despises and the world and all 65 Deepely alas empassioned she stood To see a flaming brand tost vp from hell Boyling her heart in her owne lustfull blood That oft for torment she would loudely yell Now she would sighing sit and nowe she fell Crouching vpon the ground in sackcloath trust Early and late she prayed and fast she must And all her haire hung full of ashes and of dust 66 Of all most hated yet hated most of all Of her owne selfe she was disconsolat As though her flesh did but infunerall Her buried ghost she in an arbour sat Of thornie brier weeping her cursed state And her before a hastie riuer fled Which her blind eyes with faithfull penance fed And all about the grasse with tears hung downe his head 67 Her eyes though blind abroad at home kept fast Inwards they turn'd and look't into her head At which shee often started as aghast To see so fearfull spectacles of dread And with one hand her breast shee martyred Wounding her heart the same to mortifie The other a faire damsell held her by Which if but once let goe shee sunke immediatly 68 But Faith was quicke and nimble as the heau'n As if of loue and life shee all had been And though of present sight her sense were reauen Yet shee could see the things could not be seen Beyond the starres as nothing wear between She fixt her sight disdeigning things belowe Into the sea she could a mountaine throwe And make the Sun to stande and waters backewards flowe 69 Such when as Mercie her beheld from high In a darke valley drownd with her owne tears One of her graces she sent hastily Smiling Eirene that a garland wears Of guilded oliue on her fairer hears To crowne the fainting soules true sacrifice Whom when as sad Repentance comming spies The holy Desperado wip't her swollen eyes 70 But Mercie felt a kinde remorse to runne Through her soft vaines and therefore hying fast To giue an end to silence thus begunne Aye-honour'd Father if no ioy thou hast But to reward desert reward at last The Deuils voice spoke with a serpents tongue Fit to hisse out the words so deadly stung And let him die deaths bitter charmes so sweetely sung 71 He was the father of that hopeles season That to serue other Gods forgot their owne The reason was thou wast aboue their reason They would haue any Gods rather then none Aâ—beasily serpent or a senselesse stone And these as Iustice bates so I deplore But the vp-plowed heart all rent and tore Though wounded by it selfe I gladly would restore 72 He was but dust Why fear'd he not to fall And beeing fall'n how can he hope to liue Cannot the hand destroy him that made all Could be not take away aswell as giue Should man depraue and should not God depriue Was it not all the worlds deceiuing spirit That bladder'd vp with pride of his owne merit Fell in his rise that him of heau'n did disinherit 73 He was but dust how could he stand before him And beeing fall'n why should he feare to die Cannot the hand that made him first restore him Deprau'd of sinne should he depriued lie Of grace can he not hide infirmitie That gaue him strength vnworthy the forsaking He is who euer weighs without mistaking Or Maker of the man or manner of his making 74 Who shall thy temple incense any more Or to thy altar crowne the sacrifice Or strewe with idle flow'rs the hallow'd flore Or what should Prayer deck with hearbs and spice Her vialls breathing orisons of price If all must paie that which all cannot paie O first begin with mee and Mercie slaie And thy thrice-honour'd Sonne that now beneath doth strey 75 But if or he or I may liue and speake And heau'n can ioye to see a sinner weepe Oh let not Iustice yron scepter breake A heart alreadie broke that lowe doth creep And with prone humblesse her feets dust doth sweep Must all goe by desert is nothing free Ah if but those that onely woorthy be None should thee euer see none should thee euer see 76 What hath man done that man shall not vndoe Since God to him is growne so neere a kin Did his foe slay him he shall slay his foe Hath he lost all he all againe shall win Is Sinne his Master he shall master sinne Too hardy soule with sinne the field to trie The onely way to conquer was to flie But thus long death hath liu'd and now deaths selfe shall die 77 He is a path if any be misled He is a robe if any naked bee If any chaunce to hunger he is bread If any be a bondman he is free If any be but weake howe strong is hee To dead men life he is to sicke men health To blinde men sight and to the needie wealth A pleasure without losse a treasure without stealth 78 Who can forget neuer to be forgot The time that all the world in slumber lies When like the starres the singing Angels shot To earth and heau'n awaked all his eyes To see another Sunne at midnight rise On earth was neuer sight of pareil fame For God before Man like himselfe did frame But God himselfe now like a mortall man became 79 〈◊〉 Child he was and had not learn't to speake That with his word the world before did make His Mothers armes him bore he was so weake That with one hand the vaults of heau'n could shake â—ee how small roome my infant Lord doth take Whom all the world is not enough to hold Who of his yeares or of his age hath told â—euer such age so young neuer a child so old 80 â—nd yet but newely he was insanted â—nd yet alreadie he was sought to die â—et scarcely borne alreadie banished â—ot able yet to goe and forc't to flie But scarcely fled away when by and by The Tyrans sword with blood is all defil'd And Rachel for her sonnes with furie wild Cries O thou cruell King and O my sweetest child 81 Egypt his Nource became whear Nilus springs Who streit to entertaine the rising sunne The hasty haruest in his bosome brings But now for drieth the fields wear all vndone And now with waters all is ouerrunne So fast the Cynthian mountaines powr'd their snowe When once they felt the sunne so neere them glowe That Nilus Egypt lost and to a sea did growe 82 The Angells caroll'd lowd their song of peace The cursed Oracles wear strucken dumb To see their Sheapheard the poore Sheapheards press To see their King the Kingly Sophies come And them to guide vnto his Masters home A Starre comes dauncing vp the orient That springs for ioye ouer the strawy tent Whear gold to make their Prince a crowne they all present 83 Young Iohn glad child before he could be borne Leapt in the woombe his ioy to prophecie Old Anna though with age all spent and worne Proclaimes her Sauiour
