crosses By with'ring springing fresh and rich by often losses 36 Vain men too fondly wise who plough the seas With dangerous pains another earth to finde Adding new worlds to th' old and scorning ease The earths vast limits dayly more unbinde The aged world though now it falling shows And hastes to set yet still in dying grows Whole lives are spent to win what one deaths houre must lose 37 How like 's the world unto a tragick stage Where every changing scene the actours change Some subject crouch and fawn some reigne and rage And new strange plots brings scenes as new strange Till most are slain the rest their parts have done So here some laugh and play some weep and grone Till all put of their robes and stage and actours gone 38 Yet this fair Isle sited so nearely neare That from our sides nor place nor time may sever Though to your selves your selves are not more deare Yet with strange carelesnesse you travell never Thus while your selves and native home forgetting You search farre distant worlds with needlesse sweating You never finde your selves so lose ye more by getting 39 When that great Power that All farre more then all When now his fore-set time was fully come Brought into act this undigested Ball Which in himself till then had onely room He labour'd not nor suffer'd pain or ill But bid each kinde their severall places fill He bid and they obey'd their action was his will 40 First stept the Light and spread his chearfull rayes Through all the Chaos darknesse headlong fell Frighted with suddain beams and new-born dayes And plung'd her ougly head in deepest hell Not that he meant to help his feeble sight To frame the rest he made the day of night All els but darknesse he the true the onely Light 41 Fire Water Earth and Aire that fiercely strove His soveraigne hand in strong alliance ti'd Binding their deadly hate in constant love So that great Wisdome temper'd all their pride Commanding strife and love should never cease That by their peacefull fight and fighting peace The world might die to live and lessen to increase 42 Thus Earths cold arm cold Water friendly holds But with his drie the others wet defies Warm Aire with mutuall love hot Fire infolds As moist his dryth abhorres drie Earth allies With Fire but heats with cold new warres prepare Yet Earth drencht Water proves which boil'd turns Aire Hot Aire makes Fire condenst all change and home repair 43 Now when the first weeks life was almost spent And this world built and richly furnished To store heav'ns courts and steer earths regiment He cast to frame an Isle the heart and head Of all his works compos'd with curious art Which like an Index briefly should impart The summe of all the whole yet of the whole a part 44 That Trine-one with himself in councell sits And purple dust takes from the new-born earth Part circular and part triang'lar fits Endows it largely at the unborn birth Deputes his Favorite Vice-roy doth invest With aptnesse thereunto as seem'd him best And lov'd it more then all and more then all it blest 45 Then plac't it in the calm pacifick seas And bid nor waves nor troublous windes offend it Then peopled it with subjects apt to please So wise a Prince made able to defend it Against all outward force or inward spite Him framing like himself all shining bright A little living Sunne Sonne of the living Light 46 Nor made he this like other Isles but gave it Vigour sense reason and a perfect motion To move it self whither it self would have it And know what falls within the verge of notion No time might change it but as ages went So still return'd still spending never spent More rising in their fall more rich in detriment 47 So once the Cradle of that double light Whereof one rules the night the other day Till sad Latona flying Iuno's spite Her double burthen there did safely lay Not rooted yet in every sea was roving With every wave and every winde removing But since to those fair Twins hath left her ever moving 48 Look as a scholar who doth closely gather Many large volumes in a narrow place So that great Wisdome all this All together Confin'd into this Islands little space And being one soon into two he fram'd it And now made two to one again reclaim'd it The little Isle of Man or Purple Island nam'd it 49 Thrice happy was the worlds first infancie Nor knowing yet nor curious ill to know Joy without grief love without jealousie None felt hard labour or the sweating plough The willing earth brought tribute to her King Bacchus unborn lay hidden in the cling Of big-swoln grapes their drink was every silver spring 50 Of all the windes there was no difference None knew mild Zephyres from cold Eurus mouth Nor Orithyia's lovers violence Distinguisht from the ever-dropping South But either gentle West-winds reign'd alone Or else no winde or harmfull winde was none But one winde was in all and all the windes in one 51 None knew the sea oh blessed ignorance None nam'd the stars the North carres constant race Taurus bright horns or Fishes happy chance Astraea yet chang'd not her name or place Her ev'n-pois'd ballance heav'n yet never tri'd None sought new coasts nor forrain lands descri'd But in their own they liv'd and in their own they di'd 52 But ah what liveth long in happinesse Grief of an heavy nature steddy lies And cannot be remov'd for weightinesse But joy of lighter presence eas'ly flies And seldome comes and soon away will goe Some secret power here all things orders so That for a sun-shine day follows an age of woe 53 Witnesse this glorious Isle which not content To be confin'd in bounds of happinesse Would trie what e're is in the continent And seek out ill and search for wretchednesse Ah fond to seek what then was in thy will That needs no curious search 't is next us still 'T is grief to know of grief and ill to know of ill 54 That old slie Serpent slie but spitefull more Vext with the glory of this happy Isle Allures it subt'ly from the peacefull shore And with fair painted lies colour'd guile Drencht in dead seas whose dark streams full of fright Emptie their sulphur waves in endlesse night Where thousand deaths and hells torment the damned sprite 55 So when a fisher-swain by chance hath spi'd A big-grown Pike pursue the lesser frie He sets a withy Labyrinth beside And with fair baits allures his nimble eye Which he invading with our-streched finne All suddainly is compast with the ginne Where there is no way out but easie passage in 56 That deathfull lake hath these three properties No turning path or issue thence is found The captive never dead yet ever dies It endlesse sinks yet never comes to ground Hells self is pictur'd in that brimstone wave For what retiring from that hellish grave Or
he to Sinah th' holy groves amongs Where that wise Shepherd chants her in his Song of songs 9 The Islands King with sober countenance Aggrates the Knights who thus his right defended And with grave speech and comely amenance Himself his State his Spouse to them commended His lovely childe that by him pensive stands He last delivers to their valiant hands And her to thank the Knights her Champions he commands 10 The God-like Maid a while all silent stood And down to th' earth let fall her humble eyes While modest thoughts shot up the flaming bloud Which fir'd her scarlet cheek with rosie dies But soon to quench the heat that lordly reignes From her fair eye a shower of crystall rains Which with his silver streams o're-runs the beauteous plains 11 As when the Sunne in midst of summers heat Draws up thinne vapours with his potent ray Forcing dull waters from their native seat At length dimme clouds shadow the burning day Till coldest aire soon melted into showers Upon the earth his welcome anger powres And heav'ns cleare forehead now wipes off her former lowres 12 At length a little lifting up her eyes A renting sigh way for her sorrow brake Which from her heart 'gan in her face to rise And first in th' eye then in the lip thus spake Ah gentle Knights how may a simple maid With justest grief and wrong so ill apaid Give due reward for such your pains and friendly aid 13 But if my Princely Spouse do not delay His timely presence in my greatest need He will for me your friendly love repay And well requite this your so gentle deed Then let no fear your mighty hearts assail His word's himself himself he cannot fail Long may he stay yet sure he comes and must prevail 14 By this the long-shut