What if this worldly Sea they haue not past Yet faine they would be brought into their hauen They are not here and yet we here them see For euery man is there where he would be Long may you wish and yet long wish in vaine Hence to depart and yet that wish obtaine Long may you here in heauen on earth remaine And yet a heauen in heauen hereafter gaine Go you to heauen but yet O make no hast Go slowly slowly but yet go at last But when the Nightingale so neere doth sit Silence the Titmouse better may befit F. Nethersole QVid ô quid Veneres Cupidinesque Turturesque iocosque passeresque Lascivi canitis greges poëtae Ettam languidulos amantum ocellos Et mox turgidulas sinu papillas Iam risus teneros lachrymulasque Mox suspiria morsiunculasque Mille basia mille mille nugas Et vultus pueri puellululaeve Heu fusci pueri puellulaeque Pingitis nivibus rosunculisque Mentitis nivibus rosunculisque Quae vel primo hyemis rigore torpent Vel Phaebi intuitu statim relanguent Heu stulti nimiùm greges poëtae Vt quas sic nimis ah nimis stupetis Nives candidulae rosae pudentes Sic vobis pereunt statim labores Et solem fugiunt severiorem Vel solem gelidà rigent senectâ At tu qui clypeo haud inane nomen Minervae clypeo Iovisque sumens Victrices resonas dei Triumphos Triumphos lachrymis metuque plenos Plenos laetitiae spei triumphos Dum rem carmine Pieroque dignam Aggrederis tibi res decora rebus Praebet carmina Pieroque digna Quin ille ipse tuos legens triumphos Plenoâ— militia labore plenos Tuo propitius parat labori Plenos laetitiae spec triumphos Phin. Fletcher Regal 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 BEatissima virginum Maria Sed materque simul beata per quam Qui semper fuit ille coepit esse Quae Vitae dederisque inire vitam Et Luci dederis videre lucem Quae fastidia morsiunculasque Passa es quas grauidae solent nec vnquam Audebas propier viro venire Dum clusus penetralibus latebat Matricis tunicâ vndique involutus Quem se posse negant tenere coeli Quae non virgineas premi papillas Passa virgineas tamen dedisti Lactandas puero tuo papillas Eia dic age dic beata virgo Cur piam abstineas manum timesque Sancta tangere Sanctuariumque Insolens fugias an inquinari Contactu metuis tuo sacrata Contactu metuit suo sacrata Pollui pia cernis en ferentem Lenimenta Dei furentis illa Foedatas sibi ferre quae iubebat Sis felix noua virgo-mater opto Quae mollire Deum paras amicum Quin hic dona licet licet relinquas Agnellumque repone turturemque Audax ingrediare inanis aedes Dei tange Deo sacrata tange Quae non concubitu coinquinata Agnellum peperitque Turturemque Exclusit facili Deo litabit Agno cum Deus insit columbae NOr can I so much say as much I ought Nor yet so little can I say as nought â—raise of this thy worke so heauenly pend â—at sure the sacred Dove a quill did lend â—…m her high-soaring wing certes I know 〈◊〉 other plumes that makes man seeme so low â—…his owne eyes who to all others sight 〈◊〉 mounted to the highest pitch of height â—here if thou seeme to any of small price â—…e fault is not in thee but in his eyes â—…t what doe I thy flood of wit restreine â—…ithin the narrow bankes of my poore veyne â—…re I could say and would but that to praise â—…y verses is to keepe them from their praise 〈◊〉 them who reades and doth them not aduance 〈◊〉 envie doth it or of ignorance F. Nethersole CHRISTS VICTORIE in Heaven 1 THe birth of him that no beginning knewe Yet giues beginning to all that are borne And how the Infinite farre greater grewe By growing lesse and how the rising Morne â—hat shot from heau'n did backe to heauen retourne The obsequies of him that could not die And death of life ende of eternitie â—ow worthily he died that died vnworthily 2 â—ow God and Man did both embrace each other â—et in one person heau'n and earth did kiss â—nd how a Virgin did become a Mother â—nd bare that Sonne who the worlds Father is â—nd Maker of his mother and how Bliss Descended from the bosome of the High To cloath himselfe in naked miserie â—yling at length to heau'n in earth triumphantly 3 〈◊〉 the first flame wherewith my whiter Muse â—oth burne in heauenly loue such loue to tell 〈◊〉 thou that didst this holy fire infuse â—nd taught'st this brest but late the graue of hell Wherein a blind and dead heart liu'd to swell With better thoughts send downe those lights that lenâ— Knowledge how to begin and how to end The loue that neuer was nor euer can be pend 4 Ye sacred