dwell vpon some mountaine high Whose hollowe root and baser parts ar spread On fleeting waters in his bowells bred That I their streames and they my teares may feed Or cloathed in some Hermits ragged weed Spend all my daies in weeping for this cursed deed 63 The life the which I onte did loue I leaue The loue in which I once did liue I loath I hate the light that did my light bereaue Both loue and life I doe despise you both O that one graue might both our ashes cloath A Loue a Life a Light I now obteine Able to make my Age growe young againe Able to saue the sick and to reuiue the slaine 64 Thus spend we teares that neuer can be spent On him that sorrow now no more shall see Thus send we sighs that neuer can be sent To him that died to liue and would not be To be thear whear he would here burie we This heau'nly earth here let it softly sleepe The fairest Sheapheard of the fairest sheepe So all the bodie kist and homewards went to weepe 65 So home their bodies went to seeke repose But at the graue they left their soules behinde O who the force of loue coelestiall knowes That can the cheynes of natures selfe vnbinde Sending the Bodie home without the minde Ah blessed Virgin what high Angels art Can euer coumpt thy teares or sing thy smart When euery naile that pierst his hand did pierce thy heart 66 So Philomel perch't on an aspin sprig Weeps all the night her lost virginitie And sings her sad tale to the merrie twig That daunces at such ioyfull miserie Ne euer lets sweet rest inuade her eye But leaning on a thorne her daintie chest For feare soft sleepe should steale into her brest Expresses in her song greefe not to be exprest 67 So when the Larke poore birde afarre espi'th Her yet vnfeather'd children whom to saue She striues in vaine slaine by the fatall sithe Which from the medowe her greene locks doeth shaue That their warme nest is now become their graue The woefull mother vp to heauen springs And all about her plaintiue notes she flings And their vntimely fate most pittifully sings CHRISTS TRIVMPH after Death 1 BVt now the second Morning from her bowre Began to glister in her beames and nowe The roses of the day began to flowre In th' easterne garden for heau'ns smiling browe Halfe insolent for ioy begunne to showe The early Sunne came liuely dauncing out And the bragge lambes ranne wantoning about That heau'n and earth might seeme in tryumph both to shour 2 Th' engladded Spring forgetfull now to weepe Began t' eblazon from her leauie bed The waking swallowe broke her halfe-yeares sleepe And euerie bush lay deepely purpured With violets the woods late-wintry head Wide flaming primroses set all on fire And his bald trees put on their greene attire Among whose insant leaues the ioyeous birds conspire 3 And now the taller Sonnes whom Titan warmes Of vnshorne mountaines blowne with easie windes Dandled the mornings childhood in their armes And if they chaunc't to slip the prouder pines The vnder Corylets did catch the shines To guild their leaues sawe neuer happie yeare Such ioyfull triumph and triumphant cheare As though the aged world anew created wear 4 Say Earth why hast thou got thee new attire And stick'st thy habit full of dazies red Seems that thou doest to some high thought aspire And some newe-found-out Bridegroome mean'st to wed Tell me ye Trees so fresh apparelled So neuer let the spitefull Canker wast you So neuer let the heau'ns with lightening blast you Why goe you now so trimly drest or whither hast you 5 Answer me Iordan why thy crooked tide So often wanders from his neerest way As though some other way thy streame would slide And faine salute the place where something lay And you sweete birds that shaded from the ray Sit carolling and piping griefe away The while the lambs to heare you daunce and play Tell me sweete birds what is it you so faine would say 6 And thou faire Spouse of Earth that euerie yeare Gett'st such a numerous issue of thy bride How chance thou hotter shin'st and draw'st more neere Sure thou somewhear some worthie sight hast spide That in one place for ioy thou canst not bide And you dead Swallowes that so liuely now Through the flit aire your winged passage rowe How could new life into your frozen ashes flowe 7 Ye Primroses and purple violets Tell me why blaze ye from your leauie bed And wooe mens hands to rent you from your sets As though you would somewhear be carried With fresh perfumes and velvets garnished But ah I neede not aske t' is surely so You all would to your Sauiours triumphs goe Thear would ye all awaite and humble homage doe 8 Thear should the Earth herselfe with garlands newe And louely flowr's embellished adore Such roses neuer in her garland grewe Such lillies neuer in her brest she wore Like beautie neuer yet did shine before Thear should the Sunne another Sunne behold From whence himselfe borrowes his locks of gold That kindle heau'n and earth with beauties manifold 9 Thear might the violet and primrose sweet Beames of more liuely and more louely grace Arising from their beds of incense meet Thear should the Swallowe see newe life embrace Dead ashes and the graue vnheale his face To let the liuing from his bowels creepe Vnable longer his owne dead to keepe Thear heau'n and earth should see their Lord awake from sleepe 10 Their Lord