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
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
Blemish Wrinckle Frown Mole Scar or Blot The inconsistent Stranger out she shut 144. Within rose Hills of Spice and Frankincense Which smil'd upon the flowrie Vales below Where living Chrystall roll'd its influence Whose musicall Impatience did flow With endlesse chiding the pure Gems beneath Because no smoother they had pav'd its Path. 145. The Nymphs which plaid about this Currents side Were milkie Thoughts tralucid fair Desires Soft Turtles Kisses Looks of Virgin-Brides Sweet Coolnesse which nor needs nor feareth Fires Snowie Imbraces cheerly-sober Eyes Gentilenesse Mildnesse Ingenuities 146. At full length on the Beds of floures did lie Smiling Content Ease Sweetness Softness Pleasure Whilst in the carpet-Walks there danced by Calmeness Long-days Security and Leisure Accomplish'd Growth brisk Firmitude and Health The onely Jewell which makes wealthy Wealth 147. Your Roses heer would onely spend their Blusn On their own Ougliness should they compare With those pure Eys with which the Rosie Bush Looks up and views its beauteous Neighbours there Nor are your Lilies white if those were by Whose leaves are all fair-writ with Purity 148. Liban and Carmell must submit their Heads To Paradise's foot the Balme Nard Myrrh And every Odour of Arabia's Beds Would begge to borrow richer Sweetness heer Nor would Adoni's Garden scorne to be Their fellow-suiter for true Suavitie 149. The early Gales knock'd gently at the doore Of every floure to bid the Odours wake Which taking in their softest Arms they bore About the Garden and return'd them back To their own Beds but doubled by the Blisses They sipp'd from their delicious Brethrens Kisses 150. Upon the Wings of those inamouring Breaths Refreshment Vigor and new Spirits attended And wheresoe'r they flew cheer'd up their Paths And with fresh Aires of Life all things befreinded For Heavn's all-sweetning Spirit its breath did joyn To make the Powers of these Blasts divine 151. The goodly Trees their fertile Arms did bend Under the nobler load of fruit they bore That Orchard which the Dragon did attend For all its Golden Boughs to this was poor As well the greater Serpent knew who crept Hither betimes and heer his curs'd Watch kept 152. Of Fortitude there stood a goodly Row Heer of Munificence a thick-set Grove Of Industry a Quick-set there did grow Heer flourished a dainty Copps of Love There sprung up pleasant Twiggs of ready Wit Heer a large Tree of Gravity was set 153. Heer Temperance grew and wide-spred Justice there Under whose moderate Shaddow Piety Devotion Mildness Friendship planted were Next stood Renowne with Head exalted high Then Peace with Plenty Fatnesse Happinesse O blessed Place where grew such things as these 154. Yet what are these ifby Death's envious Hand Or they or their fruition blasted be This to prevent at carefull Heav'ns Command Amidst the rest sprung up an helpfull Tree Which nobly prov'd it self a Branch to be Pluck'd from the grand stock of Eternity 155. Amidst them all it sprung for well it knew Its proper Seat and chose the Gardens Heart What place could more than that to Life be due Whence Vigor round might flow and reach each part Fresh Heat and Spirits hung about it thick The leav's did breath and all its fruit was quick 156. By this the mighty Tree of Knowledge stood For where should Wisdom dwell but next the Heart Its Leavs were written fair but writ with blood Holding forth Learning and capricious Art O fatall Tree how wise had Adam grown If He thy woefull knowledge had not known 157. High in the shady Galleries sate a Quire Well worthy such a Chappell Birds of Praise Whose most harmonious Throats did all conspire To pay for their sweet Home in sweeter Layes With whom soft Echo needs her skill would shew And though she kept slow time yet she sung true 158. This Mapp ofWonders this Epitomie Of all Heav'ns Pride this Court ofRarities This Confluence ofblessed Gallantry Was that so much renowned Paradise Renowned yet ô how much higher than The loftiest Praise it ever reap'd from Men 159. The great Creator hither Adam brings As to the Portall of Celestiall Blisse And See said He of these illustrious Things I give thee free choise bating onely this One Tree of Knowledge all the rest are thine Eate what thou wilt but let that still be mine 160. If thy presumptious Hand but touch that Tree Thy liquorish Crime must cost thy Life and thou By Deaths immediate Tallons seized be Death Adam Death hangs thick on every Bough Loe there the Tree of Life 's as neer as that Take heed thou di'st not for thou knowst not what 161. O Noble Master whose vast Love did give A world at once and yet require no more But that his Creature would have care to live And so in safetie possesse his Store Who ties Him to no homage but to shun Being by his own needlesse fault undone 162. After this easie Charge upon a Throne Built all of Power He his Lieutenant set To exercise his new Dominion Upon his Subjects for before his seat By Heav'ns Command the Beasts now marshell'd were In modest equipage all Pair by Pair 163. When Adam fix'd on them his awfull Eye The Lyon couch'd the Horse let fall his crest Behemoths Tail mounted before so high Melted down to the ground the Bull deprest His Horns the Boar suck'd in his foam the Bear The Wolfe the Tiger louted low for fear 164. Like reverence bowed down the other Crew Flat on the ground when from their Soveraigns Face Such full beams of imperiall Brightnesse flew As spake it plainly the Creators Glasse Fair the Reflection was which could command The rudest Beasts the truth to understand 165. As these their duty did the Eagle drew Up every rank and file of winged Things Thither the Estrich Vultur Falcon flew Thither a flock of every Bird that sings Thither the Peacock but with train full low For down fell all its Stars ecclipsed now 166. The most magnanimous Cock came strutting on Disdaining Heav'n and Earth till he drew neer His mighty Soveraigns all-awing Throne From whence upon his surly neck flew Fear His wings flagg'd low his fiery gullet grew Languid and pale his combe and forehead blue 167. Wise Adam mark'd them all and sent his Eye To scarch their bosoms Cabinets where He read Th' essentiall Lines and Characters which by Natures late Hand were 〈◊〉 fashioned Their Difference their Kinred and Relations Their Powers their Properties and Inclinations 168. Thus of their inward Selves inform'd He thought What Titles would most correspondent be To their own Bosoms sense and having wrought Up in one Word each Natures Mystery He took Acquaintance of them all by Name Then with a Princely Nod dismissed them 169. They went in loving Pairs Which as He saw He fetch'd a gentle Sigh to think that He His nobler Life in Solitude should draw Whil'st all things else enjoy'd Society What boots it him that He raigns Soveraign Lord If all his World can Him no Queen
