooth on Safetie's wings sate mounted high And pray what is that Rivulet come too now What wants it of a Sea's immensitie It is a Sea which though perhaps it may Not clense your Crime can wash your Life away 11. And where is Charis where is Phylax now O you were too secure their aid to need You well could lend them to poore Heav'n I trow A place which more did want their Help Indeed You 'r a great Queen at Home and can command Look how your Subjects your high will attend 12. Unhappy Psyche stung by these Reproaches Receiv's the wound full deep into her Heart Which with her blood her Lamentations broaches And thus she streameth out her double smart Nay then I pardon them without if thou Upon my heavy Griefe more load do'st throw 13. Cruell Syneidesis why staidst thou heer To grind my dying Soul with neerer rage Why joyndst thou not with them who vex Me there At distance Must my bosome be the Stage Of thy more dangerous undermining Wrath Which from my verie Heart diggs out my Death 14. Are these thy thanks to Me who alwaies kept Thee next my self and hugg'd thee in my Breast How little dream'd I that a Viper slept In this my neerest and my dearest Nest Yet be assur'd by gnawing out thy way That thou thy self as well as Me shalt slay 15. The Priviledge of other Vipers Thou In vain expect'st who art more Fell than they That decent Vengeance they their Damms do owe Which by sage Natures righteous Law they pay But surely thou art of a kinder breed Thy Matricide all pardon must exceed 16. Yet what gain I by thy Destruction Who thee and all those Rebells deerly love Unfortunate Me who cannot die alone But in my single Death all yours must prove And which is worse than Death betrayed I By your mad rage thus oft at once must die 17. But sterne Syneidesis who knew full well She on irrefragable Truth did lay The ground of all her Actions 'gan to swell With confident Scorn and yet awhile gave way Since She her Loyall Duties part had done To see what Psyche meant Who thus went on 18. O Charis would'st not thou bid Me Adieu But by discourteous parting leave poore Me Unwarned and unarmed Grant it true That my deserts could no invitement be To stay Thee heer My misery at least Might wooe thy Charity to be my Guest 19. O Phylax Why wilt thou forsake Me who 'Twixt Me and Danger hath so often spread Thy Wings impenetrable sheild That Foe Who in the Grove under thy Conquest bled Was but a single Feind Why then shall thy Brave Hand not reap this fairer Victory 20. How shall I grapple with this monstrous Crew Confederate against my desolate Head Whom one Antagonist did then subdue What reason then soever made thee speed Unto my Aid is multiplied now And how how canst thou less Releif allow 21. O Prince of this my consecrated Breast O thou whose Majestie did not disdaine To make suit unto Me but oft profest By thy Ambassador thine amorous pain And sweet-tormenting Longings for my Love What makes thy tender Heart forgetfull prove 22. Hadst thou for ever not remembred Me I had not been mock'd with a tast of Bliss Why did not Aprodisiu's Treacherie Prevent the worse extremity of this That soft and single Death why dy'd not I But am reserv'd a thousand times to die 23. What profit has to my soul's Treasurie Accrew'd that I so oft did Fast and Pray What brake the Bottle wont of old to be The trustie Store-house of our Teares What Pay Have all my faithfull amorous Groans and Sighs If I must proue mine own slaves Sacrifice 24. What meant this Token which did gird my Heart So close to Thee if Me you cast away Was this the Farewell you did Me impart When you some other Love had chose which may Monopolize your constant favours and In banish'd Psyche's place for ever stand 25. No wonder if my Passions mutinous prove Breaking the Yoke which ti'd their faith to Me If blessed Jesus can forget his love Knit in this spousall knot of Chastitie How can I longer be displeas'd with them Vnless I could and dar'd fall out with Him 26. O all my Joyes take Psyche's long Adieu Dwell somwhere else where you can finde a Room My tumid Griefs have left no place for you But made my whole usurped Heart their Home And more than so Far far must you flie hence To scape my Sorrows vast Circumference 27. And you poor Hopes your time why doe you loose In hankering here in my unhappy Breast Goe goe I give you leave goe forth and choose In any place but this a fortunate Nest. Be confident you cannot faile else-where For all Misfortunes are collected here 28. But ô Disconsolations be you free For I resign my selfe your totall Prey Why should I not embrace my Misery When still to look and look in vain for Joy Doubles self-torment Why should I alone When all things hate me else my selfe bemaone 29. Whil'st thus she feeds on desolate Vexations The Rebells at their Councill busie were Where tir'd with hard and knotty Consultations Which course was best to wreak their Wrath on Her Up rose Suspition and first looking over Each shoulder thus did her Advice discover 30. Princely Agenor and you Sisters all Great is the businesse We have now in hand And Heav'n forbid our Caution should be small Haste may be good when once wee understand The way is clear If otherwise to run Is onely with more speed to be undone 31. Anger 's Advice were sound if Psyche were So weak a thing as her Opinion makes her But on what Rocks shall wee our Vessell steer By this untried Card if she mistakes her Fear would she speak could
shew you such a List Of Psyche's Powers as soon would coole our Haste 32. Alas how can wee force the Queen if she Deny to yeild when wee our battery make Is not the Palace and those Gates wee see All of immortall Metall We may break Our Engins and our Plots and Furie too And sooner than those Walls our selves undoe 33. A lingring Leaguer what can that effect Unlesse we hope at length to starve her out But she long since all Dainties did neglect With which the whole World had her Table fraught Her Prayers and her Heav'n her diet were And now she 's all alone she best doth fare 34. But as for Us who at the Siege must lie We fed with Hope of Victory must starve Before we get it For what will supply Us daily with Provision to serve So many Mouths which Psyche fill'd till now And if she be shut up so must they too 35. Besides who knows but some of her Allies Phylax or Charis or some such strong Friend May rush upon our backs and by surprise Both our Design and Us in pieces rend New is the Lesson in the Grove you read Can you forget how Aphrodisius sped 36. Nay you have heard of Heav'ns immortall Son In whose vast hand Omnipotence doth reign That Hand which when great Lucifer begun To let his Eyes but glimmer with disdain Tumbled him headlong into Death and Hell I tell you Friends this Christ loves Psyche well 37. We cannot be too carefull and for my Own part I judge the safest Way the best And this is by a present Embassie With humble Lies and Oaths and Glozings drest To cheat her from her strength So we may gain Our Ends and seem to scape Rebellions stain 38. But let a Vow of Perseverance first Seal Us all sure to our Conspiracy That by her selfe that Passion may be curst Afore-hand who shall false or fearfull be If one should chance to fail why may not two If two why may the Summe not higher goe 39. This said An eye of Doubt and Fear she cast Upon Agenor to observe how He Rellish'd her Words But soon she saw their Taste 〈◊〉 welcome in his palate Instantly I like her Counsell best He cries and You Shall strengthen your Adventure by this Vow 40. Thus shall my Might escape what I did Fear The vile Encounter with a Woman and My Pittie unto You no lesse declare Whil'st in your Front my Majesty doth stand And strike such Terror without any Blow Into your Queen that she shall yeild to you 41. Then calling for a Baçin and a Pin He prick'd his annular Finger and let fall Three Drops of Blood And what He did begin As solemnly reacted was by All The Company Which done again He takes The Baçin and three Elevations makes 42. And may that Blood which still remains behinde Be forc'd to follow these Three Drops He cri'd If ever I unbend my resolute Minde Or from this Wars stout Prosecution slide May this my present Poyson be and here He dipped his Tongue if now I falsely swear 43. Then sprinkling on the back of his Right Hand Another Drop This Martiall Mark said He Shall for a Badge and Memorandum stand Of our now sure and sacred Unity You see our Covenants Rites Now every One Doe what your willing Generall has done 44. Never did Health more cheerly walk its Round When lusty Wine and Mirth the Boule had fill'd Than did this bloody barbarous Baçin crown'd With Rage and Madness Their Rebellion seal'd Thus by this desperate Ceremony They To Psyche speed their Messenger away 45. And this was Love upon whose Tongue although Perpetuall Sleights and Fallacies did dwell Yet with industrious Deceptions now And studied Flatteries she her Mouth did sill She knew the Queen was wise and strong and would With common known Delusions not be fool'd 46. Thus to the Gate demurely come She tri'd It with a modest Knock and paus'd a while Then strok again a timorous Stroke to hide In this soft Preface her meek-insolent Guile The gentle Knock bad Psyche courage take To come and see what it would further speak 47. No sooner had she op'd a Casement and Reach'd out her doubtfull Head the News to know But she beheld where Love did trembling stand With weeping Eyes and with dejected Brow She lik'd the Posture yet demanded why She thither came a false and fawning Spie 48. Love by that Word warn'd to skrew up her Art Fell on her knees and three times smote her breast And Woe is Me she cri'd whose loyall Heart Can finde no milder Language from my best And dearest Prince What strange Mischance doth throw This Wrong on Me and that Mistake on You 49. If to repair to You in humblest Guise Who here immured d'well in Desolation If to discover where the Error lies Whose secret Venome breeds this Perturbation Of your whole Realm deserve the Name of Spie I well can bear this glorious Infamy 50. But if Misprision so doth cheat your Eyes That looking with a jealous Glance on Me They in my Count'nance read an Enemies I must beg leave to tell your Majesty For it concerns my Essence you forget Your Creature and take Love it selfe for Hate 51. Yet your Mistake shall make no change in Me Use your vast Power in any thing but this I still am Love and so resolve to be Nor fear that false and envious Witnesses Can swear Me from my selfe Heav'n cannot frame What I had rather be than what I am 52. Sure I with that right genuine Love which You Hugg next your Soule have some Affinity Can that brave Passion adulterate grow And stain its spotlesse selfe with Treacherie Can Odours stinking Honey bitter bee Silke harsh Down hard that thus you think of Me 53. O no dear Soveraign I am hither sent The soft Ambassadour of Peace to you Nor of my Office does it me repent What wrath so e're stands bent in your stern brow And though I know not what will hence ensue I to my native sweetness must be true 54. I see you thought you ' Company had bent Some treacherous Plot against your royall Head And is 't nor likely they would all consent Their own Life and Heart blood in yours to shed Madame beleeve 't Selfe 's not a dearer Name To noble You than to the worst of them 55. 'T is true a peice of Discontent has put Them in that posture of Defence But by Your Majestie I swear they brew no Plot But what becomes a Subjects Modesty If Mischeife their intention were what Charms Could dead their hands damp their glitt'ring Arms 56. If strong-embattel'd injur'd Patience be A Signe of Treason they are Traytors all But sure this loyall kinde of Treacherie Doth more for Thanks and Praise than Anger call O never be it said that you alone Could in Arm'd Mecknesse read Rebellion 57. By me their homage they present to you Beseeching that with it you would embrace Their humble
they wore your gentle Name 110. Some woefull Comfort it had been if We Had to one single Tyranny been damn'd But We at Home in forrein slavery Were held A Grievance we would not have nam'd In reverence to your Credit could the thing Have easie grown by our long suffering 111. What is that Charis unto Us that she In our Free State such arrogant sway must bear Or what made you so weak a Prince that We Must be Commanded by a Forreiner We grant She 's brave and Princely Yet wee know We owe Allegiance to no Queen but You. 112. She came from Heav'n if wee her Word may take But what woo'd Her from such a place as that To dwell in this ignoble World and make Her high Selfe stoop unto she knew not what I would be loth to wrong Her Yet I fear There 's something in 't why Heav'n gatrid of Her 113. And being here what-was the Trade she drove But how to barbarize your gentle Breast With strange Austerity and to remove Us from your love with which We once were blest Your smiles she all monopoliz'd and left Us quit of all things but your Hate bereft 114. If this Devotion be and heav'nly Zeal What is Unnaturalnesse Alas that We None but destructive Piety must feel And by Religion consumed be Alas that Heav'n and Godliness must thus Be forc'd to suffer injury with Us 115. Nor is proud Phylax one who with less Art Hath conzen'd you into this Tyrannie Soft are his Wings but cruell is his Heart Sweets in his Looks Gall in his Thoughts doth lie Fair does He speak you but the bait is cheap His streams run smoothest where the chanell's deep 116. Were you a Youngling and devoid of Friends Whose riper Arms might help your tender Hand To sway the Scepter then what he pretends With tolerable Sense perhaps might stand But must your Nonage still goe on and He For evermore the Lord Protector be 117. Now by your honour mighty queen 't is time For you no more to think your self a Childe Know your own power and loose it not in Him Who has your credulous Love too long beguil'd 'T is no discredite for a Prince to throw Away an Error and with it a Foe 118. Your Confidence in Him which flames so high Was kindled by his service in the Grove Yet what if that were but a Mysterie Of deep deceir and no exploit of Love If Phylax and not Aphrodisius were In all that Sceen of Charms the Conjurer 119. Who but the noble Aphrodisius there Bravely forgetfull of his own life from Immediate Death wide-gaping in the Boar Your helpless soul did reskew And from whom Did Phylax 〈◊〉 you but from his Imbrace Who your deliverer and your Lover was 120. And then enrag'd With shameless spight to see You to another your protection owe Upon the courteous strasngers Piety The powers of magick Malice He did throw How much more Monster was you Phylax there Who made the goodly Knight so foule appeare 121. Yet well it were if he would onely trie His Charms on Aphrodisius and for bear To exercise on Us his Witcherie But We alas so Metamorphoz'd are With that Rough-cast of shapes He on Us cleaves That you in your owne Subjects He deceives 122. We seem like Fiends for Rebells sure are so And monstrous things in your abused Eye Although ev'n Phylax in his Heart doth know Our Lives are not so deare as Loyaltie To honest-meaning Us And whose was this Desperate Enchantment if it were not his 123. 