by thee This Body had not seem'd my Dungeon now But why 's this taste of Heav'n unto me deign'd If still to this dull Earth I must be chain'd 187. O that some courteous Dove to me would lend Its fethered oars that I my soul might row Unto the Port of my Desires and blend It with the Tide of Blisse which there doth flow I never thought that Earth so low did lie Or that the Heav'ns till now were halfe so high 188. O why art thou so lovely if poore I Must still live Exile from thy dearest sight This Token Jesu makes me lowder crie For thee thy selfe who art more sweet and bright O what will thy Supream Imbraces be If this small Cincture thus has ravish'd me 189. I yeild I yeild great Lord Why must thy Dart Be alwayes killing Me yet never slay My ever-dying still-surviving Heart Why must thy Flames which on my Bosome prey Still burn but not consume O why must I Too be no Mortall here but with them vie 190. O Absence never was there Present Hell So true as thou unto its dismall Name O cruell Hope which onely do'st reveal A tempting glimpse of light but hid'st the Fame That so the sweetly-mocked Eye may be Assur'd by that short sight she does not see 191. Intolerable Joys why smart you so Pricking on my impatient Desires O Sighs what means your Breath my Flames to blow O Tears why must your Waters quench my Fires Dear Girdle help Me If thou should'st be slack Soon would my over-burdned Heart-strings crack PSYCHE OR LOVES MYSTERIE CANTO IV. The Rebellion ARGUMENT GAll'd with severe Devotions constant Yoak The Senses and the Passions rebell Having the Spirit of Pride for Generall took By fair-tongu'd Treason they with Psyche deal Reason's surpris'd and into Prison thrown The Will revolts and Psyche's left alone 1. PRosperity how false art thou unto Thy blessed Name who with a comely Cheat Unwary Hearts so potently do'st wooe That thine all-rotten Bottome they forget And thinke thy Foot sure on a Rock doth stand Whil'st thy Foundation is the fruitlesse sand 2. The Day which smil'd so briskly in the Morn And left no frown in all the face of Heav'n E'r night hath oft been made the Prey and Scorn 〈◊〉 swarthy Clouds so furiously driven That Phebu's stoutest help was all in vain When he the gaudie skie strove to maintain 3. The Sea in looks demure and pleasant dress Hath often bid the Mariner been bold When straight an unsuspected storm doth press Through the lamenting Aire till having roll'd Into a foaming Mount the monstrous Deep In brine it buries the presumptious ship 4. Eternall Change doth wheel all Heav'n about What Patent then can seal Security To things below How doth proud Fortune flout The gayest Confidence which foolish We Are not afraid to build but vainly trust Our Hopes are firm whil'st we our selves are Dust. 5. Weak Dust on which the least Winde domineers Which through this Clime of mortall Life doth blow A life which if not fortifi'd by Fears And wise suspitions to all storms doth bowe A life so treacherous in its friendliest Hue That Saints themselves have found its falsensse true 6. Whil'st Psyche feasteth her luxuriant Heart With amorous Tortures and does day by day Riot and surfet in delicious smart Which rellish sweeter to her soule than they Who both their late and early studies spent To cherrish Her with Naturall Content 7. A knot of Friends with Her together born And under one soft Roof of the same skin Tenderly nourish'd stomack'd much the scorn She heap'd on them who thought their onely sin Was too much love to her a Crime which might More pardon challenge than Revenge invite 8. 'T is true said they that we her servants be And yet as truely are her sisters too Had our originall Seniorite It s native priviledge We all should go Before and she the Youngling come behinde Sure she should not have found Us so unkinde 9. But now sh' has chanc'd to get the upper Hand She makes Us feele it in her Tyrannie So Upstarts use to doe where they command Being to weak to weild their Royaltie Like paltrie Currents which swoll'n high do poure More Rage than sober streams about the shore 10. We must not eat nor drink nor sleep nor play But when she lists and ô how seldom 's that Great bus'nesse she pretends both night and day Imploy'd about nor We nor She knows what It tickles Her but hard on Us doth grate She calls it Love but wee all finde it Hate 11. Yet be it what it will what 's that to Us Who are not bound Her humors to fulfill With our own Ruine Since Her stomack thus Is wild and rampant why should wee sit still With desperate Patience till wee be undone What need wee fear Her We are Five to One. 12. As when th' imprison'd Fire in earth below Vex'd with those straits begins to move and swell Its dungeon first it shakes then forth doth blow Its full-mouth'd indignation and fill The World with Tumult tearing down the Trees Dismounting Mountains plowing up the Seas 13. So did their sullen murmur gather strength Still day by day by mutinous degrees Boyling to such impatience that at length By flat Rebellion they resolve to ease Their over-charged stomacks and one day All met at Councell thus their Griefs display 14. 'T was in an upper Chamber dark and close Arch'd with thin Ivorie For their common seat A white and soft and living Counch they chose And there the Master of the House intreat To hear their publike Case Content said he 'T is just I to my Friends should friendly be 15. The large Supplies of all my store I owe To your unwearied Care and Pains which bring Plenty of all Varieties that grow In Heav'n or Earth or Sea the welthiest King Could not out-vie that furniture which You To crown my Table daily did allow 16. But now alas I see my Tribut's thin Some Lazie sullen melancholick things Doe now and then come hither sneaking in But all your brisk and cheerly Offerings Are intercepted and 't is well that you Begin else I had been the Plantiff now 17. They all were glad to hear their Censor speak In their own discontented Dialect But straight their fond Ambitions did awake A strife who should begin In high neglect Of all her Sisters Opsis knits her brows And darts of indignation on them throws 18. Who is your Queen but I who sit said she Exalted high upon my double Throne Whilst all your Motions regulated be By my Imperiall Direction Blinde Fools what could you do wer 't not for Me In setting on our brave Conspiracie 19. That proud Word from her Mouth no sooner flew But Osphresis in scorn did snuff it up Inraged Geusis bit her lips which grew So big with boiling wrath she scarce could stop Her Tongue from railing Vengance Acoe Prick'd up her ears and look'd as big
with every Lock Which when th' inamor'd winds did kiss you might Have seen a ruffling Tempest of Delight 196. Two princely Arches of most equall measures Held up the Canopy above her Eyes And open'd to the Heav'ns farre richer Treasures Than with their Stars or with their Sunne did rise Their Beams can ravish but the Bodies sight These dazell stoutest Soules with mystick light 197. These were two Garrisons of all conquering Love Two Founts of life of Spirit of Joy of Grace Two Easts of one faire Heav'n no more above But in the Hemisphear of her own face Two Thrones of Gallantry two shops of Miracles Two shrines of Dieties two silent Oracles 198. For here could Silence eloquently plead Here could th' invisible Soule be clearly read Though Humors their mild composition made They were two Burning Glasses wherce were shed Those living Flames which with enlivening Darts Shoot Deaths of Love into Spectators Hearts 199. 'Twixt these an Alabaster Promontory Slop'd gently down parting each Cheek from other Where White Red strove which should get the glory Blending in sweet confusion together The Rose and Lilie never joyned were In a diviner Marriage than there 200. Upon these pretious Cushionets did lie Ten thousand Beauties and as many Smiles Chaste Blandishments and genuine Courtesie Harmlesse Temptations and honest Guiles For Heav'n though up betimes the mayd to deck Ne'r made Aurora's cheeks so fair and sleek 201. Neatnesse and Pleasure and inamoring Grace About her Mouth in full Retinue stood For next the Eyes bright Glass this is the place In which the Soul delights to walk abroad But at her lips two scarlet Threds there lay Or two warm Coralls to adorn the way 202. The pretious Way where by her Breath and Tongue Her Odours and her Honey out did flow Which thou 'dst have judg'd to have been bred among Arabian and Hyblean Hills and so They were indeed the richer Arabie And sweeter Hybla in her Mouth did lie 203. As crowned with a golden Chapiter A Column of white Marble you have seen So her round polish'd Neck her Head did bear Nor did the shining Pillar bend or lean Yet neither would this Marble hardnesse know Nor suffer Cold to dwell amongst its Snow 204. Her blessed Bosom moderately rose With two soft Mounts of Lilies whose fair Top Two Cherrie Branches for their Station chose And there their living Crimson lifted up The milkie Count'nance of the Hills confest What kinde of Springs within had made their Nest. 205. Fair Politure walk'd all her Body over And Symmetrie flew through every Part Soft and white Sweetnesse round about did hover From every Member Beautie shot its dart From Heav'n to Earth from head to foot I mean No sign of Blemish or of Spot was seen 206. This was the first born Queen of Gallantry All Gems compounded into one rich Stone All Sweets knit into one Conspiracy A Constellation of all Stars in one Who when she was presented to the view Of Paradise the Place all dazeled grew 207. Proud Phebus who in glorious Scorn did flie About the World no sooner spi'd her face But fain he would have lingred from his skie Upon this lesse but sweeter Heav'n to gaze Till shame enforc'd him to lash on again And clearer wash him in the Western Main 208. The Aire smil'd round about for joy that he Had the prerogative of the Virgin kiss And did imbrace with blessed Liberty A Body soft and sweet and chaste as His. All gentle Gales that had but strength to stir Did thither flock to beg perfumes of Her 209. The Marigold forgot her garish Love And turn'd her duty to these fairer Eyes All Flowres look'd up and as they could did move Towards those ocular Sphears from whence did rise Milde and unparching Beams Beams which in stead Of fire soft joyes irradiations spred 210. The sturdiest rudest Trees affected were With her delightfull Presence and did melt At their hard Pith Whil'st all the Birds which there Were tossing Mirth about the Branches felt The influence of her Looks For having let Their Song fall down their Eyes on Her they set 211. And ô how soon their proudest plumes and wings Follow'd their song For in Her Person they With fix'd intention read more glorious things Than all their feathers Bravery could display And were content no more the Name to wear Of Birds of Paradise while she was there 212. But when she mov'd her Feet the joyfull Earth A wak'd her uttermost Fertility And by a brisk extemporary Birth Of Myrrh of Flowres of Spice did testifie What Carpets Pomp was requisite to make The Passage fit where Beauty was to walk 213. She walk'd by that milde importunity To break the Chains of sleep which bound her Spouse But he wakes more by pow'rfull Sympathie Which on the sudden in his Bosome glows At first he thought his Dream had still possest him And with a fairer apparition blest him 214. But by his wise and most discerning Eyes Examining the gracefull Object He Pries into all the Truth and smiling cries This nothing but my other Selfe can be From Me she sprung a Woman from a Man And is but Adam in reflection 215. How sweet a Confluence of Loves and Joyes Met heer in their first Marriage Imbrace Which was as pure and chaste as when one Voice In Musick 's wedded to anothers Grace Where with concentrick Delicacies they Hug and conspire in one soul-plying Lay. 216. Adam beholds himselfe more sweet in Eve In Him She reads her selfe more high and grave Either from other does Themselves receive As fast returning what they taking gave Thus when two Currents meet they loose each other In the pellucid bosome of his brother 217. They naked were if onely skinnes and haires And excrements of Beasts Apparrell be But who will taxe the Sunne the Moone the Starres The Diamond Chrystall Corall Ivorie Of Nakednesse because the Clothes they weare None but their native Beams and Beauties are 218. A Robe of Innocence and Puritie Down from their Head unto their foot did flow Transmitting their faire feature to the Eye But letting no unseemely shame peepe through They Naked were of every borrow'd Dresse And Naked of what you count Nakednesse 219. In this Condition did they live and love And each with other enterchange their Heart Fairly transcribing our sweet Life above Where every Angels Eye his soule doth dart Into his Fellows breast that all may be In common blest by one Felicitie 220. How great a Feast and earnest Invitation Was this for Envie whose ambitious Tooth Disdains all fare but in the noblest fashion Who arm'd with Jaws of greedy Iron doth Dread no encounter but with restlesse spight Against the most confirmed Champions fight 221. Built is her Pallace in the Heart of Hell Whose foule Materials Rust and Poyson be Her cursed Throne is mounted on the fell Bosome of Belzebub whom furious She Stings with eternall Rage and makes Him runne About the wilde Worke of
crowns of joy whose hands with Palms Whose eyes with beams whose tongues are fill'd with psalms 236. But now the Blood-hounds back to Hered went And brandish'd on their stained Swords the Sign Of their owne guilt The sight gave high content To their fell Soveraign hoping the Divine Infant was now destroyd and that his Crown In spight of all Arabia was his own 237. Yet to make sure for in a Tyrants breast Suspition like the Vulture faind to gnaw On Tytiu's Soul makes its eternall feast The Jews he summons by a rigid Law Without the least exception to swear Allegiance unto Him and to his Heir 238. Alas He little thought his slaughterd Son Was now become a stronger Foe than those Arabian Kings his own Suspition Had arm'd against himselfe or that there rose From the massacred Babes a mighty Band Which scornd the power both of his Head 〈◊〉 239. For now these Infants Blood to Heav'n did send A louder Crie than had their Mothers done Nor doth the great Creators Justice lend A readier Ear to any Plantiffs Moan Than unto this although Mortality Belongs to Man Mans Blood can never 〈◊〉 240. Next neighbour to the Dead Seas poys'nous shore There stands a gloomy Grove where cheerly Day Had never roome to shew her face such store Of Box Yew Cypress dammed up her way Whose fatall Brows and Branches every where With Owls and Batts and Ravens impeopled 〈◊〉 241. Beside a sturdie Mist of Stincks doth stick Upon the wretched Air and her defloure Unwholsome Vapors gathering black and thick Drop morn and ev'n into a venomous shour Where drunk up by the cursed Earth below It makes the Hemlocks and the Poppy grow 242. Amidst these dismall shades is sunk a Cave At whose black Door uncessant Cries and 〈◊〉 And Ejulations the Office have Of never sleeping Porters all the Stones Hang thick with Tears being mov'd to that Compassion By the sad Genius of their Habitation 243. The Mistresse of the House doth alway lie Upon her weary Bed which hedged in By melancholick Curtains doth supply The Graves dark Office and aforehand 'gin To teach her what her Coffin ment and what Her Herse which ready by her Couch were set 244. Her Pillows were of softest Down but yet On churlish Thorns and Stones she seem'd to lie Oft did she rosse and turn and tumble but Could never shift her sturdy Griefe which by That Motion onely wakened was and did But gather strength to roll about the Bed 245. Shootings and Megrims raged in her Head A desperate squinsey dammed up her throat The tawny Jaundise in her Eyes was spred The Tooth-ache of her Jaws full Power had got Stark-raving Madnes sate upon her Tongue Ten thousand Cramps her shrivel'd Body wrung 246. The Fever Colick Griping Strangury Gout Apoplexie Scurvy Pestilence Stone Rupture Phthisis Dropsie Plurisie Flux Surfet Asthma and the confluence Of all divided Deaths united were In one strange Masse and learn'd to live in Her 247. The odious Scab the ever-gnawing Itch The stinging Bile the wasting Leprosie The banefull Pocks the Wolf and Canker which On her make fat their dreadfull Luxury Conspire with every sort of horrid Sore To clothe her round with most infectious Gore 248. Pots Papyrs Glasses sweet and stinking Things Were marshal'd on a Cup-bord standing by Which Physick brought to ease those Pangs and Stings Or at the least cure her own Poverty Costly Additions unto Pain were these And onely eas'd the Purses Plurisies 249. For though full many a dear Docter there Talk'd words as strange as her Diseases yet Her pertinacious Torments would not hear Either there Druggs of Nature or of Wit Nor minde their Stories or regard at all Their Oracles out of the Urinall 250. Her whining Kindred stood about the Bed And though alas her case were too too plain With tedious Love still ask'd Her how she did Heaping that Crambe on her other Pain Their fond Remembrances would never let Her any one of all her Pangs forget 251. Down to this Loathsome She sterne Justice came Tall was her Person and her Looks were high Strength in her martiall Sinews made its home Darts of keen fire did stream from either Eye For she what e'r Men Fancy Eyes can finde Alas Earths Justice and not Heav'ns is blinde 252. Her right Hand held a Sword of two-edg'd flame Her left a Ballance in one Scale did lie A mighty Masse inscrib'd with Herods Name A Masse of Pride and bloody Tyranny Which press'd it down to Hell Mean while the other Fill'd with vain Winde flew up and left its Brother 253. When Sicknesse for that was the Furies Name Beheld her Soveraign Queen she rais'd her Head And to obeysance did her Body frame Black Streams of poys'nous Gore straight issued From all her Sores and with outragious stinck Ran down into her Beds contagious sink 254. Up up said Justice and be dress'd apace I on an earnest errand thee must send Time was when thou a tedious Way did'st trace At Hells and envious Lucifers Command Usurpers which have no just power on thee 'T is fit thou doe as much for Heav'n and Me. 255. Unto the Land of Uz they made thee run And poure the bottome of thy whole despight Upon the reverend Body of a Man Which was with matchlesse Purity bedight More fair and bright was Job in Heav'ns esteem Than thou to Earth did'st make him Horrid seem 256. He heap'd this Scale as full of Virtue as Fell Herod has replenish'd it with Vice That empty one so lightly hovering was His Score of faults but meer Vacuities Thin as the Aire which though it dusky be Sometimes with Clouds regains its purity 257. See now thou recompence that Injury By righteous Vengance upon Herod Loe There unbridle thy Extremitie And give thee leave in free carreer to goe Goe then and fully use thy full Command His Body and his Life are in thy Hand 258. So spake the Queen of everlasting Dread And in her Black Cloud mounted home again When Sicknes leaping from her nasty Bed And in feirce haste forgetting her own Pain Furnish'd her self with every bitter sting Which most might torture the Condemned King 259. Then to her gloomy Chariot she went Which of a poisnous Vapour framed was Her speed was headlong so was her Intent And into Herods Court she soon did presse For she by no slow paced Coursers Drawn But by a pestilentiall Blast was blown 260. Unseen she came and did so sliely guide Her stealing Chariots silent Wheels that she Quite down the Tyrants cursed throat did glide As does his unsuspected Breath which he Lets in to fan his heart But this Blast came Qute to blow out and not to puff his flame 261. Yet e'r it blew it out it strove to frie His black Soule in the fornace of his Breast Torthwith his Entrails sing'd and scalded by An hidden fire frighted away his Rest He would have rise but strait he felt his Pains Had with
Her penitent flood Psyche pour's out and is encourag'd by An heav'nly Dream to honour Chastity 1. NO foolish Tinder ever yet did catch In its soft amorous Arms the straggling spark And with such desperate zeale make haste to hatch Its own destruction as fond Man doth mark And treasure up those fair-fac'd Counsels which With fatall Charm's his heedlesse heart bewitch 2. No wretched Adder ever sealed up His wary eare with trustier Cement than With wretchlesse obstinacy He doth stop His memories unhappy Portalls when Wholesome Advise with sweetnes woo's it and Long knocking for admission doth stand 3. Or if at length a wicket 〈◊〉 he sets His sleighted guest in some our-roome he lay's But when vain fancie or seduction beats Summons upon his gates He them display's And let 's these strangers thrust quite out of door The former who were scarcely in before 4. For as the Honey of Heav'ns dainty Hives The summer Clouds snugging in laps of flow'rs That correspondent Dwelling quickly leaves To churlish drops of lesse deserving show'rs Or rankling Mil-dew which such venome shed's As soon deflow'reth all those Virgin Beds 5. So far'd it now with Psyche's carelesse Breast On which more dainties drop'd from Phylax tongue Than on Hyblean hils e'r made its nest Abroad she will and please her selfe among The fields wide sweets forgeting that some winde Might steale upon and blast her honyed minde 6. The sportfull Twins of heav'n now 'gan to reign And brought a season fitting for their play Thick did they scatter upon every Plain A flowry verdure and dishevell May Round about Tellu's face who now beguiles Her Winters sadnesse with this moneth of smiles 7. Psyche would fain have wander'd out alone But that Syneidesis her trustie Maid Hunted out every step where she had gone And Charis an old friend of hers afrayd What might befall the Virgin follow'd too Yet in her company forbore to goe 8. As pleasures paths she in the fields did trace It joy'd her much the tender lambs to see Skipping in harmlesse sport from place to place And who would be so sad and dull said she To 〈◊〉 at home when thus abroad we may Behold how sweetly Innocence doth play 9. No smiling flow'r could meet her as she went But gathering it she with a kisse would pay The courteous price of that delicious scent It had so freely pow'red in her way And still cryes out how poore a place is home Which for such pleasure can afford no room 10. Thus loosely tripping on she came at last Through pathlesse Paths unto a pleasant Grove The gentle Windes through the faire Trees made haste And in her face a gale of Odours drove Needs would she enter and see whither this Were not the Copy of old Paradise 11. The courteous Boughs laden with generous spice Stoop'd to salute her as she enter'd in And bid her pluck what Fruit best pleas'd her eys But there was none but did amazement win Shee looks about yet know's not which to choose And in those sweets her sweeter self doth loose 12. When on the sudden from a neighbour tree Her ears were captiv'd as before her eyes The mystick Chains of purest Harmonie Did with a soft inchantment her surprise A winged Quire having new tun'd their throats Were running over their exactest notes 13. Divided thus with Pleasures she does look Where she may sit her self to recollect Close by she gliding spies a silver Brook Whose gorgecus bank with golden flow'rs was deckt There sitting down once more adieu said she Dull home which no such seat could'st spread for me 14. Syneidesis her Mistresse being set Pitch'd down behinde her and fell fast asleep Old * Charis kept aloof resolv'd to let The venturous Virgin some experience reap Of her fond confidence who needs would stray Like some vain Childe so far from home to play 15. When loe into the Grove a monstrous Boar Wilder than was that place did roaring come And brought more terrour thither than before Appear'd delight Never did whiter foam Smoke on the Oceans stormy face than now This hideous Beast about his own did throw 16. As are the Comet 's feirce with ominous light Such were his eyes compos'd of fire and blood His dreadfull tusks the engins of his spight Held forth their greedy heads and ready stood To tear their Prey stern bristles hedg'd up high His back which did all wrath of thorns defie 17. Straight startled out of her unfortunate pleasure Away flies Psyche on the wings of fear Whose steps the hungry Beast as fast did measure And swallow'd up the way to tear down her Loud were his roars yet her shreeks did transcend Which heav'n and earth and her own throat did rend 18. Phylax her ever trustie friend was neer Flying from tree to tree still as she ran But was by heav'n forbidden to appear And reskew her who needs would be undone He was forbid to reskew her till shee Had deeper felt her dangerous vanitie 19. Her long flight having now shortned her breath Which 'twixt her trembling lips lay strugling she Cryes out dear Phylax from these jaws of death The monster opes so wide deliver mee Where is thy God and mine which loves me so Where is he now O what shall Psyche doe 20. Here helplesse feare and fainting threw her down Unto the ready Beast an easie prey Whose hasty tusk had through her dainty gown Unto her softer body tore its way When loe a sudden speare flew through his neck And frighted on the ground return'd him back 21. A lusty gallant Aphrodisius hight Who in that luckie instant thither came Directed it and straight with equall might Drew out his glittering blade whose dreadfull flame A forehand strook the dazeled mouster dead Whose edge took from him both his prey and head 22. This done he gently takes the virgin up Then with a courtly kisse he give 's her joy That she was safe She scarce had power to ope Her eyes seal'd close with desperate dismay But when she saw the slaughter'd Boar and him As sweet and faire as that was foule and grim 23. I see there are more Phylaxes than one Cryes she This life dear sir which heretofore Was mine your love hath now made yours alone For my part I had left it to that Boar And laid me down to measure out my grave Whence you to me this resurrection gave 24. Yet trust me sir a life you have not given To one who can forget by whom she lives Whether you come from earth or rather heav'n For seldome earth such strange salvation gives My soule big with just thanks would learn and see Whether my debt divine or humane bee 25. Lady say's Aphrodisius first repose Your selfe a while a little way from hence For well I know this place a Current goes Between two flowrie banks there will I rinse My bloody hands there shall you sit and hear A wounderous story and due to your ear 26. It was
Oaths and Cries Tumbled and toss'd themselves from place to place And sought Lots Door in one anothers face 324. As Jesus spi'd this helplesse Wight for He Warch'd to surprise all Objects of Compassion Speeded by his own heav'nly Charity He to his Succour flies Such is the fashion Of generous Love which never stayes to be Woo'd and importun'd to a Courtesie 325. The simple Man perceiving one draw nigh Fell to the Beggers covetous Dialect Craving for Money Friend that is not my Largise thy Lord repli'd which doth infect Those who desire it Surely Thou would'st finde What Bane thou begg'st wert thou not double Blind 326. Money is that unhappy Dust which flies Full in the face of undiscerning Man And heaps such Mists of Blindnesse on his eyes That Heav'n He cannot see If thou did'st skan Thy state aright Thou might'st thy Blindness blesse Who seest not how monstrous money is 327. I l'e make a thinner Clay than Money which Shall far exceed the Worth of Gold to Thee They are not moneys beams which doe inrich The World with Light and Glory but from Me Alone flow forth those clear and genuine Raies Which blesse the Age with sweet and golden Days 328. This said three times He spit upon the ground And temper'd with his Hand a Soveraign Clay No Salve by deepest Art was ever found Which could so sure all Maladies allay Should pretious Balsame now prove sick and die This Ointment could work its Recovery 329. With this the Blinde Mans Eyes He Oynted yet Was pleased not forthwith to give them sight First an experiment He meant to get Whether his inner Eyes of Faith were bright Then with his Favour to reward and grace The Pool which long before so pious was 330. Bethesda Waters swell'd with full-tide Fame Wherefore though apt Occasion Him invited Time was when He refus'd to honor Them But pour'd his royall love into this sleighted Though worthy Pool which as his Partner He In this his Miracle vouchsaf'd to be 341. To Siloam goe said He and wash thine Eyes And thou shalt see what I to thee have given The joyfull Man with holy Credence hies Him to the Place No Hart was ever driven By scalding Thirst more greedily unto The Rivers than He to this Spring did goe 342. He went to drink not with his Mouth but Eyes Which as He washed loe they 'gan to ope Out flew black Night and all those duskie Ties By which his Sense before was chained up Straight his released sparkling Pupills show'd Like sprightfull Lightning from the broken Cloud 343. And now he lives and sees that he does live And Heav'n and Earth more than by hear-say knows Now every Parcell of the World doth give Him a Remembrance unto whom He owes His power of seeing it O happy hee Who must in every Thing his Saviour see 344. Since from the Darknesse of the first Abysse The Universe was wakened unto light Ne'r was atcheiv'd so strange a Cure as this Which on condemned Eyes bestowed fight In spight of Nature who had put them out Before she gave them leave to look about 345. Now Psyche turn thine Eye to yonder Town Great Salems little Neighbour Bethany A place of dear Remembrance to thine own Beloved Lord from Salems tumults He Would oft retire into that calmy place And still as oft's He came He welcome was 346. For there two Sisters dwelt an holy Pair Industrious Martha who the World did love Yet not so much but Jesus was more dear Although the practick Trade of Life she drove The Cream of her Solicitude she spent To purchase more than secular Content 347. Pathetick Mary one whom Mercy made Her chosen triumph This was 〈◊〉 She Who in the hottest Troop of Sinners had A leading Place such stout Impiety Incouraged her Heart that Hell could not Put her on any Task but she would do 't 348. For seav'n foule Devills had themselves possest Of all her Soule and with imperious Port In the usurped Palace of her Breast Their throne erected and maintain'd their Court What Proclamations or Warrants They So ever issu'd she did straight obey 349. But Jesus who did square his Pitty by No Merit hee in Mortall Man could read But for his Rule took their Capacity Of Succour found how much this Heart did need His potent Help which He forthwith applied And made her Live who now seav'n times had died 350. For from the bottome of Her poys'ned Breast Seav'n hideous Deadly Sins she vomited And having thus disgorged Hell which prest Her down so low to Heav'n she rais d her head Flaming with purest fire of Love as she Before had smoak'd in Lusts Impurity 351. Her brave Devotion she did measure now By the Large Size of Mercy she had gained For as that Mercy did no limits know So to Infinitude her Love she strained She strained hard and would have reach'd the Top If Mortall Passion could so high climb up 352. O Psyche hadst Thou but been by when She Unto her Lord upon Loves Errand came Thou might'st have seen impatient Piety Mount in the boldnesse of its noble Flame First at his Feet it 'gan and then it spred With fair and liberall Fulnesse to his Head 353. That fragrant Ointment which she us'd before To her own lustfull Skin to sacrifice She now on Jesu's sweeter Feet doth poure And adds another showre from her own eyes Then wiping them with her late crisped Tresses She offers there her consecrated Kisses 354. She mindes not what Spectators think or say Love is secnre and carelesse She does mean E'r from her Lovers Feet she goe away To oint or weep or wipe or kisse them clean And by this generous Zeal she Sanctifies Her Locks her Lips her Ointment and her Eyes 355. But as the sprightfull Flame disdains to stay Below and with undaunted Ardor strives To reach its lofty Sphear So she one Day The Reins unto her gallant Passion gives And takes aime at the Top of Heav'n for this I 'm sure said she on Jesu's Temples is 356. She had a Box of Ointment of high price Yet not so pretious as her loving Lord Could the Worlds wealth meet in one Sacrifice All this She freely could to him afford And now unbrideled Love such haste did make That straight the Box or her own Heart must break 357. Indeed both brake and both she poured on His Head who is of Sweets and Hearts the King Straight through both Heav'n Earth the Odours ran Which shall for ever with their Praises ring For now't has lost its Alabaster Cell The glorious Nard in all the World doth dwell 358. Thrift grumbled at the Cost but Jesus who Excessive in his Love to Mary was Vouchsaf'd her generous Soule free leave to goe In the same princely and licentious pace He knows the heats of this unweildy Passion And will allow it brave Immoderation 359. All other Passions eas'ly bounded are Because their Objects are in limits ti'd But Love alone
own did ever wet 290. These Hands and Feet with cruell Nailes they make Sure to the Crosse and fasten Him unto His Pains and Death What heart-strings would not crack To see these tender Veins broke open so What Tears could keep at home and not gush out With those dear Streams which now flowd all about 291. Sure none who dare the Name of Christian wear Can with such stony Hearts this story read As not to feel these Nails their Bosomes tear And 〈◊〉 their tender Contemplations bleed For how can living genuine Members be Not wounded with their Heads calamity 292. But these inhumane Torturers shouting loud In desperate applause of their own Sin Rear up the Crucifix and then grow proud To see this Trophe of their Rage So when Harpies on heaps have heap'd their butcher'd Prey They smile and clap their Wings with cursed Joy 293. Then on each hand a Theife they 〈◊〉 For when they on his Person no more shame Could heap they labour by this Companie To make the World suppose Him one of Them Alas He knew no other Theft but this To steal his Torturers to heav'nly Blisse 294. For whilst between these Bryars like the Rose Or like fair Virtue twixt her foule Extreems He fastned is He plots against his Foes And projects how to pay Them Diademes For these his Tortures unto Heav'n he flies On Loves stout wings and to his Father cries 295. Father By all the Sweets of that dear Name Regard the Prayer of thy Dying Son By this my Crosse and all its noble Shame By these four Wounds which with full Current run By all these Thorns which grow upon my Head And those which in my Heart are fastened 296. Remember not the Sin of these poor Men Who through blinde Zeal perceive not what they doe Though foolish yet they are my Bretheren O spare Them then Let not their Error who Occasion all the Worlds most Soveraign Blisse Make their own Soules their proper Portion misse 297. Thus for the rav'ning Wolves the Lamb doth pray The Partridge for the Hawks O mighty Love Which all the Injuries of this cruel Day Cannot supprefle The more the Torturers strove To wreak upon Him their elaborate Spight The more his Mercy tries on Them it s Might 298. Thus when Arabian Odours 〈◊〉 be Their sweet revenge they on their 〈◊〉 take By pouring out to them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Of pure Perfumes whole 〈◊〉 doth 〈◊〉 speak Of Griefe or Anger but is 〈◊〉 In the kinde language of 〈◊〉 Sent 299. Thus when the tender Vine is nailed fast Unto the Propp and by the Pruning Knife Robb'd of her Branches She takes no distaste At all those deep entrenchments on her life But with a bounteous Vintage strives to cheer The Heart of Him who thus had wounded Her 300. But what care salvage They who scorn to be Softned by Kindenesse Wax indeed may run At the warm Touch of High-noon's Charity But for did Mud and Clay although the Sun Doth with his kindest Rayes about them flow Instead of Melting onely harder grow 301. They think that Jesus has more need to pray For his own Selfe than them and with disdain 〈◊〉 at his unask'd-for Kindenesse They 〈◊〉 themselves how to divide their Gam This was his Clothes the Lambs poor plunder'd Fleece The simple prize of their high Villanies 302. His other Garments they divide and share But finding that his seamlesse Vesture was All of one Texture they contented are To offer the decision of the Case To Fortunes Sentence and conclude by Lot To give that whole they thought too good to Cut. 303. Too good they thought this Common Web to be Mangled and torn yet with the self-same heart Abhorred not his pretious Flesh to see All gash'd and rent by Hatreds utmost Art The Butcher thus thinks fit the Skin to keep Intire although He quarter out the Sheep 304. Mean while arrayed in his naked Gore Sweet Jesus hangs betwixt the Heav'n and Earth Like one of Both rejected and does poure The Worlds red Price at four wide Flood-gates forth An Object of more Pitty never yet Was seen nor one which reaped lesse of it 305. All Passengers without Regard went on And turn'd their unkinde backs upon his Woes Yet well it were if this Neglect alone Made Warr against his Patience but from those Who to this pitch of Sorrows rais'd him He Feets new assaults of positive Misery 306. For not contented with their Nails and Thorns To digg his pretious Body now they strive To pierce his Soule with ignominious Scorns To wound his Meeknesse and his Sufferings grieve As if his Pains and Crosse would not suffice Unlesse he mocked and reviled dies 307. They point their fingers and their heads they shake And then their crueller Tongues and thus they crie Remember what your Pride once pleas'd to speak You in three Dayes yon' Fabrick could destroy And rear it up again yet mighty Sir The Temple stands and You are hanged here 308. For shame make good your boasted Power and now Command those Nails to leave your Hands and Feet Command your Crosse before your face to bow Command your lost Blood to return and meet Your gaping Wounds Is 't not high time to save Your Selfe if you resolve to scape your Grave 309. O no the Elders Scribes and Priests replie Though many Seeming Wonders He has done Though he has cured many a Maladie Though he has conjur'd up Salvation For others yet We know for certain He Cannot unto himselfe a Saviour be 310. No lying Prophet ever yet was known Who once into the hands of Justice brought Could by his power of Witchcraft reach his own Deliverance and work his Carcase out Of Chains or Tortures for if this might be How could we know Heav'ns Truth from Forgery 311. Now it appears by Whose Assistance He Mix'd with his bare Word that miraculous Strength Which charm d the Peoples fond Credulity But Belzebub is wise enough at length To leave his Instrument to Iustice when His utmost Mischiefe He has done to Men. 312. Now it appears what small cause Pilate had To shake his Head at our importunate Crie Had not our Zeal that 〈◊〉 Onset made On his abused Lordships Lenity This rank Impostor then repreeved might Have still pass d for a Wonder-working Wight 313. Yet if the potent King of Israel now Will but vouchsafe to Step down from this Tree And to his Subjects doubtfull Hearts allow This Proof of his divine Supremacy For our parts We are ready here and will Beleeve his Pow'r and his Commands fulfill 314. What can he more expect of Us who here Attend upon him in his deepest shame Waiting till He will please Clouds to clear Which damp the lustre of his glorious Name So fain would We unto our King to day Would He assert Himselfe our homage pay 315. But silly King he cannot stir you see No though his Kingdome lieth at the Stake He talk'd as if the Clouds his Coach should be
Neer to the Tombe He peeped forth on Them 105. He peeped forth and little thought that Day Was up before and had prevented Him This Day was Jesus his and scornd to stay And be beholden to the tardie beam Of glaring Phoebus since it of its own Glories had ample store its head to crown 106. So had the Corps of Sweets had it lain still But this was gone Yet shall religious They Finde something which will their Devotion fill With Satisfaction and in full repay Their Odours Price for in the Tombe they see An Angel sitting in bright Majesty 107. This was that noble Spirit who in haste Flew down from Heav'n just as thy Lord gat up And whose prest bus'nes was away to cast That mighty stone which did the Tombs Mouth stop That these religious Visitants might there See how their Saviours Words performed were 108. And gallantly his blessed Work he did For at his mighty coming Earth did quake The Seal was startled and in peeces fled The trembling Stone was ready too to break And had in shivers fallen had not he Roll'd it aside and bid it quiet be 109. When loe the Watch which at the Sepulchre Guarded the High-priests Sin with Swords and Spears Forthwith beyond their own protection were Being arrested by prodigious Fears The Hills Commotion reached to their Hearts Which with the Seal split in a thousand parts 110. But chiefly at the Angels Presence They Were seiz'd with their intoletable Fright His shining Roabs were glorious as the Day And partners with the driven Snow in white For 't was his Easter Suit the Suit he had To honor this bright Feast on purpose made 111. And yet the Lustre which kept Holiday Rejoycing in his delicate attire Could not such wealthy floods of rays display As streamed from his aspects fairer fire For in the Majesty of his sweet face A spring of living lightning bubling was 112. In this celestiall bravery his threne He took upon the stone he rolled thence Whence his illustrious terror he upon The eyes of all the Soldiers did dispense At whose bright dint forthwith each man let fall His sword and tumbled down himself withall 113. They tumbled down and where they tumbled lay For though they gladly would have farther fled Alas they had no Power to run away Pallid Amazement naild them there for dead Thus they who came to guard thy Saviours Tombe Into capacity of their own were come 114. When the two Maries spi'd this Stranger there And all the Watch before Him slain with Dread They in their Passion began to share And had not Innocence its Protection spred Over their hearts this Apparition had An equal Conquest on their Spirits made 115. But when the Angel saw them drawing neer He sweetly intercepted further Fright You have said he no portion in this fear Which on this Watch of Wickednesse doth light I know your errand well and here he smil'd And all his face with gentler lustre fill'd 116. You likewise Come to Watch the Corps but yet To Pray withall You Jesus come to finde Although his Crosse and Shame themselves do set Full in your way to daunt your pious Minde You bravely Come although a Guard stood here Your Spices and Devotions to prefer 117. You in courageous forgetfulnes Of your faint feeble sex Come to attend Upon his body who forsaken is By his own Masculine Scholars I commend Your early valiant zeal although it be Arrived here too late your Hopes to see 118. For Jesus earlier was up than you And unto slaughter'd death bequeath'd his Tombe His royall Word long since He pass'd you know And this prefixed morning being come Impossible it was that longer He In Deaths coldregion should froazen bee 119. Doubt not this news I tell Come in and let Your eyes convince your hearts His empty bed You see with all the Cloaths and Sheets of it This Bed from whence He nobly flourished Into new life a cold dead bed but He You know sprung first from dry virginitie 120. The Angels Words the holy Women read Plain in the Grave and in the Grave-cloaths yet So deeply were their Soules astonished At this 〈◊〉 of wonders which beset Their unprovided thoughts that they surmise Some pleasing error flattered their eyes 121. Which He perceiving sweetly chode their doubt Their jealous faintnes and dejected eyes Demanding why they in Deaths Closet sought For Him who thence to open life did rise He cheers them then and tels them they shall be The Angels of this news as well as He. 122. Make haste said he to the Disciples who As jealous of this busines are as you Bid them be cheerly and to Galile goe Where unto them their Lord himself will show And gentle Soules you to forestall their doubt May tell them you from me this message brought 123. Out went the pious Women in a sweet Distraction of loving feare and joy The glorious Miracle did feare beget The blessed news new comfort did display With doubtfull certainty they trembling ran And told their sight to Peter and to John 124. Deer Sirs they cry'd ô what what shall we doe The onely Relict of our Hope is gone But where our Lords sweet body is or who Hath born it from the tombe God knows alone We with these eyes the empty Grave beheld Which us with terrible amazement fill'd 125. Indeed an Angell if our fancie did Not cheat our ears joy to our sorrow spake And told us that our Saviour from his Bed Of death was rise commanding us to make You with the news acquainted But whate'r The matter is our hearts still beat with fear 126. He bad us charge you and your Brethren all To meet in Galile For there said he Their risen Masters apparition shall Requite th' attendance of their Pietie O that it might be so though he had set Ev'n the Worlds furthest end for you to meet 127. So spake the Women but the standers by Shak'd their wise heads at the unlikely news And see said they the wilde credulitie Of female hearts whom fancy doth abuse How fine a storie they can forge and fashion Of no materials but imagination 128. And yet for all this censure wiser John Fir'd at the news thought not of Galile But in Loves loyall disobedience ran Hither the present Miracle to see The same spur prick'd on Peter too and He Stoutly set forward in his company 126. Unto their Prey no Eagles e'r did post With heartier Speed ne'r did Ambition make To Crowns and Scepters more impatient hast No Spark to Heav'n its course did ever take With braver Zeal than this religious Pair Flew to observe the empty Sepulchre 56. But John in whose soft Breast more flames did reign More flames of Youth and more of gallant Love His fellow-traveller did soon out-strein And gat before In vain old Peter strove For though his Tongue were alwaies forward yet John had the quicker Heart and nimbler Feet 131. He first came to the Tombe
ward whether He is gone Who stamp'd them heer their Eys will know no Lid But make the Beams recoil the Rafters run Aside and suffer no Concameration To damm the way of Jesu's Exaltation 291. Thus Psyche have I made thee trace thy Lord To his last footsteps through a thousand ways All set with Mercie and made good my Word Thou seest how He a countermure doth raise Against Sinns Battery and thou needst not fear Hells Spight now Heav'n for thee doth take such care 392. Nor durst I doubt but thine owne Heart will say This thy long Pilgrimage is well requited Which hath presented thee a full Display Of that wherewith all Angells are delighted Whose Souls then with sublimest Joy do leap When on these Mysteries of Love they peep 293. Their Harness heer upon his Steeds he threw Who all this while were feeding on the Hill The meaning of that warning Psyche knew And on her knee prayd him to tarry till She gave the Reins to her Devotion As other Pilgrims unto theirs had done 294. He smil'd and stayd But She flat on her face Innumerable Kisses heap'd upon The venerable Stepps and long it was Before her amorous Sighs and Tears had done At length her Bosome with the Dust she fill'd And cri'd Go thou and my foul Body gild 295. Then casting up to Heav'n her zealous Eye After her Spouse a thousand Thoughts she sent To whom her panting Soul strove hard to flie Upon the Wings of her high Ravishment But when she felt her self stick still to Earth Fresh Tears at first and then these Words brake forth 296. Why may my Heart not be where most it is O Thou my dearest Life ô Jesu why Since Thou art mounted to the Topp of Bliss And leav'st Me Dead have I not leave to Die Never was any Ghost but I till now In its own Body bound and chaind below 297. I by thy Cross and Death was wholly slain And by thy Resurrections Life I grew Alive and safe and vigorous again But thy Ascension doth my Death renew Since nothing of my Life poor I can finde But these bare footsteps left Me heer behinde 298. Sweet Lord by these thy Psyche cannot live Though for thy Sake they pretious are to Me O no! their Worth doth but more reason give To long for most inestimable Thee If any footstepp Me can satisfie It must be that which next thy foot doth lie 299. Hast Thou not said that Earth thy Footstool is As well as Heav'n thy Throne O mighty Lord 'T will be thy Handmaydes most accomplish d Blisse If thou but unto Me make'st good that Word Loe I thy Dust the Footstool crave to be Of thy now Heav'n-enthroned Majesty 300. High my Petition is and bold I know And yet the worthlesse Dew must needs aspire To Heav'n it selfe when once it gins to glow With Phoebu's sweet and most attracting Fire Nor can the Spark in its dull Ashes lie But must have leave to venture at the Skie 301. Alas what is this weary World to Me What are the silver Sphears and golden Sun Could I reign Queen of every Thing I see At my sole Nod would all Earths Kindreds ran What were this Empire worth now Thou art gone Whom Psyche must esteem her Crown alone 302. 'T is not thy heav'nly Paradise that I Ambitious am to see 't is not thy Court Of Angels though by Phylax's company I guesse their Worth 't is not the Pomp and Port That flows about thy throne Nor doe I long To dance unto thy Quires eternal Song 303. My Heart doth pant for Thee and onely Thee And could'st Thou be in Hell I never more Would loose a Looking up to Heav'n but be Inamored of that Abysse and poure My Longings and my Labours downward till I at thy Feet my Vows and Soule could spill 304. O why art Thou so infinitely sweet Or rather Why must We that Sweetnesse know If Thou deer Jesu dost not think it meet Unto our Fires their 〈◊〉 to allow Away Thou flyest and Forsaken We Ev'n by thy sweets and Blisse tormented be 305. How can I help this my excessive Passion Or how can it deserve these Torments Since Thine own Love doth professe Immoderation And guilty is of boundlesse influence In which soft Sea of Fire whilst drown'd I am What can I doe but burn with answering Flame 306. Blame Me not blessed Lord it is not I But Thou thy Selfe rebounding from my Heart Who beat'st Heav'n with this Importunity And call'st for Ease for my mysterious Smart Had'st Thou by Love not stampd thy Selfe upon My Soule now Psyche had let Thee alone 307. Remembet Jesu what it is to be Forsaken ô remember thine own Crie When in thy Desolation on the Tree Thy Father Thou didst challenge May not I Use thine own Words My God my God why now Dost Thou thy desolate Psyche leave below 308. Upon this Olivet my Calvary I finde and to my Crosse am nailed here Ten thousand Torments in my Bosome lie And full as many Thorns as planted were Upon thy Tempels in my Heart doe stick Where all the Bowels of my Soule they prick 309. O Love why must thine onely Tyranny The Bounds of other Cruelties exceed Why will it not allow the Courtesie Of Death unto thy Vassals who are Dead By its reviving Slaughters and desire To be free Holocausts in thy sweet Fire 310. Her Passion here beyond expression grew Yet though She with her Tongue no more could speak With her resolved Eyes to Heav'n she flew And there a long Oration did make Both long and fluent in th' exuberance Of Tears the streams of strongest Eloquence 311. But Phylux having to Her tender Heart Thus far indulg'd thought fit to stop Her here Psyche said He imagin not Thou art Inamored more than the Disciples were Of thy Ascended Lord yet desolate They Warn'd by the 〈◊〉 meekly went away 312. I in their room that Warning give to Thee On Heav'n why dost Thou naile thine eyes in vain Thy Saviour is too high for Thee to see Till on a Cloud He posteth back again Then shalt Thou look thy Fill of Blisse and be To all thy Loves Extremities let free 313. Mean while thine Adorations and Imbraces On his dear Name and Memory thou mayst poure Come le ts away that by these signal places Of Mercies Triumphs thy soft Heart no more May tortured be Here on her hand he laid His own and raised up the heavie Maid 114. Then in his Chariot gently Her he set Who on the Footsteps kept her hankering eye But instantly he mov'd his reins to let His Coursers know he gave them liberty Forth with their goodly mains in answer They Shook in proud hast and gallopped away PSYCHE OR LOVES MYSTERIE CANTO XV. The Poyson ARGUMENT LEaving his Psyche carefull Phylax arms With whole some sage Advice her tender breast Yet shee the Venome of Heretick Charms And Spurious Reasons wiles could not resist Phylax returns and in his
Pupills eye Rakes up the nastie sink of Heresie 1. ANd sits the Holy-land so dear and high In pious Soules esteem What tongue can then Thunder sufficient Veng'ance out and cry Against the lazie Basenes of those Men With equal Indignation who have let Vile Pagan Powers from Christians ravish it 2. Could this prodigious shame endured be By Romane hearts when on their Empires thront No other Prince was culminant but He Whom all the best of Bayes attended on Who like a bank against the torrent stood And turn'd the Gyant into Saru's flood 3. Who with his own Hand sent Razates down To his eternal Night who from the brow Of stern Cosrhoes shaked off his Crown Before Syrhoes cancell'd ' Natures law That He with vengeance might concur and by Dire Parricide make the Tyrant double die 4. Who wip'd the Romans ignominie out When He three hundred Eagles which had long Been mewed up in Persian Cages brought In triumph back and bad them flie among Their fellow-ensignes and as freely gaze As any of the brood on Phoebu's face 5. Who not these Banners onely did redeem But the great Standard of Religion too Which was so pretious in his esteem That he himselfe its Porter turn'd and so Made all his Empire stoop to that which he Upon his Shoulders bore to Calvarie 6. Alas Heraclius how has Heresie Attcheived what all Persia could not doe How has it made thine Eagles Pinions be Onely of use to flie before thy Foe Whilst one of Christs great Wills Thou tak'st away How canst Thou hope thine own Thou shalt enjoy 7. Loe the new Monster Mahomets bold Frie Like numerous Locusts from the Pit of Night Crawle into Palestine and there defie The blasted Powers of the Monothelite Loe they are to the Holy Citty come And Haumar robbs him of his Saviours Tombe 8. This rais'd in reverend Sophroniu's Breast A mighty Storm of Agonies to see His venerable Salem now possest By Saracenical Impiety And James his sacred Seat become the Throne For curs'd Apostasie to reign upon 9. He sigh'd and weep'd and finding no Reliefe From Heav'n or Earth for his loud Lamentation Resign'd himself unto victorious Grief And drown'd in his own Tears fulfill'd his Passion For why should I live longer here said he Still to be slain by what mine Eyes must see 10. And now the Land of Milk and Honey lay For more than foure full Ages over-flown With Mahumetick Poyson till a Ray Of vigorous Christian Gallantry shot down From Heav'n and by the Ermite Peters breath Blown to a Bonfire slam'd with holy Wrath. 11. With holy Wrath it slam'd in many a Breast But most in brave Bolonion Godfreys who In Steel and stronger Resolution drest Burnt with Desire to meet his Pagan Foe His Lorain can no longer hold him he Resolves another kinde of Duke to be 12. His Consecrated Legions he leads And in their Eyes their Quarrel doth display Above their Heads the bloody Crosse he spreads Which streamed in his awfull Standard They Smil'd at its goodly Look and cryed We Though in thy tincture ne'r will shrink from Thee 13. The Turkish Moon grew paler than before And in a cowardly Eclipse shrunk back When this bright Banner did its Terror poure Upon her face and open passage make To Victory for she was alwaies there And failed not to bring up Godfreys Rear 14. Thus lesser Asia from the Turkish Lore To Christs more gentle Yoak reduced is And there is nothing now but Salem more For Godfreyes Sword to free from its Distress Thither he march'd and soon Redeem'd the Place Where the whole Worlds Redemption acted was 15. Right Christian Hero ô how due to thee Was sacred Salems Crown and more than that How justly hath thy pious Victory Both Martial and Poetick Laurel got Whilst thy illustrious Name and Glory reigns In the Worlds Wonder and great Tasso's streins 16. But when by Death Heav'n sent for Godfrey home Baldwin his Brother both in Piety And Christian Valour took his royal Room Sidon and Ptolemais felt what he And his brave Troops in a just Cause could doe And so did Egypts mighty Caliph too 17. He to his Cosen Baldwin left his Throne And his entailed Gallantry with it Witnesse the routed Turks Confusion And Antioch which did to his Might submit And though a while he to the Persian bow'd Upon Damascu's King his strength he show'd 18. Then from his Turine Earldome Fulco role To sway this Sceptre who transmitted it Unto his Son young Baldwin over whose Surprised Powers stern Noradine did set His insolent foot but soon it ssipp'd and he Perforce restor'd his stollen Victory 19. His Death his Brother Almerik did raise Unto his Throne a Prince of active Might Whose Sword was fertile in triumphant Bays And glittered with Glories awfull Light All Ascalon beheld its noble flame When He from conquer'd Alexandria came 20. Baldwin his Sonn took up his Sceptre and Long sturdie Warr with Saladine maintain'd Till Leprosie seis'd on his Martial Hand And unto Resignation it constrain'd And Guy of Joppa was the Friend whom He Alone would trust to be his Deputie 21. Next Him his Nephew Baldwin stepp'd into The 〈◊〉 in which He scarcely settled was But 〈◊〉 undermined Him and so At 〈◊〉 Guy crowded into his Place 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Earl of Tripolis so deep That 〈◊〉 in desperate Plotts his Wrath did steep 22. With Suladine He deals and winns so fart On his proud Hopes that He perswades Him to Conjure against the Christians in a Warr Which soon attcheiv'd their fatal Overthrow For Arms and Treason so prevail'd that Guy And Salem with him did Subdued lie 23. Thus Barbarisme afresh did domineer In the Metropolis of Pietie Which roused up the Western Emperous On Pagani me the Power of Zeal to trie Surprised Syria at his Looks did quake And from his Conquests all the Turks flew back 24. But as this generous Frederik in his Might Rode bravely on his Horses fatal Fall Threw down the Conqueror into his Night Of Death When loe his noble Sonn by all The Army chose for General pursued His Fathers Stepps and where he went subdued 25. But what can Virtue doe when Fate withstands Upon this hopefull Sonn of Valour who Had no capacitie to fear the Hands Of Death from any Turk or Pagan Foe The Plague did seize and in his warlik Heart Fix'd its envenomed untimely Dart 26. Then English Richard and French Philip came And with new Western Bravery made good That mighty Loss the Lightning of their Fame Flashed before their Swords and like a Flood Incourag'd by two Torrents meeting They Swallow'd up all that dar'd oppose their Way 27. But cursed Discord the eternal Foe Of high Designs sent Philip back again Yet Richard on to Salem meant to goe Where He with Cyprus bought his right to reign And would had Englands Jarrs not call'd him home Have forced Saladine to make him room 28. Yet Martial Germanie her Nobles sent By