to be whate'r His most victorious Love would make of Her 92. Behold said she The Handmayd of the Lord For he hath given Me leave to use that Stile Since Heav'n will have it so may thy great Word My worthless Bowells with Performance fill To Him who made Me I my Selfe resign 'T is fit His Pleasure and not mine be Mine 93. This blessed Word no sooner brake from her Sweet Lipps but to the Top of Heav'n it flew Where in the Mouthes of all the winged Quire It found its Echo and was made a new And pretious Anthem for the Sphears that Day Measur'd their high Dance by this onely Lay. 94. All Nature heard the Sound which in her Eare Spake Life and Joy and Restauration O blessed Musick which so cheared Her That her old Wrinkles into Smiles did run Fresh Fire she glowing felt in every Vein And briskly thought of growing young again 95. For now that Spirit which first quickned her Return'd again and flew to Maryes breast O what Excesse of Sweets and Joyes did bear Him company unto his Virgin Nest O what pure streams of Light what glorious showrs Of most enlivening and prolifick Powers 96. With these flew down Enternities great Son To be a Son of Time and parting from His Fathers Bosome Glories sweetest Throne Chose Ashes for his House Dust for his Home Having taught Exaltation to bow And of the Most High made Himselfe Most Low 97. In vain should I or all the Angells strive To reach at that impossible Eloquence Which might a paralled Description weave For that immense mysterious Confluence Of purest Joyes with which in this Imbrace The most enobled Virgin ravish'd was 98. Onely her spatious Soul the blessed Sea Where all those Floods of pretious Things did meet Knew what it comprehended Glorious She Did taste the rellish of each mystick Sweet In one miraculous Instant and did trie The various Dainties of Divinity 99. For though this Generation had been The deepest Project of Eternity Yet were its Wonders all transacted in Durations most concise Epitomie One single Moment crowned was with this Exploit of most unbounded Power and Bliss 100. O mighty Moment at whose feet all Dayes And Moneths and Years and Ages homage pay Upon whose Head Time all its Glories lays Wishing that thou migt'st never slide away Eternity holds it selfe deep in debt To thee in whom its sweetest Wonders meet 101. This Universe for ever thou dost tie Close to its greater Maker Thou dost join These Mortall Things to Immortality And in one Knot both Heav'n and Earth combine Thou giv'st Fertility a new-found Home And bid'st it flourish in a Virgin-Womb 102. For Mary now the Mansion-house became Of her conceived God who deign'd to take His Pattern from her reverend Bodies frame And borrow part of Her thereby to make A Garment for himselfe that hee might be As true and genuine Flesh and Blood as she 103. O Paradise how poore a Soile art Thou To the rare Richnes of this Virgin Bed That Tree of Life which in thy Heart did grow It self but as the shade of this was spread Here is the Garden where the noble Tree Of everlasting Life would planted be 104. Blush all yee Heav'ns the gallant Virgins Wombe Hath left no Looks but those of shame for You All Glories here have chose their dearer Home And fairer shine because They make no show Here dwells a Sunn whose Count ' nance is a Book So bright your Phebus dares not on it look 105. The most resplendent equall Character The flaming Brightnes of the Fathers Face Hath now vouchsafed to exchange his Sphear And in this lesser Heav'n to plant his Rays Which yet He hath so sweetned and allayd That He consumeth not the tender Mayd 106. Thus when to Moses He came down of old Arrayed all in fire and took his Seat Upon a simple Bush his flaming Gold In mercie to the shrubb reind in its Heat And all the leaves with harmlesse Brightnes fill'd Which He was pleased not to Burn but Gild. 107. When Gabriell had seen this wonderous sight He bow'd his holy Head first to adore His new-conceived Lord wishing he might Have made his dwelling on this blessed Floor And then to take his reverent leave of Her Whom yet to Heav'n He in his mind did bear 108. Whether as He mounted up the News He tells To every Orb and Star but cheifly to Th' inquisitive Spirits whose ears and hearts he fils With all the Wonders He had seen below Till with applause from every Angels Tongue The pretious Name or humble Mary rung 109. Thus Phylax spake When Psyche fill'd with Joy And Admiration cri'd Why may not I Have leave in this dear Mansion to stay Where can I better live or sweetlier die Humilities own Palace best will fit Me who through Pride stand most in need of it 110. If that be thy Desire thou strait shalt see Phylax reply'd a fairer House than this Fairer in more transcendent Poverty And nobler farr in higher Lowlines With that into the Chariot again He takes her up and gently moves the Rein. 111. The ready steeds no more Monition needed For through the Ayr they Snatch'd their greedy way And o're the Galilean Regions speeded No Hills were high enough to bid them stay No windes out-ran them but to Bethlehem Well neer as soon's their Drivers thought they came 112. There lighting down Behold this Town my Dear The Guardian cri'd where Fame once lov'd to grow Jesse's illustrious Sonn was nurtured here Here reverend Samuell did prepare his Brow For royall Honour when upon his Head The Crowns rich Ernest holy Oile he shed 113. This chosen Root in Kings was fertile whose Successive Hands through many Ages bore The Jewish Sceptre till with other Foes Sin stronger than the rest combin'd and tore It from its guilty Owners farr from Home First unto Babylon and next to Rome 114. Rome holds it still and makes this wretched Land Pay that sad Debt its Wickednes contracted How oft has an imperious Command Heavy blood-squeazing Taxes here exacted Drowning in Gall this servile Country now Which did of old with Milk and Honey flow 115. Such miserable Gains fond wilfull Men Condemned are to reap who needs will be Driving the self-destoying Trade of sin To such heart-galling Bonds of Tyranny All those unhappy Nations make haste Who from their Necks Heav'ns gentle Yoke do cast 116. This golden Trick Augustus learned and Summon'd the People to a generall Taxe The Warrants strait awak'ned all the Land And every One to pay his Homage packs To his Parentall Town the Register Of Tribes and Kindreds being setled there 117. This cost good Joseph and his blessed Spouse A tedious journey for the Way was long But short the Days in Winters inmost House Cold churlish Capricorne the Sunn had clung The Morning and the Ev'n so close together That there was left no room for cheerly Wether 118. The holy Travellers through Cold and Frost And
with all her Tongues did sound His Praise who is of Hearts and Tongues sole Lord. Then having with her Boughs sweep'd clean the Ground She rose and gave Him way yet out she stretch'd Her Neck and after him her Arms she reach'd 133. But when neer to the Cittie Gate he came Isis of stupid Marble made and there Set up and wisely fastned on a Frame Full as divine a stone as she with fear And awe surprised was and 'gan to quake At first and then to bend and then to break 134. Poor Idol which had never Sense till now And now feels onely its own Ruine Down Tumbles the long adored Goddesse Cow Resigning back that Worship to its own True Lord which she had long usurped by The help of Egypts mad Idolatrie 135. Her fair spred Horns are shatter'd off her Brow Bruis'd out of fashion and quite broke her Neck The Dietie advanc'd to Rubbish now Has Power to help the Country if in thick And mirey way dispos'd which sure is more Assistance than it ever gave before 136. Thus when the Reverend Ark of God was set In Dagons Temple down the Idoll fell And making haste out at the Door to get Quite broke his Godship on the stronger Sell Where when his Servants entered they found The wretched Fish in its own Ruines drown'd 137. But in the Citties and the Peoples Heart Upon a golden Pillar mounted high And deck'd with all the wit and Pride of Art Serapis stood the Oxe of Majesty Whose Glory by a consecrated Crown Wreathed about his mighty Horns was shown 138. As in that street the noble Pilgrims went Enquiring for an