writings in whose antique leaues The memories of heau'n entreasur'd lie Say what might be the cause that Mercie heaues The dust of sinne aboue th' industrious skie And lets it not to dust and ashes flie Could Iustice be of sinne so ouer-wooed Or so great ill be cause of so great good That bloody man to saue mans Sauiour shed his blood 5 Or did the lips of Mercie droppe soft speech For traytrous man when at th'Eternalls throne Incensed Nemesis did heau'n beseech With thundring voice that iustice might be showne Against the Rebells that from God were flowne O say say how could Mercie plead for those That scarcely made against their Maker rose Will any slay his friend that he may spare his foes 6 There is a place beyond that flaming hill From whence the starres their thin apparance shed A place beyond all place where neuer ill Nor impure thought was euer harboured But Sainctly Heroes are for euer s'ed To keepe an euerlasting Sabbaoths rest Still wishing that of what th' ar still possest Enioying but one ioy but one of all ioyes best 7 â—ere when the ruine of that beauteous frame Whose golden building shin'd with euerie starre â—f excellence deform'd with age became MERCY remembring peace in midst of warre â—â—ft vp the musique of her voice to barre Eternall fate least it should quite erace That from the world which was the first worlds grace â—â—d all againe into their nothing Chaos chase 8 〈◊〉 what had all this All which Man in one â—…d not vnite the earth aire water fire â—…e sense and spirit nay the powrefull throne 〈◊〉 the diuinest Essence did retire â—…d his owne Image into clay inspire So that this Creature well might called be Of the great world the small epitomie 〈◊〉 the dead world the liue and quicke anatomie 9 â—…t Iustice had no sooner Mercy seene â—…oothing the wrinkles of her Fathers browe 〈◊〉 vp she starts and â—â—rowes her selfe betweene 〈◊〉 when a vapour from a moory slough â—…eting with fresh Eous that but now Open'd the
world which all in darkenesse lay Doth heau'ns bright face of his rayes disaray â—…d sads the smiling orient of the springing day 10 〈◊〉 was a Virgin of austere regard â—…t as the world esteemes her deafe and blind â—…t as the Eagle that hath oft compar'd 〈◊〉 eye with heau'ns so and more brightly shin'd Her lamping sight for she the same could winde Into the solid heart and with her eares The silence of the thought loude speaking heares And in one hand a paire of euen scoals she weares 11 No riot of affection reuell kept Within her brest but a still apathy Possessed all her soule which softly slept Securely without tempest no sad crie Awakes her pittie but wrong'd pouertie Sending his eyes to heau'n swimming in teares With hideous clamours euer struck her eares Whetting the blazing sword that in her hand she beares 12 The winged Lightning is her Mercury And round about her mightie thunders sound Impatient of himselfe lies pining by Pale Sicknes with his kercher'd head vpwound And thousand noysome plagues attend her round But if her clowdie browe but once growe foule The flints doe melt and rocks to water rowle And ayrie mountaines shake and frighted shadowes howâ—… 13 Famine and bloodles Care and bloodie Warre Want and the Want of knowledge how to vse Abundance Age and Feare that runnes afarre Before his fellowe Greefe that aye pursues His winged steps for who would not refuse Greefes companie a dull and rawebon'd spright That lankes the cheekes and pales the freshest sight Vnbosoming the cheerefull brest of all delight 14 Before this cursed throng goes Ignorance That needes will leade the way he cannot see And after all Death doeth his flag aduaunce And in the mid'st Strife still would roaguing be Whose ragged flesh and cloaths did well agree And round about amazed Horror flies And ouer all Shame veiles his guiltie eyes And vnderneth Hells hungrie throat still yawning lies 15 Vpon two stonie tables spread before her She lean'd her bosome more then stonie hard There slept th'vnpartiall iudge and strict restorer Of wrong or right with paine or with reward There hung the skore of all our debts the card Whear good and bad and life and death were painted Was neuer heart of mortall so vntainted But when that scroule was read with thousand terrors fainted 16 Witnes the thunder that mount Sinai heard When 〈◊〉 hill with firie clouds did flame And 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Israel with the sight afeard