Priest indeed for now The ancient Priesthood with the Veil was rent The Diademe too was falne from Juda's brow And famous Salems Regall Glory spent But James did there erect the sacred Throne Of his Episcopal Dominion 86. Yet are the Northern Windes and Irish Seas More trusty than the Jewes The Jewes to day Can heap their Kisses and their Courtesies On him whom They to morrow will betray Jew's Mouths unto thy face can speak all good This houre and in the next will suck thy Blood 87. With Acclamations They this Saint had set In state upon their Temples Battlement Where hee no sooner did assert the great Name of his Lord but with one mad consent Of Rage they throw him headlong down and stain The ground both with his blood and with his Brain 88. Zelotes and Thaddaeus that brave Pair When He in Egypt preached had and He In Mesopotamia united were To reap in Persia their felicity This was the Crown of Martyrdome which in The Quarrell of their Saviour they did win 89. Peter the Leader of that glorious Train When he had fix'd the Antiochean Seat For his more reverend Throne a place did gain In Caesar's conquering Citty where the great Irradiations of his Fame did call Romes noblest Strength to trie with Him a Fall 90. This Strength was Simon whose Apostacie From Truth in Deeps of Magick Him did drown But more in Lies and desperate blaspemie For all Gods Rights He claimed as his owne And left no Trinitie in Heav'n but taught That He himselfe alone with it was fraught 91. The Father in Samaria the Sonne In Jewrie and in all the world beside The Spirit He preach'd Himselfe And yet alone Pretended not ability to guide His owne Creating Hand but when He made The Angells granted He had Helens aid 92. This was the surest way he had to gain His pretious Whore to set her on his Throrie And in his God head let her Partner raign Besides to help on the production Of Heresies and blasphemous Portents Hell Thought Females usefull then and always will 93. And so the World will say when it has known Priscilla Maximilla and the Pair Of Philumena's with the double Spawn Of lying Elkai for her wretched share In such Deceits some Eve will still come in As Helen heer did into Simons Sinne. 94. He taught his Scholars in Himselfe and Her To treasure up the hopes of their Salvation And heedless Souls the surer to ensnare He freely loos'd the Reins to every Passion No matter how you live or die said He So long 's your Faith builds on my Grace and Me. 95. This was that Champion by whose Magick skill Befooled Nero thought Him God indeed And pray'd Him by some Signall Miracle To dash those daring Wonders Peter did His Credit bid Him to that Motion yeild And set the Day when He would fight the Field 96. The Day is come and Simon boldly makes The Challenge which was unto Heav'n to file With that his Arms he weighs and spreads and takes His unwing'd flight but turns his scornfull Eye Down upon Peter whom into the Hands Of Justice and of Death He recommends 97. The Clowds had gathered thick about the Skie To guard the fair Heav'n from his soule intrusion Yet their Battalia He broke and by His working Arms unto his high Delusion Forc'd ope the way The People as he went Their Wonder after Him and Worship sent 98. But as the never-beaten Fencer lets His bold capricious us Combatant grow high Before He strikes in carnest and so getts A later but a nobler Victorie So Peter letts his Foe alone till He High enough for a fatall Fall might be 99. Then posting after Him with mighty Prayers The Divells which bore Him up He forc'd away Forth with down headlong his aeriall Stayrs The Conjurer fell and on the Pavement lay Where bruis'd and batter d all in gore imbrew'd His black blood and his blacker soul he spew'd 100. Strait in the Peoples Mouths the Divells crie Peter our God hath by enchantment slain And so did this unreasonable Lie Prevail that He is first unto a Chain Condemn'd and afterward unto a Crosse. Unhappy Rome which mad'st thy Gain thy Loss 101. For Thou no sooner gain'st thy freedome from That cursed Wizard but Thou dost betray Thine owne Deliverer if Simon whom Thou seest confounded by the Power which lay In Peters Prayers were a God ô why Must Peter now not be a Deitie 102. Yet He cries out This Altar is too rich For Me so poor and vile a sacrifice Was not the Cross that glorious Place on which My Master paid the Worlds eternall price Sure were some gallant Seraph hear to die This Engine would his Passion dignifie 103. Yet if I must thus high aspire may I At least obtain this leave of you to show That I desir'd not in this Pomp to die So Hang Me that my reverent Head below May pay its finall Kisses on the Feet Of my most royall Saviour's dying Seat 104. Nero to such Requests as these was free Full glad that He had learn'd a new-found-way To cross and double Crucifixion He Commands his Serjeants not to disobey The wretches wilde Desire but so He died To let Him any way be crucified 105. The Saint thus fix'd on the reversed Tree Now findes his Eyes turn'd from all things below As was his Heart before And joyous He In spight of all his obst'nate Nailes knows how That Place to which his Feet did aime to gaine Which Footstoole Simon reached at in vain 106. Andrew his Brother both in Nature's and In Zeale's and Pietie's much straiter Tie Through Thrace and Scythia travell'd with the grand Charge of appeased Heav'ns sweet Embassie The dark Barbarians wondred at the bright Meridian Day amidst their Northerne Night 107. The Day He brought was that which ows its East Not to the East but to the South for there In priviledg'd Palestine thy Lord was pleas'd First unto his Horizon to appeare It was thy Lords sweet Day on which depends The High-noone of that Bliss which never ends 108. Thence into Greece the restless Preacher came Arrogant Greece who though her own She makes The opposite to the Barbarian Name Yet more inhumane salvage Courses takes Than Thrace or Scythia O that famous Arts Should raise Mens Witts yet stupifie their Hearts 109. Achaia smil'd and with disdainfull Mirth Patrae confuted all that Andrew said His Beggar-God's poore miserable Birth And viler Death They scoffingly upbraid Nor did AEgaeus though Proconsul He Stop but spurre on the Peoples Villanie 110. A Cross they make Him of a new-found frame Whither his meek Desire or their wise spight Projected it which thenceforth bare its Name As it did Him that day A Cross not right Erected and transverse but thwarted so That it a X more then a Cross did show 111. A X the blessed Letter which began His Masters deare Name and his own His Cross It self proclaims He dies a Christian
And that he ment upon the Aires high back To shew himselfe in State to Us but now His Crosse is all the Chariot he can show 316. He often bragg'd that God was his great Sire How is it then his Father owns Him not Sure were He worth the owning all the Quire Of Heav'n would hither Flock to hide this Blot Of his broad Shame with their pure Wings bear Him hence in triumph to his native Sphear 317. Shame on your Blasphemies you shamelesse Rout Of Priests and People Jesus aimeth not To save Himselfe but You who sting and flout His noble Patience He has not forgot That in his Soveraign Hands and Fingers still The whole Train of Omnipotence doth dwell 318. For those Almighty Hands he stretcheth out And busie is in working your Salvation He could Come down but stayes till he has wrought That mighty Act of his victorious Passion He could come down but stayes till he may draw Up after Him this groveling World below 319. He could come down did you not fix Him there Not with your Nails but with your stronger Sins He could come down were his own Life as dear To him as yours But on his Wrongs he winns And by all resolute Love strives to prevail Against all Spight and Rage which him 〈◊〉 320. O Psyche cruell were those Scoffs but yet More stinging Scorn then this is still behinde For now the very Theeves upon him spit Their odious Taunts and seem in Him to finde What their vile Soules amidst the Miseries Of their own cursed Crosses dare despise 321. Ink scorns the Snow foule Night accuseth Day The dirty Puddle mocks the virgin Spring Dark Shades contemn the Suns meridian Ray Black Night-ravens call the Swan a swarthy Thing Ignoble Bats revile the Eagles Eyes And Hell it selfe insults o'r Paradise 322. Art thou that mighty Christ said they and yet Hang'st here the Game of all Contempt and Spight Can Heav'ns great Son his Selfe so far forget As rather to endure to Die then fight Discredit not by yeilding cowardly The Lord of Hosts if he thy Father be 323. Come justifie that royal Title there Which now but laughs at thine ignoble Head Approve thy Selfe King of the Jews and fear Not to redeem thy Fame and Life But spread Thy Favour too on Us that under Thee The Soveraign We may glorious Nobles be 324. For since in these thy deep Misfortunes We Of all thy World thy sole Companions are We well in your restor'd Prosperity May promise our Desert the deepest share So spake the Theeves and then they roar'd for Pain But quickly fell to scoffe and curse again 325. And shall not Heav'ns Artillery now attend Its wronged King and vindicate his Cause Can Earth hear this and not in sunder rend Snatching these Elves into her deepest Jaws No Jesus now no Veng'ance doth approve But that of patient and Silent Love 326. Sweet Veng'ance which so strongly wrought upon One of this loud blaspheming Pair that he Converts his Curses to Devotion And prompts his Fellow unto Piety Rebuking sharply his malitious Tongue Which still persu'd his Lord with shameless Wrong 327. Then like a wise and sober Theif indeed He seeks to steal into his Saviours grace O King of Heav'n he cries I plainly read Thy Majesty though in thy clounded Face Sure Thou hast taught mine Eyes this skill ô then Compleat this Mercy which Thou hast begun 328. When in thy Kingdome Thou shalt mounted be Upon thy Throne of Glory ô forger Those Wrongs which ignorant I did poure on Thee On Thee the God of Innocence but yet Forget not Me who must for ever die Unlesse repreived by thy Clemencie 329. Jesus whose Goodnesse never did disdain 〈◊〉 hear and answer a meek Sinners Crie Though his provoked Lips he did refrain Amidst those thick Storms of loud Blasphemie With gracious Sweetnes doth Assurance give Unto the Dying Theif that he shall live 330. Fear not said He thy Death is drawing nie But it shall prove the Gate of Life to Thee My Word the Pillar of all Certainty I freely pass Thou from that cursed Tree Shalt step this Day to Paradise and there Under the Bowers of Blisse with Me appear 331. The Preists and People laugh'd and scoff'd to hear Him talk of giving Blisse who hung in Pain Blinde Fools who could not now discern how clear His Power shin'd which thus its Prize could gain Out of Hells Mouth with Loves sweet constreint Make of a Cursing Theif a Praying Saint 332. By this deer Token He to every one Of them aforehand did their Pardon seal If they would doe what the meeke Theif had done And to his Grace with penitent hearts appeal But most unhappy They this deep Designe Of Love did obstinately countremine 333. Profoundly did this Scorn of Mercy tear Thy Spouses most compassionate Breast But He Observing now his dearest Followers there The Mother of Him and Virginitie With faithfull John a keen and double Dart Of fresh Greif shot quite through his bleeding Heart 334. For in his Mothers tender Soule he saw That cruel Sword stuck deep which Simeon Foretold so long agoe The Virgin now Who at the first brought forth her blessed Son Whithout all Pangs doth in hard Labour strein And pays her Debt of puerperiall Pain 335. O how the Bowels of her yearning Heart Are tent and torn her hands her feet her head All bear their proper Torments and no Part Can say To me these Sorrows doe not spread For from her Sons deer Body every Wound Doth on her sympathetik Self rebound 336. Her Temples are with thick-set Thorns hedg'd in Nail'd unto Tortures are Her dainty Feet Tatter'd and mangled is Her tender Skin Her Flesh plow'd up Her veins wide open set And all her modest Body to the view Exposed is of every shameless Jew 337. On Her those Jeers and Taunts and Blasphemies Their venome pour and swell with Greif her Breast That Breast which noble Love so straitly ties And coments to her Sons that not the least Division can interpose nor make This Double One themselves for single take 338. If She had in her other Self if she In Mary had been Crucifi'd the Crosse Had tolerable been but thus to be Destroy'd in Jesus is so vast a Loss That Mari's swallow'd up in it and this Calamitie becomes both Hers and His. 339. Her Hope her Joy her Life her Love her Blisse Her Heav'n her Son her God all these She now Beholds betrayed to her Enemies And what has Mary more How shall she row Through this vast Sea which in each gaping Wave Presents her ô how much more than a Grave 340. As oft as to the Crosse she opes her Eyes Death rusheth in Yet she as oft doth Die As unto their Compassion she denies That ruefull Spectacle If Psyche I Or Thou or any Seraph had been so Beseig'd with Soveraign Griess What could We do 341. What could we doe but sink Yet noble she Struggling amidst a
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
sulphure doth confesse What is its work and where it kindled was 128. A double Alablaster Conduit hung Down from his Forehead where is nothing now But those two rotten Pipes not to be wrung Least with the Moisture down the Nose do flow That banefull Moisture which 't is hard to say Whether it be more Poyson than its Way 129. Two Rows of Roses on those Lipps did grow To sweeten every word that passed by But now scorch'd black as Hel's own mouth they show What kind of Breath is wont through them to flie A Breath like that which from the Chimneys topp Speaks it owne stink by what it vomits up 130. His Cheeks which lifted up but yesterday Two Hills of Spices now are sunk so low That like two hollow untill'd valleys they With nothing else but Desolation grow Now grizly Haire has spoil'd his polish'd skin Shewing what He to Satyrs is of kin 131. His lovely Hands are now two monstrous Paws Whose Nail's much longer than their Fingers be Sure his Imbrace is daintie when he throws Those Arms about his Love But prithe see What now behind the Gallants back doth trail His courtly Sword 's turn'd to a dangling Tail 132. Behold his goodly Feet where one great Cleft Davides two Toes pointed with iron Claws The rest of his fine Body must be left Sealed up close by Modesties chast Laws Yet mayst thou safely look into his Breast And see what Treasures there have made their Nest. 133. Look where ten thousand Charmes and kisses lie And Complements of every garbe and kind With which He doth on herdlesse Virgins flie And Correspondent Entertainment find Look where upon the Topp those Courtships be By which He wooed and inchanted Thee 134. In that slie corner and observe it well Lie various Shapes which alway changing be Shapes trim and smooth and faire without but full Of inward Poyson which industrious He Subtlie improv'd and dayly did devise Handsome Impostures and well-favoured lies 135. See'st thou not there the model of the Beast That hideous Witchery which chased Thee With all the amorous Story fairely drest To Court and cheat thy credulous Chastity Never did Cozenage with more lovely Art Or Face more honest act its divelish Part. 136. But there is something stranger yet behind See'st thou that Scroll It is a full Commission By which he made this Voyage ready sign'd And strengthned by the broad Seal of Perdition Come I 'l untwine the knot of Snakes which tie It up and lay it open to thine Eye 137. Loe here a scheem of such confounding Letters And scrambling Lines as never Conjurer writt His Forks Hooks Prongs Racks Gibbets Gridirons Fetters And other Tools of his infernall spight Are Belzebub's mad Alphabet But hear How well I ken his mystick Character 138. Satan the great by mine owne Power alone God of Hell Earth and Aire Immortall Foe To Men to Angels to Heav'n and Heavn's Son Monarch of Pride Rage Blasphemy and Woe Out of our royall grace to our right vicious And trustie friend and Cosen Aphrodisius 139. By these our Letters Patents We doe give Thee full Authoritie the Souleto seize Of hated Psyche that she may receive What share of Pangs our royall Self shall please Given at our flaming Court of Desperation This sixt Age of our Soveraigne Damnation 140. This being read He folds it up againe And thrusting it into the Furies breast Goe home says He and ask thy Soveraigne A larger Patent See thou art releas'd But here I hang the Withe if ever thou Returnst this Way thou mayst this token know 141. The loosned Fiend fetching a deep drawn Sigh And tearing his owne breast with helplesse wrath Flung downe his Patent and away did flie The Grove smoak'd as He went in all his Path No Tree did meet him though the place were full But downe He tore it and made hast to Hell 142. This Spectacle so wrought on Psyche's Heart That fill'd brimme full of holy shame and Ioy Her equall thanks and blushes she doth part Between he carefull friends Never may Day Shine on this face if I forget says she Your Loves and mine own reskew'd Chastity 143. Farewell fond Passions Heav'n above I 'm sure Is full as faire within as 't is without No Aphrodisius there but all as pure As is the spotlesse Chrystall or your thought Deare Phylax which from thence its pattern takes And a new Heav'n in your sweet Bosome makes 144. There will I fix my Heart there dwells my Love My Life my Lord much purer than his Home Whose Paradise shall be the onely Grove Henceforth to which my soul shall strive to come Forbid it Jesu any thing below Be master of this Soule whose Lord art thou 145. Thus sweetly breathing out her holy Passion To ease her high-swolln heart she homeward goes With her dear Consorts yet at every station Renews her thanks and her pathetike Vows At length got home She to her Closet hasts Where all her Soul at her Loves feet she casts 146. What praiers were there what thanks what sighs what tears What Languishments what amorous extasies What confidence what shame what hopes what fears What pains what joys what thoughts what words she dies And yet she lives and yet she dies againe And would for ever live so to be slain 147. But fainting Nature for 't was midnight now And farr sh' had travell'd and wrought hard that day Permitted sleep to grow upon her brow And though unwilling downe at last she lay Sweet was that rest but yet much sweeter was The Dream which now before her Soul did passe 148. Imagination swiftlie carried Her Into a Garden where more Beauties smil'd Than did in Aphrodisiu's Grove appeare And gentler Gales the aire with odours fill'd Lillies alone on every bed did grow Which scornd comparison with Northerne Snow 149. The goodly Walks with Alablaster were Pav'd all alone whose smooth and spotlesse face Layd fairlie ope unto the silver sphear Which roll'd above a comely looking glasse Whither upward she or downward turnd her Eye Still she 〈◊〉 the same Heaven's Majesty 150. No Fountaine bubled there but fed with springs Of purest Milk upon whose dainty shoare Unsported Pidgeons sate and wash'd their wings Though full as white and pure as it before But thus one Candor powr'd upon another Does kindely kiste and sport it with his brother 151. High in the midst a princelie Castle stands Invincible for strength and for delight Built all of Virgin-christall and by Hands As pure as the Materials were bright A cleerer Court was ne'r by Poets braine Built for Queen Thet is in her watery Main 152. Ten thousand Blushes stood before the Gate With Magnanimities all hand in hand As many Purities behind them sate And after those as many Beauties and Young smiling Graces whose sweet task it was To be the Guard of that delicious Place 153. As Psyche wonder'd at the stately sight She turns and spies her Phylax standing by What Place is
of Maturity Thou to this Light lesse fair than him shalt shew Nor need'st thou study to contrive the frame Of his due Title JESUS is the Name 66. More reason shall that Name finde in thy Son Than it of old did in Nuns warlike Heir More noble shall be that Salvation By which his Israel he will repair Than that which from Beersheba unto Dan Gave them no more but earthly Canaan 67. He shall be Great as Great as Might and Worth Can swell an Heros or as stoutest Fame Can with her fairest widest Trump blow forth Which shall be stretch'd with his magnifick Name For to proclaim his Soveraignitie His Stile shall run The Son of the Most High 68. He who is Lord of Crowns and supream King Of Scepters shall establish him upon His Seat from whose high linage he shall spring His most renowned Father Davids Throne Where hee a King of nobler Peace shall sit Than Solomon with all his Wealth and Wit 69. All Jacobs Seed to him shall homage doe And govern'd be by his more gentle Law Yea Time it selfe shall be his Subject too And his long Sithe unto his Sceptre bow The Earth shall sink the Heav'ns shall melt but hee Shall reach his Kingdome to Eternitie 70. And here the Angell paus'd But trembling she Veild in the scarlet of her modest Cheek Repli'd Bright Sir it seems you know not Me A worthless Maid who for your high Mistake Wear no pretence nor may so great a King From a vile Worms polluted Bowells spring 71. Yet though this Vilenesse be sufficient to Excuse Me from such Exaltation Be pleas'd to know I am that Mary who Finding my selfe too mean for any Son Of Princely Davids Progeny to wed Resolv'd to die upon my virgin Bed 72. So shall no sprouts from my unhappy Root Clog the World with their fruitlesse Company So shall I scape Parentall Tasks and not With Childrens Education burdned be Who finde such Work as poseth all my Art In ordering mine own untoward Heart 73. Though I to Joseph now espoused am 'T is but to shelter my Virginity In whose defence he wears an Husbands Name And of my Weakness will Protector be My Word is past that I to God will give My Body back as I did it receive 74. Alas what other Sacrifice have I To render Him for all his patient Love Wherewith he hath thus long sustained my Rebellious Life and mercifully strove With my Demerits O bid me not aspire To what transcends my Reach and my Desire 75. Miraculous Meeknesse How would other Hearts Have leap d to catch this matchlesse Dignity From which this most deserving Virgin starts O how would st thou thy selfe have joy'd to see So high an offer What would'st thou have said Had thy Agenor Gabriels Promise made 76. Her Answer forc'd his Admiration higher And op'd the Door to this sublime Replie Heav'n is not ignorant of thy sweet Desire Thy gallant Vow stands register'd on high Upon a Table neer as white and fair As thine own Heart and Resolutions are 77. Such Vows are Jewells ev'n in Heav'ns esteem Which is the pure Realm of Virginity For there th' Eternall Father wears this Gem With whom the Son and Spirit Virgins be After whose fair Example We aspire And copie it in all our Winged Quire 78. Through Mounts of Miracles God breaks ope a way To keep thee'still as pure as thy Desire When All Things in their first Confusion lay Being a shapeless groveling Mass of Mire Who would have thought the Womb of that Abysse Could have produc'd so fair a World as this 79. But then th' Almighty Spirit spread his Wing Upon those hopelesse Volumes of the Deep And by his generative Warmth did bring To light those Seeds which in that Night did sleep Thus all this populous Universe you see Sprung from the Bowells of Virginity 80. This Holy Spirit over Thee shall hover And with prolifick Virtue thee endow He who on Powers Top doth reign shall cover Thee with his Might a Might which will allow Nature no leave nor possibility To contradict a Virgin-pregnancie 81. This is one Cause and 't is a noble one Why He who shall thy glorious Off-spring be Shall wear the Soveraign Title of the Son Of God for genuine Divinity Shall be 〈◊〉 but in a mystick fashion In the great Businesse of his Generation 82. Doubt not his Power whose well-known Limits spread Wide as his boundless Will the whole World knows How Sarahs dead Wombe now doth live in seed Which past the shores of Numeration flows How the Preists Rod its sudden Almonds ought Neither to Soile nor Seed nor Sap nor Root 83. But I have mighty News to tell thee She Whose snowie Head confest her Springs was past Thy Cousen both in Blood and Piety Cold drie Elizabeth hath now at last Conceiv'd a Son an argument to thee How Nature can by Heav'n corrected be 84. The World had stamp'd the Name of Barren on Her sealed Womb and damm'd the way to Hope Of any Seed yet five full Moneths are gone And now the Sixt succeeds since Heav'n did ope That froazen Seal good cause have I to know The Time who was imployed then as now 85. I bare the Tidings to great Zachary And when his trembling jealous Soul would not Credit my supernaturall Embassie I on his Tongue a Lock of Silence put That he might know God could as easily ope His Spouses Womb as I his Mouth could stop 86. His Silence bids thee trust these Words of mine And since the Hopes of Heav'n and Earth attend With panting Expectation for thine Assent on which their noblest Joyes depend For their sakes yeild and for thy Makers who By Me his best-beloved Spouse doth wooe 87. He e'r since Times first Birth did wait for thee And has endur'd a World of Sin below Stretching his strongly-patient Constancie Through every Age of Wickednesse till now Knowing that Time at length would bring forth thee The sweet Reward of all his Lenitie 88. And now thy mighty Houre is come ô why Mak'st thou a gentle Virtue prove so hard Why by thy rigorous Humility Must ripened Joy and Happinesse be barr'd From all the Universe O why wilt thou Not let the golden Age have leave to grow 89. Why must the gloomy Shaddows which have now Weighed their heavy Wings in hopes to flie Return their Night upon Religion's Brow Which 'gan to clear up at the Dawn of thy Long long'd-for Birth and would'st thou but give way Would straight break open into Grace's Day 90. As when the Moisture which contented was To dwell below and nestle in the Earth Is by the powerfull Sun entic'd to passe Unto an higher Home it issues forth With gentle Resignation and doth rise In meer submission to dwell neer the Skies 91. So now the lowly Virgin conquer'd by The potent Pleasure of her loving Spouse Exceeds her old by new Humility And with her selfe her former Meeknesse throws Before his feet content