Inne the guilty Beast His steely Knees and brasen Body bent And by his massie Weight so strongly cast Himself upon the ground that to an heap Of Fragments from his God-head he did leap 139. The People wonder'd at the Prodigie But Joseph and his Virgin Consort knew To what more powerfull Divinity The Idoll did his due Obeisance shew What by inspired Esays Pen had been Pointed out long a-forehand they had seen 140. He had foretold that into Egypt thy Great Spouse should on a swift Cloud mounted ride And that the Idols should be moved by His potent Presence And they soon descri'd This Cloud to be his Mothers Bosome where He shrowed rode the fastest pace of fear 141. This made good Joseph travell up and down To spred the Ruine of Idolatry Through every populous superstitious Town Which did the Horned Statues Deifie His righteous Soule being tortured to see That Men should more than Marble stupid be 142. And wheresoe'r upon Zeals Wings he flew Equall Successe still bore him company Still the infernall Spirits their Lodgings threw In peeces as thy mighty Lord drew nigh Thou shalt no further goe but I will tell Thee here what Wonders afterward befell 143. The Heart of Egypt melted down its Breast As from their Pillars their vain Gods had done The Priests and sage Magitiaus broke their Rest To finde this Accidents Occasion And all one night resolv'd at counsell met To spend their utmost spels and Charms on it 144. Jannes a Man both of his Race and Name Who Moses did oppose the work began 'T was in a Vault where Days looks never came Untroad as yet by any mortall Man Who was not full as black as they and made Solemnly free of their accursed Trade 145. In this deep Temple of Infernall Arts Lighting a Taper temper'd with the Fat That grew about his Predecessors Hearts It in a dead Mans mossie Skull hee set The Mists and Stincks long wrestled with the flame But at the last the Taper overcame 146. Then gaping wide both with his Mouth and Eyes He spew'd seav'n solemn Curses on Day-light Which though it saw the broken Dieties Would not oetect what sacrilegious Might Had thrown them down And then those Gods he blest Whose luck it was in gloomy Holes to rest 147. For on a Shrine still standing there appeard Serapis Isis and a smokie Rout Of lester Gods The Altar was besmear'd With thick and bloody Gore and round about In 〈◊〉 fragments lay Cheeks Noses Eyes Hearts Shoulders LIvers Leggs Arms Bowells Thighs 148. These hideous Dainties was the Breakfast for A Crocodile which in the Corner lay But tain'd by strong Enchantments durst not stir When ever to their Magick Bus'nesse they Address'd themselves No Monster but compared With them a milde and gentle Thing appeared 149. The Walls with Leeks and Onyons garnish'd were For courteous Egypt had made Gods of these And from her well-dung'd Soil reap'd every year A worthy Crop of young fresh Dieties Upon the Reofe did painted Nilus flow That God whose bounty makes those other grow 150. Here Jannes having thrice wash'd his left Hand And stain'd with it Cocytu's Streams which hee Had in a Laver by He takes his Wand That Wand which once liv'd on a Cypresse Tree Planted on Acheron's Bank but now was made The deadly Scepter of their Magick Trade 151. A Scepter unto which the Moon the Sun The Stars had often stoop'd and Nature bow'd Oft had it turn'd the course of Phlegeton Oft had it troubled Hell and forc'd the proud Tyrant for all his Iron Mace to be Obedient to its monstrous Witchery 152. With that hee draws a Circle on the Floor Spred thick with Ashes of a funerall Pile Which with strange Lines and Hooks and Forks and Store Of shapeless shapes and Figures he doth fill Wilde Heiroglyphicks stark mad Characters Whil'st each Draught with his Neighbour snarls and jarrs 153. Into this Hell of scratches in steps hee Almost as strange a thing as it and there Three groans he gave three times he bow'd his Knee He thrice with blood besprinkled his Left Eare Three times he strooke the ground and mumbled o'r The Monsters hee had written there before 154. Then lifting up his hollow Voice hee cri'd By Jannes and by Jambres our great Sires By Pharaohs adamantine Soul which tri'd A fall with Israels God By all those Fires Which we have on your Altars layd and them Which in black Styx or Erebus doe swim 155. By these profound mysterious Notes which I Have figured here by dread Tyfiphone By stern Alecto and Megera by Huge Cerberns his Heads Triplicity By Hells wide open Gates by the divine Scepters of Pluto and of Proserpine 156. By your own Heads who onely here have your Safe Sanctuary found I you conjure Serapis Isis and each lesser Power No longer your dishononr to endure What boots it here to be a standing God If ev'n the best of You falls down abroad 157. For from Hermopolis unfortunate Gate Ruine set forth and boldly made her Prey On every publick Dietie whose fate It was to stand in her devouring Way Whence comes this Down-fall of Religion What Has spred amongst the Gods this deadly Rot 158. Let Me but know and I will make Heav'n bow And kisse the feet of Hell the Center I Will in the face of scornfull
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
with infinite carrieer Still further everlastingly doth ride Being loose at God himselfe in whom Immensity affords her boundlesse room 360. Now Psyche thou mayst eas'ly judge how dear Was this Seraphick Woman to thy Lord. She had one onely Brother who for her Sake and his own was to his Love preferr'd He falling sick she sent the News unto Her Master waiting what hee pleas'd to doe 361. He who had never yet his help delay'd When loving Mary did his Mercy woe Till Phebus twise the World had compass'd stay d He stay'd indeed but 't was that hee might goe With advantageous Glory and his stay Might prove but ripened Love and not Delay 362. Mean while his Sicknesse so prevail'd upon Good Lazarus that his Soule it chased out Jesus whose eyes through all things cleerly ran Beheld it as it went and saw it brought On Angells Wings into the blessed Nest Of naked Peace and Quiet Abraham's breast 363. Where when it was reposed Lazarus Our Friend is fallen fast asleep said He But I intend to wake Him Come let Us Delay no longer but to Bethany And Lord what needs it his Disciples cri'd If Lazarus sleep what harm can Him betide 364. 'T is true their Lord repli'd for now he lies Safe in the bosome of Serenity Yet what his Rest is little you surmise Not knowing that in Death true sleep can be Alas all other Rest compar'd with this Scarcely the shaddow of true Quiet is 365. Death is that onely sleep which puts an end Unto this weary Worlds tempestuous Cares And pious Soules unto that Shore doth send Which knows no Dangers Labours Griefs or Fears Our friend is dead and glad I am that I Was not at Bethany when He did die 366. Glad for your sakes whose faith now dead shall by His Death revive This said He forward went And they with Him But e'r at Bethany He did arrive two other dayes were spent He could have taken coach upon the back Of any Winde but now chose to be slack 367. First busie Martha met Him as He drew Neer to the Town for when hee coming was The fame of his Approach before Him flew Which her sollicitous ears soon caught and as She threw her selfe upon her knees she cried Had'st thou been here my Brother had not died 368. Dear Lord of Life if thou had'st but been here Death would have his due distance kept if not For love of Thee or Us at least for fear Of his own life And yet thy Power is but Deferred not precluded God will still Each syllable of thy Requests fulfill 369. Nor weep nor