Monsters chang'd the lustfull twain Her peerlesse forme and vertues do inspire My bosome with a holy warming fire Emboldning me whom Fortune barr'd to climbe The Muses Mountains in my Sylvan-rime To sing her prayses which will duâ—e even Longer on Earth then shining Lamps in Heaven And I admire her Legend hath so long Poets so plenteous never yet been sung Susanna that eternall Saintly thing Merits a worthier Muse than mine to sing Her honour'd Fame my boldnesse should be dumbe In this attempt saving in dayes to come My mean untutor'd pains perchance may call More learned men to come and mend it all Sect. I. ARGUMENT In Babylon liv's Ioachim Blessings God showrs downe on him Living single Noble Lords Would wâ—â—e him he dislikes their words ON Shinar â—plains where haughty Ninus would His Babel-tow'r to heaven should be extoll'd Stands scituaâ—â— within a wall of stone Bitumenate the City Babylon Where dwell'd an Hebrew Lord of â—aintlesse fame And high descent Lord Ioachim by name A man to whom the Governour of heavâ—â— Vertue and riches bounteously had given Slighted their profer'd Virgins nor did heâ— Regard their portions nor their pedigree Hearing his wise forewarning parents say How many perils in such wedding lay He vow'd to marry but to marry one Of Iudah's Tribe and not of Babylon MEDIT. I. Res est solliciti plena timoris amor PRide and Idolatry are Babel's sinnes Whence all the woe of Sion still beginnes He that from Babylon a good wife take's Snatcheth an Eeele out of a bag of Snakes Before the floud good Fathers by divine Instinct of goodnesse did their sonnes confine By marriage not to mingle with the straine Of feminines sprung from condemned Caine Who tempted men to fall from God above Insteed of him unliving Gods to love The man that wives with an Idolatresse Marries temptation never wants distresse Curst is such wedding to declare how foule Such wedding render's man's eternall soule God made men's wives a monstrous brood bring forth Of ugly Giants to amaze the Earth Who for their pride and cruell acts remov'd 'Mongst men with men of the old world were drownd And who have so been married since the flood Begotten have a Gigantean brood Such Nimrod was such were his workers on The lucklesse Towre of confusion Of whom old Bards ingeniously did faine To warre with Heaven fals-thirsting thereto raigne Heaping huge hils on hils and chambring on To pull Iove downe from his supernall throne Cruell Idolatry and Pride are Twins Which God abhorres too seldome pardon'd sins Th' one banisht Angels from the Courts of Heaven T'other hath Kings of Diadems bereaven Both making children of the holy lands Distressed bondmen in Chaldean bands How happen's then that any captive-lord In Babylon with blessings should be stor'd He that from heaven sent hels infernalâ— slashes On sinne-blind Sodome burn'd to dust and ashes For unrepented crimes hath also given To penitents ' midst earthly hell a heaven He is the true God when his people turnes Doth raine downe blessings and his scourges burnes Else Ioachim had knowne no day of mirth In Babylon nor no such heav'n on earth God thinks on kindnesse when for sinnes he scatters The sonnes of Sion among many waters Rods for amendment sending upon those Which sleepe in sinne he wakens them with woes When sinners turne to him they doe not want Vineyards he gives which they did never plant And corne-full acres which they have not sowne And townes of strangers giv'n them for their owne Let no man trust in sinne nor though sinne-driven From mans societie despaire in heaven For God on a sinne banisht man put on A Crowne imperiall in great Babylon Making him after for presumptuous ills Graze among Cattell on a thousand hills And after that gave him his Crowne againe To make him know a King of Kings doth raigne Seâ—â— II. ARGUMENT Babel Ladies try their 〈◊〉 To gâ—ine Lâ—rd Ioachims good will Susan who deserves the Bayâ—s Winnes his love her beauties praise NOw when the Babylonian Lords could not Tangle Lord Ioâ—chim in Loves Gordian knot When they perceiv'd 't would be in vaine for them To turne unto their beâ—t his passion-streame They all suâ—ceast their hopelesse suits to moue Leaving him freedome to select his love But now some Feminines of Babylon To gaine his love did gay adornments d'on They went apparrell'd in the Hebrew fashion Swelling their minds with vaine imagination This loveâ— now attendeth Time to â—inde Wherin his Love should know his loving mind The youthfull Lady marriageable growne Vertue and Beauty gaind her such â—â—downe That ev'ry man informed of her Name Farre in the Orient spred her new-borne fame For unto her this attribute was given Susan the faire who feares the God of heaven Her forme and vertue interblending raies Transplended theirs that liv'd before her daies Before her such a beauty was not seene Within the City of King Ninus Queene Cleerely in whose complexion glory shone Like Titan in serenest Horizon Beyond expression beautifull her Nation Admir'd her forme with more than admiration Some paralell her by the fond compare Of mundane things some call her Phoenix faire Some said her front seem'd like an Iv'rie hill Whereon some god did Nard and Amber spill Her lovely cheeks resembling summer-fields Which damaske-rose