Northerne Blasts took their unworthy way What pious Heart would not have been at cost Of its warme Sighs that sharp Breath to allay Yet slowly went for Maries time was come And God lay heavy in her tender Wombe 119. Alas She to her Travell travelled And came at length all-weary to the Town Where the poor Court'sie of an hired Bed To lay her weather-beaten Body down She hop'd to find But Winter now had cast On Men as well as on the Earth a Frost 120. The Men were Ice so were their Doors for both Were frozen up against poor looking Guests Wher e'r they knock'd the surly Host was wroth And cri'd my House is full Indeed those Nests Were onely courteous 〈◊〉 which barred out All Birds but those which feathers for them brought 121. The Inns by silken and by purple Things Were taken up each Gallant must have room Room for his great Self Room for those He brings To make Him greater Room for what doth come Swelling about Him his fond State and Port Which in a Chamber must alone keep Court 122. Thus was the Universe's King shut out Of his own World as He was entring in Long had the tired Pilgrims sought about And yet at no Door could Admission win And now Night crowded on apace and drew Their Curtains who as yet no Lodging knew 123. Amongst the other Beasts this made them call For Pitty seeing none was left with Men Observe that Rock which all along the Wall Lifts up its Head to meet the Easterne Sunne See'st thou the craggie Mouth it opens That Was then the Hospitable Stables gate 124. Come neer and mark it well This Caverne was The homely Lodging of an honest Oxe Whose Chamber-fellow was a simple Ass Neither the House nor Dwellers needed Locks Or Barrs or Hoste to keep the door and make Intruding despiceble Guests turne back 125. But to rejected Ioseph and his Spouse This Rock less stony proves than all the Town The pair of courteous Beasts to them allows Far more Humanitie than They whose own Nature engag'd them to be Men and kind To those at least in whom Themselves they find 126. In went the blessed Travellers and from The Beasts whose Hearts no Avarice had scar'd Borrow'd a portion both of their Room And of their Straw and there their Bed prepar'd Where to a Temple having turn'd the Cave Themselves to Rest they after Vespers gave 127. But though sleep sealed up the Virgins Eye Her Heart was watchfull and did Travell still It travell'd through a Visions Mysterie But of this Way no weariness did feel Her Womb seem'd all on fire whence issued out A flash of Lightning and whirl'd round about 128. It whirl'd about the World and in its way Devoured every thing compos'd of Dross Of idle stubble or of fainting Hay The silver Creatures beare somelittle Loss But those of genuine Gold grew onely more Illustrious and youthfull than before 129. The World refined by this searching flame In every part grew radiant and brave No Blemish or Capacitie of Blame Peep'd out from East to West but all things gave A fair account of their own selves and by Their perfect Beautie satisfi'd Heav'ns Eye 130. Whilst on this splendid Reformation She Her Wonder pour's Dame Natures vigilant Clock Discovering Midnight rouz'd her Piety Unto its wonted Task The earliest Cock Had rarely crow'd e'r she began to pray But heer you know she faint and tired lay 131. Yet to bring forth her Prayers she rose But now A greater Birth was ripe Nights silent Fear With the grimme Powers of Darkness bold did grow And on the sleeping Worlds face domineer Little suspecting that an High-noone Day From Mid-nights bosome could break out its way 132. When LOE the Virgin bringeth forth her Son Who by the Glories of his own sweet Face Commands the dusky Shaddows to be gone And to his full-tide Day resigne their place Her friends about Her Soveraign Pleasures were Joy was the Midwife which assisted Her 133. No faintings chill'd her Heart no Pangs did tear Her Privileg'd Bowells nor no Crie her Throat Those sad Revenues all entailed were Upon polluted 〈◊〉 She whom no Blot Of sinfull pleasure could pretend to stain Advanced was beyond the Shot of Pain 134. No Circumstance of Shame or Filth did blurre The noble Birth the Work was pure and clean Shame on those Hearts whose Thoughts deflowred Her Accomplish'd Purities unspotted Queen Shame on their slovenish 〈◊〉 whose Brains Rais'd nere a Fount to wash the Infants stains 135. Her dear Virginity remain'd the same Unbroken Jewell that it was before As God into Her reverend Bowells came Yet never stayd to open any door So He returned thence that devoted She Might still a Virgin though a Mother be 136. Thus when the Virgin-Soul is big with Thought Without all Pangs and Stains and Ruptures She 〈◊〉 of Her Burden is and out Her Off-spring comes all clad in Purity Thus when the fire the beuteous flame brings forth ' As pure it keeps as 't was before that Birth 137. Thus when Heav'ns Light doth through the Window press It bears the Colours it found painted there Yet neither breaks nor robbs nor blurrs the Glass But makes its Beauties more advanc'd and clear Thus when a Brood of 〈◊〉 fills the Air Their Mother flowres still no less Virgins are 138. Thus though great Phebus every Morning springs From fair Aurora's lap yet she a Maid Remains as pure as are those smiling Things Those Roseall Blushes at her portall layd Heav'n being pleased to contrive this Way To make Her Virgin-Mother of the Day 139. But ô Aurora's Day is Night to this Which in the Night from Maries womb did Rise This was the Day of 〈◊〉 of Love of Bliss The Day of Jewells and of Rarities The Day of Miracles the conquering Day Which never shall to any Night give way 140. The Day which made Immensitie become A Little One which printed more than May Upon Decembers face which drew the Summe Of Paradise into one Budde the Day Which shrunk 〈◊〉 into a Span Of Time Heav'n into Earth God into Man 141. Heav'ns twinkling Lights shut up their dazeled Eyes And payd their blinde Devotion to the Dawn Of Jacob's Star The Moon did sacrifice Her silver Beams unto 〈◊〉 golden Crown Of Glories which their royall Circle made About the place where the bright Child was layd 142. His softest Feathers Winter thither sent To be a 〈◊〉 for the Infant 's Head And sure no Harm the honest Season meant When in the Cave his fluttering Snow He spread But at his Presence into Tears they fell Seeing a whiter chaster Spectacle 143. Fain would the most illustrious Hoste of Heav'n Whose Wings were up whose Thoughts already flew Have hither march'd and to their Soveraign giv'n A Volley of full Praise and Thanks But due To the dear Mother's brave Devotion Was this great Grace first to salute her Sonne 144. She therefore having with exuberant Joy Beheld the Wonder
which her self had bred And opening through applauding Tears the way To her exultant 〈◊〉 offered Her Self a prostrate Sacrifice before His feet and taught the World what to adore 145. Cri'd O my pretious Son and more than mine How shall thy worthlesse Mother and thy Maid With due Attendauce wait on thy divine Cradle without thine own almighty Aid How shall my wretched Dust Great Thee imbrace On whom the brightest Angells durst not gaze 146. These words wak'd pious Joseph Who when he Beheld the Infant stayed not to ask Whose or whence was that blooming Majesty But straight bows down himselfe to his due Task Those Beams of such convincing Sweetnesse were That He concludes his God must needs be there 147. With lowly Adoration on the Floor The dear example of his heav'nly Spouse He sweetly copied and his Soul did poure Forth in ecstatick Thanks and Praise and Vows For at the radiant Casement of those Eyes God looking out call'd for that Sacrifice 148. Those dainty Easts of gentle living Light Those diamond Quivers of divinest Love Those Wells of ever-springing Joyes those bright Mirrours of purer Beauties than doe move About the silver Heav'ns when Night is fine Or when the Day in Cancer's height doth shine 149. As the Doves Eyes thrice wash'd in milk upon The neighbour Rivers Chrystall move and play So on the Mother did this Spotlesse Son The Purity of his fair Looks display That by his Eye he might himselfe approve Conceiv'd by none but Heav'ns eternall Dove 150. His skin the seat of softest White and Red Did that delicious Conjunction shew By which his Mothers Blush was married Unto that lovely Doves all-Snowie Hue. Ten thousand Ladies Pencills ne'r could teach A Skin so rich perfection to reach 151. His goodly Head is of refined Gold Being it selfe unto it selfe a Crown O that the fond bewitched Worldlings would Exchange their Avarice and once fall down To worship this diviner Mettall which With surer Wealth their Coffins would enrich 152. The gentle Hillocks of his Cheek present Two soft and living Beds of pretious Spice With which their flowrie Neighbours blend their sent And in one fragrant Combination rise His Lips like Lilies whensoe'r thy stir Thick Blessing drop of odoriferous Myrrh 153. As Berylls marshalled in golden Rings So in his richer Hands are Graces set As Ivory which prides the Throues of Kings When Streaks of Saphirs Lustre garnish it Such is his lovely Bellie onely this Thrills through its Beauty Warmth and Tenderness 154. As slender Pillars of white Marble which On Sockets of the finest Gold do stand So his fair Leggs are builded on his rich And gracefull Feet His Aspect doth transcend The loftiest Excellence of Cedars when They look from their Majestick Lebanon 155. His Mouth the Gate of Sweetnesse is and he Is round array'd with nothing else but Love In this miraculous Epitomie All choise Extremities of Glory strove Which should be most Extream and in that fair Contention every One was Conqueror 156. As Joseph with these Wonders Feasts his Eye The reverent Mother on her Sons dear Feet A consecrated Kisse presents and by That Taste encouraged unto a sweet Audacity she ventured to sip The roseall Dainties of his heav'nly Lip 157. O noble Kisse which might a Seraph hire His highest Orb to leave his Mouth to wipe In hopes to drink in more delicious Fire From this young Altar than from all the ripe Flames of the Empyreum Fire which is Fed with no fuell but pure Joy and Blisse 158. O Kisse which fetch'd the Mothers joyous Heart Into her lip and seal'd it on her Son Which he receiving did his own impart In answer to her sweet Impression O Kisse the sacred Complement between Heav'ns highest King Earths most lowly 〈◊〉 159. This done her carefull and most tender Hands Begin their duty to the noble Childe Whom having dress'd in simple swadling Bands She to her Breast applies whose Bottles fill'd With Milk but more with Joy and with Delight To his first Breakfast did their God invite 160. Then stepping to the Manger on that Bed The onely Bed except her own soft breast Where Hay and Straw were for the Coverings spred She laid Him down to take his hardy Rest Forth with the Oxe his Infant-Owner knew The wondering Asse his Masters Crib did view 161. They both due distance kept and as they could Adored Him who saves both Man and Beast Him who alone did nourish and uphold Them from the Field with a perpetuall Feast Their Manger Straw and Hay they well can spare For his dear Service whose own Gifts they were 162. As there He lay the holy Mothers Breast Grew big with noble Contemplation Which as her Tongue brought forth and sweetly drest In vocall graces all the Cave begun To imitate the Accents of her voice And in soft Echo's duplicate the Noise 163. Almighty Infant who till now said She Wert round arrayed with celestiall Flames Whose Mantle was eternall Majesty Whose Crown was Glories most unbounded Beams What condescent of mighty Love is this Which of that supream Pomp doth thee undress 164. Could Clouts and Raggs have ever hop'd to be Exalted to this strange Prerogative That wretched They should unto naked Thee The courtesie of their poor shelter give Surely henceforth all simple Weeds which be Of kin to these shall pretious be to Me. 165. Let Silks and Gold goe puffe up Prince's Pride Who for their Stains doe need a beauteous Veil This home-spun Rayment will a Body hide When friezing Cold or melting Heat assail Thou art contented to be but thus fine Then let who will for Me their God out-shine 166. Thou art my God this Vestures duskie Cloud No such ecclipse can on thy Glory throw But through its gloominesse my Faith can crowd And see to whom I adoration owe. Loe I adore Thee who art still Most high Ev'n in this Bottom of Humility 167. Fair was thy Throne when Thou did'st mounted sit At the Right Hand of thine Imperiall Father When all the Heav'ns were bow'd to be thy great Chair of Majestick state when Earth did gather It selfe up close and ready stand to be A faithfull Foot-stoole to thy Sire and Thee 168. When the vast Volumes of Immensitie Unto their utmost Bounds were stretched out To spread a correspondent Canopie Over thy glorious Head When round about Brightnesse and Power to compleat thy Port Fill'd the brave Circuit of thy mighty Court 169. But now the Sceen is chang'd now this poor Cell This Manour-house of shame and scorn must be Thy native Palace now thy Throne doth swell No wider than this Cratch now Poverty Has layd Hay for thy Pillow faded Hay Which speaks what Weaknesse thou assum'st to day 170. Now all those flaming Hierarchies which did With Halalujhs fill thy royall Eare Are left at home now thou art furnished With these dull Waiters which stand silent here This Oxe and Asse the onely Servants
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
more Admitation to ground 223. Eys which have gazed since the Star was set Have read in it a flaming Child upon Whose golden shoulders a large Cross was put Such power has superstitious Fiction To credit whatsoe'r it does espie In the blind Book of its own Fantasie 224. A Book which cunning Hell improves so high That it has often cost poor Truth full dear For Lies embroidered upon Verity Makes ev'n the Ground-work fictious appear And when course Tares amongst pure Wheat creep up They spoyle the credit of the hopefull Crop 225. These sage Observers no such thing descri'd But onely a miraculous Beautie read In this unusuall Star whose Beams out-vi'd All glories that bright Venu's face could plead And when the Day drew on displayed far More cause why this should be the Morning 〈◊〉 226. For when from roseall Aurora's door Fair Titan shak'd his locks and marched out Nor any of the other Spangles nor Brisk Venus could approve herself so stout To stay in Heav'n and view his Soveraign Light But slipp'd aside and waited for the Night 227. But this brave Star stayd still and to his face Told Phebus that he had as much to doe In Heav'n as He that his fire kindled was To light a fairer Day than He could show A Day which sprung not from his vulgar East But chose its Morning where it pleased best 228. This Resolution of the Star did much Amaze the Magi who in all their old Records of Wonders could not meet with such A venturous Apparition inroll'd And why said they at length may this not be The Star which Ballam's quick-eyd Soul did see 229. Then throwing all their useless Books aside They to that God who Balaam did inspire Address their Prayers to be satisfi d About the meaning of that wonderous Fire God kindely answered them and taught them why He check'd the Sunne by that fair Prodigie 230. Heav'ns mighty Love so universall is That through the Schoole of Magick Darknes it Disdaineth not with gracious Beams to press Where in their black Profession it doth meet The Sonns of Night with radiant Mercie and Them to the Day of Life and Bliss doth send 231. Their Sumptures now they in all hast provide Though yet uncertain which way they should tend When loe the Star deign'd to become their Guide And with a moderate pace its course did bend To Palestine that it might not out-run Their Dromedaries mortall Motion 232. Sweeet was their journey O dear Star said they Who would not follow thy Direction What Error now can cheat Us of our Way Who under Heav'ns illustrious Conduct run That fierie Pillar which led Israel We Now envie not who convoy'd are by Thee 233. Thus travelling till Salems towrie Head Had met their Eys they thither turn'd their way Presuming there to find the Princely Bed Whereon the New-born King of Salem lay But now the Star grew wroth and hid its face To chide their doting Error on that Place 234. That chode in earnest but mistaken They Conceiv'd its Office here expired was Having unto the period of their way Now brought them safe Into the Town they pass Swoll'n big with mighty Hopes forth with to see Thy glorious Spouses Infant-Majesty 235. With their great Question every street they fill Enquiring where the native Palace stood Of Him who was born King of Israel By whose bright Star We from the East have rode Said they and come to represent our meet And bounden Homage at his royall Feet 236. Much was the Boldness of the Men admir'd Who now within the reach of Herods spight So stoutlie for another King enquir'd Plainly confuting his usurped Right But this the Valour was of Pietie Which doth securely all the World defie 237. With fears and jealousies this News did pass Through thousand ears till it to Herod's came The guilty Tyrant stung and startled was At the strange broaching of that dangerous Fame His Heart throbbs high his Sceptre seems to quake His Throne to totter and his Crown to crack 238. Yet to elude those threatning Omens He Muster'd up all his cruell Wit to lay Some holie-looking Plot whose subtiltie Both his young Rival and his Fears might slay His rage He cloak'd and in a Synod sought How to resolve the noble Strangers Doubt 239. The Priests and Scribes their reverend Records bring And by inspired Mica's Prophesie About the mighty Point informe the King Who in his Privie Chamber did descrie The bus'nes to the Pilgrims and enquire Each circumstance about their Leading Fire 240. Which having heard at large Goe then said He And may Success your brave Devotion crown Yet grant your friend this easie Courtesie That you will not engross Him as your own When you have found the Infant let me know That I may Him adore as well as you 241. No tedious Entertainment now shall stay Your pious zeal although mine Honor be Ingaged thus a while to stop your Way But at your more convenient Leisure We Shall take such royall course that you shall finde Our Court cannot to Strangers be unkind 242. Here taking leave in Bethleem Rode they went When loe the Star which scorn'd its beams to shew To cursed Herod did again present Their reconciled Convoy to their View Kindling fresh hopes and comfort in their Breast To see themselves from their sad Night releast 243. For Day to them did wear no other face But of black Night till they espi'd this Light And Phebus posting to another place Did with his uselesse beams but mock their sight Onely this faithfull Star directed them Their Way till to its period they came 244. But then it stay'd for all its Work was done And pointing with a perpendicular Ray Upon the Cave bid them behold that Sun Of which it selfe was but the shaddow They Down from their Beasts with nimble gladnesse light To blesse their eyes with their desired sight 245. Their severall Grooms the foaming Coursers took The Pages their Oblations ready made But wondering at the Stables simple Look Which promis'd nothing lesse than what it had To shew the Princes turn'd their eyes to know Of their bright Guide if they were right or no. 246. But when they saw constant Assurance shed It selfe down from the peremptory Star They march'd in cheerly and no sooner had Observ'd the humble Majesty which there Did keep its Court but down they fell and in Prostration their first Homage did begin 247. The Mothers Eyes call'd theirs to admiration As did the Infants unto Ecstacie For in the foft and balmie Habitation Of Her deare bosome He enshrin'd did lie As in the pretious and glistering breast Of Mother-Perl the Jewell makes its Nest. 248. They having kiss'd the ground cri'd out Behold Great King of all the World unworthy We Whom by thy Star Thou sendest for are bold To creep thus neer thy gratious Majesty The Name of King has flatter'd Us a while But We resigne to thee that noble Stile 249. The foolish World surnames
