Then gorgeous Summer came and spred his way With Gales of gentle Aire and Clouds of Spice Whil'st jolly Flora in her best array As prodigall is of her Varieties But plainer Winter did more distance keep And farre behinde his burning Chariot creep 119. The Sea however surly the first Day No sooner heard her great Creator speak But her Rebellious Waves she flat did lay And op'd her mighty Womb from whence did break The Winged Nation all Pair by Pair The Musicall Inhabitants of Aire 120. The other Germane Brood whose moister Wings Abhor the drying Windes she kept at home Where through the Deeps they flie strange-shaped things Which though brought forth live in their Mothers womb A womb of wonders whose dimensions can Afford a full flight to Leviathan 121. Leviathan whose smoking Nostrills blow The Sea of Fire which from his Mouth doth break Whose dreadfull sneesings by their flashes show The brazen Scales which seal his mighty Back Whose Beacons dare out-face the Mornings Eyes Whose Heart in hardness with the Milstone vies 122. Leviathan who laughs at Him that shakes The bug-bear Spear and 〈◊〉 the idle Stone Who steely Darts for wretched Stubble takes Who to the Iron sayes Vain Straw be gone Who makes the boiling Sea answer his Wrath Who where he goes plows up his hoary Path. 123. He at whose dismall generation Fear Fled far away and nothing left behinde But Might and Boldnesse which compounded were Into the Mettall of the Monsters Minde He who exalted in his thoughts doth ride The Soveraign Prince of all the Sonnes of Pride 124. But now the Sixt Day dawn'd and Tellus is Commanded to bring forth her People too She heard the Voice and with strange Activenesse Bids Beasts and Reptiles with her answer goe They started up and cri'd Loe We are heer Before the Words sound left their Mothers eare 125. Hast thou not seen the gallant Horse whose Eye Is fed with living Lightning whose high Neck Is cloth'd with mighty Thunders Majesty Whose glorious Nostrills Terrors language speak Who never would beleeve the Trumpets sound But with proud nerceness swallows up the Ground 126. Who with Impatience doth the Valleyes paw When he hath smelt the Battell from afarre Who mocks the Sword and brave disdain doth throw Upon the Quver and the glittering Spear Who both the Trumpet 's and the Souldier's shout With his more martiall Ha ha doth flout 127. Hast thou not seen Behemoth that vast Mount Of flesh and bone that Earths Leviathan Whose monstrous Thirst though many a living Fount And River it hath slain still trusts it can Through the profounder Channell of his throat All Jordan ev'n in time of harvest shoot 128. Whose Navell is a Knot of Power whose Loins The Mansion of Strength whose massie Bones Which to their sockets steely Grissells joyn Are Brasse the lesse the greater Iron ones Who mounts his mighty Tail so high that He Seems like the Hill that like the Cedar Tree 129. These goodly Creatures and ten thousand more Some great some small did Tellus then bring forth But who shall now reign Prince of all this Store And of the Oceans more numerous Birth This was so high a bus'nesse that the great Creator will for it in Counsell sit 130. A Place there is retired far and high In the bright Tower of eternall Rest Roof'd pav'd and walled with Immenfitie In at whose Door no Creature ever past Th' Infinite Three there by joint Consultation Determine of the Work and of the Fashion 131. Then stepping down to Earth this Triple One Takes up the next Dust that lay at his feet Which he compacts and moulds and frames so soon That the quick shape did rather seem to meet His Hand than follow it and every Part As wak'd by 's touch up from the Dust to start 132. Then round about the Universe He reach'd His mighty Arm and cull'd from every Thing The choicest Excellence what had inrich'd Their Severall Tribes to trim their breeding King That they more willingly might Him obey In whom their own and the Worlds Treasures lay 133. Fair was the Image For its form was true To that brave Modell which th' Eternall Son Had for himselfe design'd And that which drew Him to this Work was that Design alone All things but wait upon this Mystery The World was made that God a Max might be 134. As yet this hopefull Fabrick was no more Than a meer Statue fair but cold and dead When loe the kinde Creators Breath did pour Lifes Flood into its Nostrills whence it spred By the Veins Channells into every Part But chose its Manour-house amid'st the Heart 135. That Breath immortall was as flowing from His Bosome whom Eternity calls Sirc And kindled by its Blast so pure a Flame As shall out-live Heav'ns stoutest fairest Fire 'T is not the Crack and Ruine of the lesse Or greater World that can the Soul suppresse 136. Thus Adam op'd his Eyes by which such beams Of inbred Majesty did look abroad That now again the portly Creature seems The royall Image of his mighty God Heav'ns Soveraignty doth shine in God and who But Man looks like the King of all below 137. Nor are his Looks in vain For in his Hand Are put the Reins of Air of Earth of Sea And under his imperiall Command All kindes of Birds of Beasts of Fishes be Which though you now so boistrous see and wilde Before their King at first were tame and milde 138. This Prince of the inferiour World thus made God founds a Pallace where He might reside When all the Earth his Eye examin'd had A dainty place which in the East he spi'd Wonne his best liking where he builds the Seat Of his new Viceroy delicate and great 139. It was a Garden if that Name can speak The Worth of those illustrious Sweets which there A brisk Conspiracy of Joyes did make To prove Heav'n dwelt not in the starry Sphear The Earth look'd poor in all her other Soil Whose Meannesse serv'd but for this Jewells foile 140. No Weed presum'd to show its roytish face In this Inclosure Nettles Thistles Brakes Thorns Bryars Cockle Hemlock rampant Grasse With all those Herbs the meager Wizard rakes Into his deadly Boxes either yet Were not at all or far from Eden set 141. The Yew the Box the Cypress and the other Trees which to Funeralls consecrated be Had there no bus'nesse Nor Death nor her Mother Being as yet conceiv'd No crook-back'd Tree Disgrac'd the place no foolish scrambling Shrub No wilde and careless Bush no clownish Stub 142. Rude Boreas and his Winter did forbear To walk this way so did Distempers Cares Perplexities Sighs Melancholy Fear Doubts Jealousies Seditions Treasons Wars Storms Thunders Lightnings Earthquaks Ruptures Streins Wounds Boils Diseases inward outward Pains 143. For on the Gardens Margin ran a Wall High built with Beauty which begirt it round Delight stood at the Gate and let in all Things like her selfe But whensoe'r she found A
which embroyderd stood Most dreadfully illustrious and fair His Arms imperial stained all with Blood For 't was his Cross encompass'd now with more Notorious Honour than with Shame before 79. As thus he sate triumphant on his Throne He lifted up his Face and look'd about Strait way the frighted Earth began to run From his intolerable Eys the stout And hardy Rocks felt their hearts split for Dread The proudest Hils and Mountains trembling fled 80. The Sphears above his Aspects Power felt And breaking off their losty Harmony In Dissolutions Tears began to melt The Sun and Stars abashed now to see There was no need of them by Day or Night Fell head-long down and choaked their own Light 81. Yet in this 〈◊〉 haste the Sea and Land Were inindefull of their Faith and honestly Resror'd the Pledges which into their Hand Were put by Fate Sin and Mortalitie Giving up punctually a true and just Account of every Drain of Humanc 〈◊〉 82. Forth with Corruption started from the Heap Of Ashes and fled after Earth and Sea When loe the Mass threw off its deadly sleep And waked into Lifes Activitie Each Peice awak'd and nimbly rose and shew'd For one cold Heap a vigorous Multitude 83. Adam and Eve the Springs of all the rest Stood in the Front on whom attended all The Senior World Then Noah forward prest Who reimpeopled this whole shipwrackd Ball And after Him the Tribes and Nations which Their Colonies through all the Earth did reach 84. Not one was missing who did ever draw The breath of Life and see the Face of Light But now the proudest bore his head as low As did the poorest and ignoblest wight This Day had rased such Distinctions out And all into one Size and Measure brought 85. Those whom their tedious Age had bowed down Unto their brisker years were called back And those who in their Bud were crop'd and thrown Into untimely Graves did nothing lack Of fulgrown and accomplish'd vigour which Fix'd all and every one in equal pitch 86. And yet so different their Conditions were That now the ready Angels who attended Their Soveraigns Beck with quick unerring Care Parted the croud which was together blended With his right-hand the harmless Sheep they graced But at his left the stinking Goats they placed 87. Psyche rejoye'd her Parents here to see Rank'd on the Dexter Wing But fuller was Her holy Exultation when she Perceiv'd her own 〈◊〉 had the grace There to be marshalled for though the slepe Her waking Soule at the sweet Omen leape 88. When loe as thus her Hopes and Joyes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 At this illustrious Spectacle before The Throne two Books of vast 〈◊〉 Were open flung No volumes ever bore So huge a bulk as these which written be With the where worlds 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 89. The one was black as Horrors darkest Face The Book of Death writ with the Ink of Hell Wherein each Word some foule Transgression was Scor'd upon their Accounts who did rebell Against their Blisse and needs would labour to Attain Vexation and Themselves undoe 90. The other was as fair as this was foule The 〈◊〉 Book of Life whose Words did shine Clearer than those bright Notes which make the Scroul Of Heav'n appear so glorious and divine For here each Line doth part of God expresse Character'd in his Servants Holinesse 91. There blessed Leaves the King no sooner read But to the Right-hand Troop he turn'd his Eye Which with Majestick Sweetnesse prefaced Unto there Words Come Yee whose Piety Is by my 〈◊〉 Benediction grown Mature and of full Age to wear its Crown 92. Come take your full Possession with Me Of that fair Kingdome whose Foundations were Laid upon stable Perpetuity Long e'r the Earth sunk down beneath long e'r The Air and Fire grew light and upward fled Long e'r the Curtains of the Heav'ns were spred 93. For in this faithfull Register I see Your brave Deserts recorded full and fair When I exposed was to Misery Your pious Charity made Me your Heir The Debt I here acknowledge and to Day The Principal and Use. I must repay 94. Then turning to the gloomy Book and to The other Company which stood agast With frowns of killing Wrath He 〈◊〉 Goe Ye cursed Brood 〈◊〉 Evidence hath Cast You all these Leaves 〈◊〉 Witnesse bear For all your 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 staring here 95. 〈◊〉 Eyes no 〈◊〉 would afford to Me When 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and Nakedness Call'd for 〈◊〉 and strict Equity Now 〈◊〉 up 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 your due 〈◊〉 Goe 〈…〉 for take 〈…〉 Lake 〈◊〉 The 〈…〉 With 〈…〉 Pride Which flam'd 〈…〉 fight When 〈…〉 tri'd For you 〈…〉 Have 〈…〉 〈◊〉 The Adamantine Sentence thus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The courteous Angels with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Joy Upon the Saints their dear Imbrace 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 this their Coronation Day And joyned then their Tongues with them to 〈◊〉 〈…〉 to their gratious King 98. But as this Melody was sweet and 〈◊〉 So were the Yellings horrid which 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The throats and bosomes of that Company 〈…〉 were For thousand 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 about them flew And in 〈…〉 threw 99. But dressed in more 〈◊〉 Array Than ever see infernal Hae deformed Their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 on them did lay Their 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 Wrath all 〈◊〉 With 〈…〉 their Breafts And 〈…〉 did 〈◊〉 100. When on the sudden the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Opening its Mouth and gaping for its Prey The first fruits of their flames on them old spit And warn'd the Fiends to hasten them away To their full Harvest O what Tongue can tell The Anguish which now on these Wretches fell 101. Upon their shreiking Throats and frighted Hair Damnations Serjeants clapp'd their flaming Paws Whilst other Officers who furnish'd were With Whips of 〈◊〉 Snakes and Harpies Claws Lash'd them so sore that they made haste to Hell In hopes that lesser Torments there did dwell 102. Down plung'd this mixed 〈◊〉 which almost 〈◊〉 The greedy 〈◊〉 of the 〈◊〉 Deep Loud was the Noise of this 〈◊〉 Fall but yet Far 〈◊〉 was 〈…〉 Eternal 〈◊〉 still 〈◊〉 and 103. The hasty Fire soon flew upon this Feast And with unbounded Riot gormandised Resolving thenceforth never more to Fast Nor yet with all this store to be sufficed But oft it gap'd and belch'd whence upward broke Black volumes of contagious stink and smoak 104. About the Brink some Devils hankerd still So did two Monsters far more foule than they Thin gastly Death and poisnous Sin untill The King design'd an Angel them to slay Who threw them head-long down the Pit for this And this alone eternal Slaughter is 105. That done the Sentence firm and sure to make Upon the Caves wide Mouth his Seal he set A Seal which no reluctancy can break For his Omnipotence had temperd it Of such a Mixture that Eternitie It self as soon as that shall brittle be 106. The Saints and Angels seeing nothing now But Joy and Life and Bliss and Holines Themselves before the Conquerours Throne did throw Meekly ambitious joyntly to express Their Thanks
Her penitent flood Psyche pour's out and is encourag'd by An heav'nly Dream to honour Chastity 1. NO foolish Tinder ever yet did catch In its soft amorous Arms the straggling spark And with such desperate zeale make haste to hatch Its own destruction as fond Man doth mark And treasure up those fair-fac'd Counsels which With fatall Charm's his heedlesse heart bewitch 2. No wretched Adder ever sealed up His wary eare with trustier Cement than With wretchlesse obstinacy He doth stop His memories unhappy Portalls when Wholesome Advise with sweetnes woo's it and Long knocking for admission doth stand 3. Or if at length a wicket 〈◊〉 he sets His sleighted guest in some our-roome he lay's But when vain fancie or seduction beats Summons upon his gates He them display's And let 's these strangers thrust quite out of door The former who were scarcely in before 4. For as the Honey of Heav'ns dainty Hives The summer Clouds snugging in laps of flow'rs That correspondent Dwelling quickly leaves To churlish drops of lesse deserving show'rs Or rankling Mil-dew which such venome shed's As soon deflow'reth all those Virgin Beds 5. So far'd it now with Psyche's carelesse Breast On which more dainties drop'd from Phylax tongue Than on Hyblean hils e'r made its nest Abroad she will and please her selfe among The fields wide sweets forgeting that some winde Might steale upon and blast her honyed minde 6. The sportfull Twins of heav'n now 'gan to reign And brought a season fitting for their play Thick did they scatter upon every Plain A flowry verdure and dishevell May Round about Tellu's face who now beguiles Her Winters sadnesse with this moneth of smiles 7. Psyche would fain have wander'd out alone But that Syneidesis her trustie Maid Hunted out every step where she had gone And Charis an old friend of hers afrayd What might befall the Virgin follow'd too Yet in her company forbore to goe 8. As pleasures paths she in the fields did trace It joy'd her much the tender lambs to see Skipping in harmlesse sport from place to place And who would be so sad and dull said she To 〈◊〉 at home when thus abroad we may Behold how sweetly Innocence doth play 9. No smiling flow'r could meet her as she went But gathering it she with a kisse would pay The courteous price of that delicious scent It had so freely pow'red in her way And still cryes out how poore a place is home Which for such pleasure can afford no room 10. Thus loosely tripping on she came at last Through pathlesse Paths unto a pleasant Grove The gentle Windes through the faire Trees made haste And in her face a gale of Odours drove Needs would she enter and see whither this Were not the Copy of old Paradise 11. The courteous Boughs laden with generous spice Stoop'd to salute her as she enter'd in And bid her pluck what Fruit best pleas'd her eys But there was none but did amazement win Shee looks about yet know's not which to choose And in those sweets her sweeter self doth loose 12. When on the sudden from a neighbour tree Her ears were captiv'd as before her eyes The mystick Chains of purest Harmonie Did with a soft inchantment her surprise A winged Quire having new tun'd their throats Were running over their exactest notes 13. Divided thus with Pleasures she does look Where she may sit her self to recollect Close by she gliding spies a silver Brook Whose gorgecus bank with golden flow'rs was deckt There sitting down once more adieu said she Dull home which no such seat could'st spread for me 14. Syneidesis her Mistresse being set Pitch'd down behinde her and fell fast asleep Old * Charis kept aloof resolv'd to let The venturous Virgin some experience reap Of her fond confidence who needs would stray Like some vain Childe so far from home to play 15. When loe into the Grove a monstrous Boar Wilder than was that place did roaring come And brought more terrour thither than before Appear'd delight Never did whiter foam Smoke on the Oceans stormy face than now This hideous Beast about his own did throw 16. As are the Comet 's feirce with ominous light Such were his eyes compos'd of fire and blood His dreadfull tusks the engins of his spight Held forth their greedy heads and ready stood To tear their Prey stern bristles hedg'd up high His back which did all wrath of thorns defie 17. Straight startled out of her unfortunate pleasure Away flies Psyche on the wings of fear Whose steps the hungry Beast as fast did measure And swallow'd up the way to tear down her Loud were his roars yet her shreeks did transcend Which heav'n and earth and her own throat did rend 18. Phylax her ever trustie friend was neer Flying from tree to tree still as she ran But was by heav'n forbidden to appear And reskew her who needs would be undone He was forbid to reskew her till shee Had deeper felt her dangerous vanitie 19. Her long flight having now shortned her breath Which 'twixt her trembling lips lay strugling she Cryes out dear Phylax from these jaws of death The monster opes so wide deliver mee Where is thy God and mine which loves me so Where is he now O what shall Psyche doe 20. Here helplesse feare and fainting threw her down Unto the ready Beast an easie prey Whose hasty tusk had through her dainty gown Unto her softer body tore its way When loe a sudden speare flew through his neck And frighted on the ground return'd him back 21. A lusty gallant Aphrodisius hight Who in that luckie instant thither came Directed it and straight with equall might Drew out his glittering blade whose dreadfull flame A forehand strook the dazeled mouster dead Whose edge took from him both his prey and head 22. This done he gently takes the virgin up Then with a courtly kisse he give 's her joy That she was safe She scarce had power to ope Her eyes seal'd close with desperate dismay But when she saw the slaughter'd Boar and him As sweet and faire as that was foule and grim 23. I see there are more Phylaxes than one Cryes she This life dear sir which heretofore Was mine your love hath now made yours alone For my part I had left it to that Boar And laid me down to measure out my grave Whence you to me this resurrection gave 24. Yet trust me sir a life you have not given To one who can forget by whom she lives Whether you come from earth or rather heav'n For seldome earth such strange salvation gives My soule big with just thanks would learn and see Whether my debt divine or humane bee 25. Lady say's Aphrodisius first repose Your selfe a while a little way from hence For well I know this place a Current goes Between two flowrie banks there will I rinse My bloody hands there shall you sit and hear A wounderous story and due to your ear 26. It was
this sayes she so fair so bright He smiling cries My Dear for Chastity It was erected Look and thou shalt see What kinde of Princes here the Dwellers be 154. Loe there comes One Observe his royall Gate Majestick yet not proud about his brows A glittering Coronet wreaths his princely state As in his Hand a Palm his triumph shows Large is his Roabe and after him below A Train imperiall on the ground doth flow 155. This Pavement is lesse white lesse sweet are those Perfumed Lillies than that roab of His Th' Eternall Lamb from his owne fleece did choose The richest Wooll where with to cloath and dresse His spotlesse friends and fellow-lambs for the Goe all invested with this bright Array 156. Those gracefull Eyes in which Love's throne is set Are they which did Potiphera defie Thou know'st the story since I told thee it This is that Joseph though advanced high In Pharaohs Realm yet now more glorious grown And can a fairer Kingdome call his owne 157. The next's a Female in the same Array For Sexes here no outward difference show But all like Angells live since noble they Strove to forget their He and She below And though then earthly Pilgrims overtake That Purity which Us doth equall make 158. Susanna is her Name That radiant Face Which none but chaste and holy beams did shed Two lustfull Elders made their daily Glasse And with the Antidote invenomed Their shamelesse Hearts So bold is Lust that she Dares hope to finde a Blot in Purity 159. Cancer then scorch'd the World when tender she Into her Garden went there in a spring Almost as clear as her own Chastity To coole her selfe But they straight issuing Out of their ambush in their Clothes expresse More shame than did Susanna's Nakednesse 160. We too are hot cry they but none but thou Can quench the furie of our mighty Flames Thou art the Fountain where all Sweets do flow And We must bathe and coole Us in thy streams Yeild as thou lov'st thy Life else We will swear That in Adulterie We caught thee heer 161. Then welcome Death said she thy face will be Fairer than is the Count'nance of this sin Here she cri'd out aloud and instantly Her startled Hand-mayds all rush'd shreeking in Whom both the full-mouth'd Elders hastened To catch th' Adulterer who said they was sted 162. Then haling her unto the Barre their own Guilt upon her they throw and she must die But straight a Miracle crowds in to crown The truth of her unconquer'd Chastity And turn the Sentence on the Elders who Whil'st she to Triumph must to Stoning go 163. There comes the second Joseph but as farre Before in honour as in time behind Little thought Men what kinde of Carpenter Was this whose noble Art a way could finde To frame a life and raise the building high Both of Heroik Worth and Poverty 164. Mine and my Brethrens Office though it be Both sweet and glorious yet must stoope to His Who was the Guardian of Divinity And of the Mother of all sweetnesses And yet no Angell envy'd him his place Who ever look'd upon his wonderous face 165. What Gravity sits there and what Delight What Tendernesse and what Austerity How high and humble are his looks how bright And modest are his eyes how sweetly He Ev'n in this Glory seems not to forget That Cloud which upon Him in earth did sit 166. But look and see thou start not at the sight Those Rays though more than Sun-like lovely be Here comes of Heav'n and Earth the choise Delight The Queen of Softnesse and of Purity Millions of Loves come tripping in Her way Flown from her Eye in a fore-running Ray. 167. Behold Her face and read all Paradise And more in Flesh and Blood In vain we seek For flow'rs for Gemms for Starrs to equalize The gallantry of Her illustrious Cheek At whose sweet Composition every Grace Came running in for fear to loose its place 168. All Cherubs and all Seraphs have I seen In their high beauties on Heav'ns Holy-dayes But yet the gratious Glories of this Queen Sweetly out-glitters their best tire of Rayes What studied scorn would Pagan wits have thrown Upon their Venus if they this had known 169. This Mother of Divinest Love as pure As is that other putid Noblest Tongues When they triumphant are and would be sure With life and blisse and joy to grace their Songs First chant the Son and then the Mother He Begins and she makes up the Harmony 170. Her Crown is full Imperiall yet not deckt With orientall Diamonds but thick set With purer Jewells for the most select Virtues because her own doe garnish it And yet all those but the faint Copies be Of her rich Hearts Originall Treasurie 171. I need not tell thee Mary is her Name Who teacheth Majesty to be so milde This cold dead Pavement lively doth proclaim Whose feet with new-born Lillies it have fill'd Whose but the Virgin-Mothers steps could blesse A Soil so barren with such Fertilnesse 172. Turn Psyche and behold Here comes the King The King himselfe of Royall Chastitie She turn'd But as He forth was issuing Intolerable Beams from His did fly Upon her face she started at the stroke And rubb'd her dazeled eyes and so awoke PSYCHE OR LOVES MYSTERIE CANTO III. The Girdle or Love-Token ARGUMENT HEr Spouse in Token of His royall Love A Girdle unto Psyche sends wherein The accurate works Historik Beauty strove The radiant Materialls to out-shine The Rich Embroiderie Phylax doth expound And with the Token then the Mayd surround 1. SHort Taste of Pleasures how dost thou torment A liquorish Soul when once inflam'd by Thee The edge of all Desire would soon be spent Did'st Thou not whett it to that keen degree That nothing but compleat Fruition will The longing of its wakened stomack fill 2. The pined Man on whom a thinner She Insatiable Famine long hath fed Desires no Heav'n or Paradise to see But onely what lies moulded up in Bread One glimpse of this bids Hope return and light Life in those Eyes which were bequeath'd to Night 3. But if that Morn of Comfort damped be And his young Joys snatch'd from his Eyes again The fugitive Blessing mocks his Miserie And by rebound exalts it to a strain Of higher Punishment his Fancie more Does gnaw him now than Hunger did before 4. So Psyche famished with strong Desire Of her dear Spouse no sooner fed her eyes On his first Lustre but that mystick Fire Turn'd all her Heart into Joyes Sacrifice She 'gan to scorn all other Dayes but this Whose Dawn had broach'd such golden Floods of Blisse 5. But when immensitie of Beams had cast That cloud of Weaknesse on her Mortall Eye And she the long'd-for light it selfe had lost In too much light her Longing swell'd so high That did not sighs unload her Heart and it Th' impatient Tumor would her bosome split 6. She sighs and thinks and then she sighs again For