and silver lilly yeelds Her haires the golden threads or in the skien Like bright Apollo's morning-beames hereyn Sparkling like Diamonds or stars that shone With influence to comfort lookers on Others affirme her head 's a little heaven Imperiall where blessed Angels liven Her breathing like perfumed wind which moves In balmy sweet Aegyptian autumne-groves Her teeth like orient pearle whose comly rows Her lips like Rubie very seldome showes In her discourse whose voyce to stâ—nders by Soom'd like supernal seav'n-spheer'd harmony Some said her necke a turret seem'd of one Smooth pollisht snow-white Alablaster-stone And that the same for evermore inzon'd A Carquenet of costly diamond Her paps two Swan-down worlds that each containes Like Rivolets bright Azure branched veines Such kinde of commendation did but staine Her holy count'nance in a purer graine Then blushing rose then Vespers crimson skie Then snow-bals tincted with vermilion dye What man soe're Susanna's praise would sing Had need carouse the Helliconian spring Had need Arion's silver Harpe and voice Or of King Davids a diviner choice Else he can never truly blazon forth Sufficient praises of Susanna's worth MEDIT. II. Auri sacra fames WHen men on plenti's swelling Ocean saile Attended on with honour's windy gale Worldlings will be their servants earthly treasure Attracteth friends and momentany pleasure Women to wealthy men conjoyne alone Like steele unto Septentrionall stone If pleased Fortune's Sunny beamlings shine Serenely on some boon estate of thine If bounteous heavens builder daine to â—hrow His left-hand-blessings on thy crowned brow Thou shalt not want sufficient friends that will Augment the portion of thy plenty still Then Iove-like thou in welcome-golden showre
lake Of common shame and folly bars our blisse Remember we our novell case in this We have imparadis'd our best affection Within the Eden of her best complexion Let us be prudent still and we shall find A mooting time to new informe her mind What if Susanna be so seeming chast So carefull to conserve fond honours blast That she about the town will never rome But in her Palace live immur'd at home What if she walke but in her gardens we Have leave to walke in them aswell as she What if a seeming Angell we shall prove Her woman by obtaining of her love Boldnesse beseemeth lovers best and fortune Then â—et us watch her Gardens 't is a common Custome observ'd among the Hebrew women To bath her Iv'ry limbs if we out-find Her bathing there there she discerns our mind Though Iudges we 'll turn Sentinels for love This noble passion oft transformed Iove In her white Conscience-book we 'll register Our warme affections we deserve not her If we delay this houre let us begin Demurres in love are more the mortall sin Doubtlesse Diana-like she â—aves her limbes In yonder Fountain on whose floury brims May we surprize her and possesse our pleasure In rifling up dame Venus hidden treasure If in our aidance Heav'n Gods will not bow Help us you Acharontish gods below We can beguile if holpen but by you Daughters of Iacob and of Iudah too MEDIT. VI. Heu vivunt homines tanquam mors nulla sequatur BElial and all his babes are busie still In darksome earth to do their pranks of ill And what the Dev'll dare scanâ— presume to doe That ev'll he tempts ungodly men unto The glorious Angels dare not pâ—wsing stand But what God will 's performe it out of hand The whirling spheares with armies of the heaven Observe the statutes God to them hath given The Skie the Earth the Ocean ev'ry thing Nay fiends themselves obey th' eternall King Dumbe creatures of this world fulfill the word And will of man their dominering Lord The brutish cattell do what them behove But sinfull men most disobedient prove They worse then all things else disdain to follow The Lord of all things all his Lawes unhallow And but for nothing in an angry mood They sometimes swim in streames of Abel's blood And for base lucre germane brothers slay The Devils have more feare and faith than they â—ome of them make a god of gold and some With giddy cups of Atheisme overcome Beleeve blind Fortune wrought this goodly frame That all contains and governeth the same Another kind remayn befool'd in evils Supposing neither Deity nor Devils Counting Religion and the holy Law But wiles to keep the wilfull world in awe Some others deeme death naturally came To ev'ry thing beneath the Cynthian flame Yet living so as they should never drink The cup of death nor sleep on Lethe-brink They fearelesse sin untill by death th' are sent Vnto infernall vales where Dathan went With his companions there 's no wrath to come As they beleeve soule 's blisse nor day of doome But ev'ry nullifidian which denies The resurrection from the dead shall rise And lastly heareth Archangel'â— trumpet summon To heav'ns chiefe sesâ—ions all the world in common Platonian wisemen when the world is done Shall come in judgment of the Virgins sonne At which great day the round enflaming earth The boyling Sea and burning hell beneath Shall vomit up their dead whose spirits shall In quickned corps be re-invested all All Naâ—ions shall at heav'ns throne appeare To yeeld account how they have lived here The King of glories at whose dexter-hand Thousands