before by other iudg'd to die Nowe Iudge of all himselfe before forsaken Of all the world that from his aide did flie Now by the Saints into their armies taken Before for an vnworthie man mistaken Nowe worthy to be God confest before With blasphemies by all the basest tore Now worshipped by Angels that him lowe adore 11 Whose garment was before indipt in blood But now imbright'ned into heau'nly flame The Sun it selfe outglitters though he should Climbe to the toppe of the celestiall frame And force the starres go hide themselues for shame Before that vnder earth was buried But nowe about the heau'ns is carried And thear for euer by the Angels heried 12 So fairest Phosphor the bright Morning starre But neewely washt in the greene element Before the drouzie Night is halfe aware Shooting his flaming locks with deaw besprent Springs liuely vp into the orient And the bright droue fleec't all in gold he chaces To drinke that on the Olympique mountaine grazes The while the minor Planets forfeit all their faces 13 So long he wandred in our lower spheare That heau'n began his cloudy starres despise Halfe enuious to see on earth appeare A greater light then flam'd in his owne skies At length it burst for spight and out thear flies A globe of winged Angels swift as thought That on their spotted feathers liuely caught The sparkling Earth and to their azure fields it brought 14 The rest that
CHRISTS VICTORIE AND TRIumph in Heauen and Earth over and after death A te principium tibi desinet accipe iussis Carmina caepta tuis atque hanc sine tempora circum Inter victrices hederam tibi serpere lauros CONFIDO IN DOMINO CAMBRIDGE Printed by C. LEGGE 1610. To the Reader THear are but fewe of many that can rightly iudge of Poetry and yet thear at many of those few that carry so left-handed an opinion of it as some of them thinke it halfe sacrilege for prophane Poetrie to deale with divine and heauenly matters as though David wear to be sentenced by them for vtteâ—…ng his graue matter vpon the harpe others something more â—…olent in their censure but sure lesse reasonable as though â—…oetrie corrupted all good witts when indeed bad witts corâ—…pt Poetrie banish it with Plato out of all well-ordered Commonwealths Both theas I will strive rather to satisfie â—…en refute And of the first I would gladlie knowe whither they supâ—ose it fitter that the sacred songs in the Scripture of those heâ—oicall Saincts Moses Deborah Ieremie Mary Simeon Daâ—id Salomon the wisest Scholeman and wittiest Poet should â—ee eiected from the canon for wante of grauitie or rather this â—rroure eraced out of their mindes for wante of truth But it maye bee they will giue the Spirit of God leaue to breath â—hrough what pipe it please will confesse because they must â—eeds that all the songs dittied by him must needs bee as their Fountaine is most holy but their common clamour is who may compare with 〈◊〉 yet as none may compare without presumâ—… all may imitat and not without commendation which made Nazianzen on of the Starrs of 〈◊〉 Greeke Church that nowe shines as bright in heauen as 〈◊〉 did then on earth write so manie diuine Poems of the Geâ—… alogie Miracles Parables Passion of Christ called by him hâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which when Basil the Prince of the Fathenâ—… and his Chamberfellowe had seene his opinion of them was that he could haue deuised nothing either more fruitfull to others because it kindely woed them to Religion or more honourable to himselfe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because by imitating the singing Angels in heau'n himselfe became though before his time an earthly Angel What should I speake of Iuvencus Prosper the wise Prudentius the last of which liuing in Hieroms time twelue hundred yeares agoe brought foorth in his declining age so many so religious poems straitly charging his soule not to let passe so much as one either night or daye without some diuine song Hymnis continuet dies Nec nox vlla vacet quin Dominum canat And as sedulous Prudentius so prudent Sedulius was famous in this poeticall diuinity the coetan of Bernard who sung the historie of Christ with as much deuotion in himself as admitation to others all which wear followed by the choicest witts of Christendome Nonnius translating all Sainct Iohns Ghosipel into Greek verse Sanazar the late-liuing Image and happy imitator of Uirgil bestowing ten-yeares vpon a song onely to celebrat that one day when Christ was borne vnto vs on earth we a happie change vnto God in heau'n thrice-honour'd Bartas our I know no other name more glorious then his own Mr. Edmund Spencer two blessed Soules not thinking ten years inough layeing out their whole liues vpon this one studie Nay I may iustly say that the Princely Father of our Countrey though in my conscience God hath made him of all the learned Princes that euer wear the most religious and of all the religious Princes the most learned that so by the one hee might oppose him against the Pope the peste of all Religion and by the other against Bellarmine the abuser of all good Learning is yet so far enamour'd with this celestiall Muse that it shall neuer repent mee calamo triuisse labellum whensoeuer I shall remember Hac eadem vt sciret quid non faciebat Amyntas To name no more in such plenty whear I may finde how to beginne sooner then to end Saincte Paule by the ExaÌ„ple of Christ that wente singing to mounte Oliuet with his Disciples after his last supper exciteth the Christians to solace themselues with â—ymnes and Psalmes and spirituall songs and thearefore by their leav's be it an error for Poets to be Divines I had rather â—…rr with the Scripture then be rectifi'd by them I had rather â—dore the stepps of Nazianzen Prudentius Sedulius then folâ—owe their steps to bee misguided I had rather be the deuoute Admirer of Nonnius