doubt dear Martha Jesus cried Thy Brother shall again to life return I doubt it not sweet Master she replied But in the universall worlds new morn When all Things spring into fresh life that He Shall with his Body reinvested be 370. I am said He the Resurrection and The life Whoever doth beleeve in Me Although he be a Pris'ner in the land Of Death shall unto life released be Nay he shall never taste of Death who is Living by Faith in Me Beleev'st thou this 371. Heer dazeled by his high Discourse Great Lord She cri'd my Faith doth take Thee for no lesse Then Gods Almighty Son who by his Word Wert promised this cursed World to bless This said three times she kiss'd the ground and home Made hast to bid her pensive Sister come 372. As when the powerfull Loadstone's placed neer Th' inamored Iron leaps its love to kisse So Mary when she heard how Christ was there Speeded to meet her dearest Hapiness And falling at her highest Throne His Feet Martha's Complaint She did again repeat 373. Short were her Words but copious were her Tears Love-ravish'd Pleaders strongest Eloquence For in her Eyes those fertile springs she bears Which by their ever-ready Influence Confirm Her Queen of Weepers Ne'r was seen A more bedewed Thing then Magdalene 374. For Love though valiant as the Lyons Heart Is yet as soft as the milde Turtles Soule And mourns as much knowing no other Art By which to slake the mighty Flames which roule About her Bosome and would burn her up Did not her streams of Tears that Torrent stop 375. If when the Clouds lament the hardest stone Under their frequent Tears relenteth How Will Maries thicker Showers prevail upon The Heart of Jesus which did never know What Hardnesse ment He straitway melts and by His Groanes does his Compassion testifie 376. Then turning to the Grave he broach'd his Eyes And vi'd with Maries streams whither it were In Pitty of Mans fatall Miseries Who did his own Destruction prepare For neither Gods nor Natures Hand but he Digg'd his own Grave by his Impietie 377. Or in deep greif his dearest Freinds to see Of his Omnipotence distrustfull still Or in soft Sympathie with those whom He Of Tears and Lamentations saw so full What e'r the reason were He showred down Those streams for Mans sake and not for his own 378. O Tears you now are Perls indeed since He Who is the Gem of Heav'n hath brought you Forth Now you may worthy of Gods Bottles be Who from Gods radiant Eyes derive your Worth All holy Drops which are of kin to you By that Affinitie must glorious grow 379. Let flintie Bosomes build their foolish Pride On their own Hardnesse and the Weeping Eye As an effeminate childish Thing deride And inconsistent with the Braverie Of Masculine Spirits Yet truely-noble Hearts With Jesus will not scorn to Weep their parts 380. But He now from the Tombe commands the stone To be remov'd which sealed Lazarus up Alas an harder Marble lay upon Poor Martha's Heart which Faiths access did stop Corrupted was her Minde which made Her think And talk so much of Foure Days and the Stink 381. What are Foure Dayes that their poor intervention Should able be to raise a scruple here And intercept his soveraign Intention To whom Eternitie doth bow A Year An Age a World is no stop unto Him Upon whose Will depends the life of Time 382. Stinks and Corruptions no Retardments are To his productive Power who doth derive Through Putrifactions Pipes and there prepare The life which to all Creatures he doth give For by his Law which knows no violation Corruption Mother is to Generation 383. The Stone removed and the Cave laid ope Jesus the mighty King of Life and Death With awfull Majesty his hand lift up And then his Voice forming his royall breath Into these high imperious Words which Earth And Heav'n obeyed Lazarus come forth 384. A mighty Voice indeed which reach'd the Breast Of Abraham where the Soule in quiet lay But at these potent Summons made all haste Back to its own The Patriark they say Kiss'd the sweet Spirit and intreated it To bear that Token unto Jesu's feet 385. But when it came into the Cave it found What there the Thunder of this Voice had done Shatter'd and scatter d all about the ground Lay adamantine Chains which
did flie Unto the bottome of Nights nideous Sea That now Sins Blacknesse chased was away Earth might behold a double glorious Day 421. But will no Pitty on the Body look Which now has born the utmost spight of spight Yes Arimathean Joseph undertook To pay unto it its Sepulchral Right And now with loving Loyaltie doth mean To prove that he had a Disciple been 422. A true Disciple though a Secret one Witnesse his Fear to generous Courage grown For though his Master now were dead and gone His Faith revives nor shall the High-priests Frown Or Peoples Fury fright his Duty from Yeilding his Saviour his own costly Tombe 423. A Man of honorable Place was he And Pilate easily grants him his Request The Corps resigned is unto his free Disposall which he straight-way doth invest With daintiest Linen that the Winding Sheet Might Delicacie learn by Kissing it 424. Right well he Knew this solemn Paschal Feast For bad him all Pollution by the Dead And yet his pious Love durst not desist Till he this votive Task had finished Being assur'd he could not stained be By handling the dead Corps of Purity 425. But is Ho busie was another Freind Came in good Nicodemus who by Night On Iesus whilst He lived did attend To gain for his obscured Judgment Light And in his blacker Night of Death doth now His gratefull Pietie upon Him bestow 426. Of pretious aromatick Mixtures He An hundred Weight doth bring to sacrifice Unto this Bodies service so to be Enobled and enhanced in its price The O dours smiled as they kiss'd the Skin For by that Touch more Sweetnes they did win 427. Mean while the Instruments of Death for this The manner was were younder buried Where they shall sleep untill a Queen shall rise Out of thy Albion from whose blessed Bed A Prince shall spring who shall exalt above His Roman Eagles the meek Christian Dove 428. Their deer Discovery is reserv'd for none But venerable Helen who when here Hot in her passionate Devotion Her Saviours Sufferings She her selfe shall bear Transfiguring her Miditating Heart Into each severall Torture Wound and Smart 429. Those noble Relicts shall revealed be In recompence of her brave Love and Zeal There for the Jewells She shall Dig and see At length the rude but glorious Spectacle The Crosse and Nail She there shall finde Which her Lords Body pain'd and her own Minde 430. Inestimable shall their Worth be held One of those Nailes to Constantine shall seem Illustrious enough his Head to gild And sit enthron'd upon his Diademe Two in his Bridle shall triumph when He Rides through the World like King of Victory 431. The Fourth shall tame the Adriatik Man And naile it fast unto its bottome so That on its equall pacisied Plain The unmolested Ships may safely goe Then by this Gem shall that enriched Sea More wealthy than the eastern Ocean be 432. But for the noble Crosse no Toung can tell The Wonders that shall spring from that drie Tree Which hew'd out by Devotions Edge shall fill The zealous World and quit that Injury Which from the fatall Bough in Eden spread Through all the 〈◊〉 sown with humane Seed 433. Persia shall take it Captive yet not dare To look upon its Pris'ner Pietie Shall thence redeem it by a 〈◊〉 War And then return it to its Calvarie When great Heraclius his own royall Back A willing Chariot for it shall make 434. But come my Dear here on the Western side Of this now holy Mountain Thou mayst see The