of thousands Saints and Angels standâ— Shall bend the shining heavens downe and come To render to the live and dead men doome Then righteous soules shall evermore be blest With Eulogâ—es to everlasting rest May I beleeve while I have life and breath That our dead bodies doe but sleep in death Vntill that glorious day that after then God's Paradâ—se just ones obtain agen For for the righteous Sions Lambe was kill'd Yer God foundations of the world did build But woe to them and many woes remayn That are miswandred in the wayes of Cain That by deceitfulnesse of Balam's hire Are tumbled down to Hel's Gehinnâ—â—-fire That in gainsayings of rebellious Core Are falne down and lost for evermore For they are stones in hospitable feasts Abominable more than any beasts Roaring like waves which Satan puts in â—â—tion To foame out shame on sin's bloud-colour'd Ocean And like to errant Stars bereav'n of light Reserv'd in darknesse for the darkest night Sect VII ARGUMENT Susanna bathes her in a Spring Of her Gardens where birds sing Neere which enamour'd Elders were Enambusht they surprise her there VPon a day Susanna walkt alone Save two yong damsels her attending on Into her gardens shady woods and bowers T' enjoy the blisse of vacant ev'ning houres To heare the Quiristers of Nature sing Their dulcet-tunes unto the dancing spring To heare the shrill sweet Philomel of May Warble forth sweet notes on a thorny spray Which birds she listening to them ran on still In various quav'rings of unmated skill Chanting their silver-ditties more and more And sweetlier sang than they had sung before Tuning through their winde-instrumentall throats Quaint diapasons of well sounding notes Which Musicke repercust by rocks and rils Sported nymph-Eccho in the boschy hils In her peramble loe the blossom'd trees With hony-dews imploy the humming bees And painted trouts in clearest fish-ponds play Above the water in a shining day There softer aires perfum'd by many flowers Which flourished through May as mid-night-showres Sweetned the bowers of her sweet meditation Pleasing her soule in heavenly contemplation Where lustfull Elders cunningly lay hidden To theeve away the onely fruit forbidden Now when she had perambulated round As she accustom'd her small Eden-ground She most unhappily came down to coole Her curious body in a chrystall poole The sultry time inviting to the same Lest purest bloud within her veines inflame She little weening what bold serpents lay Lurking to venter on so boon a pray Sent both her maidens that untir'd her in To fetch sweet washbals for her silken skinne Who brought the same returning in they barr'd Her garden doores as she had given word And then in veils with linnen-syndons dight Whose perfect hew out-shone the milken white Gently she waded from the fountaine brimmes Where water nymphs embrac'd her Iv'ry limbs The day was cleere and radiant Titans eâ—'n Did scantly through o'reshading arbors shine No eye she deem'd but heav'ns immortall one Discernd her in that secret fount alone She upright standing wheâ— false Elders ey'd her Like faire Diana when Actâ—on spi'd her Who wont while bathing in the silver spring This sequent Psalme most frequently to sing PSAL. 137. Psalmus comes optimus WHen by the flouds of Babylon We sate us downe did flow Flouds from our eyes to pender â—n Our mother Sion's 〈◊〉 As for our Harps we hanged
to her father's house Commanding upon pain of fines that none Should speak with her til morning Phoebus shone Where she good heart lie's pickled up in teares While to her parents she her conscience cleeres The vulgar people these aspersions cast Susanna is more beautifull then chast And as Diana kist with loving skill Shepheard Endimion upon Latmos hill Susanna so in wanton-bowers did spend Her houres in dalliance with a nimble friend These torrents of unjust defame and wrongs Of derogating vulgar-taunting tongues Like swelling flouds that to the Ocean roule Adde fresher troubles to her vexed soule Some men of Babylon begin to scorn Lord Ioachim pointing at him the horn But his true friends coÌ„joyn'd with him in prayer Knowing Susanna chast as she is faire They in compassion of this Innocent A silver-sea in brinish showers spent Till sable night had with her Ebon-robe Darkned the surface of this earthen Globe And drowsie Morpheus with his leaden key Had lockt the doores of many a mortall eye Night being waxen old and drunk with teares No golden star was seen to gild the Spheares Titan to their Antipodites being gone To luminate another Horizon Now did these Elders hold a parolment To practise mischiefe ' gainst this innocent Where they determin'd when the morning came They would condemne this good distressed dame So they departed bed-wards guilty feares Ringing like larums in their frightned eares In them the terrours of th' internall worme Ten thousand kinds of living deaths did forme Dissembling Satan tempting them 'till day To have them take Susannas life away Which they resolv'd yet did their bosomes quake Fearing of men whom they afraid should make MEDIT. IX Ludit in humanis divina potentia rebus WHat shall I laugh that Fortune like a ball Bandies the Globe of this inconstant All Shall loud Abderian laughter fill my tongue Or shall I sing Ephesian