gate was open laid Soon out they rush in order well arang'd And fastning in their eyes that heav'nly Maid How oft for fear her fairest colour chang'd Her looks her worth her goodly grace and state Comparing with her present wretched fate Pitie whets just revenge and loves fire kindles hate 15 Long at the gate the thoughtfull Intellect Staid with his fearfull Queen and daughter fair But when the Knights were past their dimme aspect They follow them with vowes and many a prayer At last they climbe up to the Castles height From which they view'd the deeds of every Knight And markt the doubtfull end of this intestine fight 16 As when a youth bound for the Belgick warre Takes leave of friends upon the Kentish shore Now are they parted and he sail'd so farre They see not now and now are seen no more Yet farre off viewing the white trembling sails The tender mother soon plucks off her veils And shaking them aloft unto her sonne she hails 17 Mean time these Champions march in fit aray Till both the armies now were come in sight A while each other boldly viewing stay With short delayes whetting fierce rage and spight Sound now ye trumpets sound alarums loud Heark how their clamours whet their anger proud See yonder are they met in midst of dustie cloud 18 So oft the South with civil enmitie Musters his watrie forces 'gainst the West The rowling clouds come tumbling up the skie In dark folds wrapping up their angry guest At length the flame breaks from th' imprisoning cold With horrid noise tearing the limber mold While down in liquid tears the broken vapours roll'd 19 First did that warlike Maid her self advance And riding from amidst her companie About her helmet wav'd her mighty lance Daring to fight the proudest enemie Porneios soon his ready spear addrest And kicking with his heel his hastie beast Bent his sharp-headed lance against her dainty breast 20 In vain the broken staffe sought entrance there Where Love himself oft entrance sought in vain But much unlike the Martial Virgins spear Which low dismounts her foe on dustie plain Broaching with bloudy point his breast before Down from the wound trickled the bubbling gore And bid pale death come in at that red gaping doore 21 There lies he cover'd now in lowly dust And foully wallowing in clutter'd bloud Breathing together out his life and lust Which from his breast swamme in the steaming floud In maids his joy now by a maid defi'd His life he lost and all his former pride With women would he live now by a woman di'd 22 Aselges struck with such a heavie sight Greedie to venge his brothers sad decay Spurr'd forth his flying steed with fell despight And met the virgin in the middle way His spear against her head he fiercely threw Which to that face performing homage due Kissing her helmet thence in thousand shivers flew 23 The wanton boy had dreamt that latest night That he had learnt the liquid aire dispart And swimme along the heav'ns with pineons light Now that fair maid taught him this nimble art For from his saddle farre away she sent Flying along the emptie element That hardly yet he knew whither his course was bent 24 The rest that saw with fear the ill successe Of single fight durst not like fortune trie But round beset her with their numerous presse Before beside behinde they on her flie And every part with coward odds assail But she redoubling strokes as thick as hail Drove farre their flying troops thresht with iron flail 25 As when a gentle greyhound set around With little curres which dare his way molest Snapping behinde soon as the angrie hound Turning his course hath caught the busiest And shaking in his fangs hath welnigh slain The rest fear'd with his crying runne amain And standing all aloof whine houl and bark in vain 26 The subtil Dragon that from farre did view The waste and spoil made by this maiden Knight Fell to his wonted guile for well he knew All force was vain against such wondrous might A craftie swain well taught to cunning harms Call'd false Delight he chang'd with hellish charms That true Delight he seem'd the self-same shape and arms 27 The watchfull'st sight no difference could descrie The same his face his voice his gate the same Thereto his words he feign'd and coming nigh The Maid that fierce pursues her martiall game He whets her wrath with many a guilefull word Till she lesse carefull did fit time afford Then up with both his hands he lifts his balefull sword 28 You powerfull heav'ns and thou their Governour With what eyes can you view this dolefull sight How can you see your fairest Conquerour So nigh her end by so unmanly slight The dreadfull weapon through the aire doth glide But sure you turn'd the harmfull edge aside Else must she there have fall'n and by that traitour di'd 29 Yet in her side deep was the wound impight Her flowing life the shining armour stains From that wide spring long rivers took their flight With purple streams drowning the silver plains Her cheerfull colour now grows wanne and pale Which oft she strives
infinite encamped lie Th' enraged Dragon and his Serpents bold And knowing well his time grows short and nigh He swells with venom'd gore and poys'nous heat His tail unfolded heav'n it self doth beat And sweeps the mighty starres from their transcendent seat 14 With him goes Caro cursed damme of sinne Foul filthie damme of fouler progenie Yet seems skin-deep most fair by witching gin To weaker sight but to a purged eye Looks like nay worse then hells infernall hagges Her empty breasts hang like lank hollow bagges And Iris ulcer'd skin is patcht with leprous ragges 15 Therefore her loathsome shape in steel arayd All rust within the outside polisht bright And on her shield a Mermaid sung and playd Whose humane beauties ' lure the wandring sight But slimy scales hid in their waters lie She chants she smiles so draws the eare the eye And whom she winnes she kills the word Heare gaze die 16 And after march her fruitfull serpent frie Whom she of divers lechers divers bore Marshall'd in severall ranks their colours flie Foure to Anagnus foure this painted whore To loathsome Asebie brought forth to light Twice foure got Adisus a hatefull wight But swoln Acrates two born in one bed and night 17 Moechus the first of blushlesse bold aspect Yet with him Doubt and Fear still trembling go Oft lookt he back as if he did suspect Th' approach of some unwisht unwelcome foe Behinde fell Jealousie his steps observ'd And sure Revenge with dart that never swerv'd Ten thousand griefs and plagues he felt but more deserv'd 18 His armour black as hell or starlesse night And in his shield he lively pourtray'd bare Mars fast impound in arms of Venus light And ti'd as fast in Vulcans subtil snare She feign'd to blush for shame now all too late But his red colour seem'd to sparkle hate Sweet are stoln waters round about the marge he wrate 19 Porneius next him pac't a meager wight Whose leaden eyes sunk deep in swimming head And joylesse look like some pale ashie spright Seem'd as he now were dying or now dead And with him Wastefulnesse that all expended And Want that still in theft and prison ended A hundred foul diseases close at 's back attended 20 His shining helm might seem a sparkling flame Yet sooth nought was it but a foolish fire And all his arms were of that burning frame That flesh and bones were gnawn with hot desire About his wrist his blazing shield did frie With sweltring hearts in flame of luxurie His word In fire I live in fire I burn and die 21 With him Acatharus in Tuscan guise A thing that neither man will owne nor beast Upon a boy he lean'd in wanton wise On whose fair limbes his eyes still greedie feast He sports he toyes kisses his shining face Behinde reproach and thousand devils pace Before bold Impudence that cannot change her grace 22 His armour seem'd to laugh with idle boyes Which all about their wanton sportings playd Al 's would himself help out their childish toyes And like a boy lend them unmanly aid In his broad targe the bird her wings dispread Which trussing wafts the Trojan Ganymed And round was writ Like with his like is coupeled 23 Aselges follow'd next the boldest boy That ever play'd in Venus wanton court He little cares who notes his lavish joy Broad were his jests wilde his uncivil sport His fashion too too fond and loosly light A long love-lock on his left shoulder plight Like to a womans hair well shew'd a womans sprite 24 Lust in