a seuerall grace 6. ALl you that wish prosperitie and peace To crowne our Contract with a long encrease Of future joyes ô shield my simple Loue From those that seeke her ruine and remoue The base Opposers of her best designes Destroy those Foxes that destroy her Vines Her Vines are fruitfull but her tender grapes Are spoil'd by Foxes clad in humane shapes The BRIDE in her owne person SONET IX WHat greater joy can blesse my soule then this That my Beloued's mine and I am His Our soules are knit the world cannot vntwine The joyfull vnion of His heart and Mine In Him I liue in Him my soule 's possest With heauenly solace and eternall rest Heauen onely knowes the blisse my soule enjoyes Fond earth 's to dull to apprehend such joyes 2. THou sweet perfection of my full delights Till that bright Day deuoted to the rites Of our solemniz'd Nuptials shall come Come liue with me and make this heart thy Home Disdaine me not Although my face appeare Deform'd and clowdie yet my heart is cleare Make haste Let not the swift-foot Roe-buck flee The following Hounds so fast as thou to mee 3. I Thought my Loue had taken vp his rest Within the secret Cabin of my brest I thought the closed Curtaines did immure His gentle slumbers but was too secure For driuen with loue to the false bed I stept To view his slumbring beautie as he slept But he was gone yet plainly there was seene The curious dint where he had lately beene 4. IMpatient of his absence thus bereauen Of him then whom I had no other heauen I rau'd a while not able to digest So great a losse to lose so faire a Guest I left no path vntrac'd no place vnsought No secret Cell vnsearcht no way vnthought I ask'd the Shade but shadowes could not hide him I ask'd the World but all the World denyde him 5. MY jealous Loue distemp'red with distraction Made fierce with feare vnapt for satisfaction Applyes fresh fuell to my flaming fires With Eagles wings supplyes my quick desires Vp to the walls I rambled where I spyde The Citie watch to whom with teares I cryde Ah gentle Watchmen you aloft descry What 's darke to vs Did not my Loue passe by 6. AT length when dull despaire had gain'd the ground Of tyred hopes my Faith fell in a swound But Hee whose sympathizing heart did finde The tyrant passion of my troubled minde Forthwith appear'd What Angels tongue can let The World conceiue our pleasures when we met And till the joyes of our espoused hearts Be made compleat the World ne're more shall part 's BRIDEGROOME SONET X. NOw rests my Loue Till now her tender brest Wanting her joy could finde no peace nor rest I charge you all by the true loue you beare To friendship or what else you count most deare Disturbe her not but let her sleepe her fill I charge you all vpon your lifes be still O may that lab'ring soule that liues opprest For me in me receiue eternall rest 2. VVHat curious face is this What mortall birth Can show a beautie thus vnstayn'd with earth What glorious Angell wanders thus alone From earths foule Dungeon to my Fathers Throne It is my Loue my loue that hath denyde The world for me It is my fairest Bride How fragrant is her breath How heauenly faire Her Angell face Each glorifying the Aire BRIDE SONET XI O How I 'm rauisht with eternall blisse Who e're thought heauen a joy cōpar'd to this How doe the pleasures of his glorious Face Adde glorie to the glorie of this place See how Kings Courts surmount poore Shephards cells So this the pride of Solomon excells Rich wreathes of glorie crowne his royall Head And troopes of Angels waite vpon his Bed 2. THe Court of Princely Solomon was guarded With able men at armes their faith rewarded With fading honours subject to the fate Of Fortune and the jealous frownes of State But here th' harmonious Quire of heauen attend Whose prize is glorie glorie without end Vnmixt without doubtings or degenerous feare A greater Prince then Solomon is here 3. THe Bridall bed of Princely Solomon Whose beautie ' amaz'd the greedie lookers on Which all the world admired to behold Was but of Cedar and her Sted of gold Her Pillars siluer and her Canopie Of silkes but richly stayn'd with puple die Her Curtaines wrought in workes workes rarely led By th' needles art such was the bridall bed 4. SVch was the bridall bed which Time or Age Durst neuer warrant from th' opprobrious rage Of enuious fate Earths measure 's but a minit Earth fades all fades vpon it all within it O but the glorie ' of this diuiner place No Age can injure nor yet Time deface To bright an obiect for weake eyes to bide Or tongues t' expresse Who euer saw 't but dyde 5. VVHo e're beheld the royall Crowne set on The nuptiall browes of Princely Solomon His glorious pompe whose honour did display The noysed Triumphs of his Marriage day A greater Prince then Solomon is here The beautie of whose Nuptials shall appeare More glorious farre transcending his as farre As heauens bright Lamp out-shines th' obscurest