mourning song Because the world 's a wel concordant jarre Like fained Perseus wedding bringing warre Nothing subsists beneath the Cynthian flame But somewhat live's to terrifie the same The Emperour and Peazant have their foes Aswell as friends world's Epidemick woee And casuall joyes denoting great men know Few reall friends from friends in fained show Too day unconstant worldlings will dispraise Whom they to morrow to the Heavens raise And presently their judgements will condemne The persons whilome in esteeme of them 'T is necessary that offences come But woe and many woes to them by whom 'T were better they with milstones heavy tied About their necks had in the Ocean died 'T is necessary that offences come To make us mindfull of supernall home Should be continuall Summer all things faire And plentifull few soules for heav'n would care Should Fortune cheere us with still smiling eye We should condoat on this vain world and die Therefore all things beneath-expansed Heaven God hath to change and revolution given The Sun attain'd to his Meridian throne Declines again till he from thence be gone The gentle calmes bring rougher stormes and all Hot gleames of Titan cause cold showers to fall Mild Zeph'ry Summer partâ—s in Summers roome I hill Winter with Aeolian rufflers come Age follow 's youth death life night followes day So vanisheth world's glory clean away Calamity and comfort comes and goes From man to man like Neptune's ebbe and flowes Now caroll we like Nightingales of May Anon like Pellicans we pine away In humane things a pow'r divine doth play This changfull world attend's her changing day We prostrate lie on dunghils and anon Ascend in triumph upon Honour's throne Earth-joyes are false they bid us soon adue Her during-sorrowes are most certain true Our wise forefathers doted not on this Deceitfull round where Satan's kingdome is Though living in the golden age of joy Hundreds of yeeres they counted earth a toy But in these Iron-generations some Prize it on whom world's worser ends are come My soule contemnes this world which over flowes Me like a Sea with tydes of briny woes Where griefe 's Vorago's upon either hand Worser then Scylla with Charybdis stand Lord daigne we may by trouble-stormes 〈◊〉 Hence to our soule-contenting rest in heaven Sith we to Eden must through Bochim goe Thy will be done deere God that wil 's it so For one sweet day within the Courts of Heaven Will recompence all torts on earth receiven Sect. X. ARGUMENT Susan arraign'd the Bench before Falsly accus'd to be a whore Iudgment against her rashly given She prayes unto the Iudge of Heaven WHen day had with his early dawning light Earth uninvelopt from the cloudy night And rising Titan gloriously had shon Upon the golden Tow'rs of Babylon Firing the pine-trees on the Eastern Mountains Dancing a while on warme Eoan Fountains These scarlet-judges with their purple-brothers With swarmes of Babylonians Iewes and others Assemble in Lord Ioachim's great Hall Where to the Bar Susanna they do call Who thither comes and on her train attends 〈…〉 friends 〈…〉 in that place to wrong That places Owner whose mild kindnesse long There suffred them to make a Senat-roome O Devillish to pronounce a murdrous doome A sentence there to rifle her of Fame And in the Scroll of death describe her name Which in life's golden roll Angels on high Fore-registred above the shining skie Hence gentle eyes your teares again will drown Her story teer-already overflown The veile which modest Hebrew-women weare They gave command should be ta'ne from her there Forgetting all humanity and duty To glut their wicked eyes upon her beauty The sight whereof transpierced soules so deep All her spectators could not choose but weep The most obdurate Hinds in all that Nation Shed plenteous teares in this collachrimation Such sighes and grones came from her kindred pale As once were heard in Hadadeimmon-vale When as she heav'nwards looking Elders lai'd Their cursed hands upon her head and said Her accusation and condemnation AS we two were in Ioachim's garden-places One to another putting doubtfull cases Susanna with two Damsels yesterday Came there to walk sending her Maids away Who shut her Garden-dores and inwards went Then came a young man from enambushment Unto Susanna we beheld them in The Goatish action of Venerian sinne Which thing perceiving gently we drew neere If possibly to apprehend him there But the young Ruffian spying us forsook His Paramour and to his heels betook Him suddenly whom we persu'd a main With loudest hubbubs that he might be tane For he was lusty nimbler far then we And from us through the upper doore went he So he escapt this apprehended woman Deni'd the Fact affirming there was no man And urg'd by us disdained to confesse The runnaway's Name unto which wickednes She multiplieth more saying to wit We two with her Adult'ry would commit Thus scandall bringing on us but my Lords As there 's a powre divine discerning words And deeds of Mortals we prolate no lies T' is true so doom us he that fram'd the skies Here at the