she the Reins Almost as soft's the Hand which them contains 58. As through the whirling Orbs she faster flies The new Imbroyderie to the Starrs she shows They twinckled all asham'd of their own Eyes So was the splendid Zodiak which throws His spangled Girdle round about the Sphears To keep in order and gird up the years 59. Orions Blush confess'd how much this sight Outvied all the glories hee could show His yeilding Count'nance fell and to the bright Triumphant Apparition did bow Three times hee tri'd and faine hee would have 〈◊〉 How to unbuckle his out-shined Belt 60. But comming to the Soveraign Palace she Hasts in to her expecting Lord and layes Her Face and Work upon his Footstool He Her dainty pains with high Approofe repayes Yet On this Ground had thine own Storie grown The Girdle would said hee have fairer shown 61. With that unto his Cabinet hee goes Where Spirits of purest Gemms extracted lie Out of which Heart of Richnesse hee did choose The softest Dropps and in one Jewell tie Such Rarities as my Tongue cannot tell But thy dear Soul their ravishments shall feel 62. For to the Girdle having linked it He deign'd to grace Me who stood wondering by Take this said he and see how it will fit Thy Psyche but more mine Be sure to tie It close and straight that by this Token she May understand how neer she is to Me. 63. The second Houre's scarce entring since I took It and my leave and heer the Present is Come wipe thine Eyes a purified Look Is 〈◊〉 due 〈◊〉 where the sight is Blisse 〈◊〉 Phylax op'd the Girdle whence such beams Broke loose as drowned Psyche in their streams 64. For as the rurall Swain whose courser Eyes Ne'r star'd on other beauteous things than what Begay the simple Fields when first hee spies A Princes Wardrobe open straight is shot Quite through with Wonder and in fear doth deem The sight is too too glorious for Him 65. So mortall Psyche was at first dismayd At the immortall Spectacle When hee Cries out What Error makes thee thus afraid This Zon's not torrid though it flaming be Nor sent thy Spouse this Token to destroy Thine Eyes but diet them with sparkling Joy 66. See'st thou that Building there which lifteth high Its shining Head and scorns to pay the Sun Homage for any beams for sanctity Glitters about it and 'twixt every stone Lies thicker than the Cement know that this Illustrious Pile the Jewish Temple is 67. Many long years had run their Round and spent Their own upon Heav'ns lasting Orbs before This Fabrick first grew to its Complement But here a moment raisd it and to more Magnificence than it at first could shew Such potent Art from Maries fingers flew 68. That reverend Senior whose high-mitered Head Points out his princely Office is the Priest You in his awfull Count'nance might have read What his Attire proclaims Were he undrest He still with Virtues would arrayed be Who now clothes holy Robes with Sanctity 69. His left Hand on his Sealed Mouth he lays Back to the Altar hee his right doth stretch His Eyes are full of talke and trie alwayes How they without a Tongue his Minde may preach At length that Throng of People there began To guesse the Sense and what befell the Man 70. Whil'st hee did on the Incense Altar place It s aromatick Fuell and supply What Heat or sweetnesse there deficient was By many a fervent Vow and pretious Sigh His Clowd flew highest for the Incense smoke Soon fainted but his sighs through all Heav'n broke 71. And being there upon their odorous Back An Angell gets whence posting down to Earth Unto the Temple hee his way doth take Where standing by the Altar hee breaths forth A sweet repayment unto Zachary Of what his Soul had panted out so high 72. Behold sayes he thy Vows and Prayers are Come back to fill thy bosome with Successe I am no Messenger great Saint of Fear Trust Me and trust thy priviledged Blisse Thine Heart so fruitfull in sublime Affection Hath for thy Body earn'd an high production 73. Thy dear Eliza whom thy Piety As neer in Virtue as in Wedlock ties Shall have a son in whom thine Eyes shall see The fruit of both those Knots whom Heav'n doth prize So high that I aforehand must with thee Bargain about his Name John it must be 74. A Son of Smiles and Gladnesse hee shall prove And make thine aged Heart young with Delight The Morning he is born shall Joy and Love Together spring and take their blessed flight To thousand Soules where they shall sit and tell What Hopes what Wonders in thy John do dwell 75. Never did friendly Starrs conspire to frame So Fortunate a Birth for Noblest Kings In Gods own Eye wherein the World doth seem Lesse than these Atoms on the Airs light wings Great shall thy Sonne appear Let Doubting go Immensitie resolves to make him so 76. For whil'st hee nestls in the narrow Cell Of thine Eliza's Womb the Spirit of Heav'n O how much vaster than all it shall fill His breeding Heart which when it once is thriven Unto a pitch mature shall nobly prove To Earth how it by Heav'n alone doth move 77. No boist'rous roaring Wine or rampant Drink Shall his sweet Lipp defloure His cup must be Fill'd at some Virgin-Fountains Chrystall brink And teach his Palate too Virginitie For in his sacred Veins no fire must flow But what Heav'ns Spirit pleaseth there to blow 78. And with that fire He Israel must refine Israel o'r-grown with rust and filth that so He may make clean the Way where his divine Redeemer means close after Him to go For braver Flames ne'r warm'd Elia's breast Than in thy Sons shall make their gallant Nest. 79. Alas the Priest replies decayed I Want Blood enough to paint a Blush at this Too worthy News Can fifty Summers fly Back and with Youth my withered Spirits blesse Frost in my Veins and Snow upon my Head Bid me already write More than halfe dead 80. Nor in Eliza doth less deadnesse Live How then in two such Winters can there grow A Spring whose sudden Vigorousnesse may give New Lives to Us and make them over-flow Into a third Sweet Angell thy strange Word May well some sign unto my Faith afford 81. Sure then thou know'st me not the Angell cries For had'st thou known that Gabriel I am Who in the Presence-Chamber of the skies Give high attendance to God and the Lamb Thou might'st have well presum'd no fraud could come From purest Verities eternall Home 82. Yet shalt thou have a sign and I will fast Seal 't on thy faithlesse Tongue which asked it Henceforth thou shalt be Mute untill thou hast Seen what thou would'st not credit Then I 'le let Thy Tongue be loose again that it may sing A Benedictus to thy gratious King 83. The Angells Word full in the Priests face flew And fastned mystick Chains upon his Tongue He soon
of Torments Loe We throw Our selves before your gentle feet and pray Our Lives and Griefs may see no other day 203. Nay doubt not We dare die but dare not think Of living in our former Death again If from the fatall blow our Necks but shrink Then say we truly wish'd not to be slain Here take our Swords at least they in your Hand Though not in ours our Servitude may end 204. As when the cunning Reeds their heads doe bowe In low submission to the boist'rous Winde And with their whining Pipe complaints doe blow To every Blast compassion to finde Way to their Charm the generous Tempest gives And passing forward Them their Pardon leaves 205. So portly Thelema allayed by Their fawning Homage bad them all arise They instantly unveiling Memorie In fraudulent thanks presented to her Eyes The stately Pageant Fancy thither brought With their own Treasures amplier furnish'd out 206. She look'd and wonder'd and let through her Eye The soft Deceit get stealing to her Heart She never yet did at one time descrie So huge an Armie of Delights such Art Of sweetnesse such Magnificence of Pleasure Such equipage of Smiles and Joyes and Leisure 207. Election who at her right hand did stand Was never at so dainty losse as here Ten thousand sweets her Eyes examin'd and Stood gazing still in doubt which to preferre So in the flowrie Mead fond Children loose Their Eyes before they can resolve to choose 208. The Rebells now their crafty Bait went down Without the least suspition of the Hook Bid Love drive home the Plot She having thrown Her selfe upon her knee with flattering Look And pliant Words indeavored to make Submission teach Rebellion how to speak 209. Right gentle Thelema since this our store Which thy fair Eyes are pleas'd not to disdain From cruel Psyche can deserve no more Respect than glances of Contempt again We beg that We may never live to see Such Sweets betrayed to new Slavery 210. The Heav'n thou see'st the Earth the Aire the Sea By this their royall Contribution make Our Treasury their own And yet must We From our Possession be beaten back And not enjoy what all the Worlds Consent In this rich Mass heapes up for our Content 211. Now by thy Mighty Goodnesse We implore Reliefe for our loud-crying Injuries So to thy Service this exuberant Store We sacrifice no despicable Price Of thy Compassion if the totall gains Of Natures wealth be worth thy smallest Pains 212. So thy Desires shall be the Laws whereby Obliged We our Lives will regulate So great Agenor will unite in thy Acquaintance and this Morning consecrate To peacefull smiles whose ominous Dawn was red With flashes of fierce War and streaks of Blood 213. As when the Shepheard loitering by the side Of some soft-murmuring Current lets his Eare Drink the complaining story of the Tide That purling Language soon doth domineer Over his charmed Spirits and down he lies Both to the Noise and Sleep an easie Prize 214. So Thelema who linger'd all this while In Fond attendance on Loves Blandishments Was now subdued by her glozing Guile And to the Rebells fair-tongu'd Plot consents Her hankering Arms she with their Treasures fills Her foolish Heart with Joy her Face with Smiles 215. And Well I see she cries how righteous is Your Cause and Quarrell Heav'n forbid that I Unto your undeserved Miseries The justice of Compassion should deny Yet Pittie is not all that I can show You know this Hand hath greater Worth than so 216. Alas it is not Psyche though she be My Soveraign Mistresse that can make me bend 〈◊〉 doe I rush and range abroad when she Would lock me up and oft when she would send Me forth except my Pleasure be to stirre I stay in spight of all her strength and Her 217. 'T was I first taught your Pris'ner Logos how To bear a Chain else you had strove in vain But I have long accustom'd Him to bowe To my least Finger his strong-reaching Brain And though sometimes I let him wrangle yet Reason has no more power than I permit 218. The universall Strength of all you see Throughout the wide-spred World look big and high Ne'r yet made Combination which could be Valid enough to binde my Potency Hence 't is that stoutest Champions from their knee By Prayers fight whene'r they deal with Me. 219. They talk of Sampson one I must confesse Fame hath not quite belyed Yet we see A Wenche's sheers clipp'd off his Mightinesse And trimm'd him fit for his Captivity Alas poor Gyant all his strength hung loose About his Ears mine in my Heartlies close 220. Nay Heav'n without a Brag I speak 't doth know My strength so well that it would never trie By force of Arms my 〈◊〉 Neck to bowe But by allurements strives to mollifie My hardy Heart And well it is that Ye Have took that gentle onely course with Me. 221. This said Agenor by the hand she takes And bids him welcome with a courtly Kisse He like a Soldier proud repayment make's In arrogant high-languag'd Promises And swears By all his Conquests she shall finde That with a Man indeed sh 'had now combin'd 222. Then leading Her to his Pavilion His Soldiers He to Councell fummons They As proud's therr haughty Generall thither run Rending with Acclamations their Way And there contrive by joynt deliberation The rest of their Adventure how to fashion PSYCHE OR LOVES MYSTERIE CANTO V. The Pacification ARGUMENT LOve on the Rebells part with Psyche treats Whose fair Tale Thelema and Agenor back Deluded Psyche yeildeth to their Cheats And with her fawning Foes a League doth make Then on Synei ' esis a Veil she throws And wanton in her Pride abroad she goes 1. WHat boots it Man that Natures Courtesie Hath lift his awfull Looks high towards Heav'n And built his Temples up with Majestie And into 's Hand imperiall Power given What royall Non-sense is a Diademe Abroad for One who 's not at Home supream 2. How does the whole World mock Him when it lays Its universall Homage at His Feet Whom whil'st the Aire the Earth the Sea obeys A sauc e pack of 〈◊〉 dare meet With 〈◊〉 Defiance and presume to hope His Empire shall go down their Pleasures up 3. What Credit is 't for Him to vaunt how He On every Monstrous thing his Conquests builds That Tigres Lyons Dragons forced be By Him to learn submission That He weilds Inanimate Mountains and through widest Seas Commands his Ships to reach what World he please 4. If his own Vessels helm unruely grow And into fatall Tempests hurrie Him If his domestick Slaves 〈◊〉 to bow Their worthlesse Necks when He commandeth them And fill his Palace with more furious Beasts Then are the desert Mountains salvage Guests 5. Alas poor Prince whose Soveraigntie Can be the Game and Scoff of vilest Things How much are Worms who of themselves can be Intire Commanders more Substantiall Kings Intestine Rebels
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
a gallanter Damnation 251. Didst Thou not promise Me but even now The dearest Torments of thy deepest Hell Deceive me not again If ever thou Wert carefull of thy Credit now fulfill Thy bounteous Word or look no more to be Served by Man if thou reward'st not me 252. Come then burn up these Lipps which learn'd of thee Their killing Kisse Dash out these Brains which thou Taught'st how to project that fell Treachery Tear this curs'd Carkase which is wholly now At thy disposall that each Limb may feel No portion but the totall Wrath of Hell 253. Take this dispairing Soule and let it be The Prey of thy eternall Furies 't is No groundlesse Challenge that as due to Me I claim the utmost of thy Spight unlesse Thou hast thine infinite Debt to Me forgot Jesus and Heav'n into thine hands I put 254. Jesus and Heav'n Names which I now must hate As having made them my eternall Foes O how I long to be in that free state Where generous Blasphemy no Bridle knows Where I may Rage as loud's Heav'ns Thunders 〈◊〉 And being cursed curse for overmore 255. Here the full Tide of furie stopp'd his Throat Yet still He star'd and struggled with his Grief Still he tore off his hair his Breast He smote And through Self-tortures hunted for Relief His Tongue He bit because it would not speak And stamp'd the Earth which would not open break 256. But as the Hair the Fat and Pitch which were Into the Dragons throat by Daniel cast Did burn and boile and rage and tumble there Far more than in the Pot untill at last With most impatient swelling Toiments They 〈◊〉 through his monstrous belly burst their way 257. So did this Mixture of Griefe and Dispair Flame in Iscariots bosome till it grew So strong and big that all his Entrails were Conquer'd with Tortures and in sunder flew His Body split and through that cruell Wound Pour'd his more barbarous Bowells on the Ground 258. Thus from this Prison his black Spirit ran Into that blacker Jaile reserv'd for it Next to the Center of Damnation Where now it raves in chains at Satans feet Ensore'd the pois'nous flames he spews to drink O that all Traytors w ould of Judas think PSYCHE OR LOVES MYSTERIE CANTO XII The Banquet ARGUMENT TO seal his dear Remembrance safe and sure On the soft hearts of his selected Sheep Love institutes his parting Feast so pure So sweet so rich that Psyche rap'd by deep Desire at its Description sues to be A Sharer in that Bords Felicity 1. BUt ô how large a Name is Treason which Doth in another fatall Channel run And from this Universe's Cradle reach Down to its funeral Pile No Ocean E'r stretch'd its Arms so wide or spread such store Of shipwrack'd Mortals on its helplesse shore 2. And this Selfe-treason is an imbred Feind Whose bus'nesse is to undermine her Home Whose most unnatural Nature is to rend Her too too loving Dames unhappy Wombe Who knaws her selfe and with 〈◊〉 Spight Free Veng'ance takes on Luxuries delight 3. For she her selfe is Luxury a Weed Which grew at first in an unlikely Place Who would suspect that such a cursed Seed Should Paradise's blessed Plants disgrace Yet as the Serpent in those Beds did lie So did this full as venomous Luxury 4. Under the beaureous Tree of 〈◊〉 there 〈◊〉 found her first and saw her 〈◊〉 up With 〈◊〉 Zeal and restlesse Pains one 〈◊〉 But dangerous and forbidden Fruit to crop Foole as she was she help'd her up and knew Not that by it her selfe she downward threw 5. Yet She to Adam needs would her commend And He unkindely courteous could not Denie to hugg his Spouses seeming friend Who Death and Hell strait through his bosome shot And now the Dainties of all Paradise Could not his foolish appetite suffice 6. No He must taste of that which never was Design'd to blesse the Palate But the Soure Revengefull Fruit was quit with Him for as It in his Teeth did stick with all the power Of stupefaction them on edge it set Proving his fatal Torment not his Meat 7. Nor could He chuse but leave his wretched Heirs Th' inheritance of this enchanting Pain Which down through all his Generations stayers Fail'd not its propagated Bane to drain This hankering itching liquorishnes did run Hot through the Veins of his remotest Son 8. Which Fervor did betimes so furious grow That the old World on fire with Lust it set A fire which with the heat of Hell did glow And was as stinking and as black as it A fire which joynd with other sinnes grew stout And found the Deluge work to quench it out 9. But then Earths face being washed clean and white She smil'd on Heav'n with a well-pleasing Grace And God vouchsafed humane Appetite A full Commission over all the Race Of Birds of Beasts of Fish that He might see How abstinent Man would prove now being free 10. For generous spirits then doe most abstein When they are Lords of their own Libertie When Virtue is entrusted with the Rein And room is given for Self-victorie When high-straind Moderation may prove No Act of Dutie but a Work of Love 11. Mans Appetite to every thing was free Bating the Blood in which the Life doth swimm Blood is the tincture in which Crueltie Stains all her clothes a tincture for the grimm And salvage Tygres not for Man who is Or should Professor be of Tendernesse 12. Indeed good Noah who both Worlds had seen The Old and New and was more Worth than both Indeavoured to keep himselfe as clean As now the Earth was wash'd And that no sloth Might tempt and steale him into Luxurie Buckled his Bones to painfull Husbandrie 13. And that the Pains He in his Vineyard took Might be requited by the Fruit it bare He shed the Grapes into his Bowle whose Look Might well have been his Monitor to beware Its rubie die had He but understood He would have shunn'd this Liquor too as Blood 14. But as it smil'd and sparkled in his face And mov'd with generous fervor in the Cup The un-suspicious Saint invited was With equal cheerfulnesse to drinke it up So untri'd Pleasures by their daintis skin And sweet behaviour approbation win 15. The flattering Liquor as it downward went Knock'd at his Heart and easie entrance got Where with his Spirits it did complement And soft delicious Fire amongst them put Noah rejoyc'd to feele his bosome glow And his old Ages Ice begin to thaw 16. This Bait drew down another for alas Good Man he little knew that Treacherie In his Soul-cheering Cup infused was Or that his Wine which sparkled e'r would be Destructive flame But Embers often rise Into Combustion when We least surmise 17. He freely takes a second Draught and now The Liquor gather'd strength and grew more bold Impatient to be supprest below Up to his Head it found a way and roll'd About his Brains wherein there 'gan to swimm