Successor to Smart 2. After Nights soot the face of Heav'n hath smear'd Dayes lovely Beauty all the Welkin gilds When Winters churlish Moneths have domineer'd The lively Spring with youth cheers up the fields When Clouds have weep'd their Bottles out 't is fair When Windes are out of breath Thou still'st the Air. 3. But yet the dearest of thy Blessings is Soft Sleep which thou dost to no Pains deny When Phebus through all Heav'n has speeded his Long smoking Course Thou giv'st Him leave to lie Upon the Pillows of the watery Main Untill Aurora wakens Him again 4. When Trees have all the Summer labour'd hard Their blossoms leaves and fruit in bringing forth The night of Winter thou dost them afford And bid'st their Vigour goe to Bed in Earth Down to the Root strait runs the weary Sap And sleeps close and secure in 〈◊〉 lap 5. When Rivers many tedious Moneths have runne Through cragged Rocks and crooked peevish waies Thou mak'st stern Boreas pittifull who on Their necks a seasonable Bridle lays This bindes them up in Glasse and makes them rest Till they are wak'd by Summers Southern Blast 6. When Man has travell'd with his Hand or Minde For this both toiles and sweats as well as that Thou in a tender mistie Veil dost binde His heavy Head untill his Eyes have shut Out Greif and Pain and Wearines and He Repos'd in Sleeps all-downie Bosome be 7. Yet other Creatures little finde in Sleep But the dull pleasure of a gloomy Rest Which they themselvs perceive not when they reap Man onely by this privilege is blest That Sleep it self can be awake to Him And entertein Him with some courteous Dream 8. He when his Touch his Tongue his Eye his Ear His Nose in Sleeps thick Night are muffled up Can feel can taste can smell can see can heare And in his quick Dispatches finde lesse Stop Than when He wakes for now his Soule alone Through all his mystick Busines doth run 9. O sweet Prerogative 〈◊〉 by which we may Upon our Pillows travell round about The Universe and turn our Work to Play Whilst every Journey is no more but Thought And every Thought doth with as quick a pace Run through its longest as its shortest Race 10. Nor is the Body more befriended then The Soule in its Digestion by Sleep This is the undisturbed Season when The Minde has leisure to concoct that Heap Of crude unsettled Notions which fill The weak Brains over-charged Ventricle 11. In this soft Calm when all alone the Heart Walks through the shades of its own silent 〈◊〉 Heav'n takes delight to meet it and impart Those blessed Visions which pose the best Of waking Eyes whose Beams turn all to Night Before the Looks of a spirituall Sight 12. By this time Psyche having failed through The Infant-Story whilst her Dream did steer Her Soules mysterious Bark she felt her Brow Eas'd of its cloudy Weight and growing cleer Strait Phylax spi'd her looking up and cir d 'T is well thou hast thy Spouses Lodging tri'd 13. How dost thou think this Manger could agree With the most tender Infants dainty Head But by this Copie He commends to thee The scorn of Wantonesse's plumie Bed Thou see'st sweet Sleep is possible upon A cold and churlish Couch of Bord or stone 14. Learn then that 't is not any thing without Which can with genuine softnes clothe thy Rest. Down proves but pretious Thorns 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 doth slout His hopes of quiet Sleep whose treach 〈◊〉 Breast Though with externall Unguents sleek within Is harsh and rugged being lin'd with Sin 15. If Vice and Vengeance had not Us prevented We to the Temple now our way should ake But they long since were there and the lamented Ruines too late their sad consession make Fire and the Roman Rage on it have preyd And all its Glory in the Ashes layd 16. Whilst yet it stood the Virgin-Mother when The Law did cite her to Purification Hast's thither with her offrings and her Sonne To pay obedience to that needlesse Fashion Needlesse to Her who of no Humane Seed Had ever been the spotted Soile and Bed 17. Can Ceremonies think themselvs so clean As to presume to wash the Mornings face When she hath brought forth Glory's Sunne and been New gilded by that Birth with fairer grace How shall the Virgin Christall purer grow What Legall Rites can purge and whiten Snow 〈◊〉 18. Yet is the gallant Morn content to goe So is the spottlesse Chrystall and the Snow And own Pollution rather then not doe Their ready homage to the reverend Law Which by a stronger backed was for She Went summon'd by her own Humility 19. And there arrived She unto the Shade The Substance brought and Truth unto the Type Broad Day She of a glimmering Twy-light made Long breeding and crude Hopes She turn'd to ripe Fruition whil'st She with her Offerings A fairer Temple to the Temple brings 20. A Temple where not one but every Gate Was Beautifull a Temple where each Roome Most Holy was a Temple where though State Shin'd not without Heav'ns Prince did make his Home A Temple which had its foundation Above a Temple which was God and Man 21. When He drew neere the Walls and Pavement smil'd The Roof would fain have bow'd to kisse His feet The pious Incense smelt the sweeter Childe And chang'd its usuall Path with Him to meet It soar'd not up but to the Doore did stretch Finding that neerer way its Heav'n to reach 22. The Cberubs which dwelt close behinde the Veil Had much adoe to keepe themselves within Knowing that from their secret Oracle The outward Temple did the Glory winne In which was now a Higher Preist then He For whom alone that yearly once was free 23. O how the second Temples Lustre now Dazells the first That fabrick reared by Davids wise Sonne did long afore hand bow Unto this younger Temples Majesty And kiss the Dust resigning up its place To this which Jesu's Presence was to grace 24. And now the Mother on her bended knee Before the Preist presents to Heav'n her Sonne Was ever heard of such a Preist as She Who offers God for an Oblation To Her th' Eternall Father sent Him down And noble She returns Him back his owne 25. When reverend Johazar receiv'd the Childe A secret Joy through all his bosome ran Much did he marvell how his Heart came fill'd With more than usuall Devotion Nor did He know that in his Arms much more Than Paradise or than all Heav'n He bore 26. But then being so admonish'd by the Law She payes five Shekells and receives her Soune Were all the World her owne She would bestow It and her Selfe for his Redemption But this poore Price serv'd Her to ransome Him Who came Her and the whole world to redeeme 27. Then two white Pidgeons her own Emblems She Presents as Duties of Purification The gentle Birds a mourning fell to see That they must leave their dearer Habitation
their Fire-branes mixed heavy Chains 262. His Strength deceiv's him and his Bed is now His onely throne where he the King doth raign Of mighty Torments all his Bowells 〈◊〉 Exulcerated with deep-gnawing Pain And Water swelling underneath his Skin Adds scoffing torture to the fire within 263. His shamfull Parts are made more odious by Right down Corruption which grew fertile there With monstrous Vermin whose impatient frie Their most unpittied Prey aforehand tear The leisure of his grave they scorn'd to stay But undermine his Heart and eat their way 264. And yet a Worm far worse then those was got Thither before which did his Conscience gnaw To stisle which long did He labour but The trusty Torment still did stronger grow And wound about his guilty Soule so close That no Inventions power could get it loose 265. His Sinews shrunk and all his Joynts forgot The ready service of their wonted motions The Aire which He had long defil'd would not Wait on his Lungs but frequent Suffocations Forc'd him to die as many deaths as He Indebted stood for by long Tiranny 266. Oft did he call his Freinds but neither they Nor his Physitians durst come neer his Bed For his hell-breathing stinck obstructs the way To Physick and to Freindship Never did The Feinds below more loud for Pitty crie Nor finde lesse comfort for their Misery 267. The dismall scene of Bethlehem-slaughter now Was open layd unto his burning Soule The running shreiking Mothers there he saw And all the Infants Blood which seem'd to roule Into his Bosome in a violent stream Yet not to quench but to augment the flame 268. An hundred Furies at hot contestation Which first upon his bloody Heart should seize With Hells wide mouth and the grand Preparation To entertain him there at large he sees And seems to hear all Ages poure a stream Of cursing Detestations on his Name 269. To Heav'n He would not and he could not cry But let the reins loose to wilde Desperation And now resolved once for all to die Contrives how He might his owne murther fashion And by his never-daunted cruelty Upon himselfe conclude his Tyrannie 270. He thought of Poyson but He had no friend Who would that cruell Courtesie supply Besides he fear'd no Venome could contend With his extreemly-posnous Malady At length by woefull Fortune He 〈◊〉 His Fauchion hanging by his 〈◊〉 side 271. Which as He snatch'd a venturous Page ran in And stopp'd the stroke but could not stop his throat Which straight He opened to an equall Sin And in the face of Heav'n spew'd out his hot Impatient Blasphemies next which He threw His Courses upon all the World he knew 272. Mean while to prison where his Son in Chains He kept the false News of his death was spred Which whil'st Antipater gladly entertains His Smiles became the price of his own head Herod but heard he smil'd and now the Worms Had eat his Bowells at his Son he storms 273. Yet shall that Villan know that I said He Have Life and Rage enough Him to destroy Now by these finall Spirits which pant in me I swear His Life shall answer for his Joy Fetch me his Heart that with these Vermin here Their fellow-trayter I all torn may tear 274. Their fellow-trayter and their Fellow-Son For from my Body sprung both He and They And both conspire in my destruction By Gnawing they by smiling He. Away Fetch me his Heart that having bless'd mine Eye With that deare sight I may the cheerlyer dy 275. Yet not content with this sole Sacrifice To his vast fury he contrives a way How all his Nobles to his Obsequies No lesse than all their Blood and lives might pay That Sighs and Tears might wait upon his Herse If not for his own Death at least for theirs 276. But Heav'n prevented this fell Plot and He Now having five dayes liv'd and felt his Death No Prayers but his wonted Blasphemy Repeated and blew out his finall breath So an old Dragon when his Spirits flit Breaths his last Poyson and his Life with it 277. Hell had his Soul no sooner swallowed But pious Josephs Angel hither came And as the Saint lay on his sober Bed Painted the News unto Him in his Dream Bidding Him now return to Jewry where The storm was over and the Coast grown clear 278. Thus did th' Angel his own Word fulfull And justifie the Prophets Vision For great Hosea did of old fore-tell That out of Egypt God had call'd his Son Joseph awakes and unto Mary shews The long-expected and now welcome News 279. His thrifty House-hold-stuffe then packing up And tenderly providing for his dear And mighty Charge He makes no doubt or stop A pious Breast allows no room for fear When e'r Heav'n summons it but cheerly sets Onward his Way before the Day permits 280. For now the Morn lay long before she rose And dull Aquarius would not wake the Sun Till it was late Thus did thy hardy Spouse In the Years most disconsolate Portion His journey take and teach Thee what to doe At any time when Heav'n shall bid Thee goe 281. This the Ninthe Winter was which seal'd the Earth With Ice and covered his Seal with Snow Since by his own to Wonders He gave Birth Who in a Soil most like to that did grow Bate but the cold and churlish Qualities And what 's a Virgins Womb but Snow and Ice 282. This Age had more inabled Him to bear A speedy Journey and did much allay The scruples of his tender Parents Care Who now with greater haste devour'd their way Than when to Egypt they did pick their Path And thus in peace reach'd their old Nazareth 283. Their Nazareth for sacred Prophesies By adamantine Bands are surely tied To their Effects The Fire shall sooner freeze All Mettalls in a Bank of Snow be tried The Sun because of Night of Drought the Rain Then Falsehood any Prophets Tongue can stain 284. Those quick-ey'd Seers long agoe had seen His Habitation there and had foretold His humble Surname should be Nazarene A Name of holy Dignity of old Which sate fair on all pious Heads untill It was out-shined by the Christian Stile 285. And Psyche what should We doe longer here Come let Us follow their deare Steps and see Some further Marvells of thy Spouse and where He prosecuted Loves sweet Mystery This said He gave his Steeds the Rains and they Together with the Winde snuff'd up their Way PSYCHE OR LOVES MYSTERIE CANTO IX The Temptation ARGUMENT IN the dead Desert Love Whom salvage Beasts Acknowledged by eager Famin is Assail'd who forty Dayes upon Him feasts To her sharp Teeth slie Satan joyneth his Soft Tongue yet both their utmost Powers set But ope the way unto their own Defeat 1. WHat reach of Reason e'r could Fadome why Slight Dust and Ashes vile Corruptions Son The Heir apparent to the Misery Which lives in Death and blends Destruction With all its Life the Worms own
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 Life of Man said He Shall lean not onely on the Staffe of Bread But by a surer Prop supported be By the more wholsome Word of God being fed What need We Loaves our Hungers rage to still Out of Gods Mouth comes that which Man 's will fill 185. O most impenetrable Buckler how Slender an Help is triple Steel to thee Seav'n-times-redoubled Adamant must bow To thy lesse vulnerable Durity O Scripture what vain shades and fethers were Goliah's Arms if they with thee compare 186. This Psyche this is that unconquer'd shield Under whose sure Protection Thou may'st goe Although all Hell pitch'd in a Martiall Field Conspired has and sworn thine Over-throw Thy Spouse hath taught thee its great use and He Did fight with none but this Artillerie 187. Yet as the greedy Wolfe once beaten back By that Repulse is but enraged to A second Onset and doth fiercelier make His fresh Incounter Angrie Satan so Bruis'd by this Fall and vexed at the pain Plucks up his Spirits and ventures on again 188. Yet being forc'd to his slie shifts to runne He plausibly pretends the sullen Place To be the stage where Heav'ns illustrious Sonne Should act his Greatnesse too unworthy was And instantly resolves to change this mean And despicable to some gallant Sceen 189. For as a dainty Cloud came by that Way He the usurping Prince of all the Aire With a stern Look commanded it to stay And so gat up into his flying Chair Taking thy Lord with Him who was content To trie what by this new Designe he meant 190. Then bidding the next Winde upon Him wait He through the Welkin scour'd and quickly came For now his Way all open lay and straight Unto the Top of fair Jerusalem Where on the Temples highest Pinnacle He Jesus set and to his businesse Fell. 191. Alone he fell to it His numerous Train Being left behinde and charged to attend Their Kings Return for much he did disdain In case he could not now atchieve his end His envious Elves again should witnesse how A starv'd Man gave Hells Prince the Overthrow 192. He wisely ponder'd that the Arms whereby He first Repulsed was the mightiest were And therefore cunningly resolv'd to trie If he could Scripture bowe to serve his War O Wit of deepest Hell which makes a sword Of Gods own Word to fight with God the Word 193. And then I grant said He that thy Replie Was true but yet no Answer to my Doubt Loe here a Sceen where Thou may'st satisfie By one Experiment every scrupulous Thought If God thy Father be throw thy selfe down For He for certain will preserve his own 194. Is it not Written That He shall Command His trusty Angels to attend on Thee And with a watchfull ready stretched Hand From the least touch of Danger keep Thee free That no rude Stone with churlish Shock shall meet So tender is He thy secured feet 195. Mark Psyche mark the Cheaters Craft how he Mangles the Text and skips what likes him not In all thy Wayes they shall Assistant be So ran the tenor of the Scripture but He knew full well that Precipices were No Wayes for Man and therefore that did spare 196. Be sure it move thee not if henceforth thou Seest any of his Urcheons Scripture spit For they by his authentick Copie know Both how to geld and to adulterate it Or at the least such peevish Glosses make As it against it selfe shall force to speak 197. But with another genuine Text thy Lord Nobly confuted Him and thus Repli'd This Lawe 's enacted in the sacred Word Thou shalt not tempt thy God and Heav'n forbid That I should dare his Providence and think When I plunge down my selfe I cannot sinck 198. Perhaps thy Wonder asks why Satan now He on the Brink of Danger him had set Bridled his Fury and forbore to throw Him headlong thence But thou must not forget That He was jealous still and feared least His Foe at force of Arms might get the best 199. Alas the Chain of all his Power is short Beleeve it Psyche there 's no Mortall Wight But if he would resolve to hold his Fort Might tire his Siege and all his On-slates sleight But silly Men unto his strength make way Whil'st they by lazie Fears themselves betray 200. Satan at this Repulse deep in his Heart Stifled his Griefe and smothered his shame And now resolv'd to act another Part Leap'd on that Cloud upon whose back he came With which He through the wondering Aire did swim Hurrying thy patient Lord along with Him 201. To his expecting Train He swumm for now Put to his last Reserve of Plots he ment To venture all at one great Cast and though Still both that they should see Him foild he went With desperate resolution to the fight Deer was his Credit but more deer his Spight 202. Unto a Mount he march'd whose heav'nly head Despised Basan Carmell Libanus The Alpes where Winter all year keeps his bed With Pendle Calpe Atlas Caucasus And all the proudest Cliffs of Ararat Where Noahs floating Ark first footing got 203. A Mount which on the highest Clouds look'd down And saw all kindes of Weather far below A Mount which seem'd to be Earths soveraign Crown Where never any Winde aspir'd to blow A Mount which bravely reach'd at Heav'n made Far distant Countries subject to its shade 204. Arrived there with a new plate of Brasse His never-blushing Front he fortifi'd Being now upon an Enterprise which was Second to that in impudence and pride When arm'd with spightfull Fury and Disdain He ventur'd to assail Heav'ns Soveraign 205. 'T was was the same Son of Heav'ns eternall Father To whom his stomach then refus'd to yeild Obedience and homage and chose rather To trie it with Him in a pitched Feild Foole who by his first Fall no warning took For what He was the second fight to look 206. A massie Throne of beaten Gold stood there Whose lustre round about the Region spred Plac'd on a Pavement glorious and clear Refined Silver newly burnished Triumphant Arch's and Columns on each side In laurel Wreaths hid and displayd their Pride 207. Here Satan pitch'd him down when loe the Crew Of his attending Elves in humble guise Themselves before his radiant footstool threw Adoring Him with millions of lies Nor durst they from the Pavement stir untill His nod did intimate his gratious Will 208. Then stretching out his Hand he gave the Signe To that brave Apparition which He By sprightfull Art had taught how to combine With his profound but glorious forgerie One Moment was sufficient for the Sceen Before his Hand was quite stretch'd out came in 209. A mighty Globe came rolling up the Hil Which on an aerie Axell turn'd before His stately Throne and to that Bulk did swell That the full figure of the World it bore No Conjurations ever grew so strong As this of all Inchantments the huge Throng 210. There might You see the
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