strange nests this Cuckoe egge conceiv'd Which nurst with surfets drest with fond disguises In fancies school his breeding first receiv'd So this brave spark to wilder flame arises And now to court preferr'd high blouds he fires There blows up pride vain mirths and loose desires And heav'nly souls oh grief with hellish flame inspires 25 There oft to rivalls lends the gentle Dor Oft takes his mistresse by the bitter Bob There learns her each daies change of Gules Verd Or His sampler if she pouts her slave must sob Her face his sphere her hair his circling skie Her love his heav'n her sight eternitie Of her he dreams with her he lives for her he 'l die 26 Upon his arm a tinsell scarf he wore Forsooth his Madams favour spangled fair Light as himself a fanne his helmet bore With ribbons drest begg'd from his Mistresse hair On 's shield a winged boy all naked shin'd His folded eyes willing and wilfull blinde The word was wrought with gold Such is a lovers minde 27 These foure Anagnus and foul Caro's sonnes Who led a diff'rent and disorder'd rout Fancie a lad that all in feathers wons And loose desire and danger linkt with doubt And thousand wanton thoughts still budding new But lazie ease usher'd the idle crue And lame disease shuts up their troops with torments due 28 Next band by Asebie was boldly led And his foure sonnes begot in Stygian night First Idololatros whose monstrous head Was like an ugly fiend his flaming sight Like blazing starres the rest all different For to his shape some part each creature lent But to the great Creatour all adversly bent 29 Upon his breast a bloudie Crosse he scor'd Which oft he worshipt but the Christ that di'd Thereon he seldome but in paint ador'd Yet wood stone beasts wealth lusts fiends deifi'd He makes meer pageants of the saving Rock Puppet-like trimming his Almightie stock Which then his god or he which is the verier block 30 Of Giant shape and strength thereto agreeing Wherewith he whilome all the world opprest And yet the greater part his vassals being Slumbring in ignorance securely rest A golden calf himself more beast he bore Which brutes with dancings gifts and songs adore Idols are lay-mens books he round had wrote in Ore 31 Next Pharmacus of gashly wilde aspect Whom hell with seeming fear and fiends obey Full eas'ly would he know each past effect And things to come with double guesse foresay By slain beasts entrails and fowls marked flight Thereto he tempests rais'd by many a spright And charm'd the Sunne and Moon chang'd the day and night 32 So when the South dipping his fablest wings In humid Ocean sweeps with 's dropping beard Th' aire earth and seas his lips loud thunderings And flashing eyes make all the world afeard Light with dark clouds waters with fires are met The Sunne but now is rising now is set And findes west-shades in East and seas in ayers wet 33 By birth and hand he jugling fortunes tells Oft brings from shades his grandsires damned ghost Oft stoln goods forces out by wicked spells His frightfull shield with thousand fiends embost Which seem'd without a circles ring to play In midst himself dampens the smiling day And prints sad characters which none may write or say 34 The third Haereticus a wrangling carle Who in the way to heav'n would
wilfull erre And oft convicted still would snatch and snarle His Crambe oft repeats all tongue no eare Him obstinacie Pride and Scorn attended On 's shield with Truth Errour disguis'd contended His Motto this Rather thus erre then be amended 35 Last marcht Hypocrisie false form of grace That vaunts the show of all ha's truth of none A rotten heart he masks with painted face Among the beasts a mule 'mong bees a drone 'Mong starres a meteor all the world neglects him Nor good nor bad nor heav'n nor earth affects him The earth for glaring forms for bare forms heav'n rejects him 36 His wanton heart he vails with dewy eyes So oft the world and oft himself deceives His tongue his heart his hands his tongue belies In 's path as snails silver but slime he leaves He Babels glory is but Sions taint Religions blot but Irreligions paint A Saint abroad at home a Fiend and worst a Saint 37 So tallow lights live glitt'ring stinking die Their gleams aggrate the sight steams wound the smell So Sodom apples please the ravisht eye But sulphure taste proclaims their root 's in hell So airy flames to heav'nly seem alli'd But when their oyl is spent they swiftly glide And into jelly'd mire melt all their gilded pride 38 So rushes green smooth full are spungie light So their ragg'd stones in velvet peaches gown So rotten sticks seem starres in cheating night So quagmires false their mire with emeralds crown Such is Hypocrisies deceitfull frame A stinking light a sulphure fruit false flame Smooth rush hard peach sere wood false mire a voice a name 39 Such were his arms false gold true alchymie Glitt'ring with glassie stones and fine deceit His sword a flatt'ring steel which gull'd the eye And pierc't the heart with pride and self-conceit On 's shield a tombe where death had drest his bed With curious art and crown'd his loathsome head With gold gems his word More gorgeous when dead 40 Before them went their nurse bold Ignorance A loathsome monster light sight ' mendment scorning Born deaf and blinde fitter to lead the dance To such a rout her silver heads adorning Her dotage index much she bragg'd yet feign'd For by false tallies many yeares she gain'd Wise youth is honour'd age fond 's age with dotage stain'd 41 Her failing legges with erring footsteps reel'd Lame guide to blisse her daughters on each side Much pain'd themselves her stumbling feet to weeld Both like their mother dull and beetle-ey'd The first was Errour false who multiplies Her num'rous race in endlesse progenies For but one truth there is ten thousand thousand lies 42 Her brood o're-spread her round with sinne and bloud With envie malice mischiefs infinite While she to see her self amazed stood So often got with childe and bigge with spite Her off-spring flie about spread their seed Straight hate pride schisme warres seditions breed Get up grow ripe How soon prospers the vicious weed 43 The other Owl-ey'd Superstition Deform'd distorted blinde in shining light Yet styles her self holy Devotion And so is call'd and seems in shadie night Fearfull as is the hare or hunted hinde Her face and breast she oft with crosses sign'd No custome would she break or change her setled minde 44 If hare or snake her way herself she crosses And stops her'mazed steps sad fears affright her When falling salt points out some fatall losses Till Bacchus grapes with holy sprinkle quite her Her onely bible is an Erra Pater Her antidote are hallow'd wax and water I' th' dark all lights are sprites all noises chains that clatter 45 With them marcht sunk in deep securitie Profanenesse to be fear'd for never fearing And by him new-oaths-coyning Blasphemie Who names not God but in a curse or swearing And thousand other fiends in diverse fashion Dispos'd in severall ward and certain station Under Hell widely yawn'd and over flew Damnation 46 Next Adicus his sonnes first Ecthros slie Whose prickt-up eares kept open house for lies And sleering eyes still watch and wait to spie When to return still-living injuries Fair weather smil'd upon his painted face And eyes spoke peace till he had time and place Then poures down showers of rage and streams of rancour base 47 So when a sable cloud with swelling sail Comes swimming through calm skies the silent aire While fierce windes sleep in Aeols rockie jayl With spangled beams embroid'red glitters fair But soon 'gins lowr straight clatt'ring hail is bred Scatt'ring cold shot light hides his golden head And with untimely winter earth's o're-silvered 48 His arms well suit his minde where smiling skies Breed thund'ring tempests on his loftie crest Asleep the spotted Panther couching lies And by sweet sents and skinne so quaintly drest Draws on her prey upon his shield he bears The dreadfull monster which great Nilus fears The weeping Crocadile his word I kill with tears 49 With him Dissemblance went his Paramour Whose painted face might hardly be detected Arms of offence he seld ' or never wore Lest thence his close designes might be suspected But clasping close his foe as loth to part He steals his dagger with false smiling art And sheaths the trait'rous steel in his own masters heart 50 Two Iewish Captains