Such thickning Clouds that Reasons Sun grew dim 18. And then infected with the pois'nous Sweet Alas no power was left him to abstein No more to quench his Thirst but that New Heat Which burnd his veins He takes his Bowle again Which to the brim in careless haste he fills And part on th' earth part in his mouth he spills 19. But now He Drunk no more the Wine Drunk Him His Sense his Judgement and his Soul and all For thus when in their own wilde Draughts they swim Our witty Language Men does Drunken call And did so thoroughly his Brain confound That Earth as well as Heav'n He thinks turns round 20. The Wine now sparkles in his eyes no lesse Than it did in the Bowl before He stares On every thing and yet he nothing sees He trips and staggers but no fall he fears Nor feels it when he falls for having let His Bowl drop down Himselfe fell after it 21. Thus he who in the universall Flood Escap'd the fury of the proudest Wave And on the Oceans back in triumph rode Seeing below the whole Worlds woefull Grave Alas was drowned in a silly Cup Which he himselfe unwittingly drunk up 22. No Ark above this Deluge Us can bear But Temperance which here the Saint forgot Who as he fell had neither thought nor care Of keeping on his modest Mantle but Quite destitute of Clothes and Senses lay And did his double Nakednesse display 23. But as the Traytor who has slain the King Speeds from the Court as soon's the Fact is done So now the treacherous Liquor back doth fling And from the Murder it committed run Besides a Rout of other Humors follows And slaughter'd Noah in his Vomit wallows 24. Slaughter'd indeed and now a Man no more For nothing is alive in Him but Beast Which speaks its kinde by its lowd Swinish Roar And thus he tumbling lies untill opprest With his most heavy Self he falls asleep And in that nasty Rest his brains doth steep 25. Thus as one part of Luxury did grow In Paradise the other planted was In Noahs Garden that the World might know Danger can breed and lurk in any place Alas the holiest Ground too often breeds As well as wholsome Floures invenomed Weeds 26. Heav'ns Bounty granted all Variety Of Meats to feast the Sober Appetite And added brisk and cheerfull Wine to be The active Soule of Moderate Delight But peevish Man abused by his grosse Ingratitude Heav'ns Grace to Wantonness 27. Neither by Eve's Example He would take Nor Noahs warning though their Sanctity Did them far more invulnerable make Then common Mortalls feeble Breasts could be Still He would needs goe dive to the profound Bottome of Pleasures though himselfe he drownd 28. And from that Bottome he fetch'd up at last Improved Fat and Full-grown Luxury Who ne'r appeared unto Ages past More than a tolerable Prodigie For she much cooler was and tamer then And did not banish Men quite out of Men 29. But now she an unruly Monster grew Being encourag'd by Wines rampant Flame And round about the World in Tryumph flew All which she shipwrack'd in her Pois'nous stream Raving and roaring Mad she was and made All so who practis'd her intemperate Trade 30. The Laws of God of Man of Nature were Vain feeble Bridles when-soever she Resolved in her furious Carreer To let the Circle of her Healths run free Oft has she mingled with her Wines mad flood Friends Brothers Parents Masters Princes blood 31. Strange was her Shape if yet Deformity May in Shapes Title share her parched Head Burns up all hopes of Hair and scorns to be By any thing but Baldnesse covered Her humorish Eyes all red and putrid seem In her own over-flowing Wine to swim 32. But yet her Nose more provident is for there The Wine is bottled up and runs not out Onely the Bottle being thin and clear Speaks what it holds and studded round about With fervent Rubies serveth her perhaps For a dear Item of a Bunch of Grapes 33. Wroth fiery Knots are marshalled upon Her Forehead and her Cheeks Had Sicilie Her Etna lost this sulphurie Region Would shew it her in multiplicitie Onely these Hills are something lesse then that Yet is their Horror and their Stink as great 34. Her Lips are alway crannied and drie Though every day a thousand times made wet For still her burning breath in passing by Makes them that Moisture instantly forget And by the Poison of its fulsome Stinks Taints all the aromatick Wines she drinks 35. But the vast storehouse of her Belly makes Her seem with Childe of Mountains for in this The dainties which from all the World she rakes In one prodigious Heap congested is Here Solomons brasen Sea it selfe might swimm And its twelve Oxen too and more with Them 36. This is the Sink where Surfet being bred Of all Diseases doth the Parent grow Which She distributing from Foot to Head Doth undigested Pleasures turn to Woe Thus though the Bee doth pleasing Hony bring She always endeth in a pois'nous Sting 37. Who knows not that Luxuriant Mortals eat The copious fuell of their Sicknesses And force their honest but abused Meat Not to feed Nature but her Maladies Who knows not that in Healths deceitfull Name They drink the Venome which destroieth Them 38. Themselves they diet thus with their own Death And to a Weapon of Destruction turn The Staff of Life In vain Heav'ns Mercy hath So bounteous been if Man himself can learn To pick out 〈◊〉 in it and through Its Sweetnesse work his bitter Overthrow 39. If Bacchus must be made a God and have His larger and more constant Sacrifice Than He who all their Vines to Mortals gave Whilst they the Gift more than the Giver prize If Ceres too a Goddesse grow and We All sworn Devoto's to the Belly be 40. Alas I and had not bold Mortalitie Commission large and full enough before To work our Ruine Was the Miserie Of Plagne of Famine and of War so poor And weak that We our Selves the help must lend Of Luxurie to hasten on our End 41. 'T was time high time for God himself to come And turn Physitian in this desperate Case Our Madnesse swell'd so wide that now no room For any Mortall helping Hand there was 'T was time to Come and blessed be His Name For his dear Coming for in time He came 42. Jesus himself came down and left the Feast Of all Delights which He above enjoy'd Into the Depth of Poverty He cast His life and taught the World how to avoyd Intemperanc's Baits which thick are set Onely where Riches the dominion get 43. Then by his practik Abstinence He shewed Those who his royall steps would not disdain How dangerous Luxurie might be subdued And healthfull Temperance the Sceptre gain Forty long dayes and nights at once he spent In Consecrating of his Servants Lent 44. To this Example He his Doctrine joyn'd And for his frequent Text did Fasting take
Venus and unto its Cupps As to the Bottles of her bosome goe Whence onely furious uncleannesse drops This is the purest Juice that can be prest From Chastities own most unspotted breast 126. Of this milde Doves may drink and never fear An inflammation which might entrench On their chaste Spirits Devoted Virgins heer Their 〈◊〉 and bashfull Hearts may safely drench This Liquor breeds no flames but soft and cool Which though they burn cannot infect the soul. 127. Should Greek Canarie or Pannonian Wine Should Spanish French Italian and the rest Which crown the Bowles of Princes all combine In one Extraction and be richly drest With Aromatick Helps they would be all If paralleld with this but costly Gall. 128. Ambitious Cleopatra's sumptuous Bowle Where her Luxuriant Jewell learn'd to swimme And its inestimable Riches roule Melted and mixed with the gallant stream Compared with this Cup was full as vile As any Bottle filled at her Nile 129. This makes those wines all blush for their own shame Which in proud Belteshazzers Goblets smil'd Which Holofernes to the beauteous Dame And yet more Masculine then Beauteous fild That Dame who in her Nations quarrell durst Lesse for his Wine than for his heart-blood thirst 130. Sardanapalus with his Coste and Care Such precious liquor never could obtaine No Epicurean wishes ever were Advanced unto so sublime a strain As to desire so rich a Draught as this Whose worthabove all Fancies Compasse is 131. For where the Juice of other Grapes doth reign Both Sense and Reason feel its Tyranny Which being drownd together with their Brain Forth with each Member and each faculty To beastly Madnesse is enslav'd and flies On Murders Rapines Rapes and Villanies 132. But where this Wine of Angels domineers The Heart with noble Drunkennesse it fills For all its Powers and Spirits it overbears With a sweet stream of mystick Miracles Untill intoxicated by this Flood Of Love and Heav'n the Man is Drunk with God 133. Strange Psyche are this Drunkennesses Fits Oft have I seen and them as oft admired The World has thought these Men besides their Wits When with this Liquors flame it saw them fired But We know what ecstatick Raptures mean And Zeals exploits when it hath got the Rein. 134. Oft have I seen brave Spirits when they rose From this great Banquet fill'd with generous Rage Flie in the face of Sin and nobly choose The stoutest Foes whereon they might engage Their heav'nly Confidence nor has their high Adventure faild to reach down Victory 135. Oft have I seen Them scorn the Frown of Death Oft have I seen them hug the Crosse and Spear Oft have I heard them spend their finall breath In wooing greater Torments to come neer Oft have I seen them enter single fight Both with the Peers and with the Prince of Night 136. For well they know what Strength they have within And by tenacious Faith they hold it fast How can those Champions ever fail to win Amidst whose Armour Heav'n it selfe is plac'd What Battery can prevail against that Breast Which is infallibly with God possest 137. For to augment the Wonder Psyche this Great Feast of Feasts can never all be spent When Millions are filled still it is Intirely whole and knows no detriment So though the whole World drinks in Air yet still The undiminish'd Region is full 138. And yet not so For here each One doth eate The totall Feast yet each One leaves it whole These antecedent Ages cannot cheat Those which lagg on behinde whilst Heav'n doth roll And Earth stand still this ever-teeming Bord. The same Delights will unto All afford 139. No Fount lives on such living Springs as dwell In this pure Cup of Life to which though all The World doe daily flock to drink yet still It keeps its equal Plenitude nor shall The busie School with all its Company Of Doubts and Queries hope to draw it drie 140. Though all Heav'ns starry Tapers lighted be At Phebu's eyes his Raies are still intire Though in each River Fountain Lake or Sea His Image shines yet his original Fire Is onely one which doth it selfe so wide In its compleat Similitude divide 141. Thus and more really than thus this Feast Most absolutely One it selfe doth spread Into the Mouth and Heart of every Guest And there far more celestial Splendor shed Than when the Sun by his meridian Ray Triumphs upon the highest Throne of Day 142. The Blessed Lord not many years agoe Had borrow'd of the World Humanity And dress'd Himselfe in Maries bowells so That He became compleatly Man yet He Though by this Condescent new Raies He set In Natures Crown still thought Himselfe in debt 143. Right Generous as He was He ment to pay All back again which He receiv'd from Her His Body and his Blood He ment to lay Upon the Crosse and make Requitall there To all his Creditors and freely by That Payment ransome Them from Misery 144. And yet because his Humane Nature He So dearly lov'd that He resolv'd to bear It home in Triumph and eternalie Those Robes of boundlesse Love and Mercie Wear E'r He his journey took He plotted how It might Ascend and yet Remain below 145. Remain below and be as oft Restored As Man would please to take it And the way He Instituted was by this adored Mysterious Banquet which doth day by day Repay his Flesh and Blood that Man may eat And drink and with his God incorporate 146. For to compleat his most excessive Love Beyond the reach of any Parauel This 〈◊〉 Pay He doth so far improve That his 〈◊〉 Godhead joyns to swell The royall Feast for this can never be Dissevered from his Humanity 147. O Banquet fit for His Magnificence Who is the Universes Soveraign By this dear Project Psyche Mercies Prince Collecteth in his more than golden Chain His World unto Himself and ties 〈◊〉 close That no Disunion can interpose 148. The glorious Incarnation began To tie this Knot which now redoubled is There God vouchsas d to joyne Himselfe with Man Here Man has leave to make the Juncture His And knit himself to his 〈◊〉 O What God stoop'd ever to his Creature so 149. By this sweet Combination Men doe grow 〈◊〉 of their Singularities Their 〈◊〉 Interests their I and Thou Their Mine and 〈◊〉 their grounds of Avarice Of Envie of 〈◊〉 any comply In holy Peaces common Unitie 150. This is the Cement which together ties The Stones which in the Churches Fabrik lie The common Ligature which doth comprise Each Joynt and Member in the Mysterie Of Christs spirituall Body untill He The Shepheard and his Sheep in one agree 151. For as the Reasonable Soule doth swimm Intirely one through all the Body yet In every Member and in every Limm In its Totality doth single sit So by this Sacramentall Union Jesus is One to All and All to One 152. Beleeve it Psyche though thy Mortal Eye Sees no such brave Attendance on this Bord Yet
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
Gods own enshrined Beauties heer inrich 237. At the shrill whistle of each busie Winde All other Clouds in this inferior skie Are faine to runne about But this doth finde An undisturbed passage fair and high And strait to Heav'ns illustrious Roof doth haste Without the helping Wheels of any Blast 238. Earth was in debt unto those Clouds till now Which op d Heav'ns Pantrie and raind Manna down But this full Payment doth to Heav'n allow Whilst to the Angels it bears home their own Diviner Bread and by restoring more Than Earth receiv'd doth nobely quit the Score 239. That Israel-conducting Cloud which through The tedious Wildernesse of old did take So patient a Pilgrimage must bow Its famous head to This That did but make Way to the earthly Canaan but this Unto the Heav'nly the brave Convoy is 240. As Jesus thus soard through the Aire he saw The Treasuries of every kinde of Wether Of fair of foule of Rain of Hail of Snow Which did their homage unto Him as thither His Coach arriv'd He bad Them gently fall Upon his Earth and then He bless'd them all 241. So did He too that sweet and loyall Quire Of Larks which with applauding Songs and Wings In delicate attendance did aspire After his mounting Train Goe gentle Things Said He and rest your weary pinions I My other Choristers approaching spie 242. Loe at the Word the Winged Legions who Flutter about the everlasting Sphear And on the great Creators bus'nes goe Throughout the World appeared hovering there Great was their number and their Glory great If they with Jesu's Lustre had not met 243. Before his Feet their gracefull Heads they bow 〈◊〉 down with sweet Extremities of Joy That they without a Veils Assistance now On his dear Eyes may look which till to day Lay hid to them in too much light but heer Dressed in Humane Mitigation were 244. For though some of our Quire had long before Enjoy'd the blessed Priviledge to see His the anthropick face though All did poure Their high Applause on his Nativity This was the time when Heavns Whole Hoste to fair And plenall view of Him advanced were 245. A dainty and long-studied Song They had Compos'd and tuned to a ge ntle Key But this excessive Sight of Sweetness made Their Acclamations correspondent be Their Wings and Hands aloud they clapp'd and rent With louder Paeans all the Element 246. But seing then his bright Retinue who About Him shin'd like his reflected Raies They to their new Acquaintance smiling goe And in their faces read their Soveraigns Praise For Gratitude had deep imprinted there Their glorious Redemptions Character 247. These were those holy Soules who long had layn On the soft Pillows of great Abrahams breast Looking and longing when their Lord would deign To bring them to his sweeter nobler Rest To chase their Mists and Shades with his own Ray And turn their doubtfull Dawn to High-noon Day 248. Great Abraham himselfe was there with them And shined with a choise and leading Grace The Patriarchs and Prophets next to Him Each in their proper Dignitie and Place Then every pious Man and Woman who Ventur'd in his hard Steps on earth to goe 249. Their Charges many Guardian Angells saw And highly triumph'd to behold them there So when the Ship which long hath labour'd through The Seas proud Wrath unto the haven draws neer The Pilots Eys and Heart with Joy are sill'd No less than with the Wind the Sails are swell'd 250. But all the Quire beheld the blest Supply Of their own Companies which robbed were Of no small Part of their Fraternitie When sullen Pride upon Heav'ns face made warr And many Empyraean 〈◊〉 fell From their fair Day into the Night of Hell 251. But ô what Torrents of divine Delight Through these Saints Bosomes ran with full Carreer To see how neer of kin unto the bright And new apparent King of Heav'n they were They envy not the Angels radiant Dresses Nor wish their silver Wings or golden Tresses 252. And that their Triumph might be sweetned by Harmonious Joy before the Masculine Troop David did with his learned Fingers flie About his Harp and beat those Accents up Which with her Timbrel Miriam before The Female Squadrons did to him restore 253. But Jesus now to his officious Cloud Dismission gave ambitious of whose Place A Knot of gallant Seraphs came and bow'd Their youthfull Shoulders that their Lord might passe To Heav'n upon the best of Heav'n and be Drawn to his Palace in due Majesty 254. Then Michael taking up the Standard which With the Heart-blood of Death and Hell was red And charged with the glorious Crosse did stretch It towards Heav'n and forward fluttered In this Array the Triumph marched on Abashing Day and dazzelling the Sun 255. Thus He who lately that Procession went Where Spight and Shame and Scorn did Him attend When He through Salems Steeets was kick'd and rent And through a thousand Deaths led to his End Is now tequited by a March whose Glorie Gilds the Disgraces of his Passions Storie 256. As to the Confines of the Sphears they drew David his Harp and Throat did strein 〈◊〉 high That ancient Song of Glory to renew Which He had in Prophetik ecstasie Tun'd to a special and illustrious Lay And sung aforehand to this noble Day 257. Bright and eternall gates of heav'n lift up Your cheerly Heads and know your 〈◊〉 As mine is now so let your mouths be ope To entertain our universall joy It is the King of glory who doth come That and the sweeter heav'n now to bring home 258. It is the King of War whose matchlesse strength Hath trode down our and your fell enemy Read but his Banner where are writ at length The rubie tokens of his victory Ope ope as wide's your Heav'n can give you leave And Him much greater 〈◊〉 all it receive 259. The Chrystall doors no sooner heard the song But in obedience they echoed it Their everlasting bars aside they flung And their resplendent 〈◊〉 open set Strait through the mighty gap a flood of gold Soft as the locks of 〈◊〉 downward roll'd 260. With that the Musick of the sphears burst out High were the streins and delicate the layes And though a while sweet Davids fingers fought His mortall strings to them He could not raise My harp must yeeld He cry'd but yet my heart Shall in your loftiest accents bear her 〈◊〉 261. Indeed those aires are so refin'd and high Onely the Hearts spirituall strings can stretch To the full compasse of their Harmony To whose pure chords those Compositions which You with the Name of Musick honor heer Are onely learned gratings of the ear 262. Thus to the silver Orbs they came When loe The Stars all trip'd about and danc'd for joy And as the Triumph through the sphear did go Phoebus unto his Lord resign'd the day His brighter Lord from whose originall beam He takes his light as all the stars from him
each busie blast Become's a stiff stout man whose face to store With beauties purest charm's unto the East The spirit flyes and in Aurora's cheeks The best of orientall sweetnesse seek's 40. But knowing that his breath was rank and spoke The place from whence he came he turn's his flight Into Arabia's gardens whence he took The flower of every flower and spice which might Perfume his words that from that double bed Of his soft lips hee vocall Balm might shed 41. The silk worm's wealth the dainty ermin's skin And every thing that makes young Princes fine Into one gorgeous suit hee crouds and in Each seam and jag doth gold and pearl in twine For in his passage as through earth he broke Great store of these hee from her bowels took 42. But for the fashion he was fain to run To Court and see how gallants there were drest Men of more various transformations than In Proteus wit and fiction e'r exprest Thus at the last accoutred to his minde He plots where Psyche hee may safest sinde 43. Sheeall the morning was retir'd at home Close in the sweets of his dear companie Who from her Lord the King of Soules was come His restlesse but delicious suit to plye And with exact attendance see the maid Might to no sudden danger be betray'd 44. In his al-ravishing looks you might descry More reall sweets than Lust in his had fain'd Heav'n clearly looked out at either ey And in his cheeks ten thousand graces reign'd As many little loves their nests had made In the curl'd amber of his daintie head 45. He from the Rainbow as he came that way Borrow'd the best of all that gorgeous store Which after gloominesse doth make heav'n gay And it about his mantles border wore A mantle spun of milkie down which from The Birds of his own Paradise did come 46. Upon his lovely shoulders dwel't a pair Of correspondent wings the driven snow On Scythian mountains doth in vain compare Its virgin plum's with these which feare no thaw Lesse white lesse soft are they and will at last In melting tears confesse they are surpast 47. High is his great extraction full as high As is the loftiest and the purest sphear There dwels his father Prince of Majesty And millions of his Bretheren are there Who all are Princes too that land alone Numberlesse Kingdoms doth contain in one 48. When Psyche first was born his wing he spred With ready tendernes her to imbrace That she might rest in that delicious Bed To which all other Feathers must give place Great was the Mother's care and love but yet The Infant was to Phylax more in debt 49. That was his Name and sure he made it good No tutor ever spent more learned care The stoutest Champion never bravelier stood For those who under his protection were Than Phylax did for Psyche being able To prove himself as strong as she was feeble 50. No Danger ever drew its forces neer But he was neerer still and did withstand All plots of mischeif that incounter'd her Arming her feebler Arm with his strong hand While she was weak and knew not how to goe He flew about her businesse to doe 51. As she grew greater so his care did grow Her weaning time being come he spends his art To make her quite disrellish things below Which likelier were to cheat and choak the heart Then make it live its proper life for she Was born to live unto eternitie 52. When she had learn'd to build a word aright He taught her heav'ns high language and the song Which lately in the quire of soveraign light Incessantly dwelt upon his own tongue Desiring virtue might be her first growth And Halalujah broach her holy mouth 53. But when she well could goe and well discern The way she went he spred before her eye Ten goodly Paths and these you needs must learn Say's he to trace as leading to the high Gate of beatitude God's own hand did Draw all these tracts upon mount Sina's head 54. Lo here is room enough the King's high-way Lesse kingly is then this All Hero's who Have climb'd above the world wish'd not to stray Beyond these bounds Be but content to go Where Saints and where thy Lord before hath gone That thou mayest overtake him at his throne 55. Thus did he gently grave upon her heart The Characters of blisse thus every day He reads some lecture least the tempters art Her young and pliant Soule should make his prey But they this morning being all alone She beg'd a story and he told her one 56. My Dear said hee there was a youth of old Almost as young and no lesse faire then thou Upon his head smil'd a soft grove of gold Two small half-heav'ns were bent in either Brow Nor were those Hemisphears sham'd by his eys Which the best stars above dar'd not despise 57. All Roses blush'd when neer his lips they came Whose purer crimson and whose sweeter breath They thought and well they might their double shame No Lily ever met him in his path But if his hand did touch it straight in spight 'T was pale to see it self out-vi'd in white 58. Faire was his stock his sire great Jacob was Not by the wife whose blear and waterie eye Did its dim self bewaile and was the glasse In which the world read her deformitie But by that Queen of Sweets whose price seven 〈◊〉 Doubled in service was yet seem'd not dear 59. He Rachel's son and her best beauties heire For her dear sake and no lesse for his own Sate pretious next his Fathers soule whose Care Was bent his own Delights in Him to crown He lov'd his children all yet far above The rest his Joseph he did love to love 60. He hunts about the proudest world to buy The choise of purest and of brightest cloth Brisk in the Tyrian and Sidonian die With which he cloth 's his darling being loth That fewer colours should adorn his coat Than all the world in him did beauties note 61. As when the gallant Peacock doth display His starry Train the winged People all In shame and discontent do sneak away Letting their plumes now all our-sparkled fall So Joseph's Roab by which himself did seem So fair his Brethren cloth's with wrath and shame 62. 'T is true said they our Father though hee were The puny Brother yet he ssiely did Incroach upon the Blessing which the Heir Was doubtlesse borne unto But yet He sped Onely by Craft had Jsaac had his eys As Jacob now hee would have been more wise 63. But though the old Man lov's his luckie Cheat So well that hee upon his younger Son Throw's all his Heart We hope no want of meat Shall force Us willingly to be undone Nor any Pottage that this Boy can make From the least He of Us our Birthright take 64. Thus they repin'd not knowing there was writ Upon Heav'ns adamantine leaves a Law By which this scorned Youth at length should