pretious Sepulchre of Him who di'd And who was also Buried for Thee This Rock is it Come lets 's into the Cave No Temple is more holy than this Grave 435. Loe here good Joseph did the Body lay Here lay the blessed Head and here the Feet Hard was the Couche and yet no Princes may Compare their Beds with it which was more sweet Than Solomons although Arabia did With all her sweetest Sweets goe there to bed 436. The Phaeni'x balmie grave could never show Such soveraign Riches of perfumes as here Did from thy blessed Saviours Body flow Who soon the truer Phoenix did appear O pretious Place No Mau 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Into comparison with this must come 437. What are the Monuments of Kings but 〈◊〉 Memorials of their putid Rottennesse Whilst odious Worms and Dust inshrined are Iu specious Gold and Marble But in this Plain Sepulchre bold 〈◊〉 found Her Hands were more than the dead 〈◊〉 bound 438. This is that Oratorie Psyche now Whither the 〈◊〉 Soules 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 Themselves and their best 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they Here all their Zealous 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 With their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And in this Air their warmest 〈◊〉 they 〈◊〉 439. Yet time 's at hand when bold Idolatrie Will venture to prophane this sacred Place To turn this Paradise into a stie And holinesses beauty to deface To build Hels soveraign Monster odious Jove Upon this monument of divinest love 440. But all in vain for Christian Eagles still Will to the place of the dear carcase fly And their impatient devotions fill By feasting on its pretious memory Jove though the most impure of things is not So foule as this Toombs puritie to blot 441. And here may'st thou for I thy heats discover Sweet Psyche stay and ease thy burning heart Thy Uows and Prayers here thou may'st run over And with the pious world take thy free part Doe riot in thy zeal I will attend And keep the door till thou hast made an end 442. Psyche who scarcely for this cue could wait Fell on her face and kiss'd the reveren'd floor Where her brave flames so melted her that strait Her armorous sighs and soule she forth did pour And by the strong embrace of Faith and Love Seem'd there to hug Him who was high above 443. Through all his pains and all his wounds she went And on her own heart printed every one Her bowels with his wofull cry she rent And wish'd not 〈◊〉 seeing he found none By bitter thoughts his nails his throns his spear She copied out by tears his Vinagre 444. But comming to his death she fetch'd a sigh Up from the bottome of her soule in hope Her life would have flown in its company And made her passion too compleatly up Striving in meek ambitious love to have The ready honor of her Saviours Grave 445. Desire lay boyling in her ardent breast With secret groans her Aspirations beat With restlesse panting she reach'd at that rest To which her Lord was flown and in the heat Of this contention she was towr'd so high That scarce her Body upon earth did lye 446. But when life held her on this dainty Rack In a full Ocean of Inamorations And mighty Ecstasies she strove to wrack Her labouring heart And yet these perturabtions And strong assaults of loves intestine war She by diviner loves assistance bare PSYCHE OR LOVES MYSTERIE CANTO XIV The Triumph of Love ARGUMENT LOve bindes in his own
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
Daughter and thou dost resist The course of thy Designe whilst thou dost shut Out Arts and Sciences the Wings whereby Proud Spirits as well as Generous soar high 33. But if thou choosest Virtues craggie Way And dar'st despise whate'r Thou see'st beneath If thy dull Bodies Burden cannot sway Thee downward if this Life to thee be Death If high thine Aim if heav'nly be the Heat Which doth in thy Heroick Bosome beat 34. Right generous is thy Enterprise but yet Strong Difficulties throng about it thick Bold inbred Dangers will encounter it Whilst thy wilde Passions all against it kick Nay thine own Heart unlesse thy Care be great Will Traytor prove and its own Plots defeat 35. Besides All They whose Bosomes tainted be With banefull Sins Contagion will joyn Their malice in a fell conspiracie Thy single Piety to undermine For all thy Virtue checks and chides their Vice And Thy fair Glories shame their Villanies 36. Thou art their Scandal and their Fame doth call Upon their deepest wariest Cares for aid Against that Blot thy Beauty throwss on all Those who of Virtues Hardship are afraid What Weapons wilt thou finde to force back them How shall thy Vessell strive against the Stream 37. Yet through this rampant Sea of Opposition Couldst Thou force ope thy way What wouldst Thou doe Against those stouter Billows of Perdition Which foam and roar wherever Thou dost goe Hell and its Prince their utmost Powers combine To terrifie and to enervate thine 38. And sure this Tempest would effect its Spight On thy weak Bark did not kinde Heav'n descend In pare aforehand did not Grace's light With cordial Assistance Thee befriend Did she not steer thy course and bid thee ride Secure upon the most outrageous Tide 39. Thy Life is nothing but a Tragick Sceen Of most inevitable Death if she By seasonable Help comes not between Thy faint Soule and its dire Catastrophe Grace onely doth condemned Man reprieve From fatall Woes and teach his Life to live 40. T was blessed Charis who so fast did move Phylax his Wings when He to Psyche flew And with the wholsome speed of heav'nly Love Her from the Jaws of the Cerinthians drew By shewing her the horror of that Pit Where Heresie and all her Brood did sit 41. But Phylax from that Grotreturned now His Chariot takes again and her with it Straight Gitton and Samaria sunk below For warned by the motion of their Bit The lusty Coursers took their sprightful wing And justling through the Clouds away did fling 42. As Psyche wonder'd whether they would flie She found her Selfe rapt to a gentle Sphear No Winde durst ever venture up so high Nor blow up any Tempests tumults there The onely Gales which in this Orb did move Were the delicious Breaths of Heav'n and Love 43. The onely Clouds which there did meet her Eye Thick Volumes of religious Ineense were The onely Noise which rooled through that skie Were holy Echo's that to her did bear The sweet Resounds of those rich Anthems which The Throats and Hearts of joyfull Saints did stretch 44. She mused much to think what Creatures were Inhabitants in that calm Sea of Blisse When loe a Troop of glistering Towers drew neer As her swift Chariot further on did presse And straight a goodly Palace fill'd her Eye With large and high-erected Majesty 45. Directly thither for they knew the way The Coursers speeded neighing as they slew But Phylax pluck'd the Reins to bid them stay When neer unto the outer Gate they drew Then lighting with his Virgin-pupill He Warnd her to ponder well what She did see 46. Never said he my Dear those Eyes of thine Though they have travell'd through the World so far Were honored with Object so divine As these with which they now saluted are No Pile e'r swell'd to such bright statelinesse All Princes Courts are Cottages to this 47. That pompous Fabrick which great Davids Son Built for a greater King was poor and plain If it be brought into comparison With this Magnificence which here doth reign As Shaddows doe the Substance so does that But blindly intimate this Temples state 48. The Gold which shin'd the Stones which sparkled there Were all