close themselves enlacing In loves sweet twines his target broad display'd One th' others beard with his left hand embracing But in his right a shining sword he sway'd Which unawares through th' others ribs he smites There lay the wretch without all buriall rites His word He deepest wounds that in his fawning bites 51 Eris the next of sex unfit for warre Her arms were bitter words from flaming tongue Which never quiet wrangle fight and jarre Ne would she weigh report with right or wrong What once she held that would she ever hold And Non-obstantes force with courage bold The last word must she have or never leave to scold 52 She is the trumpet to this angrie train And whets their furie with loud-railing spite But when no open foes did more remain Against themselves themselves she would incite Her clacking mill driv'n by her flowing gall Could never stand but chide rail bark and bawl Her shield no word could finde her tongue engrost them all 53 Zelos the third whose spitefull emulation Could not endure a fellow in excelling Yet slow in any vertues imitation At easie rate that fair possession selling Still as he went he hidden sparkles blew Till to a mighty flame they sudden grew And like fierce lightning all in quick destruction drew 54 Upon his shield lay that Tirinthian Swain Sweltring in fierie gore and pois'nous flame His wives sad gift venom'd with bloudie stain Well could he bulls snake shell all monsters tame Well could he heav'n support and prop alone But by fell Jealousie soon overthrown Without a foe or sword his motto First or none 55 Thumos the fourth a dire revengefull swain Whose soul was made of flames whose flesh of fire Wrath
coast And let that double-headed mountain hallow No more the honour'd name of great Apollo And may the Pegasean spring that uses To cheer the palats of the thirstie Muses Drie up and let this happie Isle of thine Preserve Apolloes harp where every line Carries a Suada with 't and doth display The banners of heav'n-born Urania Henceforth let all the world thy verse admire Before that Thracean Orpheus charming lyre He but enchanted Beasts but thy divine And higher aires bring Deities to this Isle of thine A. C. MAns Bodie 's like a house his greater bones Are the main timber and the lesser ones Are smaller splints his ribs are laths daub'd o're Plaister'd with flesh and bloud his mouth 's the doore His throat 's the narrow entrie and his heart Is the great chamber full of curious art His midriffe is a large partition-wall 'Twixt the great chamber and the spacious hall His stomack is the kitchin where the meat Is often but half sod for want of heat His splene's a vessell nature does allot To take the skumme that rises from the pot His lungs are like the bellows that respire In ev'ry office quickning ev'ry fire His nose the chimney is whereby are vented Such fumes as with the bellows are augmented His bowels are the sink whose part 's to drein All noisome filth and keep the kitchin clean His eyes are crystall windows cleare and bright Let in the object and let out the sight And as the timber is or great or small Or strong or weak 't is apt to stand or fall Yet is the likeliest building sometimes known To fall by obvious chances overthrown Ofttimes by tempests by the full-mouth'd blasts Of heav'n sometimes by fire sometimes it wastes Through unadvis'd neglect put case the stuffe Were ruine-proofe by nature strong enough To conquer time and age put case it should Ne're know an end alas our leases would What hast thou then proud flesh and bloud to boast Thy dayes are evil at best but few at most But sad as merriest and but weak at strongest Vnsure at surest and but short at longest FRAN. QUARLES THE PURPLE ISLAND OR THE ISLE OF MAN CANT I. STAN I. THe warmer Sun the golden Bull outran And with the Twins made haste to inne and play Scatt'ring ten thousand flowres he new began To paint the world and piece the length'ning day The world more aged by new youths accrewing Ah wretched man this wretched world pursuing Which still grows worse by age older by renewing 2 The shepherd-boyes who with the Muses dwell Met in the plain their May-lords new to chuse For two they yearely chuse to order well Their rurall sports and yeare that next ensues Now were they sat where by the orchyard walls The learned Chame with stealing water crawls And lowly down before that royall temple falls 3 Among the rout they take two gentle swains Whose sprouting youth did now but greenly bud Well could they pipe and sing but yet their strains Were onely known unto the silent wood Their nearest bloud from self-same fountains flow Their souls self-same in nearer love did grow So seem'd two joyn'd in one or one disjoyn'd in two 4 Now when the shepherd-lads with common voice Their first consent had firmly ratifi'd A gentle boy thus 'gan to wave their choice Thirsil said he though yet thy Muse untri'd Hath onely learn'd in private shades to feigne Soft sighs of love unto a looser strain Or thy poore Thelgons wrong in mournfull verse to plain 5 Yet since the shepherd-swains do all consent To make thee lord of them and of their art And that choice lad to give a full content Hath joyn'd with thee in office as in heart Wake wake thy long thy too long sleeping Muse And thank them with a song as is the use Such honour thus conferr'd thou mayst not well refuse 6 Sing what thou list be it of Cupids spite Ah lovely spite and spitefull lovelinesse Or Gemma's grief if sadder be thy sprite Begin thou loved swain with good successe Ah said the bashfull boy such wanton toyes A better minde and sacred vow destroyes Since in a higher love I setled all my joyes 7 New light new love new love new life hath bred A life that lives by love and loves by light A love to him to whom all loves are wed A light to whom the Sunne is darkest night Eyes light hearts love souls onely life he is Life soul love heart light eye and all are his He eye light heart love soul he all my joy blisse 8 But if you deigne my ruder pipe to heare Rude pipe unus'd untun'd unworthy hearing These infantine beginnings gently bear Whose best desert and hope must be your bearing But you O Muses by soft Chamus sitting Your daintie songs unto his murmures fitting Which bears the under-song unto your chearfull dittying 9 Tell me ye Muses what our father-ages Have left succeeding times to play upon What now remains unthought on by those Sages Where a new Muse may trie her pineon What lightning Heroes like great Peleus heir Darting his beams through our hard-frozen aire May stirre up gentle heat and vertues wane repair 10 Who knows not Iason or bold Tiphys hand That durst unite what Natures self would part He makes Isles continent and all one land O're seas as earth he march'd with dangerous art He rides the white-mouth'd waves and scorneth all Those thousand deaths wide gaping for his fall He death defies fenc't with a thin low wooden wall 11 Who ha's not often read Troyes twice-sung fires And at the second time twice better sung Who ha's not heard th' Arcadian shepherds quires Which now have gladly chang'd their native tongue And sitting by slow Mincius sport their fill With sweeter voice and never equall'd skill Chaunting their amorous layes unto a Romane quill 12 And thou choice wit Loves scholar and Loves master Art known to all where Love himself is known Whether thou bidd'st Vlysses hie him faster Or dost thy fault and distant exile moan Who ha's not seen upon the mourning stage Dire Atreus feast and wrong'd Medea's rage Marching in tragick state and buskin'd equipage 13 And now of late th' Italian fisher-swain Sits on the shore to watch his trembling line There teaches rocks and prouder seas to plain By Nesis fair and fairer Mergiline While his thinne net upon his oars twin'd With wanton strife catches the Sunne and winde Which still do slip away and still remain behinde 14 And that French Muses eagle eye and wing Hath soar'd to heav'n and there hath learn'd the art To frame Angelick strains and canzons sing Too high and deep for every shallow heart Ah blessed soul in those celestiall rayes Which gave thee light these lower works to blaze Thou sitt'st emparadis'd and chaunt'st eternall layes 15 Thrice happy wits which in your springing May Warm'd with the Sunne of well deserved favours Disclose your buds and your fair blooms display Perfume the aire