sit In Reuben's senioritie and grow Like an Imperiall Branch whose teeming Root Set's in a living Fount it s blessed Foot 65. Yet in the sweetnesse of Simplicity Ingenuous hee relates to them his Dream From of my bed light Fancy carried mee Into the field where I with you did seem To fall a reaping and our sheaves binde up When loe says he to mine all yours did stoop 66. Proud Brat cry they know'st thou what stooping is How dares thy upstart Insolence but dream That wee thy Elders must bow down and kisse Thy boyish foot and tremble at thy Name Beleeve it Childe t is not thy gewgaw Coat Though too too princely for thy back can doe 't 67. But hee not knowing what their Anger ment Whose Breast was calme as is the upper Air His second Vision thus doth represent Last night when all the face of heav'n was fair And trimm'd with every Star on his soft wings A softer Dream mee thither gently brings 68. Quite through the storehouse of the Air I past Where choise of every kinde of Weather lies Here Rains are bottled up there Hail is cast In mighty Heaps here Banks of Snow do rise There furnaces of Lightning burn and those Long-bearded Stars which light Us to our Woes 69. Hence came I to a dainty World the Air Was sweet and calme much like my Mothers Ey Whom if I might I would have sought for there No more of Chanaan now could I descry The Earth was shrunk so small me thought I read By that due prospect what it was indeed 70. But then approaching to an Orb whose flames Like to a boundlesse Ocean flow'd about Foole as I was I quak'd untill its beams Gave me an harmlesse kisse I little thought Fire could have been so milde but surely heer It rageth cause wee keep it from its sphear 71. It flamed reverend Sire but with as sweet An ardency as in your noble Heart That heav'nly Zeale doth burn whose sacred heat Make 's you Heav'ns living Holocaust no part Of my Dream's tender Wing felt any harme Our journey not the fire did keep Us warm 72. But here my Guide before I was aware On the Moon 's lower Horne clapp'd her right hand And pull'd me up into a place as fair Above this World in Worth as it doth stand In situation liquid Christall here Is the tralucid matter of of each spheare 73. The Moon was kinde and as wee passed by Shew'd Us the Deed whereby the great Creator Instated her in that large Monarchie Shee holdeth over all the Ocean's Water To which a schedule was annex'd which all Moist Bodies too under her power doth call 74. Now complementall Mercurie was come As far as to the margin of his spheare And bid Us eloquent welcome to his Home Scarce could We passe so great a crowd was there Of Points and Lines and nimble Wit beside Upon the backs of thousand shapes did ride 75. Next matchlesse Venus her sweet face did shew Bringing again my Mother to my minde Which Us into her Region quickly drew This strew'd with youth and smiles and love we find And those all chast 't is this foule world below Adulterates what from thence doth spotlesse flow 76. Then into Phebu's Orb all pav'd with gold The rich reflection of his own fair Eye I was advanc'd and faine I would have told How many Crowns and scepters there did lie What Life what Verdure what Heroik Might What perly Spirits what sonnes of active Light 77. But I was hurried into Mars his spheare Where Envy ô how cursed was its face And Jealousie and Feare and Wrath and War Could scarcely well agree about their place Yea Engins there to vomit Fire I saw Whose flame thunder Earth at length must know 78. Welcome was Jupiter's Dominion where Illustrious Mildnesse round about did flow Religion had built her Temple there And Sacred Honours on its Walks did grow No Dignity Priests Heads shall ever crown Which in those mysuck Gardens was not sown 79. At length wee found old Saturn in his Bed 〈◊〉 much I wonder'd how an He so dull Could 〈◊〉 thus high His house was built of Lead Of dark and solitarie corners full Where Discontent and Sicknesse dwellers be Grim Melancholie and dead Lethargie 80. Passing from hence into a boundlesse field Innumerable starrs wee Marshall'd found In faire at ray This earth did never yeild Such choice of flowrie Pride when she had crown'd The Plains of Shechem though the gaudy Spring Did all its smiling Beauties thither bring 81. A knot of Lights constellated into A radiant Throne on which my selfe was set When loe the Sun and Moon themselves did throw Into submiss obeisance at my feet And then eleven great Starrs thought it no shame To come before me and to do like them 82. But sure I thought it shame for mee to take Homage of them who was but Dust and Clay Big with excuse I grew and 'gan to speak But then my Dream took wing and fled away And fly thou after it bold Dreamer cri'd His Brethren who in Dreams do'st mask thy Pride 83. Old Jacob though he ponder'd every word In 's own prophetick Heart and judg'd the Dream Was not by Joseph fram'd but by his Lord Thought it expedient something wroth to seem Having no other way that Rage to smother He saw smoke from his Sons against their Brother 84. But Childe said hee where is that Blush of thine Which us'd to paint meek Virtue on thy face How dar'st thou tell a Dream which doth designe Unto thy punie selfe such Soveraign place Think'st thou thy Brethren and thy Parents too Unto the younger son must homage do 85. Or dream no more or else thy dream conceale If any fancy rise which may offend On this condition I thy pardon seal And these thy Brethren shall their quarrell end Goe you my sons be carefull of my sheep This Boy at home as meek as them I 'le keep 86. And so hee did though with as bad successe As his intention was sincere and good Take heed how thou thy Brethrens wrath do'st presse Said he least it do squeaze out thine own blood I know their furies and from whence they move O that their ground of Hate should be my Love 87. Hast thou not mark'd how if a Flint we lay Soft on a downie Bed and gently smite Forth with its conquer'd stubbornesse gives away But if wee use it harshly it will fight Again and spit its rage in fire nor shall The stoutest Hammer cool its Wrath at all 88. Surely thy Brethrens bosoms cannot be More hard then Hardnesse and the Flints stiff heart Or if my Charity deceiveth mee Thy Mildnesse must be temper'd with such art As may the softnesse of that Down exceed Which on the Cygnet's daintie neck doth breed 89. When they begin to bluster give them way 'T has often cost the boldest Cedar dear To grapple with a storm whilst Flowrs which lay Themselves full low in trembling and
by thee This Body had not seem'd my Dungeon now But why 's this taste of Heav'n unto me deign'd If still to this dull Earth I must be chain'd 187. O that some courteous Dove to me would lend Its fethered oars that I my soul might row Unto the Port of my Desires and blend It with the Tide of Blisse which there doth flow I never thought that Earth so low did lie Or that the Heav'ns till now were halfe so high 188. O why art thou so lovely if poore I Must still live Exile from thy dearest sight This Token Jesu makes me lowder crie For thee thy selfe who art more sweet and bright O what will thy Supream Imbraces be If this small Cincture thus has ravish'd me 189. I yeild I yeild great Lord Why must thy Dart Be alwayes killing Me yet never slay My ever-dying still-surviving Heart Why must thy Flames which on my Bosome prey Still burn but not consume O why must I Too be no Mortall here but with them vie 190. O Absence never was there Present Hell So true as thou unto its dismall Name O cruell Hope which onely do'st reveal A tempting glimpse of light but hid'st the Fame That so the sweetly-mocked Eye may be Assur'd by that short sight she does not see 191. Intolerable Joys why smart you so Pricking on my impatient Desires O Sighs what means your Breath my Flames to blow O Tears why must your Waters quench my Fires Dear Girdle help Me If thou should'st be slack Soon would my over-burdned Heart-strings crack PSYCHE OR LOVES MYSTERIE CANTO IV. The Rebellion ARGUMENT GAll'd with severe Devotions constant Yoak The Senses and the Passions rebell Having the Spirit of Pride for Generall took By fair-tongu'd Treason they with Psyche deal Reason's surpris'd and into Prison thrown The Will revolts and Psyche's left alone 1. PRosperity how false art thou unto Thy blessed Name who with a comely Cheat Unwary Hearts so potently do'st wooe That thine all-rotten Bottome they forget And thinke thy Foot sure on a Rock doth stand Whil'st thy Foundation is the fruitlesse sand 2. The Day which smil'd so briskly in the Morn And left no frown in all the face of Heav'n E'r night hath oft been made the Prey and Scorn 〈◊〉 swarthy Clouds so furiously driven That Phebu's stoutest help was all in vain When he the gaudie skie strove to maintain 3. The Sea in looks demure and pleasant dress Hath often bid the Mariner been bold When straight an unsuspected storm doth press Through the lamenting Aire till having roll'd Into a foaming Mount the monstrous Deep In brine it buries the presumptious ship 4. Eternall Change doth wheel all Heav'n about What Patent then can seal Security To things below How doth proud Fortune flout The gayest Confidence which foolish We Are not afraid to build but vainly trust Our Hopes are firm whil'st we our selves are Dust. 5. Weak Dust on which the least Winde domineers Which through this Clime of mortall Life doth blow A life which if not fortifi'd by Fears And wise suspitions to all storms doth bowe A life so treacherous in its friendliest Hue That Saints themselves have found its falsensse true 6. Whil'st Psyche feasteth her luxuriant Heart With amorous Tortures and does day by day Riot and surfet in delicious smart Which rellish sweeter to her soule than they Who both their late and early studies spent To cherrish Her with Naturall Content 7. A knot of Friends with Her together born And under one soft Roof of the same skin Tenderly nourish'd stomack'd much the scorn She heap'd on them who thought their onely sin Was too much love to her a Crime which might More pardon challenge than Revenge invite 8. 'T is true said they that we her servants be And yet as truely are her sisters too Had our originall Seniorite It s native priviledge We all should go Before and she the Youngling come behinde Sure she should not have found Us so unkinde 9. But now sh' has chanc'd to get the upper Hand She makes Us feele it in her Tyrannie So Upstarts use to doe where they command Being to weak to weild their Royaltie Like paltrie Currents which swoll'n high do poure More Rage than sober streams about the shore 10. We must not eat nor drink nor sleep nor play But when she lists and ô how seldom 's that Great bus'nesse she pretends both night and day Imploy'd about nor We nor She knows what It tickles Her but hard on Us doth grate She calls it Love but wee all finde it Hate 11. Yet be it what it will what 's that to Us Who are not bound Her humors to fulfill With our own Ruine Since Her stomack thus Is wild and rampant why should wee sit still With desperate Patience till wee be undone What need wee fear Her We are Five to One. 12. As when th' imprison'd Fire in earth below Vex'd with those straits begins to move and swell Its dungeon first it shakes then forth doth blow Its full-mouth'd indignation and fill The World with Tumult tearing down the Trees Dismounting Mountains plowing up the Seas 13. So did their sullen murmur gather strength Still day by day by mutinous degrees Boyling to such impatience that at length By flat Rebellion they resolve to ease Their over-charged stomacks and one day All met at Councell thus their Griefs display 14. 'T was in an upper Chamber dark and close Arch'd with thin Ivorie For their common seat A white and soft and living Counch they chose And there the Master of the House intreat To hear their publike Case Content said he 'T is just I to my Friends should friendly be 15. The large Supplies of all my store I owe To your unwearied Care and Pains which bring Plenty of all Varieties that grow In Heav'n or Earth or Sea the welthiest King Could not out-vie that furniture which You To crown my Table daily did allow 16. But now alas I see my Tribut's thin Some Lazie sullen melancholick things Doe now and then come hither sneaking in But all your brisk and cheerly Offerings Are intercepted and 't is well that you Begin else I had been the Plantiff now 17. They all were glad to hear their Censor speak In their own discontented Dialect But straight their fond Ambitions did awake A strife who should begin In high neglect Of all her Sisters Opsis knits her brows And darts of indignation on them throws 18. Who is your Queen but I who sit said she Exalted high upon my double Throne Whilst all your Motions regulated be By my Imperiall Direction Blinde Fools what could you do wer 't not for Me In setting on our brave Conspiracie 19. That proud Word from her Mouth no sooner flew But Osphresis in scorn did snuff it up Inraged Geusis bit her lips which grew So big with boiling wrath she scarce could stop Her Tongue from railing Vengance Acoe Prick'd up her ears and look'd as big
slake 15. Both Psyche and her Steeds did soon recover Some sense and spirits of their boiling Pride When the first glimpse of those new Beams was over But chiefly she swell'd to so high a Tide Of Confidence as to presume Her Streams Would now repulse the Torrent of their Beams 16. To both her reverend Friends she doth dispense Her frowns and lowring-loathing Looks and by That silent Language of Impatience Her changed Minde and sullen Thoughts descrie But when she saw them full resolv'd she cries I thought you would have understood mine Eyes 17. Loe here my Tongue interprets them You are As much mistaken now in Psyche as She heretofore in You I must and dare Tell you your own Your treacherous Counsell has Too long bewitch'd my tender credulous Heart Henceforth you may for evermore depart 18. The saucy Coursers with ears prick'd up high Caught that proud Answer as from her it flew And neighing in tumultuous jollity With aggravation of Defiance threw It in the faces of the heav'nly Pair And then they kick'd and flung and snuff'd the Air. 19. But Phylax standing in Her Coache's way Lift up his Hand and Wing and kep't her back Crying much louder than her Steeds could neigh Yet e'r you goe vouchsafe to hear me speak Though I your Enemie be you need not fear Now you have learned that my Words to hear 20. This netled Thelema who Postillion was And had inflam'd the Coursers all the way She bent her scornfull Brow and cri'd Alas Can Phylax think I will his Rub obey Who ride where e'r I list and never meet With Mount or World which stops my Horses feet 21. With that she check'd her Fierie courser and This Anger was the most outrageous Steed Who with curvets strait answered her Hand And aim'd to snatch her way o'r Phylax's head Three times she leap'd as often falling back Till with her Bones she heard the Chariot Crack 22. For Phylax having thither reach'd a Ray Of mystick power seiz'd on the Axel-tree Which with a splitting groan at length gave way And by the voice of its fragility Admonish d all the Coach that Ruine now Meant to ride there and Psyche out would throw 23. And true the warning was for either Wheel The Barrs the Pillars Seat Side Back and Head Shatter'd forth with into confusion feel How 〈◊〉 the Axels Fatall preface led Them to their Tragedy which now no more Can own their severall Names as heretofore 24. 'T is all but one rude Heap upon whose back Lies Psyche something bruised with the Fall But wounded more to see who made that Crack And rais'd that Pile as for her funerall She scorns to take Him for an equall Foe But swells and puffs and knows not what to doe 25. He in her sullen Eye observing well The troubled Motions of 〈◊〉 smoking Heart And more than her own Tongue knew how to tell Pitti'd the sadnesse of her wilfull Smart And for compliance her own course he took Speaking not by his Mouth but by his Look 26. This is the Dialect of strongest Love Which when the fruitlesse Tongue had said her Say With soule-commanding Power doth plead and prove That Eloquence doth reign in Eyes that they Who to the bottom of the Heart would speak In Looking Lines must their Orations make 27. His serious Aspect upon Her was bent Compos'd of angry love and milde disdain Expressive were the Glances which He sent And every Word that darted forth was plain Some Rayes grew hot and stoutly chid but others With melting Pittie mollifi'd their Brothers 28. O what a long long Story ran He over In this short ocular Discourse how fast Did He her bosome and his own discover And what of old and what of late had past And what was dawning if she still went on With obstinate confidence to be undone 29. But she would not this language understand Because the Speaker she before despis'd She proudly look'd and coyly wav'd her hand Telling him by those signes she was advis'd So well of what she did that He might goe And somewhere else his scorned Pains bestow 30. Mean while as Thelema and her bruis'd Steed Biteing their own lips and the ground did lie Charis her sweetest Powers had mustered To force the Damsell from her Miserie And See said she when it was grown so tall How suddenly your Pride hath caught a Fall 31. Yet this is not the Bottome but a Step Unto that Ruine whither you did ride O did you know how black and vast a Deep Gapes in your Journeyes End you would have di'd A thousand other Deaths much rather than Have posted thus to plunge into that one 32. Here with her Wand she stroke upon the Earth Straight Tellus heard the Knock and op'd her Door When loe a Night of Smoke came stinking forth And then a duskie Day of Fire the Roar Of that great Crack made surly Thelema start And summon'd Psyche too to see her part 33. For though Dread shook their Soules They deemed it Scorn to confesse their fear and run away Their adamantine stomack will not let Their lives be longer pretious still they stay Not out of curious Desire to see But to out-face the hideous Prodigie 34. The monstrous Jaws of the wide-gaping Pit With banefull soot were lined thick Beneath Incensed Sulphure flashing Wrath did spit From whence a Cloud of heavie Groans did breath Forth sad confession Who below did dwell These Proofs authentik were to speak it Hell 35. Plung'd in the gloomie Caverns Centre were A woefull Rout mingled with smoke and Fire Abiram Corah Dathan fried there With Peleths venturous Sonn who did conspire To raise that old Combustion which now Concluded is in their own Flames below 36. Their howling Wives and shreiking Children lay Broiling about them and desir'd in vain One drop of Water after dying They Had burn'd so long in their still-living Pain Their Tears drop'd thick but mock'd them by their store And onely scal'd their Cheeks which flam'd before 37. As The lema stood doubting at the sight Behold this last Preferment Charis cri'd To which Ambition doth fond men invite Is it not petty that thou didst not ride Thy Journey out and am not I thy Foe Who down this fair Hill would not let thee goe 38 Thou seest that arrogant Brood of Rebells there Who were too high to stoop to heavenly law Yet to their wretchlesse Passions lent their Ear And rather then to God to them would bow Moses and Aaron whom they kick'd at there Nothing but Phylax are and Charis here 39. Moses and Aaron did usurp too much And bare their tyrannizing Heads too high And was not our Inditement onely such When Love drew up our Charge We were not by I grant but yet He was whose Vengance now Feeds on your proud Agenors heart below 40. Observe that Feind who holds fell Chorah's chain Himselfe bound in a greater He knows why He gathers up his Tails ashamed Train And steals it
round about his scaley Thigh Ask but his Looks and they will tell you plain What spot it is which them with Guilt doth stain 41. This high-swoln mountain of Deformity Once vie'd with Beauties self by 's borrow'd Face But now uncased in his cursed stie His shape is correspondent to his place Here you see what without a Lie is His This your illustrious Agenor is 42. Hearing this Word the tumid Feind did split His over-charged mouth and vomit out A stream of brimstone belching after it More horrid Cries which bellowed about His hollow Home but finding it too narrow Into the Air let loose his thundering Sorrow 43. It shak'd the Earth as through her sides it broke And something startled Psyche who stood by But Thelema disdaind the Terrors stroke Coufuting it with her all-dareing Eye She knew her strength authentik was and still Resolv'd what e'r it cost to have her Will 44. Thus when a wilfull Heir to age is come And in his own Hand feels the golden Rein Of his long-wish'd Revenews if by some Well-practis'd spend-thrift he be taught to drein His over-flowing Bags in vain his Friends Shew him how Poverties Ebb that Tide attends 45. But trusty Charis well remembring what Her Masters love commanded plies her part And seeing Feares Darts were repuls'd she shot The shafts of Love into the Virgins heart Which in a diamond Case from Heaven she brought With many other pretious Powers fraught 46. Strong were the Blows and op'd themselves the way Unto the bottome of their Mark but sweet Withall and silent Thus the noble Ray Shot from the Suns Eye doth no sooner beat Upon the chrystall Ball but with soft force Quite through through it takes its harmless course 47. On Thelema's soul the gallant Arrows wrought With blessed wounds of heav'n-begotten Joy Yet she with such perverse resistanee fought That had but Charis known how to be coy She would have spar'd her pains and left the Maid By her own stubborn Victory betray'd 48. But she as obstinate was in Patience And many a deare time shot and shot againe Untill at length the strokes begat some sense Of a 〈◊〉 and convincing pain With which pierc'd thorough now I must I see Cri'd Thelema by this Sweetness conquer'd be 49. I know I need not yeild except I will But this soul-plying Violence which so Severely sweet through all my wounds doth thrill Enforceth Me to force my self to goe With that she louted low and on her knee Begg d pardon for her Pertinacitie 50. O noble Vertue of immortall Grace How uncontrolled is its dainty Art Which can a Bosome of it self uncase And teaeh the Heart how to subdue the Heart Which gains unbloody Bays and Triumphs thus In delicately conquering Us by Us 51. So when into the Swains unwary Foot The venemous earnest of a swelling Death Is from the treacherous Tarantula shot Musicks sweet Accents wisely temperd breath A mystike Antidote which by delight Deceives the poyson and charms out its Might 52. But Psyche seeing Thelema relent Knew her own Stomacks power would swell in vain And judg'd it policy now to recant And her old potent Friends anew to gain Her useless Arrogance away she threw And after it three deep drawn sighs she blew 53. That thus ejected Shame and Modesty Of their ingenuous Home took fresh possession And in 〈◊〉 purple Cheek and gloomy E e Displai'd a 〈◊〉 of penitent Confession Then as her Pride had 〈◊〉 her up before Above her self these cast her on the floor 54. 'T was easier now for her to weep than speak Yet striking stifly on her guilty breast Unto her stiffling griefe a way she broke And helpt this Lamentation out at last O turne from shamefull Psyche your pure Eye Leave Me alone to perish where I lie 55. Or let your Justice plunge Me downe into That mouth of Torment which gapes for Me there That I may to my lov'd Agenor goe Whose Lies before your Truths I did preferr Sure Corah and his damned Company Take not up all the roome ther 's some for Me. 56. 'T was more than Death to Me to view the face Of my too-late-beleev'd Synedesis Though she presented in her trustie Glass The faithfull Copy of my Hideousness But in your Lustres dint what shall I doe No veil has night enough to smother you 57. O! that intollerable Puritie Of your celestiall Looks I cannot bear Pride has so tainted my unhappy Eye That all unspotted Spectacles I fear For they my Torments are and burne Me so That to a cooler Hell I faine would goe 58. This woefull Out-crie grated Charis Heart Wont not to bruise but heale the broken Reed She knew what Lenitives would tame that Smart Yet gave no more than for the present Need Leaving the perfect Cure awhile For She Knew well how wholsome longer Grief would be 59. Mean time the rampant Passions were stray'd 〈◊〉 in wild Madness roved all about When Thelema before by them betray'd Reveng'd that Treachery and by a stout Command unto their Duties call'd them back The whole Field at the awfull Voyce did quake 60. They started all and strait of one another Did mutuall Counsell ask with doubting Eye But after that first Call out brake its Brother And thundred with imperious Majesty When looking back they spi'd their Mistress's Hand Lifted up high which spake a third Command 61. They knew these Summons did in earnest call And alwayes had disdaind to be deny'd This forced their unwilling Crests to fall And into slavish Trembling turn'd their Pride When angry Thelema snatch'd up the Reins And thenceforth of their Harness made their Chains 62. So when the Master shakes his dreadfull Rod High in the view of his extravagant Boies Who trouanting were and rambling all abroad Their loth Adieu they bid unto their Toies And trembling into Schoole expect when they The price of their Extravagance should pay 63. But then she stoutly lash'd her shivering Teem Unto the Lip of that dread mouth of Hell Where their late Generall she shewed them Tearing his Fiendship He could not conceal Which Sight them all treacherous Itchings parted And through their Soules immortall Terror darted 64. This Act perform'd they all remove the Stage To Psyche's house in which their Passage she Beheld the lately-scorned Ermitage With reverent blushing But when pious He Who reign'd King of Himselfe and It espied This blessed Change He sate him down and cried 65. He cri'd for Joy and answer'd Psyche's tears Which multiply'd with every Step she took Himselfe had been acquainted many Years With noble Charis and in 's heav'nly Look He read who Phylax was for such a Friend Did from his Birth till now on Him attend 66. What they had done his Wisdome well could guesse When he the surly Queen dejected saw Her frowns her 〈◊〉 her coach her stateliness Were vanish'd all and she so Humble now That by Agenor's and Heav'ns help she seems In one day to have reached both