ambition was No more than with this gluttons Dogs to be A Commoner unto the sweet Embrace Of Abraham and of Felicitie Mounted on Angels Wings did ride and there Injoy'd a fuller Feast than Dives here 142. Wise Saint his stomach he had sav'd that he With a full appetite might thither goe Where sumptuous dainties in their Kingdome be And purest Pleasures by whole Rivers flow And if thou after him would'st thither climbe Be sure to trace his footsteps here in time 143. I know the Bords of many holy Soules In fatnes often have been seen to shine On which their golden over-flowing Boules Foamd with the heat of aromatick Wine But canst thou say that they themselves did so Surely their Looks and Lives will tell thee no. 144. This constant Plenty did but keep them to Their Temperances daily Exercise They into hardy Virtue 's Lists did goe When to their Bords they went to play the prize Of Abstinence and trie their conquering might On that arrayed Army of Delight 145. Heroick 〈◊〉 were these who hedg'd in by A seige of superfluitie could yet Maintain brave Moderation but thy Metall and Tempet Geusis are not fit To wage War with Temptations No 't is well If thou by flying canst thy safety steal 146. To a spare Diet 〈◊〉 There thou may'st eat And drink thine Health but never in Excess Excess makes Sicknes reek in all thy Meat And with thy Liquor doth full Surfets press Into thy Boule by which before thou art Aware thy Head is drowned chok'd thy Heart 147. But soveraign Fasting never fails to be An happy Purge where these bad Humours reign Whil'st other Physick drains thy Purse not thee This never doth Evacuate thy Coin Not operate on any thing but those Who are thy Bodies or thy Spirits Foes 148. Thou know'st my meaning now But know withall I love thee better than to let thee be Unpunished if thou shalt swerve or fall From this fair Path unto Felicitie And with such Ballast stuff thy self as will It Heav'n prevent not lag thee down to Hell 149. Close all this while had Geusis held her Combe But the smart dint of this last Word did smite It from her Hand and spill it in the Room At which the sullen Maid began to bite Her lips but marking then stern Psyches Ey She bow'd her head and made her will comply 150. Scarce was she out but mincing Haphe came Whose Hands were in a Muff of Sables drown'd Her Body was disposed in a frame Of wide and easie Clothes courting her round With silken flattering softnes neither Pin Nor Seam presum'd to touch her dainty skin 151. Psyche smil'd at the sight And what said she If that soft furniture grow thick with 〈◊〉 If Hair or Sack-cloth far more gentle be Which close and strait on hardy Bodies sticks Alas the Wounas of 〈◊〉 more dangerous far Than those of sharpest Swords and Arrows are 152. Those Weapons wounds can never further sink Then to the Bodies bottome but a proud Attixe doth sadly soak the Soule and drink Its best blood up nor knows she how to shrow'd Her self from this Mis-hap so long as she 〈◊〉 her Delight on outward Braverie 153. Potiphera was deepar wounded by The delicacies of her soft Array Than holy Joseph who did clothed lie With Chains although the Iron made a way Into his Soule Her wounds did her destroy His cur'd their Earthly Pain with Heav'nly Joy 154. Thou know'st in what a soft and curious dress Madam Herodias danced down to Hell Whil'st reverend John array'd in simplenes All 〈◊〉 off-spring nobly did excell And though in Herods Court despised yet Plain as he was he into Heav'ns was let 155. Hadst thou beheld his home-spun Camels hair And lethern-Thong which did his Loins embrace How would thy Lawns thy Silks thy Sables dare To shew their cowardly effeminate face How would thy worthlesse skin indure to see It self in fairer Roabs than glorious He 156. Hadst thou beheld that course and rural suit Which Gods own wisdome did for Adam make How would the sight thy gallantry confute Who all the dainties of the World would'st rake Thy vulgar Carcase to array when he The King of Earth in Skins must cloathed be 157. Gods Copie satisfi'd the Saints of old Who sought no further than the skins of sheep And goats in which their own they did enfold And from that rude and plain Plantation reap A royall Harvest now being clothed by The glittering Roabs of Immortalitie 158. No Beds of wanton Down desired they Wherein to loose themselves but were content In Dens and Caves their manly Heads to lay Where they to Rest with suller Comfort 〈◊〉 Than pompous lustie Solomon when he Stepp'd up his Couch of stately Ivory 159. Nor was it ever known that Perl did lie In any shells but wonderous course and plain That any Search could Gold and Silver spie But nestled in some dark and dirty vein Of Earth that gallant Sparks of Fire could rest But in some rude Flints black unlikely Breast 160. I grant Distinctions of Degrees require Such Garbs as may their Dignities proclaim Not that they by their outside beams aspire To gaudy foolish Glory since their Aim Is or should onely be by this fine Art Their Places proper honor to assert 161. Else the perversly-blear and peevish Eye Of rude and stubborn Mortals would not see What awfull Lustre flames in Majesty Nor how the Sacerdotal Temples be With venerable Priviledges crownd Which from their sacred Office doth redound 162. This made Heav'ns Ordination of old The consecrated Body of the Priest With reverence-commanding Gems and Gold And finest Linens Purity invest But what 's all this to thee whose private State All publick Ornaments may well abate 163. My peremptory Pleasure therefore is That thou the best Examples copie out Since thou delighted art with Tendernesse Be Tender of thy Blisse and never doubt But that will softer prove and warmer be Than are thy Wishes and that Muffe to thee 164. Almost as loth as the Beasts back which bred That furtie Skin at first did part with it Haphe by this sweet Violence conquered Dropp'd down her Muffe and did her head submit But yet she shrunk her Shoulders and betrayd She thought the Load sad which on them was layd 165. Psyche her Cinque-Ports being thus secured For Glossa call'd who cheerfully came in And with a thousand Complements allured The good opinion of her frowning Queen But thou mistaken art said She for I By numerous Phrases count not Loyalty 166. Truth 's quickly said for pure unspotted she Delights in her own genuine Nakednesse And scorns that ceremonious Bravery Which Flatteries deformity doth dresse Dull Wood alone doth Vernice need but Gems Are brave in their own native naked Beams 167. Much Talk is either stretched out by lies Which poyson all the Streams wherein they flow Or tricked up with handsorne Vanities Which like fond Ribands serve but for a show And rather
quake Throughout all Hell the barking Hydra's shut Their awed mouths The silent Peers in fear Hung down their tailes and to their Lord gave eare 15. Three times he shak'd his Horns three times his Mace He brandish'd towards Heaven three times he spew'd Live sulphure upward which when on his face It soused back foul Blasphemy ensu'd So big so loud that his huge Mouth was split To make a passage to his Rage and it 16. I yeild not yet Defiance Heaven said He And though I cannot reach thee with my fier Or scepter yet my Brain shall able bee To grapple with thee nor canst thou be higher Than my brave spight Know though below I dwel Heaven has no stouter hearts than live in Hell 17. For all thy confident Promise to the Seed Of Dust-begotten Man my Head is here Unbroken still When thy proud foot did tread Me down from my own sphears my Forehead there Both met and scorn'd the Blow and thou at first What e'r thou talk'st to Man did'st do thy worst 18. Courage my Lords ye are the same who once Ventur'd upon that high Designe with me Against the Tyrant call'd Heavens righteous Prince What though Chance stole from us the Victory 'T was the first time we fought and he being in His own Dominion might more easily win 19. How often since have we met him mid way And in th' indifferent World not vainly fought Witnesse those Prisons where our numerous Prey Lie's chained up which we from Earth have brought Are they not Men of the same flesh and blood With that same Christ who needs would be a God 20. A pretty God whom easily I of late Caus'd to be fairly hangd Indeed he came By stealth and in the night broke ope Hel's gate But snatch'd he any Captive hence that Fame Might speak him valiant No he knew too well That I was King and you the Peers of Hell 21. But yet to save his wretched credit He Hi'd him beyond that Gulfe to Abraham's Den Who for his ready inhumanitie Was dubb'd the Father of all faithfull Men How much lesse Pilat was thy crime I yet thou O righteous Heav'n now yellest here below 22. His willing Captives thence He wun but how Forlorn a Prize by Lazarus you may see Who the late pittie of vile Dogs was now A speciall Saint And this vain victorie Homeward He bore with Banner proudly spred As if with his own Bloodt ' had not been red 23. Me think's I could permit him to possesse That sneaking honour so he strove not how My Subjects from their loyaltie to presse And mortall Men to his obedience draw But by my wrath I swear I 'le make him know That of the Air I am the soveraign too 24. Was 't not enough against the righteous Law Of Primogeniture to throw Us down From that bright home which all the world do's know Was by confest inheritance our own But to our shame Man that vile worm must dwell In our fair Orbs and Heav'n with Vermin fill 25. Ten thousand tricks and charms and mystick arts With all the blandishments of his sweet things He doth imploy to woe these silly hearts Doubtlesse much like a God his Powers he brings Into the field to gain his victorie Yet who forsooth the tempters are but We 26. Psyche a simple thing I wot and one Whom I as deeply scorn as Him I spight He seek's to make his Prize Psyche alone Take's up his amorous thoughts both day and night Wer 't not our wrong I could contented be The King of Heaven had such a Spouse as She. 27. But She is ours I have design'd a Place That must be hers amid'st you brimstone lake Which shall revenge whatever in her face Do's now her lustie God a wooer make He promis'd her that with the Angels shee Should live and so she shall but those are We 28. Lust thou shalt give the Onset Quickly dresse Thy self with every bravery that my Aerial kingdome yeelds and subt'lie presse Our contreplot Remember but how thy Sweet powers did once a mighty King subvert However fam'd to be After God's heart 29. Then Philautie and Pride her breast shall fill With swelling poyson and make her disdain Heav'ns narrow gate whil'st wealth it self doth spill Into her bosome in a golden rain That she may seem too rich to match with One Of a poore Carpenter the poorer Son 30. If still demure and godly she will be Let Heresie teach her to grow too wise To take up points on trust and fooled be By saucy Faith plainly against her eys Then let despaire my dear despaire not faile Her Soule with Hell aforehand to assaile 31. Nor shall the service unrewarded be Checking my royall bounty as grown poor The Feind who captive Psyche bring 's to me Shall her sole torturer be and twenty more I 'l to his jurisdiction add that yee May know your Soveraign scorn's in debt to be 32. Nay for his greater honor every night Seven lashes he shall have at Cain's fell heart And seven at Judas his nor from my sight Henceforth on any work shall he depart But here at my right hand shall seated bee For ever and blaspheam the next to mee 33. Go then in god's name but that god am I And may my blessing go along with you If we that wench can catch our subtletie Will torture Christ though all Heav'ns joys do flow About him and we shall revenge this pain In which the tyrant doth all Us detain 34. This said the Senate with an hideous Roar Applaud their Prince and the designed Feinds Their snakey heads thrice bowing to the floore Take their damn'd leave With that a tempest rends Hel's wide mouth wider ope that through the gate Their cursed Progresse they may make in state 35. Old Tellus wonder'd what the treason was Which then tore up her bowels for as from The monstrous Canons thundring mouth of brass A sudden cloud of rage and death doth foam So from beneath these hasty Furies broke Such was the flashing fire and such the smoak 36. But greater was the stink the flowers they say Frighted from their own sweets grew faint and di'd Stout trees which had endured many a day The worst of blasts could not this breath abide Only some venomous weeds whose roots from hell Suck in their deadly living lik'd it well 37. Lust goes to work the first a Spirit as foule As he 's ambitious beautifull to seem Uncleanesse keep 's her Court amid'st his Soul And Poison at his mouth her breath doth stream Black is the fire that burneth in his eye Diseases thick in every member lye 38. But Circe's and Medea's arts he knew For hee their tutor was The purest aire Which on mount Liban virgin sweetnes blew With magick nimblenes hee doth prepare And mould's it up so close that it can take The shape of any Lye he 's pleas'd to make 39. And thus the Nimph which was so loose before And at the mercy of
the place where she before had been Thither they go and thither Phylax flyes Perching upon a neighbour tree unseen The gallant wash'd his hands and she her eyes But in her own soft tears of joy to think How she had com from death's to that brook's brink 27. Then on the flowry Couch by her he sits And ushers in his talk with cunning sighs His feigned cheeks with lying tears he wets Three times he strikes his breast three times his eyes He casts up to wards heav'n three times he smiles And sigh's again and her as oft beguiles 28. At length I am said he a man who by My birth as deep ingag'd to fortune stand As any hee that lives if Majestie Crown not his head and Scepter load his hand My stock 's the noblest in this land but one Nor bears it any branch but me alone 29. This made my loving Lord and Father spare No pains or cost which might his Son adorn From learned Athens tutors hired were Whom first the wings of fame had hither born Athens they left but brought with them to me From thence the truer Universitie 30. Thus did the curious wit of Greece become A member of our private family And I with all the world convers'd at home Yea in their dialects too as fast as I Could my young breath transform nor was it long E'r many sate upon my single tongue 31. A quick survey of all those steps I took By which Philosophers have Nature traced Then Mathematicks were my busie books A thousand lines I placed and displaced To Heav'n upon the Artists Staff I went And studied round about the firmament 32. Of Optick lines and rays the powers I saw In Musicks mystick sweets unwearied Pains I spent long nights and dayes and strove to know What reason married concording strains What divorc'd discords never I confesse Did any knot so pose my brains as this 33. The treasures of Antiquity laid up In old Historick leav's I opened How Kingdoms sprung and how they made their stop I well observ'd with what brave Spirits did How they their honours managed and what The beams of their nobility did blot 34. My recreations were those which some Made their whole work and it was noble too When weary from my 〈◊〉 I was come To practise martiall feats I went and so In both her brave professions I strove To follow Pallas whom I most did love 35. Oft have I been abroad and seen the field With streaming ensigns goodly terror spred Where how much more I lov'd to die than yeild Upon my breast good witnesse you may read Ev'n these sev'n wounds whose mouths once open wide In mine own blood my virtue testifi'd 36. Oft have I rode alone into the Wood To finde some wilde Antagonist some Bear Some Boar some Lyon the accustomed foode Wherewith I diet this my hungry speare You well may gather by the certain Blow I gave yon' Beast I am no Learner now 37. And will you think Pride speaks the word if here I tell you that my Fame swell'd great and high In 〈◊〉 in City Country every where Reports of Aphrodisiu's Worth did flie No high strain'd Parallel was made but thus As good or brave as Aphrodisius 38. To Court I never went but fewer eyes Paid homage to the King 's than unto Mine Devoutly did the Ladies sacrifice Their Looks and Sighs and Languors at my shrine Oft has the Queen gone out alone whilst they Forgot to follow Her if I did stay 39. How many a prettie Embasie have I Receiv'd from them which put me to my Wit How not to understand but by and by Some Comment would come smiling after it But I had other thoughts to fill my head Books call'd Me up and Books put Me to bed 40. This my Disease being known a Lady sped To me an handfull of conceit cloth'd in So quaint a Cover that on it I read Full half an houre before I could begin To ope the book and what did that contain But a discourse to prove all Learning vain 41. Bold Title then said I if thou can'st make Thy Promise good by learning thou must do it With that I threw 't aside but could not slake My curious fond desire to look into it I look'd and read and saw how finely wit Had whip'd it self and then grew freinds with it 42. Then summon'd by Civility I went To court the Giver and my thanks repay Look not said I for polish'd complement I came not hither Madame to gain-say But thank you for your book if learning be So vain a thing Wit would prove foolerie 43. Between a blush and smile she welcome gave To her new Convert But sweet sir said she I sent another book in which you have More of my minde than in those leaves can be A faire-writ book if you it please to prove In rubrick lines and characters of love 44. I gave not that O no it was a Debt Which I did to all sweetnes pay in you How could I choose for had I more than it They would be more than due but having now But onely one poore heart your praise must be Not to disdain my helplesse povertie 45. I would not for a thousand Worlds receive It back again How delicate a Nest In your all-lovely bosome shall it have If by that favour you will make it blest If thence you cast it take 't who will for Me Ine'r shall love what hated is by thee 46. Yet give Me leave to ask what Lady 't is Thou wilt exalt to sit Queen in thy Heart Whether her face more gracefull be than this Which blusheth heer in pleading its own part Whether her Stock or her Estate afford More arguments than mine to wooe my Lord. 47. If not then by these loyall Tears I shed Before thy feet this my bold Truth forgive Thy love is due to me Heav'n never did Make such a Man for nothing but to Live Thou ow'st an Off-spring to the World which may With Hero's furnish it another day 48. As when the Pris'ner at the Barre has done His 〈◊〉 storie he does fix his eye Upon the Judge and from his mouth alone In hopes and fears expects his Destiny So look'd the Lady with prepared eyes To see her Joys or weep her Obsequies 49. Full loth was I to speak but lother by Inhumane lingring Silence to torment Her most suspended soul and make her dy Without her Sentence Many a sigh I sent Before to tell what Words were comming out At last this labouring Answer forth I brought 50. How wretched is his Blisse upon whose Heart Whil'st divers Ladies of choise Worth attend With Loyall passion He must either part And so destroy his own or empty send Them all away but One and thus be fain By many a losse to make one single Gain 51. Had I as many bosomes as I owe To such sweet Creditors as Thou with speed I would discharge my scores but first I vow To thee dear
Lady in whose Worth I read Such sweet Attraction that were I to choose My Heav'n for Thee I would all other loose 52. But now my choise is made and long agoe Unto another I affianc'd was But who 's that Lady is a secret so Divine that from these Lipps it ne'r did passe My reverend Mother oft with tears hath sought But never could prevail to wring it out 53. Yet I thy noble Bosome honour so That I dare trust it there onely be sure To keep this Jewell close as thou would'st doe My Heart a thing lesse pretious and lesse pure Yet give me leave to cast this Charm about For fear thou lett'st it and my Life slip out 54. So may thy Heart-strings hold thy Heart as Thou This Mysterie of mine so may thy Love Be true to Thee and to thy Wishes bow As to my secret Thou shalt trusty prove So may thine Angell hugg thy soul and keep It close as in thy Breast this Thing shall sleep 55. A Thing which mine own Guardian Angell did Acquaint and blesse Me with When through mine Eys Love first began his amorous beams to shed And with his soft Desires my Heart surprise This winged Friend of mine look'd through a frown And told me that my Heart was not mine own 56. It is said he thy priviledge and see Thou thank Heav'n for it not to run and spend Thy Youth upon this wanton Mysterie Let Others study how to Walk to Bend To Vault to Dance to Kisse to Wooe For thee More sweet and generous Arts reserved be 57. Goe court thy Books and gaine such Treasure there As may inhance thy worth and make thee be A fitting Match for Her whom Heav'ns prepare To be thy Spouse whose face when thou shalt see The reading on that fair-writ Book of Love For all thy studies ample Pay will prove 58. Yet to yon' southern Grove thou every Day Must Pilgrim goe where thou thy Saint shalt meet And of a Monsters make her thine own Prey That with no other Word she thee may greet But plain Confession that thine is her Life Thus Heav'n contriv's that thou shalt win thy Wife 59. These are my Fortunes Madam yet unknown Ev'n by the sweeter Half unto my Self And sure your hand would help to thrust me down Into the bottom of all torments gulph Should Wantonnesse invite Me to despise A Blessing higher than my Pride could rise 60. Then happy She the Lady crie's who e'r She be that must hugg Happines in you And yet permit mine Eye one other Teare 'T is not of Envy No Deare Sir Adieu It pittied me to see this gentle fashion Of her sincere but unsuccesfull Passion 61. We parting thus I hasted to this Grove Amongst whose spicy trees I knew would grow My sweeter Hopes But Heav'n it seems would prove The valour of my Patience and throw Procrastinations in my way that I Might earne its favour by my Constancy 62. How often came I and with bended knee On every flowrie Cushion of the Grove Implor'd the speed of my Felicity How oft in this sweet Temple has great Love Receiv'd mine Heart an Off'ring all on Fire With flames of soft but vehement desire 63. At length my Prayers were heard and this deare day Did in that blessed Moment send mee hither Which shew'd mee that my long expected Joy Was now full grown and ripe enough to gather Had I not pluck'd it streight the Monster had Of all its Sweetnes his foule Booty made 64. First then to Heav'n my full-tide thanks I pay And next to Thee my noble Guardian who Before my hopes no forged Bait did'st lay Each smallest Circumstance agreeth so That this the Lady is and none but She Design'd by Heav'n to crown my joys and Me. 65. All Blessings on thy head my Psyche that I know for certain needs must be thy Name That Angell told me it whose counsell put Me on this bless'd adventure when I came To save thy life both for thy self and mee And make of thine my joynt Felicity 66. Heer then my Heart I give thee and I seal The Deed with this true Kisse May Curses rain Thick on my head if ever I repeal What I have done or challenge back again This gift of mine whose fault is onely this Of thy Desert it to unworthy is 67. The Seaman by some furious Tempest thrown Into the seeming Depth of roaring Death If he by suddaine Fortune back be blowne Into the gentle Harbour wondereth At his strange safety and scarce trusts his eys But doubts a long time whither he live's or die's 68. So Psyche snatch'd from Dangers desperate jaws Into the Arms of this illustrious Lover The truth of her condition hardly knows But in suspensive thoughts a while doth hover Deceive me not saith she a frighted Mayd To poore great Sir by you to be betray'd 69. If still I live and all this be no Dream For sure your story 's such an heavn'ly thing That simple I alas unworthy seeme To be concern'd in it Be pleas'd to bring Some further proof Where Miracles are done Faith must have open Helps to bring her on 70. Then be the first proof Aphrodisius cries This Diamond Ring in which thy self mayst see The radiant Copy of thine owne fair eys The next this Jewell what thou art to Me Let that attest yet pardon me that I Gave it that pretious Name now thou art by 71. The third that delicate Imbrace shall be For which all Loves are kindled that which will The sweetest of Assurance give to thee And my great Guardians Prophesie fulfill Come I can give thee leave to blush a Maid Of what she loves most must be most afraid 72. Were not our Case Divine awhile I 'd stay And by our Humane Ceremonies marry But we did Wed above and what can they Add to Heavn's Rites O no 't is sinne to tarrie My Angell would have told me never feare Had it been otherwise Come then my Deare 73. Forgetfull Psyche now enchanted quite By these his glorious Wiles set ope her Breast Unto the Fancies of unclean Delight Forthwith a Knot of unseen Serpents prest Into her heart and set it so on fire That straight it flamed out with foul Desire 74. But Phylax instantly descry'd the flame And wakeing up Syneidesis He cries Run run and help to save your dying Dame Look how her funerall flames already rise Up gets the Mayd and instantly thrusts in Between the Lovers and their ready sin 75. Psyche starts back whil st shame so heavy sate Upon her Eyes that down it pressed them 〈◊〉 Wretch cries Aphrodifius what Has made thy Life so vile that thou dost come To forfeit it to me I prithee goe Die somewhere else I 'd be no Womans Foe 76. O then says she Forbear to stain my pure And spotlesse Mistris Fie cries Psyche fie I know her not My Lord will you indure I should such saucie Servants own as she Be it another proof of your strong Love
From Me this troublesome Creature to remove 77. He having sleeping in a Box of Jett A blacker Liquor drawn from Lethe lake Upon Syneidesis straight emptied it She rubb'd her eyes but found her selfe too weak To grapple with that stupor which did creep Upon her Brow and down she fell asleep 78. As when the Childe first venturing on his feet Carelesly stumbles to some Precipice His tender Nurse more griev'd than hee to see 't Makes on amain with most intentive Eyes Not on her way but Him who now she knows Is stepping into Deaths wide open Jaws 79. So watchfull Charis who did distance keep Till her Assistance might most usefull be Now put on speed and rowsing from her sleep Syneidesis Be not dismay'd said she Come you and I will trie what We can doe To stop Her who so faine to Hell would goe 80. With that as Phebus steals his subtile Ray Through Virgin Chrystall so through Psyche's breast She thrusts her hand and strives to take away That poysnous Brood which there had made its Nest Yet she flings back and casts disloyall scorn On Her who griev'd to finde her so forlorn 81. But Aphrodisius amazed now To see a Beauty which straight damp'd his eyes A Beauty which on Psyche's face did throw Unlovely blacknesse and monopolize All Heav'n within it selfe recoyled back Some Counsell in his troubled Brain to take 82. Mean while Syneidesis aloud does cry In Psyche's ear Mistris beleeve it now I am a wake and see your Misery But ô how foule a sleep possesses you What monstrous Apparitions are these Which your enchanted dreaming soul do please 83. Home home I pray This Grove grows thick with Charms And will be witch you from your self untill All Help proves tardie for your ripened Harms Home soon will cure you and your Bosome fill With better Flames than these which onely be Kindled to make an end of You and Me. 84. Why stay We here See see your Lover's gone Perhaps to fetch more Poyson for your Heart And double on you your Destruction This unexpected News made Psyche start She turn'd her head and saw 't was so indeed Charis had forc'd Him back and He was fled 85. Yet after Him a heavy sigh she sent And more would have dispatch'd But tugged by Syneidesis at last she homeward went Her feet went homeward but her Heart did fly Much faster back which Charis as she came Behinde did meet with and brought safely home 86. But Aphrodisius could not make such hafte As to outrun the Angels nimbler hand Half-way the cursed Grove he had not past But Phylax lighted down and bid Him stand Stand Fiend says He Thy punishment shall be Upon this sceen of thine own Treacherie 87. Faire hideous sir how has your wretched spight Clouded your memory Do you not know How mine and my illustrious Brethrens Might You and your fellow fiends to Hell did throw Did that fall bruise your Heart so little that It and our Victory you have forgot 88. Was 't not enough that in your burning Home Hot Blasphemies you day by day did spit At Heav'n and God but you to Earth must come And all your trains and slie delusions set To ravish his own Spouse for whose deare sake I here his Leiger lie the Match to make 89. Poore harmelesse Psyche how did Shee offend Did Shee incroach upon your Realmes below Did Shee e'r envie Hell to any Fiend Or strive to snatch Damnation from You Sure you have injur'd Her yea Phylax too For She 's my Charge and you shall finde it so 90. With that He from his holy Bosome drew A golden Banner in whose silken Lap His Lords allmighty Name wide open flew Of hell-confounding Majestie made up The Fiend no sooner Iesus there did read But Shame pull'd down his Eys and Fear his Head 91. For as the Lightning darts on Mortall Sight Dazeling confusion So the flashing Rays Of this bright Name the Furie did affright When Phylax on his throat his left hand lays And draws him to the Tree whose shade did cover The green stage where just now he play'd the Lover 92. So have I seen a leering Curr brought back Unto the feild where He did hunt the Lambs With guiltie ears thrown flat upon his neck With woefull Tail sneaking between his hamms With grinning Chapps whose whineing Dialect Speaks both what He hath done and doth expect 93. In vain He struggls For the nearest Bough Phylax with potent Art twines round about Its own tough self and teaches how to grow Into a Band more obstinate and stout 〈◊〉 was his Pris'ner whom forthwith He ties Fast to the Tree and home to Psyche Flies 94. Poor Psyche who no sooner was come home But Charis hasts her to her Closet where The holy Furniture which trimm'd the Room Wide open Prayer-books and Bibles were But she so strange an Eye now casteth on them As if her soul had never dwelt upon them 95. Her tainted soul grown squeamish now no more Such serious Acquaintance would imbrace But loving Charis found a private door Into her Heart and from th' usurped place Cast out that knot of Serpents on the ground Which round about her soul themselves had wound 96. And see says she the token that your Love Hath hung about your Heart and judge I pray What kinde of Favours His were like to prove Which by inchanting Poyson ope their way If Heav'n with fouler things than these doth fill Your bosome then love Aphrodisius still 97. The hissing Serpents roll'd about the floore Which and their shamed selves they gnaw'd for spight Amazed Psyche starts back to the doore Afraid of what but now was her Delight Till Charis with her valiant hand did throw Them whence they came home to their Hell below 98. And now the Virgin falling on her face With lamentable Cry Forbear said she My shamefull presence maketh any place Unworthy for such noble Company For bear dear Charis let me blush alone Left fouler here than those Snakes which are gone 99. And you my reverend Books your leavs shut up Where my Confusion frowns in every line When holy Eys draw neer then freely ope But ô you are too pure and chaste for mine Mine which let out my soul and in its place Receiv'd all Hell which close I did imbrace 100. They nothing else can doe but blurr you now with those perpetuall streams of bounden Teares Which for my wilfull Miserie I owe. O Eys if ever your salt spring forbears May you fail too such is my state that I Unlesse you drown me cannot chuse but dy 101. Shine not on Me fair Sun although thy Ray With safety can the foulest Dunghills Kiste I am a filthier thing than those and may Taint thy sweet Lustre by my ouglinesse Black Night will tell no tales O may she roul Up in her veil my correspondent soul 102. What have vile I to do with noble Day Which shews Us Heavens fair face that face which I Wantonly scorn'd
and cast my love away Upon impostur'd Lusts foule Mystery O Me was ever Heart so mad as mine Which would be divelish rather than divine 103. Surely I will revenge my self on Her I will a Tempest raise of Sighs and Groans To scourge that Gale which blew so soft and fair To steal a shipwrack on Me With rude stones $$Work$$ make this harder Breast without appear As black as 't was within when Hell dwelt there 104. I with my Howlings will these Ears torment Which were intentive to the Cheaters Charms These Lipps which lov'd his Kisses shall be spent In courting nasty Dust these lustfull Arms Which hugg'd His Body shall mine own chastise Which now I hate more than I loved His. 105. O all ye Griefs which ever fix'd your sting Upon a guilty treacherous Bosome hear Unhappie Psyche's earnest Prayers and bring Your stoutest Powers my Heart has room to spare For your full Train Adieu all Loves I now Must onely study to wooe Hate and You. 106. Why was I born may Darknesse choke that Day Which lighted Me into the World Or why When in the Boars my Death its mouth did lay Upon my throat had I not leave to dy Why did I scape that Monster to be thrown To fouler ones Hells Treason and mine own 107. Why dwelt such flaming Beauties in mine Eye As might allure and shew to Lust its way Why smil'd my face with such sweet Majesty As bade false Love be bold Me to betray Why rather was I not so vile that in Safe scorn I might have scap'd the Gallant 's sin 108. The universall Worlds Contempt could not Have wrong'd or wounded Me so deep nor thrown Upon my Beauties such a fatall Blot As they upon themselves and Me have drawn I 〈◊〉 not now been Heir to all Heav'ns scorn If in Earths Eye I Had but been forlorn 109. O righteous Profit of unrighteous Pleasure Whos 's Totall summ's made up of desperate Losse How justly when We trade away our Treasure Requit'st thou Us with rusty fretfull Drosse For all the Gains that Wantonnesfe brings in Prove but a Bank of Veng'ance on the sin 110. Still still I burn my Fire but changed is And though my Lust be cool'd my Guilt is hot And belks and boils for wroth Syneidesis Blows up its more incensed Coals O what Can help my enigmatick sorrows who Thus on my selfe my execution do 111. As thus she lay lamenting on the floor Which with her Tears was slubber'd Charis who Had all this while but stepp'd behinde the door Comes cheerly in and cries Break off thy Woe Dear Psyche t is enough thy hearty cry Has pterc'd already and appeas'd the skie 112. The Copies of thy Tears which there ly shed Upon the ground reflected high and are Already in Heav'ns Casket botteled Thy griefes now smile above and have made clear Gods lowring face look up and see how Day Shines friendly on thee and does bid thee Joy 113. With that she breath'd into her Breast the Powers Of unconceived Sweets the thirsty ground Ne'r look'd so cheerfully when Summer showers The deep Pains of its gasping Drought had drown'd As over-joyed Psyche now she feeles Warm in her bosome Grace's gentle Gales 114. Gales on whose dainty Wings Heav'ns Influence rides An Influence of such speedy Operation That though all Opposition's highest Tides Roar in its way through their proud Conjuration With instant Might it flies and every where Findes Victory attending its Carrieer 115. To Heav'n to Charis to Syneidesis Her thanks she mustereth but all array'd In scarlet from her cheeks For still she is Asham'd to have been lately so betray'd When Phylax flutters in and Come said He You to the Grove must back again with Me. 116. As when the place of Robberie you name The Thiefe in White or Red betrays his fear So conscious Psyche's Heart shot through with shame At that unlook'd for Word makes it appear In her apalled looks Alas said she And com'st Thou to renue my Miserie 117. Bid Me goe finde some desperate Rock from whence I may plunge down into the deepest Maine Bid me post headlong to th' Infernall Prince And covenant with him for eternall Paine Nay bid me do 't Or bid me not do this Which is to goe where my far worse Hell is 118. I like thine Anger well says Phylax but The Grove is not the same 't was yesterday Another Visage I on it have put Both chaste and safe and so thy selfe wilt say No Boar no Lover's there come let Us goe Both Charis and thy Maid will with Us too 119. This high Assurance cheer'd her timorous Heart Which stood in reverentiall awe of Him Besides her faithfull Consorts bore their Part In this incouragement Yet did there swim About her brest some tender trembling Doubts Which spred like Mist upon her cleerer Thoughts 120. Along they went but comming neer the Grove Psyche began to quake and closer cling To Phylax who reach'd out his shield of love The downie shelter of his heav'nly Wing Under whose cheerly shaddow her He led Into the gloomy shades the Wood had spred 121. For now those flattering Beauties which of late Had made that Place a Temple to Delight Were all unmask'd and Melancholy sate Shrowding her 〈◊〉 selfe in mid-day night The heavy nodding Trees all languished And every sleepy Bough hung down its Head 122. There Aphrodisius his best Teeth had tri'd And foure of them lay broken on the ground With spightfull restlesse gnawing to divide The Withe by which He to his shame was bound More than unto the Tree which He so shook That all its frighted Leaves their Boughs forsook 123. But seeing that new Company He bit His Lipps and Tongue and spit them in their face See Psyche Phylax cries the Gallant 's Wit Who hopes to scape confessing his Disgrace But by and by I 'le make him finde a tongue To speak out his imposture and thy wrong 124. With that he snatch'd from Him all He had stoln From Earth from Water or from Aire before The beauteous Veil'no sooner off was faln But Aphrodisius appears no more It proves an hideous Fiend and Psyche cries Running behinde the Tree God blesse mine Eyes 125. Forthwith a poysnous stink seiz'd on the Aire But Phylax quickly blew it down to Hell And Come says He come Psyche ther 's no fear Behold the Monster and observe him well There hung his cursed Periwig but now Two coal-black Horns is all his Head can show 126. The rest is Bald or with soars over-grown With which his Forehead too rough-casted is Though over it He polish'd Flesh had drawn Too fair a Plaster for such Ouglinesse See how the Boils run down into his eye To finde him fitting Tears when He would crie 127. Like to some Ovens black Arch so hang his Brows Over the furnace of his Eyes wherein Delitious Flames did lately take up house But now the Fire 's as dark as his own sin And being fed with
this sayes she so fair so bright He smiling cries My Dear for Chastity It was erected Look and thou shalt see What kinde of Princes here the Dwellers be 154. Loe there comes One Observe his royall Gate Majestick yet not proud about his brows A glittering Coronet wreaths his princely state As in his Hand a Palm his triumph shows Large is his Roabe and after him below A Train imperiall on the ground doth flow 155. This Pavement is lesse white lesse sweet are those Perfumed Lillies than that roab of His Th' Eternall Lamb from his owne fleece did choose The richest Wooll where with to cloath and dresse His spotlesse friends and fellow-lambs for the Goe all invested with this bright Array 156. Those gracefull Eyes in which Love's throne is set Are they which did Potiphera defie Thou know'st the story since I told thee it This is that Joseph though advanced high In Pharaohs Realm yet now more glorious grown And can a fairer Kingdome call his owne 157. The next's a Female in the same Array For Sexes here no outward difference show But all like Angells live since noble they Strove to forget their He and She below And though then earthly Pilgrims overtake That Purity which Us doth equall make 158. Susanna is her Name That radiant Face Which none but chaste and holy beams did shed Two lustfull Elders made their daily Glasse And with the Antidote invenomed Their shamelesse Hearts So bold is Lust that she Dares hope to finde a Blot in Purity 159. Cancer then scorch'd the World when tender she Into her Garden went there in a spring Almost as clear as her own Chastity To coole her selfe But they straight issuing Out of their ambush in their Clothes expresse More shame than did Susanna's Nakednesse 160. We too are hot cry they but none but thou Can quench the furie of our mighty Flames Thou art the Fountain where all Sweets do flow And We must bathe and coole Us in thy streams Yeild as thou lov'st thy Life else We will swear That in Adulterie We caught thee heer 161. Then welcome Death said she thy face will be Fairer than is the Count'nance of this sin Here she cri'd out aloud and instantly Her startled Hand-mayds all rush'd shreeking in Whom both the full-mouth'd Elders hastened To catch th' Adulterer who said they was sted 162. Then haling her unto the Barre their own Guilt upon her they throw and she must die But straight a Miracle crowds in to crown The truth of her unconquer'd Chastity And turn the Sentence on the Elders who Whil'st she to Triumph must to Stoning go 163. There comes the second Joseph but as farre Before in honour as in time behind Little thought Men what kinde of Carpenter Was this whose noble Art a way could finde To frame a life and raise the building high Both of Heroik Worth and Poverty 164. Mine and my Brethrens Office though it be Both sweet and glorious yet must stoope to His Who was the Guardian of Divinity And of the Mother of all sweetnesses And yet no Angell envy'd him his place Who ever look'd upon his wonderous face 165. What Gravity sits there and what Delight What Tendernesse and what Austerity How high and humble are his looks how bright And modest are his eyes how sweetly He Ev'n in this Glory seems not to forget That Cloud which upon Him in earth did sit 166. But look and see thou start not at the sight Those Rays though more than Sun-like lovely be Here comes of Heav'n and Earth the choise Delight The Queen of Softnesse and of Purity Millions of Loves come tripping in Her way Flown from her Eye in a fore-running Ray. 167. Behold Her face and read all Paradise And more in Flesh and Blood In vain we seek For flow'rs for Gemms for Starrs to equalize The gallantry of Her illustrious Cheek At whose sweet Composition every Grace Came running in for fear to loose its place 168. All Cherubs and all Seraphs have I seen In their high beauties on Heav'ns Holy-dayes But yet the gratious Glories of this Queen Sweetly out-glitters their best tire of Rayes What studied scorn would Pagan wits have thrown Upon their Venus if they this had known 169. This Mother of Divinest Love as pure As is that other putid Noblest Tongues When they triumphant are and would be sure With life and blisse and joy to grace their Songs First chant the Son and then the Mother He Begins and she makes up the Harmony 170. Her Crown is full Imperiall yet not deckt With orientall Diamonds but thick set With purer Jewells for the most select Virtues because her own doe garnish it And yet all those but the faint Copies be Of her rich Hearts Originall Treasurie 171. I need not tell thee Mary is her Name Who teacheth Majesty to be so milde This cold dead Pavement lively doth proclaim Whose feet with new-born Lillies it have fill'd Whose but the Virgin-Mothers steps could blesse A Soil so barren with such Fertilnesse 172. Turn Psyche and behold Here comes the King The King himselfe of Royall Chastitie She turn'd But as He forth was issuing Intolerable Beams from His did fly Upon her face she started at the stroke And rubb'd her dazeled eyes and so awoke PSYCHE OR LOVES MYSTERIE CANTO III. The Girdle or Love-Token ARGUMENT HEr Spouse in Token of His royall Love A Girdle unto Psyche sends wherein The accurate works Historik Beauty strove The radiant Materialls to out-shine The Rich Embroiderie Phylax doth expound And with the Token then the Mayd surround 1. SHort Taste of Pleasures how dost thou torment A liquorish Soul when once inflam'd by Thee The edge of all Desire would soon be spent Did'st Thou not whett it to that keen degree That nothing but compleat Fruition will The longing of its wakened stomack fill 2. The pined Man on whom a thinner She Insatiable Famine long hath fed Desires no Heav'n or Paradise to see But onely what lies moulded up in Bread One glimpse of this bids Hope return and light Life in those Eyes which were bequeath'd to Night 3. But if that Morn of Comfort damped be And his young Joys snatch'd from his Eyes again The fugitive Blessing mocks his Miserie And by rebound exalts it to a strain Of higher Punishment his Fancie more Does gnaw him now than Hunger did before 4. So Psyche famished with strong Desire Of her dear Spouse no sooner fed her eyes On his first Lustre but that mystick Fire Turn'd all her Heart into Joyes Sacrifice She 'gan to scorn all other Dayes but this Whose Dawn had broach'd such golden Floods of Blisse 5. But when immensitie of Beams had cast That cloud of Weaknesse on her Mortall Eye And she the long'd-for light it selfe had lost In too much light her Longing swell'd so high That did not sighs unload her Heart and it Th' impatient Tumor would her bosome split 6. She sighs and thinks and then she sighs again For
every thought which labour'd to comprise What she had but half-seen makes her complain Her thoughts were dazeled as before her Eyes Yet still she thinks and still she loves to be Puzled in that delicious Miserie 7. And happy Yee stout Eagles happy Yee Crie's she whose genuine Eyes are tempered To 〈◊〉 brave pitch that the full Majestie Of your beloved Sun can never shed Such 〈◊〉 extremities of Heav'n but you Can 〈◊〉 them in as fast as they can flow 8. You perch'd on some safe Rock can sit and see When the young East unlocks his rubie gate How from the 〈◊〉 bed of Roses hee Sweeter than it doth rise what Robe of state That Day He chooseth and what Tire of light He on his Temples bindes there to grow bright 9. Into his Chariot of flaming Gold You see him mount and give his purple Steeds Leave to draw out the Day You see him roll'd Upon his diamond Wheels whose Bounty breeds That populous Family of Pearls which dwells On eastern shoares close in their Mother-shells 10. You see him climbe up to Heav'ns silver Hill And through crosse Cancer make the Houres run right There with his widest Looks your own you fill And ryot in that royall Feast of light Whil'st to your eyes your souls flie up and gaze On every beauty of his high-noon Face 11. You see him when into the steep-down West He throws his course and in th' Atlantick Deep Washes the sweat from his 〈◊〉 Brow and Breast And cools his smoking 〈◊〉 and goes to sleep Among the waterie Nymphs who in his rest Waft him through by-paths back into his East 12. Thus the kinde Day makes all her houres attend Your undisturbed Joys But fainting Me With one poor minute she will not befriend That I my fairer sweeter Sun may see Yet why blame I the Day She 's clear and fair But you adulterate Eyes too cloudy are 13. Had you been constant such had been my Blisse But you with faithlesse cowardize gave in Surely I 'le be reveng'd on you for this Till you repent your Treachery in Brine Perhaps when Tears have wash'd you clean the pure And free face of my Spouse you may endure 14. These querulous sighs by their tempestuous Blast Drove on the Cloud and now the Rain began Dropps great and numerous down her Cheeks made haste For more and greater still came crowding on 〈◊〉 either eye-lid sprinkled in the Crowd A living Rainbow on its margin show'd 15. But as the Storm swell'd high in Phylax flies And much adoe his yearning sweetnesse had To bridle in his sympathetick eyes Seeing how great a flood Phyche's had made Were not eternall Joyes deep Printed on Angelick Spirits sure now his springs had run 16. But with his Wing he wip'd her blubber'd face And fann'd fresh comfort on her fainting Minde Quairell not with thine Eyes thy Vision was Too visible said hee and they though blinde Perform'd their duty being clogg'd as yet With lazie Dust for sprightfull signts unfit 17. Have patience till that Dust be put to bed And mixed with the grave then shall thine Eye With ample vigorous Beams imbellished Open into a full capacity Of viewing Him whose lovely Princely look Shall be thy safe and everlasting Book 18. Mean while this Token He by me doth send Hoping Thou 'lt wear t for his sake next thine heart No Lover 〈◊〉 woo'd his adored Friend With ticher Present That thou ne'r may'st start From his affection with this Girdie hee Desues to binde thee to Felicity 19. The Ground 's a texture all of Turtles down Which dares call Virgin-Snow both harsh and black For he himself deep dy'd it in his own River of Whitenesse which its Spring doth take From under His great throne where once when He But dipp'd his hand the Fount proov'd Puritie 20. Unto a Grace to spin He put it out That the fine thread might answer her neat hand Then in the Jewell-house of Heav'n he sought What Gems to Honour with this ground The Strand Of pretious India no such Treasure shows Above the Ocean of true Jewells flows 21. Ten thousand glittering things he turned o're And wish'd Thee every one Yet if said He I on my Darling throw this massie store 'T will to a Burden swell my Courtesie She 's tender and I cannot but be so I wish her all but these for all shall goe 22. And those were Jaspers Diamonds Onyxes Topazes Berylls Rubies Amethysts All ready fitted for imbroyderies But richer farr than ever flam'd on Priests Or Princes Crown which as he sending was To set on work another curious Grace 23. His Snowie Mother waiting all that while At his right hand melted down on her knee And sweetly begg'd that Office In a smile His usuall visage toward her and Thee He grants her kind request Yet stay says He And let thy Needle of my choosing be 24. A Twist of Glories o'r his shoulders thrown About his back a sportfull Qniver roll'd Of metall in this grosser World unknown The thrice-refined Quintessence of Gold Yet was the splendid House lesse pure and fine Than were the sweet Inhabitants within 25. No sooner He unlock'd the glorious Lid But a pure Cloud of living Joys and Smiles Which in that merry Region had been bred Breaths out it self and the Spectators fills With vigorous Pleasures and with fresh Desires To view that Fountain whence such Blisse expires 26. Innumerable arrows there doe lie Keeping each other warm with mutuall flames For mystick Ardor is the metall they Are made of metall purer than those Beams Which play about the starrs or those which flow From Phebu's eys when they in High-noone glow 27. The finest Rays which darted purest light From his owne crown great Love himself did cull And these said He shall be my Arms in fight With this Artillery I 'l my Qaiver fill The Heavn's already bent from East to West And that 's the Bow by which my darts I 'l cast 28. Ther 's no such thing beleeve it Psyche there As leaden Arrows steep't in Scorn and Hate Each Dart's a sonn of splendor and does wear A rich remembrance of its Masters fate For in his blood the blood of Love dy'd deep Its tincture and its virtue it doth keep 29. With these he wounds his best beloved Hearts And by the wound sets ope to Life its way Life is the point of these mysterious Darts Which with pure Joy and dainty Vigor slay They slay indeed yet still reviving be They nothing murther but Mortality 30. The Hairs of softest Flax grow grosse and course When these draw neer so delicare are they Yet cruell steel strikes with lesse boysterous force And with lesse fatall certainty doth slay Immortall Eys alone can see them but Not fence the Blow if they at them beshot 31. Love choosing one of these from its bright Nest Applies it towards his all-peircing eye From whose acute intention there prest A Ray so potent that immediately The yeelding Dart
she the Reins Almost as soft's the Hand which them contains 58. As through the whirling Orbs she faster flies The new Imbroyderie to the Starrs she shows They twinckled all asham'd of their own Eyes So was the splendid Zodiak which throws His spangled Girdle round about the Sphears To keep in order and gird up the years 59. Orions Blush confess'd how much this sight Outvied all the glories hee could show His yeilding Count'nance fell and to the bright Triumphant Apparition did bow Three times hee tri'd and faine hee would have 〈◊〉 How to unbuckle his out-shined Belt 60. But comming to the Soveraign Palace she Hasts in to her expecting Lord and layes Her Face and Work upon his Footstool He Her dainty pains with high Approofe repayes Yet On this Ground had thine own Storie grown The Girdle would said hee have fairer shown 61. With that unto his Cabinet hee goes Where Spirits of purest Gemms extracted lie Out of which Heart of Richnesse hee did choose The softest Dropps and in one Jewell tie Such Rarities as my Tongue cannot tell But thy dear Soul their ravishments shall feel 62. For to the Girdle having linked it He deign'd to grace Me who stood wondering by Take this said he and see how it will fit Thy Psyche but more mine Be sure to tie It close and straight that by this Token she May understand how neer she is to Me. 63. The second Houre's scarce entring since I took It and my leave and heer the Present is Come wipe thine Eyes a purified Look Is 〈◊〉 due 〈◊〉 where the sight is Blisse 〈◊〉 Phylax op'd the Girdle whence such beams Broke loose as drowned Psyche in their streams 64. For as the rurall Swain whose courser Eyes Ne'r star'd on other beauteous things than what Begay the simple Fields when first hee spies A Princes Wardrobe open straight is shot Quite through with Wonder and in fear doth deem The sight is too too glorious for Him 65. So mortall Psyche was at first dismayd At the immortall Spectacle When hee Cries out What Error makes thee thus afraid This Zon's not torrid though it flaming be Nor sent thy Spouse this Token to destroy Thine Eyes but diet them with sparkling Joy 66. See'st thou that Building there which lifteth high Its shining Head and scorns to pay the Sun Homage for any beams for sanctity Glitters about it and 'twixt every stone Lies thicker than the Cement know that this Illustrious Pile the Jewish Temple is 67. Many long years had run their Round and spent Their own upon Heav'ns lasting Orbs before This Fabrick first grew to its Complement But here a moment raisd it and to more Magnificence than it at first could shew Such potent Art from Maries fingers flew 68. That reverend Senior whose high-mitered Head Points out his princely Office is the Priest You in his awfull Count'nance might have read What his Attire proclaims Were he undrest He still with Virtues would arrayed be Who now clothes holy Robes with Sanctity 69. His left Hand on his Sealed Mouth he lays Back to the Altar hee his right doth stretch His Eyes are full of talke and trie alwayes How they without a Tongue his Minde may preach At length that Throng of People there began To guesse the Sense and what befell the Man 70. Whil'st hee did on the Incense Altar place It s aromatick Fuell and supply What Heat or sweetnesse there deficient was By many a fervent Vow and pretious Sigh His Clowd flew highest for the Incense smoke Soon fainted but his sighs through all Heav'n broke 71. And being there upon their odorous Back An Angell gets whence posting down to Earth Unto the Temple hee his way doth take Where standing by the Altar hee breaths forth A sweet repayment unto Zachary Of what his Soul had panted out so high 72. Behold sayes he thy Vows and Prayers are Come back to fill thy bosome with Successe I am no Messenger great Saint of Fear Trust Me and trust thy priviledged Blisse Thine Heart so fruitfull in sublime Affection Hath for thy Body earn'd an high production 73. Thy dear Eliza whom thy Piety As neer in Virtue as in Wedlock ties Shall have a son in whom thine Eyes shall see The fruit of both those Knots whom Heav'n doth prize So high that I aforehand must with thee Bargain about his Name John it must be 74. A Son of Smiles and Gladnesse hee shall prove And make thine aged Heart young with Delight The Morning he is born shall Joy and Love Together spring and take their blessed flight To thousand Soules where they shall sit and tell What Hopes what Wonders in thy John do dwell 75. Never did friendly Starrs conspire to frame So Fortunate a Birth for Noblest Kings In Gods own Eye wherein the World doth seem Lesse than these Atoms on the Airs light wings Great shall thy Sonne appear Let Doubting go Immensitie resolves to make him so 76. For whil'st hee nestls in the narrow Cell Of thine Eliza's Womb the Spirit of Heav'n O how much vaster than all it shall fill His breeding Heart which when it once is thriven Unto a pitch mature shall nobly prove To Earth how it by Heav'n alone doth move 77. No boist'rous roaring Wine or rampant Drink Shall his sweet Lipp defloure His cup must be Fill'd at some Virgin-Fountains Chrystall brink And teach his Palate too Virginitie For in his sacred Veins no fire must flow But what Heav'ns Spirit pleaseth there to blow 78. And with that fire He Israel must refine Israel o'r-grown with rust and filth that so He may make clean the Way where his divine Redeemer means close after Him to go For braver Flames ne'r warm'd Elia's breast Than in thy Sons shall make their gallant Nest. 79. Alas the Priest replies decayed I Want Blood enough to paint a Blush at this Too worthy News Can fifty Summers fly Back and with Youth my withered Spirits blesse Frost in my Veins and Snow upon my Head Bid me already write More than halfe dead 80. Nor in Eliza doth less deadnesse Live How then in two such Winters can there grow A Spring whose sudden Vigorousnesse may give New Lives to Us and make them over-flow Into a third Sweet Angell thy strange Word May well some sign unto my Faith afford 81. Sure then thou know'st me not the Angell cries For had'st thou known that Gabriel I am Who in the Presence-Chamber of the skies Give high attendance to God and the Lamb Thou might'st have well presum'd no fraud could come From purest Verities eternall Home 82. Yet shalt thou have a sign and I will fast Seal 't on thy faithlesse Tongue which asked it Henceforth thou shalt be Mute untill thou hast Seen what thou would'st not credit Then I 'le let Thy Tongue be loose again that it may sing A Benedictus to thy gratious King 83. The Angells Word full in the Priests face flew And fastned mystick Chains upon his Tongue He soon