dearest heir Did helplesse lie and Greek lords watching still Observ'd his hand guided with carefull will About was wrote Who nothing doth doth nothing ill 34 By him went Idlenesse his loved friend And Shame with both with all ragg'd Pouertie Behinde sure Punishment did close attend Waiting a while fit opportunitie And taking count of houres mispent in vain And graces lent without returning gain Pour'd on his guiltie corse late grief helplesse pain 35 This dull cold earth with standing water froze At ease he lies to coyn pretence for ease His soul like Ahaz diall while it goes Not forward poasteth backward ten degrees In 's couch he 's pliant wax for fiends to seal He never sweats but in his bed or meal He 'd rather steal then work and beg then strive to steal 36 All opposite though he his brother were Was Chaunus that too high himself esteem'd All things he undertook nor could he fear His power too weak or boasted strength misdeem'd With his own praise like windie bladder blown His eyes too little or too much his own For known to all men weak was to himself unknown 37 Fondly himself with praising he disprais'd Vaunting his deeds and worth with idle breath So raz'd himself what he himself had rais'd On 's shield a boy threatens high Phoebus death Aiming his arrow at his purest light But soon the thinne reed fir'd with lightning bright Feel idlely on the strond his word Yet high and right 38 Next brave Philotimus in poast did ride Like rising ladders was his climbing minde His high-flown thoughts had wings of courtly pride Which by foul rise to greatest height enclin'd His heart aspiring swell'd untill it burst But when he gain'd the top with spite accurst Down would he fling the steps by which he clamb'red first 39 His head 's a shop furnisht with looms of state His brain the weaver thoughts are shuttles light With which in spite of heav'n he weaves his fate Honour his web thus works he day and night Till fates cut off his threed so heapeth sinnes And plagues nor once enjoyes the place he winnes But where his old race ends there his new race begins 40 Ah silly man who dream'st that honour stands In ruling others not thy self thy slaves Serve thee and thou thy slaves in iron bands Thy servile spirit prest with wilde passions raves Would'st thou live honour'd clip ambitions wing To reasons yoke thy furious passions bring Thrice noble is the man who of himself is King 41 Upon his shield was fram'd that vent'rous lad That durst assay the Sunnes bright-flaming team Spite of his feeble hands the horses mad Fling down on burning earth the scorching beam So made the flame in which himself was fir'd The world the bonefire was where he expir'd His motto written thus Yet had what he desir'd 42 But Atimus a carelesse idle swain Though Glory off'red him her sweet embrace And fair Occasion with little pain Reacht him her ivory hand yet lozel base Rather his way and her fair self declin'd Well did he thence prove his degenerous minde Base were his restie thoughts base was his dunghill kinde 43 And now by force dragg'd from the monkish cell Where teeth he onely us'd nor hands nor brains But in smooth streams swam down through ease to hell His work to eat drink sleep and purge his reins He left his heart behinde him with his feast His target with a flying dart was drest Poasting unto his mark the word I move to rest 44 Next Colax all his words with sugar spices His servile tongue base slave to greatnesse name Runnes nimble descant on the plainest vices He lets his tongue to sinne takes rent of shame He temp'ring lies porter to th' eare resides Like Indian apple which with painted sides More dangerous within his lurking poyson hides 45 So Echo to the voice her voice conforming From hollow breast for one will two repay So like the rock it holds it self transforming That subtil fish hunts for her heedlesse prey So crafty fowlers with their fair deceits Allure the hungrie bird so fisher waits To bait himself with fish his hook and fish with baits 46 His art is but to hide not heal a sore To nourish pride to strangle conscience To drain the rich his own drie pits to store To spoil the precious soul to please vile sense A carrion crow he is a gaping grave The rich coats moth the courts bane trenchers slave Sinnes hells winning baud the devils fact'ring knave 47 A mist he casts before his patrons sight That blackest vices never once appeare But greater then it is seems vertues light His Lords displeasure is his onely fear His clawing lies tickling the senses frail To death make open way where force would fail Lesse hurts the lions paw then foxes softest tail 48 His arms with hundred tongues were poud'red gay The mint of lies gilt fil'd the sense to please His sword which in his mouth close sheathed lay Sharper then death and fram'd to kill with ease Ah cursed weapon life with pleasure spilling The Sardoin herb with many branches filling His shield was his device the word I please in killing 49 Base slave how crawl'st thou from thy dunghill nest Where thou wast hatcht by shame and beggerie And pearchest in the learn'd and noble breast Nobles of thee their courtship learn of thee Arts learn new art their learning to adorn Ah wretched mindes He is not nobly born Nor learn'd that doth not thy ignoble learning scorn 50 Close to him Pleasing went with painted face And Honour by some hidden cunning made Not Honours self but Honours semblance base For soon it vanisht like an emptie shade Behinde his parents duely him attend With them he forced is his age to spend Shame his beginning was and shame must be his end 51 Next follow'd Dyscolus a froward wight His lips all swoln and eyebrows ever bent With sootie locks swart looks and scouling sight His face a tell-tale to his foul intent He nothing lik't or prais'd but reprehended What every one beside himself commended Humours of tongues impostum'd purg'd with shame are mended 52 His mouth a pois'nous quiver where he hides Sharp venom'd arrows which his bitter tongue With squibs carps jests unto their object guides Nor fears he gods on earth or heav'n to wrong Upon his shield was fairly drawn to sight A raging dog foaming out wrath and spite The word to his device Impartiall all I bite 53 Geloios next ensu'd a merrie Greek Whose life was laughter vain and mirth misplac't His speeches broad to shame the modest cheek Ne car'd he whom or when or how disgrac't Salt round about he flung upon the sand If in his way his friend or father stand His father his friend he spreads with carelesse hand 54 His foul jests steep'd and drown'd in laughter vain And rotten speech ah was not mirth but madnesse His armour crackling thorns all flaming
of this doubtfull fight Saw now the field swimme in her Champions bloud And from her heart rent with deep passion sigh'd Limming true sorrow in sad silent art Light grief floats on the tongue but heavie smart Sinks down and deeply lies in centre of the heart 44 What Daedal art such griefs can truely shew Broke heart deep sighs thick sobs burning prayers Baptizing ever limbe in weeping dew Whose swoln eyes pickled up in brinie tears Crystalline rocks corall the lid appeares Compast about with tides of grief and fears Where grief stores fear with sighs and fear stores grief with tears 45 At length sad Sorrow mounted on the wings Of loud-breath'd sighs his leaden weight uprears And vents it self in softest whisperings Follow'd with deadly grones usher'd by tears While her fair hands and watrie shining eyes Were upward bent upon the mourning skies Which seem'd with cloudie brow her grief to sympathize 46 Long while the silent passion wanting vent Made flowing tears her words and eyes her tongue Till Faith Experience Hope assistance lent To shut both floud-gates up with patience strong The streams well ebb'd new hopes some comforts borrow From firmest truth then glimpst the hopefull morrow So spring some dawns of joy so sets the night of sorrow 47 Ah dearest Lord my hearts sole Soveraigne Who sitt'st high mounted on thy burning throne Heark from thy heav'ns where thou dost safely reigne Cloth'd with the golden Sunne and silver Moon Cast down a while thy sweet and gracious eye And low avail that flaming Majestie Deigning thy gentle sight on our sad miserie 48 To thee deare Lord I lift this watrie eye This eye which thou so oft in love hast prais'd This eye with which thou wounded oft wouldst die To thee deare Lord these suppliant hands are rais'd These to be lilies thou hast often told