Starre BRIDEGROOME SONET XII HOw orient is thy beautie How diuine How darke's the glorie of the earth to thine Thy vailed eyes out-shine heauens greater light Vnconquer'd by the shadie Clowd of night The curious Tresses dangle all vnbound With vnaffected order to the ground How orient is thy beautie How diuine How darke's the glorie of the earth to thine 2. THy Iuorie Teeth in whitenesse doe out-goe The downe of Swans or Winters driuen snowe Whose euen proportions liuely represent Th' harmonious Musicke of vnite consent Whose perfect whitnesse Time could neuer blot Nor Age the Canker of destruction not How orient is thy beautie How diuine How darke's the glorie of the earth to thine 3. THe rubie Portalls of thy ballane'd words Send forth a welcome relish which affords A heauen of blisse and makes the earth rejoyce To heare the Accent of thy heauenly voyce The maiden blushes of thy Cheekes proclaime A shame of guilt but not a guilt of shame How orient is thy beautie How diuine How darke's the glorie of the earth to thine 4. THy Necke vnbeautifyde with borrow'd grace Is whiter then the Lillies of thy face If whiter may for beautie and for powre 'T is like the glorie of Dauids princely Towre What vassall spirit could despaire or faint Finding protection from so sure a Saint How orient is thy beautie How diuine How darke's the glorie of the earth to Thine 5. THe deare-bought fruit of that forbidden Tree Was not so daintie as thy Apples bee These curious Apples of thy snowy brests Wherein a Paradise of pleasure rests They breathe such life into the rauisht Eye That the inflam'd beholder cannot die How
SIONS SONETS Sung By SOLOMON the King And PERIPHRAS'D By FRA. QVARLES LONDON Printed by W. Stansby for Thomas Dewe and are to bee sold at his shoppe in Saint Dunstanes Church-yard 1625. TO THE TRVLY NOBLE AND NO LESSE GOOD THEN GREAT LORD IAMES MARQVES Hamleton SIR HAd these Lines beene loose and lasciuious I had either pickt out a lesse honorable Patron or stood to the courtesie of euery wanton Reader But being as they are of a diuine subiect therefore subiect to the ill-digested humours of light heads by your fauour thrice noble Lord you are bound to protect it being the knowne Patron to goodnesse There are too few such This makes glorious Vice so bold and bashfull Vertue so inglorious You are a bright Starre in our Orbe on which all good eyes are fixt and by the speciall influence of which these presented Lines had their conception their birth their being and now crept forth repay themselues to You hope to receiue honour from You and sue for protection vnder You. So I commit them to the honour of so great a fortune SIR The true honourer of your admired worth FRANCIS QVARLES To the Readers REaders now you haue them May the end of my paines be the beginning of your pleasures Excuse me for soaring so high else giue me leaue to excuse my selfe Indeed I flue with Eagles feathers otherwise I had not flowne or falne It is the Song of Songs I here present you with The Author King SOLOMON the wisest of Kings The matter mysticall the diuinest of subiects The Speakers CHRIST the Bridegroome the CHVRCH the Bride The end to invite you all to the weddïng Farewell AN EPITHALME TO THE BRIDEGROOME HOSANNA to the Highest Ioy betide The heauenly Bridegroome and his holy Bride Let Heauen aboue be fill'd with songs Let Earth triumph below For euer silent be those tongues That can be silent now You Rocks and Stones I charge you all to breake Your flintie silence if men cease to speake You that professe that sacred Art Or now or neuer show it Pleade not your Muse is out of heart Here 's that creates a Poet. Be rauish'd Earth to see this contract driuen 'Twixt sinfull Man and reconciled Heauen Dismount you Quire of Angels come With Men your joyes diuide Heauen neuer show'd so sweet a GROOME Nor Earth so faire a BRIDE SIONS SONETS BRIDE SONET I. 1. O That the bountie of those lips diuine Would seale their fauours on these lips of mine That by those welcome kisses I might see The mutuall loue betwixt my Loue and mee For truer blisse no worldly ioy allowes Then sacred Kisses from so sweet a Spouse With which no earthly pleasures may compare Riche Wines are not so delicate as thay're 2. NOr Myrrhe nor Cassia nor the choice perfumes Of vnctious Narde or Aromatick fumes Or hot Arabia doe enrich the aire With more delitious sweetnesse then the faire Reports that crowne the merits of thy Name With heauenly Laurels of eternall fame Which makes the Virgins fixe their eyes vpon thee And all that view thee are enamour'd on thee 3. O Let the beautie of thy Sunne-like face Inflame my soule and let thy glorie chace Disloyall thoughts Let not the World allure My chaste desires from a Spouse so pure But when as Time shall place me on thy Throne My feares will cease and interrupt by none I shall transcend the stile of Transitorie And full of glorie still be fill'd with glorie 