perceiv'd how strong it was and true And with his Eyes and Heart fore-stall'd his Song He thinks and Looks his earnest Hymn and pays For his kinde Censure correspondent Praise 84. This put Him in that posture there But now Behold that sober Matron in whose Eye Sage Chastitie her reverend looks doth show Loe how the Promise in her Womb grows high And by its Silent swelling doth confesse The same her Husbands mutnesse doth expresse 85. Observe that gentle Stranger hither come To see her pregnant Cosen Her array Is plain and poor her Looks still seem at Home Though she be stepp'd abroad so closely they Are shrowded in this Veil and Modest she Ev'n in this Girdle would not veiwed be 86. 'T is she whose Handy-work the Girdle is And who upon her self least cost bestows Whose sweet Salute with ravishment did seize Eliza's Heart See how her Arms she throws In wide amazement See how fain would those Perls which have ope'd her mouth her words disclose 87. All Glories which our Female Tribe have crownd Cri'd she shrink in their da'zled Eyes to see Those brighter Blessings which in thee abound Thou Wonder of pregnant Virginity All happinesse dwells in thy God yet He Hath now his Mansion taken up in thee 88. For when thy Salutation through mine Eare Stroke Heav'n into my Heart the Childe which lay Listning within me prov'd that He did hear And ken the Language too nor would he stay To act his triumph in some larger room But For his dancing house leap'd in my Womb. 89. He by thy sound knew what within thee was And understanding that his Lord was near Thought it high time to be at work and as He might begin his active office heer A true Fore-runner who doth leap unborn Unto his Lords strange Day a wonderous Morn 90. But mark that Knot of buisie Jewells there Whose cheerly Looks doe some good News proclaim The Infant 's born and those his Kinstolks are At 's Circumcision But about his Name A kinde dispute arose what it should be All these will have it none but Zachary 91. His holy Fathers Name will sit most fair Upon the Son say they who now doth rise The long expected and miraculous Heir From whom may flow a Brood of Zacharies Whence should a princely Eaglets title be Drawn but from his own noble Family 92. O no the Mother cries mis-call him not His Name before himself conceived was 〈◊〉 wise Heav'n best understandeth what Title will fit its Gifts For mee alas So much my Spouses Name I love that none I would preferre But Heav'n hath chosen John 93. So hot the loving quarrell grew that now To Zacharies decision they runne See where he writes that golden leaf doth show The Oracles Resolve His Name is John In what faire equipage those Letters stand For Maries fingers here did guide his hand 94. No sooner had his Pen dropp'd that sweet Name But his long-froazen Tongue again was thawn For Gabriel though undiscerned came And loos'd the chain which hee on it had thrown The Pris'ner glad of this Release does dance And with inspired Lays his Joyes advance 95. Behold his Friends in that admiring Throng Whose Eyes and Hands Amazement lifts so high To see at length his dead and burted Tongue Revive and yeild a vocall Progente Of holy Praise thus strangely answering That Birth which did from his 〈◊〉 Body spring 96. That fethered and parti-coloured Thing Who at her big-swolln Mouth a Trump doth hold And hastens hence with ready stretched Wing Is noble Fame which posteth to unfold These Miracles in such commanding sound As may both through all ears and hearts rebound 97. Look where she 's perch'd now upon yonder Hill And from that loftie Pulpit round about Doth all the Quarters of Judea fill With stranger News than thither e'r was brought Thus John who came to be a Voice speaks high First in his Flathers Tongue then in Flames Crie 98. But there the sceen is chang'd where Desolation The sole Inhabitant is except that one Poor Ermite who chose his tame Habitation Amid'st its Wildnesse that plain thing is John 'T is strange how Mary Jewells taught to seem So vile a Garb as she hath put on him 99. That Cincture stands but for a lethern Thong That Vestment for a Coat of Camells hair No other Wardrobe did to Him belong But what upon his simple selfe he bare No other riches will I own said hee But onely to be rich in Poverty 100. I 'le rob no Ermyn of its dainty skin To make mine own grow proud No Cloth of gold To me shall dangerous emulation win I live to live I live not to be sold And therefore shall be fine enough if I Be drest but in the robes of Modesty 101. Let scarlets Blush the guilty Court array Let wanton silke smile on the Gallants back Let linnen soft and pure as snow go lay Its own on those who other Whitnesse lack My Bravery must be an Eye to please Which sees no beauty in such things as these 102. Let gaudy Fashion-mongers every day Mis-shape themselves and vexe their giddy Brain To see some novell Cut or Garb which they Were never yet disfigured with in vain Striving to catch the Fashion which is still Like Phebe's face but one day at the full 103. My Fashion constant as my Nature is Which taught me it Nor is the Sun mid-way His Race e'r I have travell'd through my Dresse That East does ope mine Eyes which opes the Day And I arrayed am as soon's the Sun Who have none but my Bed-cloaths to put on 104. This hairie Covering is my onely Bed My shirt my cloake my gown my every-thing When over it these severall Names I read His furniture I well can spare the King The tumult of whose store doth scarce supply All things so fit as my Epitomy 105. See'st thou that bubling Chrystall Psyche there That spring's the living Cellar of the Saint Thence daily does he draw his Virgin-beer And makes his Blood with those coole streams acquaint Coole streames indeed yet such as best agree With the most fervent Flames of Piety 106. His common Diet those poor Locusts are And when hee feasts his Mouth hee lifts but up And straight those courteous Trees 〈◊〉 mend his Fare Sincerest Honey into it doe drop And dining thus he holds not down his face Till hee to Heav'n has paid his sweeter Grace 107. Here with himselfe He did converse a rare And painfull thing when Men in Crowds doe dwell Where upon those who crowd them still they stare Having no space to see themselves untill Well skill'd in all their Neighbour-company But unacquainted with themselves they die 108. The rest of his Acquaintance all were high Beyond his Eyes reach but within his Hearts For with what speed the Lightning down doth flie Through every stage of Heav'n this upward darts Nor will its sprightfull journey bounded be By any Rampart but Immensitie 109. At God it
〈◊〉 nor ever failes to hit Its blessed Marke whither on Prayers Wings Or Contemplation's it takes its flight And there with busie Angels rank'd it sings Admires adores and studies to forget There is a Breast below which look's for it 110. How often has his fainting Body made Complaint of his injurious Piety How often has it cri'd I am betrayd My life and spirits all away do flie And smile in Heav'n whilst I below am left To live this Death of death and life bereft 111. That Cave his Palace was both safe and strong Because not kept by jealous Door nor Barr Those Groves his Gardens where hee walk'd among The Family of Dread yet knew no feare Fear 's proper Region and Dominion is A guilty Breast more than a Wildernesse 112. Those Bears those Boars those Wolves whose irefull face Strikes Terror into other Mortall Eyes With friendly Mildnesse upon him did gaze As on old Adam in calme Paradise They slandered are with Salvagenesse No spleer They owe to Man but onely unto Sinne. 113. So wilde so black and so mis-shap'd a Beast Is Sinne that other Monsters it doe hate As a more monstrous thing then they and cast About how to revenge it But the Gate And Looks of Purity so reverend are That dreadfull Beasts wait upon it with feare 114. The beams of this Angelick Life at last Broke out and summon'd in the Admiration Of all the Countrey Man that runder Beast Convinc d by these Examples learn'd their fashion Behold that thronging Rout which hither flies See how they stare and scarce beleeve their Eyes 115. These Deserts nothing lesse than such do seeme Being crowded from themselves and now become Judea's Towns and fair Jerusalem Which hither have remov'd their populous Home What now has John lost by his private Cell To which whole Towns and Cities flock to dwell 116. And having now so fair an Auditory The noble Ermite is resolv'd to Preach Behold sayes hee the Dawn of that great Glory Which to behold the Patriarks did reach Their Necks and Eyes through many a shady thing In your Horizon now begins to spring 117. O faile ye not to meet his spotlesse Beams With undefiled Hearts for such is He And will Baptize you with refined streams Of searching Fire Then first be Wash'd by Me My Water for His Fire will you prepare As must your Tears for this my Water here 118. Observ'st thou Psyche how that silver stream It s limpid selfe doth through the Girdle winde This Jordan is looke how the People seem At strife who first should enter in to finde A better Baptism in those floods which may Their fruitlesse Legall Washings wash away 119. But mark Who standeth there how sweet his Eye How delicate and how divine his Face Embellish'd with heart-conquering Majesty Wert thou to choose thy Spouse would'st thou not place Thy soul on Him 'T is He ô no it is As much of him as Jewells can expresse 120. To be Baptiz'd but not made clean comes He Who is more spotlesse than that living Light Which gilds the Crest of Heav'ns Sublimity He comes to be Baptized and wash white Baptism it selfe that it henceforth from Him And his pure Touch with Puritie may swim 121. As when amongst a grosse ignoble Croud Of Flints and Pebles and such earth-bred Stones An heav'n-descended Diamond doth shroud Its Lustres brave ejaculations Although it scapes the test of Vulgar Eyes Yet a wise Jeweller the Gem descries 122. So John his Master straight discovered And Heav'n forbid that worthless I cries He Should wash a thing more bright then it and shed These lesse clean Waters upon mighty Thee Dear Lord my great Pollutions bid Me fall Prostrate and unto thee for Baptism call 123. If I be Lord thy gentle Spouse replies Pay then thy Duty to my first Injunction It must be so This Mandate did suffice The Saint and He submits to his high Function Cast but thine Eye a little up the stream Wading in Chrystall there thou seest them 124. Old Jordan smil'd receiving such high Pay For those small Pains obedient hee had spent Making his pliant Waves ope a drie Way When numerous Israel into Canaan went Nor does he envy now Pactolu's streams Nor Eastern Floods whose Paths are pav'd with Gems 125. The Waves came crowding one upon another Unto their Lord their chaste Salute to give Each one did chide and justle back his Brother And with contentious foaming murmur strive To kisse its Maker and more spotless grow Than from its Virgin spring it first did flow 126. But those most happy Drops the Baptist cast Upon his Saviours head return'd with Joy And to the Wealthy Ocean making haste Amaz'd the Treasures which there heaped lay The Deeps look'd up and op'd their richest Breast To make these Guests a correspondent Nest. 127. See there thy Spouse is on the Bank and more Than Heav'n come down and pitch'd upon his Head That snowie Dove which perched heretofore High on the all-illustrious Throne of God Hath chose this seat nor thinks it a Descent Upon such tearms to leave the Firmament 128. And Heav'n well witness'd this strange truth which at That wonderous instant op'd its mouth and cri'd This is my Darling Son in whom are set All my Joyes Jewells O how farre and wide That Voice did flie on which each Wind caught hold And round about the World the Wonder told 129. This businesse done to Court the Baptist goes Where lusty Sinnes as well as Herod reign Long Sanctity had made him fit with those Proud Enemies a Combat to maintain He who does nothing but his Maker fear Against all Monsters may proclaim a War 130. Behold how Pomp besots great Herod there O what impostumes of fond Majesty Pride puffs into his face Dares there appeare A Censor now a just Truth to apply Home to the King and tell him that his Eyes Should rather swell with Tears his Breast with sighs 131. Yes there the Heav'n-embraved Baptist is Who feareth not but pittieth to see A Prince made subject to vile Wickednesse Great Sir the Match unlawfull is cries He O farre be it from Kings to break the Law For whose Defence so strong their Scepters grow 132. Since to thine own Commands just duty Thou Expect'st from these thy subjects Let thy Neck Not scorn to thine own Makers yoak to bow The Precedent may dangerous prove and wrack Thy Throne and Kingdome if thy People read Such stat and high Rebellion in their Head 133. Thy Brothers Wife to Him as neer is ti'd As He himselfe ô teare Him not in sunder You murder Him alive if you divide His Heart all one with Hers The worst of Plunder Is Mercy if compar'd with this which doth By tearing off one Halfe unravell both 134. God who has this Enclosure made and Her To Philip given still hath left to thee And thy free choise an open Champain where Millions of sweet and Virgin Beauties be Adorn thy Bed with any
and its sad Warrant bear Date upon this my joyous Birth-day How Shall Lun-snarle my Promise and contrive That both mine Honor and the Saint may live 161. Both cannot live I see O that I were Some private Man that so I might be free Of my repute but Princes Honors are The Peoples too and by Community I should make all the Body perjured If I my selfe prove so who am their Head 162. And must John die Bear witnesse All how loth This Word doth fall from my constrained Lip To recompence the too too hasty Oath Which from Imprudence not from Me did slip Then take his Head Yet never say that I Issu'd this Warrant but Necessitie 163. Thus strove the Tyrant by a comely Lie To veile the Visage of his hideous Hate For fear the Damsell by his privity Might seeme to have contriv'd the Baptists fate Whil'st dreading his unlawfull Vow to break Adultery He doth with Murder back 164. Was it not plain that his outragious Vow Did prostitute but halfe his Realm and why Must the blood thirstie Hypocrite bestow More than the Whole What Prodigalitie Is this mad Herod For Johns Head alone Is worth more than thy Kingdome or thine own 165. Loe there the last Dish of great Herods Feast The Martyrs Head in a faire Charger laid He smiles within though clouds his face o'r-cast And feeds his soul on it But the proud Maid Knowing her Mother by this Death would live In triumph takes the Dish and takes her leave 166. The Royall Beldame in suspence did wait To reape her spightfull Stratagems event But when she saw the bloody Present straight Grown young with Salvage Joy hir high Content She to her dancing Daughter does display In her own tripping and lascivious way 167. Then much like some she-Bear whose long-wish'd Prey Is faln at last into her hungry Paws She tears the sacred Lips and rends a Way Unto the reverend Tongue which our she draws And then with peevish Wounds and scornfull Jests Her Womanish Revenge on it she Feasts 168. But mark that Convoy of illustrious Light Which seems from this low World to make such haste The better part of John there takes its flight Unto a greater Kings than Herod's Feast That Goale his Body and this World were three Prisons to Him who now from all is free 169. The Patriarks and Prophets all gave way When they this greater Saint approaching saw Who now his blessed Harbour doth enjoy For those fierce Storms he grappled with below And sweetlier rests in Abrahams bosome then In the adulterous Kings the lustfull Queen 170. This is the Story which the Virgin Mother Hath round about thy Girdle made to live But mark this well my Psyche 't is that other Selected Jewell which thy Spouse did give To crown the rest and tie up all the story In one divine Epitomie of glory 171. Divided 'twixt amazement and delight The Virgin read the strange Embroyderie But when on that last Gem she fix'd her sight Immortall Joyes so swell'd her soul that she Runs over with delicious Teares and cries Come Phylax come gird me with Paradise 172. Content said He but then be sure to shrink And hugg your self alone within your selfe The Girdle's wonderous strait nor must you think That any supernumerary Pelf Can finde a room in this rich mansion where The outward Walls of solid Jewells are 173. This said before her self was well a ware He closely buckled it about her Heart Straight she complains Oh spare me Phylax spare My squeased soul least from her self she start O loose the Buckle if the time be come That I must die at least afford me roome 174. Must I be girt to death and not have space To fetch one parting sigh before I die O me whose sins have made my Spouse imbrace Me with imbroidered Tortures so that I The riddle of unhappy Maids must goe In travell with more than a Mothers Woe 175. And so shee did indeede Such matchlesse Throws And Pangs did sting her in her straitned Heart Till at the length she bringeth forth and shows Her wondering selfe the reason of her smart Whil'st from her labouring Breast she pressed sees A shapelesse Lump of foule Deformities 176. Imperfect Embryo's unformed Lust Pin-fethered Fancies and halfe-shap'd Desires Dim Dawns of Fondnesse doubtfull seeds of Rust Glimmering Embers of corruptive Fires Scarce something and yet more than Nothing was That mystick Chaos that dead-living Masse 177. O how tormenting is the Parturition Of tender souls when they unload themselves Of their blinde night-conceiv'd Bratts of perdition How doe the peevish and reluctant Elves Mad with their own birth viperously contend The labouring bowells of the Heart to rend 178. This makes Faint-hearted Mortalls oft preferre The sad Reversion of eternall Pain Before this Conflicts Pangs So they may hear A quiet Truce with all their sinnes maintain They are content though Hell must with their Grave Set ope its Mouth and Them as sure receive 179. Psyche deliver'd of that monstrous Birth Now findes her Girdle fit and easie grown Affording roome for all the Train of Mirth With which her Bosome now was over-flown She view'd the Newborn Thing and viewing smil'd Not out of love but hate unto the Childe 180. As one from blinde Cimmeria newly come Beyond his own ambition into Arabia's blessed Fields and finding room Both for his eyes and joyes doth wondering goe Over those spicely Paths and thinks that hee Doth now no lesse begin to live then see 181. So overjoyed she admired now The glorious Day new risen in her Breast Where carnall Clowds before would not allow A constant beam to dwell but over-cast Her so that labouring she had much adoe To spie her Heav'n and see which way to goe 182. For now her soul was clearer than the face Of faire Aurora wash'd in Eastern streams Unspotted Thoughts flock'd in to take their place In her pure Heart which now a Garden seemes Of Lilies planted on warm Bedds of Snow Through which Gods Spirit doth gales of Odours blow 183. All Sublunary Sweets she has forgot Nor thinks this bitter World can breed such things All Beauties to her Eye are but one Blot The Bees to her are nothing else but stings All Loves are Hate all Dalliance Vexation All Blandishments but Poyson in the Fashion 184. For by this Girdle she his Pris'ner is In whose alone she reads the Name of Love And in the Languishments of softest Blisse By dainty Torments doth her patience prove Crying at every sigh O Jesu when Shall I have liv'd this Death and Life begin 185. What further businesse have I here below With flesh and Blood whose joyes I relish not Who is the Conquerour of my Heart but thou And since thy love this Victory hath got Why must thy Captive not permitted be To wait on thy triumphant Coach and thee 186. Though for thy Royall Scorn I fitting be Yet why wilt thou thine own Choise disallow If I had still neglected been
Plot against our common Foe We think it just to joyne and tell them so 151. Let them be sure to watch their ports without And leave the busines within for Us We are not now to learne how to be stout And stomackfull and rude and mutinous Fancie smil'd and returned glad to see Successe so quickly crown her Embassie 152. Whose Issue when she to the Senses told They all would in Devotion needs blaspheme Paying loud thanks to Heav'n which did behold Their Wrongs mov'd these frends to succour them And now with traiterous expectation swell'd They wait to see the Passions take the Field 153. But Hope Love Hatred Anger and the rest Of that impatient Crew had forthwith been In open Arms had cautious Feare not prest For some demurr He Jelousie did win To side with him and then 't is best said He That of some valiant Leader We agree 154. Psyche is strong and sober If we fight Without due Discipline that Rashness will Help her to put our foolish Pow'rs to flight But if we make some expert Generall 's skill Our owne by following it the Victorie Will be ambitious on our side to be 155. That Word a new confusion broach'd for All Reach'd at the Generall 's place excepting Feare And Jelousie yet these were loth to fall Under the absolute power of any there At length they vote to step abroad and trie Who skilled best Feats of Activity 156. When loe so well Hells plots were laid they met A goodly person taller by the Head Than any of themselves Disdaine did sit High on his Brows his awfull Limbs were spred To such extent of Gallantry that there Seem'd ample roome for every thing but Feare 157. His first glimpse all their wishes did concentre Upon himself Love forthwith is design'd To break unto the Knight their bold Adventure And with her wily Sweetness sift his Mind She hastens to her Task and bowing low Opes her Mouths fountain whence this Charm did flow 158. Mights goodly Mirrour whosoe'r you be Whom blessed Fortune shews Us heer alone Surely such fair and ample Majestie Deserves by thousands to be waited on And if such honor you this Troop will deign We shall have found a Lord and you a Traine 159. A brave Designe has fir'd Us now which may Your Might and Soveraign Command become Upon a War wee have resolv'd to day With Psyche but good Chance has kept Us from Choosing our Generall and we hope our stay Was but for You whom Heav'n puts in our way 160. Necessity made this Conspiracy To break that Yoak which else our Necks would break Would Psyche suffer Us our Selves to be No mutinie of ours her Throne should shake But wee though Passions calme and quiet must lie Whil'st she proves Passionate ev'n to Tyranny 161. We must not Hope nor Fear nor Love nor Hate Nor nothing else whil'st she does all these things If fouler Slavery e'r did violate Free-Subjects Birth-right scorn our sufferings If not O may the safetie be ours Great Sir by your stout Hand the Glory Yours 162. Agenor glad such punctuall successe Did on his own Designe it selfe obtrude Swelling his Looks to bigger statelinesse Three turns he stalk'd three times he proudly view'd The Company three times he snuff'd and then Opening his Mouth at leisure thus began 163. Now by my Might and Worth I know you all But silly Worms I see you know not Me Whom to so vile a piece of Work you call As brideling wretched Psyche's Tyrannie Must I whom Lyons Tigres Dragons fear Debase my strength and stoop to conquer Her 164. If of the great Kinde she a Monster were If she had made distressed Countries Flie To the next Oracle on wings of Fear To summon to their help a Dietie If she could prove a Thirteenth Task for Him Who Twelve perform'd the work would me beseem 165. And yet because I your Oppression see I 'le win so much of my high-practis'd Might To make it bowe to your delivery Yet never say Agenor came to fight I scorn the Match this Finger will be strong Enough to shew my Pittie of your Wrong 166. This said He march'd in more than warlike state Unto the House where thought-full Psyche lay And thundering imperiously at the Gate Unto the Rebells Rage burst ope the way Filling her outward Court with Noise and Fear Whose echo revell'd in her frighted Eare. 167. As when the Windes let loose upon the Sea Tear up the Deeps and fling them at the Stars Chasing away unarm'd Serenity At the first blast of those unlook'd for Wars Each startled Nymph her fearfull 〈◊〉 shrinks in And to the bottom of the World doth run 168. So Psyche trembling at the furious Crie Retreated to her inmost Fort a place High built and strong and yeilding to her Eye Full view of all the Rebells Time it was To call her Counseller whom to the Rout With these instructions she sendeth out 169. Run Logos run and know what mad mistake Has hurl'd my subjects into tumult Trie For well thou skill'st that gentle Might to break Their furies Torrent by the lenitie Of wise Persuasion Pardon of all Charms The best proclaim to them who lay down Arms. 170. The News made Logos shake his Head but yet With pleasant Gravity to them He goes And friends said He if you be in a fit Of fighting goe in God's name seek your Foes This is your peacefull Home ô be it farr From you to ruine your owne Rest by Warre 171. If you had any reason to rebell Sure I should guesse at it but I know none What boots it you our Empresse to expell Who needs must fall in her confusion What gains the Madman who through jealous fears Pulls his own house and death about his ears 172. What means sweet Love to rob her selfe of all Her selfe and unto Discord it impart Must th' universall Glue which bindes the Ball Of the whole World so close in pieces start Shall your dear Bands serve onely now to tie Confusion fast to your Conspiracy 173. Stern Hatred could the copious World afford No other food whereon to feast thy Spight But thou against thy selfe must draw thy Sword Whil'st with thine Empresse thou prepar'st to fight Hate whom thou wilt besides but hate not her Whose Love gives thee thy life and dwelling here 174. What strange Enchantments lured thee fond Hope To this Designe of Self-destruction Who Abus'd thy credulous Soul and puff'd thee up With this vain fancie that the Ladder to Climbe higher must be Ruine Thus art thou Of Hope become plain Desperation now 175. Unhappy Fear and what makes thee afraid Longer to dwell with thine own Safety What monstrous Witcherie hath here betray'd Thy trembling Heart to this bold mutinie What hardneth thee who quak'st at every frown Of other Princes to despise thine own 176. Brave Anger shall the scoffing World at last Have cause to mock thy Valour which doth make Such earnest haste unto so mad a Jest
on his Son Resign'd his Reins into his childish Hand Th' impatient 〈◊〉 cross the road did run And neither kept the way nor his Command But in unbrideled Madness with their wheels Drew on the Worlds Confusion at their heels 163. The Senses too first sticklers in the Treason Their share of its licentious fruit did reap Perceiving quickly that imprison'd Reason No more his rigid Discipline could keep And proudly smiling what tame Fools were wee They cri'd who did no sooner mutinie 164. How strange a Monster doth a Kingdome grow Where Laws and Soveraignty the life and health Of every heav'n-descended State must bow Unto 〈◊〉 Wills What Common-wealth Can justifie its Name where Subjects may Command and Princes dare not but obey 165. No Hydra's shape so shapeless is as this Which throws the World back to its breeding Heap The hideous Chaos of Preposterousnesse That tumbles All things in one monstrous Deep And in despight of the well-form'd Creation Disjoynts and scatters it quite out of Fashion 166. Yet wretchlesse Psyche is content to see This monstrous Soloecisme in her own Breast And thinks her Scepter and her Selfe more free Than when Obedience did her Subjects cast Low at the Feet of her Commands where they With reverence and ready Service lay 167. The silly Rose delighteth thus to be Drest in her fairest Looks and best Attire When round about a churlish Companie Of Thorns against her Tenderness conspire Upon that Seige of Pikes She smiles doth cast Not dreaming They will murder her at last 168. Psyche's as jolly as the Passions wilde And means her Joys with those Delights to feed With which Agenor's Cabinets were fill'd Proud Expectation prompts Her there to read The Lines of Fate against her selfe For she In opening them broach'd her own Misery 169. With such unfortunate Curiosity The fatall Box rash Epimetheus op'd The trembling Lid for-warn'd his Hand to be Better advis'd yet still the Fondling hop'd For mighty Matters But the Prize he found Himselfe and all the World in Sorrows drown'd 170. The first was full of Bracelets Net-works Tires Rings Earings Tablets Wimples Hoods Veils Laces Lawns Crisping-pins Chains Bonnets golden Wires Vermilion Pencills Smiles Youth blooming Faces Gloves Sandalls Girdles Busks Suffumigations Powders Perls Coronets High-looks New-fashions 171. Silks Sattens Purples Sables Ermyns Gold And Silver by the Loom and Needle taught To wed and dwell with Silk which feels no cold Besides all that lay in the bottome fraught In ready Coin to pave and make the floor Fit for the Feet of that ambitious Store 172. The next was nothing but th'inammeld Case Of a large Mirror Never Chrystall did Smile with such pureness Never Ladies Glasse Its Owners face so sweetly flattered Narcissu's Fountain did with less Delight Unto his fair Destruction Him invite 173. For He in that and in self-love being drownd Agenor from him took his doting Eys Proud Jezabells he also scatter'd found Amongst her fragments and made them his prize Goliahs stareing Bagins too he got Which He with Pharaoh's all together put 174. But these being not enough from Phacton From 〈◊〉 Joab Nebuchadnezzer From Philip and his World-devouring Son From Scylla Cataline Cicero Pompey Cesar From Herod Cleopatra and Sejanus From Agrippina and Domitianus 175. And many Stoiks their high Eyes he pull'd Whose proudest Chrystall having drained out He blended it in a fair polish'd Mould Which He fill'd up with what from Heav'n he brought An Extract of those Looks of Lucifer In which against his God he breathed Warre 176. Then to the North that glassie Kingdome where Establish'd Frost and Ice for ever reign He sped his course and meeting Boreas there Pray'd Him this liquid Mixture to restrain When loe as Boreas op'd his Mouth and blew Forth his Command the Humor solid grew 177. Thus was the Mirrour made and did contain The vigor of those selfe-admiring Eyes Agenors witchcraft into it did straign A dangeroud Juncture of proud Fallacies Which did so highly please its Authors Eye That Kissing it he nam'd it Philautie 178. Unhappy Psyche ravish'd was to see The Glass her selfe upon her selfe reflect With trebled Majestie The Sun when He As by Aurora's roseal Fingers deckt Sees not his repercussed Selfe more fair Upon the Eastern Main then she did here 179. New Flames were kindled in her sprightfull Eye New Roses on her smiling Cheeks were spred New Graces and new Loves did gently fly Down with her golden Tresses from her Head New Lilies beautifi'd her dainty Hand New Goodliness her Person did commend 180. Her cheated Soul sprang through her Eye and dwelt So long upon the Glass that it grew New Such mighty Thoughts till now she never felt As up and down her high-swoll'n Fancie flew Which breaking from her Mouth at length she cries How long have I been strange to mine own Eyes 181. Am I that Worm whom Phylax put in minde So oft of Dust and Vileness Could this face These Eyes these Locks these Hands this Person finde No better credit Surely now the Case Is plain how Aphrodisius came to be So hideous Phylax makes the like of Me. 182. Foole that I was to dream it could be true Which proud He daily preach'd to my Disgrace Who could beleeve that I should never veiw Till now the Wonders of mine own bright face That this ingenuous Glass should tell me more Then Phylax or then Charis did before 183. No marvell now if Heav'ns Apparent Heir Disdains all Beauties that He findes above And doing right to her that is most fair By stooping down to me exalts his Love I little thought I could so much have shown Why this my Head should fit an heav'nly Crown 184. Pardon me ô my Eyes that ignorant I With brieney Tears so oft have soiled you Had not your Flames by their Divinity Secured been they had been quench'd e'r now And pardon Me sweet Cheeks I will no more Blubber and scall'd your roses as before 185. And you all-lovely Lips no more shall kisse The Dust which foolish I took for your Mother The Tribe of Orientall Rubies is Your pretious Kindred nor must any other Sip the soft Nectar which in you doth live But that dear Kisse my Spouse to me shall give 186. Nor shall rude Usage rob thee of thy due My gentle Body All Hair-cloths fare-well My liberall Tresses Hair enough can shew And by this Girdle Heav'n did plainly tell What other Furniture would suit me best When with this Seige of Gems it girt my Waste 187. And since thy Cabinets Wardrobe Challenges My proudest choise I wish thy selfe were here Royall Agenor to behold how these Fair Limbs of mine would quit themselves and wear In worthy Triumph thy best Jewells which Shall by my purer beams themselves enrich 188. This said Love who stood fawning by her side Her delicate Service offered to dress Her high-conceited Queen in equall Pride A purple Mantle fring'd with Statelinesse Embroider'd with Ambition laced round With Vanity
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
Damnation 222. To Paradise He came and brought his Hell Into the earthly Heav'n where looking round To view the Colonies which there did dwell A Creature spruce and delicate He found Upon a Bank of flowrie Pleasures spread But farre more sweet and beauteous then its bed 223. It was the Serpent whose illustrious skin Plaid with the Sunne and sent Him back his Beams With glorious Use that Wealth which glisters in The bosome of the Orientall Streams Salutes Aurora's Cheek with fewer Rays Then this bright Robe in all Heaven's face displays 224. His sharpest Eyes sparkled with nimble flames The light by which his active Soule was read Wisedome and Art with all their plots and frames Made their close Nest in his judicious Head Above his Fellows on Crafts Wings he flew All Beasts but He to that dull Name were true 225. This Agent Belzebub approv'd and as He fed upon his Couch mix'd with his Meat And in that ambush through his lips did pass Where having taught his Bane to rellish sweet He easily wonne the passage through his Throat And thence by stealth into his Heart he got 226. As when the Fire hath through the Cauldrons side Into its unsuspecting bowells stollen The Liquor frets and fumes and to a Tide Of working Wrath and hot impatience swollen With boiling Surges beats the Brass and leaves No way untr'd to vent its tortur'd Waves 227. So now the Serpent felt his Bosome swell With peevish Rage and desperate Disdain A thousand Plots and fallacies did fill The busie Corners of his belking Brain Sometimes he beats on that sometimes on this Sometimes thinks neither sometimes both amisse 228. He knew the vastnesse of his fell Designe Which was to slay a World at one dread Stroke And reach Destruction in a poisoned Line Unto the latest Twigg of Humane Stock And therefore muster'd up the utmost Might All Hell could send to back Him in the fight 229. But pondering then how Adams sober Breast With Wisdoms Ammunition furnish'd was And strongly fortifi'd with all the best Of sin-defying Piety and Grace He shak'd his head and thought the Match not even To venture on a fight with Him and Heav'n 230. For if he hapned to be foild at first His following Onsets all would sweat in vain And his own poysnous Spight his Breast would burst To see how Adam and his Race should reign Safe and free Kings of earthly Paradise And flourish thence to that above the skies 231. Yet wholly to decline the Conflict were To let Man win those Realms without a Blow And freely to permit what he did fear Perchance might be by his own Overthrow To a resolved Fight this spurr'd him on Who could loose Nothing though he Nothing won 232. He wisely had observ'd soft-temper'd Eve And yet he fear'd the Mettall of her Breast Would prove so generous that to Deceive Would be an easier Task then to Contest And could she any way be overthrown He hop'd her Fall would justle Adam down 233. Remembring then what Engin did subdue A wiser Head and stronger far than she And how impatient Ambition threw Grand Lucifer from Heav'ns Sublimity He trusts that now the like successefull End Will on this tried way of fight attend 234. Advised thus the mighty Quintessence Of venturous ever-swelling Philautie Of Discontent of Scorn of Insolence Of towring Fancies of Self-flattery And of the stoutest Heav'n-aspiring Pride Together in one desperate Plot He ti'd 235. And if this will not doe the feat yet I Excused am said He and upon Hell Be the foule shame whose feeble Princes by The shock of this Temptation headlong fell This said He towards Eve did gently glide Whom straying from her Husband He espi'd 236. Unhappy Error that which did invite The jealous Tempter to be bold since she Had robb'd her selfe of all her Spouses Might By starting from his holy Company But all the way the cunning Serpent went He put on Looks of contrary Intent 237. For Love and Friendship smiled in his Eyes Upon his Face sate Tendernesse and Care Thrice did he bow his flattering Neck and thrice His silent Homage he presented her And then Fair Queen of Paradise said hee Why must the Prince be bound and Subjects free 238. We crop our Pleasures wheresoe'r We please From any flowrie any spicie bed We pluck our dinner from the dangling Trees And all the Garden doth our Table spread But royall You and Adam nothing eat Have your own Wills or God this order set 239. Nay courteous Serpent Eve replied We Have large Commission and our God is kinde He gives Us leave to feast on every Tree And with all Paradise to please our Minde Bating that one of Knowledge on whose Boughs Inevitable Death He tells Us grows 240. O credulous Queen the Serpent answers who Make your own prejudice by beleeving it What has a fatall Tree of Death to doe Just at whose Elbow one of Life is set I to your selfe appeal Judge you but whether These two can grow like such good Friends together 241. Death in a Tree Flat contradiction lies In the bare Word How can Death be alive Sure Vegetation very ill complies With saplesse Stupor O doe not deceive Your Thoughts nor teach the Tree of 〈◊〉 how To turn a Tree of Ignorance to you 242. Observe its goodly Apples can you read In their fair cheeks the ghastly Looks of Death Doe any Boughs in all this Garden breed A Fruit which more of Heav'ns sweet Count'nance hath Yet grant it Poyson prove Behold at hand The Tree ofLife for Antidote doth stand 243. Ask Me not whether Truth can tell a Lie Vaine were the Question for your God is True And yet it seems by a deep Fallacie Of enigmatick Truth He cheateth You Indeed the Tree bears Death but Death which will Nothing but Wants and imperfections kill 244. A Death of Life which will destroy You so That you no longer Creatures shall remain But by this Metamorphosis shall grow Above your selves and into Gods be slaine With Eys divine discerning Good from Evill From Heav'n Hell and an Angell from a Devill 245. Full well did God know this and 't is no Wonder If He desires to reigne a God alone And so He may if he can keep You under By the poor Rein of one Injunction If by an Apple thus He terrifies The native Princes of fair Paradise 246. O how it stings my Soul to think that You My Soveraign should thus faint-hearted be For my part did ten thousand Mandates grow Thick in my Way to barre Me from this Tree Through all I 'd break And so would You if once Your Heart were fir'd by my Experience 247. For yesterday when I began to taste The sprightfull Fruit Flames kindled in mine Eyes My Soul a wak'd and from my Bosome chas't Those Mists of Ignorance whose thick Disguise Muffled my thoughts and kept me down a Beast As dark and dull as any of the rest 248. But now Serenity walks
through my heart And yeilds me uncontrolled Prospect to The Orbs of Knowledge where from Part to Part My nimbly piercing Eye about doth goe This is the Death I found a Death which I Mean ever day as long 's I live to die 249. O then what vast advantage will arise To your large Soul by this enlightning Tree My breast is shallow narrow are mine Eyes But wide and brave is your Capacity So wide that Wisdoms deepest Seas may finde Sufficient Channells in your Mighty Minde 250. And if this Knowledge if Divinity It selfe may merit but the easie Pains Of your Acceptance O perswaded be To suffer these inestimable Gains Shame burns my Cheeks that I your Slave should eat This Bliss and You my Queen be barr'd the Meat 251. And yet you are not barr'd Behold but how You are bid welcome by the courteous Tree Whose laden Arms their pretious Offrings bow To meet your Mouth and seem to plead with Me Their postures Language asks What make we here If wee alone by You contemned are 252. These Charms stole ope the Door into the Heart Of carelesse Eve and thrust their poyson in Besides the smiling Apples plai'd their part And her Affections with her Eye did win Capricious curious Pride did her invite What e'r it cost to taste of that Delight 253. Three times she stepped to th' inchanting Tree As oft by Conscience plucked back again Yet still with fatall importunity She struggled till she broke her Freedoms Chain Then with unchecked Madnesse on she goes To win her wished Prize and her Selfe to loose 254. Up went her desperate Hand and reach'd away All the Worlds Blisse whil'st she the Apple took When loe the Earth did move the Heav'ns did stay Beasts and Birds shiver'd absent Adam shook But none did know the reason of their Fear Onely hee ran to see what Eve did here 255. O balefull sight His pretious Queen hee saw Enslaved by her soothing Subjects Craft She who was Beauties Centre untill now Is of her brave Prerogative bereft Bereft so wholy that with wondering Doubt For his late lovely Eve in Eve He sought 256. Apparent Misery sate on her Face Before the goodly Throne of Pleasantnesse Her Cheeks which bloom'd till now with heav'nly Grace Sins black and dismall horror did confesse Forth at her Eyes of late Lifes Windows Death Did look and Rottennesse flow'd with her Breath 257. But greater was the Change within for there Her bold Transgression spred an hideous Night Of Ignorance on her intellectuall Sphear Her Will which grew before so fair and straight Turn'd crooked and perverse Each Passion Scorn'd Her Commands as the Her Gods had done 258. Her Heart till now soft as the Turtles Sighs It s heav'n-inamoring Tendernesse forgets And with the stoutest Purian Marble vies Her Thoughts before all Sons of Love professe No trade but Mischiefe now and busie are To propagate the Woes which stinged Her 259. Nor fears she now to play the Serpent too In envy of her Husbands blessed State Whom with the beauteous Apples she does Wooe To taste of Hell and swallow down his fate Fall to my Dear said she fear not the food I have thy Taster been and finde it good 260. But wiser Adam well the danger knew Whose miserable Proof now wounds his eyes Nor could the poor Bait of an Apple shew Him reason Heav'n and Virtue to despise Fair in his bosome written was the Law And reverent Terror kept his Soul in awe 261. In a we a while it kept it But at last Commiseration of his Spous's case Grew to such strength in his too-tender Breast That Pitty to himselfe it did displace Eve sate so neer to his Uxorious Heart That rather he with Heav'n then Her will part 262. For part He must unlesse He reconcile That mighty Breach which she between them made O potent Sympathie which canst beguile An Heart so pure and cleer-ey'd and degrade Earths Monarch from his native Pinacle Of Innocence as low as Death and Hell 263. He yeilds and eates and eating tears the great Creators Law yet tears not that alone But rends his Bliss his Health his Life and that Fair Robe of Puritie 〈◊〉 He had on Becoming Eves Companion no lesse In nature than in shamefull Nakednesse 264. And thus indeed they 'gan to judge between Evill and Good whilst they themselves did see Who untill then no Evill thing had seen But now can witnesse their own Misery Which they with wrerched Aprons strive to heal As if the leaves the Apples would conceal 265. Alas nor they nor all the Trees that grow In shady Paradise so thick and high Could any shelter unto them allow When he was pleas'd to search who is all Eye Yet by degrees hee findes them that they might With Deprecations salute his sight 266. Had he in Thunder and in Lightning spake And of fierce Veng'ance breath'd a flaming stream Just had the Dialect been But He did make A foft enquiry of the Fault and seem To beg Confession and to wait whil'st they Did with their Crime their Penitence display 267. But they with Shifts and Excusations trie Not to excuse the Fact but to defend And by that wretched Impudence defie Mercy which all this while did them attend This forced Justice who came rushing in And did her Office upon saucy Sin 268. She first the Curse pronounc'd which written was In adamantine Tables ne'r to be Revers'd by Pitty Then she forth did chase The proud Delinquents and the Garden free From its unworthy Guests appointing Fate To set a double Guard before the Gate 269. A Troop of Cherubs straight was marshalled In dreadfull Order at the Eastern Gate And then a flaming Fauchion brandished Terror about the way that none might at That door of Happinesse passe in but who By tried Purity through Fire could goe 270. The Wofull Exiles were no sooner come Into the wide World but poor Adam sees The heavy Losse of his enclosed Home Finding in stead of blessed Flowres and Trees Thistles and Thorns all arm'd with pikes and pricks Amongst whose Crowd he vex'd and tatter'd sticks 271. Long did He strive and toyle e'r He could make The Ground give fertile answer to his sweat The righteous Earth did this due Vengeance take On his Rebellion so did the great Cognation of Beasts and Birds who broke Off from their sullen Necks his regall Yoke 272. Those who were able muster up their might And in their Makers Quarrell Him pursue The weaker from his presence speed their flight Professing now they knew no homage due Thus by their furie Those These by their Feare Equally frightfull and vexatious were 273. No friend he had but her who did betray Him to that Miserie unhappy Eve And yet the reaping of his sweetest Joy Of what was sweeter did them both deprive Their gains unable were to quit the cost For now their dear Virginity was lost 274. Eve through many nauseous Moneths did pass E'r she could to
poisnous Misery 13. Your scorn by wretched Me so deeply ern'd My wronged Freinds at length let me obtein O Charis my all guilty Soule is burn'd By those fair Flames which in thine Aspect reigne How can such Night-birds as vile I endure The holy Lightning of a Look so pure 14. And Yoa deare Phylax lose your Pains no more Upon an undeserving hideous Thing Why should proud Psyche dwell as heretofore Under the shelter of thy scorned Wing O let it free it self and take its flight Why should black I defile an House so white 15. The odious Bat with more decorum will Flutter about a Thing as dark as she And lend her sooty Wings to make a veil For correspondent Ouglines in me The ominous Raven will fitter be to spread Her swarthy Plumes on my polluted Head 16. Let me enjoy the sad Inheritance Of my deep-stained Birth Was I not born Apparent Heir to an entayld Mischance Did not my wretched Beings lowry Morn Dawn with eternall Night Dwelt not Death in The fatall Spring of my Parentall sin 17. Why must my breath defile the Virgin Air Why must I load the harmlesse Earth with Guilt Why must I stain the World which would be fair If I were gone My Tombe is ready built In any place where Filth and Dunghils lie Let Justice have her course and let me die 18. My due Home is where Arrogance and bold Rebellion dwell O Let me thither goe May worthy Eys behold the Sunns fair Gold And view their way to Heav'n I have to doe With nought but Pitch and Darknes which may hide The equall Horror of my wilfull Pride 19. My heav'nly Spouse ô why doe I blaspheme That Spouse who long desired to be mine Me thinks from Heav'n doth with a piercing Beam Full on my face and faithlesse Bosome shine And by that Light read all that Treason I Have wrought against his loving Majesty 20. O it will scorch Me up I my Sinnews crack My Bones are burnt and all my Marrow fries My Bosome melts the Flame devoures my back My Heart flows down and wofull Psyche dies I die and yet I breath My Death lives still No kinde of Slaughter e'r like this did kill 21. Surely the Flames which make all Hell so black Are cool and gentle if compar'd with these Why goe I not to take my Kinder Rack And in th' infernall Torments finde some Ease Have done fond fruitlesse Tears you are too weak The greater Torrent of this Fire to slake 22. Here Phylax here loe I my selfe ungird This Token can no treacherous Heart befit Return it back to my abused Lord And beg my Pardon who have stayned it What will it not unbuckle Must I be Still Pris'ner to his wronged Courtesie 23. And must this Girdle now besiege Me round With an indissoluble Check of my Disloyaltie Must I thus close be bound Up in my Selfe and not have room to flie From what I hate far more than Death and Hell The sinfull Blots of which this Breast is full 24. So strait upon my griped Soul the Chains Of deep Damnation can no Torments tie As this sweet Cincture bindes me to the Pains Of self-confusion O Me Here her Crie Did with her Spirits faint and down she fell Griefs totall Prey and Pitties Spectacle 25. Pitty was neer For Charis stood close by Whose yearning bowells all this while did move But rous'd more by herfall she instantly Obey'd the nimble Violence of Love Love mov'd her Heart and that her Hand by which To fainting Psyche she reliefe did reach 26. She took her up and with a sweet Imbrace Instilled gentle Warmth into her Breast Whose never-failing Virtue did displace Griefs vast Plethora which had her opprest And by delicious degrees restore Her ship wrack'd Thoughts to their composed shore 27. So have I seen a wise Physition New spirits to his swowning Patient give Who though his Heart before were sunk and gone Doth by the Potion it again receive Whil'st in the cheerly salutiferous Cup A draught of liquid Life he drinketh up 28. Awakened Psyche with amazed Eyes Beheld her Friends but wonder'd more to see Her stout Disease made a tame Sacrifice Unto that heav'nly Cordiall which she Felt reigning in her breast and which did seize Her Heart both with Astonishment and Ease 29. Ambiguous Fancies toss'd her up and down Uncertain whether some Dreams Flattery Into a vain Elysium had thrown Her cheated Soul or whether truely she Was by some courteous Gale snatch'd from the Billows And on the Bank laid safe on Peace's pillows 30. Which Charis seeing You may trust said she Your sudden Happinesse which wears no Cheat. But see that you misplace no thanks on Me Which all are more than due unto your great And constant Spouse who though forgot by You Could not his Love away so quickly throw 31. Those life-renewing Sweets I brought you down Were none of mine He sent both me and them He knew your Wants and counted them his own Who longs to have you be all one with him Then by these Comforts which have cur'd your Smart Learn who it is that most deserv's your Heart 32. O'r-powred with unweildy Thanks and Praise At this vast Tide of her obtruding Blisse Here Psyche strove her labouring Breast to ease Yet neither Thanks nor Praise she could expresse For what she had conceived was so great She neither could contain nor utter it 33. But Phylax seeing her sweet Agonie Cri'd 't is enough Heav'n can hear mute Desires Come Psyche you shall travell now with me To finde full fuell for your amorous Fires It will be worth your voyage when you see What Balm did grow to heal your Miserie 34. The God of Goodnesse by his powerfull Eye Reaching those Things which yet were short of Being Did in the Volumes of Eternity Read all the future World where clearly seeing What mischiefe would be done by foolish Pride A potent Remedie He did provide 35. Indeed had no Redemption invited Thy Spouse to Feast the World with his dear Blood Yet to Mans Nature hee would have united His own that the Creation might have stood Fast ti'd unto its Maker and by this Conjunction been neer sharer in his Bliss 36. But seeing by Hereditarie Stains The Stream of Humane Blood runs foule and black It found work for the virtue of his Veins The Poyson of the tainted Flood to check Which nobly he perform'd as thou shalt see When I have led thee through his Historie 37. As she now cheer'd her heart and count'nance up A radiant Chariot caught her wondering Eye The winged Steeds foam'd at that little stop And though their Wings were down their thoughts did fly Speed was the Chariots Mettall and each Wheel Composed was of never-tyring Zeal 38. Come Psyche come this Couch for haste doth call Cri'd Phylax fear not 't is no cheating one Nor like thy last will bear thee to thy Fall I mean to hold the Reigns Come let 's be one If you
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
Thou The Worlds great King did'st ready finde below 171. Goe great Retinues gaudy Palaces Goe Beds of down of gold of ivorie Goe wait upon your dainty Prince's Ease And help to countenance poor Majesty But yet lament your Prides dishonor since You are not owned now by Glories Prince 172. But Thou ô pretious glorious Poverty Enobled by this Morns bright Miracle Shalt my Delight my Pomp my kingdom be Thy Raggs shall all Embroyderies excell Thy Cottages all Marble Towers out-shine Thy Hardship pleasant be thy Shame divine 173. And yet dread Infant give my Wonder leave To gaze upon a greater Change than this Thou did'st from thy omnipotent Sire receive Thy equall Selfe and sweetly rest in His Bright Bosome where unbounded Pleasures swim Joying from all Eternity with Him 174. But now thou art a Son of Time become And of poor Me a shorter thing than Time That Bosome thou exchangedst for my Womb Light 's largest Heav'n for a dark narrow Clime Where of Mortality thou did'st lay hold And up in Dust thy gallant Godhead mould 175. All my amazed Thoughts are swallow'd quite In this Abysse of thy Humility O vast Abysse as deep as ever Height It selfe was high I yeild I yeild to be In this miraculous Sea of Goodnesse drownd Which onely Thou the God of it canst sound 176. But ô how far thine Handmayd is beneath That noble Accusation Gabriel layd Unto my charge Thy Condescention hath Monopoliz'd all Meeknesse and array'd The World in Prides due shame which though it seek Lower than dust to stoop now is not meek 177. Whil'st in this sweet ecstatick Passion Of Piety Her blessed Soul did flame A Flock of Shepheards with an heav'nly Tone Fresh on their echoing Tongues in triumph came Unto the Cave which to their eyes did yeild A fairer Sight than their late glorious Field 178. In Joseph they beheld the best of Men The flower of Females they in Mary saw The sweetnesse of all Infants in Her Son Who yet was far more beauteous than his show This Sight determined their Vows which they Before the Manger with due reverence pay 179. For with a prostrate Soul and bended Knee Each one upon that simple Altar lays A tender Lamb The Offring smil'd to see The innocent argument of its own Praise Beholding in the royall Babe how nigh It was of kin to his meek Majesty 180. O sweet and Mighty Little One said they Deign thy Acceptance of these rurall Things The Cream of our poor Flocks which whil'st they stray About the Plains may thy Protections Wings Shelter both Them and Us to whom no 〈◊〉 Shall be a Diety but Thou alone 181. Whene'r the hasty Wolfe the hideous Bear Or raging Lyon challengeth his Prey O let the Shield of thy Defence be near Th' injustice of their Challenge to gain-say Alas our Crooks are feeble Things and We As weak as they repose our trust in thee 182. The venerable Mother joy'd to hear Their humble Orison And What said She My honest Friends has call'd you from your Care Thus to attend on this new Piety To Night and Dangers what has made you leave Your other Lambs and these why doe you give 183. Fair Queen of Grace and Blisse the Men repli'd Bowing themselves before her reverend Feet No Fears nor Dangers can our Flocks betide Whil'st We are come our new-born King to greet Heav'n sent Us hither and We need not fear But Heav'n is able to supply our Care 184. Whil'st in the open Field our Watch we kep'd Befriended by the Moon and Stars that no Perill might wake our tender Flocks which slep'd Together with their tenderer younglings Loe There rush'd from Heav'n a sudden mighty Light Which out of all the wide field chased Night 185. The Frighted Moon and Stars flew all away With unexpected Gold the Skie grew bright We never yet beheld the entring Day Break from the East with such commanding Light 'T was Glories Morning this and in our eyes No Sun but Majesty did seem to rise 186. With that and with Amazement blinded we Fell down supposing Heav'n had done so to And that the Beauties of Sublimitie Came poste on some grand Businesse below And here we see what fetch'd them down thy Son May well wooe all Heav'n after Him to run 187. But as poor Bats and wretched Birds of Night Surprised by a sudden-rushing Flame Are strook with horror at the glorious Sight Which seals their eyes and open sets their shame So wee by this strange Apparition were Besieg'd no lesse with lustre than with Fear 188. When as we trembling lay a radiant Friend Who gently hover'd in the neighbour Aire Did fan fresh comfort with his Wings and lend Our Hearts new Courage 'T is no Night of Fear Said he Look up and view this Sceen of Joy Set forth in Heav'ns most festival Array 189. We op'd our Eyes and round about beheld How Smiles and Comforts had bedeck'd the Place Which seem'd no more a common Countrey Field But Paradise's own delicious face And such wee should have thought it still had we Not hither come and seen thy Son and Thee 190. But yet a Beauty next to yours wee saw Almost as bright as sweet as milde as grave That Angel which did upon Us bestow That courteous Item His Attire was brave His Looks the Glass of Heav'n most sweet his Tongue From which these blessed Words of Comfort rung 191. BEHOLD I bring you News of greater Joy Than kindest Heaven till now did ever send Joy which through every Heart shall melt its way And with the Sun its equall Course extend Joy which shall know no Limits but through all The World display its gallant Festivall 192. For unto you and your grand Blisse this Morn In royall Davids City Christ the Lord Of Him and You and this whole World is born A mighty King who cometh to afford The often-promis'd long-desir'd Salvation Unto his fainting and decayed Creation 193. Stagger not at the News but let this Signe Assure your Faith and banish needlesse Doubts You shall at Bethlehem finde this divine Infant wrapp'd up in simple swadling Clouts And in a plain and correspondent Bed The Asses Manger resting his sweet Head 194. As we for Joy at these strange Tidings started Behold a sudden Globe of flaming Light Into a stranger Apparition parted And to new Wonders summoned our sight For at a diamond Table fair and wide A numerous Quire of Angells we descri'd 195. Soul-charming Melodie amongst them sate At her left hand Applause Joy at her right Behinde her Glory Praise before her at Her foot luxuriant but pure Delight The Spectacle alone was ravishing But ô what Raptures when they 'gan to sing 196. Glory to God in all Sublimity Peace upon Earth and unto Men Good Will This was their Dittie but their lofty Key Did not our mortall reach alone excell But surely pos'd the Sphears though these they say In soveraign Musick spend both night and day 197. O