with every Lock Which when th' inamor'd winds did kiss you might Have seen a ruffling Tempest of Delight 196. Two princely Arches of most equall measures Held up the Canopy above her Eyes And open'd to the Heav'ns farre richer Treasures Than with their Stars or with their Sunne did rise Their Beams can ravish but the Bodies sight These dazell stoutest Soules with mystick light 197. These were two Garrisons of all conquering Love Two Founts of life of Spirit of Joy of Grace Two Easts of one faire Heav'n no more above But in the Hemisphear of her own face Two Thrones of Gallantry two shops of Miracles Two shrines of Dieties two silent Oracles 198. For here could Silence eloquently plead Here could th' invisible Soule be clearly read Though Humors their mild composition made They were two Burning Glasses wherce were shed Those living Flames which with enlivening Darts Shoot Deaths of Love into Spectators Hearts 199. 'Twixt these an Alabaster Promontory Slop'd gently down parting each Cheek from other Where White Red strove which should get the glory Blending in sweet confusion together The Rose and Lilie never joyned were In a diviner Marriage than there 200. Upon these pretious Cushionets did lie Ten thousand Beauties and as many Smiles Chaste Blandishments and genuine Courtesie Harmlesse Temptations and honest Guiles For Heav'n though up betimes the mayd to deck Ne'r made Aurora's cheeks so fair and sleek 201. Neatnesse and Pleasure and inamoring Grace About her Mouth in full Retinue stood For next the Eyes bright Glass this is the place In which the Soul delights to walk abroad But at her lips two scarlet Threds there lay Or two warm Coralls to adorn the way 202. The pretious Way where by her Breath and Tongue Her Odours and her Honey out did flow Which thou 'dst have judg'd to have been bred among Arabian and Hyblean Hills and so They were indeed the richer Arabie And sweeter Hybla in her Mouth did lie 203. As crowned with a golden Chapiter A Column of white Marble you have seen So her round polish'd Neck her Head did bear Nor did the shining Pillar bend or lean Yet neither would this Marble hardnesse know Nor suffer Cold to dwell amongst its Snow 204. Her blessed Bosom moderately rose With two soft Mounts of Lilies whose fair Top Two Cherrie Branches for their Station chose And there their living Crimson lifted up The milkie Count'nance of the Hills confest What kinde of Springs within had made their Nest. 205. Fair Politure walk'd all her Body over And Symmetrie flew through every Part Soft and white Sweetnesse round about did hover From every Member Beautie shot its dart From Heav'n to Earth from head to foot I mean No sign of Blemish or of Spot was seen 206. This was the first born Queen of Gallantry All Gems compounded into one rich Stone All Sweets knit into one Conspiracy A Constellation of all Stars in one Who when she was presented to the view Of Paradise the Place all dazeled grew 207. Proud Phebus who in glorious Scorn did flie About the World no sooner spi'd her face But fain he would have lingred from his skie Upon this lesse but sweeter Heav'n to gaze Till shame enforc'd him to lash on again And clearer wash him in the Western Main 208. The Aire smil'd round about for joy that he Had the prerogative of the Virgin kiss And did imbrace with blessed Liberty A Body soft and sweet and chaste as His. All gentle Gales that had but strength to stir Did thither flock to beg perfumes of Her 209. The Marigold forgot her garish Love And turn'd her duty to these fairer Eyes All Flowres look'd up and as they could did move Towards those ocular Sphears from whence did rise Milde and unparching Beams Beams which in stead Of fire soft joyes irradiations spred 210. The sturdiest rudest Trees affected were With her delightfull Presence and did melt At their hard Pith Whil'st all the Birds which there Were tossing Mirth about the Branches felt The influence of her Looks For having let Their Song fall down their Eyes on Her they set 211. And ô how soon their proudest plumes and wings Follow'd their song For in Her Person they With fix'd intention read more glorious things Than all their feathers Bravery could display And were content no more the Name to wear Of Birds of Paradise while she was there 212. But when she mov'd her Feet the joyfull Earth A wak'd her uttermost Fertility And by a brisk extemporary Birth Of Myrrh of Flowres of Spice did testifie What Carpets Pomp was requisite to make The Passage fit where Beauty was to walk 213. She walk'd by that milde importunity To break the Chains of sleep which bound her Spouse But he wakes more by pow'rfull Sympathie Which on the sudden in his Bosome glows At first he thought his Dream had still possest him And with a fairer apparition blest him 214. But by his wise and most discerning Eyes Examining the gracefull Object He Pries into all the Truth and smiling cries This nothing but my other Selfe can be From Me she sprung a Woman from a Man And is but Adam in reflection 215. How sweet a Confluence of Loves and Joyes Met heer in their first Marriage Imbrace Which was as pure and chaste as when one Voice In Musick 's wedded to anothers Grace Where with concentrick Delicacies they Hug and conspire in one soul-plying Lay. 216. Adam beholds himselfe more sweet in Eve In Him She reads her selfe more high and grave Either from other does Themselves receive As fast returning what they taking gave Thus when two Currents meet they loose each other In the pellucid bosome of his brother 217. They naked were if onely skinnes and haires And excrements of Beasts Apparrell be But who will taxe the Sunne the Moone the Starres The Diamond Chrystall Corall Ivorie Of Nakednesse because the Clothes they weare None but their native Beams and Beauties are 218. A Robe of Innocence and Puritie Down from their Head unto their foot did flow Transmitting their faire feature to the Eye But letting no unseemely shame peepe through They Naked were of every borrow'd Dresse And Naked of what you count Nakednesse 219. In this Condition did they live and love And each with other enterchange their Heart Fairly transcribing our sweet Life above Where every Angels Eye his soule doth dart Into his Fellows breast that all may be In common blest by one Felicitie 220. How great a Feast and earnest Invitation Was this for Envie whose ambitious Tooth Disdains all fare but in the noblest fashion Who arm'd with Jaws of greedy Iron doth Dread no encounter but with restlesse spight Against the most confirmed Champions fight 221. Built is her Pallace in the Heart of Hell Whose foule Materials Rust and Poyson be Her cursed Throne is mounted on the fell Bosome of Belzebub whom furious She Stings with eternall Rage and makes Him runne About the wilde Worke of
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
Joseph held And long before the drowsie Town awoke Led him far out into the quiet Field Darknesse and Silence clinged round about Barning Discovery and Suspition out 54. Thus did the Heir of Heav'n betimes begin To 〈◊〉 out Patience to his World below To sanctifie all Persecution And make it by his owning glorious grow Who but new born designed is to die And long e'r He can goe is fain to flie 55. Aurora now the Porter of the Day Gat up and op'd the door unto the Sun Who peeping out with an abashed Ray Beheld how far these Travellers had gone E'r He awoke and doubted whether He Should in that Dayes Horizon needed be 56. For He observ'd the Babe abroad whose sight Cost Him a deeper Blush than that which dies His morning Cheeks Yet He cheer'd up his light And venturing on resolv'd to trie his Eyes Upon that Infant-face of full-grown Blisse As Eaglets use to doe their own at His. 57. Now Love and Piety forbid that thou My Psyche should'st disdain to trace their way Since I so faire a Convoy thee allow Which neither Dangers feareth nor Delay Thy God was glad to travell on an Asse But in this Chariot gives thee leave to passe 58. That leave too noble is cry'd she for Me A meaner thing than what He rode upon Might I on foot or rather on my Knee Crawle in his royall Path no Princes Throne Should tempt Me from my greater Honor 'T is Enough said Phylax now no more of this 59. And here He took her up and shook the Reins That Item strait the greedy Coursers caught And scouring through the soft aereall Plains Unto their View the Fields of Nazaret brought Psyche soon knew the Place again and cri'd How much doe these thy Steeds my Thoughts out-ride 60. Pitty thy Lord then said the Guardian who Though drove by Fear was forc'd to use a pace Below the Name of Speed Joseph did goe Before on foot and lead the laden Asse He led Him and although He made no stay Alas his very Going was Delay 61. Besides a thousand Cares more heavy lay Upon his Heart then on his back the Load Of all his Tools What Thoughts about the Way What studies how to scape the full-ey'd Road What Tendernesse to keep the Mother warm What dainty Fears that God should take no Harm 62. See'st thou this private Path which ever since With Lilies and with Violets hath smil'd Which it received from the influence Both of the passant Mother and the Childe The Country wonder'd at the beautious List But from what cause it sprung they little wist 63. As to the Sea the silver River through A thousand by-pathes steals its secret Way So into Egypt this sweet Tract doth flow Declining all things that its course might stay Doubt not the Windings but securely ride For now the Way it self 's thy fragrant Guide 64. Look how the Galilean Villages Their distance keep and give the Path free leave To stretch it feit through all these Privacies Look how the friendly Trees doe interweave Their Arms and offer their Protection to Whoever here in Secresie would goe 65. There did the carefull Mother light to give Her Sonne his Dinner from her blessed Breast Whom with fit Entertainment to receive Kinde Earth that sweetly-swelling Cushion drest Wher e'r you see th' officious Flowers meet In such a Junto know it was her Seat 66. But yonder Stable which thou seest shut Quite out of Town and standing all alone Did in its hospitable Litter let The Pilgrims take their first nights station They with such Lodging long acquaintance had And thou knowest what thy Lord his Cradle made 67. Such Inns as this did carefull Joseph chuse And scap'd Observance all the way He went Neither the Calileans nor the Jews Discovering his provident intent With painfull Patience He his way did finde And at the length Judea left behind 68. He left Judea but first left by it Since now to finde his Charge the bloody Prince Deeply consulted Thus thy Spouse thought fit To teach his future Exiles that the sense Of their sad Sufferings sate full neer his Heart Who in this Banishment bore so deep a Part. 69. The freedome of the Reins here Phylax threw Upon his Coursers Backs who cheered by That liberty with sprightfull fervor flew And scorn'd the Towns which farre below did lie Flinging their gallant foam and snuffing up The Air which seemd to them their Course to stop 70. The Clouds took notice of their resolute hast And stepp'd aside to make their Passage cleare Through which their smoking wheels did whirle as fast As Phebu's down the hill of his glib sphear Which instantly so tir'd the Northern Winde That puffing he and lagging came behinde 71. Thus having lost Judea in a Mist Of farre-removed Aire they rush'd into The famous Deserts unperceived list Where their impatient Fire did spur them so That Phylax check'd them thrice e'r they would hear His Hand and stop their vehement career 72. And then Consider Psyche well said he This squalid Sceen of churlish Desolation This proper Region of Perplexity This Soil all planted thick with Desperation This storehouse of a thousand Famins this Fountain of Droughts this Realm of Wretchednesse 73. This Country which doth by its Neighbour-hood To Canaan that wide-spread Chanell where Hony and Milk conspir'd into a flood Of costlesse but incomparable Cheer Advance the value of that blessed Soil And its own vilenes aggravate the while 74. Thus sticks black Night as foile unto the Day And by its Blacknes lends it fairer Beams Thus Sorrows stings inhance the sweets of Joy Thus Floods of Gall commend the Honey streams Thus Darknes cleaved fast upon the backs Of Looking-Glasses them illustrious makes 75. Well knew wise Heav'n Men would not understand Its royall Favour in'affording them The gentle Riches of a fertile Land Were they not tutored by some such Clime Of Woes and Horrors and forc'd to confesse A Gardens Blessing by a Wildernesse 76. Behold these needlesse Banks of Sand which have No Seas to bound but this vast Ocean Of Barrennesse where when the Windes conceive High-swolln Displeasure and to Battell run Bandying their mutuall Blasts a thousand waies At once a drie and parching storm they raise 77. For the wilde Soile impatient to be plow'd At Eolu's pleasure flies full in his face And climbing up into a Tawny Cloud With smoking Rage torments its new-gained Place Whilst blinded Passengers amazed stand And all the Aire is nothing else but Sand. 78. This frighted gentler Nature farre from hence Who in her bosome all 〈◊〉 Blessings bore Her teeming Springs delicious Influence Her Summers Beauties and her Autumns store And all the best of Winter too for here This sandy Mischeif schorcheth all the year 79. The Trees You see are all dispers'd and fled For fear of being onely Fuell here And that before the Axe had summoned Them to the Hearth The cheerly Birds which were Th' Inhabitants
of their Bows did them persue Panting their sad layes all the way they flew 80. This most inhospitable Earth will keep No Entertainment for tame honest Beasts Goats Asses Camels Horses Oxen Sheep Can at her wretched Table be no Guests No this is onely Mischiefs cursed stage Where Beasts of Prey and Monsters act their rage 81. Look where a pair of dreadfull Tigres lie Couching in Ambush to attend their prey How should a fainting Traveller get by When two such hungry Deaths beset his way There runs a Lyon with his hideous Note Tearing for want of meat his greedy throat 82. At the same Busines there 's a female Bear In meat and drink two days and nights behinde Whose pined Whelps all yelling in her Ear Chode her abroad some Sustenance to finde There runs a Bore and whitens all his Path With foam the scum of his intemperate Wrath. 83. But mark that Cave before whose nasty Door An heap of excrementall Poisons lies Next which a Quakemire of congealed Gore Raild round about with naked Bones descries What part fell Fury there hath play'd and who Dwells in that House whose Porch is trimmed so 84. That gloomy Cloud which dams the Dens mouth up Is but the Tenants breath which keeps within Who by our Talk is wakened unto hope Of some neer Prey See now He doth begin To rouse Himself the Fire he spits before Is but the Porter to unlock his Door 85. Though Psyche now had cheer'd wrought her Heart Unto a more then female Valour yet She could not curb her 〈◊〉 but gan to start At that all-flaming Dread the Monster spit When Phylax smiling on her horror cri'd Fear not for Heav'n and I am at thy side 86. Of his own Comming by his cruell Hisse He warning gives that stream of cole-black Blood He spews so thick his wonted Usher is Thus when some choise Feind breaks from Hell a flood Of stinking Sulphure paves his dismall way A bashing all the Aire and poisning Day 87. Behold his Eys like two bright Firebrands plac'd In Cakes of blood their fatall beams display So with long flakes of glaring Raies enchased Unto Heav'ns Anger Comets light the Way Pointing with every beam to Citties or To Realms and Countries Famin Plague or War 88. His Mouth which Foams with Venome is the Gate Of helplesse Misery his Jaws the Mill Of deplorable and untimely Fate His tongue a Weapon on whose Fork doe dwell A thousand Deaths his throat so black and broad To his unhappie Preys the beaten Road. 89. His lethern Wings are those which lend its speed Unto Destruction his iron Paws Are Spights and Rages Hands his direfull Head The Oracle whence Tyrants draw their Laws His scaly skin the thick Embroydery Of confident remorselesse Cruelty 90. His knotty Taile pointed with stinging Fire Which on his back in sullen scorn he throws Is Deaths dread Chain that unrelenting Ire Which sits so high upon his craggie Brows Is an afore-hand Sentence unto All Beasts Birds or Men that in his way doe fall 91. Hark how the bruised Aire complains now He Moves the huge flailes of his most boistrous Wings For the soft Nymph else-where was us'd to be Beaten with Fethers or melodious Strings Look in what state He through the Clouds doth stream The smoke before him rolls behinde the Flame 92. As when the martiall Griffen hovers neer The greedy Kite forgets his chased Prey And turning Partner in the Sparrows fear With her into some Corner sneaks away So doe all Monsters here acknowledge this Their Soveraign in all Rage and Dreadfulnesse 93. Thou now seest neither Lyon Boar nor Bear This Dragons Presence chas'd them all away Unto their closest Dens and Caverns where They trembling lie and durst not look on Day So doe all other strange portentuous Things Frighted hence by the Thunder of his Wings 94. For else thou here had'st Troops of Centaurs seen A strange Composure of Horse-Infantry Else Sphinx and her ambiguous Brood had been Abroad in all her fore-front Braverie And with her polish'd Mayden face contended Her grizely Lyons Parts to have amended 95. Else had unsatiable Harpies her Neer Cosen Portents in the Winged Crew Boldly about this correspondent sphear With Virgins Looks and Vultures Tallons flew Else the salacious Fauns had here been skipping The Satyrs dallying and the Silvans tripping 96. Else had that Riddle of Deformity That Combination of all foule Disgrace Who by the Belly of a Goate doth tie A Dragons Tail unto a Lyons Face Ranged about these Sands and sought what Prey It s equall-monstrous Hunger might allay 97. Hast thou not heard how when old Israels Race Did through the Tryalls of this Wildernesse Unto the well-deserving Promise passe They fell a Murmuring because Successe Posted not on as fast as their Desire And yeilding to the Way began to tire 98. This made the Just Creator grant Commission To Vengance his most trusty Factresse who Mounting upon the back of Expedition Down to the Bottome of the World did goe Whose choisest Dens of Horror having ey'd Unto Erynni's Grott she turn'd aside 99. The Fury started and upon her head Straight up stood every Snake She ne'r till now Had seen a sight so full of fatall Dread Though oft she view'd the deepest Deeps and though She daily used for her Looking-glasses Her correspondent Sisters Monstrous Faces 100. For in the Strangers furrow'd Brows were sown The Seeds of everlasting Indignation Her Eyes were constant Lightning flashing down Upon her fiery Cheeks and with their Motion Glancing a more than High-noon-day upon The frighted Night of that black Region 101. Her sturdy Breast was made of burning Brasse Her massie Arms compos'd of sparkling Steel Her adamantine Hands did sway a Mace Of red-hot Iron at her Back did dwell A Quiver stuff'd with forked Bolts of Thunder Well-skill'd in tearing Clouds and Rocks in sunder 102. Fear Anguish Pain Astonishment Dispair Dissention Tumult War Plague Famine Drought Confusion Poys'nous and Tempestuous Aire Eversion Desolation Crying out Wringing of Hands Gnashing of Teeth Sighs Groans Soule-gnawing Worms were her Companions 103. So were Schisme Error flintie Obduration With Pride and Impudence in Villany And She who though her fairer Garb and fashion Seen'd to suit more with lovely Company Was yet as ranke a Curse as they for She Was zealous but blinde and false sanctitie 104. But Vengeance spying her Erynnis quake Constreind her dreadfull Aspect to remit Part of its Awfulnesse and tri'd to speake As milde as She lookd fierce yet when She set Ope her Mouthes fornace unto all the Cave Loud Thunder notice of her speaking gave 105. Feare not said She I on an errand come Which well will suit with thy revengfull thought The Sonnes of Jsrael thou know'st with whom My Soveraigns Patience long time hath fought Indeed He leads them through a Barren Earth Bur yet He makes Heav'n bring their Victuals forth 106. Yet Peevish murmuring they have forc'd Heav'n to Repent its Kindnesse
Wherefore thou must spare Some of thy Locks which I am sent to throw About that Deserts now devoted Aire Where they shall lash the Rebells till they see What 't is to kick at God and Waken Me. 107. Me whom soft Mercie long a-sleepe had kept Upon a Bed which She her selfe had made Me who for ever might in Peace have slept Did Mortals not take pleasure in this Trade Of sending up their shamelesse sinnes to teare By their bold cry my most unwilling Eare. 108. Me who did never move this Hand in vain Nor knew what 't was or Stroke or Aime to lose Me who cannot be charmd a-sleep again But by the dying Groans of my proud foes Me whose sure Power it selfe full deep did seale On Lucifer and ramm'd him downe to Hell 109. Erynnis glad to heare this Message tore Two handfulls of her Tresses from her Head Which Vengeance forth with to this Desert bore And through the trembling Aire their volumes spred First having breathed on them warlike fire Which all their breasts fill'd with mischeivous Ire 110. No sooner were they tossed up but they Perceiv'd themselves increased round about Their Tails reach'd out themselves an hideous way And from their sides a pair of Wings burst out Whose motion puffed and encreas'd the flame Which over all their monstrous Scales did stream 111. Their owne Instinct taught them the readiest way To the rebellious Camp of Israell Where seizing strait upon their helplesse Prey Their fierie Poyson they so thick did spill That all the Hoste had their Burnt-offring been Had seasonable Mercie not stepp'd in 112. Mercie stepp'd in and by a Contre-plot Rearing a Brazen Serpent up did heale All that were stung with fire if they would put Trust in the Medicine of that Spectacle They gaz'd and saw their Helpe but could not prie Into the bottome of that Mysterie 113. That crucified Serpent did present Thy Spouse who raigning on his Crosse did by His potent Dying gallantly prevent The Plot of Death which more than He did dye And crush the old red Dragon who had hurl'd His monstrous Venome all about the World 114. And now thou knowst the Pedigree of this Feirce Portent which enflames and taints the Aire His fierie Looks and smoking flight confesse Of what Progenitors He is the Heire Thinke now how sweet a Pilgrimage it was When thy young Lord did through such Monsters pass 115. Yet ev'n this Passage Psyche shall appear So pretious unto future Saints that They Will seeke their Habour no where else but heer And make these Sands the Shore where they will lay Their Vessells safe from all those storms which rage Upon a secular Lifes unfaithfull Stage 116. This Passage they will judge a Dedication Of all this Tract to holy Privacie Where they in undisturbed Contemplation Of Heav'n shall sweetly live and sweetlier die Fearing no longer other Monsters when They once have reskewed themselves from Men. 117. Here will they build so strongly-mean a Cell As shall no Tempest nor no Plunder fear Here they with Health and Industry will dwell With Pains and Providence but not with Care Here they will importuned Earth intreat With Herbs or Roots to recompense their Sweat 118. For neither stub born Flint nor arid Sand Their Barrennesses Priviledge will dare Strictly to urge against the painfull Hand Of pious Poverty Those Charters are Of Natures giving and must needs give place Unto the grand Prerogative of Grace 119. Here will their Eyes not interrupted be With fond Allurements of the newest Fashions Whose Commendation speaks their Vanity It being onely built upon Mutations Their simple Sackcloth in one cut and guise To hide their Dust and Ashes will suffice 120. Here shall no noise of chincking Money be Rebounded by their Hearts inchanted strings That Noise which with such charming Melody Through all the Worlds unhappy Quarters rings And gains more Altars far for Mammon than Will unto Heav'n allowed be by Men. 121. Here shall no glancing Eye no mincing Pace No sporting Locks no dainty Red and White No wanton Dresse no Tongues melodious Grace No bidding Coynesse no inviting Flight Prevail upon their manly Hearts to brook The tickling Slavery of a Womans Yoak 122. Here no Ambition shall puffe up their Breast And in their Soule a foolish dropsie raise Who by themselves are freely dispossest Of all those Gardens which can bring forth Bayes And live upon a Soil which nothing bears But Poverty and Roots and Sighs and Tears 123. Here shall they by no care of Wife and Child Be call'd away in Conscience from their Prayers But shall by Virtues daily Progrese build Unto the Top of Heav'n their mystick Stayers By which they once again the World shall leave Nobly rebounding upward from their grave 124. But now this long Discourss devoured had The longer Way and Egypt did draw neer Thebai's Fields and Woods and Towns were glad That to the Desert they next Neighbours were And to these Strangers might the first afford Kinde Entertainment as once to their Lord. 125. When Loe said Phylax now the World grows tame And a milde hospitable Prospect yeilds These are the outmost skirts of populous Ham Tufted with Woods and lac'd with flowrie Fields A welcome Harbour to those Pilgrims who Have labour'd through this Deserts Sea of Woe 126. At the last Furrows end thus Rest doth stand And gently leads the Weary Plowman home So hangs the Garland at the Race's end Smiling upon the Runners as they come So Summer cheers the pined Earth when she Has run through Winters totall Tyrannie 127. Hither this Joseph came and brought with Him Far more Salvation then the Other though From Famins Jaws he Egypt did redeem And fed seav'n starved years with Corn enough Hither He came and brought with him the Bread By which the World eternally is Fed. 128. How glad was hee to see his Charge was here Arrived safe through all those perillous Wayes Upon the Childe he look'd but through a Tear Of Love and Joy and paid their Safeties Praise To him whose Providence had in that wide Region of Dangers to his Guides been Guide 129. Then passing to that Town thou seest there Which from old Hermes borrowing its Fame The title of Hermopolis doth wear Neer unto that Religious Tree he came The Natives call it Persea and with high Esteem its Leaves and Apples magnifie 130. Observe them well Each Leafe presents the true Shape of a Tongue which talks its whispering part To every Winde The dangling Apples shew The perfect feature of a panting Heart O that the World would learn this of the ree That with the Tongue the Heart should joyned be 131. Blinde Superstition had hallowed it To Isi's honour but the honest Tree Made bold that fond Relation to forget When thy great Spouse drew neer for instantly With orthodox Devotion pliant grown Unto the Earth her Head she bowed down 132. Where she with all her Hearts the Childe ador'd And as she could