Bartas my sacred Soueraign and others the miracles of our latter age then the false sectatie of these that haue nothing at all to follow but their own naked opinions To conclude I had rather with my Lord and his most divine Apostle sing though I sing sorilie the loue of heauen and earthe then praise God as they doe with the woorthie guift of silence and sitting still or think I dispraisd him with this poetical discourse It seems they haue either not read or clean â—orgot that it is the dutie of the Muses if wee maye beeleeue â—indare and Hesiod to set allwaies vnder the throne of Iupiter â—ius laudes beneficia 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which made a very worthy German writer conclude it Certò statuimus proprium atque peâ—uliare poetarum munus esse Christi gloriam illustrare beeing good reason that the heavenly infusion of such Poetry should â—nde in his glorie that had beginning from his goodnes fit oâ—ator nascitur Poeta For the secound sorte thearfore that eliminat Poets out of â—heir citie gates as though they wear nowe grown so bad as â—hey could neither growe woorse nor better though it be â—omewhat hard for those to bee the onely men should want cities that wear the onely causers of the building of them and somewhat inhumane to thrust them into the woods to liue among the beasts who wear the first that call'd men out of the woods from their beastly and wilde life yet since they will needes shoulder them out for the onely firebrands to inflame lust the fault of earthly men not heauenly Poetrie I would gladly learne what kind of professions theas men would bee intreated to entertaine that so deride and disaffect Poesie would they admit of Philosophers that after they haue burnt out the whole candle of their life in the circular studie of Sciences crie out at length Se nihil prorsus seire or should Musitians be welcome to them that Dant sine mente sonum bring delight with them indeede could they aswell expresse with their instruments a voice as they can a sound or would they most approve of Soldiers that defend the life of their countrymen either by the death of themselues or their enemies If Philosophers please them who is it that knowes not that all the lights of Example to cleare their precepts are borowed by Philosophers from Poets that without Homers examples
Aristotle would be as blind as Homer If they retaine Musitians who euer doubted but that Poets infused the verie soule into the inarticulate sounds of musique that without Pindar Horace the Lyriques had beene silenced for euer If they must needes entertaine Soldiers who can but confesse that Poets restore againe that life to soldiers which they before lost for the safetie of their country that without Uirgil Aeneas had neuer beene so much as heard of How then can they for shame deny commonwealths to them who wear the first Authors of them how can they denie the blinde Philosopher that teaches them his light the emptie Musitian that delights them his soule the dying Soldier that defends their life immortalitie after his owne death let Philosophie let Ethiques let all the Arts bestowe vpon vs this guift that we be noâ— thought deadmen whilest we remaine among the liuing it is onely Poetrie that can make vs be thought liuing men when we lie among the dead and therefore I thinke it vnequall to thrust them out of our cities that call vs out of our graues to thinke so hardly of them that make vs to be so well thought of to deny them to liue a while among vs that make vs liue for euer among our Posteritie So beeing nowe weary in perswading those that hate I commend my selfe to those that love such Poets as Plato speakes of that sing divine and heroical matters 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 recommending theas my idle howers not idly spent to good schollers and good Christians that haue ouercome their ignorance with â—eason and their reason with religion FOnd ladds that spend so fast your poasting time Too poasting time that spends your time as fast To chaunt light toyes or frame some wanton time Where idle boyes may glut their lustfull tast Or else with praise to cloath some fleshly shine With virgins roses and faire lillies chast While itching bloods and youthfull eares adore it But wiser men and once your selues will most abhorre it But thou most neere most deare in this of thine Ha'st proov'd the Muses not to Venus bound Such as thy matter such thy muse divine Or thou such grace with Merci's selfe hast found That she her selfe deign's in thy leaues to shine Or stol'n from heav'n thou broughts this verse to ground Which frights the nummed soule with fearefull thunder And soone with honied dewes melts it twixt ioy and wonder Then doe not thou malitious tongues esteeme The glasse through which an envious eye doth gaze Can easily make a molehill mountaines seeme His praise dispraises his dispraises praise Enough if best men best thy labours deem And to the highest pitch thy merit raise While all the Muses to thy song decree Victorious Triumph Triumphant Victorie Phin. Fletcher Regal TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPVLL AND REVEREND Mr. Doctour NEVILE Deane of CANTERBVRIE and the Master of TRINITIE Colledge in CAMBRIDGE RIght worthie and reverend Syr As I have alwaies thought the place wherein I liue after heauen principally to be desired both because I most want and it most abounds with wisdome which is fled by some with as much delight as it is obtained by others and ought to be followed by all so I cannot but next vnto God for euer acknowledge myselfe most bound vnto the hand of God I meane yourselfe that reacht downe as it were out of heauen vnto me a beâ—…fit of that nature and price then which I could wish none oneâ—… heauen itselfe excepted either more fruitfull and contenting â—…r the time that is now present or more comfortable