how our pretty Lambs did leap and dance What Troops of merrie Wolves came tripping in How were the Bears seiz'd with a gentle Trance How did this Harmony the Lyons win All Salvagnesse was quickly charm'd asleep And every Beast was now a gentle Sheep 198. The Stones look'd up and seem'd to wish for feet The Trees were angry that they stuck so fast All Things desir'd the Melody to meet And as they could unto the Dance made haste With that our silly oaten Pipes wee broke And then our Parts with cheerly Nature took 199. And though our Feet never more nimbly flew Than in their Answer to this Musicks Pleasure Doing their best indeavour to trip true To every Turn and Point and Aire and Measure Yet in our joyous Breasts we felt our Hearts With more Activity dancing their Parts 200. The Anthem finished That glorious Fire About the Company its Arms did spread And homeward convoy'd the illustrious Quire We saw how wide a Gate Heav'n opened To let them in We saw it shut and yeild Back to the Stars their free etheriall Field 201. Thence came We hither and the Promise found As true and noble as our Expectation Which from this Cave shall by our Tongues rebound To every Ear we meet By this Narration Our Hearts shall eased be least by the Wonder Of this Heav'n-crowned Morn they split in sunder 202. But when the Yeares fresh youth returns to deck The Bed of Aprill in its vernall Hue The choysest sweets and Beauties We will pick And wreath a Chaplet for the fairer Brow Of this our blooming Lord. Till when We place Our Hopes of safety in his onely Grace 203. Here with three Adorations to the Sonne They of the Mother and good Joseph take Their humble leave But she when they were gone Deep in her Bosome prints what they had spake The News the Quire the Song the glorious Light Which duely she reads over Morn and Night 204. And well she div'd into the Reason why That glorious Hoste kept distance from the Cave And to these Creatures of Humility These simple honest Swains the honour gave Of being his first Visiters who came To be at once a Sheepheard and a Lamb. 205. But when the Sunne seav'n times himself had shown To all the World and bid it idolize His Beams no more but fall down to its own Almighty Rising Phebus at whose eys His Flames were kindled Janus op'd the door And in her Armes Aurora New-year bore 206. And this was Circumcisions sacred Day Nor would the royall Infant spared be 〈◊〉 under this sad bloody Yoke did lay His tender Neck that exemplary he Who was through all Obedience to runne His Race of Patience might betimes begin 207. There sate He on his yerning Mothers Knee Who with all tendernesse the Work dispatch'd O how much 〈◊〉 in her Heart did she Receive the Knife when it the Infant touch'd But yet she knew her Wound would greater prove If she had broke the Law by too much love 208. Down fell the pretious purple Dew and gave The World sure earnest of what was behinde For 't was resolved it at length should have The utmost Drop his deepest Vein could finde Mean while these few will serve to write the Bonds By which he for the rest engaged stands 209. O liquid Jewells happily have You Be-sprinkled all the Fore-head of the Year The Year which now on his be-decked brow More beauties then the face of Heav'n doth wear The Year which sealed is by You to be From Sins and Mischeifs Impositions free 210. Thus when the Paschal Lambs lesse worthy Blood Bedew'd th' Egyptian Doors of Israels Sonnes Peace and Security for Porters stood And stav'd Destruction from their Mansions Had but this Blush on other Gates been seen Both Grace and Safety had dwelt within 211. Now Januaries Calends washed be By these dear Droppes from all that guilty Gore Which Heath'nish most unholy Sanctity In lavish Floods upon their face did poure Fair shines the Day thus reskew'd and releast From Pagan stains to Pieties pure Feast 212. And now is printed on the Childe that Name Which sweetly sate upon bright Gabriels Tongue When to his Mother with the News he came That Name which sweetens every Cherubs song That Name of Bowells of omnipotent Love Of all the Ioyes that make Heav'n be above 213. JESUS ô what vast Treasures couched lie In the rich bosome of this little Word A Word which spreads its mighty Majesty Through Heav'n Earth and Hell all which are stor'd With reverend Awe when e'r it sounds and on Their bended Knees adore the Virgins Sonne 214. JESUS ô Name of glorious Dainties how Unwilling are my Lipps with thee to part Yet shall thy Musick never cease to flow In pretious Echo's all about my Heart JESUS ô sweeter Name of Life ô Name Which makest famous ev'n eternall Fame 215. These matchlesse Things my Psyche hapned here This simple Place with noble worth to crown But yet these were not all Has not thine ear Been fill'd with Balaams infamous Renown Whose innocent Asse was fain to use her Tongue And check her sillier Master for her wrong 216. This Son of Avarice and Heir of Hell By frighted Balak hired to enchant And heap his Curses upon Israel Was by thy Spouse enforced to recant His dire intentions and change his Tone Against his Nature as his Ass had done 217. Thy Spouse did thrust reverend Prophesie Into his Mouth of Jacobs rising Star Which he himfelf left as a Legacie To all his Heirs and charg'd them to have care That no forgetfulness did blind their Eys From watching when that promis'd Light should rise 218. Amongst their mystick Notes these Words they laid From Age to Age and often read them o'r With dread Devotion being still afraid The Star might chance to deep from Heav'n before They were a ware and spie their souls asleep Whom Balaam had fore-warn'd their Watch to keep 219. No Comet on the World did ever look But strait into their studies them it sent Where after Counsell had with many a Book Through all its flaming Lineaments they went Examining the length of every Hair By its own light which Head or Beard did wear 220. But when Eternities sweet Day began To rise not from the East but this poor Cave A gallant Star into Arabia ran And notice of the glorious Bus'nes gave To Everie Eye which was instructed how To read the Characters of Heav'ns bright Brow 221. Three Venerable Men dwelt there all Grey As well within as they appear'd without Kings of the Villages and Fields where they Reign'd by their secret Wisdoms high Repute No Star but they knew well for from the East They had been long acquainted to the West 222. They looking out that Night their friends to view Espi'd Stranger dress'd in bright Attire To which their wondering Contemplations flew And busie were about the radiant Fire The more they look'd the fairer room they found Where on
Lesse sweet they thought the Altar and would faine Be nestling in her Breast or Lap againe 28. But holy Simeon whose stout Expectation Grounded upon Heav'ns Credit did sustein His aged Life by potent Inspiration Forgot his leaden pace and flew amain Into the Temple for the nimble Blast Of Gods owne Spirit lent him youthfull haste 29. O how his greedy Soule did Worke and Beat And thinke the time an Age till He was come Unto his Blisses Shore where in the heat Of hastie Zeale He snatch'd his Saviour home Into his longing Armes and Heart which now Broke from his Lips and in these Words did flow 30. O Life thou now art out of debt to my Long-stretch'd Attendance and can'st nothing show Of further Worth wherewith to charme mine Eye And make it still be hankering heer below No I have seen what I did live to see The worlds Hopes and mine owne and heer-they be 31. Deare Lord of Heav'n heer is that hop'd-for He In whom lie treasur'd up Power and Salvation Which now thy love exposed hath to be The blessed Theame of humane Contemplation All Eyes may see this Face as well as I And cleerly read their owne Felicitie 32. This noble Face by whose Soule-piercing Rayes The 〈◊〉 untill now damm'd up in Night Admonish'd are to understand their Wayes And tread the open Paths of High-noone Light This Face whose more than golden Beauties be The glorious Crown of Iacobs Progenie 33. O Death if thou dar'st draw neer Life's great King Come take possession of my willing Heart That I a swarthy and unworthy Thing From his too radiant presence may depart I am too blest to live and cannot bear The burden of this heav'nly Lustre here 34. The good Old man thus eas'd his pious Zeal And having sacrific'd a Kisse upon The Infants royall Foot began to feel His Prayers were heard and that Death hasted on Which He to meet went home and order gave With sweet and hasty Joy about his Grave 35. As Echo unto his Devotion Loe The venerable Matron Anna came She whose Prophetick Heart did bid her goe To wait upon and to adore the same Young Son of Wonders that her Sex in Her As His in Him its duty might prefer 36. And here she met a full reward of all Those nights and dayes which in that place she spent Her Fastings now turn d to a Festivall Her longing Prayers which unto Heav'n she sent To pull it down now found it ready here For in the Infants Face it did appear 37. So cleerly it appear'd that She could not Restrain her Tongue from being Trumper to The Dawne of its convincing Brightnesse but Through Salems longest thickest Streets did goe Spreading her Proclamation to each Eare And Heart which long'd that heav'nly News to hear 38. This call'd so many wondering Eyes to gaze Upon the Mother and her fairer Son That from the glory of that populous Place To poor and private Nazaret she did run Where in her humble House she hop'd to hide Her humbler Selfe from Honours growing Tide 39. But Honour loves to scorn the Zealous Chase Of most ambitious eager Hunters and Pursues those modest Soules from place to place By whom she sees her orient Presence shunn'd Nor is she e'r out-run or fails to raise Their Names with Trophies and their Brows with Bays 40. But when in Salem the great News grew hot And flam'd to Herods Court the Tyrants Breast Swell'd with new Rage for much he feared that This Fire might reach his Throne which made Him cast Deep desperate Counsells in his jealous Minde How for this Danger he some Curb might finde 41. Mean while as holy Joseph sleeping lay To gain new strength to work his Winged Friend Rouz'd up his Soul by a Celestiall Ray Bidding him his swift flight to Egypt rend For Herod now contrives to slay said He The Childe and in Him both thy Wife and Thee 42. O that my Wings might be his Chariot But This noble Favour Heav'n reserves for thee Flie then But see thy selfe thou trouble not With thy Return for when the Storm shall be Cleerly blown over I will thither come And from thy Gods own Mouth recall thee Home 43. This said his nearest way the Angel took To Heav'n and flutter'd loud as He went up The noise made Joseph start who straight awoke And look'd about But He had gain'd the Top Of heav'n and in the Sphears inclosed was E'r Josephs mortall Eye could thither passe 44. Yet by the blessed influence He behinde Had left the Saint did Him intirely Know The priviledg'd Eyes of his religious Minde Had long acquainted been with him and now He doubts not but this was his Guardian who Had taught him oft what He instraits should doe 45. Whil'st by her sable Curtains Night as yet Muffled up Heav'n and kept the World in Bed Himselfe He dressed and made all things fit For his long journey On the Asse He spred His Coverlet and his own Pillow sweet And cleanly Hay he gave him for his meat 46. The Beast thus baited He his Axe his Saws His Planes Rules Mallets and his other Store Of busie honest Implements bestows In his large Bag the Treasury of his poor Industricus subsistance which he ties Fast to his Staffe and on his Shoulders tries 47. Two Bottles then all that the poor Man had Fresh filled at a neighbour Fountain He Puts on his Girdle with three Loaves of bread In a plain Pouch Then stepping reverently Unto the Bed where the great Mother lay Arise said He for Heav'n calls Us away 48. When She the bus'nesse heard and saw how He Had all things ready for their journey made Far be it she repli'd that I should be At any houre to follow Heav'n afraid Or that I for the Mornings light should tarry Who in my Arms my fairer Day doe carry 49. I can be no where lost deare Babe whil'st I Travell with Thee who never canst depart From thine own Home Wherever Thou dost flie Thine own Land still will meet Thee for thou art By thine eternall Right the Prince as well Of Ham and Egypt as of Israel 50. Arabia's Devotion has long since Supplid thee with this sacred Treasure to Defray thy Charges Thine own Providence Thy Purveyer was Thou knew'st we were to goe And hast layd in Provision e'r wee Could dream of any such Necessity 51. And yet Necessity is no such thing To mighty Thee whose all-commanding Hand Doth hold the Reins of Fate the bloody King Musters his Wrath in vain would'st thou with-stand His Spight in open Field But thou know'st why It will be now more glorious to File 52. This Journey 's but a step to Thee who from The Pinnacle of all Sublimity Thy Fathers bosome did'st a Pilgrim come And take up thy abode in worthlesse Me Me who from Heav'n much further distant am Than Memphis is from fair Jerusalem 53. With that She wrapp'd the Infant close and took The Asses back whose bridle
Soule rejoyced all the way it ran And taught his Fast to be a glorious Feast Each Greif each Pain each Suffring he did scan And what the deepest was he liked best Not for a World would he have wanted one But could have wish'd a bitterer Passion 133. Thus did he spend his Day and when the Night Upon Heav'ns face her sable Mantle spread He other Work began No leaden Weight Of Sleep could heavy sit upon his Head His Fast now grew so strong that no dull Cloud Out of his Stomack to his Brain could crowd 134. Those silent Houres He spent in ardent Prayers His Evening and burnt Sacrifice and by The quick ascent of those mysterious Stayers Climb'd back again to Heav'ns sublimity Where more Ejaculations He did spread Than Angels or than Stars are marshelled 135. There did he pray the World might not disdain The gentle Yoke he came on it to lay Nor force Heav'n to come down to Earth in vain But unto its obtruded Blisse give way That now God stoop'd down to Humanity Man would indeavour like his God to be 136. And now no lesse then fourty times the Sun The Gyant of the Day had from the East Prick'd forth his golden trapped Steeds and run His never wearied Race into the West And watchfull Vesper had as often light The silver Tapers and trimm'd up the Night 137. When thy Wise Spouse who all the seasons knew Of Heav'ns mysterious Dispensations gave The bridled Monster leave on him to shew Her Teeths full power And how profound and brave This Counsell was thou by and by shalt see For He has me injoin'd to teach it thee 138. As when the ravenous Dog who long has layn Muzzel'd up in the presence of his meat Begins to feel the loosning of his Chain For all the time He lost he strives to eat Flying like Lightning on his Breakfast which He with his teeth and paws at once doth catch 139. So Famin now releas'd to her own Will Revenged her Restraint with greedy spight And had it but been possible to kill Lifes unconsenting Lord sh' had done it strait For never with such fell remorfelesnesse She rag'd in any Breast as now in His. 140. His empty Stomack roar'd his Bowels clung The heav'nly Graces of his Countnance fell Thirst parch'd his beauteous Lips burnt his Tongue But all by his divine Consent for well He knew that if he grew not faint and wan Hell needs must take Him to be more than Man 141. Hells jealous Prince knew all the Prophesies Which pointed out a greater King then he A King which was from Jesse's Root to rise And promised to quell his Tyranny Upon his Guard He stood and watch'd to see The dangerous time and who that Man should be 142. The Angels Song which warbled to the Earth Peace and Good Will shot Terror through his Heart The Sheepherds story of the Infants Birth No sooner strook his ear but made him start He Simeons Jubilation echoed by A Groan and Anna's Preaching by a Sigh 143. With deep mis-giving Thoughts he chew'd upon The Benedictus of old Zachary The eastern Star which unto Bethlehem ran Did with amazement blinde his fearfull eye Guilty Suspition his black soule did knaw When He the Wise Mens Adoration saw 144. At length these fatall Items roused Him To take some course this Danger to represse Forthwith he chose the Fauchion of grim Herod nor did He think He strook amisse Besides now Thirty yeares could not discover Any great fear he hop'd the worst was over 145. And much it cheer'd him to remember that Messias was to be a Virgins Son As for thy Lord He term'd him Josephs Brat The silly Carpenters poor Urcheon Who likelier was some simple House to build Than raise a Kingdome and a Scepter weild 146. Yea to that fond and shamlesse Boldnesse He Hardned his Thoughts as to imagine that Great Daniels heav'n inspired Prophesie Was prov'd abortive and He car'd not what The other Prophets talk'd now hee who set Messia's Time so fouly fail'd in it 147. But when on Jordans Bank hee heard and saw The Testimony Heav'n gave of its Son His sturdy Confidence began to thaw And Teiror through his cursed Bones to run Som time it was e'r hee could recollect Himselfe and study how his part to act 148. At length He hither traced Him and set That Fury Famine to begin the fight O with what anguish did hee vex and fret To see the vain contention of her spight For fourty dayes together But at length When she prevail'd His Pride renew'd its strength 149. On Chance's vain Account hee scor'd it up That Jesus had sustain'd the fight till now As hee had done when from their Pillars top Egyptian Idols lately down did bowe Because since then he saw some new Ones able To stand and Memphis once more Isi's Stable 150. And now his Cue was come to Hell hee stepp'd And op'd a Casket which by his Beds side For 't was the dearest Thing he had he kepp'd There lay ten thousand quaint Delusions ti'd All one within another never Art More cunningly than here did play her part 151. There lay smooth burnish'd Words quick Mutations Sleight-handed Tricks 〈◊〉 Courtesies Sweet Looks delicious Shapes and dainty Fashions False Loves invenom'd fawnings holy Lies There lay the Crafts by which he did deceive The credulous Heart of thy Grandmother Eve 152. And those by which He holy Aaron made More silly than the Calfe that he erected Those which unconquer'd Samsons strength betray'd Those which the fort of Chastitie dejected In Davids heart and those whose witchery Charm'd his wise Son to fond Idolatry 153. This also was the cursed Nest of those More wiley Wiles by which hee did entise The brave Inhabitants of Heav'n to close With his Conspiracy when in the skies He drew his Army up and ventured on Against the Thunders Mouth and Gods own Son 154. And these he takes and squeaseth into one Conflux of more then quintessentiall Guiles With which insidious Extraction His thirst he quenches and his breast he fills And so returns into this Desert well Stuff'd with the best that is the worst of Hell 155. Imperiall was his Retinue for A thousand gallant Peers of Phlegeton Had robb'd Aire Earth and Sea of their best store Of braveries and proudly put them on All which where echoed by the rich attires Both of their haughty Horses and their Squires 156. But as the Cedar upon Libans head Dishonours all the Shrubs that creep below As the displayed Peacocks Train doth spread Disgrace upon the Sparrow or the Crow So far Majestick Satans port transcended What ever in his Lords might be commended 157. Twelve sable Steeds smug as the old Rav'ns wing Of even stature and of equall Pride Sons of the Winde or some such speedy thing Unto the Chariot all abreast were ti'd So Princes us'd to range their Steeds that all Their severall Beauties in full view might fall 158.
The whole Worlds dying Grones all joynd in one Huge Gust of Horror yet they would not tear The skies with such an Ejulation As this which made the Tombes Rocks and Sea In its impatient Echo all agree 242. Jesus thou highest Son of God most High O what have I he cri'd to doe with Thee And must I leave my Fort and naked lie Whil'st Thou dost trample and triumph on Me Now by thy Fathers Name I thee conjure Thou damn Me not new torments to endure 243. But now thy Lord held Him sure on the Rack He charg'd the Traytor to confesse his Name O how this Question did his heart-strings crack Which snatch'd the Veil off from his ougliest shame And for one Serpent which alone seem'd there To nestle made a Legion appear 244. No other Name he durst acknowledge now But Legion for so indeed they were Vile Cowards what is Dust and Clay that you So numerous an Army must prepare Why must so many Spirits in ambush watch Onely one single Mortall Man to catch 245. But ô that Men whose mystick obligation Of mutuall Membership doth them invite To carefull Tendernesse and free Compassion With such confederate Zeal and stout Delight Would help their Brethren up to heav'n as these Labour to plunge them in Hells Miseries 246. Had'st Thou been there my Dear thou might'st have seen In what a fearfull lamentable Guise These Devills to their Prayers fell to win Some Pitty from their Lords imperious Eyes Which did the basenesse of their spirit prove Who could beseech Him whom they scorn'd to love 247. Him They beseeched not to send Them home But in this Countrey let them longer stay They knew Hell would have been too hot for Them If they had thither gone without their Prey For disappointed Satan on their head Would all his boiling Wrath have emptied 248. Besides this place alone in charge they had And might not safely to another goe For Satan here his Provinces hath made And all his Deputies disposed so That no Commission jarreth with another Nor any Fiend incroacheth on his brother 249. And this He does in insolent emulation Of Heav'ns fair Polity which hath ordain'd That every Empire Kingdom Countrey Nation By some of its Angelick Hoste be rein'd And guided and defended as each Man By his particular vigilant Guardian 250. What would'st Thou have Us doe they cri'd Can We Made all of active Metall idle sit Are We not Devills how then can We be For any Thing but Rage and Fury fit Mischief's our proper Diet why wilt Thou Who All Things feed'st not Us our food allow 251. If We must Be We must be what we are Infernall Natures can no change admit For surely Thou wilt not forget that War When We our selves in arms against Thee set Nor repossesse Us of our calmy state So that wee now are Furious by Fate 252. Besides wee Subjects are and thine own hand Buckled that yoak on our Rebellious Necks To that impatient Prince whose dire Command Back'd with Hells universall Terrors pricks Us on to Rage and wee doe nothing now But what wee unto Him in duty owe. 253. As then Thou art a generous Conqueror Give reasonable Quarter to thy Foes Since wee must yeild this Fort before wee stir Ingage thy Promise that wee shall not loose Our Naturall Properties but have power still For 't is no Crime in Us to doe some ill 254. An Herd of Swine there feeds on yonder Mount And that 's it Psyche filthy Beasts and such As were unworthy in thine own Account The meanest of thy Servants Boards to touch Yet what to Jewes Thou mad'st impure shall be Dainties to Us if Thou but leave Us free 259. Free to take our own swindge and domineer In those despised reprobated Things If ever Devills did to thee preferre An humbler fairer sute may all our Wings And Snakes be clipp'd our Tallons prun'd our stour Horns lopped off our iron Teeth dash'd out 260. The Furies pleaded so and with an Eye Where Fear insulted over jealous Hope Beheld their Judge He knew the reason why They begged that strange boon he knew their scope Was to make Men conceive the Swine a Creature Curs'd and abandon'd by the God of Nature 261. Yet He was pleased whither to avenge The Owners Avarice or for some cause Best known to his wise self to grant this Change And give them leave into the Herd to passe For He to whom the whole World doth belong Can all Things doe and yet can doe no wrong 262. As when in pregnant AEtna's labouring Wombe The smoaking flaming and sulphureous Childe Unto its full maturitie is come The moved Bowels of the Mount are fill'd With Pangs and Throws till by a monstrous Birth The stinking Prodigie is broken forth 263. So were the Soule and Body of this Man Shak'd stretch'd and torn when Hell burst out from thence No brimstone ever smelt so rank as then The favour or that dismall Effluence Surely the Man had by that stink and Pain Had Life not looked on been double slain 264. But ne'r did Aire put on a calmer face When every Winde to its own home was blown And Heav'n of all its Storms delivered was Then He now once again become His Own The Feinds who untill now his Heart did swell Left him himself within himself to dwell 265. And now as startled from some frightfull Dream He wonders that Himself so safe he saw With speed he gets him Clothes to hide his shame Or rather theirs whose Treason made him throw Them off before and clothe his Body round In one unnaturall universall Wound 266. Distracting Fumes no more reek'd in his Head Clear as the upper Region was his Brain And with his Heart distinctly traffiqued Where now his Intellectuall Powers did reign In his Soules Pulse his Thoughts beat gently and His Blisse he Perfectly did understand 267. He understood to whom his Thanks were due To Whom his Peace his Life his reskew'd Heart To his sweet Task of Gratitude He flew In which with faithfull Zeal He playd his Part And then at his divine Redeemers feet Like a meek Scholar begg'd and took his Seat 268. Mean while the Devils to the Mountain made Upon the Wings of Fury and Disdain They scorn'd the Swine and yet because they had No better Prey could not from that refrain The feeding Herd strait felt their Bellies swell With unknown stuffing being stretch'd with Hell 269. As at the Orgies when the Priests are drown'd In their mad God they grow as wilde as He They stare they roar they rave they tumble round And onely in confounded strife agree So did the Swine break into raging Revels Being Drunk with a full Legion of Devils 270. They grunt they squeak they foam they run they leap They fall they rise and strait they fall again Their tusks in one anothers Blood they steep But oftenest in their own The Dogs in vain Did bark in vain the Swinherds crie and swear The Herd
Death had on The Carkasse heap'd broke was that Cloud of Lead Which roll'd cold night about the Eyes and Head 386. The Worms were scrambling all away apace 〈◊〉 had into a corner got 〈◊〉 Ghastlinesse had stole from off the face 〈◊〉 froazen Numnesse frighted was and shot 〈◊〉 from the Corps Death sate lamenting by To sec that what He slew must now not die 387. Heat Vigour Motion hover'd round about Attending when the Soule her place would take Which when She saw as quick as her own Thought Into the Heart she flew and did awake The sleeping Blood When loe whil'st yet the sound Of the great Voice did in the Cave rebound 388. Out Lazarus comes O what Amazement now On the Spectators seiz'd They start they stare They gape they doubt they hope they fear they throw Their Arms wide open and divided are 'Twixt looking upon Lazarus and on Jesus by whom the Miracle was done 389. Out Lazarus comes and yet he was fast tied And in his Grave-clothes snarl'd for why should he By these poor Ligaments be now denied Free passage whom the strong conspiracy Of all Deaths massie Chains could not compell A Pris'ner in his Sepulchre to dwell 390. Out Lazarus comes and full as fresh and fair As Summer Flowers from their Winter Bed Which at their rising through the purest aire A daintier breath of fragrant Odours shed Nice jealous Martha needs not doubt for He Is now as wholesome and as sweet as she 391. But ask Me not why Jesus would call back His Friend who lay compos'd in rest and peace To this tumultuous World which Saints do take But for the Sceen of all Unhappinesse Whil'st Jesus liveth here his Friends hee warms With sweeter Joyes Peace than Abrahams Arms. 392. Alas 't was Abrahams highest Wish that He Might but behold what Lazarus now did finde How would He blesse the Sight if hee might see Him who imparteth Eyes unto the Blinde Who on the Sickly Health Peace on his Foes Life on the Dead and Heav'n on Earth bestows 393. These Psyche were the usuall Works whereby Thy Lord did to his World himselfe declare But in so vast a multiplicity That if they all at large recorded were That Worlds whole Bounds would not sufficient be To finde those onely Books a Library 394. And what meant these miraculous Dispensations But his Affection to proclaim intire Never with such illustrious Demonstrations Did royall Suiter seal his true Desire To his Queens Heart as Jesus here did prove How with all Humane Soules He was in love 395. Here Phylax clos'd his rubie Lips and she Who all this while upon his Tongue attended Both with her eare and heart was griev'd to see His high and sweet Discourse so quickly ended And yet for what sh' had heard her Modesty Paid Him her Mayden Thanks upon her knee PSYCHE OR LOVES MYSTERIE CANTO XI The Traytor ARGUMENT IN sordid love of thick and rusting Clay Prodigious Judas LOVE himselfe doth sell But for the Pains besides the High-Priests Pay Receives a larger Salary of Hell Which met him upon earth and through his own Split Body rent his wounded Spirit down 1. ENvie thou mortall bane of Quietuesse And of thy Selfe what makes thy Rage so mad To play the Canker in all kind of Blisse And on thine own Vexation live A Rod To thine own cursed back thou art as well As to the Worlds and both thy Fury feel 2. In thy mischievous Womb was Discord bred The correspondent Brat of such a Dame A Brook which well becomes its Fountain head And doth with equall genuine Poyson stream A Brook which round about the hamper'd World Its Arms pernicious Imbrace hath hurl'd 3. This is that fatall and destructive Jarr Which frets and interrupts the Harmonie Wherein all Things concentricated were By peacefull Natures sweet and sacred Tie That Jarr which in Times youth did belk and beat Till to wilde War the way wide ope it set 4. War the foule Comprehension of all The worst of Hell Fell Belzebub at first Begor the Monster of his own proud Gall From whence in Heav'n unhappily it burst A Birth-place how unfit for such a Birth And well it was that straight it cast it forth 5. Heav'n cast it forth but Hell receiv'd the Brat And hugg'd it close and nurst and kept it warm Fed there with Fire and Blood it soon grew fat And strong enough to raise a desperate Storm In its black Nurserie which it did fret And all the Devills in Confusion set 6. When Lucifer saw its Activitie With hellish Joy He kiss'd his genuine Son And as He kick'd his Fathers Courtesie And scratch'd his kissing Lips this Signe alone Dear Childe cri'd He sufficient is to prove Thou art my Issue and deserv'st my love 7. Then from his own vipereous Tresses He Pluck'd a large handfull of his longest Snakes Of which with poisnous liberalitie A favour for his darling Childe he makes Who ever since with Joy and Triumph wears The hissing Discord all about his Ears 8. Thus dress'd without and furnished within With desperate Injunctions a Commission To be sole Generall of every Sin Of all Confusion and of all Perdition He freely grants Him and then sends Him forth To trie what Ruines he could work on Earth 9. The cunning Serpent lov'd his Hole too well To suffer desperate War to harbour there He knew that even in the Realm of Hell Division would the Joints and Cement tear Which in obedience to his Soveraign Pride The Peers and Commons of Damnation ti'd 10. As through the bowells of deep Tellus He Rent ope his Way amazed Nature shook Affrighted Quiet and Serenitie Their sudden flight to Heav'n for shelter took Leaving behinde an universall Groan Through all the World such fatall Terror ran 11. But blustering on the Fury sought where he Might entertainment for his Miseheif meet First to the Lyons Dens he went to see Whither their mighty Mouthes and armed feet Might not be taught to undertake a fight In the fell Quarrell of intestine Spight 12. The noble Beasts with generous disdain Look'd on the Monster and lay couchant still Seeming to say Our Selves will hold the chain Of our own Strength and when We please to fill Our Lust with Blood Wee l hunt it up and down The Woods but never riot in our own 13. Repulsed here He made the like Address To Dragons Tigres Panthers Wolves and Bears But they in their own Naturall freindliness Hugg'd one another and 〈◊〉 all Warrs The Monster vex'd and 〈◊〉 himself to That salvage Creatures would not disagree 14. At last to Man he came And who could dream That 〈◊〉 the softest and the gentlest Thing Which Heav'ns own carefull Hand alone did frame Man who could fight for Nothing being King Of all the World Man who unarm'd was made Should turn Apprentice to the Warlike Trade 15. Yet Man the Riddle of Unhappiness Unto the Monster entertainment gave Mad Man for whom a thousand Maladies Perpetually
lean and hungry as before remains 42. If any thing but Money comming be The door is alway deaf for its strange ears Can apprehend no noise or harmonie But Monies chinking which as soon's it hears It flingeth ope its mouth as wide and fast As Tygers when their prey to them is cast 43. Six yellow springs before the threshold rise Infected by that Houses neighbour-hood Which creeping far through earths close cavities Poure out their wealthy but most dangerous flood On the condemned World devouring there More than in stormy Seas e're drowned were 44. Indus and Ganges rouled in the East Pactolus in the middle of the Earth But Tagus undertook to taint the West And spewd in Spain his glistering poison forth Rich Hebrus chose something more North to be And broke his way through Thracian Rhodope 45. Plate stole into the other World that He Might to some pains and cost put Covetousnesse But when her thirst grows hot impatient she Shall scorn th' Atlantik Ocean and presse Through unknow Monsters to finde out that stream Which yet shall not quench but augment her flame 46. The structure of the House is mean and poore And cals with many a mouth fot Reparation The Clowds when e're they weep do freely poure Through every rotten room an inundation The Windes come whistling at their pleasure in And every kinde of Weather there will Inn 47. A thousand Stilts and Propps their shoulders set Against the Walls where many a Wisp and Rag Into the weather-beaten Wounds were put Such is the Thrift of the old carking Hag Her Houses Fall she ventures but to spare The simple Cost ev'n of a patch'd Repair 48. Within lie Trunks and Chests along the Walls Pil'd to the roofe on one anothers backs Guarded with iron hoops and brazen nails And strongly fortifi'd with triple Locks As if indeed some Treasurers shrines they were When onely yellow Clay lay sleeping there 49. There lay all that the famous Lydian Prince Had rak'd up by his numerous Victories Unhappy Craesus who at such expence Of pains and time purchas'd so poor a prize Which as a load upon his Life was thrown And when He dyed press'd him deeper down 50. There lay the Phrygian Kings unweildy Masse Of wretched Gold whose rich Wish made him Poor Whose wealthy Priviledge his Confusion was And famish'd him amid'st his growing Store Sure for that Wish he more deserv'd those Ears Which by the Poets quaint Revenge he wears 51. Next them the other Phrygians Talents who By Pagans verdict is condemn'd to thirst Amidst the streams which on his lipps doe flow Unfortunate Tantalus how wert thou curst In life with Treasures which Thou could'st not use In death with Dainties which thy Mouth abuse 52. The cursed Heaps of stern Callicrates Were there who by Exuctions Hand did rake Them up and make th' Athenian Miseries The Fountain of his Richnes who did break The Laws in lawlesse Urging Them that He Owner of what He could not keep might be 53. The stuffed Coffers of rich Cinyras Which by his Cyprian Plenty He did fill Were there-congested in huge throngs so was The Wealth of Gyges which so high did swell That it alone sufficient might seem To choak or burden Millions more with Him 54. The teeming Baggs which Pelops brooded o'r The Wealth which Crassus upon heaps did heap Dariu's brave inestimable Store Here in their severall Sepulchres did sleep So did great Pharoabs into whose vast Barn A Crop of Gold was brought for that of Corn. 55. What-ever Rapine Fraud Oppression Lies Distrustfull Greedinesse vexatious Care Had snatch'd stole poll'd or scraped to suffice What could not filled be was crowded there Little think Men that all such Riches will Finde their way home and with their Plutus dwell 56. Nay here that vast accumulation lay Which dares call every other Treasure poor That Wealth which did the golden Age display When Solomon the Crown of Israel wore He who disgraced Silver so that it Like vulgar stones was kick'd about the street 57. Wise as He was that King well understood That amongst all those huge Vacuities Which puffe the World up with their froathy Flood Ev'n massie Gold must counted be which lies Men in more fruitlesse Care than any Thing That Fortune rouls in Vanities fine Ring 58. Alas as here in all its strength it lay Immur'd in thousand Chests it could not by Its power or its value keep away Vile Rust and Cankers which eternaly Did d well and feed upon it nor could all Those mighty Locks forbid their Festivall 59. But howling round about the woefull Room Were those unhappy Soules whose Thirst of Gold Had plunged Them in this eternal Doom Soules which to their own Baggs themselves had sold And bought their Prison from whose Misery Their uselesse Store could no Redemption buy 60. His mystick Wand old wrinckled Balaam broke And flung his wretched charmes about the floor Cursing the day when He to Balack took His voyage for vile love of Money more Than Heav'n and Truth and crying oft Why was I with my Wit lesse Wise than my plain Asse 61. There wretched Achan roar'd himselfe to see So gorgeous in his Babylonish Cloak Besides to make him rich in Misery Deep in his heart his golden Wedge was stuck And his two hundred silver shekels cast Into a Clog about his feet held fast 62. There cursed Ahab with eternall Fright Seem'd to see Naboths Ghost flash in his face Whose guiltlesse blood quite quenched that Delight With which the Vine's should have enflam'd his Glass Nay every causelesse Stone which had been thrown On Naboths head rebounded on his own 63. Gehazie there as white with Leprosie As he with guilt was odious and black His double Change of Garments hates which he Can for his stinking Soars no Cover make And still he starts and thinks his Masters eye Doth Him and his two Syrian Talents spie 64. There Dives rends his purple Robes and flings Away the bitter Sweets of his old Feasts Cursing his own but blessing his Doggs Tongues Which were so courteous to the poorest Guests Kissing and Licking Lazaru's Soars whilst He With 〈◊〉 Raylings griev'd his Poverty 65. But this Room onely was the Portall to The Chapell whose poor Architecture was Of equal Vilenesse had its Roof not so Been skrew'd up as to yeild convenient space For State and Majesty to stand upright And let the God appear in his own height 66. Hast Thou not heard how upon Dura's Plain Nebuchadnezzar made his Ovens wrath hot At those who fear'd Hells Fornace and the stain With which Idolatry their Soules would blot When he erected sixty Cubits high The Mountain of his golden Deity 67. The Copie of that Idoll hence He took For in this Temple its Originall stands Such is the massie Head such is the Look Such are the Leggs the Breast the Arms the Hands Such is its monstrous bulk and such the beams With which its pure and burnish'd Metall flames 68. His
Name is Mammon and although he be So dead a Lump that aid he cannot lend Unto himself yet to his Deity Almost all living Men do couch and bend Heav'ns King with all his Powers of Love Bliss Works upon Humane Hearts with lesse Successe 69. Both those who see and those who have no eyes Are by his splendor equaly invited For Both are Blinde when they begin to prize His worthlesse Worth and finde their Soules delighted With the bare contemplation of Money Which is their Thirsts Milk their Hungers Honey 70. Thrift that most slander'd Thing pretended is By almost every Age and Tribe of Men Who all inamor'd of this glistering Blisse After the Call of Monies chincking run And tainted with th' immedicable itch Of heaping Riches ne'r think they are rich 71. Before the Image both the sick and well The Rich and Poor the Young and Aged lay Active and hot was their Devotions Zeal Disdaining any Respit Night or Day And mortifying with hard Penance what Soever Mammons Laws allowed not 72. About it s shaddowed feet grew a thick Crop Of every kinde of Sin which taints this Earth Fruits which those fond Devoto's gathered up As fast's the pois'ned Roots could bring them forth The Golden Crime this certain Priviledge wins That it is alwayes rich in other Sins 73. In other Sins and in the righteous Curse Which is by Veng'ance ti'd eternaly Unto the never-satisfied Purse For still those Cormorants are tortured by Vexatious Cares and Fears of Want the more They are incumbred with their growing Store 74. That Store which with such tyrannizing Awe In endlesse bondage holds their Soules that they With any of those golden Streams which flow Upon their Lips durst not their Thirst allay But rather antidate their Hell and learn Betimes in everlasting Drought to burn 75. The Priest which waits upon this Deity Is full as ougly as its selfe is fair The raving wallowing Maenades would be Spruce handsome Ladies if compar'd with Her So would the rankest Witch that ever yet Disfigured was in any Magick Fit 76. Age bends her looks towards that Earth in which Uncessantly to delve is her delight As are the backs of bunched Camels such Is Hers and full as well agrees with Weight All Load is light to Her if but one Grain Of intermixed Profit it contain 77. Her Face all over's plowed up with Care And long and deep the wretched furrows be Her hollow Eyes quite damp'd and dazell'd are By glaring on her glistering Deity Her sallow Looks and shrivell'd parched Skin Confesse what Pains she takes about her Sin 78. Her Nails she never cut but let them grow Up with her Wealth for Scraping was her Trade No greedy Vulture could such tallons show Such dreadfull Claws no Harpie ever had These were the Engins with which she did break Earths Bowells open and the Centre rake 79. A putrid Mantle ti'd about her Waste Was all the Roabs she would her selfe allow Which she had found upon a Dunghill cast A thousand years agoe and which was now Nine hundred Times new Patch'd yet would not She At the least cost of a new old one be 80. Nine stuffed Pouches on a leathern Thong Crowded about her miserable Loins With these of massie Keyes two Bunches hung The Memorandums of her treasured Mines Which Keyes she twenty times a day would tell And reckon what under their Locks did dwell 81. Patrocles was to Her a generous Knight And made his bord the Sceen of Lavishnesse When she with Dainties would her selfe delight Some old worm-eaten Root her Banquet was And when at most her Fare she did enlarge She would in Salt be at an whole Mites charge 82. But planted deep in her unhappy breast Is the black Root of all her monstrous Cares Foule Infidelity which bids her cast About how to with-stand what her vain fears Make terrible and build her Trust upon No Power or Providence but her own alone 83. Besides th' Idea's of her Gold which lay Pill'd there in cursed heaps did rusty grow This Rust its dwelling turn'd into its Prey And on her heart incessantly did knaw Yet was her Idoll unto her so dear That for more Money she more Rust would bear 84. This Hag was Avarice whom Satan held Almost as dear as He thy Spouse did hate Upon her Power He alone did build His finall hopes to bring about his great Designe of Malice for He knew that She Could doe much more with Men than Heav'n or He. 85. Unto her house himselfe in person came And with all condescent of Courtesie Wiping aside the Sulphure and the Flame In which his royall Lips did use to frie Saluted Her who never untill this Occasion from her King obtain'd a Kisse 86. This Favour ravish'd her so deep that She All his Injunctions did with Joy receive First taking her Commission on her knee Which thrice she kiss'd and then her hasty leave To earth she posts where she findes out a Cell Almost as helish as her native Hell 87. For to Iscariots breast she took her way Which foolish He left ope without a Guard With all her venome in she rush'd and lay Close in the bottome of his heart full hard It was e'r she intruded in but now No stone can such proofs of its Hardnesse show 88. Those Words of potent Sweetnesse which did drop From Jesu's blessed Lips could Windes and Seas And Sicknesses and Devills bridle up And every Storm but Judas his appeas O that Man should that onely Monster be Which is too hard for Mercies Suavity 89. As He who boiling Lead has swallow'd down Feels himself all on fire and thinks that though A thousand Seas into his Cup were thrown They could not quench his drought So Judas now Perceived his impois'ned bosome frie In covetous Thirsts impatient Ardencle 90. Millions of Thoughts are raging in his breast And every one of them is all on fire He scorns and hates the Povertie of Christ No other Blisse but Gold he does desire Talk not to Him of penniless Piety What e'r it cost hee must have Gold or die 91. But yet this onely Poison did not swell His heart Another joyned in the plot Deep in the very Sink of lowest Hell Is situate a dreadfull gloomy Grot A Grot which there in ambush seems to lie Hatching the Eggs of all Conspiracie 92. And yet within a goodly House is built Muchlike the Palace of some Virgin Queen With quaint Designs the Frontispice was gilt And the whole Fabrick look'd like Beauties Sceen White Marble were the rich Materials And yet the Workmanship out-shin'd the Walls 93. What full Balconies stately Terrasses 〈◊〉 Anticks fair Compartments handsome Cants 〈◊〉 Freezes and neat Cornishes Brisk and well-order d Turrets Nothing wants That Art could give to make the Out-side fine Yet still the House is gallanter within 94. The double Door with open lips invites All Strangers to come in The Porter there Well learned in all complementall Rites Bids
Highpriests Crown Ask Cesars mighty Scepter and his Throne 147. Ask all the Silver of the glistering Starrs Ask all the Gold that flames in Phebu's eyes Ask all the Jewells of Aurora's Tears Ask all the Smiles and Beauties of the Skies Ask all that can by any Thing be given Ask Blisse ask Life ask Paradise ask Heav'n 148. Trade not with these the worst of Chapmen who So fouly under-rate thy Merchandise To John to Peter or to Andrew goe Who better are acquainted with the price Of their unvaluable Lord and see What They will for their own Blisse offer Thee 149. Trie what the Virgin-Mother will bestow For Him whom She holds dearer than her Heart Proclaim thy Market unto Heav'n and know Whether the Angells will not gladly part With more than Thirty silver Peeces for Him whom with prostrate faces They adore 150. Alas though every Sin be Blindnesse yet Hell knows no Crime so full of Pitch as this Nor doth the Sun of humane Reason set In any Night so black as Avarice A thicker than Egyptian Darknesse now On Juda's intellectual Eyes did grow 151. Urge Him no more with Sense and Reason He Resolves to traffique with the Priests for now No other God but Money he can see He nothing sees at all and cares not how He makes his Bargain with them so he may Have but this wretched Summe in ready Pay 152. Thus Jesu's Wisdome did contrive to shew The mighty Patience of his Goodnesse who Though from Heav'ns Glory his bright Selfe he threw Into the Arms of Dust and Shame that so Mans cursed Seed He might Redeem to Blisse By false ungratefull Man betrayed is 153. And now the Chinck of his adored Coin Sounds in his Purse the Traytor hasts to be As good 's his wicked Word and is in pain Till He bring forth his hired Treachery He thinks it an unworthy odious Crime To cheat the Priests who thus had trusted Him 154. O aenigmatick Wickednesse That He To whom his Heav'nly Masters pretious Love Could seem no Bond of Faithfulnesse should be By this so vile obliedgment Bound and prove Faithfull unto his Foes This Psyche this Ev'n to thy Phylax a dark Riddle is 155. So strange a Thing is Mans mysterious Heart No Angells eyes can through its secrets run To sound this Bottome is the Soveraign Art And priviledge of God himselfe alone A certain proof that the Hearts hidden frame Onely from his immediate Fingers came 156. The Caytiff therefore least his Plot should fail And Hells long expectation be prevented Begg'd some Assistance that he might assail His Prey with surer Treason and indented For a full Band of Men The Priests were glad To see the Man so resolutely mad 157. A Troop they had all of Commanded Men Whose hearts were Iron and their foreheads Brasse No Boars or Tygers ever could out-run Their furie when their aime at Mischief was They might have pass'd for Soveraign Monsters but For their fell Masters and Iscariot 158. Some armed were with churlish Clubs and some With keen and thirsty Swords but all with Spight With these at 's heels did Captain Judas come Resolv'd to slay but yet afraid to fight Treason was evermore a Coward and By Number not by Valour doth contend 159. The Ensignes which before the Troop did goe Were wary Lanthorns or bold Torches which Their glaring and unnatural Beams did throw About the Midnight Aire whose shades by such Unlook'd for Apparitions frighted fled Behinde the Hills and Trees to hide their head 160. Thus having marched over Cedron They To yonder Garden came too sweet a place To be this Mischiefs Sceen but yet his Prey The Serpent as thou knowst of old did chase In sweetest Eden and Iscariot who Follow'd his Steps could none but this way goe 161. Thy blessed Lord with his Disciples there Retired was and set himselfe to Pray When loe a Spectacle of greater fear March'd full against his single Face than They Whose arm'd impatient Spight was drawing nigh To sacrifice Him to all Cruelty 162. A black and labouring Cloud hung o'r his head In which his Father veild his gratious Eyes Yet through that Blacknesse his great Arm He spred And reach'd it down to Earth From angry Skies The Lightning never with such terror broke Nor Thunders Trump the hills and valleyes shook 163. For in his Hand a mighty Cup He held In which all Monstrous Things did boile and flame Up to the brimms vast circle it was fill'd With all the Worlds excrementitious Stream Which Veng'ance kindling with her fiery breath Had turn'd into the Ocean of Death 164. That universal Poyson whose black flood From Adams veins through all his Race did run Met in this Sink and joyned with the Brood Of every singular Transgression All which to fit the Cup were blended in The several Pains due to each several Sin 165. Had 〈◊〉 had Phlegeton had all that Wit Has fain'd and all that Justice made in Hell Had all the Flames which Etna's mouth doth spit Had all the Stincks which in the Dead Sea dwell Had all the Poyson of each Serpents Tongue Which Lybia breeds into the Cup been wrung 166. T had been a Draught of Nectar unto this Yet loe the monstrous Mixture to the lip Of thy sweet Lord by Heav'ns Hand reached is O Psyche how shall He digest this Cup Which had all Adams Sons been forc'd to drink It would have drown'd them in its fatall Sink 167. But well He knew the Hand which lov'd his Cheek When in all Blisses Bosome He did lie And though so strange an Offer it did make 'T was still the same and how can he deny To entertain what that presents him though The Cup with Horror 's own heart-blood did flow 168. Were it as wide and deep and full again This Thought alone commands it to be sweet And till He drink its Pangs He is in pain So large is his Obedience and so great His Love to Man who otherwise must be Drunk from this Bowl with endlesse Miserie 169. But then this Thought was justled by another For He himselfe was passive Flesh and Blood His proper Natures Voice how shall He smother For She now pleads aloud for her own good And would not willingly choose to be hurl'd Into that Gulfe which would devoure the World 170. O how he strugled in this mighty strait Being Himselfe with his own Selfe to fight Had all the Centres most compacted Weight Been pitch'd upon his Heart it had been light And easie unto this which woefull He Endur'd in this heroick Agonie 171. The Contestation grew so hot within That all his Bosome fell on flaming fire And from melting Fornace through his Skin Thick Proofs of that strong Fervor did transpire For at the Mouth of every labouring Pore Not Watery Sweat but Blood broke ope its Door 172. O matchlesse Combat whose mysterious Power Without the edge of Sword or point of Dart Could cloth this Champion round about with Gore And wound