About them hither made a journey and Full in thy Spouse's face took up her Stand. 368. Lesse Terror from the Vulturs count'nance breaks When she her Tallons claps upon her Prey Lesse from the irefull High-priest when he takes His Cursing Aime at Jesus than to day Flash'd from this cruel Mayd in whose fell look Her dismal throne accomplish'd Veng'ance took 369. Immortal Dread star'd wide in either Eye Her forehead was plow'd up with furrows deep Sown with the Seeds of all Severity Which now for Jesus were grown fit to reap Her Lips were Fire her Cheeks were burning red And for a Tongue a flaming Sword she had 370. She never in such horrible Array Appear d till now on Earth not when she came With Water arm'd to wash the World away Or unto Sodome with a Flood of Flame Or when her fiery Serpents she did bring The Israelites Rebellion to sting 371. A Veil so hideously black that Night Is a 〈◊〉 beauteous thing to it Over her head was spred which though Day-light Were now at Liberty would not permit The stoutest Mortals sin-condemned Eyes Ever to reach the Comfortable Skies 372. On either side ten thousand Furies were With Millions of Pangs and Ejulations Woefull Eternity was also there Hugging each Horror Troops of Desperations Raving and riotting in their own Blood In the vast Armies Rear behinde Her stood 373. But in her Hand a sable Book she held Which now She opened unto Jesu's eyes When loe each dreadfull Page appeared fill'd With more intolerable Prodigies Than those transcendent Monstrous Shapes which were Marshall'd in her Hell-representing Rear 374. There that Rebellion painted was which grew In Paradise so huge and rank a Weed That it none but the World 's own Limits knew For through all Generations its Seed It scattered and made each poisnous Birth Bring full Assurance of its own Death forth 375. The Serpent which in Eden planted it Wears not such fatal Horror in his Face Nor stings so deep nor doth his Venome spit So far and wide nor e'r attended was With such a numerous Frie of Devills as this Old Beldame Sin by young Ones followed is 376. This was the fearfull Frontispice But now The cursed Leaves She opened one by one Pride had usurp'd the first and there did show Her swolln and blister'd Count'nance which did run With banefull Matter being bruised by A Fall she caught as she was climbing high 377. The next was Spight broad War close Calumnie Then Avarice besmeard with knawing Rust And putid Lying and foule Treachery With sneaking Theft and everstinging Lust Intemperance wallowing in a nastie Flood Of Vomit Murder in a Sea of Blood 378. That selfe-relying heav'n-distrusting Thing Foolish base-hearted Infidelity Grinding Extortion and self-torturing Because for ever jealous Tyranny Enchanting Error venomous Heresie Idolatry and right-down Blasphemy 379. But for their number it exceeds the skill Of Computation and all Figures reach Not all the Sparks whose glistering Armies fill The field of Heav'n not all the Atomes which Traffick about the Summer Air can tell Their mighty Total how to parallel 380. For each dwarf Fault and Gyant Crime did stand In martiall rank and file arrayed there Which any Humane Tongue or Heart or Hand Was ever stained with since Eve gave Eare Unto the charming Tempter and let in The fatal Torrent of contagious Sin 381. Nay more than so for every Stain and Blot Which through all Ages to the end of Time Shall taint the World Justice had thither got And in a black Appendix marshall'd them Thy proud Revolt and every Fault beside Psyche were there displayed full and wide 382. And if the least of Crimes as sure it is Be infinitely foule imagine then How strange a Masse of horridnesse was this Whose bulk did swell with all the Sins of Men What store of black 〈◊〉 were here For bleeding Jesus wounded Back to beat 383. For Justice heap'd them all upon his back That hee who did no sin might suffer all How would the Worlds establish d Pillars crack Should such a Load upon their shoulders fall How would the al-supporting centre faint And strive to shrink into a smaller point 384. How would the joynts of noblest Seraphs quake How would the Cherubs sinnews tremble at This Burden which all Natures Bones would break And lay Heav'ns highest stoutest Powers flat This Burden which all humane Soules would press Down to that bottom which is bottomlesse 385. Now Jesus groans and feels his heart-strings stretch For black upon his Soule the burden lies Those other torments hee forgetteth which The whips and nails and Jewish blasphemies Had multipli'd on him Thus rivers be Quite lost when swallow'd by the bitter Sea 386. Should all the tortures that did ever yet The Veins and Joints and Hearts of Martyrs tear In one fell Composition bee knit And then enraged to their full carrieer Lesse furious would their fury be than that Which now on Jesu's Soule in triumph sate 387. Some comfort it would be if Heav'n would now Vouchsafe a gentle looke upon its Son Who spies no consolations glimpse below But ô the sphears are not eclips'd alone By Phoebus absence no another Night Has thrown its Veil upon Heav'ns dearer Light 388. The Light which from his Fathers pleased eyes His whole Soule us'd to drink its streams did hide With earnest labouring looks he pleads and pries But is by sad obscuritie deny'd O blacknesse which no Parallel canst know To thee all Ink as Milk all Pitch is Snow 389. Long did he grapple which this mighty grief In patient silence But his Soule at length Snatching at least the desolate reliefe Of free complayning with the wofull strength Of his sad tongue this out-cry He did make My God my God why dost thou me forsake 390. Am I not still that Son in whom alone Thou wert wel-pleas'd Is not thy bosome still The same where once my habitation I did enjoy Why dost thou me expell Who am the image of thy blessed face From the least sight of its all-sweetning grace 391. Had every outcry every groan and shreik With which the air of Bethlehem was rent When Rachel saw how all the street did reek With an unheard of flood of innocent And infant blood met in one ejulation It s fragor had not match'd this exclamation 392. Never was such a Lamentable cry Wrung from the mouth of Griefe nor ever was Complaint more unregarded Clemencie Was deaf and Heav'n as well as Earth did pass By without any Bowels Never day Did such a Sceen of heavines display 393. Sorrow her self amazed at the sight Would have repented of her Tyranny But Jesus meant not to decline the fight Who could not conquer'd be though He could die O no He hugs his horrors and although His nature shrinks his courage loves his woe 394. Thus gallant Souldiers ' in the dreadfull wars With generous Pride their gushing blood behold Counting their glories onely by their scars And judging all their
PSYCHE OR LOVES MYSTERIE In XX. CANTO'S Displaying the Intercourse Betwixt CHRIST and the SOULE 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 S. Greg. Naz. in de Carminib suis. By JOSEPH BEAUMONT Mr. in Arts and Ejected Fellow of S. Peters College in Cambridge LONDON Printed by John Dawson for George Boddington and are to be sold at his Shop in Chancery-lain neer Serjants-lnn M. D. C. XL. VIII INTO THE MOST SACRED TREASURIE OF THE Praise and Glorie OF Incarnate GOD The Worlds most Mercifull REDEEMER THE Vnworthiest of His Majesties CREATURES in all possible Prostrate VENERATION Beggs Leave to Cast This His DEDICATED MITE The AUTHOR to the READER THE Turbulence of these Times having deprived mee of my wonted Accommodations of Study I deliberated For the avoyding of meer Idlenesse what Task I might safelyest presume upon without the Society of Books And concluded upon Composing this Poem In which I endeavour to represent a Soule led by divine Grace and her Guardian Angel in fervent Devotion through the difficult Temptations and Assaults of Lust of Pride of Heresie of Persecution and of Spiritual Dereliction to a holy and happy Departure from temporal Life to heavenly Felicitie Displaying by the way the Magnalia Christi his Incarnation and Nativitie his Flight into AEgypt his Fasting and Temptation his chief Miracles his being Sold and Betrayed his Institution of the Holy Eucharist his Passion his Resurrection and Ascension Which were his mighty Testimonies of his Love to the Soule I am not ignorant that very few Men are competent Readers of Poems the true Genius of Poetrie being little regarded or rather not subject at all to common Capacities so that a discourse upon this Theam would bee to smal purpose I know also how little Prefacing Apologies use to be credited Wherefore though I had much very much to say and justly in this kinde I will venture to cast my self upon thy Ingenuitie with this onely Protestation that If any thing throughout this whol Poem happen against my intention to prove Discord to the Concent of Christs Catholicke Church I here Recant it aforehand My Defire is That this Book may prompt better Wits to believe that a Divine Theam is as capable and happy a Subject of Poetical Ornament as any Pagan or Humane Device whatsoever Which if I can obtain and into the Bargain Charm my Readers into any true degree of Devotion I shall be bold to hope that I have partly reached my proposed Mark and not continued meerly Idle J. B. A Syllable of the CANTO'S 1. The Preparative 2. Lust Conquered 3. The Girdle or Love-token 4. The Rebellion 5. The Pacification 6. The Humiliation 7. The Great Little one 8. The Pilgrimage 9. The Temptation 10. The Marveils 11. The Traytor 12. The Banquet 13. The Death of Love 14. The Triumph of Love 15. The Poyson 16. The Antidote 17. The Mortification 18. The Persecution 19. The Dereliction 20. The Consummation PSYCHE OR LOVES MYSTERIE In XX. Canto's CANTO 1. The Preparative ARGUMENT INrag'd at Heav'n and Psyche Satan lay's His plots how to beguile the tender Mayd Phylax mean while a contrework doth raise And mustereth Joseph's Legend to her ayde That strengthned by this chaste example shee To lusts Assaults impregnable might bee 1. ETernal Love of sweetest Poetrie The sweeter King before thy gentle throne Deign to behold prostrate Vow and mee No Muse no Gods but thy sweet power alone I invocate for both his heads full low Parnassus to thy Paradise doth bow 2. Thy Paradise amongst whose Hils of Joy Those Springs of everlasting Vigour run Which makes souls drunk with heav'n clensing away All earth from Dust and angelizing men Great David and his Son drench'd in these streams With Poets wreaths did crown their Diadems 3. Defiance other Helicons O may These pretious founts my Vow and heart refine Deare Love thou art my task If ever bay Hereafter court my Muse it shall be thine My soule untun'd unstrung doth waite on thee To teach her how to sing thy MYSTERIE 4. A MYSTERIE wrapp'd in so close a cloud That Psyches young and well-acquainted eye Staggers about it yet more shades do croud And heap their night upon its secrisie Feirce Belzebub who doth in blacknesse dwell Would fain have all things else as dark as Hell 5. For He th' immortall Prince of equall spight Abhorr's all Love in every name and kinde But chiefely that which burn's with flames as bright As his are dark and which as long shall finde Their living fuell These enrage Him so That all Hel's Furies must to councell go 6. For as the wounded Lyon in his Den Roar's out his griefe so from his boyling heart A hideous groan broke forth which thundering in His hollow Realm bellow'd to every Part The frightfull summons All the Peers below Their Kings voice by its soveraign stink did know 7. Nor dar'd they stay by kembing to make neat Their snarled Snakes or draw their Tails huge trains Into a knot or trim their cloven feet With iron shoes or gather up their Chains Onely their hands they fill with Rage and bring That common Subsidie unto their King 8. Hel's Court is built deep in a gloomie Vale High wall'd with strong Damnation moated round With flaming Brimstone right against the Hall Burn's a black bridge of brasse the yards abound With all invenom'd Herbs and Trees more rank And fruitlesse than on Asphaltite's bank 9. The Gate where fire and smoak the Porters be Stands alwayes ope to them that be without Hither flock'd all the states of miserie As younger Snakes though crawling far about When the old Serpent's hisses summon them Into her patent mouth of poyson stream 10. The Hall was roof'd with everlasting Pride Deep paved with Dispaire checker'd with spight The Hangings were of Torments fair and wide The upper end presented to their sight Great Satans Arms drawn in an iron sheild A Crowned Dragon Gules in sable field 11. On his immortall throne of Death they see Their mounted Lord who in one hand did bear His Globe for all the world He take's to bee By right his own and in the other wear His Mace on which ten thousand Serpents knit With restlesse madnesse gnaw'd themselves and it 12. His awfull Horns above his Crown did rise And made them shrink in theirs his Forehead Was Plated with triple Impudence his Eyes Were Hell reflected in a double Glasse Two Comets stareing in their bloody stream Two Beacons boyling with their pitch and flame 13. His Mouth well-neer as wide's his Palace Door But much more black his Cheeks which never could Blush in their own had rak'd the world for store And deeply dy'd their guilt in humane Blood His griezly Beard all singed did confesse What kinde of Breath us'd through his lips to presse 14. Which as he op'd the Centre on whose back His Chair of ever-fretting Pain was set Frighted beside it self began to
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
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
does answer it and now Becomes a Needle and its Eye can show 32. Then from his golden Locks that curled Grove Where thousand little Loves for ever play He pluck'd an Haire and this said He will prove Sufficient Thred to finish all thy gay Imbroyderie 't will stretch and alwaies be Longer and longer to Eternity 33. Heer take thy Tools and let th' Invention be Thine owne Conceit for who can better fitt The Emblematick gift of Chastitie Than thou the Mother both of Me and it She bowing low her thanks and Dutie throws Before his feet and to her work she goes 34. Millions of Graces tripped after hâ—r The fair attendants on her 〈◊〉 rain Unto that Tower of living Chrystall where Thy Vision lately Thee did entertaine That Miâ—â—ie Way which downe Heavn's Mountain flows Its beauteous smoothnes to her footsteps ows 35. Oft had she trac'd it for you see the Way Is broad and Heavn's faire amplitude doth suit Yet ne'r with cheerlier Count'nance than that Day 〈◊〉 the decotum she did well compute Rejoycing that this Virgin-work should be 〈◊〉 to the Mother of Virginity 36. The Castle Gares did in a smile stand ope To see their Queen and bid her wellcome in She looks about her in that curious shop Of Purities uncertain where to ' gin Nothing dislikes Her but she spends her care Among so many Bests which to preferre 37. The lofty Roofe of the illustrious Hall With Sighs and amorous Languishment was seel'd From whence upon the princely floor did fall Full many an hearty Teare which there did yeeld A 〈◊〉 Pavement which the cool Grounds Kisse Into chast firmitude did chrystalize 38. The Twilights teares 〈◊〉 in the Laps of flowers Reflected not so 〈◊〉 Heavn's rising Eye When Phebus let in the diurnall Howres And trimm'd his face upon the Morning skie As these reverberated that fair Look Which from the Virgins entring face they took 39. The Walls impeopled were with all the stories Of those whom Chastity had cloth'd in White From antient Abels most unspotted Glories Unto the latest Beames of Virgin-light That Abel who first to his 〈◊〉 tied Martyrdomes 〈◊〉 in whose Bed he died 40. But at the upper end a Table hung All of one sparkling Diamond faire and high Whose brighter lines can by no Angells tongue Be fully read It was the History Of Love himself crav'd by art so divine That every Word the Table did out shine 41. Long look'd shee on this pourtract and forgot By looking long almost for what shee came The Sight 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 her eys that shee had not Her wonted power to be Queen of them At 〈◊〉 shee calls them home and bids withall Her heart come back which out with them had stole 42. Then ô. cries shee that this unworthy Hand Could draw those lines of Blisse of Life of Love A thousand yeares I d be content to stand And practise heer so I at length might prove Artist enough to forme one Copy which With more than all Heav'n would the Earth inrich 43. But my Almighty Lord and Sonne who did React his stories on this diamond sceen By his owne finger can be copied Onely by it Though He would make a Queen Of worthlesse Me yet He was pleased still In his poor Handmaid some defect should dwell 44. This Word straight summoned into the Cheek Of all the Graces which about her prest An universall Blush to see how meek Their Empresse was And give us leave at least Say they to copy this Humility More due to Us than unto royall Thee 45. But turning to the next her studious eye And reading in that Table fairely drawn The sweet Exploits of her Virginitie She blushed more than they and of their owne Blush made them all asham'd to see how farr It was out-blushed and out-grain'd by her 46. What help cries she for He is Lord and King What help if he be pleas'd to have it so If He my Memorie next his owne will bring And print it in a Book of Diamond too 'T is not the picture of what I did merit But what his love hath made me to inherit 47. With that the Graces all upon their knecs In a conspiracy of reverend Love Assault her thus Seek no more stories these Of thine the best imbroyderie will prove Degrade not what thy Son preferres nor be Because he loves thee thine owne Enemie 48. Nay gentle Sisters sweetly she replies I love my selfe too well to be so proud Let other Hands applaud my Victories But to mine own it must not be allow'd Were that my Work this Needle at each letter Would prick my Heart because I was no better 49. Loe in that Rubie Table there I see A heav'nly Storie well the Man I know A pretious Friend both to my Lord and Me When We with Him were Sojourners below Pure was his Life pure was his Office too Cleansing the Way where Purenesse was to goe 50. Whil'st on the noble Baptist thus her Eye And Praises dwelt a Grace had fill d in haste Her lappe with Lilies and the mayden prize Into a Chair of Alablaster cast The gentle Virgin smil'd at first to see 't Then down she sate and made her Cushion sweet 51. Her diligent Maydens compasse Her about And with a Jewell each one ready stands To her pure Work she falls and as she wrought A sweet Creation followed her Hands Upon her Knee apace the Table grew And every Figure to the Texture flew 52. As active Fancy in a Midnights Dream With strange extemporall dexterity What Sceens what Throngs what Worlds she lists doth frame Making the most divided things agree And most united quarrell though one Cell Be all the room for this vast spectacle 53. So wrought the nimble Artist and admired Her selfe to see the Work go on so fast Sure the ambitious Historie desired To this its own new honour to make haste And purchase to its single Rubie Beams The various Lustres of ten thousand gems 54. The forward Figures crowded close for all Would needs come in and rather chose to be Justled and throng'd and nipp'd into a small Yet a well ordered Epitomie Than in that little Dwelling loose their seat Where sweet Contraction would make them more great 55. And now the Girdle proves a Multitude Of sundry things made friends and tied in one But eminent among the rest is shew'd The lovely Master of the businesse John One-different John who as the Work doth rise Lives preaches washes suffers prison dies 56. Th' Imbroyderie finish'd thus that with more speed She might present it to her mighty Sonne She gives command her Birds be harnested Quick as the Word her ready Maydens run And from the milkie shore of the next spring Five Paire of her immortall Pidgeons bring 57. Her Coach was double gilt with that pure Light Whose grosser part fills Phebu's face with glory Not glaring like his Eyes but Milde and White Shining much like its Owners Virgin-storie Her Coursers take their place and
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
〈◊〉 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
one beside Onely thy Brothers must not be thy Bride 135. Must not th' Adulteresse cri'd for she was by Whither is Herod or that Youngling King And shall the Acts of awfull Majesty Be flouted by this upstart pratling Thing O that my bodkin had his Tongue to bore I 'd make it sure for preaching me a Whore 136. Be thou content my Dear the King replies I will reveng thy Wrong for 't is mine own Rebellions fiery Boils may likelier rise From his envenomed Words against my Crown Then from our spotlesse Match which Heav'n long blesse Hale him to prison he shall smart for this 137. Unhappy Truth how comes vain Flattery To be more gratious at Court then thou Who might'st secure and prosper Majesty Whil'st that doth Lies and Trapps and Poysons strow Is it because sometimes thou rubb'st the sore Or that thou naked art and meek and Poor 138. Deep in the Cities Bottome sunk there was A Goale where Darknesse dwelt and Desolation Through all the Towns proud Taunts enforc'd to passe The Saint is thrust into this Habitation Where strait the noisome Mire doth him begirt Much like a Gem by Swine trode in the Dirt. 139. Yet these dead Walls with stones almost as hard As that which for a Heart did serve the King Him onely in a straiter Desert barr'd For his high Contemplation still did bring Heav'ns latitude into those straits and swell With Angells and with God that lesser Hell 140. This is his noble Companie and He In his strict Goale more freedome doth enjoy Than follish Herod though his Tetrarchie To all his loose Desires wide opes a Way Sin is the foulest Prison and in this Not John but Herod the close Pris'ner is 141. Yet Herod thinks not so what pitty 't is That Thought and Fancy thus the scale should sway And ponderous Reasons sober solidnesse Cast as a light and frothie thing away For rid of this same galling Preacher He Judges himselfe and all his Pleasures free 142. And in that freedom means to celebrate That Day which Him releas'd from Mothers Womb To crown the Meeting with majestick State His glistering Nobles all to Court must come That Men might in the splendor of each Guest Read his magnificence who makes the Feast 143. Luxurious choise of every kinde of Beast Was hither brought No Bird so dear and rare But it was fetched from its highest Nest To build in some quaint Pie or Platter here To Noahs Ark scarce came a thicker Crowd For life then to be slain there hither flow'd 144. With Earth and Aire the Sea must help to trimme A more than Spring-tide superfluity Large shoals of wanton Fishes here must swimme In aromatick ponds of Spicerie That Herods ominous Birth-day forth may bring Death unto almost every kinde of Thing 145. Ambition was the Steward of the Feast The Cook and Cater both was Luxurie Lust tempered the gallant Sauce and drest The choise inflaming Dainties of the Sea Loe there the King is with his Nobles set And all the crowded Table smokes with meat 146. Intemperance attended on the Bord And crown'd with sparkling Wine the foaming Cup. The Kings Health first went round which every Lord Drowning his own in it hasts to drink up And prayes He may behold as many years As Dishes on the Bord or in Heav'n Starrs 147 The next's the Queens But then Bowle after Bowle They to their femall Idolls poured down So monstrous were those Draughts that the Wines Soule Had now all theirs subdued and was grown King of them and their Prince who belching cries Enough of this Come now le ts feast our Eyes 148. For hee the young Herodias had spi'd Whose face no sooner dawned in the Hall But an enchanting meretricious Tide Of Sweets and Graces overflow'd them all Her beauteous Looks and Dresse redoubled be Because her fond Spectators double see 149. No Syren ever on the waterie Stage Did act so true a false but lovely part The gazeing carelesse Sea-man to ingage In the delicious shipwrack of his heart Nor e're was Sea so dangerous and deep As in this Damsells treacherous Breast did sleep 150. Behold her there What studied Neglect Upon her shoulders pours her Tresses down How is her Breast with Gems allurements deckt Yet winns more eyes and wishes by its own That speaking Nakednesse if selfe commends And lustfull Fancies something further sends 151. The rest of her Attire so thin and light With gorgeous hypocrisie doth lay More open what it would deny the sight And whilst it stopps invites into the way About she swimms and by a courtly Dance Her other beauties price she doth enhance 152. All eyes and hearts tripp'd after Her as she About the Hall her gracefull motions measures No nimble Turn could in the 〈◊〉 be But Herods brains turn'd too who by these pleasures Again grown drunk unto his 〈◊〉 doth Give ease by vomiting a full-mouth'd oath 153. By Heav'n and my own Majesty he cries This Dance sweet Daughter must not want reward For never Venus traversed the skies With a more soule-commanding Galiard Let thy Demand be high for though it be Half of my throne I hold it due to thee 154. But then the Queen whose thirst not all the Wine At that great Feast could quench unlesse it were Brew'd with the Blood of John 〈◊〉 soon incline Her Daughter to request this Boon for her I ne'r shall think said the that Herod is Mine or his Kingdoms Head whilst John wears his 155. Thou know'st my Wrongs and with what pain I wear The name of Whore which He hath on me pinn'd Help then my righteous Vengance on and tear Away this Griefe which gnaws thy Mothers minde This was enough back flies the Damsell and Thus sweetens o'r her barbarous Demand 156. O may the King for ever live and reign And blessed be this undeserved Day Wherein thine Handmaid doth such favour gain That halfe thy Kingdom shall not say me nay For reall is thy royall Word But why Should a poor Maids ambition towre so high 157. Indeed that Promise did become the King That like thy selfe thy Bountie might appear But Heav'n forbid that I so vile a thing Thy scepters Glories should in sunder tear And break mine Arm with halfe of that Command Whose Totall is too little for thy Hand 158. A slender Gift more equall Pay will be To my Desert Let me but have my Will Over one wretched Worm which gnaweth thee And thy whole Stock So let the King fulfill His royall Word by giving Me that Head Whose Tongue deflour'd yours and my Mothers Bed 159. Alas the King replies what have I done O that my Kingdome might my Word recall How shall I help thee now unhappy John Who in my Promise preach'd thy Funerall Thy carelesse Tongue at first thee Pris'ner made And my rash lipps have thee to death be trayd 160. O that to day my Lords had not been here The solemne Witnesses of my great Vow Must Death intrude