crowns of joy whose hands with Palms Whose eyes with beams whose tongues are fill'd with psalms 236. But now the Blood-hounds back to Hered went And brandish'd on their stained Swords the Sign Of their owne guilt The sight gave high content To their fell Soveraign hoping the Divine Infant was now destroyd and that his Crown In spight of all Arabia was his own 237. Yet to make sure for in a Tyrants breast Suspition like the Vulture faind to gnaw On Tytiu's Soul makes its eternall feast The Jews he summons by a rigid Law Without the least exception to swear Allegiance unto Him and to his Heir 238. Alas He little thought his slaughterd Son Was now become a stronger Foe than those Arabian Kings his own Suspition Had arm'd against himselfe or that there rose From the massacred Babes a mighty Band Which scornd the power both of his Head 〈◊〉 239. For now these Infants Blood to Heav'n did send A louder Crie than had their Mothers done Nor doth the great Creators Justice lend A readier Ear to any Plantiffs Moan Than unto this although Mortality Belongs to Man Mans Blood can never 〈◊〉 240. Next neighbour to the Dead Seas poys'nous shore There stands a gloomy Grove where cheerly Day Had never roome to shew her face such store Of Box Yew Cypress dammed up her way Whose fatall Brows and Branches every where With Owls and Batts and Ravens impeopled 〈◊〉 241. Beside a sturdie Mist of Stincks doth stick Upon the wretched Air and her defloure Unwholsome Vapors gathering black and thick Drop morn and ev'n into a venomous shour Where drunk up by the cursed Earth below It makes the Hemlocks and the Poppy grow 242. Amidst these dismall shades is sunk a Cave At whose black Door uncessant Cries and 〈◊〉 And Ejulations the Office have Of never sleeping Porters all the Stones Hang thick with Tears being mov'd to that Compassion By the sad Genius of their Habitation 243. The Mistresse of the House doth alway lie Upon her weary Bed which hedged in By melancholick Curtains doth supply The Graves dark Office and aforehand 'gin To teach her what her Coffin ment and what Her Herse which ready by her Couch were set 244. Her Pillows were of softest Down but yet On churlish Thorns and Stones she seem'd to lie Oft did she rosse and turn and tumble but Could never shift her sturdy Griefe which by That Motion onely wakened was and did But gather strength to roll about the Bed 245. Shootings and Megrims raged in her Head A desperate squinsey dammed up her throat The tawny Jaundise in her Eyes was spred The Tooth-ache of her Jaws full Power had got Stark-raving Madnes sate upon her Tongue Ten thousand Cramps her shrivel'd Body wrung 246. The Fever Colick Griping Strangury Gout Apoplexie Scurvy Pestilence Stone Rupture Phthisis Dropsie Plurisie Flux Surfet Asthma and the confluence Of all divided Deaths united were In one strange Masse and learn'd to live in Her 247. The odious Scab the ever-gnawing Itch The stinging Bile the wasting Leprosie The banefull Pocks the Wolf and Canker which On her make fat their dreadfull Luxury Conspire with every sort of horrid Sore To clothe her round with most infectious Gore 248. Pots Papyrs Glasses sweet and stinking Things Were marshal'd on a Cup-bord standing by Which Physick brought to ease those Pangs and Stings Or at the least cure her own Poverty Costly Additions unto Pain were these And onely eas'd the Purses Plurisies 249. For though full many a dear Docter there Talk'd words as strange as her Diseases yet Her pertinacious Torments would not hear Either there Druggs of Nature or of Wit Nor minde their Stories or regard at all Their Oracles out of the Urinall 250. Her whining Kindred stood about the Bed And though alas her case were too too plain With tedious Love still ask'd Her how she did Heaping that Crambe on her other Pain Their fond Remembrances would never let Her any one of all her Pangs forget 251. Down to this Loathsome She sterne Justice came Tall was her Person and her Looks were high Strength in her martiall Sinews made its home Darts of keen fire did stream from either Eye For she what e'r Men Fancy Eyes can finde Alas Earths Justice and not Heav'ns is blinde 252. Her right Hand held a Sword of two-edg'd flame Her left a Ballance in one Scale did lie A mighty Masse inscrib'd with Herods Name A Masse of Pride and bloody Tyranny Which press'd it down to Hell Mean while the other Fill'd with vain Winde flew up and left its Brother 253. When Sicknesse for that was the Furies Name Beheld her Soveraign Queen she rais'd her Head And to obeysance did her Body frame Black Streams of poys'nous Gore straight issued From all her Sores and with outragious stinck Ran down into her Beds contagious sink 254. Up up said Justice and be dress'd apace I on an earnest errand thee must send Time was when thou a tedious Way did'st trace At Hells and envious Lucifers Command Usurpers which have no just power on thee 'T is fit thou doe as much for Heav'n and Me. 255. Unto the Land of Uz they made thee run And poure the bottome of thy whole despight Upon the reverend Body of a Man Which was with matchlesse Purity bedight More fair and bright was Job in Heav'ns esteem Than thou to Earth did'st make him Horrid seem 256. He heap'd this Scale as full of Virtue as Fell Herod has replenish'd it with Vice That empty one so lightly hovering was His Score of faults but meer Vacuities Thin as the Aire which though it dusky be Sometimes with Clouds regains its purity 257. See now thou recompence that Injury By righteous Vengance upon Herod Loe There unbridle thy Extremitie And give thee leave in free carreer to goe Goe then and fully use thy full Command His Body and his Life are in thy Hand 258. So spake the Queen of everlasting Dread And in her Black Cloud mounted home again When Sicknes leaping from her nasty Bed And in feirce haste forgetting her own Pain Furnish'd her self with every bitter sting Which most might torture the Condemned King 259. Then to her gloomy Chariot she went Which of a poisnous Vapour framed was Her speed was headlong so was her Intent And into Herods Court she soon did presse For she by no slow paced Coursers Drawn But by a pestilentiall Blast was blown 260. Unseen she came and did so sliely guide Her stealing Chariots silent Wheels that she Quite down the Tyrants cursed throat did glide As does his unsuspected Breath which he Lets in to fan his heart But this Blast came Qute to blow out and not to puff his flame 261. Yet e'r it blew it out it strove to frie His black Soule in the fornace of his Breast Torthwith his Entrails sing'd and scalded by An hidden fire frighted away his Rest He would have rise but strait he felt his Pains Had with
Perpetuall sparks of Vigorousnesse they shot From the two Founts of their prospective fire Their mighty Neighings easie Conquest got Of every Noise and made good Mars his Quire And thus through Clouds almost as black as they Thunder and Lightning use to chuse their way 159. As ebon shining Boughs so bended were Their sinewie Necks their Stomacks boiled over In restlesse foaming Scum which far and neer They flung about their Pawing did discover With what disdain upon the Earth thy trode And seem'd to covet an etheriall Road. 160. Their shoes were silver and their bridles gold With perl their velvet trappings studded were Their copious Maines in curled volumes roll'd Down to the ground their starting Eares did wear Proserpines Favours with rich Jewells tipt The way their full Tails for their Soveraign swept 161. The wheels were Cedar clouted round about With Golds more pretous Rivall Chrysolite The Charet Almug covered throughout With an embroyder'd Confluence of bright Well order'd Gems upon which princely seat Prouder than it sate Belzebub the Great 162. What Pomp in Alexanders face did reign Or swell'd upon Nebuchadnezzars Brow He had advanced to an higher strain And taught it in his own Aspect to grow Having compounded in one stately Lie The universall Looks of Majesty 163. Disdain and Pride the chiefe Ingredients were And long agoe He learn'd to manage Them Yet Grace and royall Mildnesse too were there If need should be some soft Deceit to frame With awfull Gravity his Beard did flow And him some wise and ancient Monark show 164. A triple Crown of Diamond on his Head Wherein was graven Earth and Aire and Seas His Empires Provinces decyphered For so his own Presumption doth please To make Mans Right his Prey and write his stile E'r since of Paradise he did him beguile 165. Down from his shoulders to his feet did flow A Mantle of Estate with Ermyns lin'd But for the Texture it so thick did grow With orientall Gems you could not finde What Web it was it being cleerly lost In the magnificence of too much Cost 166. Three Troops of Pages on his Wheels did wait The first in Azure and the next in Green The third in darkest Purple the Conceit Was onely what upon his Crown was seen His dreadfull Guard ten thousand Curassiers Before Him trots and all his Passage cleers 167. Of Sumptures and of Wagons a vast Sea Flow'd part before their Prince and part behinde It seem'd the I ransmigration to be Of all the Earth at once now bent to finde Some other World whose larger Bounds might give Leave to those straitned Swarms at large to live 168. In this magnifick State his progresse He Through his usurp'd World did pretend to take A well known Circuit where incessantly Some hellish businesse He himselfe did make Onely He now a fiercer Lyon was Than when He roaring up and down did passe 169. For though that roaring Voice loud Terror spoke Withall it gave Men warning to beware But when hee with Majestick Grace doth cloke His theevish Enterprise He charmeth Fear Asleep for who would Dream a King in so Great Pomp a stealing would and cheating goe 170. See'st Thou that ruefull Place that Garden where Eternall Barrennesse deep-rooted grows Where unrelenting Flints and Pebles are Both Soil and fruit That Sceen thy Lord did choose Wherein to wrestle with keen Famine and Give her free leave on her own ground to stand 171. And hither came great Satan with his Train Where finding Jesus in whose fallen Cheeks Hungers deep Characters were written plain With seeming Princely Pitty off he breaks His course the Steeds in foaming Scorn to stay Their Bridles champ'd and stamp'd upon their way 172. But He more gentle seem'd than They were wroth For when he on thy Lord had fix'd his eyes Three times upon his Breast He beat with both His hands his Head he sadly shaked thrice And then as oft to Heav'n he looked up And cunning Tears He every time did drop 173. He hop'd the pined Man would bend his Knee And from his pittying Hand some Succour crave Whil'st yet he could receive He look'd that He Would ope his Mouth as well as did his Grave But He was yet to stout to buckle down He nobly held his Tongue and held his own 174. With that the royall Tempter thus began My Pitty never was till now neglected By any He that wore the face of Man Much lesse by such whom Famine had dejected Almost below all Humane Looks And yet Perhaps some Mystery may be in it 175. That thou with Patience canst endure to be The miserable Prey of Famine and Forbear if not disdain to ask of Me Who with all courteous Succour ready stand Implies thy strength what e'r thy Face appear Higher to move than in an humane Sphear 176. Where e'r she had it Rumor sent of late A strange Relation to my ear which she Profess'd she took both from the Leaves of Fate And from experimentall Veritie 'T was that the Son of God had chang'd his Home And here to sojourn on the Earth was come 177. She added that his Garb was plain and mean Because He was a stranger here below And rather came to see than to be seen As wisest Travellers are wont to doe But more she told Me not perhaps that I And my good Fortune might the rest descry 178. For deep my Honor it concerns and Me That ready Entertainment should attend Such mighty strangers And if thou be He Take notice Thou hast met a Royall Friend A Friend both able and resolv'd to prove That thou all Glory hast not left above 179. But yet these Deep-plowd Wrinkles ill would suit My solemn Forehead and this reverend Snow My Head and Beard if Rashnesse should confute Those sage and sober Tokens if I now Who long agoe have purchas'd the esteem Of Grave and Wise should Light and Credulous seem 180. Then since my Credit calls upon me for Some certain Proofe You must not that deny 'T is reason you assure Me who you are Not can Assurance sealed be but by Some potent Demonstration which may show That Nature and her Rules can bow to You. 181. If you be He whom God doth own for Son And God forbid you such a Truth should hide Let it suffice your Fast thus far hath run And now a Breakfast for your selfe Provide Loe here a Borde with Pebles ready spred Speak but the Word make them Loaves of Bread 182. The Tempter so But Jesus wisely saw How He suspended was in jealous Doubts And by this Artifice contrived how To extricate his snarl'd perplexed Thoughts He therefore means by heav'nly Art to cast Upon his hellish Craft a darker Mist. 183. For as a noble Champion when the Blow Hastneth with deadly aime unto his Heart With wary Buckler back again doth throw The intercepted and deceived dart So did thy Spouse by Gods unconquer'd Word His ready Shield against the Tempters Sword 184. 'T is written that
Oaths and Cries Tumbled and toss'd themselves from place to place And sought Lots Door in one anothers face 324. As Jesus spi'd this helplesse Wight for He Warch'd to surprise all Objects of Compassion Speeded by his own heav'nly Charity He to his Succour flies Such is the fashion Of generous Love which never stayes to be Woo'd and importun'd to a Courtesie 325. The simple Man perceiving one draw nigh Fell to the Beggers covetous Dialect Craving for Money Friend that is not my Largise thy Lord repli'd which doth infect Those who desire it Surely Thou would'st finde What Bane thou begg'st wert thou not double Blind 326. Money is that unhappy Dust which flies Full in the face of undiscerning Man And heaps such Mists of Blindnesse on his eyes That Heav'n He cannot see If thou did'st skan Thy state aright Thou might'st thy Blindness blesse Who seest not how monstrous money is 327. I l'e make a thinner Clay than Money which Shall far exceed the Worth of Gold to Thee They are not moneys beams which doe inrich The World with Light and Glory but from Me Alone flow forth those clear and genuine Raies Which blesse the Age with sweet and golden Days 328. This said three times He spit upon the ground And temper'd with his Hand a Soveraign Clay No Salve by deepest Art was ever found Which could so sure all Maladies allay Should pretious Balsame now prove sick and die This Ointment could work its Recovery 329. With this the Blinde Mans Eyes He Oynted yet Was pleased not forthwith to give them sight First an experiment He meant to get Whether his inner Eyes of Faith were bright Then with his Favour to reward and grace The Pool which long before so pious was 330. Bethesda Waters swell'd with full-tide Fame Wherefore though apt Occasion Him invited Time was when He refus'd to honor Them But pour'd his royall love into this sleighted Though worthy Pool which as his Partner He In this his Miracle vouchsaf'd to be 341. To Siloam goe said He and wash thine Eyes And thou shalt see what I to thee have given The joyfull Man with holy Credence hies Him to the Place No Hart was ever driven By scalding Thirst more greedily unto The Rivers than He to this Spring did goe 342. He went to drink not with his Mouth but Eyes Which as He washed loe they 'gan to ope Out flew black Night and all those duskie Ties By which his Sense before was chained up Straight his released sparkling Pupills show'd Like sprightfull Lightning from the broken Cloud 343. And now he lives and sees that he does live And Heav'n and Earth more than by hear-say knows Now every Parcell of the World doth give Him a Remembrance unto whom He owes His power of seeing it O happy hee Who must in every Thing his Saviour see 344. Since from the Darknesse of the first Abysse The Universe was wakened unto light Ne'r was atcheiv'd so strange a Cure as this Which on condemned Eyes bestowed fight In spight of Nature who had put them out Before she gave them leave to look about 345. Now Psyche turn thine Eye to yonder Town Great Salems little Neighbour Bethany A place of dear Remembrance to thine own Beloved Lord from Salems tumults He Would oft retire into that calmy place And still as oft's He came He welcome was 346. For there two Sisters dwelt an holy Pair Industrious Martha who the World did love Yet not so much but Jesus was more dear Although the practick Trade of Life she drove The Cream of her Solicitude she spent To purchase more than secular Content 347. Pathetick Mary one whom Mercy made Her chosen triumph This was 〈◊〉 She Who in the hottest Troop of Sinners had A leading Place such stout Impiety Incouraged her Heart that Hell could not Put her on any Task but she would do 't 348. For seav'n foule Devills had themselves possest Of all her Soule and with imperious Port In the usurped Palace of her Breast Their throne erected and maintain'd their Court What Proclamations or Warrants They So ever issu'd she did straight obey 349. But Jesus who did square his Pitty by No Merit hee in Mortall Man could read But for his Rule took their Capacity Of Succour found how much this Heart did need His potent Help which He forthwith applied And made her Live who now seav'n times had died 350. For from the bottome of Her poys'ned Breast Seav'n hideous Deadly Sins she vomited And having thus disgorged Hell which prest Her down so low to Heav'n she rais d her head Flaming with purest fire of Love as she Before had smoak'd in Lusts Impurity 351. Her brave Devotion she did measure now By the Large Size of Mercy she had gained For as that Mercy did no limits know So to Infinitude her Love she strained She strained hard and would have reach'd the Top If Mortall Passion could so high climb up 352. O Psyche hadst Thou but been by when She Unto her Lord upon Loves Errand came Thou might'st have seen impatient Piety Mount in the boldnesse of its noble Flame First at his Feet it 'gan and then it spred With fair and liberall Fulnesse to his Head 353. That fragrant Ointment which she us'd before To her own lustfull Skin to sacrifice She now on Jesu's sweeter Feet doth poure And adds another showre from her own eyes Then wiping them with her late crisped Tresses She offers there her consecrated Kisses 354. She mindes not what Spectators think or say Love is secnre and carelesse She does mean E'r from her Lovers Feet she goe away To oint or weep or wipe or kisse them clean And by this generous Zeal she Sanctifies Her Locks her Lips her Ointment and her Eyes 355. But as the sprightfull Flame disdains to stay Below and with undaunted Ardor strives To reach its lofty Sphear So she one Day The Reins unto her gallant Passion gives And takes aime at the Top of Heav'n for this I 'm sure said she on Jesu's Temples is 356. She had a Box of Ointment of high price Yet not so pretious as her loving Lord Could the Worlds wealth meet in one Sacrifice All this She freely could to him afford And now unbrideled Love such haste did make That straight the Box or her own Heart must break 357. Indeed both brake and both she poured on His Head who is of Sweets and Hearts the King Straight through both Heav'n Earth the Odours ran Which shall for ever with their Praises ring For now't has lost its Alabaster Cell The glorious Nard in all the World doth dwell 358. Thrift grumbled at the Cost but Jesus who Excessive in his Love to Mary was Vouchsaf'd her generous Soule free leave to goe In the same princely and licentious pace He knows the heats of this unweildy Passion And will allow it brave Immoderation 359. All other Passions eas'ly bounded are Because their Objects are in limits ti'd But Love alone
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