Blinded 〈◊〉 seeing durst not touch the same But like a wood of shaking leaues became On this dead Iustice she the Liuing Lawe Bowing herselfe with a maiestique awe All heau'n to heare her speech did into silence drawe 17 Dread Lord of Spirits well thou did'st deuise To fling the worlds rude dunghill and the drosse Of the ould Chaos farthest from the skies And thine owne seate that heare the child of losse Of all the lower heau'n the curse and crosse That wretch beast caytiue monster Man might spend Proude of the mire in which his soule is pend Clodded in lumps of clay his wearie life to end 18 His bodie dust whear grewe such cause of pride His soule thy Image what could he enuie Himselfe most happie if he so would bide Now grow'n most wretched who can remedie He slewe himselfe himselfe the enemie That his owne soule would her owne murder wreake If I were silent heau'n and earth would speake And if all fayl'd these stones would into clamours breake 19 How many darts made furrowes in his side When she that out of his owne side was made Gaue feathers to their flight whear was the pride Of their newe knowledge whither did it fade When running from thy voice into the shade He fled thy sight himselfe of sight bereau'd And for his shield a leauie armour weau'd With which vain maÌ„ he thought Gods eies to 〈…〉 20 And well he might delude those eyes that see And iudge by colours for who euer sawe A man of leaues a reasonable tree But those that from this stocke their life did drawe Soone made their Father godly and by lawe Proclaimed Trees almightie Gods of wood Of stocks and stones with crownes of laurell stood Templed and fed by fathers with their childrens blood 21 The sparkling fanes that burne in beaten gould And like the starres of heau'n in mid'st of night â—lacke Egypt as her mirrhours doth behould â—re but the denns whear idoll-snakes delight â—gaine to couer Satan from their sight Yet these are all their gods to whome they vie The Crocodile the Cock the Rat the Flie. 〈◊〉 gods indeede for such men to be serued by 22 â—…e Fire the winde the sea the sunne and moone â—…e flitting Aire and the swift-winged How'rs â—…d all the watchmen that so nimbly runne â—…d centinel about the walled towers 〈◊〉 the worlds citie in their heau'nly bowr's And least their pleasant gods should want delight Neptune spues out the Lady Aphrodite â—…d but in heauen proude Iunos peacocks skorne to lite 23 â—…e senselesse Earth the Serpent dog and catte â—…d woorse then all these Man and woorst of men â—…rping Ioue and swilling Bacchus fat â—…d drunke with the vines purple blood and then â—…e Fiend himselfe they coniure from his denne Because he onely yet remain'd to be Woorse then the worst of men they flie from thee â—…d weare his altar-stones out with their pliant knee 24 〈◊〉 that he speakes and all he speakes are lies â—…e oracles 't is he that wounded all â—…res all their wounds he that put out their eyes â—…at giues them light he that death first did call Into the world that with his orizall Inspirits earth he heau'ns al-seeing eye He earths great Prophet he whom rest doth flie That on salt billowes doth as pillowes sleeping lie 25 But let him in his cabin restles rest The dungeon of darke flames and freezing fire Iustice in heau'n against man makes request To God and of his Angels doth require Sinnes punishment if what I did desire Or who or against whome or why or whear Of or before whom ignorant I wear Then should my speech their sands of sins to mountaines â—eaâ— 26 Wear not the heau'ns pure in whose courts I sue The Iudge to whom I sue iust to requite him The cause for sinne the punishment most due Iustice her selfe the plaintiffe to endite him The Angells holy before whom I cite him He against whom wicked vniust impure Then might he sinnefull liue and die secure Or triall might escape of triall might endure 27 The Iudge might partiall be and ouer-pray'd The place appeald from in whose courts he sues The fault excus'd or punishment delayd The parties selfe accus'd that did accuse Angels for pardon might their praiers vse But now no starre can shine no hope be got Most wretched creature if he knewe his lot And yet more wretched farre because he knowes it not 28 What should I tell how barren earth is growne â—…ll for to