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
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
three all thrice-refin'd and clean 46. That which does outmost smile is Waterie The spotlesse Cover of a purer thing For under it doth liquid Chrystall lie Couch'd on a Bed almost as ravishing As its illustrious Selfe a molten Bed Of gentle Glasse upon the bottome spred 47. And in the Mirrour of this triple Spring All sorts of sprightfull formes delight to play The mystick shapes of every kind of Thing Close moulded in a soft and unseen Ray On Instant's posting wings doe hither flie And dive into these Deeps of Purity 48. Who knows not that great Love tak's from the Eye His Ammunition Qaiver Bow and Darts And winns by that soft-fierce Artillery His mighty Principalitie of Hearts Had He himselfe had Eys what might He not Have done who has such power by others got 49. These my domestike Beauties are But see My outward equal Store With that she bid Her Princely Traine march forth When instantlie A silver Globe roll'd in embellished With gilded starrs which round about did turne And wheel from Ev'n through all the Night to Morn 50. This done a dusky Veil she threw aside And through a roseall East let ope the Day The Sun gat up and as the Globe did glide Speeded into the West his Golden way Where red and hot with his long journey He Entred the coole Bath of th' Atlantick Sea 51. Then came the blustring Winds on their back Brought labouring Clouds some pour'd out Haile and Snow Some spit forth Lightning through a thundering Crack Some with more peacefull showres of Rain did flow Some dropp'd down monstrous Vermin some a stood Of not-desired Corn some squeas'd out blood 52. But then the Spring came blooming in array'd With fragrant Green whose sweet Embroidery Were Budds of Virgin smiles which there display'd A sceen of living Joys all echoed by Ten thousand Birds which perch'd on every Tree Tun'd their soft Pipes to Natures harmonie 53. Yet underneath with higher gallantry The Peacock strutted whose expanded Train Enammelled with gorgeous Majesty Did Heav'ns bright Modell represent again Yet that Bowles wincking Eyes could not express So full a Proof of Heav'n as flam'd in these 54. Summer came next with her own Riches crown'd A wreath of Flowers upon her goodly Head Full sheaves of golden store did her surround And all her way with wholesome Plenty spread Where as she went no Tree but reach'd his At For it was hot to shade her Head from harm 55. Then follow'd Autumn with her Bosome full Of every Fruit which either tempts the Eye Or charms the Taste Here Wantonnesse might cull And weary grow Here wide-mouth'd Luxury Might gormandize her fill and with farre more Ease her own Lust devour than spend this store 56. At last came drooping Winter slowly on For Frost hung heavy on his heels the Year Look'd old and pale in him and almost gone He quak'd and shiver'd through his triple Furr For still what way soever He did creep He 's to the knees in Snow at every step 57. For snow was all things now and in this White The wanton World which all this while made sport In Autumus Summers and in Springs delight Must girded up by Ice doe penance for 't This cold chaste strait-lac'd Garb will best repell The Faults which those hot Seasons taught to swell 58. This Pageant being past up leap'd upon The stage a City whose high-lifted Head Threatned the Clouds with interruption What Art was here to Riches married How thick the Marble Spires and Towers stood Shading the Houses with a stoney Wood 59. But like an awfull Crown to all the rest The Princes Palace mounted fair and high Proclaimed by its double gilded Crest It s own and its great Owners Majestie Yet was this outward Pomp but a course skin To those rare Wonders which did shine within 60. Heere was the Jewell-house where naked lay Such store of Gemms as might enrich the Sea There in the Wardrobe in well-wrought array Their sparkling Bretheren were taught to be The clothing of those Cloths Embroyderers had To pride the backe of scornfull Courtship made 61. Here stood the Chequer that great Temple where The World 's dear Idoll in huge heaps did lie There was a Store-house of the choise and rare Productions found by Opticks Industry The schoole of Admiration and the shop Of Miracles in Glasses treasured up 62. Heer Men and Beasts and Birds were all of kin Being extracted from one common Womb Of the brave Proconnesian Marble Mine And where the Statuary wanted roome The Painters livelier Lies did wooe the Sight To sport in his lesse cumbersome Delight 63. But in the Presence-chambers Ocean mett The Confluence of every royall thing A golden Throne on silver floore was sett Which took new lustre from the gorgeous King Who with his glittering Court surrounded was As Phebus with the rays of his owne face 64. The Queen both of his Kingdome and his Heart Beauties bright Triumph show'd at his right Hand And did her sweet exuberance impart Unto that mayden Circle which did stand To wait and gaze on her whose goodly Face Was Wonders fairer Heav'n and Pleasures Glasse 65. When Opsis by this pompous sight had drawn Admiring smiles from her Spectators I A thousand such said she could soone have shown Had I ripp'd up my totall Treasurie And these those Offrings are my scorned Eyes To Psyche gave who them and me defies 66. Unto some blurred Prayer-book she ties My spotlesse sight with endlesse slavery Or makes me stare so long upon the skies That with dull seeing I forget to see She some pretence or other still doth finde In meere devotion to make me blinde 67. The other Sunn when He has look'd his Day Can goe to bed and rest himself in Night But I forsooth at Ev'n must goe to Pray And watch her Candle till the Morning light Some comfort 't were if I might but obtaine By all those Prayers reliefe for my owne pain 68. But since nor She nor Heav'n will Pitty take What could oppressed dying Opsis doe But force her finall gasping Sighs to break Into these just Complaints great Sir to you To which may you be deaf if I appeare A Rebell still and not Defendant heer 69. She ending thus impatient Acoe Who thought her Sisters speech was much to long Stepp'd back unto their common Treasurie Kep't by Anamnesis where lay the Throng Of all their wealth and bad her ready make Her richest Train whil'st She its Prologe spake 70. Hear Me said She and be this my reward For hearing all things else though many a Sound Upon mine Eares hath most unkindly jarr'd Yet courteous entertainment still it found The like I crave and doe not you repine The first was Opsi's place the next is mine 71. My House is secret cautious winding ways And privy Galleries lead into it By which abstruse state I my fame doe raise Higher than if my palace ope were set Thus Jewells dwell within the Cavitie Of
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
shew you such a List Of Psyche's Powers as soon would coole our Haste 32. Alas how can wee force the Queen if she Deny to yeild when wee our battery make Is not the Palace and those Gates wee see All of immortall Metall We may break Our Engins and our Plots and Furie too And sooner than those Walls our selves undoe 33. A lingring Leaguer what can that effect Unlesse we hope at length to starve her out But she long since all Dainties did neglect With which the whole World had her Table fraught Her Prayers and her Heav'n her diet were And now she 's all alone she best doth fare 34. But as for Us who at the Siege must lie We fed with Hope of Victory must starve Before we get it For what will supply Us daily with Provision to serve So many Mouths which Psyche fill'd till now And if she be shut up so must they too 35. Besides who knows but some of her Allies Phylax or Charis or some such strong Friend May rush upon our backs and by surprise Both our Design and Us in pieces rend New is the Lesson in the Grove you read Can you forget how Aphrodisius sped 36. Nay you have heard of Heav'ns immortall Son In whose vast hand Omnipotence doth reign That Hand which when great Lucifer begun To let his Eyes but glimmer with disdain Tumbled him headlong into Death and Hell I tell you Friends this Christ loves Psyche well 37. We cannot be too carefull and for my Own part I judge the safest Way the best And this is by a present Embassie With humble Lies and Oaths and Glozings drest To cheat her from her strength So we may gain Our Ends and seem to scape Rebellions stain 38. But let a Vow of Perseverance first Seal Us all sure to our Conspiracy That by her selfe that Passion may be curst Afore-hand who shall false or fearfull be If one should chance to fail why may not two If two why may the Summe not higher goe 39. This said An eye of Doubt and Fear she cast Upon Agenor to observe how He Rellish'd her Words But soon she saw their Taste 〈◊〉 welcome in his palate Instantly I like her Counsell best He cries and You Shall strengthen your Adventure by this Vow 40. Thus shall my Might escape what I did Fear The vile Encounter with a Woman and My Pittie unto You no lesse declare Whil'st in your Front my Majesty doth stand And strike such Terror without any Blow Into your Queen that she shall yeild to you 41. Then calling for a Baçin and a Pin He prick'd his annular Finger and let fall Three Drops of Blood And what He did begin As solemnly reacted was by All The Company Which done again He takes The Baçin and three Elevations makes 42. And may that Blood which still remains behinde Be forc'd to follow these Three Drops He cri'd If ever I unbend my resolute Minde Or from this Wars stout Prosecution slide May this my present Poyson be and here He dipped his Tongue if now I falsely swear 43. Then sprinkling on the back of his Right Hand Another Drop This Martiall Mark said He Shall for a Badge and Memorandum stand Of our now sure and sacred Unity You see our Covenants Rites Now every One Doe what your willing Generall has done 44. Never did Health more cheerly walk its Round When lusty Wine and Mirth the Boule had fill'd Than did this bloody barbarous Baçin crown'd With Rage and Madness Their Rebellion seal'd Thus by this desperate Ceremony They To Psyche speed their Messenger away 45. And this was Love upon whose Tongue although Perpetuall Sleights and Fallacies did dwell Yet with industrious Deceptions now And studied Flatteries she her Mouth did sill She knew the Queen was wise and strong and would With common known Delusions not be fool'd 46. Thus to the Gate demurely come She tri'd It with a modest Knock and paus'd a while Then strok again a timorous Stroke to hide In this soft Preface her meek-insolent Guile The gentle Knock bad Psyche courage take To come and see what it would further speak 47. No sooner had she op'd a Casement and Reach'd out her doubtfull Head the News to know But she beheld where Love did trembling stand With weeping Eyes and with dejected Brow She lik'd the Posture yet demanded why She thither came a false and fawning Spie 48. Love by that Word warn'd to skrew up her Art Fell on her knees and three times smote her breast And Woe is Me she cri'd whose loyall Heart Can finde no milder Language from my best And dearest Prince What strange Mischance doth throw This Wrong on Me and that Mistake on You 49. If to repair to You in humblest Guise Who here immured d'well in Desolation If to discover where the Error lies Whose secret Venome breeds this Perturbation Of your whole Realm deserve the Name of Spie I well can bear this glorious Infamy 50. But if Misprision so doth cheat your Eyes That looking with a jealous Glance on Me They in my Count'nance read an Enemies I must beg leave to tell your Majesty For it concerns my Essence you forget Your Creature and take Love it selfe for Hate 51. Yet your Mistake shall make no change in Me Use your vast Power in any thing but this I still am Love and so resolve to be Nor fear that false and envious Witnesses Can swear Me from my selfe Heav'n cannot frame What I had rather be than what I am 52. Sure I with that right genuine Love which You Hugg next your Soule have some Affinity Can that brave Passion adulterate grow And stain its spotlesse selfe with Treacherie Can Odours stinking Honey bitter bee Silke harsh Down hard that thus you think of Me 53. O no dear Soveraign I am hither sent The soft Ambassadour of Peace to you Nor of my Office does it me repent What wrath so e're stands bent in your stern brow And though I know not what will hence ensue I to my native sweetness must be true 54. I see you thought you ' Company had bent Some treacherous Plot against your royall Head And is 't nor likely they would all consent Their own Life and Heart blood in yours to shed Madame beleeve 't Selfe 's not a dearer Name To noble You than to the worst of them 55. 'T is true a peice of Discontent has put Them in that posture of Defence But by Your Majestie I swear they brew no Plot But what becomes a Subjects Modesty If Mischeife their intention were what Charms Could dead their hands damp their glitt'ring Arms 56. If strong-embattel'd injur'd Patience be A Signe of Treason they are Traytors all But sure this loyall kinde of Treacherie Doth more for Thanks and Praise than Anger call O never be it said that you alone Could in Arm'd Mecknesse read Rebellion 57. By me their homage they present to you Beseeching that with it you would embrace Their humble
ground But all together A thousand Doubts did rosse poore Psyche up From one side of her thoughts unto another Three times she op'd her mouth but jealous Feares Would suffer Her to speak by nought but Teares 137. Which when Arenor 〈◊〉 he with his Eye Gave 〈◊〉 Commission to speak She marching forth with port and majesty Loves 〈◊〉 Deceit did somerhing greater make And Well I know great Queen said she that You Much wonder I should come a Treater now 138. T is true you sent me with expresse Command To force the head-strong Rebells back againe And make them feel that your illustrious Hand Is moderatrix of the 〈◊〉 Rein. And I indeed took them for Rehells too So much your Error upon me could doe 139. But when I found their Lovalty as clear As Slander fain'd it blotted I who was Dispatch'd by You but as the Officer Of Right and Justice had no power to passe My strict Commission and what need I prove What was so solidly confirm'd by Love 140. I must confesse when I had mark'd that Store Of honest Bravery of which poor they Were with the Senses robb'd I could no more To their provok'd Impatience Treason lay Than unto Tellus if in chinks she ope Her Mouth at Sirius who her flowres burns up 141. Yet they were generous and unto Me The choise of all their choisest Wealth did profer That by my hand it might commended be To wait on you And here their Gift I offer If it and them you scorn yet must not I Be guilty of such Inhumanity 142. Forth with she op'd the Scene whence streamed out The confluence of that gorgeous Fallacy Which on her heedlesse Selfe before had wrought Straight as the sweetly-rolling Tide grew high The Stream bore Psyche down as sudden Light Instead of day seizeth the Eyes with night 143. Agenor seeing she was dazeled by The flash of those Varieties arose And while she rubb'd and questioned her Eye To the Imposture adds this specious Close Wonder not Madame but repent that you Your Subjects goodly homage scorn'd till now 144. I am content the weaknesse of your Sex Be your excuse if now you can relent To ease the yoak which gaulls your Subjects Necks And crown their just Demands with your Consent That Pitty I unto their Wrongs did lend To your repented Error I 'le extend 145. The love which to mine own Queen feals my heart Makes it unto all other Ladies kinde For her dear sake I will to you impart Rich testimonies of my tender Minde I know she 'l thank me when I come at home That in my Mercy I have made you room 146. Behold my Mine of wealth From hence will I This Peace with pretious Tokens consecrate And will hereafter owne your Majesty As my Confederate Though prevailing Fate Makes me a Martiall Prince I 'd rather win By sweetnesse than by churlish force a Queen 147. Then ope your Gates Or if my Kindnesse be A Price room an to buy our Acceptation Tell me but so I can more easily Force than Intreat This warlike Preparation Did with more pains win on it self to make This Pause than it will cost your Fort to take 148. What help for Psyche now whom Power drives And Charms allure to her Destruction With heart-misgiving Thoughts a while she strives And struggles how she may not fear the One Nor love the other But away at last Her Resolution and her selfe she cast 149. Vain Son of Dust pull down thy foolish Crest And in this Glasse thy feeble Wormship see Who will commit unto thy wavering trust Another thing when by Self-treachery Thou yeildest up thy wretched Heart a Prize To them whose Power in thy Concession lies 150. I like the Terms right noble Sir she cries And must for ever in my high esteem Inshrine and reverence these Courtesies Which from your sweet Magnificence doe stream Then to the Gate she hasts and to begin Her thanks flings it wide ope and calls them in 151. Agenor sheath'd his mighty Sword and bid The Passions all perform what He had done 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Order they first entered 〈◊〉 with his swelling Train Himselfe drew on And seem'd to cast a sirly Look aside 〈◊〉 the Castle Gate was not more wide 152. With Princely slownesse thus march'd in at last Her royall Seal He Her desires to set To those Conditions which before had past And in a gilded Scroll were ready writ She ran it over with a smiling Eye And straight set seal to her own Miserie 153. Then unto Thelema the Instrument She gave with full Commission to shut Her Ports when Charis or when Phylax bent Their courses or their projects thither But For Logos she consented He should still Remain a Pris'ner at the Passions Will. 154. With that My seal to this Pacification Agenor cries this Friendly Kisse shall be Mean while the Passions with joynt Acclamation Salute their Soveraigns Eare as courtly He Her Lip And fond she joy'd their Noise to hear Which all her freedome did in pieces tear 155. By name she bad them welcome all but on Agenor dwelt her Thanks and Complement And sure said she what you to day have done Proves you to be of that sublime Descent From which my Spouse was said alone to spring Who would not swear that you were Peace's King 156. Power reigns in both His Hands the Armory Of Heav'n where Thundering Ammunition lies In dreadfull Store is His yet gentle He By sweetnesse loves to gain his Victories And so doe you who for His sake to Me The noblest Prince and dearest are but He. 157. Agenor smil'd And Whosoe'r I be Repli'd sweet Queen I have no time to show More than by this blest peace 〈◊〉 what you see This 〈◊〉 of my royall Love to You. The World may need Me some where else and I Must not by loytering here my help deny 158. Yet if my Aid you should hereafter want Send and enquire at any Prince's Court And think not that Agenor now 〈◊〉 vaunt Unto such Inns I make my chiefe resort Nor fail I of due welcome for the best And Noblest Place is proud of Me its Guest 159. His Present was two Cabinets which when His Pages had set down He took his leave From her soft lipp through which He breathed in What her unwary Heart did not perceive Slie Spirits of Self-love and Foolish Pride And many mystick swelling things beside 160. With earnest Courtesie she woo'd his Stay But now his deep Defign was compass'd He With all his gorgeous Train made haste away And leaves her more a Pris'ner than when she Was in her Castle close barr'd up by Fear Of them who now all play'd the Tyrants there 161. Each Passion takes her swindge and does appeal To Thelema when any Doubts arise Boldly provoking to the Scroll and Seal Which did this publike Freedome authorize Thus Noise and Tumult every corner fills Of Psyche's court which all with Revells swells 162. So when fond Phebus doting