'T is true He talks of Love and needs will be The Paranymphus of the heav'nly spouse But surely I should ken as well as He All Mysteries of Love The whole world knows That my Creation onely aims at this And is my naturall Art less mine than His 124. That the Etheriall Prince makes love to you As to the dearest she that treads his Earth I easily grant because so well I know Your Majesties incomparable Worth But Heav'n forbid that I should Him esteeme So strange a Spouse as Phylax maketh Him 125. Sure He is King of sweetnesse and Delight And with more zeal abhorrs all Tyrannie Than Phylax loves it Sure his gentle Might Strives for a correspondent Victorie Not all the world shall make Me think that He Will ever wooe his Spuose by Crueltie 126. Lents Embers Vigils Groans Humi-cubations Tears Pensiveness disconsolate Privacie Severest Arts of all Mortifications Are not conditions required by An earthlie Suiter and can Heavn'ly He Imbitter thus his deare Suits Suavitie 127. Can He expect his tender spouse should prove Her Loyaltie pants with intire affection By nothing but self-hatred can his Love Finde no Security but your Destruction Pardon my fear great Queen you love not Him Whom such a spightfull Lover you can deeme 128. But farr be all such Omens hence Had I Or Nature any Glass which could present Your totall self to your considering Eye The gallant sight would make your heart repent This dangerous Heresie that Heav'ns gentle King Would use so harshly such a lovely thing 129. What is there of Delight of Love of Joy Of Grace of Beautie in this World below Or that above which did escape a way From the Creator's fingers when on you Himself he wrote and bade your Bosome be The Vniverse's rich Epitomie 130. But Phylax brews this cruell-flattering Plot Because it is his Rack and Hell to see That Fate or Fortune Psyche should allot To any Spouse but Him This makes Him be So subtly active in his secret Art How he may you and your great Suiter part 131. O then first for your own illustrious sake And next for Us wrapp'd up in you beware Of his Designs in time Just courage 〈◊〉 In what deserves your speediest stoutest Care Nor you nor We can be secure winle He Both from your Court and Favour 〈◊〉 be 132. Nor can your Palace be a dwelling Place For safety so long as Logos or Charis thus revell in your Princely Grace One Edict may 〈◊〉 them all and farr From this their 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 Treachery Pack them to that foule place where Trayters lie 133. So shall your royall self securely dwell And your 〈◊〉 undeceived Hand Sway its own Scepter So shall We dispell By prest obedience unto your Command That caus lesse Error which upon our Head The foule Blot or Rebellion hath spred 134. So shall our reskew'd Liberries appear In their own Looks So We by Love shall doe More of your Will than disingenuous Fear And lawlesse 〈◊〉 e'r hal'd Us to So you no more shall mark'd and dreaded be For Rigor but reign Queen of Clemencie 135. So shall your sweetned Countenance proclaim That you Lov 's dear Adventure doe profess So shall you court with your Eys answering Flame Your Spouse's beams So shall His Tendernesse A soft capacity find in your Heart Of his destroying yet enlivening Dart. 136. Here bowing low Love sealed up her Lip With a Kisse on the
in these Herbs doth any Serpent sneak Them to enyenome or my Safety check 215. My serious Labours and my ridgid Fear Fright hence the tender Sons of Luxury Distempers and Diseases Guests which are Fed at the Bord of Superfluity In health and vigour I can night and day Trade with my Maker and my Prayers say 216. He though no wanton Bathes have softened My carelesse Skin which tann'd and rough you see Though all my weeds be of a rurall Thred Spun by Neglect and by Simplicity Esteems nor Me nor my Condition poor Because I build my Hopes upon his Store 217. His royall Store which since this World below So narrow was fills Heav'ns vast Treasury And till the Sons of Dust and Ashes grow As high as that in vain they look to be Enrich'd by it But there 's a Way by which We Dwarfs to that Sublimity may reach 218. A strange Way which does by Desentions Wings Teach Us to soar These Contrarieties Into the field not onely Nature brings But Grace with opposite Cures meets Maladies Pride threw Us down when we were perched high Our ladder to get up's Humility 219. Humility that Art enobled by His own Profession whom all Heav'ns adore Himselfe He Lowest made who was most High And of the Richest King became most Poor By his Example teaching Us that We Must onely by Rebound exalted be 220. Psyche with great contention deign'd to hear Him hitherto but could endure no more What Pitty'tis said she that now thy Beer Hath long stood waiting for thee at thy Door Thou art no Wiser yet this signe doth shew Thy Dotage is past Help Poor wretch adeiu 221. Then with relaxed Rein admonishing Her smoaking Steeds They snatch'd her Coach away With sparkling foaming fervor copying Her hasty indignation untill they Drew neer the Citty where their pace they bate Marching in statelier slownesse to the Gate 222. The People gaz'd upon her as she past And fill'd the Street with Wonder Every Eye It s foolish homage in her way did cast And by that Admiration raise more high Her tumid Looks who had the more to scorn The more Spectators did her way adorn 223. For whilst some prais'd the Coach and some the Steeds And all her Person who rode Queen of them With carelesse Looks Contempt about she spreads Both on their Admiration and on them She lov'd the Honor yet lov'd to despise What in her own esteem was her best prize 224. So when a burly Tempest rolls his Pride About the World though mighty Cedars bow Though Seas give way unto his greater Tide Though Mountains lay their proudest heads full low Before his feet yet still He roars amain And rusheth on in blustering Disdain 225. On many Pallaces her Eye she cast But yet could not vouchsafe to view them long At last contemning all she saw she prest With insolent fiercenesse through the gazing Throng Crying These Cottages can afford no room For Psyche's Entertainment I must Home PSYCHE OR LOVES MYSTERIE CANTO VI. The Humiliation ARGUMENT HEr heav'nly Friends by soule-subduing Art Recover Psyche from her shamefull Glory And sure to seal upon her softned Heart Religious Meeknesse Phylax tells the Story Of her immortall all-producing Spouse And then her own originall Vilenesse shows 1. BUt what is Home unto unhappy Her Whose onely Castle is surrender'd to A Pack of Rebells who resolved were To use the licence of their Conquest so That she should in her own Dominion Have no power left her but to be undone 2. She might have safelier call'd all Tempests in And to the loudest Windes fet ope her Gate Or giv'n her Key to Bears and Tigers then To those more dangerous Beasts whose fair-tongu'd hate Does work by this Prerogative that they By Honey poyson by Imbraces slay 3. Flat Enemies are honest harmlesse Things Because they tell Us what We have to fear But double-hearted Friends whose Blandishings Tickle our Ears but sting our bosomes are Those dangerous Syrens whose sweet mayden face Is onely mortall Treasons burnish'd Glasse 4. These are the Pits whose mouths with flowers spred Sweetly invite our Feet unto a Fall The golden Cups whose Lips are sugeted To the dissembled Poyson ours to call The crafty Hooks which in a dainty Bait To catch the Liquorish Palate lie in wait 5. These are those flattering Pipes whose wily Tune Enchants the silly Birds into the Net These are those fragrant Bedds of fair-look'd June With smileing Roses and with Lilies set Where th' unsuspecting Gardner to surprise By fatall sleight perdu the Serpent lies 6. These are those Delilahs whose weeping Eye Whose sighs whose Kisses whose Imbraces be The truer Wit hs and Ropes and Web where-by They binde the stoutest Sampsons on their knee Where while they hope to rest they polled are At once both of their Liberty and Hair 7. These are the politick Hyena's who Make bloody Thirst in humane Accents speak And with such sweet Hypocrisie can wooe The heedlesse Swain compassion to take That to his Foe his door he openeth And in fond Pitty letteth in his Death 8. These are those Judas's whose Lips can drop The honey of a friendly Salutation And with a Kisse seal the soft bargain up Though in their Hearts a trayterous Conjuration Lies rankilin and they study how they may In Looks and Words of Love their God betray 9. And surely Psyche by this Treason had Been cheated of her life and selfe if He Who in his Judas tryall of it made Had lent no Pitty to her Misery Had Jesu's tender Goodnesse not out-rid His faithless Spouse who now from Him was fled 10. Charis and Phylax He a while with-drew That being left unto her selfe she might Of her own Weaknesse take convincing view When she occasion had and cause to fight But now He sends them back to help Her down From the high Ruine where He saw her thrown 11. Make haste said He my Love and Her Distresse Call for your speed 〈◊〉 To you full power I give To ease Her of that wretched Mightiness Before it split her Heart to undeceive Her cheated Soule and shrink it till it be Little enougn to fit my Heav'n and Me. 12. They having thrice ador'd his Foot-stool flew Upon the wings of Thought through every Sphear No Lightning ever made more haste to view The East and West at once than this swift Pair Of earnest Messengers or with more Light Did all Spectators startled Eyes afright 13. For when the Passrons saw them darting neer Immediate Terror upon them did seize Down fell their changed Looks and Necks though Fear Was left at home she present seem'd in these The suddennesle made Psyche too afraid And both her Courage and her Chariot stay'd 14. But though the first Assault of Lightning be Pointed with Dread and Awe the second does Break forth with more abated Majesty And in our Eyes at least some Brightnesse loose Custome though young and breeding yet can make The dint and edge of any strangness
through my heart And yeilds me uncontrolled Prospect to The Orbs of Knowledge where from Part to Part My nimbly piercing Eye about doth goe This is the Death I found a Death which I Mean ever day as long 's I live to die 249. O then what vast advantage will arise To your large Soul by this enlightning Tree My breast is shallow narrow are mine Eyes But wide and brave is your Capacity So wide that Wisdoms deepest Seas may finde Sufficient Channells in your Mighty Minde 250. And if this Knowledge if Divinity It selfe may merit but the easie Pains Of your Acceptance O perswaded be To suffer these inestimable Gains Shame burns my Cheeks that I your Slave should eat This Bliss and You my Queen be barr'd the Meat 251. And yet you are not barr'd Behold but how You are bid welcome by the courteous Tree Whose laden Arms their pretious Offrings bow To meet your Mouth and seem to plead with Me Their postures Language asks What make we here If wee alone by You contemned are 252. These Charms stole ope the Door into the Heart Of carelesse Eve and thrust their poyson in Besides the smiling Apples plai'd their part And her Affections with her Eye did win Capricious curious Pride did her invite What e'r it cost to taste of that Delight 253. Three times she stepped to th' inchanting Tree As oft by Conscience plucked back again Yet still with fatall importunity She struggled till she broke her Freedoms Chain Then with unchecked Madnesse on she goes To win her wished Prize and her Selfe to loose 254. Up went her desperate Hand and reach'd away All the Worlds Blisse whil'st she the Apple took When loe the Earth did move the Heav'ns did stay Beasts and Birds shiver'd absent Adam shook But none did know the reason of their Fear Onely hee ran to see what Eve did here 255. O balefull sight His pretious Queen hee saw Enslaved by her soothing Subjects Craft She who was Beauties Centre untill now Is of her brave Prerogative bereft Bereft so wholy that with wondering Doubt For his late lovely Eve in Eve He sought 256. Apparent Misery sate on her Face Before the goodly Throne of Pleasantnesse Her Cheeks which bloom'd till now with heav'nly Grace Sins black and dismall horror did confesse Forth at her Eyes of late Lifes Windows Death Did look and Rottennesse flow'd with her Breath 257. But greater was the Change within for there Her bold Transgression spred an hideous Night Of Ignorance on her intellectuall Sphear Her Will which grew before so fair and straight Turn'd crooked and perverse Each Passion Scorn'd Her Commands as the Her Gods had done 258. Her Heart till now soft as the Turtles Sighs It s heav'n-inamoring Tendernesse forgets And with the stoutest Purian Marble vies Her Thoughts before all Sons of Love professe No trade but Mischiefe now and busie are To propagate the Woes which stinged Her 259. Nor fears she now to play the Serpent too In envy of her Husbands blessed State Whom with the beauteous Apples she does Wooe To taste of Hell and swallow down his fate Fall to my Dear said she fear not the food I have thy Taster been and finde it good 260. But wiser Adam well the danger knew Whose miserable Proof now wounds his eyes Nor could the poor Bait of an Apple shew Him reason Heav'n and Virtue to despise Fair in his bosome written was the Law And reverent Terror kept his Soul in awe 261. In a we a while it kept it But at last Commiseration of his Spous's case Grew to such strength in his too-tender Breast That Pitty to himselfe it did displace Eve sate so neer to his Uxorious Heart That rather he with Heav'n then Her will part 262. For part He must unlesse He reconcile That mighty Breach which she between them made O potent Sympathie which canst beguile An Heart so pure and cleer-ey'd and degrade Earths Monarch from his native Pinacle Of Innocence as low as Death and Hell 263. He yeilds and eates and eating tears the great Creators Law yet tears not that alone But rends his Bliss his Health his Life and that Fair Robe of Puritie 〈◊〉 He had on Becoming Eves Companion no lesse In nature than in shamefull Nakednesse 264. And thus indeed they 'gan to judge between Evill and Good whilst they themselves did see Who untill then no Evill thing had seen But now can witnesse their own Misery Which they with wrerched Aprons strive to heal As if the leaves the Apples would conceal 265. Alas nor they nor all the Trees that grow In shady Paradise so thick and high Could any shelter unto them allow When he was pleas'd to search who is all Eye Yet by degrees hee findes them that they might With Deprecations salute his sight 266. Had he in Thunder and in Lightning spake And of fierce Veng'ance breath'd a flaming stream Just had the Dialect been But He did make A foft enquiry of the Fault and seem To beg Confession and to wait whil'st they Did with their Crime their Penitence display 267. But they with Shifts and Excusations trie Not to excuse the Fact but to defend And by that wretched Impudence defie Mercy which all this while did them attend This forced Justice who came rushing in And did her Office upon saucy Sin 268. She first the Curse pronounc'd which written was In adamantine Tables ne'r to be Revers'd by Pitty Then she forth did chase The proud Delinquents and the Garden free From its unworthy Guests appointing Fate To set a double Guard before the Gate 269. A Troop of Cherubs straight was marshalled In dreadfull Order at the Eastern Gate And then a flaming Fauchion brandished Terror about the way that none might at That door of Happinesse passe in but who By tried Purity through Fire could goe 270. The Wofull Exiles were no sooner come Into the wide World but poor Adam sees The heavy Losse of his enclosed Home Finding in stead of blessed Flowres and Trees Thistles and Thorns all arm'd with pikes and pricks Amongst whose Crowd he vex'd and tatter'd sticks 271. Long did He strive and toyle e'r He could make The Ground give fertile answer to his sweat The righteous Earth did this due Vengeance take On his Rebellion so did the great Cognation of Beasts and Birds who broke Off from their sullen Necks his regall Yoke 272. Those who were able muster up their might And in their Makers Quarrell Him pursue The weaker from his presence speed their flight Professing now they knew no homage due Thus by their furie Those These by their Feare Equally frightfull and vexatious were 273. No friend he had but her who did betray Him to that Miserie unhappy Eve And yet the reaping of his sweetest Joy Of what was sweeter did them both deprive Their gains unable were to quit the cost For now their dear Virginity was lost 274. Eve through many nauseous Moneths did pass E'r she could to