me Which if but once again may ever hold thee Will never let thee loose will never more unfold thee 49 Seest how thy foes despitefull trophies reare Too confident in thy prolong'd delayes Come then oh quickly come my dearest deare When shall I see thee crown'd with conqu'ring bayes And all thy foes trod down and spred as clay When shall I see thy face and glories ray Too long thou stay'st my Love come Love no longer stay 50 Hast thou forgot thy former word and love Or lockt thy sweetnesse up in fierce disdain In vain didst thou those thousand mischiefs prove Are all those griefs thy birth life death in vain Oh no of ill thou onely dost repent thee And in thy dainty mercies most content thee Then why with stay so long so long dost thou torment me 51 Reviving Cordiall of my dying sprite The best Elixar for souls drooping pain Ah now unshade thy face uncloud thy sight See every way 's a trap each path's a train Hells troops my soul beleaguer bow thine eares And hear my cries pierce through my grones fears Sweet Spouse see not my sinnes but through my plaints and tears 52 Let frailty favour sorrow succour move Anchour my life in thy calm streams of bloud Be thou my rock though I poore changeling rove Tost up and down in waves of worldly floud Whil'st I in vale of tears at anchour ride Where windes of earthly thoughts my sails misguide Harbour my fleshly bark safe in thy wounded side 53 Take take my contrite heart thy sacrifice Washt in her eyes that swimmes and sinks in woes See see as seas with windes high working rise So storm so rage so gape thy boasting foes Deare Spouse unlesse thy right hand even steers Oh if thou anchour not these threatning fears Thy ark will sail as deep in bloud as now in tears 54 With that a thundring noise seem'd shake the skie As when with iron wheels through stonie plain A thousand chariots to the battell flie Or when with boistrous rage the swelling main Puft up with mighty windes does hoarsly roar And beating with his waves the trembling shore His sandie girdle scorns breaks earths ramperd doore 55 And straight an Angel full of heav'nly might Three several crowns circled his royall head From Northern coast heaving his blazing light Through all the earth his glorious beams dispread And open laies the Beasts and Dragons shame For to this end th' Almighty did him frame And therefore from supplanting gave his ominous name 56 A silver trumpet oft he loudly blew Frighting the guiltie earth with thundring knell And oft proclaim'd as through the world he flew Babel great Babel lies as low as hell Let every Angel loud his trumpet sound Her heav'n exalted towers in dust are drown'd Babel proud Babel's fall'n and lies as low as ground 57 The broken heav'ns dispart with fearfull noise And from the breach out shoots a suddain light Straight shrilling trumpets with loud sounding voice Give echoing summons to new bloudy fight Well knew the Dragon that all-quelling blast And soon perceiv'd that day must be his last Which strook his frighted heart all his troops aghast 58 Yet full of malice and of stubborn pride Though oft had strove and had been foild as oft Boldly his death and certain fate defi'd And mounted on his flaggie sails aloft With boundlesse spite he long'd to try again A second losse and new death glad and fain To shew his pois'nous hate though ever shew'd in vain 59 So up he rose upon his stretched fails Fearlesse expecting his approaching death So up he rose that th' ayer starts and fails And over-pressed sinks his load beneath So up he rose as does a thunder-cloud Which all the earth with shadows black does shroud So up he rose and through the weary ayer row'd 60 Now his Almighty foe farre off he spies Whose Sun-like arms daz'd the eclipsed day Confounding with their beams lesse-glitt'ring skies Firing the aire with more then heav'nly ray Like thousand Sunnes in one such is their light A subject onely for immortall sprite Which never can be seen but by immortall sight 61 His threatning eyes shine like that dreadfull flame With which the Thunderer arms his angry hand Himself had fairly wrote his wondrous name Which neither earth nor heav'n could understand A hundred crowns like towers beset around His conqu'ring head well may they there abound When all his limbes and troops with gold are richly crown'd 62 His armour all was dy'd in purple bloud In purple bloud of thousand rebell Kings In vain their stubborn powers his arm withstood Their proud necks chain'd he now in triumph brings And breaks their spears cracks their traitour swords Upon whose arms and thigh in golden words Was fairly writ The KING of Kings LORD of Lords 63 His snow-white steed was born of heav'nly kinde Begot by Boreas on the Thracian hills More strong and speedy then his parent Winde And which his foes with fear and horrour fills Out from his mouth a two-edg'd sword he darts Whose sharpest steel the bone and marrow parts And with his keenest
greedie minde The sad Hungarian fears his tried might And waning Persia trembles at his sight His greener youth most with the heathen spent Gives Christian Princes justest cause to fear His riper age whose childhood thus is bent A thousand trophies will he shortly rear Unlesse that God who gave him first this rage Binde his proud head in humble vassalage To Mr. Jo. Tomkins THomalin my lief thy musick strains to heare More raps my soul then when the swelling windes On craggie rocks their whistling voices tear Or when the sea if stopt his course he findes With broken murmures thinks weak shores to fear Scorning such sandie cords his proud head bindes More then where rivers in the summers ray Through covert glades cutting their shadie way Run tumbling down the lawns with the pebles play Thy strains to heare old Chamus from his cell Comes guarded with an hundred Nymphs around An hundred Nymphs that in his rivers dwell About him flock with water-lilies crown'd For thee the Muses leave their silver well And marvel where thou all their art hast found There sitting they admire thy dainty strains And while thy sadder accent sweetly plains Feel thousand sugred joyes creep in their melting veins How oft have I the Muses bower frequenting Miss'd them at home and found them all with thee Whether thou sing'st sad Eupathus lamenting Or tunest notes to sacred harmonie The ravisht soul with thy sweet songs consenting Scorning the earth in heav'nly extasie Transcends the starres and with the angels train Those courts survaies and now come back again Findes yet another heav'n in thy delightfull strain Ah! could'st thou here thy humble minde content Lowly with me to live in countrey cell And learn suspect the courts proud blandishment Here might we safe here might we sweetly dwell Live Pallas in her towers and marble tent But ah the countrey bowers please me as well There with my Thomalin I safe would sing And frame sweet ditties to thy sweeter string There would we laugh at spite and fortunes thundering No flattery hate or envy lodgeth there There no suspicion wall'd in proved steel Yet fearfull of the arms her self doth wear Pride is not there no tyrant there we feel No clamorous laws shall deaf thy musick eare They know no change nor wanton fortunes wheel Thousand fresh sports grow in those daintie places Light Fawns Nymphs dance in the woodie spaces And little Love himself plaies with the naked Graces But seeing fate my happie wish refuses Let me alone enjoy my low estate Of all the gifts that fair Parnassus uses Onely scorn'd povertie and fortunes hate Common I finde to me and to the Muses But with the Muses welcome poorest fate Safe in my humble cottage will I rest And lifting up from my untainted breast A quiet spirit to heav'n securely live and blest To thee I here bequeath the courtly joyes Seeing to court my Thomalin is bent Take from thy Thirsil these his idle toyes Here I will end my looser merriment And when thou sing'st them to the wanton boyes Among the courtly lasses blandishment Think of thy Thirsil's love that never spends And softly say his love still better mends Ah too unlike the love of court or courtly friends Go little pipe for ever I must leave thee My little little pipe but sweetest ever Go go for I have vow'd to see thee never Never ah never must I more receive thee But he in better love will still persever Go little pipe for I must have a new Farewell ye Norfolk maids and Ida crue Thirsil will play no more for ever