Fortune their foe did whilome smiling stand These who but late unjustly doom'd the just Iustly are now condemn'd and die they must No follower of theirs but nimbly flees Away from them as Cattell flie from trees Strucken by stones of thunder's potent 〈◊〉 Which splinter tallest 〈…〉 Now are they prison'd in a common Iayle Where they accusing stars of heav'n raile On one another Fortune they do ban Blaming themselves cursing the foe of man Dog-like they grin and grovell on the ground Uâ—-lockt in chains in darkest dungeons bound Their friends forsook them not the gentlest eye One dropling spill'd at their just misery Soon they became a scorning block of men Th'out-scouring refuse of all Nations thâ—â— Ballads were soon compos'd of them and sung By squallid Rag-men in the vulgar-thâ—ong Drunkards with Mâ—â—â—call Pantamini Begot pastime to act 〈◊〉 â—â—famy They were entangled in the private 〈◊〉 Which for Susanna's soule they did prepare And unto desperation busie Devils Tormented them with their internall evils Iaylors of ornaments did quite deprive them Out-bringing them for hangmen to unlive them The vulgar multitudes unpave the streets Arming their fury with what e're it meets They raye with vengeance running to and fro 〈…〉 Wolves and â—â—gers wont to do Rending the Purple garments from their backs They drag them to the execution stakes Where their high fury soon descend's upon Their spightfull Muâ—â—ians in a storm of stone Which battred them to pieces flesh and bones Their bâ—oâ—d and marrow did besmear the stones 〈◊〉 of their dismemberd limbes were thrown For portion to the Dogs of Babylon So diâ—de these men in never dying â—hame Yeelding their soules to never-ending â—lame Leaving behind abominable stories Of barb'rous actions and foolisht glories And frends 〈◊〉 do haunt they say The lodging chambers where those Elders lay MEDIT. XV. Par nulla figura Gehennae HEll and her torment is no fained thing Though some suppose it but a conscience-sting Aegypt where plagues and darknesse cover'd all Was but a shadow of infernall vale Which Tophet is of old ordain'd for them That shall be banisht new Hierusalem Out of whose torment there is no exemption Of soules condemn'd in Hell is no redemption Some men of all vocations barr'd from blisse Of heav'n descend unto the courts of Dis. There mightiest tyrants with their vilest groomes Keepe company there are no changing roomes Iudges and Catch-poles in infernall Iayle Conchain'd together thence expect no baile The complementall Courtier with the Clown In nakednesse there wanders up and down There triple-crowned Popes in sable Cell With shaveling Priests and cowled Friers dweâ—â— There Cardinals and Bald-pate-Iesuits barke In thickest darknesse whose designes were darke There Politicians with Buffoones shake hands Rich money-mongers enter into bands With broaking Scriv'nors Mountebanks renown'd Who send old Charon soules in potions drown'd And law-concealers with their client-clowns Compleat the cry with Dogs on Stygian downs The Prince and peazant pomplesse there remayn The mightiest Monarch like the meanest swaine Ione and her painted Lady there may well Be equall'd by comparison in Hell Lais and the low-priz'd Harlot life being done Are there incloystred with the Roman Nun. Where wicked people of what ere professions All in confusion suffer for transgressions More horrid torments then as Poets faine Doth ever-pining Tantalus sustaine Or Ixion turn'd upon a running wheele Whose giddy brain persues his flying heele Or Sisyphus though he etern'ly growne Vnder the burden of a falling stone Or liver-gnawâ— Prometheus or all legions Tortur'd by Furies in their Stygian regions O dreadfull Hell in thy Chimerian wombe Shall never true-repentant sinners come Nor into Limbo nor in Purgatory For Sion's Lambe hath them redeem'd to glory Glory to him be giv'n that will not make The wicked innocent nor Saints forsake Be blest th' eternall Shepheard which doth keepe From Wolves infernall his elected sheepe And from this wildernesse of sin them brings To heav'nly Canaan's ever-living springs Sect XVI ARGUMENT For Susan's sake a gen'rall joy In Babylon 't is holy day The Nobles of the City come To comfort her and bring her home THe Sun that whisome hid his shining face With gladning beames illumines ev'ry place The noblest of the Babylonian trains Deck her with Orient stones with golden chains With Gems and Iewels that belong to honour Princes like servants did attend upon her And as they went the goodly streets along The wondring people to behold her throng Such cheerfull vigour hath not since been seen In eyes of mortals nor before had been Her way with flowers joyfull Virgins strew Envy might burst at such a pompous crew From window-tops and tops of houses came Glad acclamations to Susanna's name The people climb'd on high and ev'ry thing Seem'd chast Susanna's victory to sing All men for her deliverance gave glory To him that raignes in heav'ns supernall story The gen'rall gladnesse of that day proclaime Bonfires at ev'ry Townsman's doore that flame They made the solemne-tuned Cymbals round About the City give harmonious sound The Hebrewes did exult with Harpe and voice Rebecks and Timbrels ratifi'd their joyes The Provinces did of her honour ring The merry people tosse their caps and sing The Princes vow'd to have her noble name Written in Books of sempiternall Fame The thrice three sisters of the holy Mountains Were invocated from