her hardest travell come O who can tell the Pangs by which she was Tortur'd and torn when her unhappy Womb It self unloaded for the Curse was sure Nor could those Torments ever find a Cure 275. In sin conceiving she brought forth in pain And with Pollution dy'd her Progenie Through all Successions her anneiled stain Did propagate its own Deformitie And all her Heirs bind in an Obligation Of Death and what is deadlier Damnation 276. Besides the peevish and importunate 〈◊〉 Of restless Kicking at Heav'ns gentle Law It s fretfull Taint did in proud Triumph stretch Through the whole Current of her Blood which now In humane veins so madly boyls and flames That kindled at the fire of Hell it seems 277. Thus when black Venome has into the Spring Infused Death the Streams which from it runne How farre so e'r they travell still they bring Along with them that first Contagion The furthest Drop knows not how to escape The reach of that Originall Mishap 278. Your Souls I grant rise not from that foul Spring Nor did they ever swimme in Adams veins Yet is the Body so unclean a thing That strait it doth communicate its Stains Nor can the soul be pure which married is To so contagious a Spouse as this 279. Yet call not God unjust who doth commit So fair a Gemme unto so foul a Case Thereby infallibly engaging it To be as black and cursed as its Place O no He still is kind and knows a way Through Wrath and Judgement Mercy to display 280. No Plot of Satans spight shall undermine Or make a breach in the Creations frame Nature shall still proceed and Heav'ns Designe Of Mans felicitie persist the same God-like it is indeed Fates Scales to turne And make them Blest who to a Curse were born 281. Whilst God makes pure Souls dive into this stream Of Blackness gratious He contriveth how To wash and cleanse and re-imbellish them Till they unto such pow'rfull Beautie grow That sweetly on their Bodies they can be Reveng'd infecting them with Puritie 282. Such purging Might in Jesus Blood there flows That from the face of its least Drop doe flie This Stain which at the Root of Mankind grows And all those Blots which on the Branches lie And this dear Fountain in Decree was broach'd Long e'r the Soul by any Taint was touch'd 283. They who desire 't may here refined be Into a Claritude becomming that High Paradise of whose felicitie Edens was onely the faint Shaddow But They who scorn such Bliss would themselves have thrown To Hell though Eve had never help'd them down 284. And tell me Psyche what thou thinkest now Of thy Extraction which from wretched Dust The Scumm of Earth and game of Winds doth flow What of thy rotten Kindred since thou must Corruption for thy Mother own and call Each Worm thy Sister that in mire doth crawl 285. Yet Worms are ly'ble to one onely Death A Death which quickly will it selfe destroy But thy Composure in its bosome hath A Living Poyson that may finde a way To kill thee with surviving Death by which Thy torture to Eternity shall reach 286. Think well on this and if thou canst be proud Who by the Pride of thy first Parents art With this destructive Portion endow'd And from thy Birth betroth'd to endlesse Smart Think what vast distance lies 'twixt worthlesse thee And the Almighty King of Majesty PSYCHE OR LOVES MYSTERIE CANTO VII The Great Little One. ARGUMENT THe Angell convoys Psyche to the Sceen Of Mercies grand Exploits to shew Her what Dear Care Heav'n took to wash her bosome clean From the foule shame of every sinfull Blot Betimes he 'gins and from the morning Glory Of Loves bright Birth lights in the blessed Story 1. ILlustrious Spirits of Fire who e'r you be This Lesson will be no discredit to Your towring Flames nor must Heroick Yee To Schoole to Psyche's Legend scorn to goe Such Sparks as you for all your glittering be In your Originall as dim as she 2. As other Fires at length to Ashes grow So must brave Yee Yet they were lighted from Some generous bright Originall but you And your Extraction did from Ashes come Whether forward you or backward turn your eye Your Bounds are Vilenesse Shame and Miserie 3. Examine Alexanders Monument Or Helens Tombe and marke what there does lie Or if your Nostrills dread the banefull sent Of their in-vain-embalmed Majesty Trust that strong Proof which bidds you sadly think That you though great and fair must end in stink 4. But trust not Pride whose tumid Treachery Did to that Rottennesse all the World betray No Poyson yet did ever swell so high Or to such certain Death prepare the way Steep headlong Danger on the Mountains reigns Let them who safe would walk walk on the Plains 5. Plain are the Walks of mild Humility And know no Precipice but planted are With sweet Content with pious Privacie With cheerfull Hope and with securing Fear An Humble Soule which always dwells below Prevents that Ruine which on Hills doth grow 6. The Tempest's aim is at those lofty Things Which rise against it and its strength defie This to the Pines and Oaks Destruction brings Whilst modest Shrubbs beneath in peace doe lie Thus come proud Rocks to rue the angry Wind Which to the humble Vales is alway kinde 7. Humility is provident and acquaints Aforehand with her Ashes which she knowes Must be her End She in no flattering Paints Her sober Judgment and her self will loose She dies betimes how long so e'r she lives And Death but as a long known Freind receives 8. She huggs her Herse and does her Grave imbrace And pants and longs her finall Ev'n to see When in that cool and undisturbed Place Her weary Head to rest may setled be Assured of a Friend whose Care hath found For Her to Heav'n a passage under ground 9. She strongly woo's the Worms to crawle apace She prays not slow Corruption to make haste Toward Death for life she runs and thinks her Race Is long because she yet lives On as fast She speeds as Sighs of Love can blow Her or Fire of unquenchable Desire can spurr 10. O meek Ambition which correctest Pride Into a Virtue and mak'st Venome grow Plain Antidote An heart which thou dost guide Struggles and reaches still to be more low And prides it self in nothing but to be From Prides Dominion intirely free 11. The Seeds of this fair Grace deep planted were In Psyche's tender Heart by Charis hand Which as they sprouted up with heav'nly care To weed and dresse them Phylax by did stand And now to make them flourish higher she Will with her liberall Tears their Waterer be 12. For Phylax had no sooner made an end But She begins first by her showring Eys Then by her Tongue which with their Tears did blend Its Lamentations Woe is me she cries What now should Psyche doe who needs would be Proud of her shame and
Priest indeed for now The ancient Priesthood with the Veil was rent The Diademe too was falne from Juda's brow And famous Salems Regall Glory spent But James did there erect the sacred Throne Of his Episcopal Dominion 86. Yet are the Northern Windes and Irish Seas More trusty than the Jewes The Jewes to day Can heap their Kisses and their Courtesies On him whom They to morrow will betray Jew's Mouths unto thy face can speak all good This houre and in the next will suck thy Blood 87. With Acclamations They this Saint had set In state upon their Temples Battlement Where hee no sooner did assert the great Name of his Lord but with one mad consent Of Rage they throw him headlong down and stain The ground both with his blood and with his Brain 88. Zelotes and Thaddaeus that brave Pair When He in Egypt preached had and He In Mesopotamia united were To reap in Persia their felicity This was the Crown of Martyrdome which in The Quarrell of their Saviour they did win 89. Peter the Leader of that glorious Train When he had fix'd the Antiochean Seat For his more reverend Throne a place did gain In Caesar's conquering Citty where the great Irradiations of his Fame did call Romes noblest Strength to trie with Him a Fall 90. This Strength was Simon whose Apostacie From Truth in Deeps of Magick Him did drown But more in Lies and desperate blaspemie For all Gods Rights He claimed as his owne And left no Trinitie in Heav'n but taught That He himselfe alone with it was fraught 91. The Father in Samaria the Sonne In Jewrie and in all the world beside The Spirit He preach'd Himselfe And yet alone Pretended not ability to guide His owne Creating Hand but when He made The Angells granted He had Helens aid 92. This was the surest way he had to gain His pretious Whore to set her on his Throrie And in his God head let her Partner raign Besides to help on the production Of Heresies and blasphemous Portents Hell Thought Females usefull then and always will 93. And so the World will say when it has known Priscilla Maximilla and the Pair Of Philumena's with the double Spawn Of lying Elkai for her wretched share In such Deceits some Eve will still come in As Helen heer did into Simons Sinne. 94. He taught his Scholars in Himselfe and Her To treasure up the hopes of their Salvation And heedless Souls the surer to ensnare He freely loos'd the Reins to every Passion No matter how you live or die said He So long 's your Faith builds on my Grace and Me. 95. This was that Champion by whose Magick skill Befooled Nero thought Him God indeed And pray'd Him by some Signall Miracle To dash those daring Wonders Peter did His Credit bid Him to that Motion yeild And set the Day when He would fight the Field 96. The Day is come and Simon boldly makes The Challenge which was unto Heav'n to file With that his Arms he weighs and spreads and takes His unwing'd flight but turns his scornfull Eye Down upon Peter whom into the Hands Of Justice and of Death He recommends 97. The Clowds had gathered thick about the Skie To guard the fair Heav'n from his soule intrusion Yet their Battalia He broke and by His working Arms unto his high Delusion Forc'd ope the way The People as he went Their Wonder after Him and Worship sent 98. But as the never-beaten Fencer lets His bold capricious us Combatant grow high Before He strikes in carnest and so getts A later but a nobler Victorie So Peter letts his Foe alone till He High enough for a fatall Fall might be 99. Then posting after Him with mighty Prayers The Divells which bore Him up He forc'd away Forth with down headlong his aeriall Stayrs The Conjurer fell and on the Pavement lay Where bruis'd and batter d all in gore imbrew'd His black blood and his blacker soul he spew'd 100. Strait in the Peoples Mouths the Divells crie Peter our God hath by enchantment slain And so did this unreasonable Lie Prevail that He is first unto a Chain Condemn'd and afterward unto a Crosse. Unhappy Rome which mad'st thy Gain thy Loss 101. For Thou no sooner gain'st thy freedome from That cursed Wizard but Thou dost betray Thine owne Deliverer if Simon whom Thou seest confounded by the Power which lay In Peters Prayers were a God ô why Must Peter now not be a Deitie 102. Yet He cries out This Altar is too rich For Me so poor and vile a sacrifice Was not the Cross that glorious Place on which My Master paid the Worlds eternall price Sure were some gallant Seraph hear to die This Engine would his Passion dignifie 103. Yet if I must thus high aspire may I At least obtain this leave of you to show That I desir'd not in this Pomp to die So Hang Me that my reverent Head below May pay its finall Kisses on the Feet Of my most royall Saviour's dying Seat 104. Nero to such Requests as these was free Full glad that He had learn'd a new-found-way To cross and double Crucifixion He Commands his Serjeants not to disobey The wretches wilde Desire but so He died To let Him any way be crucified 105. The Saint thus fix'd on the reversed Tree Now findes his Eyes turn'd from all things below As was his Heart before And joyous He In spight of all his obst'nate Nailes knows how That Place to which his Feet did aime to gaine Which Footstoole Simon reached at in vain 106. Andrew his Brother both in Nature's and In Zeale's and Pietie's much straiter Tie Through Thrace and Scythia travell'd with the grand Charge of appeased Heav'ns sweet Embassie The dark Barbarians wondred at the bright Meridian Day amidst their Northerne Night 107. The Day He brought was that which ows its East Not to the East but to the South for there In priviledg'd Palestine thy Lord was pleas'd First unto his Horizon to appeare It was thy Lords sweet Day on which depends The High-noone of that Bliss which never ends 108. Thence into Greece the restless Preacher came Arrogant Greece who though her own She makes The opposite to the Barbarian Name Yet more inhumane salvage Courses takes Than Thrace or Scythia O that famous Arts Should raise Mens Witts yet stupifie their Hearts 109. Achaia smil'd and with disdainfull Mirth Patrae confuted all that Andrew said His Beggar-God's poore miserable Birth And viler Death They scoffingly upbraid Nor did AEgaeus though Proconsul He Stop but spurre on the Peoples Villanie 110. A Cross they make Him of a new-found frame Whither his meek Desire or their wise spight Projected it which thenceforth bare its Name As it did Him that day A Cross not right Erected and transverse but thwarted so That it a X more then a Cross did show 111. A X the blessed Letter which began His Masters deare Name and his own His Cross It self proclaims He dies a Christian