and encouraging for the time that is alreadie past or more hopefull and â—…omising for the time that is yet to come For as in all mens iudgements that haue any iudgement Euâ—…pe is worthily deem'd the Queene of the world that Garland both of Learning and pure Religion beeing now become her crowne and blossoming vpon her head that hath long since laine withered in Greece and Palestine so my opinion of this Island hath alwaies beene that it is the very face and beautie of all Europe in which both true Religion is faithfully professed without superstition and if on earth true Learning sweetly flourishes without ostentation and what are the two eyes of this Land but the two Universities which cannot but prosper in the time of such a Prince that is a Prince of Learning aswell as of People and truly I should forget myselfe if I should not call Cambridge the right eye and I thinke King Henrie the 8. beeing the vniter Edward the 3. the Founder and your selfe the Repairer of this Colledge wherein I liue none will blame me if I esteeme the same since your polishing of it the fairest sight in Cambridge in which beeing placed by your onely fauour most freely without either any meanes from other or any desert in my selfe beeing not able to doe more I could doe no lesse then acknowledge that debt which I shall neuer be able to pay and with old Silenus in the Poet vpon whome the boyes injiciunt ipsis ex vincula sertis making his garland his fetters finding my selfe bound vnto you by so many benefits that were giuen by your selfe for ornaments but are to me as so many golden cheines to hold me fast in a kind of desired bondage seeke as he doth my freedome with a song the matter whereof is as worthie the sweetest Singer as my selfe the miserable Singer vnworthie so divine a subiect but the same fauour that before rewarded no desert knowes now as well how to pardon all faults then which indulgence when I regard my selfe I can wish no more when I remember you I can hope no lesse So commending these few broken lines vnto yours and your selfe into the hands of the best Physitian IESVS CHRIST with whome the most ill affected man in the midst of his sicknes is in good health and without whoms the most lustie bodie in his greatest iollitie is but a languishing karcase I humbly take my â—eaue ending with the same wish that your deuoted Observer â—…nd my approoued Friend doth in his verses presently sequent that your passage to heauen may be slow to vs that shall want â—…ou here but to your selfe that cannot want vs there most secure â—nd certeyne Your Worships in all dutie and seruice G. FLETCHER THOMAS NEVYLE MOST HEAVENLY AS when the Captaine of the heauenly host Or else that glorious armie doth appeare In waters drown'd with surging billowes tost We know they are not where we see they are We see them in the deepe we see them mooue We know they fixed are in heauen aboue So did the Sunne of righteousnesse come downe Clowded in flesh and seem'd be in the deepe So doe the many waters seeme to drowne The starres his Saints and they on earth to keepe And yet this Sunne from heauen neuer fell And yet these earthly starres in heauen dwell What if their soules be into prison cast In earthly bodies yet they long for heauen
world which all in darkenesse lay Doth heau'ns bright face of his rayes disaray â—…d sads the smiling orient of the springing day 10 〈◊〉 was a Virgin of austere regard â—…t as the world esteemes her deafe and blind â—…t as the Eagle that hath oft compar'd 〈◊〉 eye with heau'ns so and more brightly shin'd Her lamping sight for she the same could winde Into the solid heart and with her eares The silence of the thought loude speaking heares And in one hand a paire of euen scoals she weares 11 No riot of affection reuell kept Within her brest but a still apathy Possessed all her soule which softly slept Securely without tempest no sad crie Awakes her pittie but wrong'd pouertie Sending his eyes to heau'n swimming in teares With hideous clamours euer struck her eares Whetting the blazing sword that in her hand she beares 12 The winged Lightning is her Mercury And round about her mightie thunders sound Impatient of himselfe lies pining by Pale Sicknes with his kercher'd head vpwound And thousand noysome plagues attend her round But if her clowdie browe but once growe foule The flints doe melt and rocks to water rowle And ayrie mountaines shake and frighted shadowes howâ—… 13 Famine and bloodles Care and bloodie Warre Want and the Want of knowledge how to vse Abundance Age and Feare that runnes afarre Before his fellowe Greefe that aye pursues His winged steps for who would not refuse Greefes companie a dull and rawebon'd spright That lankes the cheekes and pales the freshest sight Vnbosoming the cheerefull brest of all delight 14 Before this cursed throng goes Ignorance That needes will leade the way he cannot see And after all Death doeth his flag aduaunce And in the mid'st Strife still would roaguing be Whose ragged flesh and cloaths did well agree And round about amazed Horror flies And ouer all Shame veiles his guiltie eyes And vnderneth Hells hungrie throat still yawning lies 15 Vpon two stonie tables spread before her She lean'd her bosome more then stonie hard There slept th'vnpartiall iudge and strict restorer Of wrong or right with paine or with reward There hung the skore of all our debts the card Whear good and bad and life and death were painted Was neuer heart of mortall so vntainted But when that scroule was read with thousand terrors fainted 16 Witnes the thunder that mount Sinai heard When 〈◊〉 hill with firie clouds did flame And 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Israel with the sight afeard Blinded 〈◊〉 seeing durst not touch the same But like a wood of shaking leaues became On this dead Iustice she the Liuing Lawe Bowing herselfe