4. BVt you my curious and too nice Allyes That view my fortunes with two narrow eyes You say my face is blacke and foule 't is true I 'm beauteous to my Loue though black to you My censure stands not vpon your esteeme He sees me as I am you as I seeme You see the Cloudes but he discernes the Skie Know 'T is my Maske that lookes so blacke not I. 5. VVHat if Afflictions doe dis-imbellish My naturall glorie and denie the rellish Of my adjourned beautie yet disdaine not Her by whose necessarie losse you gaine not I was enforc'd to swelter in the Sunne And keepe a strangers Vine left mine alone I left mine owne and kept a strangers Vine The fault was mine but was not onely mine 6. O Thou whose loue I prize aboue my life More worthy farre t' enjoy a fairer wife Tell mee to what coole shade dost thou resort Where graze thy Sheepe where doe thy Lambs disport Free from the scortching of this sowltrie weather O tell thy Loue and let thy Loue come thither Say gentle Shephard fits it thee to cherish Thy priuate Flocks and let thy true Loue perish BRIDEGROOME SONET II. ILlustrious Bride more radiant and more bright Then th' eye of Noone thrice fairer then the light Thou dearest off-spring of my dying blood And treasure of my soule why hast thou stood Parching so long in those ambitious beames Come come and coole thee in these siluer streames Vnshade thy Face cast backe those golden Locks And I will make thee Mistris of my Flocks 2. O Thou the Center of my choise desires In whom I rest in whom my soule respires Thou art the flowre of beautie and I prize thee Aboue the World how e're the World disprize thee The blinde imagins all things black by kinde Thou art as beautifull as they are blinde And as the fairest troopes of Pharoes Steeds Exceed the rest so Thou the rest exceeds 3. THy Cheeke the garden where fresh beautie plants Her choysest flowers no adorning wants There wants no relish of diuiner grace To summe compleatnesse in so sweet a face Thy Neck without a blemish without blot Then pearle's more orient cleare from staine or spot Thy Gemmes and Iewels full of curious art Imply the sacred treasures of thy heart 4. THe Sunne-bright glorie of thy resounding fame Addes glorie to the glorie of my Name The more 's thy honour Loue the more thou striu'st To honour me Thou gaynest what thou giu'st My Father whom our Contract hath made thine Will giue thee large endowments of diuine And euerlasting treasure Thus by mee Thou shalt be rich that am thus rich in Thee BRIDE SONET III. OH how my soule is rauisht with the joyes That spring like fountains frō my true loues voice How cordiall are his lips How sweet his tongue Each word he breathes is a melodious song Hee absent ah how is my glorie dimme I haue no beautie not deriu'd from Him What e're I haue from Him alone I haue And Hee takes pleasure in those gifts hee gaue 2. AS fragrant Myrrhe within the bosome hid Sents more delitious then before it did And yet receiues no sweetnesse from that brest That prooues the sweeter for so sweet a guest Euen so the fauour of my dearest Spouse Thus priz'd and placed in my heart endowes My ardent soule with sweetnesse and inspires With heauenly rauishment my rapt desires 3. VVHo
fairest flowre of mortall birth If such a beautie may be borne of earth Angell or Virgin which or both in one Angell by beautie Virgin by the mone Say who is Hee that may deserue these teares These precious drops Who is 't can stop his eares At these faire lips Speake Lady speake at large Who is 't For whom giu'st thou so strict a Charge BRIDE SONET XVII MY Loue is the perfection of delight Roses and Doues are not so red so white Vnpattern'd beautie summon'd euery grace To the composure of so sweet a face His body is Heauen for in his brest The perfect Essence of a God doth rest The brighter eye of heauen did neuer shine Vpon an other glorie so diuine 2. HIs Head is farre more glorious to behold Then fruitfull Ophyres oft refined gold 'T is the rich Magazen of secret treasure Whence Graces spring in vnconfined measure His curl'd and dangling Tresses doe proclaime A Nazarite on whom ne're Rasor came Whose Rauen-black colour giues a curious rellish To that which beautie did so much imbellish 3. LIke to the eyes of Doues are his faire Eyes Wherein sterne Iustice mixt with Mercy lyes His eyes are simple yet Majesticall In motion nimble and yet chaste withall Flaming like fire and yet burne they not Vnblemisht vndistayned with a spot Blazing with pretious beames and to behold Like two rich Diamonds in a frame of gold 4. HIs Cheeks are like two fruitfull beds o're-growne With Aromatick flowers newly blowne Whose odours beautie please the smell the sight And doubling pleasures double the delight His lips are like a Crystall spring from whence Flow sweetned streames of sacred Eloquence Whose drops into the eare distill'd doe giue Life to the Dead true joyes to them that liue 5. HIs Hands are deckt