Serenity To which the Ocean is but poor in Treasures His own dear Breast to Thee hee opened wide And let Thee in unto its fullest Tide 138. There did'st Thou lie and learn thy Soule to glow By the dear Copy of thy Pillows Heat A Pillow in whose soft Protection Thou Put'st all thy Cares and Fears to rest And yet Slep'st not thy Selfe for how could any Eye Indure to close when Jesus was so nigh 139. There did'st Thou lie next to the Heart of Love Whose ravishing Imbraces kept thee warm With all the best of Heav'n no more above But folded up in his incircling Arm Which forc'd all wise Spectators to conclude Thou wert aforehand with Beatitude 140. The loftiest Stories where pure Seraphs dwell Exalted in Felicities bright Sphear Thy dainty Habitation did excell For at his Foot-stoole They lie prostrate there Amidst the Sweets of whose all-balmey Breast Thine onely Head makes its delicious Nest. 141. What potent Joyes what mysticall Delight Woo'd and besieg'd thy Soule on every side Whil'st thy inamoured Spouse spent all the Might Of heav'nly Tendernesse on his dear Bride How many healing Wounds gave his Loves Dart How many living Deaths to thy soft Heart 142. How did hee study to epitomize His Incarnation's amorous Designe And trie the best of Mercie 's Mysteries Upon thy single Soule in which divine Experiment it was thine onely Grace To fill his universall Churches place 143. Thus while he liv'd he sweetly liv'd in Thee And when hee di'd Thou saw'st him nayled fast Unto his Death Yet no Mortality Could seize upon His love for by his last And tenderest Words whil'st hee Himselfe did die To Thee he gave Loves living Legacie 144. Into his dearest Mothers Bosome hee Commended Thee and bid her own her Son What Nature could not Love contriv'd to be And Mary must be Mother unto John Jesus and John Love had so closely ti'd That in their Mother they must not divide 145. Mary no other Glass could findè where she So fair an Image of her Sonne might read Nor John so pure a Mirrour wherein He His ever looking-longing Eyes might feed On his dear Lord Thus Love though dead and gone Sweetly leaves John his Spouse Mary her Sonne 146. No wonder gentlest Saint that on thy Tongue Love built his Hive and dropp'd his Hony thence Whilst thy Soul-charming Words rellish so strong Of Heav'ns best Sweets and choycest influence That Love from his own Wing lent Thee the Quill Which all thy Lines with Charity doth fill 147. No wonder Thou brave Eagle soar'dst so high And div'dst so deep into the Suns bright face Where Thou didst read the Words great Mystery By which thine Eye refin'd not dazeled was No wonder that Thou didst thy Gospeli fashion And Calculate by God's own Elevation 148. No wonder that Port Latin saw the Oile Scalding in vain Thou who didst live by Fire And in whose breast such amorous streams did boile Could'st feel no other Flames O no! some higher Fervor of Love must melt thine own and send It to the flaming Bosome of thy Friend 149. The Languishments of never-faint Desire Must crown thy Life with correspondent Death Though by sharp Pains thy Brethren did expire This dainty Martyrdom must end thy Breath So Heav'n has privileg'd thy Piety Thou who did'st Live by Love of Love must Die 150. Pardon me Psyche I could not forbear This deare Apostrophe John was the Man Whose virgin flaming Worth made Him be neer Of kin to our Angelick Tribe and can We mention him and not salute him too Whom Honors Soveraign Lord has honor'd so 151. And pardon Me that I have dwelt so long On his Apostolick Bretheren the Glory Of whose death-scorning Valour does no wrong Nor interrupts their Masters royall Story He and his heav'nly Might in them appear'd And o'r the vanquish'd Earth his Banner rear'd 152. Mark now that Mount which lifts its lofty Head Neer to Bethsaida whence it takes a view Of all the Countries round about it spread Nor Zebulon nor Nephthali out-flew Its Prospect which through Trachonitis too And Ituraea did sublimely goe 153. Yea though far distant it acquaintance took With other Mountains unto Hermon 〈◊〉 And stately Libanus it reach'd a Look This was that noble Oratory where Thy Lord so oft retired that the Place Thenceforth the Mount of Christ 〈◊〉 was 154. A Mount where liberall Nature did her best Witnesse the flowrie Beauties smiling there But Grace far more 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Than that bright Pomp which and of old prepare For the Lawgivers feet the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Of Sina mix'd with Thunder Smoak and Dread 155. For here no Trumpet spake the Frightfull Minde Of stern Imperiousnesse no rigid Law Back'd with an everlasting Curse injoyn d The World to its hard Yoak their Necks to bow But Love himselfe upon his gentle Throne Gave the soft Lawes of Benediction 156. Eight Springs of Blessednesse abroach hee set And woo'd the weary World to bathe in Them Their Cares and Fears hee taught Them to transmit And bury all Solicitude in Him He pass'd his Word Heav'n should their Purveyor be Who served in the Warrs of Pietie 157. His Evangelicall Oeconomie He instituted here and so improved The highest Pitch of Legall Sanctitie That though incumbering Burdens hee removed Yet more Bonds of Perfection on hee laid And wonderous strict his Mercies Candor made 158. His Reins were Silk but yet hee held them strait And drove amain providing by that Art That in their Passage no enchanting Bait Might his Disciples lure and tempt to start Out of the King of Heav'ns high Way but to His Kingdome safely and directly goe 159. His blessed Rules and none but His are They Which past the Puritie of Gold refine Gross Mortall Hearts and sublimate poor Clay Into a State Angelick and Divine Whilst by his Spirit He scours off sinfull Rust And into Heav'n blows up the purged Dust. 160. But turn and view those Desert Fields which lie Next Neighbours to the Galilean Sea Into that hopefull quiet Privacie Devotion had withdrawn thy Spouse but He Had given the People too much tast of his Sweetness to think He long could scape their Press 161. For as the busie Bees who once have found 〈◊〉 Garden haunt it day by day 〈◊〉 out every flower and humming round About the Tops of their delicious Prey So to that Garden for thy Lord had by His presence made it so did People flie 162. Jesus who bow'd from Heav'n poor Man to meet Could not refraine to entertaine the Throng With gracious ready Welcome He did greet Each Troop and Party as they came along Dealing his Courtesie to great and small Who came to be the Saviour of All. 163. Then as the wise Physitian first takes care That all the Vitall Parts be sound within Before He spend his pains on any Soare Which sinks into the Flesh or on theSkin Doth swimme So did his Tenderness to those His numerous Patients his art dispose 164. Their Hearts
with infinite carrieer Still further everlastingly doth ride Being loose at God himselfe in whom Immensity affords her boundlesse room 360. Now Psyche thou mayst eas'ly judge how dear Was this Seraphick Woman to thy Lord. She had one onely Brother who for her Sake and his own was to his Love preferr'd He falling sick she sent the News unto Her Master waiting what hee pleas'd to doe 361. He who had never yet his help delay'd When loving Mary did his Mercy woe Till Phebus twise the World had compass'd stay d He stay'd indeed but 't was that hee might goe With advantageous Glory and his stay Might prove but ripened Love and not Delay 362. Mean while his Sicknesse so prevail'd upon Good Lazarus that his Soule it chased out Jesus whose eyes through all things cleerly ran Beheld it as it went and saw it brought On Angells Wings into the blessed Nest Of naked Peace and Quiet Abraham's breast 363. Where when it was reposed Lazarus Our Friend is fallen fast asleep said He But I intend to wake Him Come let Us Delay no longer but to Bethany And Lord what needs it his Disciples cri'd If Lazarus sleep what harm can Him betide 364. 'T is true their Lord repli'd for now he lies Safe in the bosome of Serenity Yet what his Rest is little you surmise Not knowing that in Death true sleep can be Alas all other Rest compar'd with this Scarcely the shaddow of true Quiet is 365. Death is that onely sleep which puts an end Unto this weary Worlds tempestuous Cares And pious Soules unto that Shore doth send Which knows no Dangers Labours Griefs or Fears Our friend is dead and glad I am that I Was not at Bethany when He did die 366. Glad for your sakes whose faith now dead shall by His Death revive This said He forward went And they with Him But e'r at Bethany He did arrive two other dayes were spent He could have taken coach upon the back Of any Winde but now chose to be slack 367. First busie Martha met Him as He drew Neer to the Town for when hee coming was The fame of his Approach before Him flew Which her sollicitous ears soon caught and as She threw her selfe upon her knees she cried Had'st thou been here my Brother had not died 368. Dear Lord of Life if thou had'st but been here Death would have his due distance kept if not For love of Thee or Us at least for fear Of his own life And yet thy Power is but Deferred not precluded God will still Each syllable of thy Requests fulfill 369. Nor weep nor doubt dear Martha Jesus cried Thy Brother shall again to life return I doubt it not sweet Master she replied But in the universall worlds new morn When all Things spring into fresh life that He Shall with his Body reinvested be 370. I am said He the Resurrection and The life Whoever doth beleeve in Me Although he be a Pris'ner in the land Of Death shall unto life released be Nay he shall never taste of Death who is Living by Faith in Me Beleev'st thou this 371. Heer dazeled by his high Discourse Great Lord She cri'd my Faith doth take Thee for no lesse Then Gods Almighty Son who by his Word Wert promised this cursed World to bless This said three times she kiss'd the ground and home Made hast to bid her pensive Sister come 372. As when the powerfull Loadstone's placed neer Th' inamored Iron leaps its love to kisse So Mary when she heard how Christ was there Speeded to meet her dearest Hapiness And falling at her highest Throne His Feet Martha's Complaint She did again repeat 373. Short were her Words but copious were her Tears Love-ravish'd Pleaders strongest Eloquence For in her Eyes those fertile springs she bears Which by their ever-ready Influence Confirm Her Queen of Weepers Ne'r was seen A more bedewed Thing then Magdalene 374. For Love though valiant as the Lyons Heart Is yet as soft as the milde Turtles Soule And mourns as much knowing no other Art By which to slake the mighty Flames which roule About her Bosome and would burn her up Did not her streams of Tears that Torrent stop 375. If when the Clouds lament the hardest stone Under their frequent Tears relenteth How Will Maries thicker Showers prevail upon The Heart of Jesus which did never know What Hardnesse ment He straitway melts and by His Groanes does his Compassion testifie 376. Then turning to the Grave he broach'd his Eyes And vi'd with Maries streams whither it were In Pitty of Mans fatall Miseries Who did his own Destruction prepare For neither Gods nor Natures Hand but he Digg'd his own Grave by his Impietie 377. Or in deep greif his dearest Freinds to see Of his Omnipotence distrustfull still Or in soft Sympathie with those whom He Of Tears and Lamentations saw so full What e'r the reason were He showred down Those streams for Mans sake and not for his own 378. O Tears you now are Perls indeed since He Who is the Gem of Heav'n hath brought you Forth Now you may worthy of Gods Bottles be Who from Gods radiant Eyes derive your Worth All holy Drops which are of kin to you By that Affinitie must glorious grow 379. Let flintie Bosomes build their foolish Pride On their own Hardnesse and the Weeping Eye As an effeminate childish Thing deride And inconsistent with the Braverie Of Masculine Spirits Yet truely-noble Hearts With Jesus will not scorn to Weep their parts 380. But He now from the Tombe commands the stone To be remov'd which sealed Lazarus up Alas an harder Marble lay upon Poor Martha's Heart which Faiths access did stop Corrupted was her Minde which made Her think And talk so much of Foure Days and the Stink 381. What are Foure Dayes that their poor intervention Should able be to raise a scruple here And intercept his soveraign Intention To whom Eternitie doth bow A Year An Age a World is no stop unto Him Upon whose Will depends the life of Time 382. Stinks and Corruptions no Retardments are To his productive Power who doth derive Through Putrifactions Pipes and there prepare The life which to all Creatures he doth give For by his Law which knows no violation Corruption Mother is to Generation 383. The Stone removed and the Cave laid ope Jesus the mighty King of Life and Death With awfull Majesty his hand lift up And then his Voice forming his royall breath Into these high imperious Words which Earth And Heav'n obeyed Lazarus come forth 384. A mighty Voice indeed which reach'd the Breast Of Abraham where the Soule in quiet lay But at these potent Summons made all haste Back to its own The Patriark they say Kiss'd the sweet Spirit and intreated it To bear that Token unto Jesu's feet 385. But when it came into the Cave it found What there the Thunder of this Voice had done Shatter'd and scatter d all about the ground Lay adamantine Chains which
Death had on The Carkasse heap'd broke was that Cloud of Lead Which roll'd cold night about the Eyes and Head 386. The Worms were scrambling all away apace 〈◊〉 had into a corner got 〈◊〉 Ghastlinesse had stole from off the face 〈◊〉 froazen Numnesse frighted was and shot 〈◊〉 from the Corps Death sate lamenting by To sec that what He slew must now not die 387. Heat Vigour Motion hover'd round about Attending when the Soule her place would take Which when She saw as quick as her own Thought Into the Heart she flew and did awake The sleeping Blood When loe whil'st yet the sound Of the great Voice did in the Cave rebound 388. Out Lazarus comes O what Amazement now On the Spectators seiz'd They start they stare They gape they doubt they hope they fear they throw Their Arms wide open and divided are 'Twixt looking upon Lazarus and on Jesus by whom the Miracle was done 389. Out Lazarus comes and yet he was fast tied And in his Grave-clothes snarl'd for why should he By these poor Ligaments be now denied Free passage whom the strong conspiracy Of all Deaths massie Chains could not compell A Pris'ner in his Sepulchre to dwell 390. Out Lazarus comes and full as fresh and fair As Summer Flowers from their Winter Bed Which at their rising through the purest aire A daintier breath of fragrant Odours shed Nice jealous Martha needs not doubt for He Is now as wholesome and as sweet as she 391. But ask Me not why Jesus would call back His Friend who lay compos'd in rest and peace To this tumultuous World which Saints do take But for the Sceen of all Unhappinesse Whil'st Jesus liveth here his Friends hee warms With sweeter Joyes Peace than Abrahams Arms. 392. Alas 't was Abrahams highest Wish that He Might but behold what Lazarus now did finde How would He blesse the Sight if hee might see Him who imparteth Eyes unto the Blinde Who on the Sickly Health Peace on his Foes Life on the Dead and Heav'n on Earth bestows 393. These Psyche were the usuall Works whereby Thy Lord did to his World himselfe declare But in so vast a multiplicity That if they all at large recorded were That Worlds whole Bounds would not sufficient be To finde those onely Books a Library 394. And what meant these miraculous Dispensations But his Affection to proclaim intire Never with such illustrious Demonstrations Did royall Suiter seal his true Desire To his Queens Heart as Jesus here did prove How with all Humane Soules He was in love 395. Here Phylax clos'd his rubie Lips and she Who all this while upon his Tongue attended Both with her eare and heart was griev'd to see His high and sweet Discourse so quickly ended And yet for what sh' had heard her Modesty Paid Him her Mayden Thanks upon her knee PSYCHE OR LOVES MYSTERIE CANTO XI The Traytor ARGUMENT IN sordid love of thick and rusting Clay Prodigious Judas LOVE himselfe doth sell But for the Pains besides the High-Priests Pay Receives a larger Salary of Hell Which met him upon earth and through his own Split Body rent his wounded Spirit down 1. ENvie thou mortall bane of Quietuesse And of thy Selfe what makes thy Rage so mad To play the Canker in all kind of Blisse And on thine own Vexation live A Rod To thine own cursed back thou art as well As to the Worlds and both thy Fury feel 2. In thy mischievous Womb was Discord bred The correspondent Brat of such a Dame A Brook which well becomes its Fountain head And doth with equall genuine Poyson stream A Brook which round about the hamper'd World Its Arms pernicious Imbrace hath hurl'd 3. This is that fatall and destructive Jarr Which frets and interrupts the Harmonie Wherein all Things concentricated were By peacefull Natures sweet and sacred Tie That Jarr which in Times youth did belk and beat Till to wilde War the way wide ope it set 4. War the foule Comprehension of all The worst of Hell Fell Belzebub at first Begor the Monster of his own proud Gall From whence in Heav'n unhappily it burst A Birth-place how unfit for such a Birth And well it was that straight it cast it forth 5. Heav'n cast it forth but Hell receiv'd the Brat And hugg'd it close and nurst and kept it warm Fed there with Fire and Blood it soon grew fat And strong enough to raise a desperate Storm In its black Nurserie which it did fret And