Hyantian Fountains To tune her laud unto mellifluous strains Of Dulcimer and Viols twined veins Black Cypres from her fairnes froÌ„t was thrown In place whereof flourisht the Daphnean Crown Chaplets of conqu'ring palm she wore upon her Temples Maidens caroll'd forth her honour The honour'd Crowns of Olive Palme Bay Never more honour'd then upon that day The Hebrew-singing Damsels warbled forth Renowned songs of her triumphant worth Upon Shosannim they excellâ—d indeed And unto Susan's sweeter praise agreed Apollo's heires with odour'd garlands drest In decent-maner marcht before the rest Them leading on and with their fluent tongues They chaunted forth Pierian maiden-songs Who in her Bay-strow'n circuit did bestrew Her prayse in papers for the world to view The best Musicians of those times did bring Their better skill Susanna's prayse to sing And her thanksgiving parents full of mirth Triumphed in the Lord of heav'n and earth Had I an hundred tongues I could not tell What joyfulnesse her noble friends befell Whose dancing hearts and hands with gladnesse stir When no dishonesty was found in her Her happy selfe freed from inhumane wrongs Prays'd God in Psalmes in Hymnes in Saintly Songs MEDIT. XVI Indomita virtus WIth crowns adorn'd bedeckt with jewels rare Mocking Death-jawes and conquering despaire Triumphing on her child-confounded foes Out-wearing Infamy o'recomming woes Doth Susan so returning mock the grave Such honour all the Saints of heaven have Earth's golden crowns are earnest unto them Of glorie 's crowns in new Hierusalem For unto Saints on earth is vertue given To be their conduct in the way of Heaven The deare memoriall of vertue sure
adorn'd with polisht Iv'ry posts And with refined gold of Ophir-coasts Gardens and Orchards they had many a one And such as then were parallel'd by none Surrounded with Bitumen'd walls of stone Gardens they had in ev'ry moneth were green Where trees and herbs were still in glory seen Where Nightingales continuall songs did sing Because they found there a continuall spring There you in winter-gardens might behold Sweeâ— Marjorams some green some like gold There Lavender and full-blown Daffadill Purple-vein'd Vi'lets Couslips Cammomill There verdant herbs there blossom'd Rosemary Flourisht with the immortall Daphnean tree In Winter-moneths there might you gather posies Of Gillowâ—â—â—w is and pretty Prime-â—oses There plushen-pasies woodbine-double flowers And brables sweet deckt Flora's winter-bowers There Periwincles Germander and Lillies With Flags aspir'd behind Nardissâ—â— Dillies There lofty Firre-trees Pink like leaved Pine Pomecitron-trees and trees which Ivâ—es twine There berrâ—â—d Hollyes Iuniper and Ew With neverâ—more decaying Boxtrees grew There Orenge Limon Palm Pomegâ—anad 〈◊〉 Cypresse and shady Mirtle-trees were seen There many plants bearing no fruit but flowres By art were chang'd to eye contenting bowres There Labyrinths and many Mazes were A little Wildernesse of trees was there All which in Winter-gardens seemed gay As greenest Elme-trees in the moneth of May. There the Mezerion-plants on high did bloome From plants and hearbs such spicy winds would come That you would think had you been there there moves Autumnall ayres of blest Arabian groves To say what hearbs what plants and odours fill Their Summer-grounds 〈◊〉 my weaker The Graciâ—◠〈…〉 of the glories skil Within those places wrote Elizian stories Where Pleiades celestiall influences Bred orient colour'd flowres to cheer the sences And to content the Spirits there did stand The owner's study on a knowle of land Where the desilience of argentine-streames Enlightned it with Sols reniding beames Thrice happy man he did enjoy the pleasure Of almost Eden in the highest measure That any man since Adam fell obtein'd In Regions where Eâ—an Monarchs raign'd Faire Stillatories he had builded there Where Flora's vertuall powers did appeare But beautifull Susanna Io chiâ—â— Erde More pleasant was then all the flowr's beside His Olive-orchards Parks and Vineyards all His bleating slocks which came at shepherds cal His corn his wine his plenteous Bahns Mirrh Were slender blessings all compar'd with herâ— For my Vrania in Queen Flora's bowres Dares sing Susanna fairer then earthly flowres MEDIT. IV. Bonis bona singula THus righteous soules are blest their God who guides The flouds of Heaven and the Ocean tydes Who fils the world with plenteousnesse and roules The rapid Spheeres on their unmoving Poles Doth send them comforts from his holy hill And the desires of their soules fulfill Their wives resemble Vine-trees on the house Their youthfull sonnes those pleasant Olive-boughes Abounding with the fattest dewes of Sion Their furnisht tables round about environ Their daughters faire of Vertue faire ensamples Like polisht pillars in the holy Temples Their eyes behold their childrens children in The land of grace when peace is crowned Queen On their inherâ—tance Heaven sendeth downe All promis'd blessings their desires to crowne With joyes beyond their wish no hail-stones shall No mildewes harme on their corn-acres fall Their land unlike unto Aegyptian grounds Which watring Nylus often starve's and drownd's Th' eternall send 's from his round running thron The former with the