Ages hadst thy Spring Where thou didst sweetly Smile amidst the Three Most undivided One and traversing Those Heights Depths of Blessedness didst through Eternities immense Expansion flow 3. Thence when the World burst out from Nothing thou Didst spare some Streams Created Hearts to cheer No Bosomes with that Influence did glow But of thy Sweets they straight enamor'd were Which as their richest dearest Jewells they Close in the heart of their own Hearts did lay 4. Their Goods their Parents or their Children were Not halfe so pretious to Them as Thou Their Joynts their Limbs their Skin they well could spare Their tender Name and Fame they could allow A Prey to Injury so they by them Might Thee and thy Security 〈◊〉 5. The vilest Worme whom Thou dost please to grace Forgetteth not that worth he gains by Thee He shoots his warey Self from place to place And when oppressed feeble though he be He turns again and with the strongest Foe Tries what for thy deer Rescue He can doe 6. The wretched Serpent is content to feed On basest Dust rather than part with Thee Though Curses poure their Streams upon his head He makes his Body all one Helmet be To sheltre it and roules himself about Himself to keep all mortall violence out 7. Nay when the Sword or Wand its way has cut Quite through his Circles till his Body be An heap of fragments He himself doth knit Ev'n by the Cement of his Wounds till He Grows One again So lothe he is to die Though his damn'd life be but his Miserie 8. What Voyages will silly Swallows take Warme Seasons round about the World to chase What hard shift will the hunted Partridge make To shun the greedy Griffens deadly face What Wings of Speed what Tricks and Sleights will fear Of Death soon teach the close-pursued Hare 6. In how great Sweat and Pains doe Pismires spend Their warmer Moneths to reap and carry home Their Cropp which in the Cold may them befreind With Sustentation and defend Them from The fear of loosing that poor Life which They In love of it to endlesse Toile betray 10. The most industrious never-tired Bee Flies through all Summer knocking at the door Of every likely Flower where thoughtfull she Can borrow ought towards her Winter Store And thus for love of Life her honey trade A bitter course of Painfulnes is made 11. Yea ev'n the simplest Weed whose Life doth but Preserve that Stink with which She taints the air When Winter gins its chains of Frost to put Upon the Earth makes all her Spirits repair Down to the Root for rather than be dead Alive She chooseth to be buried 12. But yet no Creature with such painfull Pains Doth purchase Lifes Security as Man What Plots and Projects tumble in his brains What Cares and Labours make Him faint and wan Earth open house to all things else doth keep But He must sowe before he looks to reap 13. A tedious Prentisehood He spends to learn How he may toile himself another Day And by his still-returning Labours ern What will support his Strength that still He may Be grapling with his Work for his own S weat Must be the constant Sauce unto his Meat 14. To get a Living 's a sufficient Charm T' allure him through the most portentous Sea To make him scorn the most out ragious Storm Though Death within three Inches of Him be To fire him unto all impieties Defying Veng'ance and the Thundering Skies 15. A Charm sufficient to make him List Himself an Enemie to the life of Man Whilst he fears not to make his stoney breast Harder by martiall Steel and Brasse and can Without all blushing take his bloody Pay For his Endeavours daily to Destroy 16. O wonderous Riddle though eternall Death Invitably be entaild upon His monstrous Crimes Yet He his present Breath Esteems so deer that still he dares run on In any Deadly Wickednes which may Maintain that life which must 〈◊〉 long 〈◊〉 17. Indeed the Man whose swelling Coffers bring Him forth free choise of all the dainty Store Which Land or Sea can yeild to cheer a King May finde some feeling reason to adore His Jollse Life But what convincing Plea Can Beggers move to this 〈◊〉 18. Yet They who are so destitute within And poor without that equally they want Both Food wherewith to fill their wretened Skin And Clothes to cover it are well content On these hard tenns to live nor 〈◊〉 They be By any Death quit of this 〈◊〉 19. The woefull Captive whose dark Dungeon is No other but his antidated Grave Though neither Light nor open air be his Yet huggs his Life as deerely as the brave And lustie Gallant who himself can please With all the Fat of pleasure and of case 20. The Leper clothed in his winding sheet By his disease abhorrs the thought of death Life still is ev'n in his dead Body sweet And full as pretious He esteems his Breath As doth the Virgin whose fair Bodies dresse Of native Lilies and of Roses is 21. He who doth in a Fevers fornace frie Would yet not Cool himself within his Grave But hires Physicians costly Industrie To study out some way how He may save His torturing Life Notfor 〈◊〉 World would He By Death's most 〈◊〉 Physick eased be 22. The lamentable Gally-slave who is Fast chained to perpetuall Miserie Still toiles and rows through the tempestuous Seas Without all Hopes that any Port can be An Haven of Rest to Him and yet full deat He holds that Life which holds him Pris'ner there 23. She whom a Seige begins so close that she Is crowded up to nought but Bones and Skin Flies from the thought of gaining Libertie By Deaths Assistance and will rather win Upon her Bowels to devour her childe Than be by Famine of her Life 〈◊〉 24. The cursed Traitour who is chain'd alive Unto his Chaire of Death though he be sure It needs must be in vain for Life to strive Yet in strong Love of it he will endure To feed on his own Arms that so He may What e'r it cost Him Live one other day 25. He who disjoynted on the Rack doth lie Although his Body now no more be his After a thousand 〈◊〉 is to the to die And any Crime is willing to Confesse He doth Confesse what needs must be his Death Onely to gaine a little longer breath 26. Thus all the Gall that sharpest Miserie Into the heart of Mortall Life can poure Meets there such Powers of vitall suavitie As conquer all its Bitternesse Suct store Of pretious Delicates as dare despise The keepest force of all Calamities 27. Snatch what you will from Man besides and He Will stoutly set his shoulders to sustein His Losse but if his Life required be In vain all Comforts fawn on Him in vain Are Crowns and Sceptres proffer'd Him a price Too poor to hire Him to his Obsequies 28. Since then the Life ev'n of the meanest Wight
own did ever wet 290. These Hands and Feet with cruell Nailes they make Sure to the Crosse and fasten Him unto His Pains and Death What heart-strings would not crack To see these tender Veins broke open so What Tears could keep at home and not gush out With those dear Streams which now flowd all about 291. Sure none who dare the Name of Christian wear Can with such stony Hearts this story read As not to feel these Nails their Bosomes tear And 〈◊〉 their tender Contemplations bleed For how can living genuine Members be Not wounded with their Heads calamity 292. But these inhumane Torturers shouting loud In desperate applause of their own Sin Rear up the Crucifix and then grow proud To see this Trophe of their Rage So when Harpies on heaps have heap'd their butcher'd Prey They smile and clap their Wings with cursed Joy 293. Then on each hand a Theife they 〈◊〉 For when they on his Person no more shame Could heap they labour by this Companie To make the World suppose Him one of Them Alas He knew no other Theft but this To steal his Torturers to heav'nly Blisse 294. For whilst between these Bryars like the Rose Or like fair Virtue twixt her foule Extreems He fastned is He plots against his Foes And projects how to pay Them Diademes For these his Tortures unto Heav'n he flies On Loves stout wings and to his Father cries 295. Father By all the Sweets of that dear Name Regard the Prayer of thy Dying Son By this my Crosse and all its noble Shame By these four Wounds which with full Current run By all these Thorns which grow upon my Head And those which in my Heart are fastened 296. Remember not the Sin of these poor Men Who through blinde Zeal perceive not what they doe Though foolish yet they are my Bretheren O spare Them then Let not their Error who Occasion all the Worlds most Soveraign Blisse Make their own Soules their proper Portion misse 297. Thus for the rav'ning Wolves the Lamb doth pray The Partridge for the Hawks O mighty Love Which all the Injuries of this cruel Day Cannot supprefle The more the Torturers strove To wreak upon Him their elaborate Spight The more his Mercy tries on Them it s Might 298. Thus when Arabian Odours 〈◊〉 be Their sweet revenge they on their 〈◊〉 take By pouring out to them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Of pure Perfumes whole 〈◊〉 doth 〈◊〉 speak Of Griefe or Anger but is 〈◊〉 In the kinde language of 〈◊〉 Sent 299. Thus when the tender Vine is nailed fast Unto the Propp and by the Pruning Knife Robb'd of her Branches She takes no distaste At all those deep entrenchments on her life But with a bounteous Vintage strives to cheer The Heart of Him who thus had wounded Her 300. But what care salvage They who scorn to be Softned by Kindenesse Wax indeed may run At the warm Touch of High-noon's Charity But for did Mud and Clay although the Sun Doth with his kindest Rayes about them flow Instead of Melting onely harder grow 301. They think that Jesus has more need to pray For his own Selfe than them and with disdain 〈◊〉 at his unask'd-for Kindenesse They 〈◊〉 themselves how to divide their Gam This was his Clothes the Lambs poor plunder'd Fleece The simple prize of their high Villanies 302. His other Garments they divide and share But finding that his seamlesse Vesture was All of one Texture they contented are To offer the decision of the Case To Fortunes Sentence and conclude by Lot To give that whole they thought too good to Cut. 303. Too good they thought this Common Web to be Mangled and torn yet with the self-same heart Abhorred not his pretious Flesh to see All gash'd and rent by Hatreds utmost Art The Butcher thus thinks fit the Skin to keep Intire although He quarter out the Sheep 304. Mean while arrayed in his naked Gore Sweet Jesus hangs betwixt the Heav'n and Earth Like one of Both rejected and does poure The Worlds red Price at four wide Flood-gates forth An Object of more Pitty never yet Was seen nor one which reaped lesse of it 305. All Passengers without Regard went on And turn'd their unkinde backs upon his Woes Yet well it were if this Neglect alone Made Warr against his Patience but from those Who to this pitch of Sorrows rais'd him He Feets new assaults of positive Misery 306. For not contented with their Nails and Thorns To digg his pretious Body now they strive To pierce his Soule with ignominious Scorns To wound his Meeknesse and his Sufferings grieve As if his Pains and Crosse would not suffice Unlesse he mocked and reviled dies 307. They point their fingers and their heads they shake And then their crueller Tongues and thus they crie Remember what your Pride once pleas'd to speak You in three Dayes yon' Fabrick could destroy And rear it up again yet mighty Sir The Temple stands and You are hanged here 308. For shame make good your boasted Power and now Command those Nails to leave your Hands and Feet Command your Crosse before your face to bow Command your lost Blood to return and meet Your gaping Wounds Is 't not high time to save Your Selfe if you resolve to scape your Grave 309. O no the Elders Scribes and Priests replie Though many Seeming Wonders He has done Though he has cured many a Maladie Though he has conjur'd up Salvation For others yet We know for certain He Cannot unto himselfe a Saviour be 310. No lying Prophet ever yet was known Who once into the hands of Justice brought Could by his power of Witchcraft reach his own Deliverance and work his Carcase out Of Chains or Tortures for if this might be How could we know Heav'ns Truth from Forgery 311. Now it appears by Whose Assistance He Mix'd with his bare Word that miraculous Strength Which charm d the Peoples fond Credulity But Belzebub is wise enough at length To leave his Instrument to Iustice when His utmost Mischiefe He has done to Men. 312. Now it appears what small cause Pilate had To shake his Head at our importunate Crie Had not our Zeal that 〈◊〉 Onset made On his abused Lordships Lenity This rank Impostor then repreeved might Have still pass d for a Wonder-working Wight 313. Yet if the potent King of Israel now Will but vouchsafe to Step down from this Tree And to his Subjects doubtfull Hearts allow This Proof of his divine Supremacy For our parts We are ready here and will Beleeve his Pow'r and his Commands fulfill 314. What can he more expect of Us who here Attend upon him in his deepest shame Waiting till He will please Clouds to clear Which damp the lustre of his glorious Name So fain would We unto our King to day Would He assert Himselfe our homage pay 315. But silly King he cannot stir you see No though his Kingdome lieth at the Stake He talk'd as if the Clouds his Coach should be
ward whether He is gone Who stamp'd them heer their Eys will know no Lid But make the Beams recoil the Rafters run Aside and suffer no Concameration To damm the way of Jesu's Exaltation 291. Thus Psyche have I made thee trace thy Lord To his last footsteps through a thousand ways All set with Mercie and made good my Word Thou seest how He a countermure doth raise Against Sinns Battery and thou needst not fear Hells Spight now Heav'n for thee doth take such care 392. Nor durst I doubt but thine owne Heart will say This thy long Pilgrimage is well requited Which hath presented thee a full Display Of that wherewith all Angells are delighted Whose Souls then with sublimest Joy do leap When on these Mysteries of Love they peep 293. Their Harness heer upon his Steeds he threw Who all this while were feeding on the Hill The meaning of that warning Psyche knew And on her knee prayd him to tarry till She gave the Reins to her Devotion As other Pilgrims unto theirs had done 294. He smil'd and stayd But She flat on her face Innumerable Kisses heap'd upon The venerable Stepps and long it was Before her amorous Sighs and Tears had done At length her Bosome with the Dust she fill'd And cri'd Go thou and my foul Body gild 295. Then casting up to Heav'n her zealous Eye After her Spouse a thousand Thoughts she sent To whom her panting Soul strove hard to flie Upon the Wings of her high Ravishment But when she felt her self stick still to Earth Fresh Tears at first and then these Words brake forth 296. Why may my Heart not be where most it is O Thou my dearest Life ô Jesu why Since Thou art mounted to the Topp of Bliss And leav'st Me Dead have I not leave to Die Never was any Ghost but I till now In its own Body bound and chaind below 297. I by thy Cross and Death was wholly slain And by thy Resurrections Life I grew Alive and safe and vigorous again But thy Ascension doth my Death renew Since nothing of my Life poor I can finde But these bare footsteps left Me heer behinde 298. Sweet Lord by these thy Psyche cannot live Though for thy Sake they pretious are to Me O no! their Worth doth but more reason give To long for most inestimable Thee If any footstepp Me can satisfie It must be that which next thy foot doth lie 299. Hast Thou not said that Earth thy Footstool is As well as Heav'n thy Throne O mighty Lord 'T will be thy Handmaydes most accomplish d Blisse If thou but unto Me make'st good that Word Loe I thy Dust the Footstool crave to be Of thy now Heav'n-enthroned Majesty 300. High my Petition is and bold I know And yet the worthlesse Dew must needs aspire To Heav'n it selfe when once it gins to glow With Phoebu's sweet and most attracting Fire Nor can the Spark in its dull Ashes lie But must have leave to venture at the Skie 301. Alas what is this weary World to Me What are the silver Sphears and golden Sun Could I reign Queen of every Thing I see At my sole Nod would all Earths Kindreds ran What were this Empire worth now Thou art gone Whom Psyche must esteem her Crown alone 302. 'T is not thy heav'nly Paradise that I Ambitious am to see 't is not thy Court Of Angels though by Phylax's company I guesse their Worth 't is not the Pomp and Port That flows about thy throne Nor doe I long To dance unto thy Quires eternal Song 303. My Heart doth pant for Thee and onely Thee And could'st Thou be in Hell I never more Would loose a Looking up to Heav'n but be Inamored of that Abysse and poure My Longings and my Labours downward till I at thy Feet my Vows and Soule could spill 304. O why art Thou so infinitely sweet Or rather Why must We that Sweetnesse know If Thou deer Jesu dost not think it meet Unto our Fires their 〈◊〉 to allow Away Thou flyest and Forsaken We Ev'n by thy sweets and Blisse tormented be 305. How can I help this my excessive Passion Or how can it deserve these Torments Since Thine own Love doth professe Immoderation And guilty is of boundlesse influence In which soft Sea of Fire whilst drown'd I am What can I doe but burn with answering Flame 306. Blame Me not blessed Lord it is not I But Thou thy Selfe rebounding from my Heart Who beat'st Heav'n with this Importunity And call'st for Ease for my mysterious Smart Had'st Thou by Love not stampd thy Selfe upon My Soule now Psyche had let Thee alone 307. Remembet Jesu what it is to be Forsaken ô remember thine own Crie When in thy Desolation on the Tree Thy Father Thou didst challenge May not I Use thine own Words My God my God why now Dost Thou thy desolate Psyche leave below 308. Upon this Olivet my Calvary I finde and to my Crosse am nailed here Ten thousand Torments in my Bosome lie And full as many Thorns as planted were Upon thy Tempels in my Heart doe stick Where all the Bowels of my Soule they prick 309. O Love why must thine onely Tyranny The Bounds of other Cruelties exceed Why will it not allow the Courtesie Of Death unto thy Vassals who are Dead By its reviving Slaughters and desire To be free Holocausts in thy sweet Fire 310. Her Passion here beyond expression grew Yet though She with her Tongue no more could speak With her resolved Eyes to Heav'n she flew And there a long Oration did make Both long and fluent in th' exuberance Of Tears the streams of strongest Eloquence 311. But Phylux having to Her tender Heart Thus far indulg'd thought fit to stop Her here Psyche said He imagin not Thou art Inamored more than the Disciples were Of thy Ascended Lord yet desolate They Warn'd by the 〈◊〉 meekly went away 312. I in their room that Warning give to Thee On Heav'n why dost Thou naile thine eyes in vain Thy Saviour is too high for Thee to see Till on a Cloud He posteth back again Then shalt Thou look thy Fill of Blisse and be To all thy Loves Extremities let free 313. Mean while thine Adorations and Imbraces On his dear Name and Memory thou mayst poure Come le ts away that by these signal places Of Mercies Triumphs thy soft Heart no more May tortured be Here on her hand he laid His own and raised up the heavie Maid 114. Then in his Chariot gently Her he set Who on the Footsteps kept her hankering eye But instantly he mov'd his reins to let His Coursers know he gave them liberty Forth with their goodly mains in answer They Shook in proud hast and gallopped away PSYCHE OR LOVES MYSTERIE CANTO XV. The Poyson ARGUMENT LEaving his Psyche carefull Phylax arms With whole some sage Advice her tender breast Yet shee the Venome of Heretick Charms And Spurious Reasons wiles could not resist Phylax returns and in his
Pupills eye Rakes up the nastie sink of Heresie 1. ANd sits the Holy-land so dear and high In pious Soules esteem What tongue can then Thunder sufficient Veng'ance out and cry Against the lazie Basenes of those Men With equal Indignation who have let Vile Pagan Powers from Christians ravish it 2. Could this prodigious shame endured be By Romane hearts when on their Empires thront No other Prince was culminant but He Whom all the best of Bayes attended on Who like a bank against the torrent stood And turn'd the Gyant into Saru's flood 3. Who with his own Hand sent Razates down To his eternal Night who from the brow Of stern Cosrhoes shaked off his Crown Before Syrhoes cancell'd ' Natures law That He with vengeance might concur and by Dire Parricide make the Tyrant double die 4. Who wip'd the Romans ignominie out When He three hundred Eagles which had long Been mewed up in Persian Cages brought In triumph back and bad them flie among Their fellow-ensignes and as freely gaze As any of the brood on Phoebu's face 5. Who not these Banners onely did redeem But the great Standard of Religion too Which was so pretious in his esteem That he himselfe its Porter turn'd and so Made all his Empire stoop to that which he Upon his Shoulders bore to Calvarie 6. Alas Heraclius how has Heresie Attcheived what all Persia could not doe How has it made thine Eagles Pinions be Onely of use to flie before thy Foe Whilst one of Christs great Wills Thou tak'st away How canst Thou hope thine own Thou shalt enjoy 7. Loe the new Monster Mahomets bold Frie Like numerous Locusts from the Pit of Night Crawle into Palestine and there defie The blasted Powers of the Monothelite Loe they are to the Holy Citty come And Haumar robbs him of his Saviours Tombe 8. This rais'd in reverend Sophroniu's Breast A mighty Storm of Agonies to see His venerable Salem now possest By Saracenical Impiety And James his sacred Seat become the Throne For curs'd Apostasie to reign upon 9. He sigh'd and weep'd and finding no Reliefe From Heav'n or Earth for his loud Lamentation Resign'd himself unto victorious Grief And drown'd in his own Tears fulfill'd his Passion For why should I live longer here said he Still to be slain by what mine Eyes must see 10. And now the Land of Milk and Honey lay For more than foure full Ages over-flown With Mahumetick Poyson till a Ray Of vigorous Christian Gallantry shot down From Heav'n and by the Ermite Peters breath Blown to a Bonfire slam'd with holy Wrath. 11. With holy Wrath it slam'd in many a Breast But most in brave Bolonion Godfreys who In Steel and stronger Resolution drest Burnt with Desire to meet his Pagan Foe His Lorain can no longer hold him he Resolves another kinde of Duke to be 12. His Consecrated Legions he leads And in their Eyes their Quarrel doth display Above their Heads the bloody Crosse he spreads Which streamed in his awfull Standard They Smil'd at its goodly Look and cryed We Though in thy tincture ne'r will shrink from Thee 13. The Turkish Moon grew paler than before And in a cowardly Eclipse shrunk back When this bright Banner did its Terror poure Upon her face and open passage make To Victory for she was alwaies there And failed not to bring up Godfreys Rear 14. Thus lesser Asia from the Turkish Lore To Christs more gentle Yoak reduced is And there is nothing now but Salem more For Godfreyes Sword to free from its Distress Thither he march'd and soon Redeem'd the Place Where the whole Worlds Redemption acted was 15. Right Christian Hero ô how due to thee Was sacred Salems Crown and more than that How justly hath thy pious Victory Both Martial and Poetick Laurel got Whilst thy illustrious Name and Glory reigns In the Worlds Wonder and great Tasso's streins 16. But when by Death Heav'n sent for Godfrey home Baldwin his Brother both in Piety And Christian Valour took his royal Room Sidon and Ptolemais felt what he And his brave Troops in a just Cause could doe And so did Egypts mighty Caliph too 17. He to his Cosen Baldwin left his Throne And his entailed Gallantry with it Witnesse the routed Turks Confusion And Antioch which did to his Might submit And though a while he to the Persian bow'd Upon Damascu's King his strength he show'd 18. Then from his Turine Earldome Fulco role To sway this Sceptre who transmitted it Unto his Son young Baldwin over whose Surprised Powers stern Noradine did set His insolent foot but soon it ssipp'd and he Perforce restor'd his stollen Victory 19. His Death his Brother Almerik did raise Unto his Throne a Prince of active Might Whose Sword was fertile in triumphant Bays And glittered with Glories awfull Light All Ascalon beheld its noble flame When He from conquer'd Alexandria came 20. Baldwin his Sonn took up his Sceptre and Long sturdie Warr with Saladine maintain'd Till Leprosie seis'd on his Martial Hand And unto Resignation it constrain'd And Guy of Joppa was the Friend whom He Alone would trust to be his Deputie 21. Next Him his Nephew Baldwin stepp'd into The 〈◊〉 in which He scarcely settled was But 〈◊〉 undermined Him and so At 〈◊〉 Guy crowded into his Place 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Earl of Tripolis so deep That 〈◊〉 in desperate Plotts his Wrath did steep 22. With Suladine He deals and winns so fart On his proud Hopes that He perswades Him to Conjure against the Christians in a Warr Which soon attcheiv'd their fatal Overthrow For Arms and Treason so prevail'd that Guy And Salem with him did Subdued lie 23. Thus Barbarisme afresh did domineer In the Metropolis of Pietie Which roused up the Western Emperous On Pagani me the Power of Zeal to trie Surprised Syria at his Looks did quake And from his Conquests all the Turks flew back 24. But as this generous Frederik in his Might Rode bravely on his Horses fatal Fall Threw down the Conqueror into his Night Of Death When loe his noble Sonn by all The Army chose for General pursued His Fathers Stepps and where he went subdued 25. But what can Virtue doe when Fate withstands Upon this hopefull Sonn of Valour who Had no capacitie to fear the Hands Of Death from any Turk or Pagan Foe The Plague did seize and in his warlik Heart Fix'd its envenomed untimely Dart 26. Then English Richard and French Philip came And with new Western Bravery made good That mighty Loss the Lightning of their Fame Flashed before their Swords and like a Flood Incourag'd by two Torrents meeting They Swallow'd up all that dar'd oppose their Way 27. But cursed Discord the eternal Foe Of high Designs sent Philip back again Yet Richard on to Salem meant to goe Where He with Cyprus bought his right to reign And would had Englands Jarrs not call'd him home Have forced Saladine to make him room 28. Yet Martial Germanie her Nobles sent By