all the Devills in Confusion set 6. When Lucifer saw its Activitie With hellish Joy He kiss'd his genuine Son And as He kick'd his Fathers Courtesie And scratch'd his kissing Lips this Signe alone Dear Childe cri'd He sufficient is to prove Thou art my Issue and deserv'st my love 7. Then from his own vipereous Tresses He Pluck'd a large handfull of his longest Snakes Of which with poisnous liberalitie A favour for his darling Childe he makes Who ever since with Joy and Triumph wears The hissing Discord all about his Ears 8. Thus dress'd without and furnished within With desperate Injunctions a Commission To be sole Generall of every Sin Of all Confusion and of all Perdition He freely grants Him and then sends Him forth To trie what Ruines he could work on Earth 9. The cunning Serpent lov'd his Hole too well To suffer desperate War to harbour there He knew that even in the Realm of Hell Division would the Joints and Cement tear Which in obedience to his Soveraign Pride The Peers and Commons of Damnation ti'd 10. As through the bowells of deep Tellus He Rent ope his Way amazed Nature shook Affrighted Quiet and Serenitie Their sudden flight to Heav'n for shelter took Leaving behinde an universall Groan Through all the World such fatall Terror ran 11. But blustering on the Fury sought where he Might entertainment for his Miseheif meet First to the Lyons Dens he went to see Whither their mighty Mouthes and armed feet Might not be taught to undertake a fight In the fell Quarrell of intestine Spight 12. The noble Beasts with generous disdain Look'd on the Monster and lay couchant still Seeming to say Our Selves will hold the chain Of our own Strength and when We please to fill Our Lust with Blood Wee l hunt it up and down The Woods but never riot in our own 13. Repulsed here He made the like Address To Dragons Tigres Panthers Wolves and Bears But they in their own Naturall freindliness Hugg'd one another and 〈◊〉 all Warrs The Monster vex'd and 〈◊〉 himself to That salvage Creatures would not disagree 14. At last to Man he came And who could dream That 〈◊〉 the softest and the gentlest Thing Which Heav'ns own carefull Hand alone did frame Man who could fight for Nothing being King Of all the World Man who unarm'd was made Should turn Apprentice to the Warlike Trade 15. Yet Man the Riddle of Unhappiness Unto the Monster entertainment gave Mad Man for whom a thousand Maladies Perpetually
be Such care to murder thy dear Spouse had He 55. Deep in the bowels of eternal Night And neighbour to the black Court of Damnation A Den there is where Stinks with Stinks doe fight And Ejulation roar at Ejulation Where Horrors Horrors fright and where Dispair The face of Desperation doth tear 56. Hither came He When loe the Iron Door Gap'd like the thirsty Earth to drink him in Whilst from its joyfull Mouth the Cave did poure A Stream of flaming Sulphure to begin Its Soveraigns Welcome whom that Complement Such was his princely Grace did well content 57. For in He went and there his Daughter saw Busie in pouring ever-flaming Lead Upon her Captive Soules whom Lies did throw Into that boiling Curse Upon her Bed Of red-hot Iron not yet cooled lay Lusts Holocaust Madame Potiphera 58. She lay and bit and roar'd and bit again Her slanderous Tongue whence deadly Shafts she shot At holy Joseph when She had in vain Spent all her eyes Artillery and what Soft Blandishments her Wit could muster up To bring about her hot and lustfull Hope 59. There lay that foule-mouth'd Ten whose envious 〈◊〉 Blasted the florid Sweets of Canaan Spreading a Dearth upon Fertility And spewing Gall where Milk and Honey ran They curs'd amain and still their Lie maintain'd In spight of Death which in their Bosomes reign'd 60. There lay that Pair of Venal Soules who by Their hired Lie effected Naboths death Acting themselves that foule Impiety With which They slander'd Him With flaming breath God and the King they curse and wish all Hell Melted into the Heart of Jezebell 61. Th' Assyrian Railer there his Throat did rend With 〈◊〉 assertion of his Blasphemy Avouching still that God himselfe did send Him to extirpate all the Jews And why Fond Rabsheka does He thus deep torment Thee For that bold Errand if on it he sent Thee 62. There lay that slanderous Pair of Elders who Susanna did so reverently belie At her their Accusations still they throw And swear they found her in Adultery Yet with more fury they on Daniel raile Crying See how Injustice may prevail 63. These and ten thousand more lay roaring there Whilst the remorselesse Mistresse of the Den Triumphed in their Tortures Never Bear With such intemperate Fiercenesse raged when Her hungry Teeth were flinging ope their way Through the Bowells of her helplesse Prey 64. Fell Calumnie it was a monstrous She Her Forehead was compos'd of seav'n-fold Brasse An obstinate Swarthinesse which scorn'd to be Pierced by any Blush grew on her face Her hollow Eyes with peevish Spight were fill'd Her powting Lips with deadly Venome swell'd 65. Her dreadfull Jaws replenish'd Quivers were Where Darts and Spears and Pikes and Arrows stood Prepar'd and sharpned all for mortal War Her mouth no Moisture knew but blended Blood Of Asps and Basilisks which she suck'd in To spit sure Mischief upon guiltlesse Men. 66. The Stings of Ten choise Dragons joyn'd in one Was all the Tongue wherewith She had to speak This made her language pure Destruction For certain Death at every Word did break Forth from her Lips if not at their first Sound Yet most infallibly at their Rebound 67. Her Brain is that mischievous Shop in which As every other Slander forged was So that which did all Parallels out-stretch And dar'd Omnipotence's soveraign Face Proclaiming that thy Lord not by his own But Belzebubs Power did tread the Devills down 68. When ever any rankling Canker breeds Kingdomes or Countries ruinous Overthrow Her viperous Trade it is the fatal Seeds Of restlesse Fears and Jealousies to sow In Peoples Hearts whilst She ten thousand Lies To blast their Rulers Credit doth devise 69. She spying now her royall Father there His Benediction begg'd upon her Knee Blesse Me dear Sire said She and give Me here Some new found Engine of fresh Cruelty These Soules are us'd too kindly all their Pains Grow stale and cold familiar their Chains 70. Fear not it shall be so cri'd Satan but Sweet Childe another Work first craves our Care Him whom I deepliest hate my Art has got With Juda's help fast in a fatal Snare I mean that Galilean Beggar who Has Me and all my Fiends abused so 71. But now the Priests forsooth are so demure And I 'le remember 't when I get them here That though they in the Project did conjure And bought that Christ ev'n at a Rate too dear Their Holinesses some pretence must have How in Destroying Him their Fame to save 72. Confusion on their Fame who though they dread Not what the Thundering Wrath of Heav'n can doe In vindication of a guiltlesse Head Stand in base awe of the vile Vulgar so That they confesse most Infamous Impiety Whilst They the People make their onely Deity 73. Base-hearted Hypocrites Can they not be Brave venturous Sinners like to Me their Prince Yet since they needs will sneak to Hell sure We For once will help the Fools to their Pretence They want False-witnesse for a Cloak and Thou This Livery canst best on Them bestow 74. But see Thou mould'st up some Athletick Lie Whose burly Bulk all Truth may over-bear Some petty sucking Knaves their best did trie But straight their ill-shod Tales did enter-fér On Thee the Work depends Come let 's away The High-priests Court or rather Mine doth stay 75. This said his Daughter by the hand He took And with more sprightfull speed then Indian Arrow Cuts through the tender whineing Aire he broke Earths sturdie obstacles and posted thorough The sullen clogging Masse untill He came Back to his other Home Jerusalem 76. There when he saw the Council at a stand Gaping and staring one upon another He spi'd withall two itching Rogues at hand Scratching their heads and beating them together He knew their meaning and through both their harts Unfeen unheard his Daughter strait he darts 77. As when the Bosome of the Delphick Priest Began to boile with his desired Hell His Rapture by his Gestures he confest Hastening to vent his belking Oracle So this accursed Pair now kindled by The Furie speeded to belch out their Lie 78. For straight each flung his hand above his head And cri'd I have it sure let 's to the barre And when their Projects they examined They found that both in one Mould fashion'd were At which they kiss'd and shaked hands and prest With full-mouth'd Accusation to the Priest 79. Great Caiaphas and ye the 〈◊〉 The holy Guardians of Heav'ns reverend Law Hear Us said They who will object to Him No hearsay stories but what we both saw And beard and may henceforth nor Eye nor Ear If we speak what is false or see or Hear 80. We saw him strutting in the Temple where His most blasphemous Pride he broach'd and cri'd I will destroy this house which Hands did rear And build another full as fair and wide Without the Help of Hands as if bold He No Mortall were but some great Deitie 81. Nay
Tell Him I thank Him for his Courtesie It made Me merry as You all have seen I will not rob his Lordships Pleasures by Keeping this Idiot from Him When I mean To play with Fools I hope my Galile With one such Sheeps-head more may furnish Me. 160. Thus Jesus in a gorgious Robe is clad That more conspicuous his shame might be And so through fresh Disdains and Scoffings led To be the Game of further Tyranny Pilate admir'd to see his splendid Hue Knowing what Garb was to Delinquents due 161. For Pris'ners when their Lives presumed were Forfeit to Law and Death were wont to be In funeral Black array'd which might prepare Them to the thoughts of their Catastrophe And intimate the Colour of that Sin Whose horrid Darknesse cloth'd their Soules within 162. But so did Providence correct their Spight That He whose Breast was purer than the Day Did in his Vesture wear no guilty Night But by his Foes own Hands in an Array Of Glory was attir'd and quitted when They hal'd Him to his Condemnation 163. So oftentimes when a Conspiracy Of Windes their puffing labouring Wrath doe blow About the World in hopes to damp the Skie With swarthie Clouds and Storms they onely throw All Vapors out and with a full and fair Serenity array the purged Aire 164. But Pilate pondering what had hapned now And feeling Moral Honesty beat high Ev'n in his Pagan Heart could not allow His Conscience to be Slave unto the Crie Of the importunate Jews who roaring stood And set their Mouths wide ope for guiltlesse Blood 165. My duty I have fully done said He Him and your Accusations have I Unto the bottome sifted As for Me I hope I never gave you reason why You should presume that any Clamors may Fright Pilate out from Justice's High-way 166. Neither your Temple nor your Altars be More venerable unto you than is My most unspotted Judgement Seat to Me For all Hells yellings and impatient Cries I trust Mine shall as valiantly resist As Mino's or as Rhadamanthu's Breast 167. What I to Caesar owe and what to Right I long have known and must not now forget My Heart is Romane and the dearest Light Of Heav'n is not so pretious to it As spotlesse Honor which can never be Cohabitant with Wrong and Tyranny 168. Mine own Heart-blood I rather would let flow And let your Thirst carouse in it then I From any guiltlesse Veins their Streams will draw To quench the loudest Importunity Mine is mine own but what have I to doe To give Anothers Life when Law sayes No. 169. Law takes no hold of Jesus nor must I Nor did the Tetrarch and why then will you He that he is a King doth not deny But adds withall His Kingdomes not below No harm to Cesar by this Man is done Who doth his Kingdome fancy in the Moon 170. There let his Fancy rule and reign But yet 'T is pitty for his Follie He should Die. It never yet was heard that Want of Wit Pass'd for a Capital Offence Nay I Have been inform'd that in the Tribute He Has witnessed sufficient Loyalty 171. For by his Doctrine He did it maintain And by his Practise too though Calumnie Hath your Beliefe abus'd and cast a Stain Upon his Innocence Come therefore I Will for your Credits Him Chastise and so Give Him Dismission without more adoe 172. And this the rather since by Custome I Ingaged am to honor this your Feast In granting some Offendors Liberty Who in your Judgement shall deserve it best And who can you think lesse deserveth Death Then He whose Innocence him acquitted hath 173. Thus strove the Judge that He might not condemn Both Jesus and himself When loe the Priests His gracious offer shamelesly contemn And spur the People in whose furie rests Their finall Hope to beg with all the Strise Of stoutest throats none but Barabba's life 174. Prodigious Priests is not Barabbas He Whom all the Town knows guilty of the fact You fain would fasten upon Iesus yee Your selves beheld what tumults he did act And how his desperate riot he pursued Untill in Murder he his hands imbrued 175. And is the Murderers life so dear that He Must live with you whilst Innocence does die Does foule Barabbas his curs'd Company Suit better with your reverend Sanctitie Or can you think both God and Man so blinde As not to see and hate your bloody minde 176. Strange Psyche strange it was with what loud cryes The mad-brain'd vulgar heav'n and earth did tear Barabba's Name through all their clamour flies And they for none but for Barabbas care He is their Darling and they cannot live If Pilate will not grant them his Reprieve 177. Thus hellish Hate op'd Providences door To heav'nly Love and made Barabba's be The whole Worlds type which from the fatal Pow'r Of endlesse Death and equall Miserie Was to be snatch'd to day whil'st in its place A Lamb all white and guiltlesse sentenc'd was 178. Mean while the Judges Lady sent her Page In posting speed to pray her troubled Lord Not to be mad because that Rout did rage Nor venture to prophane the Roman sword With innocent blood for certainly said she Jesus is just and they seditious be 179. For my good genius as I lay asleep Appear'd unto me hand in hand with thine Thine beat his Breast and bitterly did weep And toll'd the reason of his griefe to mine He said and deeply sighed as he said Pilate with Jesus now will be betrai'd 180. Pilate will be betrai'd to take away The Life of Jesus and his own withall For Jesus blood will crie another day And unto Pilats veins and heart will call His veins and heart must answer that strong cry I started here and out the Dream did flie 181. Thus heav'n admonish'd Claudia strove to drive Her husband from his Precipices brow And did withall miraculous witnes give What wrongs the Jews at Jesu's life did throw For Heav'n was pleas'd that his integritie By either sex should now asserted be 182. No sooner had the trembling Page delivered His ominous Message but the Judges heart With fatall jealousie and horror shivered His joints unbuckled and his eyes did start His hair stood staring up his blood flew back And left his lips and all his visage black 183. But when the Scribes and Priests had learn'd this news Behold they cry how He by Magick art Hath sent some 〈◊〉 Spirit to abuse The honest thoughts of noble Claudia's heart That by this trick the Judge might frighted be Our Truthes made slanders and himself set free 184. Then all the People with fresh clamors roard Thundring Barabbas in the Judges ear That violent storm quite blew away the Word His Lady sent Him and through sudden fear Of insurrection He returns to treat About the Busines which himself did hate 185. Friends ask your second thoughts said He and see If they upon Barabbas needs will dote I would not that your too much