with rings of gold the rings With costly Iewels fitting none but Kings Which of themselues though glorious yet receiue More glorie from those fingers then they gaue His Breast's like Iuorie circled round about With veines like Saphyres winding in and out Whose beautie is though darkned from the eye Full of diuine and secret Majestie 6. HIs Legs like purest Marble strong and white Of curious shape though quick vnapt for flight His Feet as gold that 's oft refined are Like his vpright proceedings pure and faire His Portis Princely and his Stature tall And like the Cedar stout yet sweet withall O who would not repose his life his blisse Vpon a Base so faire so firme as this 7. HIs Mouth-But stay What need my lips be lauish In choice of wordes when one alone will rauish But shall in briefe my ruder tongue discouer The speaking Image of my absent Louer Then let the curious hand of Art refine The race of Vertues morall and diuine From whence by heauen let there extracted bee A perfect Quintessence Euen such is Hee VIRGINS SONET XVIII THrice fairer then the fairest whose sad teares And smiling words haue charm'd our eies our eares Say whither is this prize of beautie gone More faire then kinde to let thee weepe alone Thy tempting lips haue whet our dull desire And till wee see Him wee are all on fire Wee 'le finde him out if thou wilt be our guide The next way to the Bridegroome is the Bride BRIDE SONET XIX IF Error leade not my dull thoughts amisse My Genius tells me where my true Loue is Hee 's busie lab'ring on his flowrie banks Inspiring sweetnesse and receiuing thanks Wat'ring those plants whose tender rootes are drie And pruning such whose Crests aspire too high Transplanting grafting reaping fruits from some And couering others that are newly come 2. VVHat if the frailtie of my feebler part Lockt vp the Portalls of my drowsie heart He knowes the weaknesse of the flesh incumbers Th' vnwilling spirit with sense-bereauing slumbers My hopes assure me in despight of this That my Beloued's mine and I am His My hopes are firme which Time shall ne're remoue That Hee is mine by Faith I His by loue BRIDEGROOME SONET XX. THy timely griefe my teares-baptized Loue Compels mine eares to heare thy teares to moue Thy blubber'd beautie to mine eye appeares More bright then 't was Such is the strength of Teares Beautie and Terror meeting in thine eye Haue made thy face the Throne of Majestie Whose awfull beames the proudest heart will moue To loue for feare vntill it feare for loue 2. REpresse those flames that furnace from thine eye They rauish with too bright a Tyrannie Thy fires are too too fierce O turne them from me They pierce my soule and with their rayes o'recome me Thy curious * Tresses dangle all vnbound With vnaffected order to the ground How orient is thy beautie How diuine How darke's the glorie of the earth to Thine 3. THy Iuorie Teeth in whitenesse doe out-goe The downe of Swans or Winters driuen snowe Whose euen proportions liuely represent Th' harmonious Musicke of vnite consent Whose perfect whitenesse Time could neuer blot Nor Age the enuious Worme of Ruine rot How orient is thy beautie How diuine How darke's the glorie of the earth to thine 4. THy Temples are the Temples of chaste loue Where beautie sacrifis'd her milke-white Doue Vpon whose Azure pathes are alwayes found The heauen-borne Graces dancing in a round Thy maiden Blushes gently doe proclaime A shame of guilt but not a guilt of shame How orient is thy beautie How diuine How darke's the glorie of the earth to thine 5. YOu you braue spirits whose emperiall hand Enforces what your lookes cannot command Bring forth your pamper'd Queenes the lustfull prize And curious wrecks of your imperious eyes Surround the Circle of the Earth and leuie The fairest Virgins in loues fairest beuie Then take from each to make one perfect Grace Yet would my Loue out shine that borrow'd face 6. I Thou art shee corriuall'd with no other Thou glorious Daughter of thy glorious Mother The new Ierusalem whose Virgin-birth Shall Diefie the Virgins of the earth The Virgins of the Earth haue seene thy beautie And stood amaz'd and in a prostrate dutie Haue sued to kisse thy hand making thine eyes Their Lampes to light them till the Bridegroome rise 7. HArke how the Virgins hallow'd with thy fire And wonder smitten with thy beames admire Who who is this say they whose cheekes resemble Aurora's blush whose Eye heauens lights dissemble Whose face is brighter then the silent Lampe That lights the earth to breathe her nightlie dampe Vpon whose brow sits dreadfull Majestie The frowne whereof commands a Victorie 8. FAire Bride why was thy troubled soule dejected When I was absent was my Faith suspected Which I so firmelie plighted Couldst thou thinke My loue could shake or such a Vow could shrinke I did but walke among my tender Plants To smell their Odours and supplie their wants To see my Stockes so latelie