dwell vpon some mountaine high Whose hollowe root and baser parts ar spread On fleeting waters in his bowells bred That I their streames and they my teares may feed Or cloathed in some Hermits ragged weed Spend all my daies in weeping for this cursed deed 63 The life the which I onte did loue I leaue The loue in which I once did liue I loath I hate the light that did my light bereaue Both loue and life I doe despise you both O that one graue might both our ashes cloath A Loue a Life a Light I now obteine Able to make my Age growe young againe Able to saue the sick and to reuiue the slaine 64 Thus spend we teares that neuer can be spent On him that sorrow now no more shall see Thus send we sighs that neuer can be sent To him that died to liue and would not be To be thear whear he would here burie we This heau'nly earth here let it softly sleepe The fairest Sheapheard of the fairest sheepe So all the bodie kist and homewards went to weepe 65 So home their bodies went to seeke repose But at the graue they left their soules behinde O who the force of loue coelestiall knowes That can the cheynes of natures selfe vnbinde Sending the Bodie home without the minde Ah blessed Virgin what high Angels art Can euer coumpt thy teares or sing thy smart When euery naile that pierst his hand did pierce thy heart 66 So Philomel perch't on an aspin sprig Weeps all the night her lost virginitie And sings her sad tale to the merrie twig That daunces at such ioyfull miserie Ne euer lets sweet rest inuade her eye But leaning on a thorne her daintie chest For feare soft sleepe should steale into her brest Expresses in her song greefe not to be exprest 67 So when the Larke poore birde afarre espi'th Her yet vnfeather'd children whom to saue She striues in vaine slaine by the fatall sithe Which from the medowe her greene locks doeth shaue That their warme nest is now become their graue The woefull mother vp to heauen springs And all about her plaintiue notes she flings And their vntimely fate most pittifully sings CHRISTS TRIVMPH after Death 1 BVt now the second Morning from her bowre Began to glister in her beames and nowe The roses of the day began to flowre In th' easterne garden for heau'ns smiling browe Halfe insolent for ioy begunne to showe The early Sunne came liuely dauncing out And the bragge lambes ranne wantoning about That heau'n and earth might seeme in tryumph both to shour 2 Th' engladded Spring forgetfull now to weepe Began t' eblazon from her leauie bed The waking swallowe broke her halfe-yeares sleepe And euerie bush lay deepely purpured With violets the woods late-wintry head Wide flaming primroses set all on fire And his bald trees put on their greene attire Among whose insant leaues the ioyeous birds conspire 3 And now the taller Sonnes whom Titan warmes Of vnshorne mountaines blowne with easie windes Dandled the mornings childhood in their armes And if they chaunc't to slip the prouder pines The vnder Corylets did catch the shines To guild their leaues sawe neuer happie yeare Such ioyfull triumph and triumphant cheare As though the aged world anew created wear 4 Say Earth why hast thou got thee new attire And stick'st thy habit full of dazies red Seems that thou doest to some high thought aspire And some newe-found-out Bridegroome mean'st to wed Tell me ye Trees so fresh apparelled So neuer let the spitefull Canker wast you So neuer let the heau'ns with lightening blast you Why goe you now so trimly drest or whither hast you 5 Answer me Iordan why thy crooked tide So often wanders from his neerest way As though some other way thy streame would slide And faine salute the place where something lay And you sweete birds that shaded from the ray Sit carolling and piping griefe away The while the lambs to heare you daunce and play Tell me sweete birds what is it you so faine would say 6 And thou faire Spouse of Earth that euerie yeare Gett'st such a numerous issue of thy bride How chance thou hotter shin'st and draw'st more neere Sure thou somewhear some worthie sight hast spide That in one place for ioy thou canst not bide And you dead Swallowes that so liuely now Through the flit aire your winged passage rowe How could new life into your frozen ashes flowe 7 Ye Primroses and purple violets Tell me why blaze ye from your leauie bed And wooe mens hands to rent you from your sets As though you would somewhear be carried With fresh perfumes and velvets garnished But ah I neede not aske t' is surely so You all would to your Sauiours triumphs goe Thear would ye all awaite and humble homage doe 8 Thear should the