Thousands at his Heels which might assist His Wills Carreir Might his Designe not be True to our Fears And must He be dismist Dismisse Him If you will yet know that We Must hold you then for Caesars Enemie 239. Pilate had with their Malice grappled long But now his Place and Credit lay at stake He who before was so upright and strong Degenerously turn'd Unjust and Weak Firm stood his Chair upon the Pavement but His Heart and Conscience soone fell flat on it 240. For as He'ginns to name their King again Away with him they Crie We have no King But Caesar Caesar over Us shall reign And He alone As for this Cursed Thing 'T is more than time that to his Cross He goe And every one that is his Favourer too 241. Alas this Blast did on his faint Breast did blow So thick a Storm of Ielousie and Dread That now he fancied all the Town did draw Their mutinous Swords against his single Head And that the Priests had with their specious Lie Dispatched unto Rome an Embassie 242. Thus toss'd and baited by the Tempest He His Faith and Truth the dearest Wares he had Throws over bord and to their Crueltie Joyns his Consent which yet appear d so mad And full of foul and odious horror that He calls for Water to wash off its Blott 243. Why dost thou ravish Foolish Hypocrite The virgin Nymph What Water wilt thou get To wash this clean which cannot make Thee white But onely is by this thy Touching it For ever made impure Should all the Sea Flow on thy Hands they still would Bloody be 244. The Leopards Spots which fix their Feet so sure Upon his skin shall sooner melt away The AEthiop's Face shall sooner learn a Cure And turn its swarthy Night to beauteous day The Ravens with Swans in White shall sooner vie Than thou be purg'd from thy ingrained die 245. Yet Pilate flatter'd by his own Device Will needs be dabbling in the Water and Behold ye Priests and People all he cries Of Iesu's Blood I wash my guiltlesse Hand Although my Tongue the sentence passe yet ye Extorted it and yours the Act shall be 246. Content said They since you will have no share Ours let the Actions Glorie wholly be Both Heav'n and Earth will thank us for our Care And Caesar praise our zealous Loyaltie So will your self when you have weighed well What kinde of Monster you have sent to Hell 247. As for his Blood which frights your timorous Hand It is to us the Brightest Paint of Gloxie And will to all Successions commend Our pious Loyall Resolutions Storie For our ambitious Wish it is that It May On Heads and on our Children sit 248. Unhappy Wish had this been rightly fram'd No Prayer had flam'd with purer Piety Nor pull'd more Blessings down then would have streamd In this rich Blood upon Them all But see The fatall Power of Malice which can thus Make Zeals sweet Dialect turn venomous 249. For'twas not long e'r Titus came to poure This Blood upon Them and their Wish fulfill Them and their Seed its Streams did then devour With such full Veng'ance did the Torrent swell Their Town and Temple too this Deluge found Which in their Wishes Surplusage were drown'd 250. For never yet did Warr so riot in The Blood of any helplesse Wights as here Nor fatall Misery hunt out any Sin With so seveer a Quest as that So 〈◊〉 They found their Wish and bloody Exclamation Which prov'd the funerall Knell to all their Nation 251. And now the Judge within whose Breast the fear Of Men vile Men more than of God did reign Those Bonds of generous Right himselfe did tear From which he woo'd the People to refrain And gives his owne unhappy tongue the Lie Iudging the Lord of Innocence to die 252. O monstrous sentence were the fell Decrees Which ever yet from Tyrants Mouths did breake With the Descriptions of their Cruelties All writ in one black Roll they would not make So hideous a show as this alone Of Barbarousnesse the dire Perfection 253. All Injuries in this triumphant are Being skrued to the highest pitch of Spight Injustice but a Suckling was till heer She on the sudden grew to her full height Herod had nurs'd her well but Pilate now With the Iews help taught her compleat to grow 254. For could Hell mould so horrible a Doome As might send every Infant who did see Lifes morning Light strait from his Mothers Wombe To his Death 's Ev'n that Sentence yet would be Lesse barbarous than this which doth at once Condemne more than the whole Worlds Innocence 255. Alas unfortunate Pilate how hast Thou Condemn'd thy Self whilst Thou didst sentence Him The time draws nie when Caius will not know Thee for a Freind of Caesars Thy Esteem And Office too unto their Evening draw And foure Years more will make Thee feel the Law 256. The Law of Bannishment when France shall see Thee to Vienna ti'd that fatall place Where Hell shall to thy Soule displayed be And thy black Conscience warr against thy face Mustring the Guilt of this unhappy Day Before thine Eyes in terrible Array 257. There thy wives message shall again resound And sting thine heart thine own Professions there Of Jesu's innocence shall all rebound Upon thy breast and thy foule bosome tear There shall that water bubble up and boile Upon thine Hands which did its streams defile 258. There shall thy whips their lashes turn on thee There shall the thorns grow thick upon thy Head There shall the Buffettings and Mockings be Unto 〈◊〉 self in fail tale numbered There 〈◊〉 prodigious sentence back shall flie And point out Pilate as one fit to die 259. Then shall the cruel Crosse the Nailes the Spear Walk through thy thoughts and murder thee alive Till Crucifi'd by thine own fatall fear Thine hand due vengeance to thy self shall give And from thy Hell above by cursed death Send thy dispairing soule to Hell beneath 260. So shall thine hand thou thoughtst thou washst so white 〈◊〉 imbru'd in thine own horrid gore 〈◊〉 to all following Judges write Of what sure vengeance righteous Heav'n doth poure On them who warp Laws rule to Peoples lust And make the throne of Justice be unjust 261. But when the Lamb of Heav'n was sentenc'd thus Unto the Shambles Streit upon their prey The rampant Soldiers fly His gorgeous Attire they from him snatch and him array In his own simple fleece yet suffer still The torturing thorns upon his head to dwell 262. This rubb'd and wounded all those Wounds again In which the clotted blood began to rest This op'd the weary Mouth of every vein As if it would have had them now confest The utmost drop they knew yet though this loss Went deep they kept enough to paint the Cross. 263. 〈◊〉 delay then unto Calvarie 〈◊〉 hurry Him ev'n though their Senates Law 〈◊〉 that no Execution be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by ten dayes Thoughts the Judge
enacted and Bid it in Paradises records stand 79. Their breeding murmur reached Jesu's ear For nothing scap'd him which he pleas'd to know When 〈◊〉 he looking up such potent fear Flew on all them as bow'd their Heads as low As they were high before for strait they saw His royall will and knew their soveraign Law 80. Then as Death groaning lay He drew the dart From his own Bodies side and to the head With mighty vengeance stuck it in her heart The wound though deep made not the weapon red For all the Gore that at its mouth it spew'd Black as foule Styx's inkie puddle shew'd 81. Thrice did the Monster gaspe and then let flie Her cursed Ghost which stole its way to hell Her carcase stretch'd out on the ground did lie Her chap fell down her tongue in which did dwell All poisons 〈◊〉 hung dangling out Thus she Who reign'd o'r mortals felt Mortalitie 82. But the brave Conqueror thus having slain Her once by killing her resolved now To slay her by restoring her again To her accursed life for from below He beckned her pale Ghost and bid it dwell At home again as in a fouler Hell 83. And now said he since thou hast felt my might Remember my command and live again Henceforth thou with thy sting no more shalt fight Nor on thy Prisners clap a slavish chain Yet use thy dart for'tis my royall will Though I forbid thy rage to let thee Kill 84. Thou who before the tyrant wert shalt now The servant to my mortal Brethren be And ope the gate by which from Life below Their Soules shall flie to live and reign with me But see their bodies in their quiet sleep Untill I call for them thou safely keep 85. This double Conquest gain'd He look'd aside And sneaking in a Corner of the Toomb Corruption with her Worms about her spi'd Who crawl'd and wrought withall their might to come And seize upon the Body but as yet Could not finde strength enough to reach to it 86. He spi'd them there and charg'd them to be gone At which great word they into nothing fled With that his sacred body he put on As easily as he some Cloak had spread Upon his shoulders or his finger put Into an Annulet exactly fit 87. Thus hast thou seen a tryed fencer from His bloody Sceen of prowess with the prize His virtue purchased returning home There to enjoy his glorious victories But first he cloaths his arms and breast and back Whose naked valour scorn'd the combats shock 88. His heart with life and joy strait gan to leap His veins with new-recovered blood grew hot His blessed eyes threw off their 〈◊〉 sleep And their long leaden night of Rest forgot Afresh the Roses budded in his lip New smiles and graces in his checks did trip 89. Off fell the Napkin and the Winding Sheet Not daring to conceal the Beauties which In a strange Confluence of Glory met All Parts of his pure Body to enrich Which fairer than the Sons of Men before Out-shined now its former Graces store 90. For passing through the Seirce of Death it there Lost all the grossnes of Mortality And riseth more illustrious and cleer Than silver Venus in the Evening Skye What was but course and animal till now Doth most refined and Spiritual grow 91. It doth no longer like a Prison sit Obscure and lumpish on the soule but is Made light and pliant and compleatly fit For her and for her nimblest Bus'nesses And as our ready Wings doe every where Move with our Wills so that can doe with Her 92. For He who our brave Sprightfulnes could make Of dull and sleepy Nothing easily may Teach heavy Flesh and Blood how to awake Into Angelik Purenesse and array It round with full as fair a robe of light As makes the Cherubs or the Seraphs bright 93. But now the promis'd Time was come and He As early as the third Day ment to Rise Remarried to his Body instantlie Out of his Toomb He leaps not in the guise Of boistrous Lightning which doth rend the Clouds But that which through unbroken Bodies crowds 94. Oft hast Thou seen the sprightfull Image flie Compleatly through a Chrystall Wall which yet Unbruis'd uncrack'd it leaveth So did thy Much purer Lord through the stout Marble get For still it kept the Tombes Mouth close and still Was trusty to the Priests unmoved Seal 95. Thus Psyche e'r the dull World was awake Life Rose for it and Deaths strong Gates set ope That it aforehand might a Passage make Unto all mortal Ashes to get up His Members Risen are in Him their Head Though yet in Death they never went to Bed 96. His Resurrection a sure Ernest is Of theirs who ever dyed or can die He buried was onely the Grave to dresse To purge to sweeten and to Sanctifie That in that safe retiring Room his Freinds May take their Rest untill for Them He sends 97. Indeed all Joyes seemd to be slain when He Compleating Bitternesses Tragedy Fetchd his last gasp upon the fatal Tree But this deer Morning they reviv'd and by His rising Body so refined were That They like it Spiritual appear 98. No wonder this sweet Day doth sit so high In pious Soules esteem and bear away The reverend glory and solemnity Of the old consecrated Sabboth Day No wonder that upon the first Daies head The Sev'nths fair diadem is established 99. T is true on That when God six daies had wrough Fetching from Nothing Whatsoe'r We see And All this All unto perfection brought He stay'd his Hand and order'd it to be To sacred Jollitie a constant Feast That all Things else might play when He did rest 100. But on this Day his Rest was far more great For all his life full hard He laboured had He wept He struggled and his blood He Sweat His strength his life He spent on Death He Trod And trampled Hell and now Rose up again In matchlesse 〈◊〉 evermore to reign 101. O noble Sabboth may all Glories swell Each houre and minute of thy sacred light May Pieties best Exultations dwell In thee alone and cursed be the spight Of any Heresie which e'r shall dare Thy festivall Prerogative to impair 102. The other Sabboth was a Shade of Thee And Thou the Copie art of that which shall Amidst the Triumphs of Immensitie Be all Heav'ns everlasting Festivall A Feast which shall no higher Title know Than the Lords Day and this brave Day art Thou 103. But zealous Magdalene could not rest in Bed O no her Soule was here seald in the Tombe And though the Sabbaths Law did her forbid Untill it selfe expired were to come And seek it here yet now she could not stay To be conducted by the mornings Ray. 104. She and another love-enflamed Friend Borrow'd Speeds Wings and having purchas'd store Of pretious Ointment and of Spice to spend Upon the sacred Corps set forth before The Sun gat out of bed but as they came
countenance But when the Hils she could no longer spie Let 〈◊〉 now said she look 〈◊〉 mine eye 56. And with 〈◊〉 potent 〈◊〉 did she breath That heart sigh that it made Phylax start 〈◊〉 the pallid characters of Death Appeared in her face and every Part 〈◊〉 cold and num as if her 〈◊〉 had 〈◊〉 Back to the place whence she was hurried 57. In application of his cordial Powers Had not the tender Guardian nimble been His Psyche eyes now in their amorous showers Had their own final deluge found and seen No more for ever with such force doth love Especialy in female Bosomes move 58. And ask me not what makes this Passion prove So brave and potent in the softest hearts Thy self the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 fect 〈◊〉 if genuine love On thee hath tryed his mysterious Darts If not it is in vain to tell thee how This softnes to such mighty strength doth grow 59. But quick as is the infiuence of light New vigorous spirits He breaths into her breast Which thriliing through her Veins chas'd out the 〈◊〉 Of languic cold by which they were posiest And 〈◊〉 her blood bidding it rise and 〈◊〉 Her 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 snor 60. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but toward 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Her 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and then 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Courage my Dear said 〈◊〉 be content Saiern 〈◊〉 nothing more for there 〈◊〉 61. As when a Friend unwelcome Motions makes His other self who has no power to be Right-down displeas'd at whatsoever breaks From those beloved lips which Faithfull he Holds dearer than his own displays the smart In his Eyes mirrours of his wounded Heart 62. So the Sweet anguish of her loving look Psyche a while lays ope to Phylax view That He might read in that pathetick book How by that Word of his her Joys He slew But when He seem'd that language not to ken Her lips thus to interpret it began 63. Between two deaths which shall poor Psyche choose For death it is my Phylax to displease And death religious Salems sweets to loose And I alas have but one life for these Yet had I more my straits were still the same For all were due to thee and all to them 64. O deare Pretector of my Joyes and Me Divide not now thy charge Had I not been Conducted hither by thy Pietie Psyche Jerusalem had never seen Not been enchanted by the pretious Graces Which have endeer'd these consecrated places 65. And of these Jewels must I robbed be By none but dearest thee Had open Foes Thus all at once impoverish'd feeble Mee I might have grappled with my single woes But now each griefe and loss by springing from Thine Hand on Me doth more than doubled come 66. O what has Albion that can entertaine A Soule which is from Salem snatch'd away Salem which in the Worlds heart queen doth reign Whil st Albions Clime her vilenes doth betray Whom Nature threw into the West and sought How from the Universe to kick her out 67. Arimathaean Josephs tombe indeed Is there that something that poore Ilse might have But ô the sight of that will onely feed That fire which burns me with his other Grave His other Grave in which my Spouse did he Far far from Albion whither thou wouldst flie 68. When in the lofty aire the fish can live When in the bottome of the Sea the Lark When Cancer can to Winter welcome give When High-noon can inhabit in the Dark When Albion can to Salem shipped be Then may it prove a fitting home for me 69. But untill then I onely thither goe Bearing my wofull Corps unto my Tombe Since thou sweet-bitter friend wilt have it so And not vouchsafe in Palestine a room For poor distressed Psyche Here a stream Of Tears flowd down from Her and softned him 70. Nay I am not so hard sayes He but I Can yeild to fewer tears of thine than those Come wipe thine eyes for thou shalt instantly Live in those joyes Thou holdst it death to loose With that He slop'd the Rein and wheel'd about And smiling Psyche back to Salem brought 71. She smil'd but sober He confess'd no signe Of jollitie at this Return for He By his profounder judement did divine That Land however Holy would not bee A Sanctuary to his Psyche since His and her Masters summons call'd him thence 72. A little House He there prepar'd for Her And with all requisites replenish'd it But then with awfull looks He cry'd my dear Thou see'st what order I have took to fit Thy longing and thy Lodging too but now I a more usefull gift then these bestow 73. 'T is my Advice of which Thou hast more need Than here to sojourn yet thy being here Doth all that mystick mighty danger breed Which by thy life I thee conjure to fear Thy life at Salem is in peril which Had been in Albion out of Dangers reach 74. Where Waters most doe â—mile and 〈◊〉 now The deepest Gulfes beneath in 〈◊〉 lie Where in their briskest beautie Roses grow An armed Troop of dangerous Thorns stand by All Poisons then most active are and bold When they are lodg'd in pompous Pearl and 〈◊〉 75. Sweet Paradise was not so safe but there The worst of Serpents in its Sweets did dwell And though to thee Heav'n seems descended here Yet ev'n in Salem thou may'st meet with Hell I grant the Serpent here was slain but yet Their fragments Snakes know how again to knit 76. Trust not their glittering Skinns though fair they be But flie their Looks for thick Enchantments are Enammell'd in their out-side Bravery And holy Trapps and Treacheries they wear With cunning Art they winde about and glide And into unsuspecting Holes they slide 77. Trust not their Tongue which is indeed a Sting Though it be tipp'd with Golden Courtesie Though Heav'n roll'd up in Promises it bring And Wisdomes most inviting Sweetnesse Ye Shall be as Gods discerning Good and Evill Was a brave Word yet minted by the Devill 78. Remember here thy Spouse was once betray'd Remember that he here was thrice deni'd Remember that thou art a feeble Mayd Remember thy Agenor and thy Pride Remember the Rebellion of thy Passions Remember Aphrodisiu's Protestations 79. Remember what from Charis and from Me Thou hast receiv'd and let no Sirens Song Bewitch thine Ears with treacherous Harmony In which the blessed Tunes of Heav'n have rung Take heed this humor of thy Zeal does not Cast on its sober lines a wanton blot 80. Lock up these Counsells in thine Heart and there Let them lie safe for Me till I come back Thy Trust and Love shall hence to me appear If of these Pawns thou faithfull Care dost take These Pawns which will my Guardian Wings supply Although from thee I far away doe flie 81. I must away for this Heav'ns pleasure is And therefore must be mine and should be thine I bus'nesse have abroad but by this Kisse And here he took his leave the truth of mine Affection Psyche on thy Lip
she ended Began her Praises and Congratulation Joy joy deer Pupill of this Morn said he Which hath dispell'd thy Night of Misery 51. I see what reason thou hadst to be sad Beyond my Comforts reach because I see The sweet Occasion which hath made thee glad Such mighty Greif could onely chased be By that Meridian Almighty Ray Which drives the Life of Woe ev'n Death away 52. The high Excesse of his 〈◊〉 Joy Would let him speak no more but spuir'd him on With Kisses and Embraces to allay The dainty Wrath of his strong Passion Full close he chain'd her in the tender Bands Of zealous Love his blessed Arms and Hands 53. 〈◊〉 Mayd who would not to this 〈◊〉 Belong in debt thus in a snnle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 begging of my 〈◊〉 you 〈◊〉 But for my Thanks they must 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hence to be full and 〈…〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 best he 〈…〉 54. Surely the other Day you were the same Which you are now in every Ornament Of gratious Sweetnesse when you hither came And your best Cordials did to Me present But clownish Senselesse I could not embrace You 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 landy r offred Grace 55. Had this Behaviour quench'd your Love to Me. To none but my rude Selfe had Blame been due Yet you with faithfull patient fervencie More carefull still and still more render grew My Greif you to your Selfe assum'd as you Were able 〈◊〉 for Me with Tears did slow 56. Though Thy Heav'n and Earth abandon was And psung'd into the Cull of Desolation To own Me in 〈◊〉 despicable Case You blushed not but by your high Narration Of what Love 〈◊〉 to releive my mart Endeavored to cheer my drooping Heart 57. Well I remember how I then forgot My selfe and you how dead and cold I lay Before that flaming News which might have shot Life into any Soule but mine away I turn'd my foolish head from that which through A thousand Deaths would run after now 58. For ô my indefatigable Friend I feel your sweetnesse thrilling in my Heart Which there with Charis Intluence doth blend And a new Soule unto my Soule impart Forbid it Heav n my Mind should e'r forget Thee who hast help'd to raise and double it 59. When Earth denies her Vapours to repay To Heav'n whose Bounty sent her down the 〈◊〉 When Fountains bid their posting Curronts stay Whose Thanks were slowing to their mother 〈◊〉 When Building scorn their freindly 〈◊〉 Will then neglect thy 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 In this 〈…〉 Then Words and Killes sweetly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Till the 〈…〉 Which common Mortals 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 61. And now her high and holy busines she Perform'd no more with cold and fruitlesse pains But mounting up with cheerly Fervencie Reap'd in the middle of her Work its Gains For now she knew her Prayers welcom'd were Into her Spouse's ready open Ear. 62. Phylax mean while by Heav'ns appointment flew To learn her Parents fortunes out which He No sooner full sow but fir'd with new Excess of Joy he back return'd when she From her Devotions rose and thus display'd His blessed Message to the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 63. News Psyche happy News for now I come From holy Valours Sceen that signal Place Where thy Uranius his brave Martyrdome Of late atcheiv'd and finished his Race That Race thou fear'dst had been too hard for thy 〈◊〉 Parents limping 〈◊〉 64. But at the Stake I found them Bothe where they Before the face of Heav'n and Earth to thy Sole charge that Resolution did lay Which fir'd them to contemn those Flames for by Our Daughters Zeal said they this sacred heat In our old froazen fearfull Veins doth beat 65. That heav'nly Answer from the Dungeon she Gave to our cruel kindenes though with shame It sent Us weeping home yet instantlie Those causeless tears it dried by this flame Of Christian courage whil'st admonish'd by Our second thoughts our first we did defie 66. And Heav'n require her wheresoe'r she be Who whil'st we tempted her idolize Did nobley fright Us from Idolatrie And reach Us how We safelier might 〈◊〉 Both Life and Death than Jesus who alone Holds over both supream Dominion 67. Then let Him shew it now the Solaiers 〈◊〉 Kindling the Pile and shouting loud that they In spight or Darknesse thus could turn the Tide Of Night by Christian Bonfires into Day O Blessed pair said I who in a new Marriage thus joyned are and hither 〈◊〉 68. So Phylax spake When Psyche ravish'd by This unexpected Bliss could not contain The pious Fountain of her joyfull Eye Nor her Tongues sweeter stronger streams restrain Abundant Tears she shed yet larger far Her thanks to Jesus and her Praises were 69. But as she oft had wearied been before With heavinesses mighty Burden so Surcharged now with joys exuberant store She laid her down in sweet submission to This pleasing load and sunk into the deep But soft untroubled Gulfe of do why sleep 70. When Charis upon whose eternal Eye No Slumber ever creeps begun a new And heav'nly work for with Activity About Imaginations Orb she flew And cull'd and cropp'd those Fancies here and there Which for her purpose serviceable were 71. Thus furnished with all Materials she In the fair Theatre of Psyche's Breast By orderly Degrees the Gallantrie Of her incomparable Pageant drest She first reard up a goodly Throne which might Out-vie the Hyperborean Snow in White 72. Forthwith she placed on this royal Seat A Prince who gave more Beauty unto it No Monark ever in more awfull State On his imperial Chair of Gold did sit Indeed all Potentates but shaddows be To this authentick Soveraigns Majestie 73. His copious Robe down from his Shoulders flow'd Unto his Feet with streams of gracefulnesse A Girdle of illustrious Gold which ow'd Its birth not unto Earth but Heav'n did kiss And closely hug his blessed Paps which yet In goodly Richnes far outshined it 74. No 〈◊〉 labour ever made so white The finest Wool as was his daintier Hair Which poured down the 〈◊〉 of its bright And Silken Curles with curious careless Care About his Alabaster Neck which stood Like a white Pillar in that Snowie 〈◊〉 75. As in their venerable Sockets on The sacred Altar glorious Tapers flame So look'd his Eys whose reverend Beams alone About the Temple of his Face did stream And made his Countnance like the Suns when he Is a wfull in his High-noon Claritie 76. The most resin'd Corinthian Brass which in The bosome of the slaming Furnace lies Doth not with more illustrious l error shine Than from his burning Feet of Glorie sties Thus was this radiant King from Foot to Head With supream Majestie embellished 77. Innumerable Angels then she brought To furnish out his Court and fill his Train These all their Stations took as quick as Thought And with their golden Trumpets in a strein Which through the roused Universe rebounded The glory of their mighty Soveraign founded 78. But his bright Standard to the open Air She poured out in
brave Beatitude in full Display Without this stinging Torment that had been Snatched from Me or I from that away But now what Comfort can breath Me Content When from my Heart my Heart it selfe is rent 162. If Lucifer had never walk'd upon Compleat Felicities transcendent Stories If He had never view'd Heav'ns radiant Throne And sweet Eternities excessive Glories His Losse had finite been he had not fell So low as now nor had his Hell been Hell 163. I might have dwelt contented in dull Night Had I not known and seen Lifes royal Day These rotten Raggs of Dust and Ashes might Have pleased Me had not the bright Array Which clothe's the Saints with Immortality Been open thrown before my mortal Eye 164. Yon' Phaebus who with Virgin Gold doth gild The Mornings cheeks I might with some Delight Have gazed on if I had not beheld The far more Sun-like Eyes of Jesus bright With Blisse and Love and Joy and every Thing Which can become the Looks of Glories King 165. Then since I fully understand my Losse O doe not envy Me sweet Guardian leave Not to be fondly stupid doe not crosse My course of Woe who have such cause to grieve For Grief their Daughters onely Dowrie is Whilst my dear Parents reign in joyous Blisse 166. These Words with such commanding Passion she On facil Phylax blew that he gave way Yet prudent as he was and piercing He Observ'd how wisely Love his Plot did lay And that for his sweet Psyche he this kinde Of softest-hardest Martyrdome design'd 167. But Charis who still in her Breast did lie Although the blessed Dream had taken Wing Yet on the Tables of her Memory Fairly transcrib'd and fastned every thing There shin'd the total Apparition still And all her Thoughts With Ravishment did fill 168. With Ravishment which proved fuel to Her ancient Fire of Love a fire which now Flash'd resolutely out and feasted so On this vast Banquet which did alwayes flow With fresh Infinitude upon it that The flames all Bridles and all Bounds forgot 169. Like Wax which flows before the Summers Sun So in the presence of this scorching Heat Her Bowells melted and her Heart did run About her bosome labouring to get Releasment from this Furnace but in vain Heav'n still to her Sweet Torment her did chain 170. In dainty Agonie She lay and fried Till from her Lips at last the Flame did break And unto Phylax thus aloud she cried O why to Persecutions gentler Stake Was I not bound why might I not expire In the milde bosome of that courteous Fire 171. Tkat Fire would soon have drunk up all my Breath And into Ashes parch'd my Life but this Playes with my Pangs and freshly Furnisheth My fainting Heart with passive vigorousnesse This woefull Immortality doth give Unto my Dust and teacheth Death to live 172. Nor Etna's nor Vesuviu's bowells were E'r gravid with such teeming Flames as mine Should Humber Thames and Severn by thy Care Their everflowing Mouthes together join And empty out themselves upon my Heart Alas they could not quench my burning Smart 173. Nay flatter Me not with thy smiling Eye Compassion is the utmost Thou canst lend He he alone can cure my Malady Who did to Me this flaming Feaver send If thou canst hasten down His help ô doe 〈◊〉 tell Me when he will 〈◊〉 my Woe 174. The Angel who her blessed Sickness knew Had now no longer power to pitty Her Into Invisibility He flew That her Seraphick pains might domineer And she being left alone might sooner prove The 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 175. But yet her modest tender Jealousie Could not interprest his Discession se She fear'd that by indecent Passion she Had urg'd his Patience and fore'd Him to Withdraw till hastie she grew Calm again And fir his 〈◊〉 to entertain 176. This made her cheek her boiling Fervor by Deep Recollection of her Spouses Will She knockt her Breast which first made its Renly In sighs and groans then in these words O still This tumult of my Soule dear Lord whose 〈◊〉 Doth all my Bosome in Combustion set 〈◊〉 Although my long'd-for Union with 〈◊〉 Be dearer than a thousand Lives 〈◊〉 Desire and Languor all my Essence 〈◊〉 Till to 〈◊〉 of thee I grow Yet since thy Will prolongs my Banishment From Heav'n and thee peace heart I am conten 178. I am content For All I Am. is Thine The freedom of thy Pleasure use on Me If I thine Arrows smartest Dint decline Then sav I lov'd my self but lov'd not Thee Upon this Heart poure all thine amorous 〈◊〉 And slay Me if thou wilt from Morn to 〈◊〉 179. But it I still must live this Death 〈◊〉 I live it unto Thee and Thee 〈◊〉 O let some hard heroick Task 〈◊〉 This Fervors edge which thou hast 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 My ravish'd Soule that being 〈◊〉 May lesse perceive the Flames in 〈◊〉 180. Shall I to Perfecutions Court and there Erect thy Standard in the Tyrants Face Shall I her Racks and Arts of Torture dare Her Altars and her Gods down shall I rase Against her Proclamations shall I 〈◊〉 the Pleasure of thy 〈◊〉 181. Shall all the Bruises Wounds Boils Sores and Pains Shall every Grief Distemper Maladie Shall all the Hungers Thirsts and Stripes and Chains Which through the whole World the sad Portion be Of thine abused patient Members joyn 182. Shall I he 〈◊〉 the Hate of Man and Beast Shall I 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and kicked round about 〈…〉 shall I be prest Of 〈◊〉 and Furies and be dragged through 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 where torments in their kingdom grow 183. Surely 〈◊〉 this and more for thy dear sake To whom I ow it I could well sustain Speak then ô most deserving Soveraing speak And by some sufferings mitigate my pain Set Me my hardy Task that I may prove On 〈◊〉 Terms how much I love thy Love 184. Thus nanted loval she till tired by Her Fervors high Intension she descendea Into her self again But instantly That strong Combustion she hop'd was ended Met her amidst her Breast and did conspire As 〈◊〉 as ever by enflam'd Desire 185. By Resignation to her Spouse sne 〈◊〉 To quench it but in vain Still Day by Day Her self 〈◊〉 rouna in amorous 〈◊〉 wasted And waking Night by Night and longing lay For whilit 〈◊〉 from place to place to win Some ease 〈◊〉 bore her Torment 〈◊〉 within 186. 