with a maiestique awe All heau'n to heare her speech did into silence drawe 17 Dread Lord of Spirits well thou did'st deuise To fling the worlds rude dunghill and the drosse Of the ould Chaos farthest from the skies And thine owne seate that heare the child of losse Of all the lower heau'n the curse and crosse That wretch beast caytiue monster Man might spend Proude of the mire in which his soule is pend Clodded in lumps of clay his wearie life to end 18 His bodie dust whear grewe such cause of pride His soule thy Image what could he enuie Himselfe most happie if he so would bide Now grow'n most wretched who can remedie He slewe himselfe himselfe the enemie That his owne soule would her owne murder wreake If I were silent heau'n and earth would speake And if all fayl'd these stones would into clamours breake 19 How many darts made furrowes in his side When she that out of his owne side was made Gaue feathers to their flight whear was the pride Of their newe knowledge whither did it fade When running from thy voice into the shade He fled thy sight himselfe of sight bereau'd And for his shield a leauie armour weau'd With which vain maÌ„ he thought Gods eies to 〈…〉 20 And well he might delude those eyes that see And iudge by colours for who euer sawe A man of leaues a reasonable tree But those that from this stocke their life did drawe Soone made their Father godly and by lawe Proclaimed Trees almightie Gods of wood Of stocks and stones with crownes of laurell stood Templed and fed by fathers with their childrens blood 21 The sparkling fanes that burne in beaten gould And like the starres of heau'n in mid'st of night â—lacke Egypt as her mirrhours doth behould â—re but the denns whear idoll-snakes delight â—gaine to couer Satan from their sight Yet these are all their gods to whome they vie The Crocodile the Cock the Rat the Flie. 〈◊〉 gods indeede for such men to be serued by 22 â—…e Fire the winde the sea the sunne and moone â—…e flitting Aire and the swift-winged How'rs â—…d all the watchmen that so nimbly runne â—…d centinel about the walled towers 〈◊〉 the worlds citie in their heau'nly bowr's And least their pleasant gods should want delight Neptune spues out the Lady Aphrodite â—…d but in heauen proude Iunos peacocks skorne to lite 23 â—…e senselesse Earth the Serpent dog and catte â—…d woorse then all these Man and woorst of men â—…rping Ioue and swilling Bacchus fat â—…d drunke with the vines purple blood and then â—…e Fiend himselfe they coniure from his denne Because he onely yet remain'd to be Woorse then the worst of men they flie from thee â—…d weare his altar-stones out with their pliant knee 24 〈◊〉 that he speakes and all he speakes are lies â—…e oracles 't is he that wounded all â—…res all their wounds he that put out their eyes â—…at giues them light he that death first did call Into the world that with his orizall Inspirits earth he heau'ns al-seeing eye He earths great Prophet he whom rest doth flie That on salt billowes doth as pillowes sleeping lie 25 But let him in his cabin restles rest The dungeon of darke flames and freezing fire Iustice in heau'n against man makes request To God and of his Angels doth require Sinnes punishment if what I did desire Or who or against whome or why or whear Of or before whom ignorant I wear Then should my speech their sands of sins to mountaines â—eaâ— 26 Wear not the heau'ns pure in whose courts I sue The Iudge to whom I sue iust to requite him The cause for sinne the punishment most due Iustice her selfe the plaintiffe to endite him The Angells holy before whom I cite him He against whom wicked vniust impure Then might he sinnefull liue and die secure Or triall might escape of triall might endure 27 The Iudge might partiall be and ouer-pray'd The place appeald from in whose courts he sues The fault excus'd or punishment delayd The parties selfe accus'd that did accuse Angels for pardon might their praiers vse But now no starre can shine no hope be got Most wretched creature if he knewe his lot And yet more wretched farre because he knowes it not 28 What should I tell how barren earth is growne â—…ll for to
sterue her children didst not thou â—…ater with heau'nly showers her wombe vnsowne â—…nd drop downe cloudes of flow'rs didst not thou bowe â—…ine easie eare vnto the plowmans vowe Long might he looke and looke and long in vaine Might load his haruest in an emptie wayne â—…d beat the woods to finde the poore okes hungrie graine 29 â—…he swelling sea seethes in his angrie waues â—…d smites the earth that dares the traytors nourish â—…t oft his thunder their light corke outbraues â—…owing the mountaines on whose temples flourish â—…hole woods of garlands and their pride to cherish Plowe through the seaes greene fields and nets display To catch the flying winds and steale away â—…oozning the greedie sea prisning their nimble prey 30 â—…w often haue I seene the wauing pine â—…st on a watrie mountaine knocke his head 〈◊〉 heau'ns too patient gates and with salt brine â—…ench the Moones burning hornes and safely fled â—…m heau'ns reuenge her passengers all dead With stiffe astonishment tumble to hell How oft the sea all earth would ouerswell â—…d not thy sandie girdle binde the mightie well 31 â—…ould not the aire be fill'd with steames of death 〈◊〉 poyson the quicke riuers of their blood â—…d not thy windes fan with their panting breath â—…e flitting region would not the hastie flood Emptie it selfe into the seas wide wood Did'st not thou leade it wandring from his way To giue men drinke and make his waters strey To fresh the flowrie medowes through whose fields they playâ—… 32 Who makes the sources of the siluer fountaines From the flints mouth and rocky valleis slide Thickning the ayrie bowells of the mountaines Who hath the wilde heards of the forrest tide In their cold denns making them hungrie bide Till