Earth herselfe with garlands newe And louely flowr's embellished adore Such roses neuer in her garland grewe Such lillies neuer in her brest she wore Like beautie neuer yet did shine before Thear should the Sunne another Sunne behold From whence himselfe borrowes his locks of gold That kindle heau'n and earth with beauties manifold 9 Thear might the violet and primrose sweet Beames of more liuely and more louely grace Arising from their beds of incense meet Thear should the Swallowe see newe life embrace Dead ashes and the graue vnheale his face To let the liuing from his bowels creepe Vnable longer his owne dead to keepe Thear heau'n and earth should see their Lord awake from sleepe 10 Their Lord before by other iudg'd to die Nowe Iudge of all himselfe before forsaken Of all the world that from his aide did flie Now by the Saints into their armies taken Before for an vnworthie man mistaken Nowe worthy to be God confest before With blasphemies by all the basest tore Now worshipped by Angels that him lowe adore 11 Whose garment was before indipt in blood But now imbright'ned into heau'nly flame The Sun it selfe outglitters though he should Climbe to the toppe of the celestiall frame And force the starres go hide themselues for shame Before that vnder earth was buried But nowe about the heau'ns is carried And thear for euer by the Angels heried 12 So fairest Phosphor the bright Morning starre But neewely washt in the greene element Before the drouzie Night is halfe aware Shooting his flaming locks with deaw besprent Springs liuely vp into the orient And the bright droue fleec't all in gold he chaces To drinke that on the Olympique mountaine grazes The while the minor Planets forfeit all their faces 13 So long he wandred in our lower spheare That heau'n began his cloudy starres despise Halfe enuious to see on earth appeare A greater light then flam'd in his owne skies At length it burst for spight and out thear flies A globe of winged Angels swift as thought That on their spotted feathers liuely caught The sparkling Earth and to their azure fields it brought 14 The rest that
yet amazed stood belowe With eyes cast vp as greedie to be sed And hands vpheld themselues to ground did throwe So when the Troian boy was rauished As through th'Idalian woods they saie he fled His aged Gardians stood all dismai'd Some least he should haue fallen back afraid And some their hasty vowes and timely prayers said 15 Tosse vp your heads ye euerlasting gates And let the Prince of glorie enter in At whose braue voly of sideriall States The Sunne to blush and starres growe pale wear seene When leaping first from earth he did begin To climbe his Angells wings then open hang Your christall doores so all the chorus sang Of heau'nly birds as to the starres they nimbly sprang 16 Hearke how the floods clap their applauding hands The pleasant valleyes singing for delight And wanton Mountaines daunce about the Lands The while the fieldes struck with the heau'nly light Set all their flowr's a smiling at the sight The trees laugh with their blossoms and the sound Of the triumphant shout of praise that crown'd The flaming Lambe breaking through heau'n hath passage found 17 Out leap the antique Patriarchs all in hast To see the powr's of Hell in triumph lead And with small starres a garland intercha'st Of oliue leaues they bore to crowne his head That was before with thornes degloried After them flewe the Prophets brightly stol'd In shining lawne and wimpled manifold Striking their yuorie harpes strung all in chords of gold 18 To which the Saints victorious carolls sung Ten thousand Saints atonce that with the sound The hollow vaults of heau'n for triumph rung The Cherubins their clamours did confound With all the rest and clapt their wings around Downe from their thrones the Dominations flowe And at his feet their crownes and scepters throwe And all the princely Soules fell on their faces lowe 19 Nor can the Martyrs wounds them stay behind But out they rush among the heau'nly crowd Seeking their hean'n out of their heau'n to find Sounding their siluer trumpets out so loude That the shrill noise broke through the starrie cloude And all the virgin Soules in pure araie Came dauncing forth and making ioyeous plaie So him they lead along into the courts of day 20 So him they lead into the courts of day Whear neuer warre nor wounds abide him more But in that house eternall peace doth plaie