187. So did her testless Memerie to Her The beauteous Wonders of her Dream object With all Beatitudes bright Furniture In vain her Eys she studied to deflect Which were in every Corner crost by this 〈◊〉 of strange importunate Bliss 188. When 〈◊〉 Prayers she went she could not Pray 〈◊〉 and Amazement strait were crowding in When to her Book she went she could not say 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 stopp'd her as she did begin When to her Psalms she went she could not sing 〈…〉 in her Fars did ring 189. When 〈◊〉 her Meat she went she could not Eat The 〈◊〉 of endlesse Life her
thonghts took up When to the Fountain of her Drink the sweet 〈◊〉 of Heav'n her Course and Thirst did stop When to her sleep she was disturbed by The 〈◊〉 Rest of Fternity 190. The dear Remembrance of her Soverdign Lord Boild in her Soule and would not slaked be So that while tortured she could not afford Unto her Body what Necessitie Crav dat her Hands she faint and feeble grew And by Degrees her Mortal self she slew 191. She slew her Flesh which pin'd and sunk away She slew the Vigor of her Senses which Like unbent Bows all damp'd and uselesse lay But by these Slaughters she did but inrich The Life of her afflicted Heart which still With stouter and more active Fire did swell 192. So high it swell'd that what soe'r came neer The mighty Torrent strait became its Prey Yea ev n the Bridles too subdned were Which still she hop'd and strove on it to lay Her Meditations all to Passion turned And whatso'er she Did or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 193. In 〈◊〉 unto such a 〈◊〉 The Sceptie of his 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 194. 〈◊〉 be it of a Thing But weak and mortal and Dust's wretched Heir Doth with immortal Pains and Wishes sting And spur the Soule unto unwearied Care Discouragement in vain doth muster up All Troops of Obstacles 〈◊〉 way to stop 195. No no the generous Lovers Heart disdains Not to approve his Passion infinite With gallant Obstinacie he maintains Against the Will of Heav'n and Earth the fight 〈◊〉 win his Idol for whose sake had he Ten thousand 〈◊〉 they all should ventur'd be 196. For in her Image which He hath enshrin'd High in the 〈◊〉 of his loyal Breast Such Charms and strong Attractions He doth finde As rob Him of all Power to resist He runs and in such strange and furious wise That Love is slandered with want of Eys 197. The whole World knows how Hamors royal Son Scorn'd his Religion and his foreskin too When Dinah's Love had full possession Of his subdued Soule How David who Was Heav'ns choise Darling durst Heav'ns Law despise For what he read in Bathsheba's fair Eys 198. Who hath not heard what Power one Heart 〈◊〉 Upon two mighty Nations both content For love or her to run so strangely mad Upon a mortal War whose furie rent Up Ilium by the roots which to the 〈◊〉 Of Lust a wofull Holocaust became 199. No 〈◊〉 then 〈…〉 With such mtolerable 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Whose 〈…〉 〈◊〉 Charms whose royall 〈◊〉 Draw with 〈…〉 Outvi'd by 〈…〉 〈◊〉 201. For all those Wounds bleed nothing else but Fire Fire which remembring its original Flame With never-wearied struggling doth aspire Back to the radiant place from whence it came It s proper Element are Jesu's eyes And thither in heroick Zeal it flies 202. And what can tortured Psyche doe who by This most unruly Heat to Heav'n is haled And yet by Mortal Lifes repugnancy Fast to her Body and dull Earth is sealed What can she doe in this Extremity Of raging Life and Death at once but Crie 203. Hardy and bold she grows in her Complaint For lifting upward her enamored Eyes Although her sickly Voice were low and faint Yet full of sinews were her serious Cries Which thus she suiting them unto her Passion Tun'd by the stout Key of Expostulation 204. O Lord of Gentlenesse ô why dost Thou Make Love so cruel to tormented Me Why would thy bounteous Justice not allow Me any other Rack but Suavitie Why must my Gall be onely Honey why Of nothing else but Life must Psyche die 205. Why didst Thou not permit Me to decease When thou hadst left Me to my Selfe alone So had thine Handmaid been repriev'd from these Extremities of Pangs so had I gone Whole to my Grave who now must Melted be By thine unsufferable Sweets and Thee 206. And am I not a Worm or worse than so Why dost Thou build such Triumph then on Me Why dost thou not pick out some Seraph who With this sublime and blessed Misery Might bravely grapple or why might'st Thou not At Phylax's nobler Breast my Dart have shot 207. O be not angry 't is not I that speak But tortured Necessity my Heart A thousand times desir'd but cannot break Else had my Lips not dared thus to part And ope themselves into Complaints but now Excuse together with my Fault doth flow 208. Not for innumerable Worlds would I Have been without that Apparition but Should full as many Worlds their Tyranny Combine against my Soul they could not put Me unto any Torture so extream As the Remembrance of my blessed Dream 209. In Sweetnesse why art thou so Infinite Or why must that Infinitude appear Unto a Soule to fire it with Delight If to the Fountain it must not draw neer To quench its burning Thirst O Jesu be Still what thou art but then be so to Me. 210. Be so to Me and ô be so with Speed Death is not Death compared with Delay Alas one Moment now doth far exceed All those long years which I till this sad Day Have tediously measured and now I older by an Age each Minute grow 211. Fain fain would I Let thee alone and be Content to wait thy longest Leisure still But ô all-lovely Thou still urgest Me And violently dragg'st my Conquer'd Will Thou dragg'st me yet wilt not permit that I Should follow home to my Felicity 212. If thou wilt Kill Me loe I am Content But ô vouchsafe to let my Slaughter be By Death not by this breathing Banishment From my best Life most ameable Thee O pitty pitty thy poor Handmaids Crie Whose Tongue cleaves to her Mouth whose Throat is drie 213. Fain would she here have fainted but her Pain Whose load so heavy on her Shoulders lay With courteous Cruelty help'd to sustein Her parched Vigour that it still might prey Upon her Patience and consume her still O strange Disease which doth by Curing Kill 214. Phylax mean while unseen perceiv'd that she Unto Heav'ns Suburbs was arrived now And that the Springs of her Mortality By this high Stretch began to crack for though Her Selfe her Change's Dawn could not descry He saw her final Houre was drawing nigh 215. This rous'd his Love in due time to prepare For his dear Pupills neverending End About her funeral he took decent Care Because himselfe could not stay to attend Those Rites when she had once Expir'd for he Her noble Paranymphus was to be 216. He was to be her Convoy when she flew Unto her royal Spouses marriage Bed This made him dresse his Count nance with a new Festivity his Wings this made him spread With fresh and snowie Down that his Lords Bride In that soft Coach of triumph home might ride 217. And in this joyous Hue to her he came Yet his sweet Presence She regarded not For Burning in her more delicious flame She of all other Things the Sense forgot The Phaenix thus amidst her funeral fires See's nothing else and nothing else
at their Soveraigns hearts they aime their Swords 199. He call'd no Lightning from the Clouds or from His potent Eyes to flash on Juda's face And throw on his bold Lips that flaming Doom Which due unto their odious Treason was He charg'd not Earth her dreadfull Mouth to ope And on the hellish Kisser close it up 200. O no With heav'nly Tendernesse He cries Friend wherefore art Thou come Strange Miracle Of gentle Patience Who can comprise Thy blessed depth Upon the face of Hell Shall the sweet Name of Friend be printed by Him who beholds and feels its Treachery 201. Is foul Ingratitude plain Apostacie Right down Rebellion now become a freind Or rather is not this Disciple by His curs'd Revolt transformd into a Feind And will his wronged Lord by none but this Deare Name revenge his most invenomed Kisse 202. O Psyche Jesus tortured was to see Judas himself into all Torments throw And by this Charme of noblest Lenitie Back into Heav'n indeavored him to draw He knew Loves Cords were strong and from his Crime By these he strives to hale rescue Him 203. Why art thou come thus to betray thy Freind Why art thou come with Arms against a Lamb Why art thou come all Bonds of Love to rend Why art thou come to fight for thine own shame Why art thou come with this strong Preparation For thy Lords death for thine own Damnation 204. Thy Kisse I in its naturall Language will Kindely interpret and make my Replie In the same Dialect if thou wilt still Imbrace my ever faithfull Courtesie And yeild that Blisse may in thy heart have room Say then my Friend say wherefore art Thou come 205. Thus did the Prince of sweetnesse plead and wooe But the deaf Serpent stopp'd his cursed ear In 's heart the Thirty Peeces chinked so That He no other Harmonie can hear When loe the Souldiers knowing now their Prey On Iesus fell and haled Him away 206. For love of Thee and all his other Brides Thus Psyche was thy Lord content to be Sold at so vile a Rate and Mock'd besides Ev'n by his own Disciples Treacherie Shrink not if thy neer Freinds abuse thy love Since Gods own Favorites so faithlesse prove 207. And let the World by this one Copie learn That hell-bred Boldnesse is not strange or new By which most Fostered Favoured Creatures turn Flat Enemies and lead an armed Crew Of Miscreanrs with bloody Impudence Against the Powers and Person of their Prince 208. But when no mercy could the Traytor winne To entertain his Pardon Vengeance made Haste to poure out her selfe upon his sinne For Satan who his heart possessed had His Treason in his proper Coin repayd And the Betrayer fatally betrayd 209. Into a Corner of the Garden where Thoughtfull disconsolate Night sate thick and black She crowded him alone and having there Prepar'd and fitted her infernall Rack With studied furie not his Body but His captivated Soule on it she put 210. For by the beames of their owne hellish Light Unto Iscariots intellectuall Eyes Herselfe She did display Excessive Fright The Traytors wretched Heart did strait surprise Each Joynt and Member quak'd and sweat and He Felt in this Garden too his Agonie 211. He saw feirce Beizebubs sulphureous face Flaming with swarthy fire His Horns he saw Mounted high on his head with dreadfull grace Which his erected snakie Hair did knaw He saw his adamantine Nails and Paws His steely Teeth his brazen gaping Jaws 212. He saw the Tempest of his flaming Breath Which swarthy Volumes spred of stinking smoke He saw the windows of eternal Death Flung open in his staring Eyes whose Look Slew him alive He saw his Iron Mace His burning feet and his enraged Pace 213. He saw his forked Tail in tryumph thrown Upon his shoulder and his irefull Brow With cruell scorn contracted in a frown Rampant Implacabilitie he saw In every Gesture and did plainly read The full Description of Immortal Dread 214. When loe stern Lucifer threw out his hand And by her Throat his woefull Conscience took And now he cries I 'l make thee understand What thou hast chose and what thou hast forsook Look on this dainty Pair of Damsells heer Who more than Heav'n and God to thee were dear 215. Just at the word He opened to his view The horrid Carkaise of foule Avarice And fouler Treachery not in her hue Of borrowed Smiles and outside Comelinesse But in her naked native Filth and then Shaking his Horns and Paws He thus went on 216. Maddest of Fools how many Hells dost Thou Deserve who with such Hags could'st fall in love When Jesus woo'd thy Heart Well take Them now Th' hast paid so dearly for Them They will prove Sweet Brides and pretiously adorn thy Bed Which in the Bottome of my Realm is spred 217. If any Part at all there be in Them Which is not horrid may my Scepter break And may my royall Tongue no more Blaspheam For once I tell Thee true and Thou mayst take The Devills Word There are few Furies who In monstrous Ouglinesse thy Wives out-goe 218. And was thy Lord so vile a Thing that He Might not with these in Competition stand Did those unthankfull Eyes of thine e'r see A face inrich'd with such pure Beauties and Majestick Graces as in his did shine Making Humanity appear Divine 219. Most stupid Sot How often hast Thou seen Divinity from His great Hand break out How oft might plain Omnipotence have been Read in the Miracles He daily wrought Casting forth all my stoutest Fiends Yet Thou And here He beat the Soule to Me wouldst bow 220. Nay never houle 't is but the Earnest this Of what 's to come Thou needs wouldst bow to Me To Me of whom that Christ the Conqueror is He threw Me down from Heav'ns Sublimity Into that Pit of Pangs where I am now The damned Soveraign of such as Thou 221. Had'st not as good have bowed unto Him Whose Yoak Thou would'st have lighter found than mine I tell thee Judas I am but a grim And rugged Lord what Prizes once I win Infallibly for evermore shall frie In Torments bottomlesse Extremity 222. And is my Hell my everlasting Spight My unrelenting Furie so much worth That Paradise and Heav'n and Jesus might Not finde acceptance Brings Damnation forth Such strong Temptations Can eternal Blisse Not wooe and win as potently as this 223. Sure Hell and Death are gallant Things and I Cannot allow Thee them untill Thou hast Through all Contempt and Hate and Infamie Which Salem or the World can yeild thee past That Preface shall for that eternall Smart Which gapes longs for Thee prepare thine Heart 224. Goe then the Ages Blot and Monster goe Let every Mouth spit on thine hated Head Let every Tongue thick Curses on Thee strow Let every Hand be arm'd to strike Thee dead Let every Eye abhorre thy balefull Sight Let all the World revenge thy Traytorous Spight 225. Let Heav'n