latter rain upon Their mountains vales and dales of corne shall bring With fruitfulnesse that they shall laugh and sing Their fertile Vines with clusters heauy loaden Shall almost burst before they can be trodden Into the painfull wine-presse they shall leave Behind enough for strangers to receive Their Garners shall with wheat be over-heel'd Their casks with wine with milk and oile be fill'd Their cattell fruitfull where the same abide Grasse shall up-spring like that on Iordan side Aspiring in the kindly moneth of May. Butter and Honey shall their stomacks stay Rivers anammell all their virid plaines Where milk and mel and Maja still remayn's Whose motley medow's pomp shall be maintain'd By Iris riches when the Heav'ns have rain'd Fishes shall multiplying fill their floods As greenest leaves replenish Summer 〈◊〉 Blessings shall streame unto them unto them Belong the joyes of new Hierusalem In terrene troubles wheresoe're they fall God their protector bring 's them out of all Confirm'd by God and man they stand belov'd Like Sion-mountains which are never mov'd These are their earthly blessings these in summe Fore type mans better heav'nly blisse tâ— come Sect. V. ARGUMENT Ioachim's frequented Feasts Princely fare for Princely guests Two lewd Elders most unjust To lie with Susan burne in lust LOrd Ioachim and his beloved Spouse To honest commers kept a bounteous house Unto their Lordly Palace ev'ry day Their Kinsmen came to banish dole away Somtime they spent their time in harmles mirth Sometimes in games the pleasures of the earth Lord Ioachim was niggard unto none His greatest comfort underneath the Sunne Was to bid strangers welcome to his table His pilgrimage of life was honorable Pilgrims about the World report his fame As Sidney's lines one Lord Kalander's name Princes and judges to their sumptuous Palace Would often journey for their better solace Where feasting dayes save Players made no sport Resembled grand dayes in a Princes court The captive Hebrewes that had long been sorry Without abuse would there be often merry To welcome them who thither would repaire The dainties of the Ocean Earth and Aire He wanted not of junckettings no dearth Hesperian gardens such things brought not forth The Manna that on Thisbe's tree distil's In Summer-mornings on Calabrian hils He counted but a drug his plenteous wines Equall'd the red juyce of Engeddian Vines He had Ambrozian junckets men did thinke Supernall Nectar had been there for drinke Abusive Bacchanalians which doe marre The blisse of man from him were banisht farre But if in Babylon liv'd any poore They were releev'd by his abundant store The Hebrew-Elders earnestly intreat Within his hall to build their judgment seat He granted their petition all and some Who had to doe in law did thither come Now were not any in more honour there Then Ioachim and his Susanna were Now Fortune's Sun as never 't would decline Upon Susanna smilingly did shine She found a Heav'n on Earth living a life Most Princesse like most worthy Ioâ—chim's wife But mundane pleasures which doe flatter soules May in one moment all be turn'd to doles Behold you that beheld the splendent light Of Susan's vertue with your mentall sight What Hel-born darknes would defile her fame And with reproach intombe her honor'd name In Babylon an annuall custome was To change their Iudges as the yeares did passe Iudicious Princes once a yeare did chuse A paire of Elders fit to doome the Iewes Who now mistaken had selected forth Two sonnes of Belial men of seeming worth Dissembling Lawyers such as all their lives
What from their doting Grandsires he conceales His wisdome providence his pow'r and love The weakest creatures in the world can prove Are we implunged in profounds of griefe And in them sunken farre beyond reliefe Of wisest mortals let our faith depend In God alone who will deliv'rance send For he whose never-slumbring eyes have shone Brighter then many thousand Suns in one Beholdeth all things and will open lay The deeds of darknesse to the open day His floud of Mercy overflowes the brim God never failing Saints that trust in him Sect. XIV ARGUMENT Daniel's speech the Elders brought Into the judgement-hall are caught By contradictious evidence They are condemn'd for their offence NOw as in trouble's highest storming tyde Susanna's Barke of Fortune still did ride As little Daniel in its desp'rate sterne Had stifly fixed his Remorean horne To stay her life from ruine divers men Of Babylon began an uproare then So that the Princes of the people came To know the cause and to reforme the same When they demanded answ'ring Daniel said To the chiefe Princes silence being made You Sion's children Princes of holy Nation Are you such fooles without examination Whereby the cognizance of truth doth come To passe the sentence of a finall doome Upon Susanna whose sweet vertues passe The sacred sweetnesse of her Angel face Upon a righteous dame who any-where Among Iudean women finds no peere Made you such expedition were not any Presumptions violent were there not many Faire circumstances to be pondred on Must such a bus'nesse hastily be done Now therefore into judgement yet return For they false witnesse have against 〈◊〉 born Whereof I shall convict them both and you By