th' ignoble Sons of dirty Earth But these substantial Glories flaming here Owe to Heav'ns Wombe their most illustrious Birth Nor was the Work atcheiv'd by Mortal Hand Which firm as Immortality doth stand 49. Hadst Thou my Wings and through the Sphears couldst flie Heav'ns most imperial Palace there to read That Spectacle would onely feast thine Eye With a more ample Copie wider spred And fuller drawn a Copie of what here Is written in a smaller Character 50. Mark well its Situation Caucasus The Alps th' Athlantick Mountains Ararat Noble Olympus nobler Lybanus Are in their highest exaltations not Halfe so sublime as is this royal Hill Which almost in both Worlds at once doth dwell 51. It s Head thou see'st to Heav'n next Neighbour is And upon Hell its Foot is surely set On Hell which often has repin'd at this Oppressing Burden and oft strove to get Its neck from under it but still in vain The Powers of all that vexed Pit did strein 52. For loe the Mountain's all one solid Rock Compacted in the Strength of Unity Though Hills of Brasse should yeild unto the shock Of Violence though Earths vast Base should be Shouldred out of its place this Mount would stand And laugh to scorn them who against it band 53. So stands the craggie Promontory sure With head erected high above the Storme When all the Windes against its Site conjure And thousand Waves with high-swolln fury arme It stands and sees the Blasts blown out of breath And all the 〈◊〉 shattered beneath 54. But mark the fabrick of this outer Gate And tell me if thou ever saw'st a more Unlikely Passage to a Court of State Strong the Materialls are but yet the Door Is built so low and so extreemly narrow That Worms not Men seem fit to scramble thorow 55. And Worms indeed the Passengers must be Poor thin and humble Things which enter here Big puffing Pride must never hope that She Shall through this Portal crowd or Worldly Care Swelld with Incumbrances and lagg'd with Sin At this small mystick Needles Eye thrust in 56. He whose unhappy Bosome 's stuff'd with Gold Whilst all his Baggs lie heaped in his Heart He who in Fat and Ease himselfe doth fold And never was shrunk up by any Smart Too burlie is to enter here and fit Through Hells wide-gaping Jaws alone to get 57. All secular Impostumes which doe rise From any Humors Superfluity From any Lusts or any Vanities From inward or from outward Luxury Can at this humble Passage finde no room But damm the Way to all that Laden come 58. This said He led the 〈◊〉 to the Gate Where though she shrunk and closely gatherd up Her selfe within her Selfe yet still to great She found her bulk that she was 〈◊〉 to stoop
thing which here Earth useth as a Bait to Luxurie Pride Avarice or any Crime which bear Cheif Rule in Mortal Hearts whil'st heedlesse they Mark not the Hook ev'n when they are its Prey 221. A general Proclamation then she made That none who unto her did homage owe In any Case presume abroad to gad Unlesse Necessitie along did goe As their Companion who might limits set Both to their Walk and what they did in it 222. As when an head-strong Torrent wont to throw His lawlesse Arms or every Mead where He Listed to riot is enjoyn'd to slow In a strait Chanels Regularitie The Stream with belking indignation beats And foams agamst the Banks with murmuring threats 223. So with vexatious and yet fearfull Wrath Her Subjects pent up in these narrow bounds In sighs and groans rebell against their Path And every one his fretfull greif expounds In a long commentary of Complaint The onely freedome of their new restraint 224. Were other Subjects yok'd so close as We Their Company would lighter make our yoke For Misery spred in Communitie Abates the terror of her cruel look But how said they shall we endure alone The total weight of her Dominion 225. Were it the Fashion any where beside For Sence and Passion thus in Chains to lye Our Soules it would not torture to be ty'd At home in endlesse slavery but why Must all the World laugh at our woes whil'st we The sole examples of this Bondage be 226. Psyche who all their struggling Murmurs heard With awfull Majesty enflam'd her Eye And Come said she if I must needs be Fear'd Who would much rather have been Loved by All you my Subjects be it so for still Keep you intirely such I must and will 227. Yet since the Fashion 's all your plea and you Of singularitie tax this your state As far as Reason leads I will allow You your own Wish But see you kick not at My royal Love not force me to the Fashion Which Princes use in Rebels Insultation 228. Know then the Fashion I have put you in Is that which made the Saints of old so sine That they the Eyes of Heav'n it self could win And ravish all but those to whom divine And earth-despising Bravery doth seem Dimmer than is pale Gold and Silvers beam 229. Yea that illustrious Realm whose situation Lies higher than the Stars does not disdain To own what you repute a servile Fashion But every Angel his own Will doth chain Close to his Soveraigns Law and never flies Abroad but when great Bus'nesse him imployes 230. Tell Me not then what Garbs and Humors are By the blinde foolish World ador'd but take Your copie from those Patterns which out-dare The Worth of any Parallel and make Those Men your Pitty who make you their Scorn Your Fashion gorgeous is but theirs forlorne 231. These Words with such convincing Horror flew Upon the faces of the mutinous Rout That all their Murmurs Blasts away they blew And still'd the thoughts which in their bosoms wrought And since their Stomacks nothing had to Say They nothing had to Doe but to Obey 232. Thus from exterior Troubles sequestred Psyche at home close to her Bus'nesse fell She long before the Sun was out of Bed And call'd it Morning e'r the East could tell Aurora rising was for I said she Have fiercer Steeds to rule than Phoebu's be 233. Then higher into Heav'n than He doth ride She took her leap so stout and sinewie were Her early Mattens which her Soul did guide Unto the Pinnacle of Glory where Her Praises and her Prayers she before The foot-stool of her mighty Spouse did poure 234. Her Hands then letting down she set them to Their early Task and this was to prepare Clothes for the Orphans and the Widdows who Now all by Charities Adoption were Become her Children thus did prudent she Bravely make fruitfull her Virginity 235. And in this voluntary Off-spring she Took high delight for those who Parents are By Natures Work too oft engaged be In an unnatural Broods vexatious care But she from hers no Discontent could finde Being the chosen Children of her Minde 236. Yet with her Work her Prayers she mingled so That she of both a goodly Checker made In whatsoever Bus'nesse she did goe Heav'n interwoven was for all her Trade Was but a faithfull Prentise-hood to Him Whose royal Temples wear Heav'ns Diademe 237. So though the Mariner with busie care Attends his Card yet oft he lifts his Eye To take direction from that trustie Star Which darteth on his Voyage Certainty And by this mixed study safely rides Over the proudest and the furthest Tides 238. No idle Visits her abroad could draw Yet whensoever the despised Poor Were sick she by the royal Gospel Law Thought her selfe thither summon'd to restore Unto her needy Lord the help which she Had oft receiv'd from his Benignity 239. For Him on all those fickly Beds she saw His pained broken Limbs His parched Skin His burning Tumors His black stripes His raw And gaping Wounds which did so strongly win On her Compassion that her own they proved Whilst her soft Bowells them both felt and loved 240. The odious Sores