a gallanter Damnation 251. Didst Thou not promise Me but even now The dearest Torments of thy deepest Hell Deceive me not again If ever thou Wert carefull of thy Credit now fulfill Thy bounteous Word or look no more to be Served by Man if thou reward'st not me 252. Come then burn up these Lipps which learn'd of thee Their killing Kisse Dash out these Brains which thou Taught'st how to project that fell Treachery Tear this curs'd Carkase which is wholly now At thy disposall that each Limb may feel No portion but the totall Wrath of Hell 253. Take this dispairing Soule and let it be The Prey of thy eternall Furies 't is No groundlesse Challenge that as due to Me I claim the utmost of thy Spight unlesse Thou hast thine infinite Debt to Me forgot Jesus and Heav'n into thine hands I put 254. Jesus and Heav'n Names which I now must hate As having made them my eternall Foes O how I long to be in that free state Where generous Blasphemy no Bridle knows Where I may Rage as loud's Heav'ns Thunders 〈◊〉 And being cursed curse for overmore 255. Here the full Tide of furie stopp'd his Throat Yet still He star'd and struggled with his Grief Still he tore off his hair his Breast He smote And through Self-tortures hunted for Relief His Tongue He bit because it would not speak And stamp'd the Earth which would not open break 256. But as the Hair the Fat and Pitch which were Into the Dragons throat by Daniel cast Did burn and boile and rage and tumble there Far more than in the Pot untill at last With most impatient swelling Toiments They 〈◊〉 through his monstrous belly burst their way 257. So did this Mixture of Griefe and Dispair Flame in Iscariots bosome till it grew So strong and big that all his Entrails were Conquer'd with Tortures and in sunder flew His Body split and through that cruell Wound Pour'd his more barbarous Bowells on the Ground 258. Thus from this Prison his black Spirit ran Into that blacker Jaile reserv'd for it Next to the Center of Damnation Where now it raves in chains at Satans feet Ensore'd the pois'nous flames he spews to drink O that all Traytors w ould of Judas think PSYCHE OR LOVES MYSTERIE CANTO XII The Banquet ARGUMENT TO seal his dear Remembrance safe and sure On the soft hearts of his selected Sheep Love institutes his parting Feast so pure So sweet so rich that Psyche rap'd by deep Desire at its Description sues to be A Sharer in that Bords Felicity 1. BUt ô how large a Name is Treason which Doth in another fatall Channel run And from this Universe's Cradle reach Down to its funeral Pile No Ocean E'r stretch'd its Arms so wide or spread such store Of shipwrack'd Mortals on its helplesse shore 2. And this Selfe-treason is an imbred Feind Whose bus'nesse is to undermine her Home Whose most unnatural Nature is to rend Her too too loving Dames unhappy Wombe Who knaws her selfe and with 〈◊〉 Spight Free Veng'ance takes on Luxuries delight 3. For she her selfe is Luxury a Weed Which grew at first in an unlikely Place Who would suspect that such a cursed Seed Should Paradise's blessed Plants disgrace Yet as the Serpent in those Beds did lie So did this full as venomous Luxury 4. Under the beaureous Tree of 〈◊〉 there 〈◊〉 found her first and saw her 〈◊〉 up With 〈◊〉 Zeal and restlesse Pains one 〈◊〉 But dangerous and forbidden Fruit to crop Foole as she was she help'd her up and knew Not that by it her selfe she downward threw 5. Yet She to Adam needs would her commend And He unkindely courteous could not Denie to hugg his Spouses seeming friend Who Death and Hell strait through his bosome shot And now the Dainties of all Paradise Could not his foolish appetite suffice 6. No He must taste of that which never was Design'd to blesse the Palate But the Soure Revengefull Fruit was quit with Him for as It in his Teeth did stick with all the power Of stupefaction them on edge it set Proving his fatal Torment not his Meat 7. Nor could He chuse but leave his wretched Heirs Th' inheritance of this enchanting Pain Which down through all his Generations stayers Fail'd not its propagated Bane to drain This hankering itching liquorishnes did run Hot through the Veins of his remotest Son 8. Which Fervor did betimes so furious grow That the old World on fire with Lust it set A fire which with the heat of Hell did glow And was as stinking and as black as it A fire which joynd with other sinnes grew stout And found the Deluge work to quench it out 9. But then Earths face being washed clean and white She smil'd on Heav'n with a well-pleasing Grace And God vouchsafed humane Appetite A full Commission over all the Race Of Birds of Beasts of Fish that He might see How abstinent Man would prove now being free 10. For generous spirits then doe most abstein When they are Lords of their own Libertie When Virtue is entrusted with the Rein And room is given for Self-victorie When high-straind Moderation may prove No Act of Dutie but a Work of Love 11. Mans Appetite to every thing was free Bating the Blood in which the Life doth swimm Blood is the tincture in which Crueltie Stains all her clothes a tincture for the grimm And salvage Tygres not for Man who is Or should Professor be of Tendernesse 12. Indeed good Noah who both Worlds had seen The Old and New and was more Worth than both Indeavoured to keep himselfe as clean As now the Earth was wash'd And that no sloth Might tempt and steale him into Luxurie Buckled his Bones to painfull Husbandrie 13. And that the Pains He in his Vineyard took Might be requited by the Fruit it bare He shed the Grapes into his Bowle whose Look Might well have been his Monitor to beware Its rubie die had He but understood He would have shunn'd this Liquor too as Blood 14. But as it smil'd and sparkled in his face And mov'd with generous fervor in the Cup The un-suspicious Saint invited was With equal cheerfulnesse to drinke it up So untri'd Pleasures by their daintis skin And sweet behaviour approbation win 15. The flattering Liquor as it downward went Knock'd at his Heart and easie entrance got Where with his Spirits it did complement And soft delicious Fire amongst them put Noah rejoyc'd to feele his bosome glow And his old Ages Ice begin to thaw 16. This Bait drew down another for alas Good Man he little knew that Treacherie In his Soul-cheering Cup infused was Or that his Wine which sparkled e'r would be Destructive flame But Embers often rise Into Combustion when We least surmise 17. He freely takes a second Draught and now The Liquor gather'd strength and grew more bold Impatient to be supprest below Up to his Head it found a way and roll'd About his Brains wherein there 'gan to swimm
Such thickning Clouds that Reasons Sun grew dim 18. And then infected with the pois'nous Sweet Alas no power was left him to abstein No more to quench his Thirst but that New Heat Which burnd his veins He takes his Bowle again Which to the brim in careless haste he fills And part on th' earth part in his mouth he spills 19. But now He Drunk no more the Wine Drunk Him His Sense his Judgement and his Soul and all For thus when in their own wilde Draughts they swim Our witty Language Men does Drunken call And did so thoroughly his Brain confound That Earth as well as Heav'n He thinks turns round 20. The Wine now sparkles in his eyes no lesse Than it did in the Bowl before He stares On every thing and yet he nothing sees He trips and staggers but no fall he fears Nor feels it when he falls for having let His Bowl drop down Himselfe fell after it 21. Thus he who in the universall Flood Escap'd the fury of the proudest Wave And on the Oceans back in triumph rode Seeing below the whole Worlds woefull Grave Alas was drowned in a silly Cup Which he himselfe unwittingly drunk up 22. No Ark above this Deluge Us can bear But Temperance which here the Saint forgot Who as he fell had neither thought nor care Of keeping on his modest Mantle but Quite destitute of Clothes and Senses lay And did his double Nakednesse display 23. But as the Traytor who has slain the King Speeds from the Court as soon's the Fact is done So now the treacherous Liquor back doth fling And from the Murder it committed run Besides a Rout of other Humors follows And slaughter'd Noah in his Vomit wallows 24. Slaughter'd indeed and now a Man no more For nothing is alive in Him but Beast Which speaks its kinde by its lowd Swinish Roar And thus he tumbling lies untill opprest With his most heavy Self he falls asleep And in that nasty Rest his brains doth steep 25. Thus as one part of Luxury did grow In Paradise the other planted was In Noahs Garden that the World might know Danger can breed and lurk in any place Alas the holiest Ground too often breeds As well as wholsome Floures invenomed Weeds 26. Heav'ns Bounty granted all Variety Of Meats to feast the Sober Appetite And added brisk and cheerfull Wine to be The active Soule of Moderate Delight But peevish Man abused by his grosse Ingratitude Heav'ns Grace to Wantonness 27. Neither by Eve's Example He would take Nor Noahs warning though their Sanctity Did them far more invulnerable make Then common Mortalls feeble Breasts could be Still He would needs goe dive to the profound Bottome of Pleasures though himselfe he drownd 28. And from that Bottome he fetch'd up at last Improved Fat and Full-grown Luxury Who ne'r appeared unto Ages past More than a tolerable Prodigie For she much cooler was and tamer then And did not banish Men quite out of Men 29. But now she an unruly Monster grew Being encourag'd by Wines rampant Flame And round about the World in Tryumph flew All which she shipwrack'd in her Pois'nous stream Raving and roaring Mad she was and made All so who practis'd her intemperate Trade 30. The Laws of God of Man of Nature were Vain feeble Bridles when-soever she Resolved in her furious Carreer To let the Circle of her Healths run free Oft has she mingled with her Wines mad flood Friends Brothers Parents Masters Princes blood 31. Strange was her Shape if yet Deformity May in Shapes Title share her parched Head Burns up all hopes of Hair and scorns to be By any thing but Baldnesse covered Her humorish Eyes all red and putrid seem In her own over-flowing Wine to swim 32. But yet her Nose more provident is for there The Wine is bottled up and runs not out Onely the Bottle being thin and clear Speaks what it holds and studded round about With fervent Rubies serveth her perhaps For a dear Item of a Bunch of Grapes 33. Wroth fiery Knots are marshalled upon Her Forehead and her Cheeks Had Sicilie Her Etna lost this sulphurie Region Would shew it her in multiplicitie Onely these Hills are something lesse then that Yet is their Horror and their Stink as great 34. Her Lips are alway crannied and drie Though every day a thousand times made wet For still her burning breath in passing by Makes them that Moisture instantly forget And by the Poison of its fulsome Stinks Taints all the aromatick Wines she drinks 35. But the vast storehouse of her Belly makes Her seem with Childe of Mountains for in this The dainties which from all the World she rakes In one prodigious Heap congested is Here Solomons brasen Sea it selfe might swimm And its twelve Oxen too and more with Them 36. This is the Sink where Surfet being bred Of all Diseases doth the Parent grow Which She distributing from Foot to Head Doth undigested Pleasures turn to Woe Thus though the Bee doth pleasing Hony bring She always endeth in a pois'nous Sting 37. Who knows not that Luxuriant Mortals eat The copious fuell of their Sicknesses And force their honest but abused Meat Not to feed Nature but her Maladies Who knows not that in Healths deceitfull Name They drink the Venome which destroieth Them 38. Themselves they diet thus with their own Death And to a Weapon of Destruction turn The Staff of Life In vain Heav'ns Mercy hath So bounteous been if Man himself can learn To pick out 〈◊〉 in it and through Its Sweetnesse work his bitter Overthrow 39. If Bacchus must be made a God and have His larger and more constant Sacrifice Than He who all their Vines to Mortals gave Whilst they the Gift more than the Giver prize If Ceres too a Goddesse grow and We All sworn Devoto's to the Belly be 40. Alas I and had not bold Mortalitie Commission large and full enough before To work our Ruine Was the Miserie Of Plagne of Famine and of War so poor And weak that We our Selves the help must lend Of Luxurie to hasten on our End 41. 'T was time high time for God himself to come And turn Physitian in this desperate Case Our Madnesse swell'd so wide that now no room For any Mortall helping Hand there was 'T was time to Come and blessed be His Name For his dear Coming for in time He came 42. Jesus himself came down and left the Feast Of all Delights which He above enjoy'd Into the Depth of Poverty He cast His life and taught the World how to avoyd Intemperanc's Baits which thick are set Onely where Riches the dominion get 43. Then by his practik Abstinence He shewed Those who his royall steps would not disdain How dangerous Luxurie might be subdued And healthfull Temperance the Sceptre gain Forty long dayes and nights at once he spent In Consecrating of his Servants Lent 44. To this Example He his Doctrine joyn'd And for his frequent Text did Fasting take
Sphears shall sooner leap And tumble down all Height into the Deep 98. Then any Syllable which droppeth from The Lipps of Jesus can be born away Upon the Windes swift wings and never come Back with its full effect And yet the day Will come when Men will be so mad in this Cleer point as to dispute away their Blisse 99. It is in vain to tell these Wranglers how Jesus could graft cold stones into the stock Of Abraham and make them Fertile grow In Israelites Or that the Bread He took In 's daily diet was not wholly spent But part into his Bodies substance went 100. In vain to tell them how into his Blood The Wine he drank was changed day by day For though such Speculations understood With prudent reverence might make easier way Unto the Mysterie yet Wranglers will Because they will be so be Wranglers still 101. But as the sweetest Roses are beset With a strict Seige of Thorns whilst vulgar 〈◊〉 Which are not worth the Choking never meet With armed Neighbours whose infestive Powers Might plant their Bane about them so it fares With this rich Bread invaded by the Tares 102. What heart can of the monstrous Gnostiks think And not abhorre their damned sacrifice The matchlesse and the most blasphemous sink Of odious impudent Impieties Psyche Thou never yet heardst of so black A sin as they doe their Religion make 103. But I in reverence to thy Blush forbear That deep Abominations Den to rake Whose rank Sent reaks up to the highest Sphear And in Gods Nostrills stincks Yet leave must take To tell thee thine own Albion will not be Afraid of Sacramentall Villany 104. For in the Dreggs of Time when Wealth and Pride Have fatned British Hearts fit to defie All Sacred Discipline and to the Tide Of furious Licence and Impiety Op'd a vast Gap unhallowed Hands will dare From holy Priests this reverend Work to tear 105. Mechanick Zeal inspir'd by Sottishnesse And by enthusiastick Ordination Of Self-deluded Fancie Call'd to dresse This Mystick Feast in the reformed fashion Will purest Purity it selfe defile And by Heav'ns Gate finde out a Way to Hell 106. But happy Thou who shalt not live to see Thine Eyes tormented by that cursed Sight Which shall both Acted and Permitted be By equal Sons of everlasting Night Come then let our Discourse return and be Spent on this Miracle of Purity 107. Thy Lords great Feast was the high Consummation Of Israels Passover A Feast which did With mystick power antidate his Passion And that long-long'd-for Word 'T is finished Right noble was that typick Passover But nobler this because Substantial here 108. How much more pure and pretious is this Lamb Who though the Feast unto himselfe be soure Presents no Sauce of bitter herbs to them Who are the Convives but with all the power Of Sweetnesse entertains their Palates and All Joyes to wait upon them doth command 109. This is that more renoun'd Viaticum The Israel of God to fortifie When they from Pharaohs iron Bondage come And travell to their holy Liberty O Psyche those old Stories plainlier are Reacted in the Christian Hemisphear 110. Sin is that hatefull Egypt where doth reign A King how much more fierce than Pharaoh was The Tyrant Belzebub who throws his Chain About the World and makes all Nations passe Under a more unreasonable Law Than making Brick whilst They 'r denyed Straw 111. But pious Soules are by this Paschal Feast Both strengthned and encouraged to throw This servile Yoak away and thither haste Where everlasting Liberty doth grow Although their hard obstructed Passage be Thorough the Wildernesse and the Red Sea 112. This enigmatick Life of Misery Can own both those repugnant Names what are Its Storms and Broils and Tumults but a Sea Red with Destruction What is daily fear With helplesse Desolation and Distresse If not a squalid fatal Wildernesse 113. But through this wretched Desert and this Sea The Virtue of this Passover will lead Beleeving Soules untill they safely be Of blessed Canaan inherited That Canaan whose Milk and Honey is The sweetnesse of exuberant Paradise 114. That Canaan where no Jebusites shall be Thorns in the Sides of its accomplish'd Rest And whence no Babylonish Potency Shall root Them out who there are once possest A Canaan which alone makes good the grand And glorious Title of The holy Land 115. This Sacramental Bread and this alone Is that supporting Staffe of Life by which The stout and faithfull Generation Take their brave journey unto Heav'n and reach The top of their Desires more surely far Than by his Staffe the Artist does the Star 116. By Bread and Bread alone Man now must live Ev'n by this Bread which from Gods own Mouth came Christs potent institution did give This Virtue to it and Himselfe proclaim Aforehand that Men must not hope or think To Live but by this Suppers Meat and Drink 117. All Delicacies moulded up in one Pure pretious Composition are here Ne'r did the Sybarit s Invention Upon their Tables sacrifice such cheere Unto their 〈◊〉 which alone to them The greatest of the Deities did seem 118. The Syracusian Bords did never sweat Under such Dainties Alexandrian Feasts Did never with such princely sprightfull Meat Ravish the Palates of their dearest Guests No Asiatick nor no Medick Fare No Cates of Marseils may with these compare 119. Great Solomons profoundest Industrie Which through all Nature did his Pleasures hunt Sifting and boulting everie Suavitie To finde what Sweets did flow with most Content Nought but unsa vorie Vanitie could taste All Solid pleasures here alone are plac't 120. Here in this Bread this rich Conspiracie Of most substantiall Delights to which That pure Angelick Cheer which bounteouslie Heav'ns carefull Hand did every morning reach Unto his Israel journying in the bare And hungrie desert was course homely fare 121. Nor is the Dainties of the Cup lesse rich Than that which in the noble Patin lies The Wine of Love of Life of Spirits which By new un-heard of heavenly properties The heart of Man with such Delights doth cheer As never fears the worst assaults of fear 122. Heavens prudent Law had taken order that No Creatures Blood the Lippe of Man should stain O no The Caution was just and fit That all those Mouthes might be reserved clean In reverence to the Blood of this great Lamb Which was into beheving lips to stream 123. O blessed bloody peacefull Wine O how Divinely hast thou satisfaction made For that enflaming Poison which doth flow In other Wines may Noah now be glad Of his Invention since his foule mishap Is clean wash'd out by this all purging Grape 124. This is that Wine wherein dwells Veritie The Veritie of Heav'n For Heav'n in it All melted is Those noble Joies which we Bath'd in at home are heer together met In sweet epitomie and smiling swim About the Chalices most reverend Brim 125. Let Luxurie turn other wines into The milk of
Venus and unto its Cupps As to the Bottles of her bosome goe Whence onely furious uncleannesse drops This is the purest Juice that can be prest From Chastities own most unspotted breast 126. Of this milde Doves may drink and never fear An inflammation which might entrench On their chaste Spirits Devoted Virgins heer Their 〈◊〉 and bashfull Hearts may safely drench This Liquor breeds no flames but soft and cool Which though they burn cannot infect the soul. 127. Should Greek Canarie or Pannonian Wine Should Spanish French Italian and the rest Which crown the Bowles of Princes all combine In one Extraction and be richly drest With Aromatick Helps they would be all If paralleld with this but costly Gall. 128. Ambitious Cleopatra's sumptuous Bowle Where her Luxuriant Jewell learn'd to swimme And its inestimable Riches roule Melted and mixed with the gallant stream Compared with this Cup was full as vile As any Bottle filled at her Nile 129. This makes those wines all blush for their own shame Which in proud Belteshazzers Goblets smil'd Which Holofernes to the beauteous Dame And yet more Masculine then Beauteous fild That Dame who in her Nations quarrell durst Lesse for his Wine than for his heart-blood thirst 130. Sardanapalus with his Coste and Care Such precious liquor never could obtaine No Epicurean wishes ever were Advanced unto so sublime a strain As to desire so rich a Draught as this Whose worthabove all Fancies Compasse is 131. For where the Juice of other Grapes doth reign Both Sense and Reason feel its Tyranny Which being drownd together with their Brain Forth with each Member and each faculty To beastly Madnesse is enslav'd and flies On Murders Rapines Rapes and Villanies 132. But where this Wine of Angels domineers The Heart with noble Drunkennesse it fills For all its Powers and Spirits it overbears With a sweet stream of mystick Miracles Untill intoxicated by this Flood Of Love and Heav'n the Man is Drunk with God 133. Strange Psyche are this Drunkennesses Fits Oft have I seen and them as oft admired The World has thought these Men besides their Wits When with this Liquors flame it saw them fired But We know what ecstatick Raptures mean And Zeals exploits when it hath got the Rein. 134. Oft have I seen brave Spirits when they rose From this great Banquet fill'd with generous Rage Flie in the face of Sin and nobly choose The stoutest Foes whereon they might engage Their heav'nly Confidence nor has their high Adventure faild to reach down Victory 135. Oft have I seen Them scorn the Frown of Death Oft have I seen them hug the Crosse and Spear Oft have I heard them spend their finall breath In wooing greater Torments to come neer Oft have I seen them enter single fight Both with the Peers and with the Prince of Night 136. For well they know what Strength they have within And by tenacious Faith they hold it fast How can those Champions ever fail to win Amidst whose Armour Heav'n it selfe is plac'd What Battery can prevail against that Breast Which is infallibly with God possest 137. For to augment the Wonder Psyche this Great Feast of Feasts can never all be spent When Millions are filled still it is Intirely whole and knows no detriment So though the whole World drinks in Air yet still The undiminish'd Region is full 138. And yet not so For here each One doth eate The totall Feast yet each One leaves it whole These antecedent Ages cannot cheat Those which lagg on behinde whilst Heav'n doth roll And Earth stand still this ever-teeming Bord. The same Delights will unto All afford 139. No Fount lives on such living Springs as dwell In this pure Cup of Life to which though all The World doe daily flock to drink yet still It keeps its equal Plenitude nor shall The busie School with all its Company Of Doubts and Queries hope to draw it drie 140. Though all Heav'ns starry Tapers lighted be At Phebu's eyes his Raies are still intire Though in each River Fountain Lake or Sea His Image shines yet his original Fire Is onely one which doth it selfe so wide In its compleat Similitude divide 141. Thus and more really than thus this Feast Most absolutely One it selfe doth spread Into the Mouth and Heart of every Guest And there far more celestial Splendor shed Than when the Sun by his meridian Ray Triumphs upon the highest Throne of Day 142. The Blessed Lord not many years agoe Had borrow'd of the World Humanity And dress'd Himselfe in Maries bowells so That He became compleatly Man yet He Though by this Condescent new Raies He set In Natures Crown still thought Himselfe in debt 143. Right Generous as He was He ment to pay All back again which He receiv'd from Her His Body and his Blood He ment to lay Upon the Crosse and make Requitall there To all his Creditors and freely by That Payment ransome Them from Misery 144. And yet because his Humane Nature He So dearly lov'd that He resolv'd to bear It home in Triumph and eternalie Those Robes of boundlesse Love and Mercie Wear E'r He his journey took He plotted how It might Ascend and yet Remain below 145. Remain below and be as oft Restored As Man would please to take it And the way He Instituted was by this adored Mysterious Banquet which doth day by day Repay his Flesh and Blood that Man may eat And drink and with his God incorporate 146. For to compleat his most excessive Love Beyond the reach of any Parauel This 〈◊〉 Pay He doth so far improve That his 〈◊〉 Godhead joyns to swell The royall Feast for this can never be Dissevered from his Humanity 147. O Banquet fit for His Magnificence Who is the Universes Soveraign By this dear Project Psyche Mercies Prince Collecteth in his more than golden Chain His World unto Himself and ties 〈◊〉 close That no Disunion can interpose 148. The glorious Incarnation began To tie this Knot which now redoubled is There God vouchsas d to joyne Himselfe with Man Here Man has leave to make the Juncture His And knit himself to his 〈◊〉 O What God stoop'd ever to his Creature so 149. By this sweet Combination Men doe grow 〈◊〉 of their Singularities Their 〈◊〉 Interests their I and Thou Their Mine and 〈◊〉 their grounds of Avarice Of Envie of 〈◊〉 any comply In holy Peaces common Unitie 150. This is the Cement which together ties The Stones which in the Churches Fabrik lie The common Ligature which doth comprise Each Joynt and Member in the Mysterie Of Christs spirituall Body untill He The Shepheard and his Sheep in one agree 151. For as the Reasonable Soule doth swimm Intirely one through all the Body yet In every Member and in every Limm In its Totality doth single sit So by this Sacramentall Union Jesus is One to All and All to One 152. Beleeve it Psyche though thy Mortal Eye Sees no such brave Attendance on this Bord Yet
be Such care to murder thy dear Spouse had He 55. Deep in the bowels of eternal Night And neighbour to the black Court of Damnation A Den there is where Stinks with Stinks doe fight And Ejulation roar at Ejulation Where Horrors Horrors fright and where Dispair The face of Desperation doth tear 56. Hither came He When loe the Iron Door Gap'd like the thirsty Earth to drink him in Whilst from its joyfull Mouth the Cave did poure A Stream of flaming Sulphure to begin Its Soveraigns Welcome whom that Complement Such was his princely Grace did well content 57. For in He went and there his Daughter saw Busie in pouring ever-flaming Lead Upon her Captive Soules whom Lies did throw Into that boiling Curse Upon her Bed Of red-hot Iron not yet cooled lay Lusts Holocaust Madame Potiphera 58. She lay and bit and roar'd and bit again Her slanderous Tongue whence deadly Shafts she shot At holy Joseph when She had in vain Spent all her eyes Artillery and what Soft Blandishments her Wit could muster up To bring about her hot and lustfull Hope 59. There lay that foule-mouth'd Ten whose envious 〈◊〉 Blasted the florid Sweets of Canaan Spreading a Dearth upon Fertility And spewing Gall where Milk and Honey ran They curs'd amain and still their Lie maintain'd In spight of Death which in their Bosomes reign'd 60. There lay that Pair of Venal Soules who by Their hired Lie effected Naboths death Acting themselves that foule Impiety With which They slander'd Him With flaming breath God and the King they curse and wish all Hell Melted into the Heart of Jezebell 61. Th' Assyrian Railer there his Throat did rend With 〈◊〉 assertion of his Blasphemy Avouching still that God himselfe did send Him to extirpate all the Jews And why Fond Rabsheka does He thus deep torment Thee For that bold Errand if on it he sent Thee 62. There lay that slanderous Pair of Elders who Susanna did so reverently belie At her their Accusations still they throw And swear they found her in Adultery Yet with more fury they on Daniel raile Crying See how Injustice may prevail 63. These and ten thousand more lay roaring there Whilst the remorselesse Mistresse of the Den Triumphed in their Tortures Never Bear With such intemperate Fiercenesse raged when Her hungry Teeth were flinging ope their way Through the Bowells of her helplesse Prey 64. Fell Calumnie it was a monstrous She Her Forehead was compos'd of seav'n-fold Brasse An obstinate Swarthinesse which scorn'd to be Pierced by any Blush grew on her face Her hollow Eyes with peevish Spight were fill'd Her powting Lips with deadly Venome swell'd 65. Her dreadfull Jaws replenish'd Quivers were Where Darts and Spears and Pikes and Arrows stood Prepar'd and sharpned all for mortal War Her mouth no Moisture knew but blended Blood Of Asps and Basilisks which she suck'd in To spit sure Mischief upon guiltlesse Men. 66. The Stings of Ten choise Dragons joyn'd in one Was all the Tongue wherewith She had to speak This made her language pure Destruction For certain Death at every Word did break Forth from her Lips if not at their first Sound Yet most infallibly at their Rebound 67. Her Brain is that mischievous Shop in which As every other Slander forged was So that which did all Parallels out-stretch And dar'd Omnipotence's soveraign Face Proclaiming that thy Lord not by his own But Belzebubs Power did tread the Devills down 68. When ever any rankling Canker breeds Kingdomes or Countries ruinous Overthrow Her viperous Trade it is the fatal Seeds Of restlesse Fears and Jealousies to sow In Peoples Hearts whilst She ten thousand Lies To blast their Rulers Credit doth devise 69. She spying now her royall Father there His Benediction begg'd upon her Knee Blesse Me dear Sire said She and give Me here Some new found Engine of fresh Cruelty These Soules are us'd too kindly all their Pains Grow stale and cold familiar their Chains 70. Fear not it shall be so cri'd Satan but Sweet Childe another Work first craves our Care Him whom I deepliest hate my Art has got With Juda's help fast in a fatal Snare I mean that Galilean Beggar who Has Me and all my Fiends abused so 71. But now the Priests forsooth are so demure And I 'le remember 't when I get them here That though they in the Project did conjure And bought that Christ ev'n at a Rate too dear Their Holinesses some pretence must have How in Destroying Him their Fame to save 72. Confusion on their Fame who though they dread Not what the Thundering Wrath of Heav'n can doe In vindication of a guiltlesse Head Stand in base awe of the vile Vulgar so That they confesse most Infamous Impiety Whilst They the People make their onely Deity 73. Base-hearted Hypocrites Can they not be Brave venturous Sinners like to Me their Prince Yet since they needs will sneak to Hell sure We For once will help the Fools to their Pretence They want False-witnesse for a Cloak and Thou This Livery canst best on Them bestow 74. But see Thou mould'st up some Athletick Lie Whose burly Bulk all Truth may over-bear Some petty sucking Knaves their best did trie But straight their ill-shod Tales did enter-fér On Thee the Work depends Come let 's away The High-priests Court or rather Mine doth stay 75. This said his Daughter by the hand He took And with more sprightfull speed then Indian Arrow Cuts through the tender whineing Aire he broke Earths sturdie obstacles and posted thorough The sullen clogging Masse untill He came Back to his other Home Jerusalem 76. There when he saw the Council at a stand Gaping and staring one upon another He spi'd withall two itching Rogues at hand Scratching their heads and beating them together He knew their meaning and through both their harts Unfeen unheard his Daughter strait he darts 77. As when the Bosome of the Delphick Priest Began to boile with his desired Hell His Rapture by his Gestures he confest Hastening to vent his belking Oracle So this accursed Pair now kindled by The Furie speeded to belch out their Lie 78. For straight each flung his hand above his head And cri'd I have it sure let 's to the barre And when their Projects they examined They found that both in one Mould fashion'd were At which they kiss'd and shaked hands and prest With full-mouth'd Accusation to the Priest 79. Great Caiaphas and ye the 〈◊〉 The holy Guardians of Heav'ns reverend Law Hear Us said They who will object to Him No hearsay stories but what we both saw And beard and may henceforth nor Eye nor Ear If we speak what is false or see or Hear 80. We saw him strutting in the Temple where His most blasphemous Pride he broach'd and cri'd I will destroy this house which Hands did rear And build another full as fair and wide Without the Help of Hands as if bold He No Mortall were but some great Deitie 81. Nay
to be sure his Blasphemie might want No Complement of desperate Impudence Though six and fourty yeares he knew were spent In compassing that works Magnificence He blush'd not to avouch that in three dayes The Fabrick to perfection he would raise 82. But Psyche how shall Feeble Waves prevail Against impenetrable Rocks in vain This wretched Lie indeavoured to assail Unshaken Truth which did in Jesus reign And split it self could the blinde Judges eye Have seen its shivers which about did fly 83. For grant this Article were full as true As it is false Why must it branded be As Blasphemous in Him who in the view Ofample witnesse prov'd his Potencie Sufficient was the Temple to restore When He from Death her Captive Lazarus tore 84. But strait a Murmur rolld about the Hall Which the Fond People toss'd from one another The Council gravely shak'd their heads and all Mingled their jealous Whisperings together Till Caiaphas stood up and ask'd thy Lord Why He no kinde of Answer would afford 85. Jesus who never spilt a word in vain For sweet and pretious was his blessed Breath Would no Reply unto that witnesse deign Which shamelesse Falshood venteth and which hath Its Answer in its self to any Ear But that which is resolved not to hear 86. Wherefore the Preist advisd by Satan now Contests him deep to trie if He could make Him prove his own Accuser All Men know Said He those towring Words of thine must speak A more then Mortall Power nor must thou hope Thy silence now shall lock the Businesse up 87. For by the everliving God whose Name Too glorious is on Mortall Tongues to sit I heer conjure Thee cleerly to proclaim Whither Thou be the Christ whom Holy Writ Has promis'd to the World that Blessed One The Heir of Heav'n and Gods eternall Son 88. O who would think this Consecrated Tongue Which with such reverentiall Awe doth make Mention of God mean while should burn in strong Thirst of most guiltlesse Blood But Hell can break Ev'n into Heaven it selfe and Satan dare Before Gods Throne amongst his Sons appear 89. And He his Scholars teacheth to begin The foulest Crimes with Gods all-beauteous Name That so more easily He may usher in What else by plain and necessary shame Would be obstructed Thus the Charmers Tongue Distills his Poison through his dainty song 90. But he who came Truth 's glorious Lamp to light Was pleased now to give a full Replie His Heav'n his Sire Himself did him excite Himself his Sire his Heav'n not to denie In Me said He fulfill'd your Scriptures are I am God's Son and Heav'ns apparent Heir 91. And though your Eyes now look such Scorn on Me Time comes when they shall melt in tears for this When on the Clouds high Chariot they shall see My Majestie in Glories high Excesse And at the first glimpse of my Power know I have a Judgement Seat as well as you 92. No sooner was this generous Truth profest But Caiaphas in deep dissimulation His politick but bloody Malice drest And starting from his seat in zealous Passion Tore his own Clothes in token of his high Distaste at that presumed Blasphemy 93. 'T is true his Law did cleerly Him forbid To rend his Clothes but what car'd He for Law Who now about Injustice beat his Head And onely aim'd how He the World might draw Into opinion that the Pris'ners Case Beyond all possible holy Patience was 94. Vain Hypocrite keep thy Clothes whole to hide Thy shamelesse self whom Thou one day shalt tear For setting forth this Embleme which doth bid The People use the Pris'ner at the Bar As Thou thy Robe But they are dull and yet Reade not what Thou commend'st to Them by it 95. They read it not But Psyche bloody He Awakes their drowsie crueltie and cries What need we further Witnesses for yee Your selves have heard his wide-mouth'd Blasphemies Speak what you think the Case seems unto Me So plain that I dare let you Judges be 96. O Righteous Judge and worthy of the Chair Of reverend Moses who doth first invite The People unto Blood and then repair Unto their Sentence Whither Wrong or Right Speak what think ye a Firebrand is and will Kindle the Furie of their Murdering Zeal 97. For when the Bloodhounds feel their feet are loose They straight pursue the Sent and with joint Crie Proclaim him guiltie And say They may Those Not live who think He is not fit to Die This roaring Sentence serv'd the turn and so Abused Jesus for Condemn'd doth goe 98. What matter though the sacred Rolls can show No Statute which as due his Life demands This Popular extemporal Vote is Law Enough to yeeld Him into barbarous Hands And He so foul and monstrous is his Cause Must die for breaking that which never was 99. Forthwith the busie Officers and all The insolent Servants take Him as their Prey And setting him amidst the smoakie Hall Make his unmoved Patience their Play Where as a Preface to his deep disgrace Their odious Scorn they spit upon his Face 100. One at his Mouth another at his Eyes One at his Nose another at his Beard His Slaver aimes and impudently tries To shoot his shame with Art Was ever heard Such putid Crueltie Where are ô Jews Your Eyes and Face that thus you His abuse 101. Have not all Beauties made their gracefull seat In this Majestick Look Is Libanus Is Paradise is Heav'n so fair and sweet Are Phebu's Eyes so purely glorious Is delicate Aurora's April Cheek So roseal as this so soft so sleek 102. Cull out ten thousand of the fairest Faces Where goodly Feature ever made her home And draw an Extract of their richest Graces Yet that bright Quincessence must 〈◊〉 come Into the presence of these Looks to which All Humane Beauties cannot hope to reach 103. For ne'r did milder purer Lovelinesse Crown'd with the best of Comlinesse's Joyes Flourish upon so fair a Throne as His Accomplish'd Countenance in which the Choise Jewells of most incomparable Grace Had every one their goodly proper place 104. And must this blessed Face of Sweets alone Be made the Sinck of your vile Excrement Much rather upon Caiapha's or on Great Cesar's Cheeks your Spittle might be spent Or on the Starts whose Fires all lighted were At those bright Eyes your Filth becloudeth here 105. Is this the pay his Spittle must receive His Soveraign Spittle which unto the Blinde His never known nor hop d for Sight did give That now Himselfe his own pure Eyes Must finde Drown'd in the Scum of your foule Mouths O stay Dear Psyche I have something more to say 106. Thy pious Tears are ready broach'd I see To wash this filth from off thy Spouses face But rein them in a while that they may be Officious unto His more deep Di grace The greatest Griefs are still behinde More great Than thine or then the whole Worlds Tears can wet 107. These Varlets when their clotted
jeer 212. May Heav'ns propitious eye for ever dwell On him who best deserves its care may all The clouds which with the fattest blessings swell Upon his Head let their best riches fall As freely as these drops rain down on it And at this Word they all upon Him spit 213. On the brave Romane Birds imperial wing May thy illustrious Name and Glory ride And may Tiberius to this nobler King Thus yeeld his mighty Throne this said a wide And massie Chair full at his head they throw Which grav'd its foot-steps deep upon his brow 214. Then after three low bowings on his knee One a Petition brings and having pray'd Him to accept his suit He instantly Hings it upon his face Another play'd 〈◊〉 and told Him what strange things He had in charge to Him from 〈◊〉 Kings 215. Most excellent Sir my Bus'nesse is said He Of such immediate consequence that it Can no delay digest which urgeth Me To this unwonted and uncivill Fit Of craving present Audience and here He boxed both his ears to make Him hear 216. A third came with a golden Goblet in Crying My Liege the Queen to you hath sent This Mornings Draught and prayes You to begin That She may pledge your Highnesse Here he bent His cursed brows at Jesus and threw out Upon his face the Urine He had brought 217. A fourth his Reed did from him snatch and cri'd Your Scepter Sir to heavy is I fear Let not your Majecty your Servant chide If he offend in too much loyal Care Your Selfe shall judge how grievous is its Weight Which said Him with the sturdy Cane he beat 218. A fift with ernest supplication su'd But for the honor to support his Train Then snatching up his Robe behinde with rude Unseemly Peevishnesse he kick'd amain Bruising thy Spouses naked Body till His weary Toe stay'd his unwearied Will 219. A sixt came crying Treason Treason Sir Treason against your sacred Majesty The Iewes your Subjects all Conspiring are Against your Honor and your Life O fly And save your Royal Selfe This made Them all Seeing Him bound so fast a laughing fall 220. O Psyche I cannot describe how they Did mock and grin and gurn and sneer and pout How they did wring their Mounthes what antick play They us'd their gentle Saviour to flout Imagine all the worst thou canst conceive And infinitely worse than that beleeve 221. This Sceen thus acted Pilate brings him out In this strange habit to the Peoples view Telling them He had sifted Him but nought He could discover which did bear the shew Of capital Demerit Yet said He Behold how his light faults revenged be 222. If this ridiculous Garb be not enough With Shame to clothe Him yet consider well In what exuberunt Streams his Blood doth flow And guesse what favour I have shew'd Him Tell Me if you think a new room may be found In all his Body but for one more Wound 223. Behold the Man this torn and worried Thing Is He however Comely heretofore Sure he has for his foolish Name of King Paid dear enough and had not I had more Regard unto your Credits than mine own Such proofs of Cruelty I had not shown 224. O Spectacle of most Commanding Sorrows How would all Hearts but Jewish melt to see These ghastly Torrents and these gasping Furrows Upon the harmlesse Back of Purity How would a Tygers thirsty Wrath relent How would the Soules of hungry Bears repent 225. Had these unhappy Jews had any Eyes But those of rancorous Malice they might here Have seen how their own Griefs and Miseries To patient Jesus all transferred were And scor'd upon his Back They might have found A salve for all their Sores in every Wound 226. They might have seen his innocent Temples wear That Malediction which to them was due The stinging Briars he was pleas'd to bear And leave the fragrant Flowers to them which grew Both in their mortal Gardens here and which With endlesse Sweets did Paradise enrich 227. At least that Lesson of Compassion They As well as Pilate might have plainly read Which in red capital Letters written lay And to the Eyes of all Spectators spread So fair a Challenge that no generous Breast Could their strange Importunity resist 228. But loe the barbarous Priests unsatisfied With all that Blood which was already shed Because some more behinde remained Cried O ease the Earth of that blasphemous Head Before Heav'n vindicate it selfe and We Involved in the Flood of 〈◊〉 be 229. It is no Boyes Fault his that you should deem A 〈◊〉 is sufficient Punishment O rather square your own by Heav'ns Esteem And joyn with ours your righteous Consent A Crosse a Crosse Heav n cannot pleased be Untill this Monster Crucifi d it see 230. This most unreasonable Madnes made The Judge as loude as They In vain said He You hope by Roaring to make Me afrayd The Man is guiltlesse 〈◊〉 Eyes if yee Resolved are that Innocence must Die Goe Murder Him your Selves and cease your Crie 231. Harsh was this Word and on their Plot did grate So hard that they enforced were to flie Unto the Refuge which They most did hate As knowing it was an old-answered Lie That Law They now pretend to which long since The Pris'ner justified his Innocence 232. Nay They repli'd it is not We but Law Our Law more dear to Us than are our lives Calls loude for Him to Death Be pleas'd to know That our great God no grace nor pardon gives Unto the least Blaspheemers and shall He Who makes himself the Son of God goe free 233. If Thou Protector of our Laws wilt be Break not our greatest for this Varlets sake Should He intrude into the Familie Of Caesar and his Sons great Title take Sure Thou wouldst think a Crosse his due and is Wrong to Heav'ns Emperour a less Crime than this 234. Blood-thirsty Hypocrites For well they knew How they their Law in urging it denyed For though this Accusation had been true 〈◊〉 must not Jesus by the Crosse have dyed The Law an heap of Stones ordein'd to be The Death and Monument of Blasphemie 235. 〈◊〉 this new Plea did startle Pilate so 〈◊〉 again retires and tries again 〈◊〉 Examination might doe 〈◊〉 he many Queries put and fain some Pretence have found with them to joyne 〈◊〉 all Slander did out-shine 236. But when He tels the Multitude his Minde Onely new Oile upon their Flames He threw For in their loudest Fury all combin'd Upon Him with this bold replie they flew If Jesus you dismisse We must have leave Great Caesar to acquaint with this Repreive 237. Did not the Traytors Head contrive to wear A Crown of Gold where now those Thorns are set And Who We pray more dangerous Enemies are To Caesars right than They which thirst for it He says his Realm is not on Earth And what Should Traytors being Taken plead but that 238. But were He free again and had proud He New
thousand Deaths at last Snatch'd from her mighty Losses Victory Whilst at the feet of Gods great Will she cast Her own as gallant Abraham when He Preferr'd before his Isaac Pietie 342. Yet what was Isaac unto Jesus ô With how much dearer Prize did Mary part Though Isaac pretious was He could no so Profoundly be ingrav'd in Abrahams Heart As Jesus in his Mothers yet is She Content of her Hearts Heart depriv'd to be 343. O heav'nly Mother never Agonie Was more heroick than was this of thine Excepting that of thy great Son when He His humble Patience did prove Divine Decorum 't was that Thou should'st tread alone The hardest Steps of Glory next thy Son 344. But Psyche though this Amazon of Love So stoutly fought yet John who stood by her Was of a weaker Metall far and strove With lesse Successe the Passion to bear He strove a while but at the last poor Saint As Griefe became outragious he grew faint 345. For when his loving Eyes beheld that Breast Upon whose Sweets his Head was wont to lie And those dear Arms which us'd to hug him fast And chain him unto Blisse The Tyranny Which now possessed them soon overthrew His tender Heart and all his Comforts slew 346. Jesus observ'd them Both and saw how she Although her Pain and Sorrow greater were Yet made them bow unto her Will how He Suffer'd his lesser Griefe to domineer Over his wounded Soule and seeing this Felt what he saw in Both for Both were His. 347. He felt their Tortures but with deeper sense Then they themselves and more Excesse of Pain His Soule being temper'd to all Excellence Of dainty Softnesse which did entertain Ev'n in its Bowells every Torments Darts He spi'd in any of his Spouses Hearts 348. Witnesse his bounteous Care before he dies ' To cheer them by a pretious Legacy His noble Mother far above all price Ev'n in that dearest of Relations he Bequeaths to John and John to her again That in his stead her Son he might remain 349. Sweet Legacie where though the Mother be The richer Gift considered alone Yet is the Balance equaly Now Iohn's inhanced by the Name of Son For that high Name intitles him to be No lesse than Jesu's priviledg'd Deputy 350. A long-long Houre had now run out since by His weeping Wounds the King of Mercy hung Yet all this while from the hard Peoples Eye Not one drop of Compassion he had wrung This made the Sun though on his high-noon Throne Fear his own Eyes had not their duty done 351. But looking wistly He perceived how Men had exiled all Humanity This Sight upon his face a Blush did throw In shame and horror at the Prodigie He blush'd and shut his royall Eyes and hurld More than Cimmeria all about the World 352. In mourning Weeds the heav'nly Sphears at last Upon their dying Master will attend And with no gaudy Tire of Light be drest Now all the Powers of Hell and Darknesse bend Their uncontrolled spight in Him to damp All other Lights divine original Lamp 353. The Aire was frighted at this monstrous Change When Midnight seized upon highnoon Day Marching with Apparitions and strange Phantomes of duskie fire in fierce array Whilst every hollow Winde which passed by Bemoan'd with sad Groans this Calamity 354. The lesser Sparks of Heav'n all started as Their sudden priviledge who now might view The open face of Noon not knowing what Had thrown upon the Sun his Sable Hue With doubting twinckling Eyes on him they gaze Seeing him down yet in his highest Place 355. Each gentle fair-condition'd Bird and Beast Hi'd them unto their Nests and Dens for fear Onely some ominous Ravens and Scritchowles prest With Beasts of Prey Night through the black Aire And fit Companions for these Jews they were Who in all Horridnesse their Brethren are 356. Frights and Dismays walk'd not so thick upon The face of Egypt when 't was buried In a strange three-days Night as now they run Both there and here for every where they spread Having as large a Circle as the Sun Who now from all the World at once was gone 357. The grave Astronomers who with Phoebus were Of old 〈◊〉 and knew all his Gistes His way his Jnns his Hosts and whersoe're His restles Coach in his bright path 〈◊〉 Wonder'd what sudden Monster did arise And rob him of his Locks and of his Eyes 358. 'T is plain the Moon was innocent for She Knew not the buis'nes being far away No less than Halfe the Heav'ns Immensitie Betwixt Hers and Her Brothers Station lay For whilst He flourish'd in the perfect height Of Day She groveled in the Depth of Night 359. But grant by some portentuous Wheel She from Her proper Place was whirl'd thus farr away Yet how could her poor Bulk usurp the Room Of His vast flames and damm up all the Day Sure Phoebus scorns that Her small Blot should rob The totall Beautie of his mighty Globe 360. O No 〈◊〉 was a larger Blot than so A Blot in which all Blackness did combine A Blot which no Comparison doth know A Blot made up of every foulest Sinn A Blot as hideous as profound and wide As Impudence could make 't was Deicide 361. No wonder now Heav'n would no longer be Beheld those who did its King destroy That Phoebus his less reverend Majestie Deny'd to them whose onely work and joy Was to eclipse and quench that Soveraign Sunn Whose open Eyes His durst not gaze upon 362. And yet this Darkness a faint Copie was Of that more monstrous Pitch which stuck upon The Eyes and Hearts of the blind Jews Alas This Prodigies stern Admonition Could not awake their Thoughts to search and see How Heav'n was frighted at their Crueltie 363. The itching Wit of their immortall Spight Draws every Thing into new B lasphemie Behold say They the most audacious Might Of His insufferable Witcherie Whilst other Wizards onely on the Moon Or Starrs throw Darkness He choaks up the Sun 364. But now the Ninth Houre of the Day drew on And brought the last Act of this Tragedie Along with it that Houre in which alone More Horrors than 〈◊〉 Agese'r did see In one Consp 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 met And in Array themselves all armed set 365. His other 〈◊〉 but faint Praeludiums were Which onely gathering Clouns did overspred But now the Tempest in its full Carrieer Broke down and sous'd directly on his head JESUS was now encompass'd with the Stream And ev'n into his Soul the Waters came 366. The Waters of that dismall Cup which He Both fear'd and lov'd eschew'd and chose to Drink The fatall Dreggs of Wrath and Misery Of every black and dreadfull Thing the Sink A Dead Sea unto which Gomorrha's Lake Compar'd would wholsome Milk and Hony speak 367. Heav'ns Justice who had with a constant Eye Observ'd all Tribes of Men and noted down Each little Slip each broad Impiety With all the Trappings Time and Place had thrown
dearest limbs well sold Yea and their Hearts and Lives if so they may Upon their Herses wear triumphant Bay 395. But now as in the Fornace of his Pain This helplesse Victor fries he cryes I thirst For sure He longed to drink up and drain The dregs of grief that none of the accurs'd And deadly draught he might behinde him leave His mortall Brethren evermore to grieve 396. Yet they unkindly on a Reed present Him Vinagre who broach'd the Wine for them The Wine of his dear Blood all which He spent To wash and cheer their hearts Does he not seem O salvage Jews without the help of this Your gift to have enough of bitternes 397. Is this your thanks to Him who every year Your stream of harvest-pleasures poures on you Who to compleat your Banquet doth prepare Those soveraign dainties which in Eden grow And who mean while hath with his bounteous hand Giv'n you your milk and honcy slowing Land 398. Yet Jesus takes it kindly Psyche He Knew well this knawing draught would best besit The dying King of greif whose miserie So dear and pretious on his Soule did sit That He their wine aromatiz'd with Myrrh Thought far lesse pleasant then this Vinagre 399. Besides that Poison he remembred well Which from th' enchanting apples sweets did flow By wholsome Bitternes he means to heal Ev's liquorish Luxury His Palate now Doth expiate Hers and nobly teacheth it That apples fatall rellish to forget 400. And now the Tragedie began to draw To its sad end for Jesus having by Immortall patience undergone the Law And curse and grappled with the monstrous frie Of all the Worlds Transgressions lifts his head In triumphup and cryes T is finished 401. O that it were said Mary who stood by So should my Soule live still with my dear Lord. If he has found a way how not to die Why does sweet Jesus not make good his Word By coming down So sighed pious she But he made haste to his Catastrophe 402. For Justice now had nothing more to say Since by the streams which down the Cross did slow All her Objections were wash'd away And every Page of her black book did grow As pure and faire as the serenest skies When rescued from the gloomy clouds disguise 403. Wherefore she straight dismiss'd her horrid train And then withdrew her self These being gone Jesus look'd up into his Heav'n again And saw the veil which dwelt till now upon His Fathers face remov'd O 〈◊〉 sight O cheerly morning after heavy night 404. He saw his everlasting Arms as wide Stretch'd out as his were on the Cross He saw His blessed bosome ope which seem'd to bid Him to his nest of bliss return and grow His happy self again He saw his eye Flaming in pittying Loves extremitie 405. An everlasting Laurell in his hand He saw designed to confute the shame Of his own thorny crown He saw the grand Cherubick quire ambitious to proclaim His Conquests in their songs And at the sight Resolv'd to die he cryes with all his might 406. Father into thine hands I here commit My Spirit which thou woo'st to come to thee Up flew that mightie word and after it Out brake his blessed Soule for strait way he Bow'd down his Head submitting sweetly to That will he came by life and death to doe 407. The holy Temple heard his dying cry And as it could its Clothes tore for loe Its veil in sunder rent and seemed by That ruptures mouth to say I must let goe My priviledge and Jewish rites must be Resigned unto Christianitie 408. Earth heard it too and quaked at the noise Her rocks did rend her sepulchres did ope And many sleeping Saints wak'd at the voice Russled their dust together and gat up Natures commotion was so great and strange That in the guard it strait begot a Change 409. The bold Centurion with the Earth did quake So did the Soldiers with the rocks and cry Surely the World slept in a deep mistake Whilst it perceiv'd not Jesu's Deitie His Father now has owned Him and He Did when himself was pleas'd in blisse to be 410. For still his vitals in their strength remain d And he had force enough a while to live Witnesse that finall Blast for which he strain'd When He that strong and thundering cry did give These wretched theives we see still in their Pain 〈◊〉 he in his own rest is gone to reign 411. Nay ev'n on salvage and obdurate Jews So far can guilty Fear prevail that now The danger-stricken People could not chuse But grant their Hearts did feel this Terrors Blow For though their sullen Tongue would not their Fist Confest their fright upon their beaten Breast 412. Here Psyche whose soft Heart had come and gone A thousand times as he the Story told Now yeilded unto Griefs Dominion And e'r her Guardian spi'd it down she roll'd Joyning her Passion to her Lords and trying To live with Him who di'd for Her by dying 413. But Phylax by his heav'nly tender Art Soon cheer'd and rais'd her up and told her She Must 〈◊〉 now unto the other Part Which of this Sadnesse made a Comedie She look'd and sigh'd and cri'd All Joyes are dead When Jesus dies and yet dear Sir proceed 414. Know then said He this Passion and Death Hath pu chas'd all the Joyes that Heav'n can breed And cancell'd every fatal Bond of Wrath Which Sin had drawn against old Adams Seed All Jesu's Wounds are Gates by which Man may Take freely into Paradise his way 415. All sort of Pains and Shames and Sorrows he With matchlesse valour did monopolize The spightfull Wit of all Hells Treachery He vanquished by being made its Prize And yeilding up his meritorious Breath Blew down the Power ev'n of prevailing Death 416. Which when fell Satan saw it him repented Of this great bus'nesse he had brought about And at his Den in Paxis he lamented His undermin'd Designe when Crying out Great Pan is dead he made confession how He had projected his own Overthrow 417. For this was Pan indeed the God of Sheep Who held his tender Flock so dear that He From Wolves and Lyons it secure to keep Expos'd Himselfe to all Extremity And for the Fold found a sure Rampart out When with his Blood He moated it about 418. But now a Soldier he whose onely Heart Was harder than those Rocks which Griefe did burst Boldly took on him Cruelties last Part For into Jesu's side his Sphear he thrust Deep in his Heart the Iron div'd and brought The finall Stream of Blood and Water out 419. That Water which the Pericardium bound About the Heart that Blood which in it dwelt Thus all that in thy Saviour was found To feed and feast his Friends He freely spilt The Pelican so with her dearest Blood Diets and fattens up her dearer Brood 420. This done the Sun unveild his Clouded Eye And joyed the Redeemed World to see Forthwith the monstrous Shades away