man to rest be laid can beastly he That should haue most sense onely senseles be And all things else beside himselfe so awefull see 33 Wear he not wilder then the saluage beast Prowder then haughty hills harder then rocks Colder then fountaines from their springs releast Lighter then aire blinder then senseles stocks More changing then the riuers curling locks If reason would not sense would soone reprooue him And vnto shame if not to sorrow mooue him To see cold floods wild beasts dul stocks hard stones out-lâ—… 34 Vnder the weight of sinne the earth did fall And swallowed Dathan and the raging winde And stormie sea and gaping Whale did call For Ionas and the aire did bullets finde And shot from heau'n a stony showre to grinde The fiue proud Kings that for their idols fought The Sunne it selfe stood still to fight it out And fire froÌ„ heau'n slew downe when sin to heau'n did 〈◊〉 35 â—…hould any to himselfe for safety flie The way to saue himselfe if any were â—ear to flie from himselfe should he relie Vpon the promise of his wife but there â—hat can he see but that he most may feare A Syren sweete to death vpon his friends Who that he needs or that he hath not lends â—…r wanting aide himselfe ayde to another sends 36 â—is strength but duft his pleasure cause of paine â—s hope false courtier youth or beawtie brittle â—…treatie fond repentance late and vaine â—…st recompence the world wear all too little â—…y loue he hath no title to a tittle Hells force in vaine her furies hell shall gather His Seruants Kinsmen or his children rather â—…is child if good shall iudge if bad shall curse his father 37 â—is life that brings him to his end and leaues him â—is ende that leaues him to beginne his woe â—s goods what good in that that so deceaues him â—s gods of wood their feete alas are slowe 〈◊〉 goe to helpe that must be help't to goe Honour great woorth ah little woorth they be Vnto their owners wit that makes him see 〈◊〉 wanted wit that thought he had it wanting thee 38 â—e sea to drinke him quicke that casts his dead â—ngells to spare they punish night to hide â—e world shall burne in light the heau'ns to spread â—heir wings to saue him heau'n it selfe shall slide And rowle away like melting starres that glide Along their oylie threads his minde pursues him His house to shrowde or hills to fall and bruse him As Seargeants both attache and witnesses accuse him 39 What need I vrge what they must needs confesse Sentence on them condemn'd by their owne lust I craue no more and thou canst giue no lesse Then death to dead men iustice to vniust Shame to most shamefull and most shameles dust But if thy Mercie needs will spare her friends Let Mercie there begin where Iustice endes T is cruell Mercie that the wrong from right defends 40 She ended and the heau'nly Hierarchies Burning in zeale thickly imbranded weare Like to an armie that allarum cries And euery one shakes his ydraded speare And the Almighties selfe as he would teare The earth and her firme basis quite in sunder Flam'd all in iust reuenge and mightie thunder Heau'n stole it selfe from earth by clouds that moisterd vndâ—… 41 As when the cheerfull Sunne elamping wide Glads all the world with his vprising raye And wooes the widow'd earth afresh to pride And paint her bosome with the flowrie Maye His silent sister steales him quite away Wrap't in a sable clowde from mortall eyes The hastie starres at noone begin to rise And headlong to his early roost the sparrowe flies 42 But soone as he againe dishadowed â—is Restoring the blind world his blemish't sight As though another day wear newely ris The cooz'ned birds busily take their flight And wonder at the shortnesse of the night So Mercie once againe her selfe displayes Out from her sisters cloud and open layes Those sunshine lookes whose beames would dim a thousand dayes 43 How may a worme that crawles along the dust Clamber the azure mountaines thrown so high And fetch from thence they faire Idea iust That in those sunny courts doth hidden lie Cloath'd with such light as blinds the Angels eye How may weake mortall euer hope to file His vnsmooth tongue and his deprostrate stile 〈◊〉 raise thou from his corse thy now entomb'd exile 44 One touch would rouze me from my sluggish hearse One word would call me to my wished home One looke would polish my afflicted verse One thought would steale my soule from her thicke lome And force it wandring vp to heau'n to come Thear to importune and to beg apace One happy fauour of thy sacred grace To see what though it loose her eyes to see thy face 45 If any aske why roses please the sight Because their leaues vpon thy cheelâ—es doe bowre If any aske why lillies are so white Because their blossoms in thy hand doe flowre Or why sweet plants so gratefull odours shoure It is because thy breath so like they be Or why the Orient Sunne so bright we see What reason can we giue but from thine eies and thee 46 Ros'd all in liuely crimsin ar thy cheeks Whear
greater be 32 How can such ioy as this want words to speake And yet what words can speake such ioy as this Far from the world that might their quiet breake Here the glad Soules the face of beauty kisse Powr'd out in pleasure on their beds of blisse And drunke with nectar torrents euer hold Their eyes on him whose graces manifold The more they doe behold the more they would behold 33 Their sight drinkes louely fires in at their eyes Their braine sweete incense with fine breath accloyes That on Gods sweating altar burning lies Their hungrie eares feede on their heau'nly noyse That Angels sing to tell their vntould ioyes Their vnderstanding naked Truth their wills The all and selfe-sufficient Goodnesse fills That nothing here is wanting but the want of ills 34 No Sorrowe nowe hangs clowding on their browe No bloodles Maladie empales their face No Age drops on their hayrs his siluer