Retirement doth the Garland wear Which therefore onely dear and pretious is To Them who Sons of Heav'n and Wisdome are And which insipid timorous Soules as They Cannot beleeve so never can enjoy 22. Psyche who now conducted was into This solitary State though fervent She Did in Uraniu's Steps desire to goe Yet since it might not on the sudden be Appeas'd the flames of her Impatience by The streaming Comforts of her Privacy 23. If in the tumult of the World She still Had mingled been the Crowd had surely slain her For all Earths furniture and friendlyest Skill Could not with any Solace entertain her Her Heart already was in Heav'n and She Was best where She could least behinde it be 24. And that was here where by no secular Care Or Interruption She molested was But dwelling in a calmie Hemisphear Upon free Meditations Wings could Passe Above the Moon and Sun and Troops of fair Stars which upon Heav'ns Plains embatled are 25. But as at length She gan to pant again For that dear Day of final Conflict She By Phyla'x Promise hoped to obtein And that alone Loe on the sudden He Call d thence by other Buisnesse takes his leave Yet telling her He would not her deceive 26. As She made haste to ask the reason He Took Wing and instantly outfled her Eye A Sigh strait strove to follow Him but She Repulsed it with noble Constancy And cri'd It must not and it shall not grieve me Did Heav'n not call Him Phylax would not leave me 27. Then down upon her humble Knees She fell And casting up ward her most loyal Eyes So long as Thou as truely here dost dwell Sweet Lord said She as in the highest skies Though Phyla'x Wings now shelter not my head Yet thine are alwayes o'r thine Handmayd spred 28. Though pretious is His Company to Me Yet not so dear as is thy blessed Will Though here alone a feeble Thing I be I can and dare be more abandon'd still If mighty Thou who never wilt forsake Me With neerer Losses pleased art to rack Me. 29. Fain would I quit the Debt in which to Thee And mine own Vows I stand fain would I prove By combating with any Misery The Truth of my how deep-obliged love Thou bidd'st Us Follow with our Crosse and loe I in thy bloodyest Steps desire to goe 30. I would not to a Figures Courtesie Beholden be in my Affliction nor To such a tender Crosse condemned be As must be helped by a Metaphor To make its hard Name good for that I 'm sure Was true and real which Thou didst endure 31. No golden Plenty do I crave of Thee No soft Content or silken Peace Impart Those favours unto whome Thou wilt for Me Thy sharpest Blessings best will please my Heart My heart which burneth in profound desire Of some Heroick and consuming fire 32. O do not slay Me by denying Death To suffer want of Suffrings is to Me The onely Dregs which from thy deepest Wrath Can squeazed be from this one Misery Which is the Pith of all I beg repreive I dy in torment if in ease I live 33. Jesus whose Ear is alwayes ope to them Who speak Loves Dialect straight heard her Crie Which made such welcome Musick unto him That her Petition he could not deny His sweetned Bitternesse apace he sent And bless'd her with her begged Punishment 34. Charis accustom'd open House to keep In her free Heart he there shut up so close That now no nimble glimmering Ray could peep Forth from that Nest of Light Nor could she choose But be suspitious that the Spring was dri'd From whence no Emanations did glide 35. When loe the Welkin which before was clear And flowed with the Suns transparent Gold Started from its fair Looks with sudden fear And did in swarthy Beams it selfe enfold Day was abash'd to see how boldly Night Incroach'd upon her and despis'd her Light 36. The Aire presageing what outrageous Pain Would tear her tender weatherbeaten Sides With hollow Groans and Mournings did complain Aforehand of the Storm which as she 〈◊〉 She but awakes and so provokes to rage With louder furie on the whole Earths Stage 37. Forthwith the Clouds came tumbling one upon Anothers back for fear to loose their Place And Office in that blinde Confusion With which the Element now gravid was Close quaking in his Cave lay every Beast And every Bird lamenting in his Nest. 38. Strange Phantoms dressed in a spurious Light Fed by foule Sulphure flashed all about Fell griezly Ghosts arrayed all in Fright Both with themselves and one another fought Whole Troops of gastly Fiends and Furies rent Their Snakes as through the sable Aire they went 39. The labouring Clouds at length with open Crie Brought forth their Griefe and thunder'd their Complaint The most obdurate Rocks could not deny Their Pitty but straight trembled and grew faint So did the massie Earth which quak'd to hear The woefull Outcrie of its Neighbour Sphear 40. Psyche alone as yet refus'd to melt By any tremor onely in her Heart A kinde of Numnesse creeping on she felt 'Cause Charis there forbore her wonted Part When loe an heavy black condensed Cloud Down to the Ground before her face did crow'd 41. Where having op'd its hideous Curtains wide Forth at the Gap a Stream of Lightning broke Whose sudden dazeling though now harmlesse Tide The resolute Mayd with some amazement stroke But straight an Hand reach'd out it Selfe and held A mighty Cup with greater Terrors fill'd 42. It held it to her Lip and what before Was Thunder now prov'd an articulate Voice And bad her drink up all that dreadfull Store Since she had been so venturous in her choise She nothing more than Pleasures fear'd and here Was nothing lesse than what her Heart did fear 43. Thus challeng'd by the Voice whose Sound she knew And durst not disobey She sent her Eye Into the Cup to take a plenal View Of the black Liquor which in it did ly Wherein such boyling Horrors she descried That down she prostrate fell and thus she cried 44. Weak Woman as I was how has my Pride My silly Pride betrayed me to Woe On Confidence's Wings I needs would ride Although I towr'd but to my Overthrow Had I remembred that a Worm I am I ne'r had crawl'd so high to mine own Shame 45. How is it Jesu that Griefs mighty Cup Which thou didst once unto the Bottome drink Is to its woefull Brim now filled up What has renu'd this more than deadly Sink Whose Sorrows though to thine they shallow be Yet are too deep for poor unhappy Me. 46. Alas thy naked Anger here I see In which no glimpse of Favour mixed is What will become of weak abandon'd Me Who in thy Count'nance read mine onely Blisse If I be drowned in this Sea of Night And cover'd up from my dear Spouse's sight 47. Sweet was the Cup of which Uranius drunk For being swallow'd up in Streams of Fire
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 127. Loe here store of Receipts When noble Saul The field his Kingdome and his God had lost No sooner on this Swords Point he did fall But all the Plot of his Mishaps he crost And maugrè all Philistia's Powers fell Down to the Rest of holy Samuel 128. Disgrac'd by Hushai and rejected by Fond Absalom profound 〈◊〉 Himselfe to teskue from this Misery Consulted with his own deep Oracle And found no 〈◊〉 way than by this Rope His Breath his Lite and his Contempt to stop 129. Great Annibal accustom'd long to ride In Triumphs Chariot being overborn By undeserv'd Misfortunes powerfull Tide Least he should prove the Romane Song and 〈◊〉 Sipp'd but a little of that Poison there And went in glorious Peace unto his Beer 130. Renouned Cato when by peevish Fate Thrust into Straits too narrow to contain His mighty Spirit by a little hate Of wretched Life 〈◊〉 Rest did gain There lies the Sword still with his brave blood 〈◊〉 By which he op d the Way and free'd his Soule 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 gallant Antony to overthrow 〈◊〉 that it ever should be said That noble He though conquered would 〈◊〉 He with that Weapon cut th' unhappy Thred Of life and layd him down in 〈◊〉 Bed 132. Say not that these were Men and Female Thou 〈…〉 manage 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Thy 〈◊〉 high Exploits will not allow 〈…〉 Yet could I cite to Thee 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 thy most extreem Distresse 〈◊〉 be thy Warrant for this Manlynesse 133. 〈…〉 rusty with the blood 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Blood of Female Lucrece she 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to her Tears poor Womanish 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 her Directions from Me And with that Instrument broach'd from her Veins 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 wish the blacknesse of her Stains 134. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 when her Disasters grew 〈◊〉 thick and crosse that they had almost shut The way to all Releif found out a new Road unto Death and down her Throat she put The Fire which made Her her own Sacrifice Part of the Coals still in that Casketlies 135. Although sweet Antony was wont to rest In 〈◊〉 s dainty Bosome yet When Losses her beseig'd unto her breast Her lovely breast an odious Aspe she set Which suckd out her sad Life and in that round Box lies the Serpent up in Circles wound 136. As 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 thou hast witnesse by 〈…〉 who 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 by whose vntue she 137. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 But hate not thou thy Selfe cause I am kinde Nor scorn the Bounty of my Pitty Know It stands not with a truely 〈◊〉 minde To fear her own more than anothers Blow If thou 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 be Brave and Die The Life of Fame doth reach Eternitie 140. Come then and since thy Spouse so cruel is Give Him his 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 Him to his face Come choose the Way unto by 〈◊〉 Blisse And 〈◊〉 send 〈◊〉 Self unto the 〈◊〉 Where 〈◊〉 who did this 〈…〉 Safe in the Arms of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 main 141. Thou hast too long already waited on The 〈◊〉 of regardlesse Heav'n since thou Art able by thy valiant Hand alone To give thy Self what that will not allow A Martyrdome's thy Wish and Thou mayst be A Martyr unto thine own Bravery 142. So spake Dispair But Psyche all the 〈◊〉 Stood firm and constant us the resolute Rock For well she understood her fatal Guile And therefore arm'd her Selfe against the Shock Of this Assault which as she made can end She thus rebounded back upon the 〈◊〉 143. 〈◊〉 145. 'T is true my Spouse hath hid his joyous face And sure I have deserv'd He should do so Yet ne'r was Night so long but did give place At length to cheerly Day but that which you Grone in beneath and therefore wonderous fain Into that endlesse Darknesse Me would gain 146. Let Jesus use his Pleasure on me I His Dust and Ashes am and so goe tell Your envious father Belzebub for by His delegation you are come from Hell Tell him though Jesus kill Me yet I must And in his Goodnesse will repose my Trust. 147. The Furie to this Word made no reply But by an hideous Shreik which split the Air And rent the earth rebounding on the Skie And Heart of Hell at once all Thunders were But murmurs to this fragor and the Sea But Whispers when her Billows loudest be 148. Then snatching up her Baggage with one Hand And with the other tearing off her Hair Her Skin her flesh She cursed Jesus and Ran bleeding to the gloomy Cavern where She shreik'd again and shaked Hell before She enter'd through the Gulf of its black Door 149. Great Satan started when the Feind he saw Come thus lamenting home without her Prey Upon her throat he clapp'd his iron Paw And through it tore his Indignations Way For Pain She roared so did He for Spight Whilst all Hell trembled at the dreadfull sight 150. But Psyche though her victorie were great And might in other Hearts have Triumph bred No joy could rellish in her glorious Feat For to all Comfort She was cold and dead And in her Conquest did remain as sad As if her Self had been a Captive made 151. Her woefull Hands She wrung and smote her Breast And cri'd What is this good Successe to Me So long as Heav'n is deaf to my Request So long as I grope in Obscurity So long as from my Spouses Eyes the wide Black Curtains of Disfavour mine do hide 152. Now now alas by dear Experience I Have learn'd that Sweets and Pleasures no where are Truely themselves but in the Treasurie Of Jesu's all-enamoring Countenance there There are they lodg'd alone and hid from Me Who ev'n in Joy finde nought but Misery 153. As in the depth of this Disconsolation She plunged lay and saw no Way to Rise Phylax quite tir'd with his long sequestration From his dear Charge of whose Calamities He jealous was with importunitie Wrested from Heav'n a Licence Her to see 154. No Winde its Wings more stoutly ever stretch'd Or flew with brisker nimblenesse than He But when his Speed this wished Place had reach'd Far from his Wishes He the Place did see Down fell his Plumes and Eys back flew his Blood And He ô how unlike an Angel stood 155. Such havock Grief had made in Psyches face That in her Self her Self He scarce could spie Besides the blessed Beams of heav'nly Grace Which us'd to sparkle in her holy Eye Were damp'd with deadish Dulnesse and no signe Peep'd forth of any Thing within divine 156. This further spurred on his Serch to see What kinde of Weather it was in her Breast Where finding thick and heavy Darknesse He Would to the Centre of her Heart have prest But Charis there so close lay locked up That all his sweet Powers could not charm it ope 157. At this Amazed and amazed too That She who with impatient Love had used To bid Him welcome and his feet to woe With humble Kisses stood like One amused And doubtfull whither now it were not best To throw Neglect on her unsent-for
I seal Keep the Impression safe and so Farewell 82. Away this Word and He together flew For now the King of Soules thought fit to teach Psyche how little of her Heart she knew Who thought it raised past Delusions reach To her own Strength she now was left that she How little it deserv'd that Name might see 83. But when her Guardian now out-flew her View At his most unexpected Parting she At first amazed and aflicted grew But straight revolving that her Heart was free With all Jerusalem to satisfie Its curious fervor she left off to Sigh 84. Then in a modest Veil her face she hid Leaving her Eyes but room her way to see Zeal ti'd unto her feet the Wings of Speed And on she hasted toward Calvarie Her Saviours Pains afresh there to lament Not thinking that to her own Crosse she went 85. Mean while all pious Hearts eternal Foe Who to entrap them keeps perpetual Watch Observing her without her Guardian goe Judg'd this his onely time his Prey to catch He posted to a special Fuâ—ies Den Who started all her Snakes as he came in 86. But as she in ten thousand Hisses spoke Her Soveraigns Welcome Peace my Childe said He Part of my Errand's Haste and cannot brook These Complements Delay I have for Thee A piece of Service which will better prove How much thy Father Satan thou dost love 87. Psyche a Thing to Jesus wonderous dear And therefore full as odious to Me Who by his Love am alwaies pointed where I am to shoot my Spight is that coy she Whom though I sundry Times have baited yet Back in my face the Poyson still she spit 88. I Aphrodisius and Agenor sent And genuine Fiends they prov'd themselves to be About their hellish Work they wisely went And bravely acted all the Treachery And yet good Devills their far-driven Plot. So crafty was that Wench they finish'd not 89. Not that this Craft in her poor mortall Brain Was bred and nurs'd ô no abus'd We are And Heav'n though alwaies We to it give plain Defiance underhand maintains this Warr. There drown'd in Sulphure Thou hadst Psyche seen Had it not for unlukie Phylax been 90. He base unworthy Spirit as He is Not onely stoops to Christ which gallant We Of old disdained and still doe no lesse But with intolerable Flatterie Turns Page to dust and Ashes and doth bow From Heav'n to wait on this vile Worme below 91. Had He not better nobly Faln with Us And never have debas'd his High-born Mind Then crouch and sneak and currie favour thus Of the proud Tyrant Can an Angell finde It worth Christs Favour to be humbled down Far more below himselfe than We are thrown 92. For my part if I freely were to choose I would accept the bottome of my Hell And hug Damnation e'r I would with those Ignoble Sons of Earth a Servant d well Those Guardian Angels think We Cursed be Fools who perceive not their own Misery 93. They boast Heav'ns King 's their Soveraign and I Take the confessing Vassals at their Word But I 'l maintain it greater Dignity To have Him for my Foe than for my Lord They brag that Heav'ns their own Blisse's Hill Why I have more than so I have my Will 94. But now my Daughter Phylax is away His servile Diligence thou needst not fear Psyche is left unto her Selfe to day And therefore unto Us if thou tak'st Care To lay thy Plots aright for thine they be On which I build my Hopes of Victory 95. She now is on her way to Calvary The Hill which more than Heav'n it selfe I hate And have no minde in person to come nie That cursed Place It stands not with the State And honour of Imperiall Lucifer To smell the 〈◊〉 of Jesus Sepulchre 96. But for thy Fathers sake and service Thou Shalt stop thy Nose and venture to goe thither Where Thou a subtile Chain of Snakes shalt throw About that peevish Wench to hale her hither So at her and her cheated Spouse both I And thou will laugh unto Eternity 97. His foaming Lips He closed here and beat The flood of flaming Sulphure back into His monstrous Throat Straitat his burning Feet His damned Daughter took her leave to goe And with stout Fury rushed through the Earth And mingled with the Aire as she brake forth 98. In this she flew above Suspitions Eye And undiscerned shot into the Breasts Of divers Mortals where she formerly Had entertainment found But now her Nests She fethered anew with greater Store Of viperous Pow'rs than she left there before 99. Such was her dangerous Policie that she For Psyche layd her Net in others Hearts Which she made lovely by the bravery Of most refined sublimated Arts No fowler e'r us'd such allureing Ways To charm poor Birds by treacherous 〈◊〉 100. For though she were the very Centre where The Lines of all Deformities did meet The Looks of Beauty she knew how to wear And make her Horridnesse appear so sweet That she the wisest and most peircing Eyes Had often blinded by her Fallacies 101. But now the Virgin at the dolefull Mount Arrived was where in the reverend place Of the deer Crosses Foot she made account To poure her Vowes But there before Her was A youthfull Man who prepossess'd her room And thither of her errand seem'd to come 102. His Looks though guilty of few years were yet Grown pale and old with pious Gravity His sober Garb was such as best might fit Those who not spruce and brave but cloth'd would be His Body thin but thick his 〈◊〉 which grown To its full length did at his back flow down 103. Upon the ground He lay and beat his Breast Which echoed back the Blows with Sighs groans At length with iterated Knocking 's prest It yeelded forth these Ejulations O Geief and Pains had you no other Heart But His to make the Sink of all your Smart 104. That Heart which all of Sweetnesse moulded was That Heart where Heav'n found its Epitomie That Heart the fountain of all softest Grace That heart where all the Worlds best Life did lie The heart of Jesus here a boistrous Sigh Came blusting out and breaking off his Crie 105. But then recovering his Tongue again Alas said He and why are you unjust Why from this Breast of mine doe you abstein Which all your utmost stings doth merit Must He who deserv's the best of Joys alone Inherit all the depth of Passion 106. Are there no Whipps no Thorns no Nailes for Me May these my youthfull shoulders bear no Crosse Is there no Portion of Misery Left for my high Desert did He engrosse What sinfull I had better Title to Sure this at least shall be my Grief and Woe 107. As when the hollow Windes have drove together Black lagging Clowds the gravid vapors break With their own weight and poure the rainey Wether Down through the gloomy Air So on his Cheek His labouring Eys their fertile
streams let flow Which his tempestuous grief did thither blow 108. And now his Lips no more had power to speak In Zealous Kisses He does them imploy He kiss'd the Soile where once that Blood did reek Which all the Earths Redemption did pay And every Kisse did new Desire beget Of more affectionate Imbracing it 109. Psyche observing his sweet Passion swell With such Devotion soon forgot her own And with the Stranger in such love she fell That at his feet her self she bowed down She bowed down and little thought that then She stoop'd to enter the forbidden Gin. 110. But as the wary Seaman when He spies The amiable Mermaid floating nie Turns from the dangerous Bait his jealous Eyes Hoiseth his sail up and his Oars doth plie So this Devoto seeing Psyche there Confess'd and fortifi'd his holy fear 111. For starting at the unexpected sight Shield me my blessed Guardian said He Satan who doth with everlasting spight Disturb the Course of Zealous Piety Hath to facilitate my molestation In this fair Damosell sent me my Temptation 112. But whosoe'r thou art goe seek thy Prey Where rampant Lust in furious Bonfires reigns Thy Beauties Lustre must not thaw its way Thorow my tame and now long-cooled veins How know I but thou art some fair dress'd Feind To make Me foule and here Himself He sign'd 113. Ravish'd with this Religious Jealousie Sweet Sir said Psyche I was hither come Upon that errand which your Piety Hath here dispatched in that very room I purpos'd my devoted sighs to blow And make mine Eyes their liquid Dutie know 114. My bounteous Lord took my Intent I see For actual Deed and hath rewarded it He knew no blessing would more welcome be Unto my Heart then this which here I met And this art Thou in whom I plainly read The love of Him of whom my soul is Head 115. I heard thy holy Sighs and hearty Grones As towards Heav'n from thy Sweet Breast they flew I heard thy generous Lamentations And by those zealous Characters I knew That Jesus had by his Soule-conquering Dart Engrav'd Heav'ns best impression on thy Heart 116. I thank Thee that thou wert of Me afrayd For much I reverence that pious fear Yet be assured thou hast met a Maid In whom no Embers of black fervor are No no my Heart will no such Guests allow For it too well doth Aphrodisim know 117. Indeed I might have been what you suspected Foule Satans Agent and a feind of Hell Had our deer Lord the care of Me neglected And not seal'd sure on mine his blessed Will And so might'st Thou had He not spread above Thy helplesse head the Banner of his Love 118. That Love which wheresoe'r I finde it shine Doth humble Reverence from my heart command Wonder not at my Case but make it thine And think how thou could'st shun or how withstand Thy Charming Self If I immodest be Like Love will pardon Loves Immodestie 119. Yet 't is no Boldnes to admire the Sunn To love the starrs and what more lovely is Their Sovercign and ours what I have done To Thee great Jesus gave me leave to his Own Self to doe Wherefore no more admire That I grow warm now I come neer thy fire 120. My Warmth is pure as is its spring in thee I mix'd it not at all with other fires And onely on thy Zealous Pietie I feast the Hunger of my chaste Desires I am a stranger here and hither come On Loves deer businesse from my British Home 121. But in this Land of Holinesse I meet Such deer Remembrances of Heav'n that I Desire my native Albion to forget And where my Saviour did both live and die Me thinks I heer am neerest Him who is Whither I live or die mine onely Blisse 122. Yet some Acquaintance and Companion I Would gladly gain with whom my foul might live In holy freindships sweet society And mutual Heats of Zeal from Him receive Heav'n puts you in my way and if you be What you appear you will be kinde to Me. 123. This said sometimes to Him her pleading Eye Sometimes to Heav'n She turn'd and by that mute But most mysterious Importunity Sollicited her earnest bashfull suit Urging by this her yeelding silence more Strong Arguments than she had spoke before 124. Mov'd with her soft Expressions and her Tears For these flow'd out as thick and sweet as they The Man gives credit unto both and cheers His clowded Looks and cries O happy Day Which hast discover'd unto Me a Breast Of Heav'ns pure dove the chaste unspotted Nest. 125. Pardon dear Stranger pardon my Mistake And be no longer in that Name to me What recompence I can I vow to make To thy misprised slandered Pietie I at thy bounteous Offer catch and will Both thy Desire and mine own Joyes fulfill 126. Rare are those friends as Birds of Paradise In this unworthy world but seldome seen Whose Harts in one no other Cement ties But heav'nly Zeal and Love and had I been As good as I am vile thy Offer were Worthy to be unto my Soule most deer 127. If by the royall Law of our great Lord Pretious in our esteem our Foes must be O what Embraces must We then afford To them who Us out vie in Charitie Come gentle Soule and this chaste Token take That to thy Wish my heart I pliant make 128. Here by an Holy Kisse for that of old The Symbole was of Christian Consent He seal d his Words then reverently took hold Of her right Hand and down the Mountain went Leading Her to his Dwelling whither she Went cheerly on fearing no Treacherie 129. Into the Vulturs Nest thus slies the Dove Thus to the smiling Shelfs the Ship doth run The stranger thus to the enchanted Grove Goes for delight Thus to the fatal Den Of the fair tongu'd Hyoena skips the Lamb The Childe thus leaps into the playing flame 130. Come to his House Authades for his Name Was so pray's Psyche not to take it ill That since she in a busy season came His sacred Office He did first fulfill Before on her He waited But said He The work though great will soon dispatched be 131. In his eighth journey Phoebus now did run Since his first-born Authades did enjoy Who by the rule of his Religion Was bound to circumcise the Childe that Day Which with a consecrated knife of stone He did and gave his own name to his Son 132. The Infants Wound the softer heart did slay Of Psyche who strait wrep'd and knock'd her breast And then with indignation turn'd away But cunning He perceiving how his Guest Dis-rellished her welcome to her stepp'd And 〈◊〉 first demanded why shee weep'd 133. In sullen silence she made her Replie Compos'd of Frowns and of compleat disdain Till forc'd by his milde Importunitie She gave her angry Tongue a liberal Rein Shame on my credulous Love which thus said she Bewithc'd me to the Den of Heresie 134. Are you