Den the King of Hate Death and Corruption in the Grave subdues Turns back the mighty Stream of Mortal Fate Himselfe alive to his Disciples shews In Triumphs bright Excesse Ascends upon A Clowd and mounts his everlasting Throne 1. VIcissitude how doth thy constant Change Cheer up the World which else would droop faint Thou no strange Thing wilt suffer to be strange Whilst with all Companies Thou dost acquaint For thy Chamaeleons skin is made to fit All Sorts of Colours that can meet with it 2. When Heav'ns wise Hand did mould these things We see As Natures noble Sport and Recreation It constituted thy Uncertainty For ever certain in its Variation That as God knows no Change so all Things else Might feel the Motion of Mutations Pulse 3. All things at first were Night then Day burst forth But Night soon stole upon Dayes back again Yet in the Morning crept behinde the Earth And suffer'd Light her full twelve Houres to reign Thus have all Ages onely been the Play Of inter woven checker'd Night and Day 4. When peevish Winters churlish Breath doth blow His froazen Scythia all about the Earth Commanding Nature in a Bed of Snow To lie and sleep and let no Bud peep forth Who would imagine she could break again From the captivity of her icey Chain 5. Yet when the Sun leaps in the lusty Ram Forthwith the spring takes heart encourag'd by The neighbourhood of his enlivening flame And cloathes the World with fresh fertility Bidding the troublesome snow no more be seen And changing earths white mantle to a green 6. Sometimes the windes conspire upon the main To plow the deeps and throw them at the skie To let them thunder head-long down again And with new wrath return them up as high Till all the Sea be on a foaming sweat And Rocks and Ships and Sailers hearts be split 7. Yet when these Blasts their fury out have blown The Ocean becomes a polish'd plain Mildly presenting for each billowie frown A gentle smile The Sirens play again The Seamen hoise their sailes the Halcyon lays Her Egs and gives her name to quiet days 8. When the laborious Plow-man hath by day Worri'd himself and Earth and water'd it With his own sweat cool night his head doth lay Safe on his Bed and teach him to forget His toilesome work whilst soft and gentle sleep Yeilds him a crop of pleasant dreams to reap 9. When tedious sicknes by her rampant fits Has in the Body her sad revels kept Health takes her happy cue and cheerly sets Her self to work nor stops till she has swept The veins and Stomack and with lively fire Cheer'd up the Spirits which began to tire 10. Though Grief sometimes conspiring with the Night Disconsolations on an heart doth throw Yet Comfort dawning with the morning light Smootheth the sullen furrows of the brow And with its virgin beams of sweetnes dryes The briny moisture of the clouded eyes 11. But no vicissitude in sweetnes may Compare with that which cures the worst of gall Whose beams can chase the shades of death away And kindle comforts in a Funerall Which to a sepulchre can say stand ope And let thy Prisner into Life get up 12. Indeed some glimpses of this blessed Change Had glanced on the World before yet they Were but faint shaddows of the bright and strange Mutation which did shine on Easter-day For they effected were by borrowed Might This dawn'd and rose by none but its own light 13. Jesus alone was He in whose brave Hand Dwelt that authentick Power which knew how To give his Mortal Fate a Countremand To force his stout Grave to repent to throw A side his winding Sheet and cleerly turn His own Deaths Night into a living Morn 14. And now the reverend Place did prompt him too The glorious Story Phylax means to paint Its severall Wonders unto Psyche who Under her holy Passion strove to faint He takes her up and sweetly cries My Dear Lifes Monument as well as Deaths is here 15. And t is the same this very grave doth now With open mouth proclaim the death of Death Come sit thee down and I will tell thee how By his own loss thy vanish'd Saviour hath Victorious prov'd and reap'd such Palms as yet No other Conquerer could ever get 16. When in this Cabinet good Joseph had The pretious Jewell laid a massie stone Unto the Monuments mouth he roll'd and made It safe from injuries invasion Being still suspitious of the tyranny Of the High-priests which with death could not 〈◊〉 17. It could not die and was resolv'd that He Should neither live nor seem to live again Whom their flagitious importunitie Had by faint-hearted Pilates sentence slain To Him they come afresh and fawning cry Long live great Caesar and his Deputy 18. Sir in our Gods and in our Countries name Full thanks We tender for that Justice you Have done on Jesus blotting out that shame Which on our Temple His foule Mouth did throw Nor will you want ev'n Caesars praise since he Reigns by your care from dangerous tumults free 19. For what might this stout Conjurer have done If He had Veng'ance scap'd and lived still Who by the Magick of his Death alone Ierusalem doth with amazement fill How many Fondlings stroke their Breasts and cried Sure He 's the Son of God ev'n when He dyed 20. There 's Danger therefore least this Serpents blood Rankle the Aire and taint our credulous Nation Especialy since he himselfe thought good To pave the Way to some such Perturbation Telling his Scholars he to them again Would rise the third Day after he was slain 21. Now Sir if sheltered by theevish Night They from his Grave should steal Him and proclaim That He is Risen by his heav'nly Might What Danger might attend on such a Fame How would the seeming Miracle entise Seditious Multitudes with Him to Rise 22. Then would the Mischiefe swell to greater Height Then if the Traytor were indeed alive Against the power of that new Deceit Alas both You and We in vain should strive For how shall We attache Him who is dead And yet into new Lifes opinion sled 23. Say what we could the mutinous Rabble still By the Graves open Mouth would seal up ours Provoking Us unto that Miracle By which They 'l count'nance their Rebellious Powr's And with outrà gious Falsehood bear Us down Crying They serve Him who to Heav'n is flown 24. Pilate whose Conscience griped Him for what He had already done no more would trade In that uncomfortable Bus'nesse but Them of their spightfull Project Masters made Ye have a Watch Goe make all sure said He And satisfie your politick Iealousie 25. This was enough Away goe They in haste To make God sure for ever stirring more Annas and Caiaphas both their Seals set fast Upon the Stone which dammed up the Door Charging a double Guard appointed well With Swords and Spears to wait on either Seal 26. Fools as they are
their Plots and Counsells be But onely wise conspiracies to make The Resurrections glorious Mystery With more unanswerable Lustre break Forth in their Faces since their Guard and Seal Shall now bear witnesse to the Miracle 27. So when the envie-blinded Median Peers Had got great Daniel in the sealed Den Of hungry Death their Jealousies and Fears They confidently laid asleep but when The Day awak'd they found their fell Designe Prov'd his Deliverance the more Divine 28. Mean while the sacred Corps lay sleeping here And jolly Death triumphed in the Grave Presuming that no Man her force could bear Since she the deadly Wound to Jesus gave He was her only feared Champion and Loe now she saw him conquer'd by her Hand 29. Long had she vex'd and pin'd remembring how Brave Enoch and Elias rescued were From her Monarchik Cruelty but now That feebler Pair she is content to spare And gluts her bloody Heart with Joy to see This Trophe of most matchlesse Victory 30. She never took such proud Delight to set Her foot on Alexanders Toomb or see The Sons of Anak all in Ashes meet Or Josua's Dust with his own Grave agree Or steely Samson turn to rotten Clay Or vast Goliah mouldering away 31. She kiss'd her bloody Dart and vow'd to build An Arc of triumph to its Victory With high Disdain she all the World beheld Which now had no pretence but it must Die Since Life 's own Champion became her prey And tame and cold and dead before her lay 32. There lay his Body but his Soule mean time Triumphed more than she for down into The Kingdome of the hidden World the Chime Of unsuspecting Darknesse it did goe And took the Powers of Hell all napping in The secret Cloysters of their gloomy Den. 33. Hells Gates of sturdy Brasse He flung in sunder Shaking the bottome of the monstrous Deep The Porter frighted at the Ruines thunder Into the Gulfe to hide his Head did leap But equal Horror there he met for all The Pit was startled when the Gates did fall 34. So when the mighty Son of Manoah who Presumed was the Cities Prisner tore The Gates of Gaza to make way unto His conquering March the Peoples dreadfull Roar Answer'd the Pillars boistrous Crack whilst all Thought their own Roofs about their Ears did fall 35. Imperial Lustre streaming from the face Of Jesue in the eyes of hideous Night Upon the swarthy Flames of that foule 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 such an Ocean of immortal 〈◊〉 That into every hole they crept aside Seeking their 〈◊〉 Shame to hide 36. About the hollow Bowells of the Cave An universal Groan it selfe did spread Whose Echo such an hideous Answer gave That all Hell gasping seem'd on its Deaths-hed Straight followed such Yellings Shreiks and 〈◊〉 As truly spake Damnations Miseries 37. Imagine what the blear-ey'd Sons of Night Ravens Scritchowls Bats and such foule things would doe If they surprised were by High-noon Light In their black Nests ô whether should they goe When their illustrious Enemy doth reach The very entrails of their closest Pitch 38. Incomparably more the Horror was Which shot it selfe quite through the Heart of Hek For these commanding Rayes did freely passe Through the black Masse of every Obstacle With such stout Brightnesse that amidst the store Of never-dying Fires it kindled more 39. The Lakes of Sulphure boiled with new Heat And every Pang and Torment hotter grew Dispair afreshat every Bosome beat Upon the next Fiends race each Fury fiew And every Devill scratch'd and tore his Brother Wreaking their Mannesse upon one another 40. The Snakes their Hisses and their Poyson spit And in a thousand Knots ti'd and unti'd Their woefull selves again The Gorgons split Their monstrous Throats with raving and the wide And fiery-mouthed Dragons howling loud Whole torrents of their flaming venome spewd 41. The Peers of Hell curs'd their unhappy King Whose Pride did to this Torment them betray They hop'd the Light of Heav'n would never spring In their black Clime to poure on them Dismay But now they saw 't in Jesu's Eyes it more 〈◊〉 them than when they fell from it before 42. Their belking bosomes heaved high and fain They would have belched out that working Loaa 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 my which held their Soules in pain But mighty Terror stopp'd the sulphury road Of their foule Throats and forc'd their ready Sin Onely to split their hearts and rage within 43. Black Avarice with foule-mouth'd Calumnie And desperate Treachery who their Heads had laid Together in that fell Conspiracy By which Lifes King was unto Death betray'd With self-condemning Horror quak'd to finde Their Mischiefs all against Themselves 〈◊〉 44. Although Confusion alwayes reigned here It never sate so high upon its Throne As now nor such Monarchik sway did bear In all the Deep whose strange Distraction Outvi'd the Discords of that monstrous Masse Which the rude hideous Wombe of All Things was 45. But the Red Dragon red in innocent Blood Great Belzebub was more confounded than All Hell besides for well he understood That now he deeplier conquer'd was than when Down from the Pinnacie of Heav'n he fell Into the Center and the sink of Hell 46. That Jesus for whose Blood so long agoe A hunting unto Bethlehem he went with Herods pack of Hounds that Jesus 〈◊〉 When in the Desert all his Craft he bent To cheat Him into Sin did contremine With nobler Wisdome his profound Designe 47. That Iesus whom He by the Wit of Scorn Through Iews blasphemous Mouths had vilified Whom He by Treacherie had Pris'ner born Unto his Mortall Enemies Barr and tried By the impetuous lawlesse Law of Cries Of Threats broad Tumults 〈◊〉 Calumnies 48. Whom by the service of his Hell-bounds He Had spit upon had scourg'd had busseted Whom through all Infamies Extremitie He to this Mountain of his ' Death had led Whom on the Trec of Shame and Pain He 〈◊〉 And then with further Blasphensies assail'd 49. Whom of his blood he plundered and at last Of his dear life Whom having murder'd thus He in his Sepulchre gat sealed fast And cleerly then was thought victorius This very Jesu's Soule He seeth now Marching with triumph in his Realm below 50. He sees his deep-lai'd Plots and Projects prove But engines of their Masters overthrow He sees against himself he onely strove When unto Christ he gave the mortall blow That death by which he hop'd to have supprest The Lord of Life now lives in his own breast 51. He sees the Cross in a full Banner spred And shining with imperiall gallantrie That pretious blood with which he made it red Gilds and adorns it now with Majestie He sees it streaming in the swarthy aire And at its awfull motion melts for fear 52. He sees the dreadfull thorns and feels them prick His guilty Soule He sees the nails and thinks That deep in his rebellious Heart they stick He winds about his wofull taile He shrinks He starts he findes that something
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
263. But yet these beauteous stages onely were The fairely paved way and 〈◊〉 which see Unto that rairer larger Palace where Dwels light and life and bliss and Heav'n indeed And therefore Jesus through these made hast And only bless'd and gilt them as he 〈◊〉 264. When to the 〈◊〉 of the 〈◊〉 He Was now arriv'd and saw the world below The gate of Soveraign 〈◊〉 Before its King it self did open throw Of 〈◊〉 glories straight appear'd a 〈◊〉 〈…〉 but pure 〈◊〉 265. What joys what smiles what ravishments were here What delicate extremities of pleasures Injurious the unworthy Parallel were By 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 if we should measure These 〈◊〉 sweets of whose 〈◊〉 All 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not the 〈◊〉 is 266. For never did the sharpest-pointed eye Or of the body or the Soule of Man Such 〈◊〉 of pure delight desery As all about these splendid Regions ran Chanting those 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 no mortall 〈◊〉 Hath 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to heat 267. Into these vast Expansions as He went Loe his Almightie Father came to meet him O Psyche hadst thou seen that Complement Of supream joy with which he there did greet him The Spectacle for ever Thee had blest And with 〈◊〉 heav'n replenished thy breast 268. Unfathomable streams of 〈◊〉 Attended on him and bare up his train A flood of most excessive gratulation Before him roll'd But o how soveraign Was that infinitude of complacence Which brake from his own eys exuberance 269. On his Sons neck his radiant arms He threw And seal'd his lips with an inamor'd kiss His noble Bosome then wide open flew That home and Centre of eternall bliss To bid him welcome to that dearest bed In which or old he us 〈◊〉 to rest his head 270. Come Come said he no more to part from hence My hignest will thou hast compleatly done And by perfection of obedience Bravely approv'd thy self mine onely 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 shall entertain thee and For thy ocat sake those who about this 〈◊〉 271. Hence forth I can look on my world below With comfort which till now displeas'd mine eye For all its blots and stains and horrors thou Hast nobly turned into purity It shineth now wash'd by the liberal slood Of thine illustrinus all-cleansing blood 272. I see thy wounds and I beheld the shame With which they were engrav'don thee but now With never-dying lustre they shall flame 〈◊〉 on their gravers one day terror throw When guiltie they again shall see these scars 〈◊〉 purchased'st in Loves and Mercies wars 273. So spake the Father when the holy-Ghost Who hand in hand along with him was come Renued his applauding joy by most Mysterious emanations which from The string of living bliss his dainty breast In 〈◊〉 Plenitude of sweetnes prest 274. Thus in the face of Heav'ns returned Son He breath'd a pretious aromatick stream The surplusage of which effusion Fill'd and enobled all the hearts of them Whom he in triumph thither brought to be For ever Captives to felicitie 275. This salutation done Heav'ns trumpets sounded Whose gallant noise with equal Majestie That Hill of all sublimitie rebounded To which in goodly equipage did flie This reyal Companie straite gat up Unto Beatitudes and Glories Top. 276. Three radiant Chairs of awfull beautie there Stand founded fast upon Eternitie Which with such mystick art united are That 't is intirely one as well as three Three equal and distinguish'd seats yet one Essential and everlasting throne 277. Down in the midst the Father sate and on His left-hand his all-quickning Spirit but He at his right enthron'd his mighty Son And an eternal wreath of glories put Upon his Temples to requite those Scorns And Pains they here bore with their Crown of 〈◊〉 278. The ignominie of his feeble Reed With Dignities excess to recompence Into his right hand He delivered A Sceptre made all of Omnipotence And then erected just before his face His fairer Cross upon a diamond Base 279. As Jesus thus sate upon Triumphs Crown The Peers of that illustrious Kingdome came And at his feet their Coronets threw down In loyall homage and themselves with them Begging his leave that their unworthy tongues Might with his royall name enrich their Songs 280. Forthwith an Anthem of ecstatick praise Broke from their lips and on Heav'ns Roof did beat This brave example mov'd the Saints to raise Their highest tunes and mingle in that sweet Deluge of triumphs their applauses which Must flow as far 's Eternitie can reach 281. But the Disciples Psyche all this while Follow'd Him with their eyes and grieved were To see the interposing Cloud beguile Them of their Bliss yet could they not forbear Their Gazing still in hopes their Sun might break This Veil at length and they free prospect take 282. When loe two Angels all in snow array'd A courteous Check unto their error gave Yee Galileans why is it they said Your ignorant hopes stand gazing thus to have A sight of him now mounted higher far Above the cloud than you beneath it are 283. He on his Heav'nly throne is see and you Must wait till He is pleased thence to rise For time will come when he again will show To yours and all the worlds his blessed eyes And as from hence He did his journey take So on the Shoulders of a cloud ride back 284. This said the 〈◊〉 posted home to share In the new Festival above And they Convineed by that Item ready were Back to Jerusalem to take their way But as their eys returned to the ground The final Footsteps of their Lord they found 285. And so mayst Thou my Psyche still for loe The precious Characters doe heer remain The trustie Earth would never let them goe Nor did desire to smooth her face again Which by these Prints was so embellish'd that Her self to be the Worlds Base she forgat 286. These dear Impressions the Disciples kiss'd And took their leave and so to Salem went Full little thinking that the simple Dust In keeping them would prove so Diligent That neither Windes nor Storms could them deface Nor pious Pilgrims bear them from this place 287. A Thousand zealous Hands themselves have fill'd With this most priviledg'd Earth and held it more Pretious than all the golden Sand which swell'd The fame of Gange's or of Indu's shore Yet still the faithfull Dust with nimble Care Suppli'd and kept intire each Character 288. Nay when the Time shall come as come it will When Christian Piety shall courage take And build a Temple on this sacred Hill These footsteps of their Worth full proof shall make Refusing to let goe the Honour they Were sealed with upon Ascension Day 289. They back into the Workmens face will throw All his intrenthing stones as oft as He A Pavement labours over them to draw And injure with his Earthly decency Their heav'nly Beautie which He would disgrace Though He with Pearls and Gems should court the place 290. Nor shall He with his Roofe hope to forbid Their Prospect up
I seal Keep the Impression safe and so Farewell 82. Away this Word and He together flew For now the King of Soules thought fit to teach Psyche how little of her Heart she knew Who thought it raised past Delusions reach To her own Strength she now was left that she How little it deserv'd that Name might see 83. But when her Guardian now out-flew her View At his most unexpected Parting she At first amazed and aflicted grew But straight revolving that her Heart was free With all Jerusalem to satisfie Its curious fervor she left off to Sigh 84. Then in a modest Veil her face she hid Leaving her Eyes but room her way to see Zeal ti'd unto her feet the Wings of Speed And on she hasted toward Calvarie Her Saviours Pains afresh there to lament Not thinking that to her own Crosse she went 85. Mean while all pious Hearts eternal Foe Who to entrap them keeps perpetual Watch Observing her without her Guardian goe Judg'd this his onely time his Prey to catch He posted to a special Fuâ—ies Den Who started all her Snakes as he came in 86. But as she in ten thousand Hisses spoke Her Soveraigns Welcome Peace my Childe said He Part of my Errand's Haste and cannot brook These Complements Delay I have for Thee A piece of Service which will better prove How much thy Father Satan thou dost love 87. Psyche a Thing to Jesus wonderous dear And therefore full as odious to Me Who by his Love am alwaies pointed where I am to shoot my Spight is that coy she Whom though I sundry Times have baited yet Back in my face the Poyson still she spit 88. I Aphrodisius and Agenor sent And genuine Fiends they prov'd themselves to be About their hellish Work they wisely went And bravely acted all the Treachery And yet good Devills their far-driven Plot. So crafty was that Wench they finish'd not 89. Not that this Craft in her poor mortall Brain Was bred and nurs'd ô no abus'd We are And Heav'n though alwaies We to it give plain Defiance underhand maintains this Warr. There drown'd in Sulphure Thou hadst Psyche seen Had it not for unlukie Phylax been 90. He base unworthy Spirit as He is Not onely stoops to Christ which gallant We Of old disdained and still doe no lesse But with intolerable Flatterie Turns Page to dust and Ashes and doth bow From Heav'n to wait on this vile Worme below 91. Had He not better nobly Faln with Us And never have debas'd his High-born Mind Then crouch and sneak and currie favour thus Of the proud Tyrant Can an Angell finde It worth Christs Favour to be humbled down Far more below himselfe than We are thrown 92. For my part if I freely were to choose I would accept the bottome of my Hell And hug Damnation e'r I would with those Ignoble Sons of Earth a Servant d well Those Guardian Angels think We Cursed be Fools who perceive not their own Misery 93. They boast Heav'ns King 's their Soveraign and I Take the confessing Vassals at their Word But I 'l maintain it greater Dignity To have Him for my Foe than for my Lord They brag that Heav'ns their own Blisse's Hill Why I have more than so I have my Will 94. But now my Daughter Phylax is away His servile Diligence thou needst not fear Psyche is left unto her Selfe to day And therefore unto Us if thou tak'st Care To lay thy Plots aright for thine they be On which I build my Hopes of Victory 95. She now is on her way to Calvary The Hill which more than Heav'n it selfe I hate And have no minde in person to come nie That cursed Place It stands not with the State And honour of Imperiall Lucifer To smell the 〈◊〉 of Jesus Sepulchre 96. But for thy Fathers sake and service Thou Shalt stop thy Nose and venture to goe thither Where Thou a subtile Chain of Snakes shalt throw About that peevish Wench to hale her hither So at her and her cheated Spouse both I And thou will laugh unto Eternity 97. His foaming Lips He closed here and beat The flood of flaming Sulphure back into His monstrous Throat Straitat his burning Feet His damned Daughter took her leave to goe And with stout Fury rushed through the Earth And mingled with the Aire as she brake forth 98. In this she flew above Suspitions Eye And undiscerned shot into the Breasts Of divers Mortals where she formerly Had entertainment found But now her Nests She fethered anew with greater Store Of viperous Pow'rs than she left there before 99. Such was her dangerous Policie that she For Psyche layd her Net in others Hearts Which she made lovely by the bravery Of most refined sublimated Arts No fowler e'r us'd such allureing Ways To charm poor Birds by treacherous 〈◊〉 100. For though she were the very Centre where The Lines of all Deformities did meet The Looks of Beauty she knew how to wear And make her Horridnesse appear so sweet That she the wisest and most peircing Eyes Had often blinded by her Fallacies 101. But now the Virgin at the dolefull Mount Arrived was where in the reverend place Of the deer Crosses Foot she made account To poure her Vowes But there before Her was A youthfull Man who prepossess'd her room And thither of her errand seem'd to come 102. His Looks though guilty of few years were yet Grown pale and old with pious Gravity His sober Garb was such as best might fit Those who not spruce and brave but cloth'd would be His Body thin but thick his 〈◊〉 which grown To its full length did at his back flow down 103. Upon the ground He lay and beat his Breast Which echoed back the Blows with Sighs groans At length with iterated Knocking 's prest It yeelded forth these Ejulations O Geief and Pains had you no other Heart But His to make the Sink of all your Smart 104. That Heart which all of Sweetnesse moulded was That Heart where Heav'n found its Epitomie That Heart the fountain of all softest Grace That heart where all the Worlds best Life did lie The heart of Jesus here a boistrous Sigh Came blusting out and breaking off his Crie 105. But then recovering his Tongue again Alas said He and why are you unjust Why from this Breast of mine doe you abstein Which all your utmost stings doth merit Must He who deserv's the best of Joys alone Inherit all the depth of Passion 106. Are there no Whipps no Thorns no Nailes for Me May these my youthfull shoulders bear no Crosse Is there no Portion of Misery Left for my high Desert did He engrosse What sinfull I had better Title to Sure this at least shall be my Grief and Woe 107. As when the hollow Windes have drove together Black lagging Clowds the gravid vapors break With their own weight and poure the rainey Wether Down through the gloomy Air So on his Cheek His labouring Eys their fertile
161. But Logos who with Thelema did lie Close in her breast prick'd up his ready ear And drunk in all the gorgeous fallacie With such Delight that He could not forbeat Now Psyche seem'd unsatisfied to break His itching minde and thus He freely spake 162. Madame although the Jewish law to you Expired seems yet that of Courtesie To be ev'n yet in date you will allow And why must then your looks transgressors be Why with such Glances of Disdain must they Your gentle entertainment here repay 163. For my part if I ever understood What firmper spicuous Probations ment What Reasons solid were what Topicks good What Demonstrations sound I must consent That he of none but such Materials here The Fabrick of his strong Discourse did rear 164. And let me tell you Reason is a Law High and divine engrav'd in every breast Which must no Change nor Antiquation know A Law which whosoever dares resist Rebels against Himself whom He stamps under His obstinate feet and nature tears in sunder 165. O strive not then to be more Wise than what Is Wisdomes onely Rule Aathades now By Reasons genuine Lustre shews you that He walks in High-noon light and why will you Be groaping still in Darknes when you may By his fair Pharu's Conduct saile to Day 166. Psyche stung by this Check began to groan When loe her Thelema took Courage and With a resolved Countenance fastned on Logos his shoulders her imperious hand Which shak'd him from his boldnesse into fear And summond to her Words his humbler Ear. 167. Pert sir said she does it to you belong To hold the golden Reins of Psyche's heart That thus you stretch your Magisterial tongùe Usurping what would better suit my part Y' had best e'n take her Throne and make both Me And Her wait on your upstart Majestie 168. Though His soft Words tickle your wanton ear We use not to such easie Charms to yeeld Both Psyche's stomach is too weak to bear And so is mine his gilded Dose though fill'd With sugar'd Blandishments Yet ask not why It is enough for us but to deny 169. Authades seeing how his dainty bait Disgusted was to heav'n lift up his eye And cri'd Alas that dangerous Deceit Should be suspected in Truths arms to lie Yet Psyche I doe not disprove thy fear Alwayes the wisest Souls most jealous are 170. And this thy pious jeulousie to me So pretious is that it inflames my heart With higher estimation of thee Who in Faiths Busines thus tender art Those who with headlong hast such points receive To me seem but to fancie not believe 171. I grant 't was thy unhappines that thou Meet'st with so faint a Disputant as I And sure our Cause were weak if it could show No better Pillars of its Verity Than my Abilities which I confesse Are full as feeble as that solid is 172. Yet why should Truth for my unworthy sake Faile to finde welcome in thy pretious Breast Why should'st thou pay so dearly for my lack Of Eloquence or Logick as to rest In that unhappy Ignorance content Which though I cannot help I must lament 173. That Word broke ope the Fountains of his Eyes Which in deceitfull Pitty flowed down Yet knocking then his crafty Breast He cries Why should I think just Heav'n on you hath thrown The punishment of this my Weaknes and Because I 'm Dull not let Thee understand 174. O no! wouldst thou but deign to walk with Me To a Friends house not far from hence Thou there The Looks of living Pietie shouldst see And from an Oracle Resolutions hear If Thou repent Thee of thy Pains I am Content for ever to endure thy Blame 175. This pressed Kindnesse She who gentle was Knew not how to reject and therfore goes With her fair-tongu'd Companion Alas That facill Hearts should to themselves be Foes When others they with Facilnes befriend That plyant Twigs should break because they bend 176. But at the house they at his Prayers finde A Man whom Age had covered with Snow Yet noble Fervor in his pious minde With more than youthfull Vigor seem'd to glow So strong was his Devotion and so high In all Espressions of Loves Bravery 177. Authades at his Back straight kneeled down And so did Psyche much amaz'd to see How far that old Devoto had out-flown The flagging Pitch of her young Piety Such flaming Prayers she never heard before Nor such importunate Knocks at Heav'ns high Door 178. She often looked that the Sphears should ope And to the longing Saint his Lord disclose She wonder'd that his Body flew not up Seeing his Soule on such stout Pinions rose But most she marvell'd that his working Heart Stretching so high did not in sunder start 179. With secret Checks her languid Soule she chid Which with such violence never yet did flame Her Eyes hung down her Cheeks were over-spread With blushing but with ô how guiltlesse shame Nor ravishâ—d lesse was Thelema who till now No Good would in the Nazareens allow 180. O Looks and Outside Things how mighty are And how substantial your Impostures on Unhappy Mortals who their Judgement square By Ear and Eye and those vain Rules alone They borrow from the Senses Schole wherein How many Beasts more learned are than Men 181. Pseudagius now three times his Head did bow In humble Adoration and arose Up from the ground Which when Authades saw He forward stepp'd his bus'nesse to disclose But Psyche pluck'd him by the Arm and told Him forher sake He need not be so bold 182. Pardon Me Sir said she for now my Minde Convinc'd by heav'nly Satisfaction is In him I such commanding Goodnesse finde That though I would yet I cannot doe lesse Than stoop to that Profession which he Hath authoriz'd by such high Piety 183. The height of my Desires if yet it be Not Pride to reach at such transcendent Blisse Is that I with his leave advanc'd may be To his religious Acquaintance This Perhaps may Me enable to repay The Debt your Love hath layd on Me to day 184. Authades glad and proud that he had thus This Conquest gained bad her be secure Then bowing down before Pseudagius Regard most holy Sir said he the pure And pious Suit of a religious Mayd Which modest she upon my Tongue hath lay'd 185. Heav'ns Love hath kindled in her pliant Breast Full Approbation of whatever she Beholds amongst Us Nazareens profest And now our Proselyte she resolves to be Onely she beggs that you would not disdain Her as you humble Friend to entertain 186. His solemn Eye to Heav'n Pseudagius cast And cri'd Forbid it blessed Jesu I Should not be kinde to Any whom Thou past With thine own Favour deign'd to dignifie 'T is Condescent indeed in Thee but how Can I thy Worm stoop who crawl here below 187. This said with reverend Pleasantnes He came And grave Acquaintance took with Psyche's Lipp She bigg with humble Thanks cri'd out who am Unworthy
Frand uncase 241. But as away he sneaked Psyches ' Friend More swift than flies the Eagle to her Prey The whining Aire with sprightfull Wings did rend And shot himselfe through the directest way To his dear Charge for whom his Heart did quake As knowing well what Tempests hers did shake 242. For by Loves faithfull Sympathie though he About his other work far distant were He still preserv'd a soft Vicinitie With Psyche's Soule and felt each wound which there Sophistick Darts had made though foolish she Perceived not her sugered Miserie 243. At his approach for joy the Virgin wept Not thinking that those tears to shame were due Syneidesis still in her bosome slept And her unto her self forbore to shew She to her own Breast was more stranger than The Tartar to the AEthiopian 244. But Phylax almost out of breath for hast Suck'd in fresh spirits and then demanded who It was that gather'd up his heels so fast And fled from his approach If he had no Cause of his flight but me 't is meet that I Said he suspect him for you Enemy 245. No sure replyed Psyche for nor I Nor Logos could discover ought but love He freely taught Us many a veritie And what he undertook did cleerly prove Some sudden busines snatch'd him hence not fear Of you whom doubtles He doth hold most dear 246. Phylax who knew Him and Authades too The total matter gently sifted out And wrought upon his Pupils softnes so That his design He subtly brought about For full confession from her charmed tongue Of both her Doctors Principles he wrung 247. But then He groand and smote his pittying Breast And fixed upon Hers his speaking eye By which the mixed language He exprest Of Love and Wrath of Hope and Jealousy And by this Prologue setting ope the door He from his Lips his troubled Minde did poure 248. Left I my charge ô Psyche to the Winde When hence I took my journey or to thee If in my dearest Cabinet thy Minde I my advice depos'd why must it be That the weak breath of any Charmer Thou Dost meet that holy Pawn away may blow 249. My heart mis-gave me when away I went Or rather when with thine I left it here Full well thou knowst what earnest pains I spent To arm thy tender Soule with sacred fear O why with foolish confidence would'st thou Disarm thy self and make room for the blow 250. That blow which struck so deep into thy breast That if some soveraign Balsame makes not speed If strait thy wounded Bosome be not drest If Heav'n be not as quick new life to shed Into thy Soule as Hell was to betray It unto Death this is thy fatal Day 251. Alas those Doctrines onely Poisons were Squeez'd from the dregs of the infernal Pit Less Pestilential those Venoms are Which desperate Basilisks and Vipers spit Nor Aphrodisiu's nor Agenor's tongue With such sure bane thy careless Bosome stung 252. Canst thou ô Psyche thus thy Lord repay For all the Treasures of his Love which He Into thy poor heart poured day by day Canst thou rob Jesus of his Deitie And tear Him from his Throne whil'st royall He His heav'nly Kingdome doth prepare for thee 253. Pert Logos here no longer Patience had But setting up his insolent crest he cri'd Good sir and take you me for one so mad That in my proper road I cannot ride But both my Self and Way I needs must loose And willingly deep Precipies choose 254. If Eyes of Colours sober Judges be If Tongues can censure what is soure and sweet If Ears can Discords know from Harmonie If Touching may decide in Cold and Heat Why may not I presume that I am set In Reasons Chair and know the Powers of it 255. Unless I to my Essence give the Lie These Doctrines sure are built on Demonstration But if you onely must be Psyche's eye Ev'n pull me out that I no perturbation Thus in the way of your designes may throw So in your Conquest you compleat shall grow 256. Psyche was glad to heare this Challenge beat So high and hop'd that Phylax would relent And were Angelick Loves Heroick Heat Less resolute than it is just discontent Had quenched Phyla'x flames which now by this Bold opposition did more stoutly rise 257. With secret instance he did Charis draw Down from her Heav'n to joyn her Powers with his She when the Virgins wounded Heart she saw Melted with Pitty at her deep Distresse And by victorious Sweetnesse op'd a way Into her Breast and Thelema made her Prey 258. Which Phylax seeing Logos strives in vain Said He to countermine my care of Thee Greater Affronts than these I can sustain Rather than Psyche should destroyed be All this and more I will forget so Thou Wilt goe and see a Sight I have to show 259. Logos look'd bigg and struggled might and main But Thelema was tractable and tame And the bold Rebell quickly did constrain Unto her pliant Minde his own to frame Poor Psyche sigh'd and wept and halfe afraid Phylax with her to doe his pleasure pray'd 260. He well considering her Disease had need Of nothing more than Haste in her Physition Staid not to parle but made all loving speed To snatch her from these Jaws of deep Perdition Whilst yet with Chari's soule-subduing Heat Her melted and convicted Heart did beat 261. Ready at hand his well-known Chariot was In which he takes her up and guides the Rein Forth with the sprightfull Steeds flung on apace Through the fair Road of the aereal Plain Till they to Gitton in Samaria came Their journeyes Butt where Phylax checked Them 262. Then lighting down Come Psyche come said he This is thy newfound Doctors native Town Here thou their true Original shalt see And from what kinde of Nest they all are flown This House their Fathers was Come we will in And view the Birth-place of Heretick Sin 263. Thus entred They When loe the House they finde So full of Doors and Rooms and Galleries Which by quaint Turnings to and fro did winde That Psyche quickly lost her rouling Eyes As she had done her Se fe had Phylax not Of all the Labyrinth full knowledge got 264. Thorough a thousand strange Meanders He Into a private Room conducted her Where she a far more private Door did see But little thought what kinde of Den was there Lurking behinde it so alluring was The holy Beauty of its cheating Face 265. A goodly Crucifix was there displayd Altars were rear'd and many Bibles ope By which majestick Liturgies were laid With lofty-tuned Anthems on the Top Art plac'd a Quire of Angels hovering And made the gorgeous Roof all seem to sing 266. There might you see Faith with her Eagles Eye Hope with both Hands her Anchor holding fast And with her open Bosome Charity Whose Looks such seeming current Beams did cast That those who were not well aware might deem She at Heav'ns genuine Fires had kindled
Breath doth wake The flowrie Eyes of Lebanon or plays Against his pretious Boughs the Odours take The soft alarm and their sweet Powers raise So this rich Vestures blessed smell replies To the least Call of every Gale that flies 140. In either Hand she held a massie Key Which like two Scepters she did stoutly sway The one of beaten burnish'd Gold which she Hug'd in her Right-hand for the royall way Through Heav'ns bright Gate is alway locked up Except this priviledg'd Key doth set it ope 141. That in her Left of swarthy Iron is A fatal dreadfull Key which locks the Door Of everlasting Torments foule Abyss Where Anathematized Soules doe 〈◊〉 Proud Belzebub although he Soveraign be Of Hell yet keeps not his own Kingdomes Key 142. The Diadems of gareish Gold and Gems Unto the 〈◊〉 of mortal Kings she leaves An heav'nly flame about Her 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And a full Crown of living glory 〈◊〉 Which Miter-like and like the mystick 〈◊〉 Of Cloven-Tongnes of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 doth 〈◊〉 143. But for a Canopie above her head No Babylonian Embroydery No Tyrian nor Phrygian Texture's spread No artificiall Help of Majesty No State which cannot last if by the aid Of Pillars and of Cords it be not staid 144. A Dove not hatch'd in sublunary Nest Nor hatch'd at all but of eternal Breed Weigh'd on his equal Wings takes up his rest At neer but comely Distance o'r her Head Where by his wide-spred silver Fethers 〈◊〉 Becomes her Ornament and 〈◊〉 145. This was the Queen on whom as Psyche gazed Thou hast no canse my Dear said 〈◊〉 so At her high Gallantry to be amazed If thou but know'st what is her Name and who The King her Spouse O pitty then cri'd she Sweet Tutor this my Ignorance and Me. 146. He by a speaking Smile at first then by These Words his modest Pupill satisfi'd This Queen Ecclesia is unto the high And mighty King of Kings the soveraign Bride Poor of her Selfe and sprung from Mortal Race But thus advanced by his bounteous Grace 147. Those Princes whom the foolish World admire Are fain to make a tedious Search to finde Ladies whose florid Beauties may conspire With the 〈◊〉 of their lustfull Minde And often for a Dowry hunt that so The Mayd and Money they may Marry too 148. But it becomes Heav'ns Emperour to make Rather than seek a Spouse which him may please Nor can it with his Greatnesse stand to take A Portion with his Bride who Owner is Of more than thine or Phoebu's larger Eye Could in his furthest Travells e'r descry 149. She crooked was alas and black before A Throne on which Deformity did reign Such heaps of odious Blains and Boils such Store Of Wrinkles and Distortions such plain Right-down Uncleannesse could not any where Be found in one Colluvies but in Her 150. Indeed when first She in her Filth was born No friendly Hand came in to wash her clean Or cut her Navel helplesse and foriorn In her foule Blood She lay till be sent in His yearning Providence Relief to give Which on Deaths brink commanded her to live 151. She liv'd but still so as her life confest By its Procession what its Entrance was Yet when all other Lovers did detest The thought of her most ougly vile Embrace Jesus stepps in and cries Why may nor she Grow beauteous by my Superfluity 152. Then from 〈◊〉 exuberant Store of his own Graces Ten thousand rich and radiant Things he takes Which all about the wondering Mayd he places And of a Worm this Queen of Glory makes Who as thou 〈◊〉 thus Embellished Prepared was for his 〈◊〉 Bea. 153. And that his Empresse might attended be With a Retinue suitable unto Her royal Selfe that Train Magnificent He Both furnish'd and maintaineth for Her Loe With what prest forwardnesse they waiting are About her sparkling Throne and fairer Her 154. The first Rank's of no lesse than threescore Queens Who yet can from her Service Honor take The next's of fourscore goodly Concubines But they which doe the outmost Orders make Where in a Number numberless thy flow Are Virgins all both chaste and white as snow 155. These were the lesser Churches which were spread About the World so thick in ever Place Yet still their Strength and their Dependance had From this most Catholik Majesty which was Diffus d as wide as they and never found That Land or Sea which could its Progresse boun 156. These every Morn and every Evening raise Their homage in religious Anthems high Paying both Admiration and Praise To Her the Monarch of all Piety Since They to Her but Tributaries are For she alone the Soveraign Crown doth wear 157. But mark that 〈◊〉 whose Station is Before the 〈◊〉 Mayds of true 〈◊〉 which Injoy the 〈◊〉 this Queen to 〈◊〉 Their Hands alone adorn her with those rich Embellishments which round about her shine And make her look so heav'nly and divine 158. That 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mayd is Unity Whose noble Office is to buckle on Her 〈◊〉 golden 〈◊〉 and to see That close and fast this 〈◊〉 be done And how her Duty she performeth Thou By the Queens small and dainty Waste mayst know 159. That sober Matrone in whose stayed Eye And venerable Face so fair are writ The awfull Lines of Heav'n is Sanctity Who every Morn before the Queen doth set Her Selfe to be the Glasse where she may see What Dresse will best become her Majesty 160. The next whose soft and yeilding Looks confesse The temper of her Heart is Patience Her Empresse she doth deck with Tendernesse And makes her slow and loth to take Offence That all her Subjects by her Softnesse may Be charm'd so kinde a Princesse to obey 161. But Magnanimity that high-look'd She Joins to that Mildnesse stout and active Fire This that Virago is which scorrs to see Any exploit of Gallantry out-vie Her Ecclesia's brows with Bravery she doth build And stoutly helps her both her Keyes to weild 162. She whose wide-open Breasts so fairly swell And wears as large a Purse ope by her side Who looks about to see where she may spill Her teeming Charities everlasting Tide Is Bounty Almner to the Queen whom she Doth also dresse with Smiles and Suavity 163. That other whose ev'n Look was never knit Into a frown nor loos'd into a Smile Whose right Hand holds a Sword whose left a fit And equal Balance Justice is who still As Cases come her Ladies Eyes doth dresse Either with Anger or with Friendlinesse 164. That amiable sweet complexion'd Mayd Is 〈◊〉 which keeps the Queen so feir In all Distempers she with ready And Her 〈◊〉 Health and Beauty doth repair Her Body sound her Skin she maketh sleek She with 〈◊〉 Roses trimms her lovely Cheek 165. Those other Virtues also every one Their several Office have But Psyche now Observe that neighbour Combination Who Virgins also are that thou mayst know By their great Worth how glorious is she Whose houshold
Servants they are proud to be 166. She who all over written is with Scarrs Laden with Palms and clothed round in Blood Fcclesia s Champion is ten thousand Warrs She waged hath and valiantly with-stood Hells and Earths Opposition her Name Is Martyrdome her Story highest Fame 167. That plain look'd Mayd whose course and simple Hue Seems to discredit this illustrious Place Is Poverty who though to outward view She shineth not with any courtly Grace Yet is within as gorgeous and as fair As on their Outsides her Companions are 168. For Jesus who the Heart of Things doth see Was so enamored of her Beauties that He chose to dwell with her alone when he Enter'd upon his Theanthronick State And found her Worth so high that he 〈◊〉 Her to Ecclesia when he hence Ascended 169. The next her Sister is Obedience Thou never saw'st a Twigg more 〈◊〉 to bow Nor Wax more pliant than unto her Prince In all her Mandates she her Selfe doth show A Will she had once of her own 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Gave it her Queen that so she 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 170. For prudent as she was right well she knew What an edg'd Tool is every 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Which oft makes its enslaved 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Its 〈◊〉 freedome whose 〈◊〉 to quell The 〈◊〉 way she found was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It to a Wiser 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Lo there Virginitie her 〈◊〉 O who Can count the Graces which 〈…〉 Which all about her dainty Body 〈◊〉 In 〈◊〉 and 〈…〉 Heav'n deeply tell 〈◊〉 love with Her and she As truly is 〈◊〉 as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Indeed the old acquaintance We have 〈◊〉 With 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 makes Us what We are Unto 〈◊〉 their 〈…〉 She sets Us free from all 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And 〈◊〉 Us leave to 〈…〉 The busines of 〈…〉 〈◊〉 The 〈◊〉 which smilesh in her 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with heroick 〈◊〉 For though bold 〈◊〉 be 〈…〉 A common Bridle and 〈…〉 That Hand he 〈◊〉 which with 〈◊〉 might Is furnish'd and 〈…〉 〈◊〉 But there stand 〈◊〉 far more noble yet Stars of the first and fairest 〈◊〉 Stars unto which the whole Word is in 〈◊〉 For that Commanding 〈◊〉 which hath 〈◊〉 That 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which 〈◊〉 All Nations its 〈◊〉 Prisners 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That awfull Maid 〈◊〉 glorious 〈◊〉 Before whole look the World made haste to bow And take the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 upon Its 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Thou by that Mark 〈◊〉 know Obrave 〈◊〉 which hast out 〈◊〉 The Course 〈◊〉 the Glories of the Sun 176. This is the Ladie 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The faithfull Hands or whose 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 pretious store was put that 〈◊〉 All pious 〈◊〉 might be anured where They should not 〈◊〉 to 〈…〉 And 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or their dear Lord 177. But at her back 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 apparent Her 〈◊〉 when to 〈…〉 Yet 〈◊〉 as 〈◊〉 doth 〈◊〉 The glory her great 〈…〉 And 〈◊〉 turns the 〈◊〉 I 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 She in whose 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Is most 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 She whose quick-sighted 〈◊〉 doth wonders see 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an Age before they be 〈◊〉 The 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in whose 〈◊〉 doth d well A 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sweet and 〈◊〉 too Which 〈…〉 〈◊〉 is that 〈◊〉 which at 〈◊〉 Not in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈…〉 〈◊〉 181. The fift the Mistrels of profounder 〈◊〉 Than 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 knew She 〈◊〉 no 〈◊〉 nor Herbs to take her Part Nor any 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Plants doth brew But by her 〈◊〉 or her commanding Breath Knows how to 〈◊〉 both 〈◊〉 and Death 182. The sixt whose ready and officious Eyes Her 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 doth speak Is she who on the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 With reverent distance waits she who doth take The care or those who did not Chartitie Keep open house would no where narboured 〈◊〉 183. The 〈◊〉 whose stature is so high and fair Whose Snoulaers are to broad whose breast to 〈◊〉 Whose joints wei-knit whose bones wel 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 But stronger 〈◊〉 her Heart may be 〈◊〉 by there 〈◊〉 Marks to be no other but brave 〈◊〉 which in the 〈◊〉 is set 184. See'st Thou the 〈…〉 Can by 〈…〉 And yet 〈…〉 185. She in their proper Dialects can trade With all the World and Heav'ns Wares set to sale No Sound to Sense a Dresse was ever made But she with it doth strait acquainted fall And can discover whither it doth sit Upon that senses shoulders right and sit 186. Unhappy Babels Antidote is she And cures the Wound which there did Tongues divide All Languages doe in her Lips agree For to her single Tongue they all are ti'd So are their Virtues too and Eloquence Dwels there in all its kindes of Excellence 187. But now behold where at the Queens right Hand As best deserving that illustrious Place A 〈◊〉 Virgin than all these doth stand Who 〈◊〉 Soveraigns Gallantrie doth grace A Virgin 〈◊〉 than her native Home 〈◊〉 silver Sphears whence she did hither come 188. Loe she from head to foot all naked is As are the Sun by day and Stars by night Her Selfe she with her proper Beams doth dresse As they with their Attire of natural Light True Beauty never outward help did lack 'T is Shame alone which Clothes doth usefull make 189. Who ever thought the Rose or Lilie stood 〈◊〉 of course unhandsome Nakednesse Because they never put on borrowed Hood Content with their own native Sweetnesses Or where shall Ornaments be found which may In a new beauteous Garb such Things array 190. Beleeve it Psyche She doth but retain Her Countries Fashion They whose Blisse it is In heav'n above eternaly to reign Professe no other kinde of Dresse but this They Naked goe of every thing which might Hide those fair Beams which them all over dight 191. A Texture all of Glory soft and white 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Virgin Soule doth her surround 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 can in the high-noon Face of Light 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of ink in stoods of Milk be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 may a Critick hope to spie in her 〈◊〉 Roab of Nakednesse a sound 192. That Nakednesse which though it breeds Desire In All whose Hearts are not of obstinate Stone It kindles none but sweet and spottlesse Fire In whose pure Fornace brave Devotion Learns with more sprightfull fervencie to glow And 〈◊〉 it self refin'd doth grow 193. But ô what generous Powers flame in her face Pouring her Conquests upon every Eye The hardiest he that e'r on Her did gaze Yeilded and lov'd his sweet Captivity Error her selfe though swell'd with Pride and Hell In her sweet Presence willingly doth 〈◊〉 194. Her Name is Truth and what her Love and Care Judge by the Tokens which her hands present That Volume which doth in her left appear Is the original Old Testament That in her right the New which unto her By Those who writ them first committed 〈◊〉 195. For every Leaf of them a Mirrour is Where She doth read her own unspotted Face No line is there but truely doth expresse Some correspondent Lineament of Grace In her sweet Body whose all-lovely Looks Are nothing but the Life of those dead Books 196. Bold Haeresie has often in that Glasse Presum'd to
Slaves to their own Tables are Thus did she rellish every Bit and take The genuine Delight of all her Fare Whilst those whom Plenty alwayes fat doth keep Their Palats proper Joyes can never reap 248. This Art so pluck'd her Bodies Plumes that she Could easily graspe and rule it with her Will For soon she snatch'd it from the Suavitie Of all those Cates which pamper'd Skins doe fill And if it winch'd and struggled space to get Straiter and straiter still she grasped it 249. The Gardens roseal and lilie Store With all its Wealth of Spice and Odours she For being such did shun of Eastern Ore 'Cause it was rich she would no Hoarder be From Lute and Harp because they pleasing were Beligiously she did abstein her Ear. 250. For yet Religions cheerly jovial Dayes Encourag'd not the Christian Hemisphear No Musick yet mix'd instrumental Layes With the Liturgick Anthems striving here To echo that triumphant Melody Which in th' Angelick Quire is streind so high 251. For surely Psyches Soule must needs have leap'd At such Delights and her sweet-tuned Heart With its exultant Pulse due time have keep'd To all such pious Airs which by the Art Of charming Sanctitie can steal upon The coldest Bosome hot Devotion 252. Delicious Wine because it guilty was But of it selfe exactly she eschued The Gallantrie of Clothes she held Disgrace In those whose Hearts had Vanitie subdued By simple Natures Rules she strove to square What she did Touch or Taste Smell See or Hear 253. To Heav'n she caus'd on Fervors wings to ride All those Affections which could traffick there To be her Factors and her Stock provide Against her Death should thither send up her And those whose Bus'nesse here below did lie She strictly to their proper Tasks did tie 254. By constant waiting on her Penitence Her Tears acquir'd so quick an Habit that No Tide with such perpetual Effluence Its swelling Brine above the Chanel shot Her flood disdained all set houres to keep And day and night her Cheeks and Breast did steep 255. Etesian Windes could never hold so long In breath as did her Sighs unwearied Blast Nor could the common Gales blow halfe so strong As these or ever follow on so fast And none so fit for her as such a Gale Who through the Ocean of Griefe did sail 256. Indeed when Times of Euangelick Joy The reverend Feasts of holy Church did dawn She layd aside her penitent Annoy And with the Catholick Triumph mix'd her own Yet still her Sighs and Tears she could not choose At least for loving Joy to interpose 257. As for her Bed it was made every where Her sleep being onely on the naked Ground Fore-casting as she was her lodging there She chose in time that when she should be bound To her last Couch the Grave might not to her Right hardy skin strange and uncooth appear 258. And though this Bed did rude and churlish seem She felt it courteous in the best of Love Those lusty thoughts which in a soft-lay'd Dream With hot uncleanesse through the fancy rove Were curbed by this sober Hard-ships Rein Which cool'd all mutinies in her chaste brain 259. For wanton Cogitations Cowards are Being the tender Sons of easie Rest They painfull Virtues hardy lodging fear And onely love an idle Downy Nest Soft are their Wings and therefore warm and drie They must be kept and upon Feathers lie 260. When sparing Capricorn would not allow As liberal space to Day as unto Night She no advantage took but studied how To peece up curtail'd Day with Candle-light And still was up though Phoebus were in Bed Till she her purpos'd task had finished 261. But that of such extension was that she Was often overtaken even by The laziest Morn before her Work could be Drawn up unto its full Maturity Yet then unto her rest she went not till Her weary Head down on her Prayer-Book fell 262. For Time inestimable Time was that On which her onely Avarice she fed Griev'd that the World with such elaborate And costly idlenesse had studied A thousand courtly Pastimes out since They Alas pass not the Time but Man away 263. Madly-improvident Man who though vain He Be sure of nothing but that He must Dye Though the next Moment in his Power be No more than the next Age yet labours by The help of long-extended empty Sport To make the too too posting houres seem short 264. Psyche ne're found so tedious a Day But still she thought Night crowded on too fast She knew as hard and narrow so the Way To Heav'n was long and though she made all haste She fear'd Deaths darknesse would rush on e'r she Safe at her mighty Journe's end could be 265. Unwearied custome in this strictnesse made The World unfavorie to her palate seem The Senses rellish'd not their wonted Trade The Passions all were tractable and tame The Body humbled and beat down so low That no rank weeds in its drie soile could grow 266. Her Roabs of flesh about her Soule did sit So close and fit that well they Her became A Maid more handsome delicate and neat In Heav'ns judicious Eye she now did seem Than when she wore a larger bulk without her And her full Body ruffled more about her 267. So spruce and strait her feature was that no Distortions or Distempers room could spie Where to assail her Health about did goe Through every Part and brisk Activitie Liv'd in her joynts although her yeilding 〈◊〉 Look'd neer as pale as she was pure within 268. But yet her Mental Powers more lively were Being not hampered nor clogged by Those Fumes and Clouds which from luxuriant 〈◊〉 Full at the face of heedlesse Reason flye And damp those Eyes with lazie dimnesse which Objects sublime intended were to reach 269. The Bow of all her sprightfull Faculties At an high pitch stood always ready bent No sudden busines ever could surprise Her heart at unawares she never meant Concoctions leasure to attend but still As ready as her Work she to it fell 270. Thus she at length perceiv'd her troubled skie Cleard of its gloomy frowns and turn'd into The cheerfull beauty of Serenity She saw her rude unruly Servants who Disturb'd her region in one Calme united And at this sight of Peace her Soule delighted 271. But as the gallant Spark is not content To climbe up to the top of Airs first Stage Since by the servor of its Naturall Bent Above the Third it aims nor can aswage The vehemence of that noble Spur till it Into Fires elemental Bosome get 272. So Psyche who unto Perfections Sphear Bent her brave course now for a second flight Her wings and Resolution did prepare Knowing a Third remained still which might Eas ly deterr her Courage if in this She coward turn d and bow'd to Wearinesse 273. No generous as she was she vow'd to trie 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of her strength and feard not what 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 intercept her Bravery Though Chance's