their confession find my sayings true So reassembled in the Iudgement-hall Unto the Barre the Elders they doe call Placing the Prophet in the throne of doome For God on him bestow'd an Elders â—oome He was promoted upon Iustice-chaire And at the Barre arraigned Elders were With milde demeanour said the Prophet theâ—â— Put one a part of these pernicious men That I apart may question them by poll And they shall find I have a Prophet's soule Thus he commanded he was soon obey'd And in this manner to the foremost said O thou whose long injurious dealing hath From heaven drawn the Iudge of Iudges wrath Upon thy sinfull pate thy quondam spight And darker actions shall approch the light Come therefore tell if ever thou didst find Fairest Susanna in dishonest kind Under what gloomy Arbor 't was quoth he Presumptuous stripling faire Susanna we Found under Thisbe's trees umbration in The 〈◊〉 action of Venerian sinne To whom emboldned Daniel thus replied Against thy life thou verily hast lied Therefore an Angell of th' eternall Lord Attends to kill thee with a two edg'd sword So he was cast casten aside as nought The while his fellow to the â—arre was brought And Daniel said to him thou of the breed Of cursed Cham but not of Iudah's seed Fairnesse hath fool'd thee Cupids wanton dart Hath canker-eaten thy contamin'd heart Daughters of Israel ye have wrong'd indeed Whom feare o'recame they to your wils agreed But Iudah's royall daughter would not yeild By faire nor foule means to be so defil'd The gold of Ophir nor the Pearles of Inde Could ballance not the jewell of her mind Come tell me where if thou at all hast seen A man in carnall sport with Susan been Under what boschy cover he replyed Her under a Pomegranad-tree we spied To whom the Prophet answer'd false replyer Thy own confession monstrates thee a lyer sword Wherfore an Angell of th' eternall Lord Will right her wrongs with Iustice sharpned His weapons drawn and he attendeth time To render you the wages of your crime Consider now said Daniel have not they False witnesse born to take her life away Are not convicted envious Elders caught In snares of mischiefe which themselves have wrought So to the Princes it appeared plain They were delinquent Susan void of stain Whereat the people made a joyfull cry Of shouting sound to pierce the Marble-sky Praysing the God of Heav'n who failes not them With constant faith that do depend on him The Elders when examin'd did confesse Their luxury-begot maliciousnesse Cursing their traitrous ignorance insteed Of being sorry for so foule a deed Thy folly hath undone me said the one T'other reply'd I am by thine undone Their waxen pinions of aspiring pride Were now consum'd into th' Icarian tide Of open ruine they came tumbling down Their sinfull selves to overwhelme and drown The Infant-prophet shew'd the Princes further Th' Elder 's adulteries their hidden murder Who righteously condemned were to have By Moses Law like punishment they gave Unto their neighbours Susan's life and name Were so preserv'd from pow'r of death and shame And thence-forth men in estimation take The Prophet Daniel for Susanna's sake MEDIT. XIV Findit Astraea nefandos GOd's Law is like a Lion in our way Presumpteous minded sinfull men to slay And 't is a fable that Astraea's blinde For I perceive she can perceive and finde Faults of delinquents facts in darknesse done Espie's as if committed in the Sun Her hands are ambidexters her brighâ—eyne Can by a blind man be discern'd to shine Iustice from heav'n to earth by God's command Descends her scepter govern's ev'ry land The eminent advanc'd ungodly wight She trampl's down to everlasting night Never deferring to bring sinners down When their misdeeds are unto fulnesse grown She is not partiall she did never spare The persons of the Lordliest men that are Perverted Iudges of the world may boâ—â—ow A sword like hers to cause unrightfull sorrow Among the simple by a Lawyer 's feat May make a bribe-shop of a judgment-seat And falsly colouring of most lawfull things Make Saints disturbants of the peace of Kings They may connive at wickednesse and think Iustice is blinde because themselves do wink But in conclusion Iustice will confound Vnrighteous Iudges with a shamefull wound Let Iudges be ascertain'd they shall come Before the world's eternall Iudge to doome Before whose great Tribunall throne of Heaven False witnesse oathes will never be receiven No wrangling Gown-man double feed in hand Before his presence dares in pleading stand Th'all-knowing Iudge whom Heav'n and Earth doth awe Disdaineth Bribes there is no common Law In new Hierusalem there truth shall flourish When all the enemies of truth shall perish Iudgment shall there be perfect Mercy shall Above God's works be supermounted all O dreadfull Iustice wanting thee men could And by thy smiter keepes the world in aw Stern beauteous dame thy prayses man may story But who can blazon thy mild sisters glory Like two Latonian twins conjoyn'd in one You sit with Helion in his heav'nly thrâ—â—e And round about this 〈…〉 A gallop till these dayes of 〈…〉 Sect. XV. ARGUMENT Condemned Elders put in Iayle Foolishly in Fortune raile Come to stake and unbemon'd Are by mad-brain'd people ston'd THese Belial-children at whose dexter-hand