now adieu To Thomalin THomalin since Thirsil nothing ha's to leave thee And leave thee must pardon me gentle friend If nothing but my love I onely give thee Yet see how great this Nothing is I send For though this love of thine I sweetest prove Nothing 's more sweet then is this sweetest love The souldier Nothing like his prey esteems Nothing toss'd sailers equal with the shore Nothing before his health the sick man deems The pilgrim hugges his countrey Nothing more The miser hoording up his golden wares This Nothing with his precious wealth compares Our thoughts ambition onely Nothing ends Nothing fills up the golden-dropsied minde The prodigall that all so lavish spends Yet Nothing cannot Nothing stayes behinde The King that with his life a kingdome buyes Then life or crown doth Nothing higher prize Who all enjoyes yet Nothing now desires Nothing is greater then the highest Iove Who dwells in heav'n then Nothing more requires Love more then honey Nothing more sweet then love Nothing is onely better then the best Nothing is sure Nothing is ever blest I love my health my life my books my friends Thee dearest Thomalin Nothing above thee For when my books friends health life fainting ends When thy love fails yet Nothing still will love me When heav'n and aire the earth and floating mains Are gone yet Nothing still untoucht remains Since then to other streams I must betake me And spitefull Chame of all ha's quite bereft me Since Muses selves false Muses will forsake me And but this Nothing nothing els is left me Take thou my love and keep it still in store That given Nothing now remaineth more Against a rich man despising povertie IF well thou view'st us with no squinted eye No partiall judgement thou wilt quickly rate Thy wealth no richer then my povertie My want no poorer then thy rich estate Our ends and births alike in this as I Poore thou wert born and poore again shalt die My little fills my little-wishing minde Thou having more then much yet seekest more Who seeks still wishes what he seeks to finde Who wishes wants and who so wants is poore Then this must follow of necessitie Poore are thy riches rich my povertie Though still thou gett'st yet is thy want not spent But as thy wealth so growes thy wealthy itch But with my little I have much content Content hath all and who hath all is rich Then this in reason thou must needs confesse If I have little yet that thou hast lesse What ever man possesses God hath lent And to his audit liable is ever To reckon how and where and when he spent Then this thou bragg'st thou art a great receiver Little my debt when little is my store The more thou hast thy debt still growes the more But seeing God himself descended down T' enrich the poore by his rich povertie His meat his house his grave were not his own Yet all is his from all eternitie Let me be like my Head whom I adore Be thou great wealthie I still base and poore Contemnenti COntinuall burning yet no fire or fuel Chill icie frosts in midst of summers frying A hell most pleasing and a heav'n most cruel A death still living and a life still dying And whatsoever pains poore hearts can prove I feel and utter in one word I LOVE Two fires of love and grief each upon
most I love with just adoring That Mantuan swain who chang'd his slender reed To trumpets martiall voice and warres loud roaring From Corydon to Turnus derring-deed And next our home-bred Colins sweetest firing Their steps not following close but farre admiring To lackey one of these is all my prides aspiring 6 Then you my peers whose quiet expectation Seemeth my backward tale would fain invite Deigne gently heare this purple Islands nation A people never seen yet still in sight Our daily guests and natives yet unknown Our servants born but now commanders grown Our friends and enemies aliens yet still our own 7 Not like those Heroes who in better times This happy Island first inhabited In joy and peace when no rebellious crimes That God-like nation yet dispeop'led Those claim'd their birth from that eternal Light Held th' Isle and rul'd it in their fathers right And in their faces bore their parents image bright 8 For when the Isle that main would fond forsake In which at first it found a happy place And deep was plung'd in that dead hellish lake Back to their father flew this heav'nly race And left the Isle forlorn and desolate That now with fear and wishes all too late Sought in that blackest wave to hide his blacker fate 9 How shall a worm on dust that crawls and feeds Climbe to th' empyreall court where these states reign And there take view of what heav'ns self exceeds The Sunne lesse starres these lights the Sunne distain Their beams divine and beauties do excell What here on earth in aire or heav'n do dwell Such never eye yet saw such never tongue can tell 10 Soon as these Saints the treach'rous Isle forsook Rusht in a false foul fiend-like companie And every fort and every castle took All to this rabble yeeld the soveraigntie The goodly temples which those Heroes plac't By this foul rout were utterly defac't And all their fences strong and all their bulwarks raz'd 11 So where the neatest Badger most abides Deep in the earth she frames her prettie cell And into halls and closulets divides But when the stinking fox with loathsome smell Infects her pleasant cave the cleanly beast So hates her inmate and rank-smelling guest That farre away she flies and leaves her loathed nest 12 But when those Graces at their fathers throne Arriv'd in heav'ns high Court to Justice plain'd How they were wrong'd and forced from their own And what foul people in their dwellings reign'd How th' earth much waxt in ill much wan'd in good So full-ripe vice how blasted vertues bud Begging such vicious weeds might sink in vengefull floud 13 Forth stept the just Dicaea full of rage The first-born daughter of th' Almighty King Ah sacred maid thy kindled ire asswage Who dare abide thy dreadfull thundering Soon as her voice but Father onely spake The faultlesse heav'ns like leaves in Autumne shake And all that glorious throng with horrid palsies quake 14 Heard you not late with what loud trumpet sound Her breath awak'd her fathers sleeping ire The heav'nly armies flam'd earth shook heav'n frown'd And heav'ns dread King call'd for his three-forkt fire Heark how the powerfull words strike through the eare The frighted sense shoots up the staring hair And shakes the trembling soul with fright shudd'ring fear 15 So have I seen the earth strong windes detaining In prison close they scorning to be under Her dull subjection and her power disdaining With horrid struglings tear their bonds in sunder Mean while the wounded earth that forc'd their stay With terrour reels the hils runne farre away And frighted world fears hell breaks out upon the day 16 But see how 'twixt her sister and her sire Soft-hearted Mercy sweetly interposing Settles her panting breast against his fire Pleading for grace and chains of death unloosing Heark from her lips the melting hony flowes The striking Thunderer recals his blowes And every armed souldier down his weapon throwes 17 So when the day wrapt in a cloudie night Puts out the Sunne anon the rattling hail On earth poures down his shot with fell despight His powder spent the Sunne puts off his vail And fair his flaming beauties now unsteeps The plough-man from his bushes gladly peeps And hidden traveller out of his covert creeps 18 Ah fairest maid best essence of thy father Equall unto thy never equall'd sire How in low verse shall thy poore shepherd gather What all the world can ne're enough admire When thy sweet eyes sparkle in chearfull light The brightest day grows pale as leaden night And heav'ns bright burning eye loses his blinded sight 19 Who then those sugred strains can understand Which calm'd thy father and our desp'rate fears And charm'd the nimble lightning in his hand That all unwares it dropt in melting tears Then thou deare swain thy heav'nly load unfraught For she her self hath thee her speeches taught So neare her heav'n they be so farre from humane thought 20 But let my lighter skiffe return again Unto that little Isle which late it left Nor dare to enter in that boundlesse main Or tell the nation from this Island reft But sing that civil strife and home dissension 'Twixt two strong factions with like fierce contention Where never peace is heard nor ever peaces mention 21 For that