Wheel in her hand rolled not In Gods it did and upon that would I Rather than on mine own said she rely 274. Logos into her Closet She did call Where with grave Countnance thus she Him bespake Thou see'st with what exact Obedience all My vulgar Subjects on their Necks doe take My heaviest Yokes and far far be it Thou 〈◊〉 loyall Love to Me than They shouldst show 275. If common Herbs and Grasse can learn to give Faithfull Attendance on their Lord the Sun What Candour can the Marygold repreive From Censure and from Shame if she alone Whom Nature joyneth unto Him so neer Refuse her constant Duty to preferr 276. Couldst Thou have e'r imagined that They My other Servants could have found such dear And full Content when I on them did lay Such loads as slew at first their Hearts with fear Yet now Tranquillity and Joy and Blisse The fruit of my seveer Injunctions is 277. To Brutish Dulnesse being neer of Kin Their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Reasons sweetest Plea And hard it was for heavy them to win Upon their carnall Selves and bow to me But Thou art Reasons Secretarie and Her Will and that is mine dost understand 278. Yea and thy Load is lesse than theirs but far Greater thy Strength No Arrow with such speed Snatcheth its shortest journey through the Aire No Lightning with such nimble Wings doth spread Its selfe about the World as Thou canst Flie Ev'n to the Crest of all Sublimitie 279. Abuse not then that brave Activity By hankering and flagging here below Stout-winged Eagles ne'r were made to be Companions unto Dunghill flies O how Wilt Thou thine own Worth answer if thine aim Thou take'st beneath thy selfe and thy high Name I 280. Alas these sublunary Matters be So 〈◊〉 of Emptinesse that wretched They Will shrink and melt into meer Vanity When thou beginst to grasp them Never play At such poor Game which will but mock thy pains So far are they from answering Thee with Gains 281. Learning which looks so big and nods 〈◊〉 Upon illiterate Swains could never yet Beyond that self-tormenting Wit attain Of seeing cleerly its own Want of Wit Whilst Simple Soules are never vexed by Those stinging Checks of learn d Simplicity 282. Yet no disdainfull Knower e'r can gain That Admiration which ambitious He Hunts for with studious and pale-fac d pain Unlesse his Auditors unlearned be Art wonders not at Art but Ignorance Alone the fame of Learning doth advance 283. What are the busy Scholes but a perplex'd And implicated Maze in whose Meander With thousand knotty scrupulous By-paths vex'd The ever-doubting Student's forc d to wander Learning her Self's a Circle and the Soule Can finde no rest where it must always 〈◊〉 284. Had any Rest dwelt there thou hadst not in Ecclesia's glorious Hall 〈◊〉 how all The Patriarchs of 〈◊〉 Wit did 〈◊〉 Upon the Chains which held them there in Thrall And roar in helplesse 〈◊〉 That they had 〈◊〉 so to be 〈◊〉 285. What Gains reap'dst thou thy Selfe when thou didst sow In the Cerint hian or the Nazareen Soil When Heav'ns Instruction Thou away didst throw And with fond earthly Wisdom didst beguile Thy better Knowledge In thy Blush I see Confession of that costly Vanitie 286. But ask thy Memory and she will tell Thee what thou undertookst when thou wert freed From fair-tongud Heresies foule-hearted Hell Didst Thou not then intirely make a Deed Of thy whole Selfe to Me which still doth stand In force I 'm sure I cancell'd not the Bond 287. And now Performance I require nor will I bate a Tittle of the Obligation If this strict Course involved any Ill To thee I would admit thy Deprecation But thou art Bound to thine own Happinesse And Heav'n forbid that I should Thee dismisse 288. What could Indulgence towards Thee be now But most malitious Tyranny in Me Sooner among the Clouds shall Dolphins row And Eagles flutter through the de epest Sea Than I will accessory be to thy Enslaving Freedome and Selfe-felony 289. No thy perpetuall Task henceforth shall be In the soft Air of Heav'n thy Wings to stretch Say not they are too short for Constancie Of Exercise will quickly make them reach And Thee enable gallantly to rise And sore amongst the Birds of Paradise 290. Amongst those Birds who on the royall Face Of the eternall Sun of Majesty In meek audacitie for ever gaze Reading his mighty Providential Eye And all those other Marvels gracious He Will let created Contemplation see 291. These shalt thou see and fix thy studie there But ever with this Caution that thine Eye Trust not its own Powers which are weak and bleat But on that never-erring Glasse rely Which in Ecclesia s Court to thee was given Truthes mirrour and the Spectacles of Heav'n 292. Thy vast Capacity can onely there Meet with a Feast sufficient Thee to fill Where thou hast free leave to fall to that Cheer Which wouldst thou 〈◊〉 the whole World could not sell That Cheer whose Worth s above the World as far As its Exuberance and Dwelling are 293. Leaps not thy Soule at this If any where Thou canst discover a more worthy Prize I 〈◊〉 not command thy Strength to wrestle here But since all other Treasures this outvies I must not suffer Scorn to say of thee Logos could Reason finde a Fool to be 294. And that Anqmuesis thine Hand-mayd may Advance thy brave Adventure upon Her My strict and peremptory Charge I lay To see no Trash pollute her Register For many a Toy which wears an harmlesse Look Will easily defloure her virgin book 295. Wilde Fancy would be tame did she not finde A thousand Shapes of vain and uselesse Things Wandring about the Store-house of the Minde Upon whose backs she gets and madly flings About the Region of the Brain when Sleep In her blind Arms doth Thee a Pris'ner keep 296. All fond Romances and all wanton Songs With Idlenesses Bus nes tickling News Which swarm so thick upon unwary Tongues And Mans sole Treasure pretious Time abuse Must not that Bosome clog and pester where Heav'n is desir'd to be a Sojourner 297. No Heav'n is large and our poor Hearts are narrow Heav'n will our utmost Stowage fraught and more The ample Breasts of Seraphs could We borrow Still in Capacity We should be poor Still by the full-tide Wealth of Piety Our highest Banks would overflowed be 298. That Knowledge which doth its due Tribute pay To Sanctity I will not Her forbid But her prime care and task shall be to lay Up store of that pure heav n descended Bread Which Manna's famous Bounty doth outgive Teaching frail Men eternal Lives to live 299. That Bread which flourish'd from the Mouth of Blisse Gods sacred Word the reverend Scriptures where Wisdomes best Jewells and the rich Excesse Of purest Knowledge all enshrined are That living Mine of Oracles that spring Of every sober-heart-contenting Thing 300. Such pretious Eloquence ne'r made its hive On any Romane or Athenian
slie Impostor silently did flye Into her Chamber and with cunning creep Under the ey-lids of her heart where he Himself presented in fain'd Claritie 408. But as the Virgins Soule began to start Fear not said he for Phylax is thy friend These Rays of mine did never terror dart But to thy Weaknes Strength and Comfort lend And Heav'n forbid that I should prove unkinde Now thou my favour most deserv'st to finde 409. The Gallantrie of thy Devotion I Come to applaud and to increase its Fire I grant thy zealous Wings have towred high But yet thy Spouse would have them labour higher And as immoderate in their answer prove As is to thee the Challenge of his Love 410. The Watches frequent are and long which thou In deer attendance upon Him dost keep Yet oftner generous he and longer too To purchase rest for thee did loose his sleep Be noble now remembring thou shalt have Sufficient sleeping time in thy still Grave 411. Low hast thou pluck'd thy Bodies Plumes but He Was rent and torn and furrow'd up with Lashes And can the Zeal of thy Austerity More legibly appear than in such Gashes I know thou lovest not thy Skin but yet 'T were not amisse thus much were writ on it 412. Severe and resolute thy Fastings be If scanned by the faint Worlds vulgar fashion But Fourty Dayes thy Spouse did Fast for thee And now expects thy faithfull Imitation 〈◊〉 As well He may who an eternal Feast 〈◊〉 To quit a few Dayes Fast in Heav'n has drest 413. Since then He means that thou with Us shalt reign Betimes it will become Thee to prepare Thy Selfe for out Society and strein Out all the Dreggs thou hast contracted here That raised to the Purity in which We Angels shine thou mayst our Region reach 414. By Moses and Elias who beheld At such vast distance Jesu's glimmering face Shall Psyche be in Abstinence excell'd Can she on whom the Euangelick Grace With such full luster beats by those whom blinde And shady Types invelop'd be out-shin'd 415. O no dear Pupill since thy generous Breast Dar'd wish to be enflamed by that fire Whose Aime's Perfection Let no lazie Rest Clog the brave Wings of thy sublime Desire What though thy Death it hastens Thou and I Shall but the sooner to Lifes Kingdome flie 416. Thus sought the wily Tempter to invite The Virgin to a fatal Precipice But as the Lamb is taught by natural Fright To fear and hate the Wolfe though in the Fleece The honest Fleece of the milde Sheep he be Array'd and courts her with smooth Flattery 417. So Psyches Heart for heav'nly Charis there Close in the Centre of her Soule did lie Misgave her at the Sight and quak'd for fear Of this fair-tongued Angels Courtesie For all his dainty Look and Skin yet She Assured was it could not Phylax be 418. None of those soft and blessed Heats she felt Which sweetly when her Phylax us'd to speak Did all her Breast into Complyance melt And way to their own gentle Conquests make Besides the Voice though woudrous Sweet it were Yet something out of tune it seem'd to her 419. Too high it seem'd and of too loud a Strein Still was the Musick of her Spouse and she No Saints remembred that did e'r complain That Jesus call'd them to Extremity That Trumpets did the Gospel usher in And Wars Alarm the Calme of Peace begin 420. Had this great Message from her Spouse been sent She knew her Heart which now did pant and move By His sole Motions must needs relent And by Submission His Command approve But now she by reluctant Nausoousnesse Felt whosefoe'r it were 't was none of His. 421. Awakning therefore all her Confidence And with three Invocations having sued Her Saviour to engage in her Defence Upon her faithfull Forehead she renued His potent Signe and then with courage cri'd In Lights fair Looks why dost thou Darknesse hide 422. Whate'r thy face doth preach unto mine Eye The language of thy Tongue-unto mine Ear Sounds nothing lesse than Phylax wherefore hie Thee hence false Fiend and seek thy Booty where A beauteous Count'nance and a snowie Pair Of Wings the full Proof of an Angel are 423. As when the Suns neer Beams burst out upon A waxen Idoll straight its goodly Face Too weak to bear that glorious Dint doth run Away in droiling Drops and foules the place Which it before adorn'd So here the Fiend Melted as soon's this servent Answer shin'd 424. Off fell his Coat his Periwig his Wings His roseal Vizard and his Milkie Skin And in the room of those usurped I hings His proper shape of Horror did begin To clothe him round at which indignant He Least Psyche should triumph his shame to see 425. Tore his Way down to Hell that there in Night He might his Head and Ignominie hide A thousand Stinks behinde him at his flight He left and being gotten home he tri'd Upon the Soules which in his Brimstone Lake All yelling lay his vexed Spight to wreak 426. Mean while as Psyche those quaint Spoils admired Which dropped from her beauteous-hideons Foe And with her Sacrifice of Thanks aspired Unto the foot-stoool of her Saviour who Had in that fight her faithfull Champion been Her true and genuine Phylax flutter'd in 427. O how her Heart leap'd at the welcome sight And thus broke from her Lips Thou Thou art He I know thee at the dawning of thy Light In which no Fawnings no Impostures be Spare all Probations Thou needst not tell Me who thou art I know my Phylax well 428. This said Her selfe down at his feet she threw Which hugging fast she welcom'd with a Kisse He gave her Passion leave a while to shew The meek Impatience of this sweet Excesse Then up he took her and return'd upon Her Lip what she unto his Feet had done 429. And Joy said he my dearest Dear of thy Victorious-Encounter with thy Foe That goodly Furniture of Treason I As well as thou who art the Victor know I saw the pilfering Traytor when he pick'd It up and when with it himselfe he trick'd 430. Close at his heels I followed when he His forgerie advanc'd and hither flew I was Spectator when he set on Thee And in Heav'ns Name his Hell against thee drew Unseen I saw the dangerous Battell and By it I stood but aided not thine Hand 431. No thy dear Spouse who never doth forget His humble faithfull Servants did supply Abundant Power and conveied it By ever-ready Chari's Ministry I claim no share at all thy Thanks to none But Him and Her are due and must be done 432. Thou se'st how bountifully They repay The Loyalty of thy Mortification And what thou gainst by giving Thelema To Him who will not be in Debt Thy Station Is now Secure unlesse thou back dost start And fondly home again recall thine Heart 433. Surely thou never hadst so much thy Will As since thou hadst it not for All things now
Throughout the Universe thy Minde fullfill And Netures Laws unto thy Pleasure bow 〈◊〉 Pleasure which is not thine own but His Who of Omnipotence the Soveraign is 434. The dainty Peace which thou didst prize so high Hath now its Lodging taken in thy Breast Nor could the Tempter's potent Subtiltie Disturb thy Calme or undermine thy Rest. Be then Content for ever to possesse By holding fast thine Hold thine Happinesse 435. For if thou let'st it slip and weary be Of blessed Ease it soon will flie away In this low flitting World no Certainty Was ever yet Inhabitant and they Alone be out of Change's reach who are Infeof d above in endlesse Quiet 's Sphear 436. 'T is true those everlasting Chains which tie Heav'ns Destinations to their Ends excell All Adamantine Power and can by No opposition of Eartn or Hell Be forced to betray their Hold yet this No ground of Confidence to Mortals is 437. For those Decrees profoundly treasur'd are In that bright Bosome which no Angels Eye Can peep into This maketh pious Fear Religious Awe and holy Jealousie The onely Anchors which Assurance can Afford unto the tossed Heart of Man 438. And 't is Heav'ns mighty Favour too least He Should bold and carelesse grow if once he saw The Patent of his own Felicity Were sign'd and seal'd so sure that by the Law Of absolute Necessity he through All Tempests safely to his Port must row 439. For then were He no better than a Slave Unto that Blisse whose Crown prepared is For them who venture at it by the brave Ambition of humble holinesse Then if He would his mighty God might He Disdain and dare Him with his own Decree 440. O then with reverent dread march on my dear In the designe of thy high virtue and Think it sufficient happines if here Thy Fear can Desperation countermand If thou by trembling canst Victorious be And win at length supream Felicitie 441. As for these Spoiles the Trophies they shall be Of what by Loves assistance Thou hast done This Memorandum of thy Victorie May keep awake thy wise Devotion Lo here I hang them up and if agin The Serpent hither creep shew Him his skin PSYCHE OR LOVES MYSTERIE CANTO XVIII The Persecution ARGUMENT SAtan makes war on Psyche's Constancie Both by his own and Persecution's Hand Yet still impregnably-resolved She Their Ambushes and Onsets did withstand Vntill her Guardian by a Blessed Cheat Enforc'd her to a glorious Retreat 1. THough Joies and Loves and Bliss their Nest do make In Peace's bosome often times beneath That surface of Securitie a Snake His unsuspected Venomous spight doth breathe For 't is an everlasting statute That No genuine Rest can here below be got 2. The Creatures courteous Faithlesnes who still Shrink from our grasping Hands and Cheat our Hope Admonish our desires themselves to fill At those pure Spings of fulnesse which stand ope In Heav'n alone and never fancie here Compleat Content's and Satisfaction 's sphear 3. This maketh brave and hardy Exercise Dearer to Virtue than is lazie Quiet This maketh her so highly Patience prize So constantly her selfe with Suffrings diet That this sharp Sauce may wholesomly represse Of Peace's Sweets and Fat the Fulsomnesse 4. Affiction is the onely Schole where she In Magnanimities high Rules is taught The Theatre on which her Gallantrie Before the royal Eyes of Heav'n is brought For both the Angels and their Severaign there Ernest Spectators of her Courage are 5. Full well she knows that stealing Rust will creep Upon the briskest Sword if lazilie In its blinde quiet Scabberd it doth sleep And be not rubb'd uor chaf'd nor vexed by Harsh Scouring churlish Whetting or kept bright By its perpetual Bus'nes in the fight 6. That never Horse was made of so much Fire Nor temper'd for so proud impatient speed Though a true Pegasus had been his Sire Or He of Phoebu's Coursers had been bred But it he from his Manger ne'r did move Would restie lame and illcondition'd prove 7. That when the Air by long tranquillity Lies loytering in the Sun it putrid grows But when 't is startled and afllicted by Thunder and Lightning when it feels the Blows Of boistrous Windes its drowsy dull Disease Wakes at the frightfull News and vanishes 8. That sluggish Lakes which always sleeping lie Upon their easy Beds of Mud beget Of Toads and Stinks a nasty Progeny But those brisk Rils which though they be beset With craggy Hindrances still running be Preserve intire their Native Puritie 9. That never Soil was so ingenuous yet But if it were not often digg'd and plow'd Harrow'd and torn aud forced to be fit And Weeded oftner far than it was Sow'd In stead of Herbs and Floures and honest Corn With peevish Bryars and Thorns would be forlorn 10. That never Tree was known so thrifty as To spare its stock of Juice and use it right But to loose idle Twigs would let it passe Which onely sery'd and scarcely that for Sight Till the strict Discipline of the Pruning Hook Lopp'd off those Wantons and reform'd the Stock 11. That finest Roabs when they did idle lie Would gather nasty Dust and fertile prove In an ungratefull ever-fretting Frie Of Mothes unlesse the Wands and Brushes strove Against their lazinesse and day by day Those busy bold Incroachers whipp'd away 12. That Mariners who in the easy Bay Did both their Winter and their Summer waste Would never learn to steet their Bark till they Were by some Tempest into Danger cast And had accustomed their venturous Mindes To ken the boystrous Language of the Windes 13. That Soldiers listed are in vain and wear Steel by their Side and Brasse upon their head If in the pitched Feild they ne'r appear To See the hostile Ranks and Standards spread To meet the Shock and bring away their Skars As Letters Testimonial of their Wars 14. And though no Life scarce any Name doth merit But that of War so many Enemies Poor Man doth by his wtetched Birth inherit Since all the World did in Rebellion rise Against unhappy Adam yet no State More than the Christian is beseig'd with Hate 15. The Christian Life the furest Warfare is And though a thousand Victories it gains Yen still more and more Armies on it presse More Care more Sweat more Labour still remains Though Peace may an internal Calme beget Affliction still will Us without beset 16. Though all the stickling Senses and the Passions Which breed intestine Perturbations be Bow'd to the Yoke though all the 〈◊〉 Of Will and Reason by the industrie Of the 〈◊〉 Soule be tam'd yet still There is a World without to work her ill 17. For by her Christian Course against the Tide Of all the World she rows and therefore by Eternal Opposition is tri d And hardned to victorious Constancy For had she floated down the willing stream No way was there Magnanimous to seem 18. But now her gallant Metall whetted is Her vain luxuriant Twigs are
his Temeritie 124. It is enough if when We challeng'd are We flinch not from Professing his sweet Name Which in our Bosomes sits more neer and dear Than Life it selfe Mean while think it no 〈◊〉 To balk the Tempest which will easily 〈◊〉 Thy Haven and Thee if Jesus have a minde 125. As the young Soldier who was more on fire Than his fierce sparkling Steed the Charge to give When by some old Commander his Desire As rash and perilous doth a Curb receive Almost as hard he findes it to subdue His single Selfe as all his Hostile Crew 126. So Psyche crossed in her venturous Way By the grave bulk of the sage Priests Advice Found it an heavy troublous Task to stay And shun the winning of her dearest Prize Yet knowing He was wiser far than She She bravely yeilds and gains Selfe-victory 127. Uranius well remembred now how He Then young and shiftlesse by his Parents was Into a Nest of silent Privacie To which they through a Wildernes did passe Hurri'd by Night when such a Storm as this Into the Britain Hemisphear did presse 128. Thither when Ev'n had muffled up the Eye Of Heav'n and those of Earth he Psyche led For by a Lanthorn which would not descry More than he pleas'd her way he governed And so arrived at the Cavern where Cheerly he bad the Mayd be of good cheer 129. It is no new Adventure this said he But practis'd and well season'd to our hand Moses that Man of God was glad to flee And wander up and down a forreing Land No Partridge on the Mountains ever was More than good David chas'd from place to place 130. Noble Elyah in the Desert hid His persecuted head when Jezebel Our Tyrants Type her threatnings thundered Against his Life there he alone did dwell Having no kinde of Caterer or Cook But a poor Raven no Cellar but a Brook 131. Nay even Jesus too himselfe did flie When bloody Herod drew his desperate Sword And never think it can discredit thy Devotion to follow Him thy Lord In any of his Steps who onely was The Way by which We to Perfection passe 132. Whilst thus the good old Man encourag'd her A Troop of furious Soldiers had by night Beset their Houses in presumption there To finde their helplesse Prey But when their flight They understood their frustrate Expectation Flam'd into most impatient Vexation 133. All rooms they ransack'd where what Goods ' they met Were hungry Plunders instant Sacrifice Yet still their Rage unsatisfied set The Houses too on Fire and with loud Cries Threatned to serve the Owners so when e'r Justice could make Discovery where they were 134. If any of the Neighbours wounded by The salvage Spectacle but smote their Breast Or shak'd their Head or mourned in a Sigh The bar barous Caytiffs took it for confest That to their Queen they ill affected were And instantly to Prison them did tear 135. Yet by the way the cruel Courtesie Of hungry Theeves they freely offer'd them Who ready were their lives and liberty With present summs of Money to redeem Their Queen is safe enough so they can line Their greedy Purses with Delinquents Coin 136. But through the Eastern Rubie Portals now Aurora op'd the Passage to the Day When loe an old and shaggie Lyon who Had busie been all night about his Prey Came panting Home and roaring loudly when He drew neer to the Entrance of his Den 137. This Den was that in which for shelter lay The good Vranius and Psyche who Rouz d by the Noise but having now no way To flie the presence of their salvage Foe Their Hearts to Heav'n with instant fervor sent Imploring Succour in this Perils dint 138. In came the Beast whose dreadfull Mouth and Paw Still reeked with the Blood of his torn Prey But those unwonted Guests when there he saw Stroke with the awsull News he made a stay And as he wistly look'd he smooth'd his frown And by degrees his Crest and Tail let down 139. Uranius musing what the Lyon meant To melt so from himselfe thus him bespake If He who is our Lord and thine hath sent Thee hither with Commission to take Our lives by gentler Tyrannie than that From which We fled loe we deny them not 140. Much Solace it will be to Us that we Augment not by our Death 's the Guilt of Men This bloody Trade doth better suit with Thee Of salvagenes the dreadfull Soveraign than With them whose softer Constitutions be Temper'd and tuned fit for Clemencie 141. Yet if thou dost not on Heav'ns Errand come But the sole bus'nesse of thy barbarous Thrist Unarmed though we be no Peril from Thy Paws or Jaws we dread doe all thy worst So faithfull He and so said Psyche too And waited what the Beast would dare to doe 142. When loe the trusty generous Lyon who No Vengance ought to Men but where he saw The print of Guilt and of Rebellion to Their common Soveraign did meekly throw Himselfe before these Saints in whom he read The Lines of reverend Innocence fairly spred 143. Then having humbly lick'd their holy Feet And seem'd to beg their blessings e'r he went What universal Providence findes meet Uranius cry'd perceiving what he meant And usefull for thee may it given be In due requital of thy Pietie 144. Which said the joyfull Lyon took his leave With the best manners his rude Education Could him afford The sight made Psyche grieve Reflecting with a sober Meditation On those unmanly Men she fled from who In Barbarousnes did wildest Beasts 〈◊〉 145. And well she might for now a trusty Friend Both to the Priest and Her who knew the Place Of their abode his way did thither rend With Ashes on his head grief in his Face He being entred silent stood a while For Groans his breast and sighs his Mouth did fill 146. But having prefac'd thus alas he cry'd That I have liv'd to bring this wofull News Your selves have by your flight escap'd the tide Of Salvagenes which all our Town embrues But nothing else for what behinde you left The Booty is of most outrageous Theft 147. Your Houses turn'd to their own funerall Pile Now in their Ashes lye vast sorrow here Stifeled the rest But then thy stories stile To Us is not so dreadfull never fear That what remains will trouble us replies The Priest who dare embrace our Miseries 148. What e'r was ours alas We never Made But by Donation did it Possesse All that We had We but as Stewards had Well may our Master call for what was His. And Blessed be his Name who Us from these Encumbrances so freely doth release 149. Chidden by this Heroick Braverie The Messenger took heart and thus went on Had furious Tyranny presum'd to flie No higher than at you and yours alone Tears might have reach'd that losse but who can wail Enough when God himself it doth assail 150. The desperate 〈◊〉 feared not to break Into the sacted
Oratorie where Our Busnes We with Heav'n dispatch'd for lack Of publike safetie for our Rites and there Made desperat havock challenging in spight God for his Temple and Himself to fight 151. The Sacred Bible they no sooner saw But in foule indignation they cry'd Behold these Galileans lawlesse Law Which doth all other Statutes break beside Whether of Caesar or of Jove but We Will try if this may now not broken be 152. With that they in a thousand peeces tor't Then on Devotions Prop the Liturgie They made their equaly malitious sport Crying these are those leaves of Witcherie That Bulk of Conjurations and Charms Which have occasioned the whole Worlds Harms 153. Next all the Altars reverend Furniture They snatch'd and scrambled who should rifle most The sacerdotal Vestments white and pure About the room at first in scorn they tost Then with new Insolence put them on themselves So in meek Lamb-skins walk the murdering Wolves 154. Upon the Chalice when they had espied The Shepheard bringing home the strayed Sheep Like roaring Hel-hounds with one voice they cryed Look how these Christians set their God to keep Their Wine but fools they should have hir'd a friend Which might his Godship from our hands defend 155. Is not our Pan more like a God than this Pan who doth all the Tribe of Shepheards keep Whil'st this poor servile Thing contented is To spend his time on silly rotten Sheep But since He 's here of Silver in our need His Deitie may stand Us in some stead 156. When in these Contumelies they their fill Had wantonized one a dead Dog brings Which having stopp'd his Nose for the rank 〈◊〉 Reveng'd his Crimt He on the Altar 〈◊〉 And with blasphemous supphcation cryes Accept ô Christ my bounden Sacrifice 157. Then said Another We must not forget Humbly to tender our Drink-offring too With that upon the Altar thrice he spit And having sill'd a putrified shoe With his vile Urine on his bended Knee He poured out his foule Impiety 158. But then a third to make their sin compleat Yelling and rayling ser the Place on Fire For since said he this Josusis so great A God his Deity may well require An 〈◊〉 which Word and Act the Rout Applauded with an universall Shout 159. No more Uranius 〈◊〉 dear Friend for bear Till We have pour'd out our due Tears for this That 〈◊〉 and his Temple wronged are Our 〈◊〉 and ours alone the reason is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of his Commandments is the Gap Which let into his house this foule Mishap 160. This said the Reins unto loud Lamentation Both He and Psyche liberaly gave When loe a strong and mix'd Vociferation Conquer'd their Cries and triumph'd in the Cave They thought some Huntsmen were abroad and so It prov'd for hunting they for Men did goe 161. It was that Rout who when thy mis'd the Priest At his own house concluded he was fled And in the Desert sought some private Nest Wherein to hide his Persecuted Head But They all bent and sworn to hunt him out A Pack of Bloodhounds with them thither brought 162. As up and down they trac'd the Solitude A busie Cur unto the Cave drew neer Who having found the wished Sent persu'd It close and entred where those Weepers were Whom spying wide He opened and hould Till he to all the Rabble Tales had told 163. This brought them 〈◊〉 thither where when they Beheld Uranius with a barbarous Crie 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Voice and Hands to pull Dismay 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 their Prisner whom forthwith they tie Unto 〈◊〉 Hound which found him out that he Night 〈◊〉 contempable Conducter be 164. The holy Captive knew it was in vain To ask their Madnesse why it us'd Him so Or what Offence of his had ern'd that Chain But in meek Silence ready was to goe Thus harmlesse Lambs are in their Suffrings mute And never with the Butchers Knife dispute 165. As Psyche at his Back lamenting stood One who pretended to have something still Of Man and Kindnesse bad her stop that flood Which poor seduced she amisse did spill And weep no more to see Him Prisner who Had by Enchantments her enslaved so 166. For this your lurking and your wailing here Tell Us he hath bewitched you to his Rediculous Religion yet were That onely such said He we would not presse The Law against Him but the whole World knows That with the worst of Wickednesse if flows 167. Him the Ring-leader of the Crime will We To Justice sacrifice but as for you Whose Guilt we hope is but Simplicity To your lesse fault we pardon will allow And to your silly Servant here if He Henceforth will doe his best more Wise to be 168. Psyche with silent and with sad Disdain Threw back his Courtesie into his face For though her heart at present did refrain To speak it selfe yet she resolved was Resolved not to leave her Friend that day Though Death and Devills did obstruct her way 169. And now the raging Caytiffs drew the Priest Unto the Town with shamelesse Exclamations And all the way his Patience opprest With Kicks and 〈◊〉 and Taunts and 〈◊〉 Which sad Procession 〈◊〉 was By the Tribunal where the Saint they place 170. A Deputy of Perjecution there Was ready on the Bench and standing 〈◊〉 A fan and new erected 〈◊〉 where Prepaied Coals of fire did glowing 〈◊〉 Neer which stood one with 〈◊〉 in his Hand To wait upon the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 171. Uranius thus presented at the Bar The 〈◊〉 begins an insolent Oration In which 〈◊〉 taken had sufficient care To blast and to blaspheme the Christian Nation Unto whose chage He boldly layed all The Miseries which did that Age befall 172. Nor those alone which his Queens Declaration Prompted Him with but all that Calumny 〈◊〉 possibly invent the Combination Of bloody and unclean Impiety Which made the Gnosticks Name so horrid He Avow'd the Christian Discipline to be 173. His Pagan Gods He praised to the skies A place which they alas could never reach But heap'd on Christ all slanderous Injuries Which Envy could suggest or Hell could teach And at each Period the Peoples Roar Pour'd proud Applause upon their Orator 174. But in the Close He gravely turn'd his Speech With cruel Pitty to Uranius Whom by his reverend Age He did beseech No longer to be fool'd and cheated thus By silly Wickednes but choose their ods And take for One a multitude of Gods 175. He straitly Him conjured to prefer The Deities the whole World did adore Before the single simple Carpenter Who found no worship but amongst a poor Few sneaking and despised Soules which He Vain God could not protect from Miserie 176. And if He now refused to present Incense to Jove upon that Altar there He theatned him the utmost Punishment Which mock'd and scorned Mercy could prepare This said He shrunk his fawning face into A frown and waited what the Priest would doe 177. But He right brave defiance did return Upon the
〈◊〉 to Crave Enjoy the courteous Sun 〈◊〉 it doth shine And let this Dungeon not forestall thy grave Speak speak and bid Us live with thee or by Thy wilful silence send Us home to dy 231. So pleaded they But Psyche with a Groan Fetch'd deeper than the bottome of her Grot First vanquished their Lamentation Then with this most athletick Answer what Artillery their crafty tongues had brought From Pieties strong hold to force her out 232. I now no longer can the Jailer blame Who tempted me my Liberty to gain By being slave to Joves accursed Name And scorning him who on Heav'ns Throne doth reign Why should I look that Pagan He should be Kinder than you my Parents are to Me 233. My Christian Parents if you yet dare own That holy title who invite me now To kick at Christ. Alas that I am grown So execrable in your Eys that you As if this Dungeon were not deep enough Into Hels bottom Me should strive to throw 234. The sacred Law of Filial Duty I Hold dearer than this World for well I know Nor shall all Torments force me to deny This truth that unto you my Life I ow Which in your service if I shun or fear To spend may I prove an Idolater 235. But that 's the Life by which I Prisner am In this unworthy World A Life I have Which truer is unto its active Name A Life to high and pretious that to save It from the Jaws of endlesse Death his own The King of Heav'n thought not much to lay down 236. That Life I mean by which my Soule doth live A Life which from your Loins I never drew And therefore you doe but your selves deceive To think that this is to your Pleasures due God is my onely Father here and I Intire to Him must keep my loyalty 237. As fast as in this Mire I stick the way Of His Commands I now am running and Though you your Prayers or your Necks should lay Full in my path my passage to withstand I would not hear my mortal duty plead But on your Necks and Prayers freely tread 238. Yet Heav'n forbid I should be forc'd to take This hard experiment of Pietie O rather help to lead me to the stake And of my Combat there Spectators be You 'l ne re repent you to have seen your own Childe climbing up to Martyrdomes fair Crown 239. But since you know so well the vast extent Of Jesus Mercy know it not in vain Your own decrepit years bid you repent With speediest speed The foule and cankering stain Of your Idolatrous Complyance dares The utmost Power of your fullest Tears 240. Mispend not then those pretious Beads on Me Your selves need all their Ornament and I This onely favour crave that you would be But so courageous as yet to rely On Heav'ns Protection Speak ô speak and ease My throbbing hearts tormenting Jealousies 241. I burn I burn in Anguish till I hear You by a brave Profession defie Those Baits of secular ignoble fear Which lured you to your Apostasie Speak then and make my Life be sweet in spight Of all these Tortures which against it fight 242. So pious She. But feeble-hearted They Leaving no Answer but a faithlesse Sigh Their Griefs and Fears to witnesse went their way Confounded by their Daughters Constancy Yet by this foule Retreat They gave her more Soule-piercing Wounds then They had done before 243. For now her ominous Meditations threw Her down into that Gulfe of flaming Pain Which to Apostate Wickednesse was due Where every Torment every Rack and Chain To which her Parents seemed now to goe Pour'd on her tender Heart a Sea of Woe 244. But as She struggled to maintain this fight Of mighty Charitie She gan to faint When loe a sudden unexpected Light A Thing with which that Grot did ne'r acquaint The Place and Her with Glory did surprise Offring a radiant Stranger to her Eyes 245. For at her right Hand She beheld a Mayd On whose fair Head a diamond Crown did shine With gentle Majesty She was arrayd And all her Ornaments appear'd divine Psyche amazed at the heav'nly Sight Would fain have kneel'd to doe the Virgin right 246. But as her Sorenesse Mire and Chains forbad That reverence She fete'd a modest Sigh To which the Stranger this milde Answer made I see thy Minde in thy ingenous Eye Thy Courtesie by thy Desire is done And now my ear'nd Requital must comeon 247. This said She hugg'd her with a strait Embrace Softrait that closer than her Chains or Mire It stuck and deeplyer 〈◊〉 was Than her Disease through which it did 〈◊〉 Into her Heart and 〈◊〉 it up so close That now no Anguish there could interpose 248. As He who is some wager'd Race to run Having his Loyns girt up and being so Collected and ti'd to Himself 〈◊〉 With lighter stouter Nimblenesse doth goe Than when his waste He loose about him ware And there for 〈◊〉 had room to 〈◊〉 249. Embraced Psyche thus perceiv'd her 〈◊〉 Lace'd strait and shrunk into Collections 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 As first She wonder'd her 〈◊〉 Guest So much should presse her 〈◊〉 but it 〈◊〉 As that fresh Vigour glowed in her 〈◊〉 She knew She onely 〈◊〉 out her Smart 250. And now such Courage in her Soule did reign That She rejoyc'd She had so hard a Race Her gauntlet She dares give to any Pain And the most tedious Death look in the face Her Chains to her no more then Bracelets are Her boiling Sores as Pearls indeed appear 251. Her Parents Case She to Heav'ns Soveraign Wil t Can freely now resigne that Will which though It bitter seem to worldly Tastes yet still Doth unto uncorrupted Palats flow With all the Soule of Sweetnesse and can make From springs of Galla flood of Honey break 252. She seems as yet not to have gain'd her share Of Pangs and Sufferings and fears not to pray That He Who did such Strength for her prepare Would still more load upon her Shoulders lay More fewell still unto her tervour give Who now by nothing but by Pains could live 253. Nor was it wonder for the Stranger here Thenceforth a Stranger unto her no more Was sent from Heav'n a special 〈◊〉 To heal her Heart beginning to be sore With her Weak Body Willingly She 〈◊〉 And did her Work for 〈◊〉 was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 254. The Eyes of Lambs ne'r darred meeker Raies Then stream'd from hers and yet the Lyons face With stouter Bravery did never raise His royal Looks nor with more Courage gaze Upon and challenge Terrors than does She Though soft as honey or as Oyle She be 255. All over she was nothing else but skars Wnt large and fair to testifie what she Had undergone in Heav'ns victorious Wars And yet these Characters her beautie be For with such silver light they smile that they Much like a Tire of Stars do her array 256. Her busines being thus dispatched she The cheer'd reso'ved Prisner leaves
Thrice happy Saint to Heav'n he onely sunk But I in this black Gulfe of hideous Ire Must downward dive and overwhelmed be In Derelictions vast Profunditie 48. I would not fear the most appalling Face Of any Sorrow which did not preclude The sight of Thine but now Thine Eyes alas By these of Mine no longer must be viewd How shall I steer through this vast Sea who may Not see the Stars which are to guide my way 49. Here having knock'd her Breast and turn'd her Eye Her generous Eye three times unto the Cup She chid her Selfe profoundly with a Sigh And looking then with noble fervor up Yet why should I demur she cri'd since mine Own Will is not mine own but long since Thine 50. If any Title to my Selfe I had I might be tender of my Ease and Rest But since to Thee a Deed of Gift I made Or rather of due Pay Thou art possest Intirely of Me nor must I refuse That Thou what is thine own shouldst freely use 51. I am no further I than thou wilt grant Propriety is no such Thing to Me And I who nothing have can Nothing want So long as I resigned am to Thee Thy Will in Sweetnesse alwayes equal is Though our false Taste doe sometimes judge amisse 52. And now I know thy Will is mingled here With this sad Potion what soever be The present Rellish Psyche doth not fear But it will end in purest Suavity I fear it not and here she took the Cup And bravely to the Bottome drunk it up 53. As he who has in Poison quaffed deep And drownd Himselfe in what he swallow'd down Quickly perceives the groping Mischief creep About his Heart where being Victor grown It s fatal Chains of cold and heavy Lead Upon its fainting Prisner it doth spread 54. So Psyche having poured down this sad And horrid Draught soon felt its woefull Force Upon her Soule its Patterie it made Which prov'd to weak to stop its mighty Course The Deluge broke into her Heart and there With uncontrolled Power did domineer 55. Forth with the Clouds which had beset the Aire Broke up their gloomy Seige the Phantomes fled Serenity made all the Welkin fair The Rocks left Quaking Birds began to spred Their cheerly Wings abroad Beasts ventur'd out So did the Sun and pour'd his Gold about 56. The World to every Thing grew fresh and clear But unto Psyche for distressed she Perceived no mutation which could cheer The cloudy Region of her Agonie The Brightnesse of the Day to her was more Black than the Veil of Pitch She saw before 57. Thus cheerly Musick is but Torment to A pained Ear Thus Neighbours Liberty With stricter Chains doth gripe the Prisners Woe Thus Candles to the Blinde but Mockings be Thus Gales though cool and gentle nothing slake The boiling Flames but them more furious make 58. Alas her outward Selfe long since had she Forgot and knew not what such Comforts meant Above the Sphear of Sensibility She had established her sole Content What is 't to her that Phoebus shineth fair Upon her face whose Joies above him were 59. This little glaring Thing this mortal Sun Was not the King and Father of her Day Her Morning dawn'd with Jesu's eyes alone The glorious Fountains of her gallant Joy And how how can she live now she no more Can feed upon that Blisse as heretofore 60. Her Soule look'd up alas but look'd in 〈◊〉 For on its Eye-lids sate so thick a Night That from that happy Prospect it did chain And keep close Prisner her unhappy Sight And lesse is Blinde Mens Grief than theirs 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Nothing at all 〈◊〉 their own Misery 61. For unto this and this alone her Eyes Wide open were yea though she shut then 〈◊〉 Still her importunate Calamities And Desolations would themselves expose In full array unto her View in spight Of any Veil which could against them fight 62. Tortur'd by this unsufferable Losse For she had never been alone till now Spreading to Heav'n her woefull Hands 〈◊〉 To her Devotions she her Knees did bow And in an helplesse lamentable hue Thus to her 〈◊〉 wonted 〈◊〉 did sue 63. My God where e'r Thou art Why Why wilt Thou Who every where canst thy great Selte display Unto thine Handmaid not one glimpse allow Who once enjoy'd thy Favoure Highnoon Day Which had I never done my present Pain With such excessive Anguish would not reign 64. Hath not thy boundlesse Sweetnesse taught my Heart Compleat Disrellish of all Things beside Where grows the Balsame then which for my Smart And Me can any Lenitive provide So long as most abandon'd I in this Black Death the Life of thy sweet Aspect 〈◊〉 65. Strong was this Crie for all the Heav'ns it rent But yet it could not make them hear and She Who never untill now had thither sent Her Prayers in vain amazed was to see These which so loud about her Spouse resounded Back to her Breast with Emptinesse rebounded 66. Yet as the noble Palme though on her Head A massie churlish sturdy Burden lies With valiant Patience still goes on to spreac Her inderatigable Arms and tries How she may both her sad Affiiction bear And her ambitious Boughs still higher rear 67. So galiant Psyche though now on her Back This Load more ponderous than Mountains lay Bravely resolved not to let it crack Nor her most loyal Patience betray She knew what Jesus underwent before And that his Love deserv'd thus much and more 68. Confirmed therefore to her Task she went And spurr'd up Logos to his daily Part Whom upon Contemplations Wings she sent To fetch some Comfort for her pined Heart Vnto Heav'ns Treasurie she sent Him where 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 meet with high and holy Chear 69. But every Night when he returned home Alas he nothing brought but saplesse Fare Lank drie Results whose Bulk and Total Sum She never saw amount to more than bare And flashie Uselessenesse resembling that 〈…〉 thither lately shot 〈◊〉 This sad Miscartiage fully did a wake The fountains of her Eyes which liberal were In 〈◊〉 Drops by that thick showre to slake Or empty out the Grief which flam'd in her Yet all this woefull Brine she thus did poure But onely 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Cheeks and 〈◊〉 her more 71. Thus cross'd and disappointed every way Though she a fair and full Temptation had No more to Mock her selfe and waste the day In fruitlesse Toile Yet she this Statute made Unto her Selfe Her Duty still to doe Whether Heav'n would regard her Pains or 〈◊〉 72. So when the unrelenting Storm hath driven The Mariner into the boiling Main And with thick Clouds so veild the face of Heav'n That he direction from no Star can gain He yeildeth not to all those Miseries But plies his Oars whether He lives or dies 73. Her Tears she poured still her Sighs she blew Her Hands she Lifted up her Knees she bent She knock'd her Breast her Contemplations fiew Their wonted flight her
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 127. Loe here store of Receipts When noble Saul The field his Kingdome and his God had lost No sooner on this Swords Point he did fall But all the Plot of his Mishaps he crost And maugrè all Philistia's Powers fell Down to the Rest of holy Samuel 128. Disgrac'd by Hushai and rejected by Fond Absalom profound 〈◊〉 Himselfe to teskue from this Misery Consulted with his own deep Oracle And found no 〈◊〉 way than by this Rope His Breath his Lite and his Contempt to stop 129. Great Annibal accustom'd long to ride In Triumphs Chariot being overborn By undeserv'd Misfortunes powerfull Tide Least he should prove the Romane Song and 〈◊〉 Sipp'd but a little of that Poison there And went in glorious Peace unto his Beer 130. Renouned Cato when by peevish Fate Thrust into Straits too narrow to contain His mighty Spirit by a little hate Of wretched Life 〈◊〉 Rest did gain There lies the Sword still with his brave blood 〈◊〉 By which he op d the Way and free'd his Soule 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 gallant Antony to overthrow 〈◊〉 that it ever should be said That noble He though conquered would 〈◊〉 He with that Weapon cut th' unhappy Thred Of life and layd him down in 〈◊〉 Bed 132. Say not that these were Men and Female Thou 〈…〉 manage 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Thy 〈◊〉 high Exploits will not allow 〈…〉 Yet could I cite to Thee 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 thy most extreem Distresse 〈◊〉 be thy Warrant for this Manlynesse 133. 〈…〉 rusty with the blood 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Blood of Female Lucrece she 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to her Tears poor Womanish 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 her Directions from Me And with that Instrument broach'd from her Veins 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 wish the blacknesse of her Stains 134. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 when her Disasters grew 〈◊〉 thick and crosse that they had almost shut The way to all Releif found out a new Road unto Death and down her Throat she put The Fire which made Her her own Sacrifice Part of the Coals still in that Casketlies 135. Although sweet Antony was wont to rest In 〈◊〉 s dainty Bosome yet When Losses her beseig'd unto her breast Her lovely breast an odious Aspe she set Which suckd out her sad Life and in that round Box lies the Serpent up in Circles wound 136. As 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 thou hast witnesse by 〈…〉 who 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 by whose vntue she 137. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 But hate not thou thy Selfe cause I am kinde Nor scorn the Bounty of my Pitty Know It stands not with a truely 〈◊〉 minde To fear her own more than anothers Blow If thou 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 be Brave and Die The Life of Fame doth reach Eternitie 140. Come then and since thy Spouse so cruel is Give Him his 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 Him to his face Come choose the Way unto by 〈◊〉 Blisse And 〈◊〉 send 〈◊〉 Self unto the 〈◊〉 Where 〈◊〉 who did this 〈…〉 Safe in the Arms of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 main 141. Thou hast too long already waited on The 〈◊〉 of regardlesse Heav'n since thou Art able by thy valiant Hand alone To give thy Self what that will not allow A Martyrdome's thy Wish and Thou mayst be A Martyr unto thine own Bravery 142. So spake Dispair But Psyche all the 〈◊〉 Stood firm and constant us the resolute Rock For well she understood her fatal Guile And therefore arm'd her Selfe against the Shock Of this Assault which as she made can end She thus rebounded back upon the 〈◊〉 143. 〈◊〉 145. 'T is true my Spouse hath hid his joyous face And sure I have deserv'd He should do so Yet ne'r was Night so long but did give place At length to cheerly Day but that which you Grone in beneath and therefore wonderous fain Into that endlesse Darknesse Me would gain 146. Let Jesus use his Pleasure on me I His Dust and Ashes am and so goe tell Your envious father Belzebub for by His delegation you are come from Hell Tell him though Jesus kill Me yet I must And in his Goodnesse will repose my Trust. 147. The Furie to this Word made no reply But by an hideous Shreik which split the Air And rent the earth rebounding on the Skie And Heart of Hell at once all Thunders were But murmurs to this fragor and the Sea But Whispers when her Billows loudest be 148. Then snatching up her Baggage with one Hand And with the other tearing off her Hair Her Skin her flesh She cursed Jesus and Ran bleeding to the gloomy Cavern where She shreik'd again and shaked Hell before She enter'd through the Gulf of its black Door 149. Great Satan started when the Feind he saw Come thus lamenting home without her Prey Upon her throat he clapp'd his iron Paw And through it tore his Indignations Way For Pain She roared so did He for Spight Whilst all Hell trembled at the dreadfull sight 150. But Psyche though her victorie were great And might in other Hearts have Triumph bred No joy could rellish in her glorious Feat For to all Comfort She was cold and dead And in her Conquest did remain as sad As if her Self had been a Captive made 151. Her woefull Hands She wrung and smote her Breast And cri'd What is this good Successe to Me So long as Heav'n is deaf to my Request So long as I grope in Obscurity So long as from my Spouses Eyes the wide Black Curtains of Disfavour mine do hide 152. Now now alas by dear Experience I Have learn'd that Sweets and Pleasures no where are Truely themselves but in the Treasurie Of Jesu's all-enamoring Countenance there There are they lodg'd alone and hid from Me Who ev'n in Joy finde nought but Misery 153. As in the depth of this Disconsolation She plunged lay and saw no Way to Rise Phylax quite tir'd with his long sequestration From his dear Charge of whose Calamities He jealous was with importunitie Wrested from Heav'n a Licence Her to see 154. No Winde its Wings more stoutly ever stretch'd Or flew with brisker nimblenesse than He But when his Speed this wished Place had reach'd Far from his Wishes He the Place did see Down fell his Plumes and Eys back flew his Blood And He ô how unlike an Angel stood 155. Such havock Grief had made in Psyches face That in her Self her Self He scarce could spie Besides the blessed Beams of heav'nly Grace Which us'd to sparkle in her holy Eye Were damp'd with deadish Dulnesse and no signe Peep'd forth of any Thing within divine 156. This further spurred on his Serch to see What kinde of Weather it was in her Breast Where finding thick and heavy Darknesse He Would to the Centre of her Heart have prest But Charis there so close lay locked up That all his sweet Powers could not charm it ope 157. At this Amazed and amazed too That She who with impatient Love had used To bid Him welcome and his feet to woe With humble Kisses stood like One amused And doubtfull whither now it were not best To throw Neglect on her unsent-for