which would have loathing bred Ev'n in the Surgions eyes she gently view'd Her choisest Plaisters tenderly she spred And all her Powders with delight she strew'd Her Selfe of her own Clothes she robb'd to winde About the Naked and the Maimed binde 241. By the Diseases greatnesse she did measure The worth of her distressed Company The foulest Lepers yeilded choisest Pleasure To her Attendance who aspir'd to be A Servant unto those whose Noisomeness Both Parents Love and Childrens did suppress 242. In vain her Senses turned back their head Since She what they abhorr'd resolv'd to love In vain her daintier Passions murmured And to recall her from that Office strove Her Resolution she the more profest And ever Kiss'd the Sores which she had drest 243. The coy-ey'd Ladies with a squeamish Look Admir'd and loath'd her lowly Complement Not for a World would their fine Fingers brook The Touch of what her Kisses did resent As soft and sweet yet could not their Disdain Her Zeal discourage or her Lips restrain 244. Still She her Mercifull Designe persues And by divine Insinuation tries How in her Potions she may Heav'n infuse And reach the Soules mysterious Maladies Heart-startling Hints she sprinkles here and there And poures in heav'nly Cordials every where 245. Nor by this paradoxick Zeal alone Did she run counter to the Worlds carreer But valiant in her high Devotion Adventur'd further yet to domineer Over her Flesh and Blood whose lustie Heat By rigid Abstinence she down did beat 246. She ne'r by set and customary Time Was summon'd to unneceslary Meat But earnest Hunger alway told the Chime By which she was admonished to Eate And then her Meal she measured not by Her Stomackfull but bare Sufficiency 247. And thus her food she did her Servant make Whilst others
I onely be a barren Tree When all the World besides so fruitfull is Forbid it mighty King of Souls said she Let not thy Psyches Heart the glory miss Of honouring Thee although my life it cost That life 's best saved which for Thee is lost 355. Much time in this Imployment having spent She chang'd her Task but not her Industry For next her Contemplations she sent To wait upon her Spouses Majesty The Marvells of his mighty Love to read Which over her and all the World was spread 356. And here with sympathetick Exultation And amorous fervor she her Soule did melt For in the tract of every Speculation His Acts and Passions in her Breast she felt Which alwayes Sad or Cheerly was as she His Sorrows or his Joyes in thought did see 357. A longer Pilgrimage she now did make And travell'd all the way with more Delight Than when by Phylax's Conduct she did take To holy Palestine her Zealous flight Longer she dwelt on every Monument Of what her Lord for her had done or spent 358. A thousand times she sigh'd and wonder'd why Brisk generous Spirits who hunt noble Stories Through all Books else should not be ravish'd by The Lustre of the Euangelick Glories But more exactly strave to know the List Of Casars Acts than what was done by Christ. 359. She sigh'd and wonder'd how a Christian Heart Which did not give its blessed Name the lie Could possibly forbear to snatch its part In its Redeemers noble History How Love could quit its loyal selfe and yet Not know whatever of its Spouse was writ 360. But all this while on Logo's Wings she flew Though sometimes Thelema did flutter by And these were much too short and weak she knew To towre and double that Sublimity Which makes Perfections third and highest Story The Crown of Saints and all the Angels Glory 361. She therefore taking Thelema apart With all the winning Art of Courtesie Devised first to charin her mighty Heart And make it plyant to the Plot which she Had laid to catch her into Blisle And then She gently grasp'd her hand and thus began 362. O Thou the dearest of my Servants who Dost wear the Keyes of all that I possesse Yea and of Me thy native Soveraign too Who have no power to stir abroad unlesse Thou op'st the Door How doe I wish that I Had more to trust with thy Fidelity 363. But since I neither am nor have no more Let this suffice to binde thine Heart to Me In gratitude thou canst no lesse restore Than prest Complyance though I ask of thee Some hard and costly Matter so to prove The rate and value of my Steward's Love 364. But I my proper Interest can bate And by my Subjects Gains account mine own What e'r advantage doth inhance their State I take it as Accrewment to my Crown They are my Riches nor can I be poor So long as they increase their teeming Store 365. All I desire shall onely be That thou Wouldst venture to imbrace thy highest Blisse And now dull Sense and Passion valiant grow Now Logos through all Heav'n so busie is Not Flinch alone nor be content to stay In any lower Region than They. 366. Remember that thy Wings of Strength are made And that no Flight's too high or long for thee That nothing ever made thy Courage fade Unlesse thy Selfe didst timorously agree To thy Defeat Henceforth be brave and bold Thou canst not fail if thou but holdst thine Hold. 367. Jesus the Soveraign Lord of Thee and Me Will give thee leave to make Himselfe thy Prey Reach then thine Arms of noble Love that he Imprisoned in thy Imbraces may Thorough thy happy Heart his Sweetnesse thrill And with the best of Heav'n thy bosome fill 368. If this Adventure thou esteem'st too high Throw down thy Selfe before His blessed Feet He cannot let thee there despised lie But with his ready favour thee will greet And for that Resignation of thing Hug and imbrace thee till thou prov'st divine 369. This gallant Challenge wrought so strong upon The generous Heart of Thelema that she The forwardnesse of her submission Forthwith profess'd upon her bended Knee And Heav'n forbid said she I should deny Your Pleasure or mine own Felicity 370. Though not at Jesu's royal Feet ô no I am too vile to aime my Pride so high Yet Madame here at yours my Selfe I throw To be accepted and disposed by Your Love and Wisdome Use Me as you please Loe I return you yours and mine own Keyes 371. Triumphant Joy straight flam'd in Psyche's Breast The Virgins ready Loyalty to see Whom she embraced thrice and thrice she kist And sweetly forced to rise from her Knee Then all her 〈◊〉 she took which to her side Weeping and Smiling in one Knot she ti'd 372. And now I feel my Selfe a Queen said she A Queen indeed Yet be assured thou O faithfull Mayd shalt finde thy Selfe more free By this Subjection than when thou didst bow To thine own Inclinations which have To Vanity full oft made Thee a Slave 373. Exalated thus unto her own Desire Into her pious Oratory She More cheerfully than ever did retire To celebrate a new Solemnity An Holocaust she hastes to sacrifice For which her own brave Zeal the Fire supplies 374. Did golden Mountains tempt her now to stay Did Millions of Worlds made up in one Inestimable Bait lie in her way And woo her but to let one Minute run Before She fell to work not all the force Of those strong Complements could stop her Course 375. No She of joyous Love in travell is And feels the dainty Pangs of Parturition Till she brings 〈◊〉 her mighty Sacrifice 'T is not all Heav'n can ease her smart condition Speed Speed alone would usefull be she knew Whose Wings she snatch'd and to her Bus'nes flew 376. A Preface then of thousand Sighs and Tears Before her brave Oblation she spred As many Groans unto her Soveraigns ears Like Harbengers of her Designe she sped Then prostrate on the ground her face she layd And of her humble Heart the Altar made 377. Upon this Altar bound both Hands and Feet Her Thelema she for the Offring threw And bend thy gracious Eye said Shee thou sweet And gentle Lamb of Heav'n to Me who sue For thy acceptance of this Sacrifice Which at the footstool of thy Mercy lies 378. Thy royal Bounty gave it unto Me But I alas perceive my Self too weak To manage such a great Estate To thee I therefore render it O gently take It home again and govern it for Me The feeble Handmayd of thy Majesty 379. Doe with it what Thou wilt so it be Thine I care not what betide it for I know Thy Pleasure like thy Self must be Divine O see how it pants and heav's if Thou Wilt not accept it let it lie for Me How can I love what is despis'd by Thee 380. As when the Lightning flasheth from the Skie Down to the ground it