in these Herbs doth any Serpent sneak Them to enyenome or my Safety check 215. My serious Labours and my ridgid Fear Fright hence the tender Sons of Luxury Distempers and Diseases Guests which are Fed at the Bord of Superfluity In health and vigour I can night and day Trade with my Maker and my Prayers say 216. He though no wanton Bathes have softened My carelesse Skin which tann'd and rough you see Though all my weeds be of a rurall Thred Spun by Neglect and by Simplicity Esteems nor Me nor my Condition poor Because I build my Hopes upon his Store 217. His royall Store which since this World below So narrow was fills Heav'ns vast Treasury And till the Sons of Dust and Ashes grow As high as that in vain they look to be Enrich'd by it But there 's a Way by which We Dwarfs to that Sublimity may reach 218. A strange Way which does by Desentions Wings Teach Us to soar These Contrarieties Into the field not onely Nature brings But Grace with opposite Cures meets Maladies Pride threw Us down when we were perched high Our ladder to get up's Humility 219. Humility that Art enobled by His own Profession whom all Heav'ns adore Himselfe He Lowest made who was most High And of the Richest King became most Poor By his Example teaching Us that We Must onely by Rebound exalted be 220. Psyche with great contention deign'd to hear Him hitherto but could endure no more What Pitty'tis said she that now thy Beer Hath long stood waiting for thee at thy Door Thou art no Wiser yet this signe doth shew Thy Dotage is past Help Poor wretch adeiu 221. Then with relaxed Rein admonishing Her smoaking Steeds They snatch'd her Coach away With sparkling foaming fervor copying Her hasty indignation untill they Drew neer the Citty where their pace they bate Marching in statelier slownesse to the Gate 222. The People gaz'd upon her as she past And fill'd the Street with Wonder Every Eye It s foolish homage in her way did cast And by that Admiration raise more high Her tumid Looks who had the more to scorn The more Spectators did her way adorn 223. For whilst some prais'd the Coach and some the Steeds And all her Person who rode Queen of them With carelesse Looks Contempt about she spreads Both on their Admiration and on them She lov'd the Honor yet lov'd to despise What in her own esteem was her best prize 224. So when a burly Tempest rolls his Pride About the World though mighty Cedars bow Though Seas give way unto his greater Tide Though Mountains lay their proudest heads full low Before his feet yet still He roars amain And rusheth on in blustering Disdain 225. On many Pallaces her Eye she cast But yet could not vouchsafe to view them long At last contemning all she saw she prest With insolent fiercenesse through the gazing Throng Crying These Cottages can afford no room For Psyche's Entertainment I must Home PSYCHE OR LOVES MYSTERIE CANTO VI. The Humiliation ARGUMENT HEr heav'nly Friends by soule-subduing Art Recover Psyche from her shamefull Glory And sure to seal upon her softned Heart Religious Meeknesse Phylax tells the Story Of her immortall all-producing Spouse And then her own originall Vilenesse shows 1. BUt what is Home unto unhappy Her Whose onely Castle is surrender'd to A Pack of Rebells who resolved were To use the licence of their Conquest so That she should in her own Dominion Have no power left her but to be undone 2. She might have safelier call'd all Tempests in And to the loudest Windes fet ope her Gate Or giv'n her Key to Bears and Tigers then To those more dangerous Beasts whose fair-tongu'd hate Does work by this Prerogative that they By Honey poyson by Imbraces slay 3. Flat Enemies are honest harmlesse Things Because they tell Us what We have to fear But double-hearted Friends whose Blandishings Tickle our Ears but sting our bosomes are Those dangerous Syrens whose sweet mayden face Is onely mortall Treasons burnish'd Glasse 4. These are the Pits whose mouths with flowers spred Sweetly invite our Feet unto a Fall The golden Cups whose Lips are sugeted To the dissembled Poyson ours to call The crafty Hooks which in a dainty Bait To catch the Liquorish Palate lie in wait 5. These are those flattering Pipes whose wily Tune Enchants the silly Birds into the Net These are those fragrant Bedds of fair-look'd June With smileing Roses and with Lilies set Where th' unsuspecting Gardner to surprise By fatall sleight perdu the Serpent lies 6. These are those Delilahs whose weeping Eye Whose sighs whose Kisses whose Imbraces be The truer Wit hs and Ropes and Web where-by They binde the stoutest Sampsons on their knee Where while they hope to rest they polled are At once both of their Liberty and Hair 7. These are the politick Hyena's who Make bloody Thirst in humane Accents speak And with such sweet Hypocrisie can wooe The heedlesse Swain compassion to take That to his Foe his door he openeth And in fond Pitty letteth in his Death 8. These are those Judas's whose Lips can drop The honey of a friendly Salutation And with a Kisse seal the soft bargain up Though in their Hearts a trayterous Conjuration Lies rankilin and they study how they may In Looks and Words of Love their God betray 9. And surely Psyche by this Treason had Been cheated of her life and selfe if He Who in his Judas tryall of it made Had lent no Pitty to her Misery Had Jesu's tender Goodnesse not out-rid His faithless Spouse who now from Him was fled 10. Charis and Phylax He a while with-drew That being left unto her selfe she might Of her own Weaknesse take convincing view When she occasion had and cause to fight But now He sends them back to help Her down From the high Ruine where He saw her thrown 11. Make haste said He my Love and Her Distresse Call for your speed 〈◊〉 To you full power I give To ease Her of that wretched Mightiness Before it split her Heart to undeceive Her cheated Soule and shrink it till it be Little enougn to fit my Heav'n and Me. 12. They having thrice ador'd his Foot-stool flew Upon the wings of Thought through every Sphear No Lightning ever made more haste to view The East and West at once than this swift Pair Of earnest Messengers or with more Light Did all Spectators startled Eyes afright 13. For when the Passrons saw them darting neer Immediate Terror upon them did seize Down fell their changed Looks and Necks though Fear Was left at home she present seem'd in these The suddennesle made Psyche too afraid And both her Courage and her Chariot stay'd 14. But though the first Assault of Lightning be Pointed with Dread and Awe the second does Break forth with more abated Majesty And in our Eyes at least some Brightnesse loose Custome though young and breeding yet can make The dint and edge of any strangness
rebuk'd her so That straight she stagger'd back again and cri'd Remembring how she them disdain'd which now Fairer then all Agenors Pomp did show 93. At length she came and with a dolefull Voice Give leave she said my genuine Furniture That once again I make my prudent choice Which henceforth shall for ever more endure Or if again I scorn your Poverty From Hells soule Wardrobe may I clothed be 94. Come trusty Hair-cloths you did never yet Foole me out of my selfe by garish Pride Come honest Rope thou never yet didst let Ambition blister me but gird'st my side Close to my heart and left'st no Room between For puffing strutting Thoughts to harbour in 95. So now I 'm drest indeed How shamelesly Have I all naked wander'd up and down No Nakednesse to that in Heav'ns pure Eye With which Sin clotheth Us Thus over-grown With Leprosie the Man more naked is Then when bare Nothing but his Skin was His. 96. Yet can it be that jealous Heav'n and You O my provoked Friends should not be just What priviledge have Rebellious I that now Vengance should sheath it s dared Lightning Must Your Patience from my Crime its copie write That both may equally be Infinite 97. It must said Charis and be sure to pay Thy Spouse due thanks for this Necessity Yet if henceforth thou needs wilt run astray Know that his Soul is not so seal'd to thee But he can finde out some more faithfull Breast Which will his Loves dear Violence not resist 98. She thus reform'd into her lowly Tire Charis and Phylax gently her imbrace Kissing into her Soul fresh Joyes of Fire And Printing gratious Looks upon her Face Then sitting down together Listen well Said Phylax unto what I now shall tell 99. The Story Psyche bends its aime at thee But I will fetch it from its bottom that Thou may'st a long and totall Prospect see Of thy Extraction and originall State That Sight will teach thee that these simple Weeds Are full as fine and gorgeous as needs 100. Especially when I withall have shown Thee by the boundlesse Powers which flourish in Thy Spouse's Hand and Word how far thine own Condition flaggs below his Worth how mean A Match thou art for Him who nothing hast In dowry but vile Vanity and Dust. 101. All things at first was God who dwelt alone Within his boundless Selfe But bounteous He Conceiv'd the form of the Creation That other things by Him might Happie be A way to ease its Streams his Goodnesse sought And at the last into a World burst out 102. This World at first ' was but one single step From simple Nothing yet that step was wide No power but His or could or yet can leap Over from Nothing 's Bank to Something 's Side The East and West are one the Poles doe kisse If you their Distances compare with this 103. This Something Son of Nothing wallowing lay In the vast Womb of its own Darksome Deep The foulest Monster never frighted Day With such wilde Shapes as struggled in this Heap Nor Hydra's Heads so snarl'd at one another As every Parcell quarrell'd with its Brother 104. The Deep climb'd up and tumbled down the Height And then fell headlong after it again Lightnesse was busie and forc'd lazie Weight To change his Quarters and above remain The rude Tempestuous Windes blew all together And fill'd the World at once with every Weather 105. Heat about place could not with Cold agree This strove to frieze its Foe and that to frie. The Centre in the Bottom scorn'd to be And forced Earth full in Heav'ns face to flie Winter took heat and breaking ope its way December flung into the heart of May. 106. The Ocean storm'd and would no Shore allow But swallow'd up the Sands and rushing out Whil'st all things else were quarrelling did throw Her billowie Arms the Universe about Which in this civill Deluge drown'd had been Had not the kinde Creators Help come in 107. Forth flew th' Eternall Dove and tenderly Over the Floods blinde Tumult hovering Did secret Seeds of vitall Warmth supply By the sweet Virtue of his Soveraign Wing Much like the loving Hen whose brooding Care Doth hatch her Eggs and them for life prepare 108. When loe a Voice this was that supream Word Which you and wee and all the World adore Broke from the Fathers Mouth with joint Accord Of th' undivided Three and down did poure It selfe upon the Deep commanding Light To cheer that universall face of Night 109. As when the gloomy Cloud in sunder parts The nimble Lightning through the World doth haste So from this Masse of Darknesse thousand Darts Of orient Beams themselves about did cast With ready splendor answering that Call Which summon'd them to gild this groping Ball. 110. The Shade's affrighted at the Looks of Light Sneak'd to blinde holes their shamed heads to hide God pitti'd them and hastning on their flight Gave them safe Lodging in the Worlds back-side There slept dull Night but Day was brave and bold And in the face of God displaid its Gold 111. The next Command call'd for the Firmament To part the Waters which unruly grew Straight in the midst of them a Bow was bent Of solid Substance and of Chrystall Hue Pure are the Streams which on Heav'ns Back do flow Those gross dull whose Weight sinks them below 112. And they the third Day all collected were Into the spatious Bosom of the Sea The Earth rejoic'd it had leave to appear And looked up with brisk Aridity Lifting her Mountains high with comely Pride Which now contemn'd the Water's proudest 〈◊〉 113. But being naked and not knowing whence To cloth her selfe God her Apparrell made He spake and straight a flowrie Confluence Her plains and Valleys with fragrant Robes array'd And trimm'd the Heads of all her Hills with Trees Earth's native Plumes and stateliest Braveries 114. The next Day on the Heav'n was spent which yet Was like a Virgin-Scroll spread fair and wide But with no Characters of Beauty writ Till God's great Word engrav'd its radiant Pride But then the royall Sun came smiling forth Inamouring the whole World at his Birth 115. Light which till now had flitted here and there On the weak back of an ignoble Cloud No sooner saw his gallant Face appear But in his bosome she desir'd to shrowd He courteous was and to her wished Throne Receiv'd her glorious Ambition 116. But being bounteous too as He espi'd The bashfull Spangles peeping every where He freely dealt his Lustre far and wide The Moon reach'd forth her Horns and caught her share So did the Starrs and now all Heav'n grew fine When He alone or when all they did shine 117. The Houres before his foot came louting low Begging a Room in his bright Family And so did cheerly Day devoted now With him to wake and sleep to live and dy But shame-fac'd conscious Night durst not draw neer And so she fell to spotted Luna's share 118.
sweet Sir will have it so content Said she and meekly blushing in she went 39. Up flew Devotion and Chastitie The gallant Steeds which did the Chariot draw Her native Albion soon began to be Lost in a Sea of Air and now she saw The wealthy Fields of Gallia which as fast Behinde her fled as she did forward post 40. Then climbing higher in her yeilding Way Eternall Banks of obstinate Frost and Snow Which Winter on the Alps high back did lay Spight of the nearer Sun she leaves below And through the tumult of the justling Clouds Down into the Italian Heav'n she crouds 41. From thence she launch'd into that Region Which by the Adriatick Storms doth frown And sped her course above that Ocean About whose sides the Mid-land shores are thrown So well did Phylax steer that to a Port So far off ne'r was made a Cut so short 42. For having reach'd blest Palestine she flew Over the groveling Towns of Galile Untill the Steeds as if the place they knew At Nazareth brake off their Course where she Viewing the simple Village wondered why Her Convoy thither took such pains to flie 43. But Phylax having led her by the Hand To the unlikliest House Behold said hee This pretious Monument which still doth stand To chide their Arrogance who needs will be Immur'd in Cedar and roof'd o'r with Gold O who would think poor Dust should be so bold 44. This silly Mansion though it scarce would win Ev'n Poverty it selfe in it to dwell Was once the House Home where the bright Queen Of Glories kept her Court in this mean Cell Dwelt She in whose illustrious Family All Heav'n desir'd a Sojourner to be 45. She the transcendent Crown of Females She Great Jacobs Ladder Aarons budding Rod The Chrystall Princess of Virginity Davids fair Tower the Mother of her God Mary her selfe O may that lovely Name Be Blessings Nest and the dear Theam of Fame 46. There her plain Cates she eat or rather kept Her healthfull Rules of sober Abstinence There did she plie her Prayers and there she slept When midnight Zeal had tir'd her mortall Sense No Corner was in all this House but she Did dedicate it unto Piety 47. How many Temples in this narrow Room Erected were by her Devotion Who taught all Virtues here to take their Home But if Sin knock'd She bid it straight be gone For at her Door Humility she set A Potter which would no such Guests admit 48. Here on her pious knees she wept one day In wondring Meditation of that She Whom God would chuse to make the noble Way Unto his own fore-told Humanity O how she blest that Soule who ever was To be advanced to that matchlesse Grace 49. Not for a thousand Worlds would she have thought Her Selfe the long-designed She but rather Would with a thousand thousand more have bought An Hand-mayds place to wait upon that Mother To kisse her blessed feet or bear her Train In whom all Excellence rejoyc'd to reign 50. But whil'st her meek admiring Fancie flies Through this high Contemplation which drew Applauding joyous Christall from her Eyes A bright and gallant Stranger hither flew One who from Heav'n her sweet reflection brings Looking almost like Her but for his Wings 51. Youth bloomed in his Face the blessed Throne Where purest Beauties in fair Triumph sate Their brisk and sparkling Combination All ravishing Joyes into his Eyes had put His Looks commanded Love but did withall By potent Purity all Lust fore-stall 52. His Head was crown'd with its own golden Hair Which down his back its dainty Wealth did shed The Alabaster of his Neck was bare Sweetly betraying what below was hid In the green ambush of his Robe of Silk The Curtain drawn upon his Fleshie Milk 53. That Robe was guarded with the orient Lace Which on Aurora's Virgin Coat you see Neglect seem'd to have put it on yet Grace And Comelinesse would not prevented be But did in every carelesse fold and pleit To catch Spectators Wonder lie in wait 54. A silver Girdle did his Loins imbrace With the prest fashion of Travellers Like Loves sweet Bow his left Arm bended was Upon his Side whil'st high his Right Hand bears A Lillie which from thence received more Sweetnesse and Whitenesse than it had before 55. The Candor of his Wings was no such kinde Of glaring thing as in the Alpine Snow Or on the purest Cygnets neck we finde Or on the soft face of new Milk doth flow But a celestiall Tincture pure and bright Made not by scorching but by whitening Light 56. He was an heav'nly Citizen and one Whose place is in an higher form than mine In neer attendance on his Makers Throne He with his Archangelick beams doth shine Whence he when Heav'n has greatest businesse here Dispatched is the choise Ambassadour 57. But though his Eyes their education had Amongst those Claritudes which gild the skies They never yet at Home did seem to read So much of Heav'n at large as here he spies Epitomized in the lovely Glass Of Maryes modestly-illustrious face 58. And Hail said He Thou dearest Favorite Of our great King in whose selected Breast His Majesty with singular delight Doth take his private and mysterious rest Hail thou the Crown of Females on whose Head Their best exuberance all Blessings shed 59. The humble Virgin started at the sight But much more at the Salutation The complementall Youth did her affright Who us'd such charming Companie to shun Untill his Wings admonish'd her that he One of her wonted heav'nly Guests might be 60. But yet her lowly Soul could not digest The tumor of that strange Hyperbole Which still she boulted in her thought-full Breast Being suspitious least some Flattery Had borrow'd an Angelike shape by which A Woman it more easily might bewitch 61. O strange but nobly-pretious Jealonsie Which onely dost in holy Bosoms rest Thou art the Bar which dost accesse deny To whatsoever might an Heart molest Pride Usher to all Sins comes not neer thee So low thou liest so high strutteth hee 62. When Gabriel observ'd her doubtfull Look Where Blushes and where Palenesse mutually Their fearfull and their modest Stations took Mary said He thy meek Anxiety May spare its pains No Danger dares draw neer Her whom the Prince of Power doth hold so dear 63. He who is Lord of Love hath seal'd on thee His amorous Heart the choisest of his Graces The flowre of all his Sweets th' Immensitie Of his best Favours and his Joyes he places On thee alone whom he exalts as high As thou art sunk in thy Humility 64. Witnesse this Message I have now to tell How much too glorious for Me to bring The onely Message which could parallel The boundlesse Love of Heav'ns inamored King A Message which the World hath long expected But fit to thee alone to be directed 65. Behold thy blessed Womb shall Fertile be With a more blessed Son whom at the due And wonted Season
Us Wise but wee No more will that ambitious Title own Which now wee understand most due to Thee And at thy Foot-stoole here we throw it down Esteeming this our greater Wisdome that We by thy Grace this Lowlinesse have got 250. Thou art that King the Hopes of whose bright Birth Have many fainting Generations cheer'd Thou art that Jacobs Star whose Breaking forth The shades of Prophesies and Types hath cleer'd Displaying to this groveling World which lay Till now in Darknesse a Meridian Day 251. Thou art that Wisdome which contriy'dst at first The Fabrick of this universall Ball By thy Direction it from Nothing burst And in thy Counsells boundlesse Circle all Motions of Heav'n and Earth performed be Both Change and Chance are Certainties to Thee 252. Here each one having his Oblation In his own Crown which in his Hand he bore The first with triple Adoration'gan Io tender up his Gift And Of this store Which thou dear Lord said He to Me did'st give Vouchsafe this Tithe and Earnest to receive 253. It is the purest Gold my Care could get But yet beggs to be gilded by thine Eye Unlesse some Richnesse Thou wilt glance on it Alas it has not worth enough to buy The credit which belongs unto its Name O gently shine and deck it with thy Flame 254. Then came the Second with like reverence and His Offring in his royall Censer brought Accept sweet Babe from this my Worthlesse Hand Said He this Incense which hath now found our The next way to its God and need not rise In labouring Clouds to reach the lofty Skies 255. It is the noblest I could pick and cull From the best spicey Beds of Arabie Which in their first-fruits hither come to tell That all that 's left at home is due to Thee And craves thy leave to kisse thy gratious Feet That from that Touch her Odours may grow sweet 256. These two fair Copies were transcribed by The third whose Present was delicious Myrih And this to wait on thy Humanity O Thou Incarnate God doe I preferre Said He that Nature which till now was poor Ashes and Dust in thee We must adore 257. The Babe look'd up and with a gentle Eye Approv'd and prais'd their pious Sacrifice When loe the Mother with sweet Courtesie Held forth his Hand unto the Kings to kisse O no said they Our foule lipps are too mean May they but kisse his Clout's Hem and be clean 258. They kiss'd it and arose But on the floor Ambitiously they left their Crowns that they Might gain the Honour to be Foot-stools for The royall Infant whose illustrious Way May well be pav'd with Diadems since He Raigns King of Kings and Lord of Majesty 259. And now as much of Night as durst draw neer This Court of noblest Light was thither come This made the Pilgrims a meek suit prefer Begging before the door their Lodging Room Forbid it loyall Reverence they cri'd That the same Roofe Us and our Lord should hide 260. Thus having pitch'd their Tents without and said Their Prayers to their God they left within Themselves upon their beds to Rest they layd Which did no sooner on their Brows begin To steal but straight a Dream came close behinde Which op'd a Vision to their waking Minde 261. God in a mystick Voice which well they knew By its dear Rellish in their Hearts came down Timely discovering to their wondering View What desperate Dangers in their Way were strown If they returned by Jerusalem Set thick with bloody Herods Traps for them 262. This Warning they when Morning had let in The Flaming Gyant to his dayly Race With hasty Joy obey'd Yet having ' gun Their Journey with as vehement a pace Their Hearts recoyl'd so did their Eyes and in The glorious Stable would again have been 263. Thus struggling homeward by a private Way Unreach'd by Harm they to Arabia came Where through th' astonish'd Countrey they display The noble Infants most miraculous Fame Returning richer Gold and purer store Of Sweets than they from thence to Bethlehem bore 264. The pretious Name of JESUS would alone Discharge that Debt and purchase all the rest The Gold Myrrh Incense which that Region In all its richest Hills and Vales possest That Name would make each Part of Arabie Derive its surname from Felicity 265. These Wonders have enobled this rude Place And made it Psyche worth thy journey hither But Time 's at hand which will erect Disgrace On this Foundation of Glory whether One King shall send as studied Scorn as Three Did bring exact and costly Piety 266. This Temple of Virginity will He Deform into black Lusts unworthy Stie Where in that reverend Mangers place must be Rear'd the curs'd Altar of Impurity And Venu's and Adoni's Titles swell JESU'S and Marye's mention to expell 267. O then said Psyche for the Angel heer Closed his lipps may I that time prevent And consecrate this Night unto this dear Birth-place of Purity What though I want Gold Incense Myrrh I have an Heart which fain Upon this Mangers Altar would be slain 268. It would be slain that it a Life might finde Which will not give its noble Name the Lie For whil'st I linger groveling in this blinde Valley of Sin by Living it doth Die A Mortall Life is but an handsome Fiction Nothing well dress'd a flattering Contradiction 269. Here kneeling down with liberall Tears she dew'd The holy Relique having blown away The Dust with Sighs and as the place she view'd With sharp-ey'd Faith Him she discern'd who lay Once in that Cradle And wish'd she were worth Ten thousand Hearts that she might poure all forth 270. O what Contentions of Loves and Joyes And pious Languishments throng'd in her breast How many violent sorts of amorous ways Did her strong Soul trie to be dispossest Of this dull clogging Body that it might Indeed lodge with her Spouse himselfe that Night 271. But tir'd by this mysterious Agonie Her Spirits yeilded to the Powers of sleep Oft had they quickned up themselves and by Stout Zeal chas'd back the Shaddows that did creep About her Eyes which yet at length were-closed Whil'st on the Manger She her Head reposed 272. Her Eyes were clos'd but wide ope was her Heart And by clear Recollection did run through The noble Story reading every Part And Circumstance she knew not where nor how Whil'st Phylax for her Canopie did spread His tender guardian Wing upon her Head PSYCHE OR LOVES MYSTERIE CANTO VIII The Pilgrimage ARGUMENT LOves Presentation solemnized He Through the sad Desert into Egypt flies Where by the dint of true Divinity He dasheth down the forged Dieties And thence when 〈◊〉 had the Infants slain And Justice Him returneth home again 1. O gentle Nature how discrect art Thou In marshalling those sober Courtesies Which to thy labouring World thou dost allow Thou lett'st Us feel the Want to learn the price Thou checkerest every Thing with such wise Art That Ease proves constant