Guest 158. And yet resolv'd to trie the Strength of Love And not be dash'd out of his sweet Intent He kindely her imbrac'd and gently strove To warm and win her by that Complement He wrought with all his heav'nly Heats to thaw Her Soule where frost He domineering saw 159. But what can tardy Salves and Balsams do If Life the Member once has bid Adieu In vain does Phylax hug his Pupil who Beyond the reach of finite Comfort grew In vain he blew those Ashes in whose heap No Embers nor no hopefull spark did sleep 160. This stroke into his heart so deep a Wound That he forgot with him he brought his Tongue And pitching sadly down upon the ground His anxious Thoughts and Eys on her he hung Whil st Silence sate upon his Lips and quite Sealed them up for many a day and night 161. So when the desolate Idumean Prince Not worth so much as his own skin was left For by an universal Confluence Of boiling Sores he was of it bereft His dearest Friends sate by him on the ground In silent Grief and stupifaction drown'd 162. But then perceiving this long expectation Bred no relenting in her stiff Disease Into the Dialect of Consolation He op'd his Mouth and tri'd his best by these Most tender Lenitives to venture on Her heart and fight with its cold heavy stone 163. O Psyche if Thou yet remainest she What means this strange aversnesse in thine Eye How hast thou lost thy memorie of Me Who still am Phylax and Calamitie Me thinks should make thee not forget my Name Who by my Office thy Protector am 164. If ever thou hadst found Me false when thy Distresse has called for my helping hand Or if thy present heavy Misery Doth not in need of my Assistance stand Well might'st thou by this strange deportment dart Disdain upon the Comforts I impart 165. It was no busnes of mine own which drew Me from thy Company most dear to me Witness the time when I so cheerly slew To Palestine and back again with thee Forsaking all that while the sphear where I In soveraign blessednes was wont to fly 166. But He who both my Master is and thine Call'd me away if yet it were away For my imployment was not so much mine As thine for whose sweet sake thy Spouse did lay That charge upon me Then be of good Cheer And to the happy news I bring give Ear. 167. When I in Heav'n had long attendance pay'd To Jesu's Soveraign pleasure Gracious He Hearing my sighs in gentlenes array'd His looks and to his foot-stool beckned me Where having on my face ador'd him thrice He blessed Me as oft and bad Me rise 168. Then looking to his own right Hand at which His radiant Mother kneel'd who makes the light Of heav'n it self with her sweet Lustre rich Behold said he to Me my dearest sight Behold the Queen of all this joy and bliss Which by my Regal title I possesse 169. But her Retinue is not so compleat As she deserveth and I needs must grant Soft Snowie Followers answering her sweet And ever-virgin Self she still doth want And from my Nurserie below must I Her worthy Train with fitting Plants supply 170. And one of those is humble Psyche she Whose Watering and whose Pruning is thy Charge Her from unworthy Dusts Captivitie And all her other straits I will enlarge E'r long when I have proved her to be By Fires true Witness fitting Gold for me 171. In that bright Station shall her dwelling be And he to Maries right hand pointed here There shall the Clouds of her Humilitie Break up into a Day of Glory there Her Sufferings all shall prove Divine and go And from my Mouth assure thy Pupill so 172. I prostrate fell and took my leave and flew More on Joys Wings than these through the vast sea Of glorious Blessedness but as I drew Neer thine old Friend Uranius For he Reigns on a lower throne than thine he cri'd What fortune Phylax doth thy Charge betide 173. That shall you shortly see said I and so Posted directly hither unto thee And if this News cannot outlook thy 〈◊〉 Tell me why thou disdain'st Felicitie Why Phylax ne're lesse welcome was then now He of thine highest Hopes the Dawn doth show 174. Why thou against the meek ingenuous law Of civil Gratitude dost not embrace With joyous heart and with unfurrowed brow This mighty token of Heav'ns royall Grace Why thou thine own Ambition contradictest Whil'st with his Promise thou thy Spouse rejectest 175. So spake the Angel But the heavy Maid Grown deas to every Word that sounded Joy Her dolefull hand upon her Bosome laid And pressed with the Burden of Annoy Hung down her Head replying by a flood Of tears how little him she understood 176. But when she saw he was unsatisfi'd With that dumb Answer first an heavy Groan She helped forth then flinging open wide Her lamentable Arms Let me alone She 〈◊〉 and to my domineering Grief Afford at least in Pitty this Relief 177. I know you were of old and still would be My faithfull Friend I well remember you Are Phylax and what blessed Suavitie You constantly did to my heart allow But that was when my heart alive you found Which now in Desolation is drown'd 178. What Comfort gains a Carkase cold and dead By the warm Courtesie of Fomentations In vain are Tables sumptuously spred And furnish'd with luxurious Preparations To court a stomach all whose Appetite By Nauseousnesse is slain unto Delight 179. Blame me not Phylax for I love you still And of your Presence fain the sweets would reap But now my greater joy is damp'd my Will Reacheth her Arms to this in vain you heap But 〈◊〉 on Me whil'st before my Face You set those Pleasures I cannot embrace 180. Should I but strive to grasp them envious they Would shrink to emptiness and mock my hand Or from their own sweet selves quite fly away Degenerating into Sorrows and Right-down 〈◊〉 rather than impart One Taste of Joy to my afflicted heart 181. For ô what Rellish can there be to Me In any Dainties which you can provide So long 's the Lord of my Felicitie From my devorced Eyes himself doth hide If Phoebus once withdraws his Soveraign Ray What can poor Candles do to cheer up Day 182. Did but the wonted Beams of heav'nly Grace Vouchsafe to smile upon my 〈◊〉 They easily would out-look the sourest face Of all the 〈◊〉 which are frowning there But since sweet 〈◊〉 is ecclips'd to Me Phylax is Absent though he Present be 183. Surely your News had glorious been and sweet If carryed unto any One but Me But I in Heav'ns and Blisse's Names can meet No Melodie at all since Miserie Hath seal'd and frozen up my Breast and I Unto my self alone abandon'd ly 184. Though I were now perch'd on the Battlement Of highest Glorie and beneath me saw Each flaming Seraph I should not resent That Place as
hast in Darknesse grop'd so long 24. Henceforth take Courage for no more will I And here Thou hast in Pawn my royall Word Leave thee to wade in gloomy Misery But trustie Light to all thy waies afford Full broad-day Light for all this while I gave Thee secret Beams which thou didst not perceive 25. And had 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 done so had I not 〈◊〉 Close at the bottome of thine Heart to keep Thy Soules foundation firm and sure in 〈◊〉 Laborious Zeal had duely broke thy sleep In vain had all thy Signs and Tears been spent In vain thy Prayers had to Heav'n been sent 26. Unto its dismall Name too truely true Thy Dereliction had prov'd had I With never-sleeping Care not lain perdu To watch the Motions of thy Enemy That Enemy whose fatal Company Makes Desolation Desolation be 27. When that infernal Hag the damned Queen Of Hideousnesse advanced to the fight Armed both Hand and Tongue had I not been In thy main Fort however out of Sight Sure She had undermined it and thou Hadst by Dispair been quite blown up e'r now 28. Yet close I lurk'd thy Courage so to trie When thou no Second didst perceive at Hand This was the Plot of LOVE himselfe and I My Ambush placed but at his Command LOVE hid my face and so he did his own But all that while he weav'd for thee a Crown 29. The Crown which thy long loyal Patience In the bright Realm of humble Saints shall wear And till Thou thither art translated hence I in thy Breast my Tent at large will rear That till the greater Heav'n receiveth thee Thou mayst contain it in Epitomie 30. This said She gather'd up her Train of Light Which in an Orb was all about her spred And shrinking up her Selfe with heav'nly Sleight Within her sprightfull Selfe she entered The Virgins Breast again and there begun To exercise her full Dominion 31. Forth with a Tumult boild in Psyche's Heart But boild and foam'd in vain for instantly The Rout by Chari's most unconquer'd Art Was forc'd from that usurped Hold to flie Vain Dread was first which shrunk turned 〈◊〉 And so these Cowards flying Armie 〈◊〉 32. For She her Selfe no sooner 〈◊〉 out But at her heels Lamenting Sorrow came Tearing her hair and flinging it about Then leare-ey d 〈◊〉 unworthy Shame Pale-fac'd Disconsolation and 〈◊〉 With Indevotion's dead and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 33. But in the Rear rush'd out Forgetfulnes A dim and swarthy Thing and hand in hand Led her Compatriots and Associates These Were sluggish Mists dull Night thick Blacknesse and Whatever is of kin to them whatever Can block up heav'n and Soules from light dissever 34. Compar'd with these all Soot and Ink and Pitch Were Compositions of Milk and Snow So was the gross and triduan Darknesse which Did on the face of shameless Memphis grow Or that which lock'd up Sodom's Eylids more Close than Lot's utmost Care had done his Door 35. Psyche admiring stood to see her Breast So fertile in this hideous Progeny Which as she veiwed them directly prest Downward into the Wombe of Earth to be Conveyed back unto their native Home For from beneath this gloomy 〈◊〉 did come 36. And now she found her Bosome full as clear As when to Heav'n she Thelema presented Now all her Passions unhamper'd were And every Bond to Libertie relented All things were sweet and fair within and she Releas'd into compleat Serenitie 37. Love Anger Hatred Jelousie and Fear And all the rest of that swift-winged Crew With holy sprightfulnesse revived were And to their proper Objects nimbly flew They 〈◊〉 and clashed not their Wings together But kindely help'd and cheered one another 38. Hope which had grop'd and languished till now In deplorable Mists new courage took And challeng'd every Winde its worst to blow Since she perceiv'd her Cable was not broke But that her trusty Anchor held its hold Whilst Desolations Sea about her roll'd 39. And Logos too sad heretofore and drie Felt cneerly Vigor flaming in his Heart Which spurr'd him on to beg her leave to try Whether he could not now perform his part With more successefull strength and from the Treasures Of Heav'n fetch Contempletions solid Pleasure 40. His Motion she heard with joyus Ear And turn'd to Heav'n her gladsome Ey to see Whether the way to it Companion were In her brisk Bosomes new Serenity She turn'd her Ey and in Heav'ns volumes read More than her own desires had coveted 41. For lo the sullen Clouds which heretofore Had damm'd the way to her rejected sight Drown'd in repentant Tears themselves did poure And dash in sunder to lay ope a bright And undisturbed Passage to that Spheat Where Psyche's Jewels all ensh rined were 42. In bounteous Beams of royall Influence Her open Sun bestow'd himself upon her And this awak'd her long astonish'd sence To finde and feel the sweets of this dear Honor This swell'd her Bosom with such Ravishment That through her lips she hast's to give it vent 43. And now ô my delicious Lord said she I thank thee for that Famine I endured I little dream'd that this Felicitie Could by this torturing anguish be procured But in the Wisdome of thy Love didst thou Then make me Fast the more to Feast me now 44. Thou with that wholesome Tempest tossed'st me That I might throughly understand the blisse Of this sweet Calm by the Ariditie Of cold and tedious Death didst thou suppress My secular Spirits that revived I Might live to thee as to the World I die 45. Now now I taste this life indeed which I Though I enjoy'd it did not know before Alas We fools are best instructed by Absence and Losse to prize the richest store These thanks I to my Dereliction ow That I can rellish my Fruition now 46. So deep I rellish it dear Jesu that I would not for the Cream of Paradise But have been drowned in that desolate State Whence to the Blisse of mine own Blisse I rise For what were Paradise to me unless I feelingly perceiv'd its Pleasantnes 47. O that more Thelema's I had which I Might sacrifice in witnesse of this Debt Since thy revealed Countnance upon my Unworthy Head this mighty Score hath set Yet what doe our poor Wils by being thine But onely make Themselves not Thee divine 48. I now could covetous be and wish that all The Treasures both of Heav'n and Earth were mine That with this Offring I might prostrate fall And dedicate it at thy Favours shrine Yet what were all the World to that which I Ow to thy Soveraign Benignity 49. Had I ten thousand Lives to spend on thee That 〈◊〉 Expence would but my Gains augment How 〈◊〉 where Gratitude her Selfe must be 〈◊〉 can poor I due Thanks present Sweet Lord informaud help my Soule which fain Would tender something back to thee again 50. She ceased here And Phylax who attended The leisure of her fervent Exultation With equal Joy and Ardor where
which embroyderd stood Most dreadfully illustrious and fair His Arms imperial stained all with Blood For 't was his Cross encompass'd now with more Notorious Honour than with Shame before 79. As thus he sate triumphant on his Throne He lifted up his Face and look'd about Strait way the frighted Earth began to run From his intolerable Eys the stout And hardy Rocks felt their hearts split for Dread The proudest Hils and Mountains trembling fled 80. The Sphears above his Aspects Power felt And breaking off their losty Harmony In Dissolutions Tears began to melt The Sun and Stars abashed now to see There was no need of them by Day or Night Fell head-long down and choaked their own Light 81. Yet in this 〈◊〉 haste the Sea and Land Were inindefull of their Faith and honestly Resror'd the Pledges which into their Hand Were put by Fate Sin and Mortalitie Giving up punctually a true and just Account of every Drain of Humanc 〈◊〉 82. Forth with Corruption started from the Heap Of Ashes and fled after Earth and Sea When loe the Mass threw off its deadly sleep And waked into Lifes Activitie Each Peice awak'd and nimbly rose and shew'd For one cold Heap a vigorous Multitude 83. Adam and Eve the Springs of all the rest Stood in the Front on whom attended all The Senior World Then Noah forward prest Who reimpeopled this whole shipwrackd Ball And after Him the Tribes and Nations which Their Colonies through all the Earth did reach 84. Not one was missing who did ever draw The breath of Life and see the Face of Light But now the proudest bore his head as low As did the poorest and ignoblest wight This Day had rased such Distinctions out And all into one Size and Measure brought 85. Those whom their tedious Age had bowed down Unto their brisker years were called back And those who in their Bud were crop'd and thrown Into untimely Graves did nothing lack Of fulgrown and accomplish'd vigour which Fix'd all and every one in equal pitch 86. And yet so different their Conditions were That now the ready Angels who attended Their Soveraigns Beck with quick unerring Care Parted the croud which was together blended With his right-hand the harmless Sheep they graced But at his left the stinking Goats they placed 87. Psyche rejoye'd her Parents here to see Rank'd on the Dexter Wing But fuller was Her holy Exultation when she Perceiv'd her own 〈◊〉 had the grace There to be marshalled for though the slepe Her waking Soule at the sweet Omen leape 88. When loe as thus her Hopes and Joyes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 At this illustrious Spectacle before The Throne two Books of vast 〈◊〉 Were open flung No volumes ever bore So huge a bulk as these which written be With the where worlds 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 89. The one was black as Horrors darkest Face The Book of Death writ with the Ink of Hell Wherein each Word some foule Transgression was Scor'd upon their Accounts who did rebell Against their Blisse and needs would labour to Attain Vexation and Themselves undoe 90. The other was as fair as this was foule The 〈◊〉 Book of Life whose Words did shine Clearer than those bright Notes which make the Scroul Of Heav'n appear so glorious and divine For here each Line doth part of God expresse Character'd in his Servants Holinesse 91. There blessed Leaves the King no sooner read But to the Right-hand Troop he turn'd his Eye Which with Majestick Sweetnesse prefaced Unto there Words Come Yee whose Piety Is by my 〈◊〉 Benediction grown Mature and of full Age to wear its Crown 92. Come take your full Possession with Me Of that fair Kingdome whose Foundations were Laid upon stable Perpetuity Long e'r the Earth sunk down beneath long e'r The Air and Fire grew light and upward fled Long e'r the Curtains of the Heav'ns were spred 93. For in this faithfull Register I see Your brave Deserts recorded full and fair When I exposed was to Misery Your pious Charity made Me your Heir The Debt I here acknowledge and to Day The Principal and Use. I must repay 94. Then turning to the gloomy Book and to The other Company which stood agast With frowns of killing Wrath He 〈◊〉 Goe Ye cursed Brood 〈◊〉 Evidence hath Cast You all these Leaves 〈◊〉 Witnesse bear For all your 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 staring here 95. 〈◊〉 Eyes no 〈◊〉 would afford to Me When 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and Nakedness Call'd for 〈◊〉 and strict Equity Now 〈◊〉 up 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 your due 〈◊〉 Goe 〈…〉 for take 〈…〉 Lake 〈◊〉 The 〈…〉 With 〈…〉 Pride Which flam'd 〈…〉 fight When 〈…〉 tri'd For you 〈…〉 Have 〈…〉 〈◊〉 The Adamantine Sentence thus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The courteous Angels with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Joy Upon the Saints their dear Imbrace 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 this their Coronation Day And joyned then their Tongues with them to 〈◊〉 〈…〉 to their gratious King 98. But as this Melody was sweet and 〈◊〉 So were the Yellings horrid which 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The throats and bosomes of that Company 〈…〉 were For thousand 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 about them flew And in 〈…〉 threw 99. But dressed in more 〈◊〉 Array Than ever see infernal Hae deformed Their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 on them did lay Their 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 Wrath all 〈◊〉 With 〈…〉 their Breafts And 〈…〉 did 〈◊〉 100. When on the sudden the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Opening its Mouth and gaping for its Prey The first fruits of their flames on them old spit And warn'd the Fiends to hasten them away To their full Harvest O what Tongue can tell The Anguish which now on these Wretches fell 101. Upon their shreiking Throats and frighted Hair Damnations Serjeants clapp'd their flaming Paws Whilst other Officers who furnish'd were With Whips of 〈◊〉 Snakes and Harpies Claws Lash'd them so sore that they made haste to Hell In hopes that lesser Torments there did dwell 102. Down plung'd this mixed 〈◊〉 which almost 〈◊〉 The greedy 〈◊〉 of the 〈◊〉 Deep Loud was the Noise of this 〈◊〉 Fall but yet Far 〈◊〉 was 〈…〉 Eternal 〈◊〉 still 〈◊〉 and 103. The hasty Fire soon flew upon this Feast And with unbounded Riot gormandised Resolving thenceforth never more to Fast Nor yet with all this store to be sufficed But oft it gap'd and belch'd whence upward broke Black volumes of contagious stink and smoak 104. About the Brink some Devils hankerd still So did two Monsters far more foule than they Thin gastly Death and poisnous Sin untill The King design'd an Angel them to slay Who threw them head-long down the Pit for this And this alone eternal Slaughter is 105. That done the Sentence firm and sure to make Upon the Caves wide Mouth his Seal he set A Seal which no reluctancy can break For his Omnipotence had temperd it Of such a Mixture that Eternitie It self as soon as that shall brittle be 106. The Saints and Angels seeing nothing now But Joy and Life and Bliss and Holines Themselves before the Conquerours Throne did throw Meekly ambitious joyntly to express Their Thanks
of the Rest That supream Diademe which flam'd upon The Head of Jesus fully was possest Of all this Multitude for bounteous He Did lay in Common all Propriety 135. Thus whatsoever Honor decks the Brow Or Consolation smileth in the Heart Its beams are not confined there but flow With Brotherly Affection to each Part That the whole Body may engaged be To make a private Comfort publike Glee 136. And yet these so united Spirits were By several Stations distinguished Nine blessed Orders were divided there Which in three Hierarchik Classe's did Conjoin again and by their single Three Thrice imitate th' eternal Trinity 137. With these the Saints did intermixed reign And fill'd the Places of those Spirits who Hoping against their Maker to maintain Their sturdy Stomacks into Arms did goe But over-whelm'd by his Almighty Tide Their Rume onely gained by their Pride 138. By that proportion of Humility And holy Love they practis'd here below The Measures of their Recompence the high And righteous King of Bounty did bestow Which though they in degrees much difference shew'd Yet every One enjoyed Plenitude 139. So when a thousand Vessells great and small Into the Sea are thrown though some receive More of the Ocean far than others All Are fill'd brim full nor can the Lesser grieve Their Brethrens fairer Amplitude to see Since they no fuller than the Smallest be 140. But how to blazon these bright Honors how To sound this boundlesse Sea of equal Pleasures How to compute this vast Account and know The Total Summ of perfect Blisse's Treasures Posed their highest strength and deepest Wit Who were infeofed and possest of it 141. Yet all the Homage which they paid for this Supremacy of Glory was to Praise Admire and Love and Blesse and Chant out His Eternal Name and Fame who then did raise To this Capacity of Exulation O blessed Life whose Task is Acclamation 142. Through this illustrious Maze of Joy and Blisse As Psyche laboured and seem'd to be In heav'n afresh at every Step by this Unwearied Quires Heroick Peans she Perceiv'd the entertainment neer as high Which cheer'd her Ear as that which fill'd her Eye 143. And now her Wonder could endure no Rein She sacrific'd her Soule to Ecstasie When loe the Seraphs Pipes let flie a Strein Of holy Triumph so exceeding high That starting at the mighty Song she shaked Her pretious Dream insunder and awaked 144. As when unhappy Adam was expell'd Out of the Sceen of Blisse sweet Paradise And on the sudden all the World beheld Planted with desolate thorny Miseries Aghast He look'd his woefull Hands he wrung And sigh'd and sobb'd to think whence he was flung 145. So Psyche having lost this glorious Sight And ravishing Musick which perplexed Her In sweet confufion for by this Delight She tempted was to wish her selfe all Ear By that intirely Eye or else that she Could teach her Eyes to Hear her Ears to See 146. Surprised was with lamentable Fright To see the grosse face of Mortality To see the glaring Beams of Natures Light To see her Selfe on her poor Pallet ly So far remov'd from Blisse's royal Sphear That on dull Earth She still was groveling here 147. Alas She cri'd what injury have I Done unto Sleep that it should mock me thus To have me up unto the glorious Skie Why should my Dreams be so industrious If by so sudden a defection They Me back unto this Deep meant to betray 148. Unhapp Life which whilst we are Awake With nothing else but Dreams dost fill our Eyes The burly Show this Mortal World doth make Is but a puffed Bulk of Vanities Where whilst we hope substantial Worth to finde We mocked are with foolish empty Winde 149. But when by Sleep We robbed are of more Than halfe our Selves and in Deaths Embleme ly Then onely dost thou suffer Us to sore To solid Joyes which yet being carried by Our Dreams faint Wings by them betrayed be And soon forget their own Soliditie 150. Deceitfull Sleep which wear'st the Name of Rest Why wilt Thou never make it good to Me Why was I with thy highest Favours blest If they must onely torture Waking Me Why Slept I if I needs must Wake and misse By setting ope mine Eyes my Sight of Blisse 151. Phylax who all this while with piercing Eye Div'd through her Bosome and Spectator was How Charis order'd all that Pageantry Which through his Pupills wondering Soule did passe Stopp'd with a Kisse that tide of Grief which ran From her complaining Lips then thus began 152. To Joy this Morning sacred is my Dear If thine Eys bottles Thou wouldst rightly spend On Sorrow lavish not the Smallest Tear But all thy Streams to Exultation lend Thy Dream has not deceiv'd Thee all was true Which it displaid to thine admiring View 153. It is enough that Heav'n doth condescend To Act it Selfe aforehand unto Thee Nor canst thou think thy Saviour doth entend To put Thee off with this No royal He Prepares thine Eyes by this short glimpse of Blisse Henceforth to See its endlesse bright Excesse 154. In patience then thine humble Soule possesse For sure this prize is worth thine Expectation Although it should attended be till this Firm World grows Weak stoops to Consummation Time at its utmost Tether cannot be More than a Span unto Eternity 155. Eternity is that which shall enhance Beatitude and crown its Diademes In hopes of which doe thou thy Soule advance And never troubled be to think that Dreams Which on thin Fancie their Foundation lay Are fickle fluid Things and start away 156. Courageous Friend the Mayd to this repli'd Brave is the Metall of thy sprightfull Heart Which easily beats back all Misfortunes Tide And can the Streams of Grief to Joy convert Full well those cheerly Looks with thee doe suit Who all my Losse canst with a Smile confute 157. But I cannot doe so Mischances throw Their own upon my Smiles with high disdain My deep Passivity will not allow Me any Art or Power to maintain A fight with Suffrings so as not to feel The Wound when in my Heart I finde the Steel 158. It is but lately since unhappy I Was quite lost in the Mist of Desolation And heavy was that blinde Calamity Which did both muffle up my Contemplation And clip those Wings that had been us'd before Unto the Pinnacles of Heav'n to sore 159. But now her Eyes again unmaked are And unto their full length her Feathers grown No sooner I in Heav'ns illustrious Sphear Or read or flie but I am tumbled down And by my journey to compleat my Crosse No Profit reap but Knowledge of My Losse 160. O I acquit my Dream from the least Guilt Of fairfac'd Fraud in every blessed Part The genuine Pulse of Truth I cleerly felt Beating right time with my exultant Heart I would not have it false for Heav'n and yet It s being true begetteth this regret 161. For had it not been the unfeined Sceen Of
brave Beatitude in full Display Without this stinging Torment that had been Snatched from Me or I from that away But now what Comfort can breath Me Content When from my Heart my Heart it selfe is rent 162. If Lucifer had never walk'd upon Compleat Felicities transcendent Stories If He had never view'd Heav'ns radiant Throne And sweet Eternities excessive Glories His Losse had finite been he had not fell So low as now nor had his Hell been Hell 163. I might have dwelt contented in dull Night Had I not known and seen Lifes royal Day These rotten Raggs of Dust and Ashes might Have pleased Me had not the bright Array Which clothe's the Saints with Immortality Been open thrown before my mortal Eye 164. Yon' Phaebus who with Virgin Gold doth gild The Mornings cheeks I might with some Delight Have gazed on if I had not beheld The far more Sun-like Eyes of Jesus bright With Blisse and Love and Joy and every Thing Which can become the Looks of Glories King 165. Then since I fully understand my Losse O doe not envy Me sweet Guardian leave Not to be fondly stupid doe not crosse My course of Woe who have such cause to grieve For Grief their Daughters onely Dowrie is Whilst my dear Parents reign in joyous Blisse 166. These Words with such commanding Passion she On facil Phylax blew that he gave way Yet prudent as he was and piercing He Observ'd how wisely Love his Plot did lay And that for his sweet Psyche he this kinde Of softest-hardest Martyrdome design'd 167. But Charis who still in her Breast did lie Although the blessed Dream had taken Wing Yet on the Tables of her Memory Fairly transcrib'd and fastned every thing There shin'd the total Apparition still And all her Thoughts With Ravishment did fill 168. With Ravishment which proved fuel to Her ancient Fire of Love a fire which now Flash'd resolutely out and feasted so On this vast Banquet which did alwayes flow With fresh Infinitude upon it that The flames all Bridles and all Bounds forgot 169. Like Wax which flows before the Summers Sun So in the presence of this scorching Heat Her Bowells melted and her Heart did run About her bosome labouring to get Releasment from this Furnace but in vain Heav'n still to her Sweet Torment her did chain 170. In dainty Agonie She lay and fried Till from her Lips at last the Flame did break And unto Phylax thus aloud she cried O why to Persecutions gentler Stake Was I not bound why might I not expire In the milde bosome of that courteous Fire 171. Tkat Fire would soon have drunk up all my Breath And into Ashes parch'd my Life but this Playes with my Pangs and freshly Furnisheth My fainting Heart with passive vigorousnesse This woefull Immortality doth give Unto my Dust and teacheth Death to live 172. Nor Etna's nor Vesuviu's bowells were E'r gravid with such teeming Flames as mine Should Humber Thames and Severn by thy Care Their everflowing Mouthes together join And empty out themselves upon my Heart Alas they could not quench my burning Smart 173. Nay flatter Me not with thy smiling Eye Compassion is the utmost Thou canst lend He he alone can cure my Malady Who did to Me this flaming Feaver send If thou canst hasten down His help ô doe 〈◊〉 tell Me when he will 〈◊〉 my Woe 174. The Angel who her blessed Sickness knew Had now no longer power to pitty Her Into Invisibility He flew That her Seraphick pains might domineer And she being left alone might sooner prove The 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 175. But yet her modest tender Jealousie Could not interprest his Discession se She fear'd that by indecent Passion she Had urg'd his Patience and fore'd Him to Withdraw till hastie she grew Calm again And fir his 〈◊〉 to entertain 176. This made her cheek her boiling Fervor by Deep Recollection of her Spouses Will She knockt her Breast which first made its Renly In sighs and groans then in these words O still This tumult of my Soule dear Lord whose 〈◊〉 Doth all my Bosome in Combustion set 〈◊〉 Although my long'd-for Union with 〈◊〉 Be dearer than a thousand Lives 〈◊〉 Desire and Languor all my Essence 〈◊〉 Till to 〈◊〉 of thee I grow Yet since thy Will prolongs my Banishment From Heav'n and thee peace heart I am conten 178. I am content For All I Am. is Thine The freedom of thy Pleasure use on Me If I thine Arrows smartest Dint decline Then sav I lov'd my self but lov'd not Thee Upon this Heart poure all thine amorous 〈◊〉 And slay Me if thou wilt from Morn to 〈◊〉 179. But it I still must live this Death 〈◊〉 I live it unto Thee and Thee 〈◊〉 O let some hard heroick Task 〈◊〉 This Fervors edge which thou hast 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 My ravish'd Soule that being 〈◊〉 May lesse perceive the Flames in 〈◊〉 180. Shall I to Perfecutions Court and there Erect thy Standard in the Tyrants Face Shall I her Racks and Arts of Torture dare Her Altars and her Gods down shall I rase Against her Proclamations shall I 〈◊〉 the Pleasure of thy 〈◊〉 181. Shall all the Bruises Wounds Boils Sores and Pains Shall every Grief Distemper Maladie Shall all the Hungers Thirsts and Stripes and Chains Which through the whole World the sad Portion be Of thine abused patient Members joyn 182. Shall I he 〈◊〉 the Hate of Man and Beast Shall I 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and kicked round about 〈…〉 shall I be prest Of 〈◊〉 and Furies and be dragged through 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 where torments in their kingdom grow 183. Surely 〈◊〉 this and more for thy dear sake To whom I ow it I could well sustain Speak then ô most deserving Soveraing speak And by some sufferings mitigate my pain Set Me my hardy Task that I may prove On 〈◊〉 Terms how much I love thy Love 184. Thus nanted loval she till tired by Her Fervors high Intension she descendea Into her self again But instantly That strong Combustion she hop'd was ended Met her amidst her Breast and did conspire As 〈◊〉 as ever by enflam'd Desire 185. By Resignation to her Spouse sne 〈◊〉 To quench it but in vain Still Day by Day Her self 〈◊〉 rouna in amorous 〈◊〉 wasted And waking Night by Night and longing lay For whilit 〈◊〉 from place to place to win Some ease 〈◊〉 bore her Torment 〈◊〉 within 186. 187. So did her testless Memerie to Her The beauteous Wonders of her Dream object With all Beatitudes bright Furniture In vain her Eys she studied to deflect Which were in every Corner crost by this 〈◊〉 of strange importunate Bliss 188. When 〈◊〉 Prayers she went she could not Pray 〈◊〉 and Amazement strait were crowding in When to her Book she went she could not say 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 stopp'd her as she did begin When to her Psalms she went she could not sing 〈…〉 in her Fars did ring 189. When 〈◊〉 her Meat she went she could not Eat The 〈◊〉 of endlesse Life her
thonghts took up When to the Fountain of her Drink the sweet 〈◊〉 of Heav'n her Course and Thirst did stop When to her sleep she was disturbed by The 〈◊〉 Rest of Fternity 190. The dear Remembrance of her Soverdign Lord Boild in her Soule and would not slaked be So that while tortured she could not afford Unto her Body what Necessitie Crav dat her Hands she faint and feeble grew And by Degrees her Mortal self she slew 191. She slew her Flesh which pin'd and sunk away She slew the Vigor of her Senses which Like unbent Bows all damp'd and uselesse lay But by these Slaughters she did but inrich The Life of her afflicted Heart which still With stouter and more active Fire did swell 192. So high it swell'd that what soe'r came neer The mighty Torrent strait became its Prey Yea ev n the Bridles too subdned were Which still she hop'd and strove on it to lay Her Meditations all to Passion turned And whatso'er she Did or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 193. In 〈◊〉 unto such a 〈◊〉 The Sceptie of his 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 194. 〈◊〉 be it of a Thing But weak and mortal and Dust's wretched Heir Doth with immortal Pains and Wishes sting And spur the Soule unto unwearied Care Discouragement in vain doth muster up All Troops of Obstacles 〈◊〉 way to stop 195. No no the generous Lovers Heart disdains Not to approve his Passion infinite With gallant Obstinacie he maintains Against the Will of Heav'n and Earth the fight 〈◊〉 win his Idol for whose sake had he Ten thousand 〈◊〉 they all should ventur'd be 196. For in her Image which He hath enshrin'd High in the 〈◊〉 of his loyal Breast Such Charms and strong Attractions He doth finde As rob Him of all Power to resist He runs and in such strange and furious wise That Love is slandered with want of Eys 197. The whole World knows how Hamors royal Son Scorn'd his Religion and his foreskin too When Dinah's Love had full possession Of his subdued Soule How David who Was Heav'ns choise Darling durst Heav'ns Law despise For what he read in Bathsheba's fair Eys 198. Who hath not heard what Power one Heart 〈◊〉 Upon two mighty Nations both content For love or her to run so strangely mad Upon a mortal War whose furie rent Up Ilium by the roots which to the 〈◊〉 Of Lust a wofull Holocaust became 199. No 〈◊〉 then 〈…〉 With such mtolerable 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Whose 〈…〉 〈◊〉 Charms whose royall 〈◊〉 Draw with 〈…〉 Outvi'd by 〈…〉 〈◊〉 201. For all those Wounds bleed nothing else but Fire Fire which remembring its original Flame With never-wearied struggling doth aspire Back to the radiant place from whence it came It s proper Element are Jesu's eyes And thither in heroick Zeal it flies 202. And what can tortured Psyche doe who by This most unruly Heat to Heav'n is haled And yet by Mortal Lifes repugnancy Fast to her Body and dull Earth is sealed What can she doe in this Extremity Of raging Life and Death at once but Crie 203. Hardy and bold she grows in her Complaint For lifting upward her enamored Eyes Although her sickly Voice were low and faint Yet full of sinews were her serious Cries Which thus she suiting them unto her Passion Tun'd by the stout Key of Expostulation 204. O Lord of Gentlenesse ô why dost Thou Make Love so cruel to tormented Me Why would thy bounteous Justice not allow Me any other Rack but Suavitie Why must my Gall be onely Honey why Of nothing else but Life must Psyche die 205. Why didst Thou not permit Me to decease When thou hadst left Me to my Selfe alone So had thine Handmaid been repriev'd from these Extremities of Pangs so had I gone Whole to my Grave who now must Melted be By thine unsufferable Sweets and Thee 206. And am I not a Worm or worse than so Why dost Thou build such Triumph then on Me Why dost thou not pick out some Seraph who With this sublime and blessed Misery Might bravely grapple or why might'st Thou not At Phylax's nobler Breast my Dart have shot 207. O be not angry 't is not I that speak But tortured Necessity my Heart A thousand times desir'd but cannot break Else had my Lips not dared thus to part And ope themselves into Complaints but now Excuse together with my Fault doth flow 208. Not for innumerable Worlds would I Have been without that Apparition but Should full as many Worlds their Tyranny Combine against my Soul they could not put Me unto any Torture so extream As the Remembrance of my blessed Dream 209. In Sweetnesse why art thou so Infinite Or why must that Infinitude appear Unto a Soule to fire it with Delight If to the Fountain it must not draw neer To quench its burning Thirst O Jesu be Still what thou art but then be so to Me. 210. Be so to Me and ô be so with Speed Death is not Death compared with Delay Alas one Moment now doth far exceed All those long years which I till this sad Day Have tediously measured and now I older by an Age each Minute grow 211. Fain fain would I Let thee alone and be Content to wait thy longest Leisure still But ô all-lovely Thou still urgest Me And violently dragg'st my Conquer'd Will Thou dragg'st me yet wilt not permit that I Should follow home to my Felicity 212. If thou wilt Kill Me loe I am Content But ô vouchsafe to let my Slaughter be By Death not by this breathing Banishment From my best Life most ameable Thee O pitty pitty thy poor Handmaids Crie Whose Tongue cleaves to her Mouth whose Throat is drie 213. Fain would she here have fainted but her Pain Whose load so heavy on her Shoulders lay With courteous Cruelty help'd to sustein Her parched Vigour that it still might prey Upon her Patience and consume her still O strange Disease which doth by Curing Kill 214. Phylax mean while unseen perceiv'd that she Unto Heav'ns Suburbs was arrived now And that the Springs of her Mortality By this high Stretch began to crack for though Her Selfe her Change's Dawn could not descry He saw her final Houre was drawing nigh 215. This rous'd his Love in due time to prepare For his dear Pupills neverending End About her funeral he took decent Care Because himselfe could not stay to attend Those Rites when she had once Expir'd for he Her noble Paranymphus was to be 216. He was to be her Convoy when she flew Unto her royal Spouses marriage Bed This made him dresse his Count nance with a new Festivity his Wings this made him spread With fresh and snowie Down that his Lords Bride In that soft Coach of triumph home might ride 217. And in this joyous Hue to her he came Yet his sweet Presence She regarded not For Burning in her more delicious flame She of all other Things the Sense forgot The Phaenix thus amidst her funeral fires See's nothing else and nothing else
of their Bows did them persue Panting their sad layes all the way they flew 80. This most inhospitable Earth will keep No Entertainment for tame honest Beasts Goats Asses Camels Horses Oxen Sheep Can at her wretched Table be no Guests No this is onely Mischiefs cursed stage Where Beasts of Prey and Monsters act their rage 81. Look where a pair of dreadfull Tigres lie Couching in Ambush to attend their prey How should a fainting Traveller get by When two such hungry Deaths beset his way There runs a Lyon with his hideous Note Tearing for want of meat his greedy throat 82. At the same Busines there 's a female Bear In meat and drink two days and nights behinde Whose pined Whelps all yelling in her Ear Chode her abroad some Sustenance to finde There runs a Bore and whitens all his Path With foam the scum of his intemperate Wrath. 83. But mark that Cave before whose nasty Door An heap of excrementall Poisons lies Next which a Quakemire of congealed Gore Raild round about with naked Bones descries What part fell Fury there hath play'd and who Dwells in that House whose Porch is trimmed so 84. That gloomy Cloud which dams the Dens mouth up Is but the Tenants breath which keeps within Who by our Talk is wakened unto hope Of some neer Prey See now He doth begin To rouse Himself the Fire he spits before Is but the Porter to unlock his Door 85. Though Psyche now had cheer'd wrought her Heart Unto a more then female Valour yet She could not curb her 〈◊〉 but gan to start At that all-flaming Dread the Monster spit When Phylax smiling on her horror cri'd Fear not for Heav'n and I am at thy side 86. Of his own Comming by his cruell Hisse He warning gives that stream of cole-black Blood He spews so thick his wonted Usher is Thus when some choise Feind breaks from Hell a flood Of stinking Sulphure paves his dismall way A bashing all the Aire and poisning Day 87. Behold his Eys like two bright Firebrands plac'd In Cakes of blood their fatall beams display So with long flakes of glaring Raies enchased Unto Heav'ns Anger Comets light the Way Pointing with every beam to Citties or To Realms and Countries Famin Plague or War 88. His Mouth which Foams with Venome is the Gate Of helplesse Misery his Jaws the Mill Of deplorable and untimely Fate His tongue a Weapon on whose Fork doe dwell A thousand Deaths his throat so black and broad To his unhappie Preys the beaten Road. 89. His lethern Wings are those which lend its speed Unto Destruction his iron Paws Are Spights and Rages Hands his direfull Head The Oracle whence Tyrants draw their Laws His scaly skin the thick Embroydery Of confident remorselesse Cruelty 90. His knotty Taile pointed with stinging Fire Which on his back in sullen scorn he throws Is Deaths dread Chain that unrelenting Ire Which sits so high upon his craggie Brows Is an afore-hand Sentence unto All Beasts Birds or Men that in his way doe fall 91. Hark how the bruised Aire complains now He Moves the huge flailes of his most boistrous Wings For the soft Nymph else-where was us'd to be Beaten with Fethers or melodious Strings Look in what state He through the Clouds doth stream The smoke before him rolls behinde the Flame 92. As when the martiall Griffen hovers neer The greedy Kite forgets his chased Prey And turning Partner in the Sparrows fear With her into some Corner sneaks away So doe all Monsters here acknowledge this Their Soveraign in all Rage and Dreadfulnesse 93. Thou now seest neither Lyon Boar nor Bear This Dragons Presence chas'd them all away Unto their closest Dens and Caverns where They trembling lie and durst not look on Day So doe all other strange portentuous Things Frighted hence by the Thunder of his Wings 94. For else thou here had'st Troops of Centaurs seen A strange Composure of Horse-Infantry Else Sphinx and her ambiguous Brood had been Abroad in all her fore-front Braverie And with her polish'd Mayden face contended Her grizely Lyons Parts to have amended 95. Else had unsatiable Harpies her Neer Cosen Portents in the Winged Crew Boldly about this correspondent sphear With Virgins Looks and Vultures Tallons flew Else the salacious Fauns had here been skipping The Satyrs dallying and the Silvans tripping 96. Else had that Riddle of Deformity That Combination of all foule Disgrace Who by the Belly of a Goate doth tie A Dragons Tail unto a Lyons Face Ranged about these Sands and sought what Prey It s equall-monstrous Hunger might allay 97. Hast thou not heard how when old Israels Race Did through the Tryalls of this Wildernesse Unto the well-deserving Promise passe They fell a Murmuring because Successe Posted not on as fast as their Desire And yeilding to the Way began to tire 98. This made the Just Creator grant Commission To Vengance his most trusty Factresse who Mounting upon the back of Expedition Down to the Bottome of the World did goe Whose choisest Dens of Horror having ey'd Unto Erynni's Grott she turn'd aside 99. The Fury started and upon her head Straight up stood every Snake She ne'r till now Had seen a sight so full of fatall Dread Though oft she view'd the deepest Deeps and though She daily used for her Looking-glasses Her correspondent Sisters Monstrous Faces 100. For in the Strangers furrow'd Brows were sown The Seeds of everlasting Indignation Her Eyes were constant Lightning flashing down Upon her fiery Cheeks and with their Motion Glancing a more than High-noon-day upon The frighted Night of that black Region 101. Her sturdy Breast was made of burning Brasse Her massie Arms compos'd of sparkling Steel Her adamantine Hands did sway a Mace Of red-hot Iron at her Back did dwell A Quiver stuff'd with forked Bolts of Thunder Well-skill'd in tearing Clouds and Rocks in sunder 102. Fear Anguish Pain Astonishment Dispair Dissention Tumult War Plague Famine Drought Confusion Poys'nous and Tempestuous Aire Eversion Desolation Crying out Wringing of Hands Gnashing of Teeth Sighs Groans Soule-gnawing Worms were her Companions 103. So were Schisme Error flintie Obduration With Pride and Impudence in Villany And She who though her fairer Garb and fashion Seen'd to suit more with lovely Company Was yet as ranke a Curse as they for She Was zealous but blinde and false sanctitie 104. But Vengeance spying her Erynnis quake Constreind her dreadfull Aspect to remit Part of its Awfulnesse and tri'd to speake As milde as She lookd fierce yet when She set Ope her Mouthes fornace unto all the Cave Loud Thunder notice of her speaking gave 105. Feare not said She I on an errand come Which well will suit with thy revengfull thought The Sonnes of Jsrael thou know'st with whom My Soveraigns Patience long time hath fought Indeed He leads them through a Barren Earth Bur yet He makes Heav'n bring their Victuals forth 106. Yet Peevish murmuring they have forc'd Heav'n to Repent its Kindnesse
Wherefore thou must spare Some of thy Locks which I am sent to throw About that Deserts now devoted Aire Where they shall lash the Rebells till they see What 't is to kick at God and Waken Me. 107. Me whom soft Mercie long a-sleepe had kept Upon a Bed which She her selfe had made Me who for ever might in Peace have slept Did Mortals not take pleasure in this Trade Of sending up their shamelesse sinnes to teare By their bold cry my most unwilling Eare. 108. Me who did never move this Hand in vain Nor knew what 't was or Stroke or Aime to lose Me who cannot be charmd a-sleep again But by the dying Groans of my proud foes Me whose sure Power it selfe full deep did seale On Lucifer and ramm'd him downe to Hell 109. Erynnis glad to heare this Message tore Two handfulls of her Tresses from her Head Which Vengeance forth with to this Desert bore And through the trembling Aire their volumes spred First having breathed on them warlike fire Which all their breasts fill'd with mischeivous Ire 110. No sooner were they tossed up but they Perceiv'd themselves increased round about Their Tails reach'd out themselves an hideous way And from their sides a pair of Wings burst out Whose motion puffed and encreas'd the flame Which over all their monstrous Scales did stream 111. Their owne Instinct taught them the readiest way To the rebellious Camp of Israell Where seizing strait upon their helplesse Prey Their fierie Poyson they so thick did spill That all the Hoste had their Burnt-offring been Had seasonable Mercie not stepp'd in 112. Mercie stepp'd in and by a Contre-plot Rearing a Brazen Serpent up did heale All that were stung with fire if they would put Trust in the Medicine of that Spectacle They gaz'd and saw their Helpe but could not prie Into the bottome of that Mysterie 113. That crucified Serpent did present Thy Spouse who raigning on his Crosse did by His potent Dying gallantly prevent The Plot of Death which more than He did dye And crush the old red Dragon who had hurl'd His monstrous Venome all about the World 114. And now thou knowst the Pedigree of this Feirce Portent which enflames and taints the Aire His fierie Looks and smoking flight confesse Of what Progenitors He is the Heire Thinke now how sweet a Pilgrimage it was When thy young Lord did through such Monsters pass 115. Yet ev'n this Passage Psyche shall appear So pretious unto future Saints that They Will seeke their Habour no where else but heer And make these Sands the Shore where they will lay Their Vessells safe from all those storms which rage Upon a secular Lifes unfaithfull Stage 116. This Passage they will judge a Dedication Of all this Tract to holy Privacie Where they in undisturbed Contemplation Of Heav'n shall sweetly live and sweetlier die Fearing no longer other Monsters when They once have reskewed themselves from Men. 117. Here will they build so strongly-mean a Cell As shall no Tempest nor no Plunder fear Here they with Health and Industry will dwell With Pains and Providence but not with Care Here they will importuned Earth intreat With Herbs or Roots to recompense their Sweat 118. For neither stub born Flint nor arid Sand Their Barrennesses Priviledge will dare Strictly to urge against the painfull Hand Of pious Poverty Those Charters are Of Natures giving and must needs give place Unto the grand Prerogative of Grace 119. Here will their Eyes not interrupted be With fond Allurements of the newest Fashions Whose Commendation speaks their Vanity It being onely built upon Mutations Their simple Sackcloth in one cut and guise To hide their Dust and Ashes will suffice 120. Here shall no noise of chincking Money be Rebounded by their Hearts inchanted strings That Noise which with such charming Melody Through all the Worlds unhappy Quarters rings And gains more Altars far for Mammon than Will unto Heav'n allowed be by Men. 121. Here shall no glancing Eye no mincing Pace No sporting Locks no dainty Red and White No wanton Dresse no Tongues melodious Grace No bidding Coynesse no inviting Flight Prevail upon their manly Hearts to brook The tickling Slavery of a Womans Yoak 122. Here no Ambition shall puffe up their Breast And in their Soule a foolish dropsie raise Who by themselves are freely dispossest Of all those Gardens which can bring forth Bayes And live upon a Soil which nothing bears But Poverty and Roots and Sighs and Tears 123. Here shall they by no care of Wife and Child Be call'd away in Conscience from their Prayers But shall by Virtues daily Progrese build Unto the Top of Heav'n their mystick Stayers By which they once again the World shall leave Nobly rebounding upward from their grave 124. But now this long Discourss devoured had The longer Way and Egypt did draw neer Thebai's Fields and Woods and Towns were glad That to the Desert they next Neighbours were And to these Strangers might the first afford Kinde Entertainment as once to their Lord. 125. When Loe said Phylax now the World grows tame And a milde hospitable Prospect yeilds These are the outmost skirts of populous Ham Tufted with Woods and lac'd with flowrie Fields A welcome Harbour to those Pilgrims who Have labour'd through this Deserts Sea of Woe 126. At the last Furrows end thus Rest doth stand And gently leads the Weary Plowman home So hangs the Garland at the Race's end Smiling upon the Runners as they come So Summer cheers the pined Earth when she Has run through Winters totall Tyrannie 127. Hither this Joseph came and brought with Him Far more Salvation then the Other though From Famins Jaws he Egypt did redeem And fed seav'n starved years with Corn enough Hither He came and brought with him the Bread By which the World eternally is Fed. 128. How glad was hee to see his Charge was here Arrived safe through all those perillous Wayes Upon the Childe he look'd but through a Tear Of Love and Joy and paid their Safeties Praise To him whose Providence had in that wide Region of Dangers to his Guides been Guide 129. Then passing to that Town thou seest there Which from old Hermes borrowing its Fame The title of Hermopolis doth wear Neer unto that Religious Tree he came The Natives call it Persea and with high Esteem its Leaves and Apples magnifie 130. Observe them well Each Leafe presents the true Shape of a Tongue which talks its whispering part To every Winde The dangling Apples shew The perfect feature of a panting Heart O that the World would learn this of the ree That with the Tongue the Heart should joyned be 131. Blinde Superstition had hallowed it To Isi's honour but the honest Tree Made bold that fond Relation to forget When thy great Spouse drew neer for instantly With orthodox Devotion pliant grown Unto the Earth her Head she bowed down 132. Where she with all her Hearts the Childe ador'd And as she could
when loe The Judge's 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to see If Psyche yet were fully 〈◊〉 or no And standing at the 〈◊〉 mouth he cryes Learn wretched Maid at length learn to be wise 257. The Judge upon whose Will thy Fate depends In spight of thy 〈◊〉 tender is And me on Mercies Errand hither sends To offer to thee at an easie price Thy Life and Libertie and more than so If thou thy Irreligion wilt forgo 258. His noble Word more sure than Bond or Seal He freely gives to change thy Povertie Into a wealthy State not shalt thou feel Henceforth what scorns and ignominies be But living in soft Peace and Psenteousnesse His Favour and the Worlds esteem possesse 259. But if you obstinately yet deny To offer incense unto mighty Jove You dam the way unto all Clemency And a deserved Sacrifice must prove To your own Madnesse the Decree is past You must Vraniu's fate to morrow taste 260. As when the tossed Mariner descries The Promontories of his native Soile Within whose craggie Hornis his Harbour lies He strait forgets his long Tempestuous toile And doth his new-revived Bosome finde Swell'd more with Joy than are his sails with winde 261. So Psyche hearing that her Doom was past Which to her long-wish t Hav'n would her convey Her arms in triumph up to Heav'n she cast With thanks and praises for that happy Day And in defiance of his offer'd grace Threw this stout answer at the Serjants face 262. My thanks unto the Judge go carry back High is his favour and 〈◊〉 embrace But sure your 〈◊〉 you did much mistake Or foulie at the least your Words misplace My Life and Libertie no favour is Death I accept with humble 〈◊〉 263. As for your vain and wretched Jupiter Were He but half so true a thing as you 〈◊〉 respect would unto Him defer But unto Nothing what can I allow But what it is and though your Incense be But Smoke 't is more substantial than He 264. Deceive your foolish selves no longer 〈◊〉 Am not enchantea but all you are so What 〈◊〉 should make you dream I fear to dy Who through Deaths door shall to Lifes Palace go A way and pray your Master it He be An honest Man to keep his Word with Me. 265. This Answer which the Bearer fully did Enrag'd the Judge to make his the eatuings good But all in vain his wrath he marsh alled Heav'ns milde against his bloody Purpose stood Nor had fierce Belzebub who set Him on Power to step further than he now had gone 266. Mean while such Joy in Psyche's bosome glow 〈◊〉 Through expectation of the fire and stake That all her Pains and Torments to it bow'd And in sweet quiet she that Night did break Her redious Vigils and permitted sleep With its soft feet upon her eyes to creep 267. But Phylax who had all this while withdrew For Heav'n so order'd it now gainted leave His presence to his pretious Charge to shew And from the Tyrants rury her reprieve Down to the Dungeon he as gladly 〈◊〉 As ever he had towred to the Skies 268. Where finding her not onely Prisner to Her it on Chains but in sleeps silken Bands Tied as fast He 〈◊〉 his Work to doe Whil'st she was yet at rest His potent Hands Upon her burning sores he gently laid Which quenched strait as of his touch afraid 269. Her scursie Rough-cast scaled off and all Her Skin to fresh and tender Smoothnesse left So when of old the Syrian General In Jordan did exchange his leprous shift His Flesh appeard as soft and pure as were The Virgin Streams which smil'd and sported there 270. With like Facilitie he did but touch The massie Chains which heavy on her lay And none of all their brasen Locks did grutch To that strange virtual Key strait to give way But down they tumbled clashing as they fell Which Noise to Psyche did their ruine tell 271. She startled up and sought to understand What that Sound ment in hopes it had been Day And that the hasty Judge had sent Command Unto the Stake to hurry her away That hungry He might other Charges save And Her for 's Breakfast ready rosted have 272. When loe her Selfe in Phylax's Arms she found Chain'd by a soft and delicate Embrace Her other Gives she saw upon the ground Confuted all and shatter'd Bnt she was Amazed most to finde she had no Sore To rub for knawing her as heretofore 273. But then My Dear said Phylax We have now No time to stay and look but must away Three times she shak'd her head rubb'd her Brow But when she saw these wonderous Sights would stay She yeilded fully to attend the Dream For unto her it nothing else did seem 274. Up from the Dungeon the Angel flew Proud of the Prize which in his Arms he bore The Bolts and Locks fled from his radiant View So did the Prisons seav'n-fold Brasen Door Yet durst not make the least Complaint or bear By any Noise tales to the Jailers ear 275. Thus through the Town unseen unheard He past 〈◊〉 his Pupill in an unknown Way Great was his Care of Her and great his Haste 〈◊〉 He had brought her into Safeties Bay This was a Place which in the Desert He For her immured had with Privacie 276. A Place removed far beyond the Sent Of any Blood-hound whither Man or Beast A Place well furnished with sweet Content And all Conveniences ready drest Where having brought her in No more mistake Thy Blisse He cri'd but know Thou art awake 277. Thy Spouse is pleas'd with this Experiment And doth accept thy faithfull Patience To free Thee from thy Chains and 〈◊〉 he sent Me hither and from all that Violence The furious Tyrant hath prepar d to day Upon thine undeserving Head to lay 278. Psyche appall'd at this unlook'd for Word And well perceiving that she heard and saw Was with such hearty Indignation stirr'd Against her Guardian that had not the Law Of virtuous Modesty dwelt in her Tongue Full in his Face Defiance she had flung 279. And yet thus far she ventured to ease Her belking Heart O Phylax how art Thou Known hitherto to Me by Courtesies Into mine Enemie transformed now How art Thou made more Tyrant unto Me Than He from whom thou now hast set Me free 280. I by His Help this Morning should have seen That Day which from my Spouse's Eyes doth rise Nor had I any longer troubled been Upward to look when I would read the Skies O no! Uranius now looks down when He The region of the Sun and Stars would see 281. What is this Life of Banishment to Me Who have no settled Home but that above What boots it that my Chains and Maladie Are shaken off if Psyche still must prove A Pris'ner to this heavy Flesh and Bone Which more torments me than they could have done 282. Are the fair Palms and ever-radiant Crown Of Martyrdome so poor and vile a prize Are