Heav'n and Jesu's Company now grown Things so indifferent that my longing Eyes Should spare their Tears when I am snatch'd away From them and fore'd on for did Earth to stay 283. O Phylax Thou hast not repreived Me From any of my Pains I 'm at the Stake I burn I burn nor will my Agonie But by my final Dissolution slake She fainted here But Phylax took her up And hasted thus her Sorrows Tide to stop 284. Courage my Dear and be assured I Have not deceiv'd thee of try Noble Aim Thy Spouse designs a Martyrdome whereby To draw thee to himselfe but not the same By which he snatch'd 〈◊〉 no for thee He treasured hath a braven 〈◊〉 285. 〈◊〉 long more strong and 〈◊〉 Pain 〈…〉 be than from the Spight Of this though 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈…〉 Thou 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for 〈◊〉 Fight Then 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 fought and this shall be The Theater of thy mighty 〈◊〉 286. Here in this very Place shalt thou maintain 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Combat whilst thy Spouse and all His 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 on his royal Train Will be Spectators O doe not forestall Thy greater Fame by hasty Zeal but stay With patience for thy Coronation Day 287. This ample Answer such Refreshment blew On Psyche s Heats that meek and pliant she Cool'd her importunate Desires and grew Content to wait the full Maturity Of her affected laurel though as yet She little knew how she must Gather 〈◊〉 PSYCHE OR LOVES MYSTERIE CANTO XIX The Dereliction ARGUMENT PSyche abandon'd to the Solitude Of Soule and Body by the resolute Might Of patient loyal Constancie subdu'd Hels Champion Dispair in single fight Yet in her Conquest no free Joy could have Because she still was Derelictions Slave 1. HOw grim how cold how comfortless soe'r Thou look st dear Solitude sure in thy breast Some worthy Sweets thou dost 〈◊〉 bear Witness that Vilenesse and that high Request By which betwixt the lazie earthly heart And Pious Soule thou so divided art 2. He who when e'r his Conscience him doth take Alone it 〈◊〉 full on his guilty face A large Inditement doth against thee make And on thee poures the bottome of Disgrace Calling thee Mother of vexatious Folly Of Horrors and dispaning Melancholy 3. He no where but among his roaring Boyes Can meet a quire whose Musick suits his Ear Whil'st in the tumult of that boistrous noise He drowns those thoughts which would his bosome tear And in the throng of Sinners cannot finde Free room to take a view of his own Minde 4. And thus unhappy Man he onely lives In his outside and therefore liveth not But when sure ' Death his wofull summons gives Strangely amazed and not knowing what To do or think in vain for help he cryes And to himself a wretched stranger dies 5. He dies and leaves that Body which would not Endure to be a little while alone In the Graves tedious Solitude to rot Whilst in the Tumult of Damnation His now uncloysterd Soule is forc'd to dwel Amongst the Roarers of eternal Hell 6. But he who dares his Bosome ransack and Take a survey of every thing within That he may always ready have at Hand An Inventary of himself and win Time upon Death by prudent Preparation To entertain and kisse his Consummation 7. He who both Leisure and Desire can finde To sequester Impertinences that His proper busnes he may onely minde And by industrious Thrift mend his Estate So that though naked he goes to his grave An endlesse stock of riches he may have 8. He He 's the Man whom all the Cities joyes And proud excess the Countries hearty sport The Licence endlesse Fashions glittering Toies And all the Pomp and Glories of the Court Cannot so far enchant but sober he Can of plain Solitude inamored be 9. He there more store of Company can meet And of more high and worthy quality Than in the thickest Theatre doth sweat Where Spectacles professe to court the Eye Such Presses justle out all Heav'n but He Reads it at large in this Vacuitie 10. An undisturbed view he here can take Of all its fairest and its loftiest stories His Contemplation here can freely break Through all the Treasures of its boundlesse glories And in the Court where Blisse and Pleasures reign With Saints and Angels brave Acquaintance gain 11. Here to the Universe's King can He His free attendance pay from Morn to Night Whil'st in the everlasting One and Three He learns both to Divide and to Unite His mystick Homage as the Spirits Gale Makes him through this Abysse of Wonders sail 12. Here he doth always stand upon his Watch That when the roaring Lyon who doth run About the World his carelesse Preys to catch Hunteth that way his On-set he may shun Or with awakened and prepared Might Confront his Foe and entertain the fight 13. Here from the saplesse Worlds enchanting Breast Where nothing but the froth of Milk doth spring Himself he weans and studies how to feast Upon some masculine substantial thing Which may not mock him with short false Content But to his Soul yeeld solid Nutriment 14. No Humor of the Times no Garbs or Fashions Can here take up his Care No boistrous News Of publike Woes or fatal Alterations The Calm of this his Harbour can abuse No storms can rage but in the open seas His private Bay the Cloister is of Ease 15. His righteous Soule is not afflicted here To See and Hear how wretched Worms defie Omnipotence's King and scorn to fear The Jaws of Hell to which their Villany Makes them apparent Heirs but take delight The Love and Blood of Jesus to despight 16. Here past the reach of those bewitching Darts Which flash with radiant Bane from wanton eyes And make both timorous and martial hearts Yeeld to fantastick self-made Wounds He lies Secure and safe and undisturbed may Prepare for his eternal Nuptial Day 17. Here leave and leisure he enjoys to weed And cultivate his Heart in which he plants Each Herb of Grace and sows the blessed Seed Of every Virtue which his bosome wants In certain hopes his labours will conclude In a full Harvest of Beatitude 18. With prudent foresight here he doth provide An ample stock that he may ready be To bear all Charges which may Him betide In managing a publike Life if he Be called from his private Nest and made Against the thronging stream of Sin to wade 19. More furnished with strength of Argument From learned Athens never Student came Though He his nimblest years and Spirits had spent The Engins of most active Wit to frame Then doth this sagely-sprightfull Champion from His private Schole of publick Virtue come 20. For having learned their due Scorn to throw Upon those Incerests and Baits which make The biass'd Hearts of Men unmanly grow And cowardly Sins sneaking By paths take In spight of all the World which dares say No He in the King of Heav'ns High-way will go 21. Thus in all Sorts of high Advantage this Life of