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
Joseph held And long before the drowsie Town awoke Led him far out into the quiet Field Darknesse and Silence clinged round about Barning Discovery and Suspition out 54. Thus did the Heir of Heav'n betimes begin To 〈◊〉 out Patience to his World below To sanctifie all Persecution And make it by his owning glorious grow Who but new born designed is to die And long e'r He can goe is fain to flie 55. Aurora now the Porter of the Day Gat up and op'd the door unto the Sun Who peeping out with an abashed Ray Beheld how far these Travellers had gone E'r He awoke and doubted whether He Should in that Dayes Horizon needed be 56. For He observ'd the Babe abroad whose sight Cost Him a deeper Blush than that which dies His morning Cheeks Yet He cheer'd up his light And venturing on resolv'd to trie his Eyes Upon that Infant-face of full-grown Blisse As Eaglets use to doe their own at His. 57. Now Love and Piety forbid that thou My Psyche should'st disdain to trace their way Since I so faire a Convoy thee allow Which neither Dangers feareth nor Delay Thy God was glad to travell on an Asse But in this Chariot gives thee leave to passe 58. That leave too noble is cry'd she for Me A meaner thing than what He rode upon Might I on foot or rather on my Knee Crawle in his royall Path no Princes Throne Should tempt Me from my greater Honor 'T is Enough said Phylax now no more of this 59. And here He took her up and shook the Reins That Item strait the greedy Coursers caught And scouring through the soft aereall Plains Unto their View the Fields of Nazaret brought Psyche soon knew the Place again and cri'd How much doe these thy Steeds my Thoughts out-ride 60. Pitty thy Lord then said the Guardian who Though drove by Fear was forc'd to use a pace Below the Name of Speed Joseph did goe Before on foot and lead the laden Asse He led Him and although He made no stay Alas his very Going was Delay 61. Besides a thousand Cares more heavy lay Upon his Heart then on his back the Load Of all his Tools What Thoughts about the Way What studies how to scape the full-ey'd Road What Tendernesse to keep the Mother warm What dainty Fears that God should take no Harm 62. See'st thou this private Path which ever since With Lilies and with Violets hath smil'd Which it received from the influence Both of the passant Mother and the Childe The Country wonder'd at the beautious List But from what cause it sprung they little wist 63. As to the Sea the silver River through A thousand by-pathes steals its secret Way So into Egypt this sweet Tract doth flow Declining all things that its course might stay Doubt not the Windings but securely ride For now the Way it self 's thy fragrant Guide 64. Look how the Galilean Villages Their distance keep and give the Path free leave To stretch it feit through all these Privacies Look how the friendly Trees doe interweave Their Arms and offer their Protection to Whoever here in Secresie would goe 65. There did the carefull Mother light to give Her Sonne his Dinner from her blessed Breast Whom with fit Entertainment to receive Kinde Earth that sweetly-swelling Cushion drest Wher e'r you see th' officious Flowers meet In such a Junto know it was her Seat 66. But yonder Stable which thou seest shut Quite out of Town and standing all alone Did in its hospitable Litter let The Pilgrims take their first nights station They with such Lodging long acquaintance had And thou knowest what thy Lord his Cradle made 67. Such Inns as this did carefull Joseph chuse And scap'd Observance all the way He went Neither the Calileans nor the Jews Discovering his provident intent With painfull Patience He his way did finde And at the length Judea left behind 68. He left Judea but first left by it Since now to finde his Charge the bloody Prince Deeply consulted Thus thy Spouse thought fit To teach his future Exiles that the sense Of their sad Sufferings sate full neer his Heart Who in this Banishment bore so deep a Part. 69. The freedome of the Reins here Phylax threw Upon his Coursers Backs who cheered by That liberty with sprightfull fervor flew And scorn'd the Towns which farre below did lie Flinging their gallant foam and snuffing up The Air which seemd to them their Course to stop 70. The Clouds took notice of their resolute hast And stepp'd aside to make their Passage cleare Through which their smoking wheels did whirle as fast As Phebu's down the hill of his glib sphear Which instantly so tir'd the Northern Winde That puffing he and lagging came behinde 71. Thus having lost Judea in a Mist Of farre-removed Aire they rush'd into The famous Deserts unperceived list Where their impatient Fire did spur them so That Phylax check'd them thrice e'r they would hear His Hand and stop their vehement career 72. And then Consider Psyche well said he This squalid Sceen of churlish Desolation This proper Region of Perplexity This Soil all planted thick with Desperation This storehouse of a thousand Famins this Fountain of Droughts this Realm of Wretchednesse 73. This Country which doth by its Neighbour-hood To Canaan that wide-spread Chanell where Hony and Milk conspir'd into a flood Of costlesse but incomparable Cheer Advance the value of that blessed Soil And its own vilenes aggravate the while 74. Thus sticks black Night as foile unto the Day And by its Blacknes lends it fairer Beams Thus Sorrows stings inhance the sweets of Joy Thus Floods of Gall commend the Honey streams Thus Darknes cleaved fast upon the backs Of Looking-Glasses them illustrious makes 75. Well knew wise Heav'n Men would not understand Its royall Favour in'affording them The gentle Riches of a fertile Land Were they not tutored by some such Clime Of Woes and Horrors and forc'd to confesse A Gardens Blessing by a Wildernesse 76. Behold these needlesse Banks of Sand which have No Seas to bound but this vast Ocean Of Barrennesse where when the Windes conceive High-swolln Displeasure and to Battell run Bandying their mutuall Blasts a thousand waies At once a drie and parching storm they raise 77. For the wilde Soile impatient to be plow'd At Eolu's pleasure flies full in his face And climbing up into a Tawny Cloud With smoking Rage torments its new-gained Place Whilst blinded Passengers amazed stand And all the Aire is nothing else but Sand. 78. This frighted gentler Nature farre from hence Who in her bosome all 〈◊〉 Blessings bore Her teeming Springs delicious Influence Her Summers Beauties and her Autumns store And all the best of Winter too for here This sandy Mischeif schorcheth all the year 79. The Trees You see are all dispers'd and fled For fear of being onely Fuell here And that before the Axe had summoned Them to the Hearth The cheerly Birds which were Th' Inhabitants
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
Eastsillustrious shore The Western Columns and th' Atlantick Sea Of Ice and snow a never thawing store Both in the North and South Extremitie The Dogstars Empire The vast Libian strand Where endlesse Summer boileth in the Sand. 211. There gallant Indus washed up his Gemms There wealthy Tagus pav'd his shores with Gold There Thamisis pour'd out her silver streams There Ganges Ister and Pactolus roul'd Hydaspes Tanais Rhone Rhene Niger Po Euphrates Tigris Nile and Thousand moe 212. There Palestine in Milk and Hony swumm There shaddow'd with her odoriferous Cloud Arabia was there China found her room There Scythia in her Furrs her self did shrowd The Sea did there thine Albion divide And set it like a better World aside 213. There dwelt all Countries which this Age doth know And more than yet must to its knowledg come When Avarice to its full Age shall grow And think its thirsty Purse hath more than room For this scant World another shall be 〈◊〉 Which yet the West in ignorance hath drown'd 214. But in this ample Pageant was display'd That other World which Times to come shall see By venturous Columbu's Art betray'd To Christian Covetousnes and Crueltie O why should Christians be such muck-worm fools And Western Gold more deare than Western Souls 215. No sooner had this Globe turn'd round about And every Kingdoms proudest Glory shown But from his Rome Tiberius stepped out And pulling off his own imperiall Crown With fear and reverence his Approaches made To Satans foot-stoole where his face he layd 216. And having prefac'd by that lowly Kisse Behold great Sir my Diademe said He Bows to thy royall Foot-stoole and by this The highest of Assurances to Thee I who am in thy Romane World thy great Viceroy my homage tender at thy Feet 217. Thou art that Prince by whose high power alone Th' Assyrian Lyon made the World his Prey By 〈◊〉 the Persian Bear 's Dominion Through all the Forrests of the Earth made way By thee the Graecian Leopard snatch'd all this And stoutly wish'd another World were His. 218. By Thee the Iron-jaw'd ten-horned Beast The Martiall Romane Power so dreadfull grew That cleerly it devoured all the rest And with the Sun victoriously flew About the World which now sits safe and sings Under the Shaddow of our Eagles Wings 219. By Thee great Julius did our Empire found By Thee Augustus second was to Him By Thee this third this head of mine was crown'd With this the shaddow of thy Diademe O may thy Vassall with thy Favour and Thy Blessing wear this Gift of thine own Hand 220. So with a thousand Holocausts will I Make fast thine holy Altar Morn and Night So my imperiall Yoak and Reins shall lie Upon my Subjects Shoulders soft and light Whil'st by thy Benedictions influence I reign of Justice and of Mildnesse Prince 221. Tiberius here some gentle Nod expected As a Commission to resume his Crown But straight the wretched Flatterer detected In surly Satans face a cloudy Frown Nor was it long before that Cloud did break Into a Storm when thus to Him He spake 222. Thou hast condemn'd thy Selfe Tiberius by Acknowledging that I thy Soveraign am For how shall I intrust a World in thy Luxuriant lazy Hand who hither came Upon no businesse but my Visitation Which bids the Earth now look for Reformation 223. My Name my Honor and my tender Care Of my deer World all summon Me to finde Some Hero's worthy Temples which may wear That Crown according to my princely Minde Nor fawn nor whine nor weep Tiberius I Provided am of one who here stands by 224. Then turning to thy Spouse with gratious Eye I must my courteous Fortune thank said He Who in my Progresse did so luckily To my not poor acquaintance offer Thee I little thought till I this view did take That I a new Lieutenant had to make 225. By him I see how Princes love to slide Down the glib way of wretched Luxury And what should silly People doe whose Guide Leads them the way to Ruine Have not I Just cause to choose some sober Man whose Care May stop that desperate vicious 〈◊〉 226. Now whether Thou bee'st Son to God or no Surely Thou spring'st from some Heroick Race I see the noblest Sparks of Virtue so Full writ in thy though pin'd yet princely Face Although thy modesty conceals thy Birth And Parentage it cannot cloud thy Worth 227. And yet ev'n that is pretious too for well I know that stomackfull Ambition threw From Heav'ns high Crest down to profoundest Hell Disdainfull Lucifer and his swelling Crew Yet that which doth my wonder Most advance Is the strange Mircle of thy Temperance 228. That Virtue never yet alone did dwell But is the fertile spring of all the rest How easily a Temperate Prince may quell And crush all breeding Vices in their Nest. Whil'st all his Life is a perpetuall Law Which sweetly drives when Statutes cannot draw 229. And such a Prince and none but such can cure The wide Contagion which rank Vice hath spred On this poor Age Nor can my Love endure Longer delay since I am furnished With Thee that onely He whose merits call To make thee Deputy of All this All. 230. Nay more than so Thou see'st how Age doth grow Upon my weary back and I confesse That I am satisfied and tired now With Glories Sweets and Honors Weight no lesse Than with my Years and could contented be To end my dayes in quiet Privacy 231. Nor must it be in vain that I have found An Hero on whose shoulders safely I May lay the Burden of my Cares and ground Just hopes of all my Worlds Felicity Wherefore this free and plenall Act I make Before Heav'ns face which I to Witnesse take 232. First I bequeath to Thee Tiberiu's Crown To which Imperiall Romes vaft Power is ti'd And next I to thine Head resigne mine own Fair Diademe For thou henceforth shalt ride Upon my royall Charet and alone Govern this World as I till now have done 233. These Glories which about this Globe doe roll Are but the beams of that which shall be thine The Kingdoms which are spred from Pole to Pole Shall in thy universall Realm combine And in requitall of thy noble Fast The World shall joyn its Store to dresse thy Feast 234. My Servants here shall swear so shall my Peers And I my selfe will tender Them the Oath Allegiance unto Thee and to thy Heirs Yea to compleat my grand Donation both My Shrines and Temples I to Thee resign Where no Name shall adored be but thine 235. Nor will I any constant homage tie To this my Grant for all that I shall ask Is but one Token of thy Thanks which I Will take for ample Pay Nor is the Task I 'le set Thee hard or long Doe but Fall down And worship Me and all the World 's thine own 236. So spake the King of Craft But as the Sea Which rolls above the Sphears when
daring Men Affronted God with to wring Villanie Forgot its ever-polish'd Smiles and in Tempestuous Violence breaking through the shore Of heav'n a flood of Death on Earth did poure 237. So now thy noble Spouse who never yet Had suffer'd frowns to gather on his Brow An angry Look against the Tempter set And with disdainfull Answer made him know That all his Pageantry did not conceal Nor Him nor what he sought to hide his Hell 238. Proud Satan 't is enough that I said He Thus long have seen and born thine Insolence Loe I defie thy Promises and Thee Vainer than them I charge thee get thee hence Behinde my back and there thy shamelesse Pride If any thing may hide it learn to hide 239. Does not the sacred Scripture plainly say Thine Adoration Thou to God shalt give And unto Him alone thy Service pay All Heav'n forbid that We should Him bereave Of his due Homage and embezill it Upon the Prince of the infernall Pit 240. As when on Sodoms Impudence of old Heav'n pour'd its Fire to purge those lustfull flames The wretched Town repented not yet howl'd And mix'd its tears amongst the Brimstone streams But all in vain for straight the Houses burn'd And with their Dwellers into Ashes turn'd 241. So now at Jesu's Answer which did flie Like Lightning from his Lips the Globe did melt And nothing of that Universall Lie Remain'd but Ashes which so strongly smelt That other Stincks compar'd with this might seem Perfumes and Arabies breath in Sodoms steam 242. Confounded Satan backward from his Throne Fell down the Mount and tumbled into Hell Whil'st the loud Trumpet of his bellowing Groan His dreadfull Comming to the Deeps did tell But as he fell his Horns and Taile and Claws Brake out so did the Sulphure from his Jaws 243. His yelling Peers and lamentable Crew Of Pages tumbled headlong after Him Presenting to thy Lords victorious View A Copie of that Sight when from the brim Of highest Heav'n them and their King He beat Down to the bottome of their damned Seat 244. And now the Sceen is chang'd and Satan to The Lord his God his Adoration paid Which to himselfe he woo'd that God to doe So Jesu may all Treasons be betray'd So may all Rebells finde their cursed feet Snarled for evermore in their own Net 245. Whil'st these three Conflicts pass'd Heav'n set its Eye On its divinest Champion but forbore All Helpe or Comfort till the Victory Was cleerly gain'd When loe triumphant Store Of Angells hovering down with high-straind Lays Back to the sphears return'd the Victors praise 246. O Psyche hadst thou heard that royall Song Thou would'st have learn'd how We above imploy Our blessed Time wher on each high-tun'd Tongue Sit endlesse Raptures of excessive Joy Whil'st every hearty Angell as he sings Clapps his Applause with his exultant 〈◊〉 247. Their Gratulation ended on their Knees A sumptuous Banquet They to Him present Wherein was choise of all Varieties With which Heav'ns King could his dear Son content And He in whom all princely grace doth reign Was pleas'd their ministry not to disdain 248. But when He thus had broke his mighty Fast The Fury which so long lay in his breast Impatient gnawing Famine out hee cast Returning her unto her odious Nest And bid an Angell tie her in that Chain When hee had drove her to her Den again 249. There must she dwell and never be let loose But when his royall Pleasure thinks it fit To poure his Wrath on his relentlesse Foes Whom lusty Fatnesse makes too bold and great To be his Subjects in whose Laws they hear Of Abssinence a yoak they will not bear 250. And now by that Eternall Spirit who Brought Him into the lists of this great Fight He to the Coasts of Galilee doth goe Whither He could have flown by his own Might But Heav'n was studious to attend Him and In his great Businesse joy'd to have an hand 251. Another World of Wonders will appear When thither I shall carry Thee but now Thou shalt repose thee here a while and cheer Thy Spirits to run that ravishing Race I know That thou so dear are thy Lords wayes to Thee Would'st longer Fast but now it must not be 252. This said He spred his wing as he before Had often done and on that Table set Out of his own unseen but copious store Chaste and delicious Cates for her to eate She blest her gratious Lord who fasted so Long time before he eate and then fell to 253. But whil'st on those externall Meats she fed Her soule sate at a secret feast for she Her Hearts fair Table fully furnished With the rich Dainties of this Historie Knowing her Lord and this advanc'd the Cheer Did Fast and fight not for himselfe but Her 254. And now because the Sun made haste to rest And smok'd already in the Western Deep Phylax his chariot curtains drew and prest The Virgins Eyes to doe as much by Sleep One Wing beneath and one above her head He layd and turn'd her Bord into her Bed PSYCHE OR LOVES MYSTERIE CANTO X. The Marveils ARGUMENT LOve to convince the World in whom alone It ought to treasure all its Confidence Affords a fair and full Probation What undeniable Omnipotence Dwelt in his Hand which alway sheltered Those who unto its Sanctuary fled 1. IT is not Beauty which its Blush doth owe Unto the Pixe and Pencill 'T is no King Who on the Stage doth make a rusling show And thunder big imperious Words which ring With awfull Noise about the Sceen when He By the next Exit must some Begger be 2. All is not Gold that in a glistering Ray Fairly conceals its foule hypocrisie The gareish Meteors though they display Good store of shining Proofs will never be Own d by the Stars for Bretneren nor can The Ape with all his Tricks be genuine Man 3. The heady Rebell though all Texts he skrews To force Truth to confession of a Lie Though at the Barr of Natures Laws he sues To justifie unnaturall Liberty Though Conscience and Religion the thigs He overthrows he for his ground-work brings 4. Though from Successe a firmer Argument For the Odrysian Christian-hating Race He pleads the Sanctity of his Intent And blasphemously makes Heav'n own his Cause In vain strives to transforme his hell-bred Sin Which still makes Him to Lucifer a kin 5. The staring Wizzard never yet could by His mumbling Charms his Herbs his Lines his Wand His hideous Sacrifices form a Lie Able against the face of Truthe to stand Nor can his Master Satan though all Hell He rends or blends effect a Miracle 6. Oft has he ventured and strove to tread In those Almighty Steps of Heav'n but still The Paces were so wide that all He did Was but the proving of his feeble Will His Wonders never reach'd above Deceits With which imprudent Eyes and Hearts he cheats 7. No God alone is King of Nature and She hir own Soveraign