Acquieting the soules that newe before Their way to heav'n through their owne blood did skore But now estranged from all miserie As farre as heau'n and earth discoasted lie Swelter in quiet waues of immortalitie 20 And if great things by smaller may be ghuest So in the mid'st of Neptunes angrie tide Our Britan Island like the weedie nest Of true Haleyon on the waues doth ride And softly sayling skornes the waters pride While all the rest drown'd on the continent And tost in bloodie waues their wounds lament And stand to see our peace as struck with woonderment 21 The Ship of France religious waues doe tosse And Greec it selfe is now growne barbarous Spains Children hardly dare the Ocean crosse And Belges field lies wast and ruinous That vnto those the heau'ns ar invious And vnto them themselues ar strangers growne And vnto these the Seas ar faithles knowne And vnto her alas her owne is not her owne 22 Here onely shut we Ianus yron gates And call the welcome Muses to our springs And ar but Pilgrims from our heav'nly states The while the trusty Earth sure plentie brings And Ships through Neptune safely spread their wings Goe blessed Island wander whear thou please Vnto thy God or men heau'n lands or seas Thou canst not loose thy way thy King with all hath peace 23 Deere Prince thy Subiects ioy hope of their heirs Picture of peace or breathing Image rather The certaine argument of all our pray'rs Thy Harries and thy Countries louely Father Let Peace in endles ioyes for euer bath her Within thy sacred brest that at thy birth Brought'st her with thee from heau'n to dwell on earth Making our earth a heav'n and paradise of mirth 24 Let not my Liege misdeem these humble laies As lick't with soft and supple blandishment Or spoken to disparagon his praise For though pale Cynthia neere her brothers tent Soone disappeares in the white firmament And giues him back the beames before wear his Yet when he verges or is hardly ris She the viue image of her absent brother is 25 Nor let the Prince of peace his beadsman blame That with his Stewart dares his Lord compare And heau'nly peace with earthly quiet shame So Pines to lowely plants compared ar And lightning Phoebus to a little starre And well I wot my rime albee vnsmooth Ne saies but what it meanes ne meanes but sooth Ne harmes the good ne good to harmefull person doth 26 Gaze but vpon the house whear Man embowr's With flowr's and rushes paued is his way Whear all the Creatures at his Seruitours The windes doe sweepe his chambers euery day And cloudes doe wash his rooms the seeling gay Starred aloft the guilded knobâ— embraue If such a house God to another gaue How shine those glittering courts he for himselfe will haue 27 And if a sullen cloud as sad as night In which the Sunne may seeme embodied Depur'd of all his drosse we see so white Burning in melted gold his warrie head Or round with yuorie edges siluered What lustre superexcellent will he Lighten on those that shall his sunneshine see In that all-glorious court in which all glories be 28 If but one Sunne whith his diffusiue fires Can paint the starres and the whole world with light And ioy and life into each heart inspires And euery Saint shall shine in heau'n as bright As doth the Sunne in his transcendent might As faith may well beleeue what Truth once sayes What shall so many Sunnes vnited rayes But dazle all the eyes that nowe in heau'n we praise 29 Here let my Lord hang vp his conquering launce And bloody armour with late slaughter warme And looking downe on his weake Militants Behold his Saints mid'st of their hot alarme Hang all their golden hopes vpon his arme And in this lower field dispacing wide Through windie thoughts that would their sayles misguide Anchor their fleshly ships fast in his wounded side 30 Here may the Band that now in Tryumph shines And that before they wear inuested thus In earthly bodies carried heauenly mindes Pitcht round about in order glorious Their sunny Tents and houses luminous All their eternall day in songs employing Ioying their ende without ende of their ioying While their almightie Prince Destruction is destroying 31 Full yet without satietie of that Which whetts and quiets greedy Appetite Whear neuer Sunne did rise nor euer sat But one eternall day and endles light Giues time to those whose time is infinite Speaking with thought obtaining without see Beholding him whom neuer eye could see And magnifying him that cannot