snowe No Nakednesse their bodies doeth embase No Pouertie themselues and theirs disgrace No feare of death the ioy of life deuours No vnchast sleepe their precious time deflowrs No losse no griefe no change waite on their winged hour's 35 But now their naked bodies skorne the cold And from their eyes ioy lookes and laughs at paine The Infant wonders how he came so old And old man how he came so young againe Still resting though from sleepe they stiil refraine Whear all are rich and yet no gold they owe And all are Kings and yet no Subiects knowe All full and yet no time on foode they doe bestowe 36 For things that passe are past and in this field The indeficient Spring no Winter feares The Trees together fruit and blossome yeild Th'vnfading Lilly leaues of siluer beares And crimson rose a skarlet garment weares And all of these on the Saints bodies growe Not as they woont on baser earth belowe Three riuers heer of milke and wine and honie flowe 37 About the holy Cittie rowles a flood Of moulten chrystall like a sea of glasse On which weake streame a strong foundation â—â—ood Of liuing Diamounds the building 〈◊〉 That all things else besides it selfe did passe Her streetes in stead of stones the starres did paue And little pearles for dust it seem'd to haue On which soft-streaming Manna like pure snowe did â—… 38 In mid'st of this Citie coelestiall Wheat the eternall Temple should haue rose Light'ned th' Idea Beatificall End and beginning of each thing that growes Whose selfe no end nor yet beginning knowes That hath no eyes to see nor ears to heare Yet sees and heares and is all-eye all-eare That no wheat is contain'd and yet is euery whear 39 Changer of all things yet immutable Before and after all the first and last That moouing all is yet immoueable Great without quantitie in whose forecast Things past are present things to come are past Swift without motion to whose open eye The hearts of wicked men vnbrested lie At once absent and present to them farre and nigh 40 It is no flaming lustre made of light No sweet concent or well-tim'd harmonie Ambrosia for to feast the Appetite Or flowrie odour mixt with spicerie â—…o soft embrace or pleasure bodily And yet it is a kinde of inward feast A harmony that sounds within the brest â—…n odour light embrace in which the soule doth rest 41 A heav'nly feast no hunger can consume A light vnseene yet shines in euery place 〈◊〉 sound no time can steale a sweet perfume No windes can scatter an intire embrace That no satietie can ere vnlace Ingrac't into so â—igh a fauour thear The Saints with their Beaw-peers whole worlds out-wear And things vnseene doe see and things vnheard doe hear 42 Ye blessed soules growne richer by your spoile Whose losse though great is cause of greater gaines Here may your weary Spirits rest from toyle Spending your endlesse eav'ning that remaines Among those white flocks and celestiall traines That feed vpon their Sheapheards eyes and frame That heau'nly musique of so woondrous fame Psalming aloude the holy honours of his name 43 Had I a voice of steel to tune my song Wear euery verse as smoothly fil'd as glasse And euery member turned to a tongue And euery tongue wear made of sounding brasse Yet all that skill and all this strength alas Should it presume to guild wear misadvis'd The place wheat Dauid hath new songs devis'd As in his burning throne he sits emparadis'd 44 Most happie Prince whose eyes those starres behould Treading ours vnder feet now maist thou powre That ouerflowing skill whear with of ould Thou woont'st to combe rough speech now maist thou shoâ—… Fresh streames of praise vpon that holy bowre Which well we heaven call not that it rowles But that it is the hauen of our soules Most happie Prince whose â—ight so heav'nly â—ight beâ—… 45 Ah foolish Sheapheards that wear woont esteem Your God all rough and shaggy-hair'd to bee And yet farre wiser Sheapheards then ye deeme For who so poore though who so rich as hee When with vs hermiting in lowe degree He wash't his flocks in Iordans spotles tide And that his deere remembrance aie might bide Did to vs come and with vs liu'd and for vs di'd 46 But now so liuely colours did embeame His sparkling forehead and so shiny rayes Kindled his flaming locks that downe did streame In curies along his necke whear sweetly playes Singing his wounds of loue in sacred layes His deerest Spouse Spouse of the deerest Lover Knitting a thousand knots ouer and ouer And dying still for loue but they her still recover 47 Faire Egliset that at his eyes doth dresse Her glorious face those eyes from whence aâ— shed Infinite belamours wheat to expresse His loue high God all heav'n as captive leads And all the banners of his grace dispreads And in those windowes doth his armes englaze And on those eyes the Angels all doe gaze And from those eies the lights of heau'n do gleane their blaze 48 But let the Kentish lad that lately taught His oaten reed the trumpets siluer sound Young Thyâ—silis and for his musique brought The willing sphears from heav'n to lead a round Of dauncing Nymphs and Heards that sung and crown'd Eclectas hymen with ten thousand flowrs Of choycest prayse and hung her heav'nly bow'rs With saffron garlands drest for Nuptiall Paramours 49 Let his shrill trumpet with her siluer blast Of faire Eclecta and her Spousall bed Be the sweet pipe and smooth Encomiast But my greene Muse hiding her younger head Vnder old Chamus flaggy banks that spread Their willough locks abroad and all the day With their owne waâ—ry shadowes wanton play Dares not those high amours and loue-sick songs assay 50 Impotent words weake sides that striue in vaine In vaine alas to tell so heau'nly sight So heav'nly sight as none can greater â—eigne Feigne what he can that seemes of greatest might Might any yet compare with Infinite Infinite sure those ioyes my words but light