foul rout which from the Stygian brook Where first they dwelt in midst of death and night By force the left and emptie Island took Claim hence full conquest and possessions right But that fair band which Mercie sent anew The ashes of that first heroick crue From their forefathers claim their right Islands due 22 In their fair look their parents grace appeares Yet their renowned sires were much more glorious For what decaies not with decaying yeares All night and all the day with toil laborious In losse and conquest angrie fresh they fight Nor can the other cease or day or night While th' Isle is doubly rent with endlesse warre and fright 23 As when the Britain and Iberian fleet With resolute and fearlesse expectation On trembling seas with equall fury meet The shore resounds with diverse acclamation Till now at length Spains firie Dons 'gin shrink Down with their ships hope life and courage sink Courage life hope and ships the gaping surges drink 24 But who alas shall teach my ruder breast The names and deeds of these heroick Kings Or downy Muse which now but left the nest Mount from her bush to heav'n with new-born wings Thou sacred maid which from fair Palestine Through all the world hast spread thy brightest shine Kindle thy shepherd-swain with thy light flaming eyn 25 Sacred Thespio which in Sinaies grove First took'st thy being and immortall breath And vaunt'st thy off-spring from the highest Iove Yet deign'dst to dwell with mortalls here beneath With vilest earth and men more vile residing Come holy Virgin in my bosome sliding With thy glad Angel light my blindfold footsteps guiding 26 And thou dread Spirit which at first
didst spread On those dark waters thy all-opening light Thou who of late of thy great bounty head This nest of hellish fogges and Stygian night With thy bright orient Sunne hast fair renew'd And with unwonted day hast it endu'd Which late both day thee and most it self eschew'd 27 Dread Spirit do thou those severall bands unfold Both which thou sent'st a needfull supplement To this lost Isle and which with courage bold Hourely assail thy rightfull regiment And with strong hand oppresse keep them under Raise now my humble vein to lofty thunder That heav'n and earth may sound resound thy praises wonder 28 The Islands Prince of frame more then celestiall Is rightly call'd th' all-seeing Intellect All glorious bright such nothing is terrestriall Whose Sun-like face and most divine aspect No humane sight may ever hope descrie For when himself on 's self reflects his eye Dull and amaz'd he stands at so bright majestie 29 Look as the Sunne whose ray and searching light Here there and every where it self displayes No nook or corner flies his piercing sight Yet on himself when he reflects his rayes Soon back he flings the too bold vent'ring gleam Down to the earth the flames all broken stream Such is this famous Prince such his unpierced beam 30 His strangest body is not bodily But matter without matter never fill'd Nor filling though within his compasse high All heav'n and earth and all in both are held Yet thousand thousand heav'ns he could contain And still as empty as at first remain And when he takes in most readi'st to take again 31 Though travelling all places changing none Bid him soar up to heav'n and thence down throwing The centre search and Dis dark realm he 's gone Returns arrives before thou saw'st him going And while his weary kingdome safely sleeps All restlesse night he watch and warding keeps Never his carefull head on resting pillow steeps 32 In every quarter of this blessed Isle Himself both present is and President Nor once retires ah happy realm the while That by no Officers lewd lavishment With greedie lust and wrong consumed art He all in all and all in every part Does share to each his due and equall dole impart 33 He knows nor death nor yeares nor feeble age But as his time his strength and vigour grows And when his kingdome by intestine rage Lies broke and wasted open to his foes And batter'd sconce now flat and even lies Sooner then thought to that great Judge he flies Who weighs him just reward of good or injuries 34 For he the Judges Viceroy here is plac't Where if he live as knowing he may die He never dies but with fresh pleasures grac't Bathes his crown'd head in soft eternitie Where thousand joyes and pleasures ever new And blessings thicker then the morning dew With endlesse sweets rain down on that immortall crue 35 There golden starres set in the crystall snow There daintie joyes laugh at white-headed caring There day no night delight no end shall know Sweets without surfet fulnesse without sparing And by its spending growing happinesse There God himself in glories lavishnesse Diffus'd in all to all is all full blessednesse 36 But if he here neglect his Masters law And with those traitours 'gainst his Lord rebells Down to the deeps ten thousand fiends him draw Deeps where night death despair and horrour dwells And in worst ills still worse expecting fears Where fell despite for spite his bowels tears And still increasing grief and torment never wears 37 Prayers there are idle death is woo'd in vain In midst of death poore wretches long to die Night without day or rest still doubling pain Woes spending still yet still their end lesse nigh The soul there restlesse helplesse hopelesse lies The body frying roars and roaring fries There 's life that never lives there 's death that never dies 38 Hence while unsetled here he fighting reignes Shut in a Tower where thousand enemies Assault the fort with wary care and pains He guards all entrance and by divers spies Searches into his foes and friends designes For most he fears his subjects wavering mindes This Tower then onely falls when treason undermines 39 Therefore while yet he lurks in earthly tent Disguis'd in worthlesse robes and poore attire Trie we to view his glories wonderment And get a sight of what we so admire For when away from this sad place he flies And in the skies abides more bright then skies Too glorious is his sight for our dimme mortall eyes 40 So curl'd-head Thetis waters feared Queen But bound in cauls of sand yeelds not to sight And planets glorious King may best be seen When some thinne cloud dimmes his too piercing light And neither none nor all his face discloses For when his bright eye full our eye opposes None gains his glorious sight but his own sight he loses 41 Within the Castle sit eight Counsellers That help him in this tent to govern well Each in his room a severall office bears Three of his inmost private counsell deal In great affairs five of lesse dignitie Have outward Courts and in all actions prie But still referre the doom to Courts more fit and high 42 Those five fair brethren which I sung of late For their just number call'd the Pemptarchie The other three three pillars of the state The first in midst of that high Tower doth lie The chiefest mansion of this glorious King The Judge and Arbiter of every thing Which those five brethrens poasts in to his office bring 43 Of middle yeares and seemly personage Father of laws the rule of wrong and right Fountain of judgement therefore wondrous sage Discreet and wise of quick and nimble sight Not those seven Sages might him parallell Nor he whom Pythian Maid did whilome tell To be the wisest man that then on earth did dwell 44 As Neptunes cestern sucks in tribute tides Yet never full which every chanel brings And thirstie drinks and drinking thirstie bides For by some hidden way back to the springs It sends the streams in erring conduits spread Which with a circling dutie still are led So ever feeding them is by them ever fed 45 Ev'n so the first of these three Counsellers Gives to the five the power of all-descrying Which back to him with mutuall dutie bears All their informings and the causes trying For through strait waies the nimble Poast ascends Unto his hall there up his message sends Which to the next well scann'd he straightway recommends 46 The next that in the Castles front is plac't Phantastes hight his yeares are fresh and green His visage old his face too much defac't With ashes pale his eyes deep sunken been With often thoughts and never slackt intention Yet he the fount of speedy apprehension Father of wit the well of arts and quick invention 47 But in his private thoughts and busy brain Thousand thinne forms and idle fancies flit The three-shap't Sphinx and direfull