full well doth know No sooner doth her Ear drink his Command But 〈◊〉 her knees and heart and powers bowe For all things must be Naturall says she Which my Creators Voice injoyneth Me. 8. That Voice the Fountain was whence first she rose And ever since hath been the Rule whereby She 〈◊〉 her Course which way so e'r she goes That Voice which did awake Vacuity Into a full and mighty World at ease May change its Parts into what form it please 9. Yet seldome it unsheaths its Power but when Some high and singular Designe 's in hand Some Mystery of mighty Love and then Should the fast Centre in its Passage stand It must and will give way and to the Top Of Heav'n it selfe if need require climb up 10. For what 's the Centre 's close-shrunk Knot or what All heav'n and earth which round about it cling If in a righteous balance They be put With Love that little Word but mighty Thing Themselves they onely to Love's pleasure owe And cannot to His will refuse to bowe 11. Full low They bow'd to it when from the Yoak Of cruell Pharaoh Israels seed it drew Ten mighty Blowes it gave and every Stroke Some part of Nature in proud Egypt slew At length it roll'd the Sea upon an heap And op'd the Rebells Graves amidst the Deep 12. How fertile did it make the Wildernesse In Miracles in what illustrious Flames Renouned Sina's Temples did it dresse How did it teach the Rock to melt in Streams Bidding the Desert flow as it before Had charg'd the Sea to start from either shore 13. This set the Heav'ns to rain down Angels Bread Who every Morning did betimes fulfill Their wonderous Task and all the Desert spred With a thick candied Banquet which lay till The liquorish Sun delighted with the Taste On that Ambrosia daily broke his fast 14. This made the Winde turn Caterer and blow The People flesh This did the Cloud command By day to usher and before them goe With a coole shade This built that walking and Bright-flaming Pillar whose convoying Light Commission had to banish Night from Night 15. Jordan forbid by This presum'd not to Touch the Priests feet though through his 〈◊〉 they past This arm'd meer Sound against proud Jericho And storm'd the Citty by poor Trumpets Blast Whil'st the hugeBullwarks which all Ramms did scorn Fell prostrate down yeilded to the Horn. 16. This put more Might into a feebler Sound When unto Joshua's Mortall Voice 't was given To domineer amidst the Starry Round And 'gainst Dayes Gyant barracadoe Heaven This made the Clouds their gentle Drops forget And Storms of Stones on Israels Enemies spit 17. Yet all these Wonders but Preludiums were And glimmering Dawns of that illustrious Day Which in Times plenitude was to appear And the ripe Age of Miracles display For then the Word it selfe came down below From the worse Egypt's Yoak his World to draw 18. Decorum did require this Time should be The Crown of Times Those Forgeries with which The height of all Poetick Industry Did coine the Golden Age and it inrich With Fancies Gallantry could never rise To match this more than Golden Ages price 19. Phylax who knew all this resolv'd to shew Psyche a glimpse of it with whom when she Awoke he in his willing Chariot flew High through the yeelding Clouds and instantly Reach'd Palestines designed Zenith where He curb'd his Steeds on the commanded Aire 20. Psyche admir'd to see the Chariot stand Upon so thin a floor But then said he This Region is not onely in the hand Of Satans power No our Authoritie Is cleerer far than his though he would here Usurper as he is a Kings Name wear 21. Alas time was as hee remembers well When tumbled headlong from our lofty Home He could not stay himselfe but helplesse fell Through all this Aire to his infernall Doom Indeed he often crawleth up this way Yet 't is but like a Theife to steal his prey 22. But from this Prospect Thou shalt safely see The Sceens on which thy Lord his Wonders did Not all their number is too vast for thee Within the volume of one Day to read And yet as many as shall amply prove That all his businesse in this World was Love 23. That tract is Galilee you ' little Town The place where first his Might abroach He set Where hee was pleas'd a Marriage Feast to crown With his great Presence and Approofe of it Although his Mother were a Virgin He Would not to Wedlock seem an Enemie 24. No He himselfe at first ordained it As a delicious and sacred Tie By which indissolubly He might knit Two Bosomes in one Loves Conspiracy This is that reverend Knot by which alone Two are no longer Two but Both are One. 25. A Knot which He himselfe doth imitate Though in a puter and more mystick way Whil'st with his Spouse he doth concentricate Blending his heart with hers that so Both may Cleave in such unity as makes the Creature Strangely Partaker of its Makers Nature 26. A blessed Knot which ties Affection close Betwixt the Branches and the Root and bindes Up Families in peace which hanging loose By doubtfull Lines as oft as waspish Mindes By Discontents proud itch were spurred on Would split and be infallibly undone 27. Satan was well aware of this For hee Bewitch'd grave Plato's high-esteemed Pen To vent the Doctrine of Community As most conducing to the Weal of Men But when the moderate Pagans Project proved In vain a desperate Christians Tongue he moved 28. For He in Antioch found a Monster who Dar'd spit plain Poyson on this Mystery Avouching that all Nuptials did flow From cursed Hells Invention Hell said He Was the black Shop where Belzebubs own Hands Did forge and fashion Matrimoniall Bands 29. Unhappy Saturninus how hast thou Prov'd thine own selfe an Urcheon of Damnation What gain'st Thou else by fetching from below Thy Beings Root which was of Heav'ns plantation O most adulterous Soul who by thy vile Crime all the Worlds Beds do'st at once defile 30. Whil'st Jesus now sate sweetly at the Feast And added a new Banquet to that Meat For on his face the Eyes of every Guest As in the richer Dainties all were set A fit Occasion Him beseech'd to joyn To that Drie Banquet of his Face some Wine 31. The Wine was out When loe the Virgin Mother In courteous Pitty of the Bridgromes Want Which she as carefull was as he to smother Unto Her Son the Fount of all Things went And in a blush more lovely than the Bride Could shew that Day the busines signifi'd 32. But then her Son who was not hers alone But also Heav'ns and now resolv'd to shew A token of that high Extraction Began for 't was the first time to allow No Name of Mother to Her What says He O Woman what have I to doe with thee 33. This bus'ness Must not seem to flow from thy Sole Motion Heav'n and I
Serenity To which the Ocean is but poor in Treasures His own dear Breast to Thee hee opened wide And let Thee in unto its fullest Tide 138. There did'st Thou lie and learn thy Soule to glow By the dear Copy of thy Pillows Heat A Pillow in whose soft Protection Thou Put'st all thy Cares and Fears to rest And yet Slep'st not thy Selfe for how could any Eye Indure to close when Jesus was so nigh 139. There did'st Thou lie next to the Heart of Love Whose ravishing Imbraces kept thee warm With all the best of Heav'n no more above But folded up in his incircling Arm Which forc'd all wise Spectators to conclude Thou wert aforehand with Beatitude 140. The loftiest Stories where pure Seraphs dwell Exalted in Felicities bright Sphear Thy dainty Habitation did excell For at his Foot-stoole They lie prostrate there Amidst the Sweets of whose all-balmey Breast Thine onely Head makes its delicious Nest. 141. What potent Joyes what mysticall Delight Woo'd and besieg'd thy Soule on every side Whil'st thy inamoured Spouse spent all the Might Of heav'nly Tendernesse on his dear Bride How many healing Wounds gave his Loves Dart How many living Deaths to thy soft Heart 142. How did hee study to epitomize His Incarnation's amorous Designe And trie the best of Mercie 's Mysteries Upon thy single Soule in which divine Experiment it was thine onely Grace To fill his universall Churches place 143. Thus while he liv'd he sweetly liv'd in Thee And when hee di'd Thou saw'st him nayled fast Unto his Death Yet no Mortality Could seize upon His love for by his last And tenderest Words whil'st hee Himselfe did die To Thee he gave Loves living Legacie 144. Into his dearest Mothers Bosome hee Commended Thee and bid her own her Son What Nature could not Love contriv'd to be And Mary must be Mother unto John Jesus and John Love had so closely ti'd That in their Mother they must not divide 145. Mary no other Glass could findè where she So fair an Image of her Sonne might read Nor John so pure a Mirrour wherein He His ever looking-longing Eyes might feed On his dear Lord Thus Love though dead and gone Sweetly leaves John his Spouse Mary her Sonne 146. No wonder gentlest Saint that on thy Tongue Love built his Hive and dropp'd his Hony thence Whilst thy Soul-charming Words rellish so strong Of Heav'ns best Sweets and choycest influence That Love from his own Wing lent Thee the Quill Which all thy Lines with Charity doth fill 147. No wonder Thou brave Eagle soar'dst so high And div'dst so deep into the Suns bright face Where Thou didst read the Words great Mystery By which thine Eye refin'd not dazeled was No wonder that Thou didst thy Gospeli fashion And Calculate by God's own Elevation 148. No wonder that Port Latin saw the Oile Scalding in vain Thou who didst live by Fire And in whose breast such amorous streams did boile Could'st feel no other Flames O no! some higher Fervor of Love must melt thine own and send It to the flaming Bosome of thy Friend 149. The Languishments of never-faint Desire Must crown thy Life with correspondent Death Though by sharp Pains thy Brethren did expire This dainty Martyrdom must end thy Breath So Heav'n has privileg'd thy Piety Thou who did'st Live by Love of Love must Die 150. Pardon me Psyche I could not forbear This deare Apostrophe John was the Man Whose virgin flaming Worth made Him be neer Of kin to our Angelick Tribe and can We mention him and not salute him too Whom Honors Soveraign Lord has honor'd so 151. And pardon Me that I have dwelt so long On his Apostolick Bretheren the Glory Of whose death-scorning Valour does no wrong Nor interrupts their Masters royall Story He and his heav'nly Might in them appear'd And o'r the vanquish'd Earth his Banner rear'd 152. Mark now that Mount which lifts its lofty Head Neer to Bethsaida whence it takes a view Of all the Countries round about it spread Nor Zebulon nor Nephthali out-flew Its Prospect which through Trachonitis too And Ituraea did sublimely goe 153. Yea though far distant it acquaintance took With other Mountains unto Hermon 〈◊〉 And stately Libanus it reach'd a Look This was that noble Oratory where Thy Lord so oft retired that the Place Thenceforth the Mount of Christ 〈◊〉 was 154. A Mount where liberall Nature did her best Witnesse the flowrie Beauties smiling there But Grace far more 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Than that bright Pomp which and of old prepare For the Lawgivers feet the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Of Sina mix'd with Thunder Smoak and Dread 155. For here no Trumpet spake the Frightfull Minde Of stern Imperiousnesse no rigid Law Back'd with an everlasting Curse injoyn d The World to its hard Yoak their Necks to bow But Love himselfe upon his gentle Throne Gave the soft Lawes of Benediction 156. Eight Springs of Blessednesse abroach hee set And woo'd the weary World to bathe in Them Their Cares and Fears hee taught Them to transmit And bury all Solicitude in Him He pass'd his Word Heav'n should their Purveyor be Who served in the Warrs of Pietie 157. His Evangelicall Oeconomie He instituted here and so improved The highest Pitch of Legall Sanctitie That though incumbering Burdens hee removed Yet more Bonds of Perfection on hee laid And wonderous strict his Mercies Candor made 158. His Reins were Silk but yet hee held them strait And drove amain providing by that Art That in their Passage no enchanting Bait Might his Disciples lure and tempt to start Out of the King of Heav'ns high Way but to His Kingdome safely and directly goe 159. His blessed Rules and none but His are They Which past the Puritie of Gold refine Gross Mortall Hearts and sublimate poor Clay Into a State Angelick and Divine Whilst by his Spirit He scours off sinfull Rust And into Heav'n blows up the purged Dust. 160. But turn and view those Desert Fields which lie Next Neighbours to the Galilean Sea Into that hopefull quiet Privacie Devotion had withdrawn thy Spouse but He Had given the People too much tast of his Sweetness to think He long could scape their Press 161. For as the busie Bees who once have found 〈◊〉 Garden haunt it day by day 〈◊〉 out every flower and humming round About the Tops of their delicious Prey So to that Garden for thy Lord had by His presence made it so did People flie 162. Jesus who bow'd from Heav'n poor Man to meet Could not refraine to entertaine the Throng With gracious ready Welcome He did greet Each Troop and Party as they came along Dealing his Courtesie to great and small Who came to be the Saviour of All. 163. Then as the wise Physitian first takes care That all the Vitall Parts be sound within Before He spend his pains on any Soare Which sinks into the Flesh or on theSkin Doth swimme So did his Tenderness to those His numerous Patients his art dispose 164. Their Hearts
fruitlesse Helps they might forgoe And build their Trust on His Divinity But His Disciples now seeing their Lord Would have it so were gone before abord 191. That Sea whose face Thou see'st all polished With flattering Calmnesse smil'd just so on Them When first they launched out But Fraud lay hid Under the glasse of the alluring Stream Truth needs no smiles 't is onely Treasons face Which painted is with spruce but borrow'd Grace 192. As when an envious Spirit can finde no way To vex the Masters Person He doth make Either his Servants or his Friends his prey And at the second hand his Veng'ance take So Satan now too weak with Christ to fight On His Disciples vow'd to ease his Spight 193. Deeply He pin'd to see the People fed And now resolv'd that He Himselfe would Feast Yet by the Seas vast Mouth he purposed His Dainties to devour and thus at least Part of the Miracle revenge and though Not for the Loaves quit for the Fishes grow 194. He from the Adriatick Main and from The Baltick Ocean and the Irish Sea Summon'd all unexpected Storms to come And here poure out their utmost Treachery He made each Winde pick Quarrell with his Brother And in a mad War tumbled Them together 195. The East was peevish sharp and grim the North The West impetuous black and foule the South Each puff'd and swell'd and in disdain shot forth Their fury full in one anothers Mouth The bruised Clouds in floods their sorrows pour'd And all the weather-beaten Welkin roard 196. The tatter'd Sea against the shores was flung Which churlishly again repuls'd it back The broken Waves with helplesse Mourning rung And foam'd with pain The startled Deeps did quake And thinking to escape that dismall fray From their profoundest Bottoms ran away 197. And now the Sea within it selfe was lost Whil'st the stern Tempest vehemently broke Through her most hidden Bowells which it tost In proud scorn through the Aire with hopes to choak The Moon and Stars which wilde Confusion Made both the Waters and the Windes be one 198. And thus the Windes flow'd and the Waters blew The Thunders Cracks did with the Billows joyn The Lightning flash'd that misery to shew In which all Dread and Death seem'd to combine 'Twixt light and Darknesse hence grew such a fight That now alas 't was neither Day nor Night 199. The woefull Ship flung up to Heav'n in vain Upon the back of an unfaithfull Wave Immediately was hurried down again Into the bottome of its gaping Grave Where yet it could not rest but was spew'd up With indignation to the Tempests Top. 200. The Mast submitted to the Winde and split The Sails forsook the Ship and flew away The Pilot at the Helm in vain did sit Being in need of some kinde Hand to stay And steer himselfe The Sea made bold to come Abord and take a view of every room 201. The Waves laught at the Pumps and crowded in Faster than they could turne them out Each Winde Bandi'd the Bark contending which should winne The credit of its Wrack Thus may you finde In Tennis-courts a Ball bang'd to and fro Untill some Loss at length doe let it goe 202. Themselves to their Devotions All appli'd For Danger wakes the dullest Piety O where is Jesus now his scholars cri'd How is his promise wash'd away since We Whom for Men-fishers He designed had Must unto Fishes now a Prey be made 203. Yet as their Lamentations swell'd the Tide Of lowder Windes and Waves still drown'd their Crie They once for all most gladly would have di'd But still they saw how Deaths did multiply And throw them and their Ship broken together From one Destructions Mouth into another 204. Mean while the Gulfe of Satans boyling Breast Wrought with as great a Tempest of Vexation To see a crazie Vessell thus resist The Winde and Seas most eager Conjuration Puzzeld and griev'd he wonders what should make A Bark so oft broke still refuse to break 205. At last forth from a mighty Clowd there brake Continued Lightning through the dazeled Air By which the Men spi'd on the Tempests back One marching towards Them and now new Fear Stormed their Souls O the Disciples cri'd By all these Deaths why might we not have di'd 206. Loe heer the Spirit comes whose fatall Wrath Rais'd this Tempestuous Preface to our Woe Hither he bendeth his prodigious Path And tramples all the Waves What shall We doe Behold which way so e'r he waves his Hand The Clouds start back and bow to his Command 207. Behold no Wind durst be so bold as to Disturb his Way with any 〈◊〉 Weather But all officiously behind Him goe Shewing that on his Errand they came hither He comes He comes Sweet Sea ô gape not thus In vain but from this Danger swallow Us. 208. Forthwith their Lord who heard this desperate Crie His Comfort interposed Why said he Add you this Tempest to your Miserie Rending your Hearts with Dread Know you not Me I am your loving Lord and Master and What need you fear now I am here at hand 209. As he whose trembling Neck does ready lie Under the Axe if some unlook'd for Voice Tells Him the Judge is pleas'd he shall not die Starteth and slowly understands the Noise Of his Repreive being already dead In his own helplesse Thoughts and buried 210. So these Disciples drowned in their fears Scarse trust their Eyes which did their Saviour see Scarce would they Credit give to their own Ears Which heard Himself 〈◊〉 that it was He Till forward Peter cri'd O bid Me meet If Thouour Master art thy blessed feet 211. If thou deceiv'st Us not each sirlie wave At thy Command unto my steps will bowe And with Securitie my Passage pave If other wise Can I be worse then now The Sea into our Ship does crowd and I Must either heer or there in Water die 212. Christ bids Him come and out he steps When loe As He went trembling on a high-swolln Wave Comes tumbling in his way and frights him so That all his Courage it does straight out-brave His Heart sunk first and then his feet and all But 's Tongue which to his Lord for help did call 213. Had any other Lord but He been there With what indignant Scorn would He have let His faithlesse Subject meet his Censure where He his unworthy Crime chose to commit Onely Omnipotence is pleas'd to spare Those who distrustfull of its Power are 214. Jesus who never could his Help deny To suppliant Sinners reach'd his blessed Hand That Hand in which alone Security Doth dwell that Hand which rules the Ocean and Measures it in its Hollow and pull'd out Peter from the deep Sea and deeper Doubt 215. And then O thou of little Faith said He Why did that weak Suspition presse thee down What made Thee so forgetfull prove of Me Who in their own Waves can all Tempests drown Come thou shalt see that Windes and Seas do know
therefore by these glorious Preachers heer With high Solemnity was witness'd that His Crosses and his Nayls mysterious shame Thenceforth might not amaze or scandall them 298. Then Moses at his feet his Rod threw down In token that He had fulfill'd his Law And came to give a better of his own To which not onely Jacob's seed should bow But all the World whose largest farthest Bound With Jesus and his Gospell was to sound 299. That done a Veil He drew upon his face And cri'd Bright Lord this shade I us'd of old Because my count'nance too illustrious was For the blear eys of Israell to behold But now mine own have need of it to cover Them with the splendor with which thine run over 300. Thine Eyes a spectacle of fairer Bliss Than I of old beheld from Nebo's Head How well was I reserved then for this Days nobler priviledge not suffered To enter and my Wonder feed upon The farr less wonderous Sweets of Chanan 301. But in a generous meek Expostulation Elias argued with his glorious Lord And why said He in most triumphant fashion Did'st thou whirle Me to Heav'n and not afford Me leave to tast one Drop of Deaths cold Cup Since thou thy self resolv'st to drink it up 302. Must JESUS and must not Elias die Must God and not a Worme Forbid it Thou Who of all order art the Deitie And Death unto Mortality allow 〈◊〉 be contented with the last to stay 〈◊〉 till Time dies if then I also may 303. Yet for my self or Heav'n I would not die O no but glorious Lord for Thee alone In thy dear Cause and for thy Name if I The Roabs of Martyrdome may once put on My passage unto Heav'n shall brighter be Than when my flaming Coach transported Me. 304. But heer thy Spouse with a well-pleased Eye Dismiss'd them both Into his Chariot Elias leap'd and back to Heav'n did flie As swift as Arrow by the Tartar shot And Mose's wrapp'd his Veil about his Head And home to Abraham's Bosome hastened 305. When loe a beauteous Cloud roll'd on and spred Its shady Curtains on the Mountains Top In which his own Voice God had treasured And now it brake no other Rain did drop But this sweet Shoure This is my Darling Son Hear Him in whom my Joys doe dwell alone 306. The faint Disciples on their faces fell Amaz'd that Thunder could distinctly speak Mean while their Master did his Beams recall And charg'd his Glories all to hasten back His Godhead needed now no more probation That Glimps being doubled by Heav'ns Attestation 307. Forthwith his Rayes shrunk back into his breast And moderate Beautie repossest his face The orient Lustre which his Clothes had drest Unto their native hue resign'd its place And He returns to his Capacity Of what He long'd for Shame and Misery 308. But turn thee now to Salem ward and see Yon' monument of thy Lords power and Love That hill is Sion and that Pool where He Doth wet his foot is Siloam above Its Bottome lies for in the Mountains breast Its Springs of living Silver make their Nest. 309. Right honest are those Springs and brake not out By wanton Chance but upon Bus'ness flow'd What was th' occasion and how brought about Is not a Story known unto the Crowd But I deare Psyche will unlock to Thee The Bowells of this ancient Mystery 310. When Hezekias heer at Salem sate On Juda's Throne th' Assyrian Power swell'd high And turned sinfull Israell's florid State Into the worst of Woes Captivity For Assur was become an Iron Rod Which Veng'ance put into the Hand of God 311. That first Success so puff'd the Rod with Pride That it forgot the Hand which it did sway And now would needs it self become a Guide Unto it self and choose on what to prey Alas the rash Rods project soon was crost And neer two hundred thousand Twiggs it lost 312. Whilst Rabsheka the foule-mouth'd Generall With Horse and Men and Braggs and Blasphemie Lay against Salem on the suddaine all Provision of Water 'gan to be Short in the Town excepting Tears which now They could be spared least most high did flow 313. This venerable Esay mov'd to trie What He with Mercy and with Heav'n could doe He tun'd his Prayer by the Peoples Crie Which with such Violence to the Sphears did goe That back it bounded unto Sions foot On which He kneel'd and made the Spring leap out 314. The thirstie People all came flocking in Their Mouthes their Bottles and their Potts to fill Th' Assyrians wonderd what they meant but when They spi'd their business about the Well They made a Party out resolv'd to stopp The new-born Spring or else quite drink it up 315. The Citizens themselves to flight betook So did the Fountain too and shrunk its Head Into the Hill and called back its Brook Commanding every Dropp to goe to bed And not to prostitute themselves and be Deflowr'd by Assurs Lipps impurity 316. The Streams obey'd and swifter than the speed Of the impatient Horsmen homeward ran So when the prudent Dame has summoned Her crawling Frie from the incursion Of Violence the nimble Serpents shoot Themselves into their Mothers ready throat 317. The disappointed Souldiers rav'd and swore To see the Fountain mock and scorn them so And cri'd these Jewes have by some Magick Power Broached this weily Spring from Hell to doe Spight to Senacheribs strength and shew that We Cannot so strong as wretched Water be 318. Thus they retired in Disdain and Wrath When straight the thirsty Jewes came back again And loe the Spring found out its former path And courteously met them on the Plain Kissing their feet and smiling in their face For whose sole Service He so watchfull was 319. Thus checkering his Work he never fails To faile his Foes and to befriend his Friends Full often Assur tries but ne'r prevails The wary nimble Fountain alway sends Him empty back And yet could not refuse With liberall Streams to wait upon the Jewes 320. Thus the Sabbatick Fount which all the Week Keeps close at home and lets no Drop spurt out Exactly watches and attends the Break Of the seav'nth Day and then as quick as thought Poures out its Flood and sacrifices all Its Plenty to that holy Festivall 321. A Man there was who from his Mothers Womb Retired Natures dark and secret Shop Into the World but not to light had come Whose Birth did Him and not his Eyes set ope Compar'd with Him cleer-sighted was the Owle So was the evening Batt and earthed Moule 322. For on his brow sate an anneiled Night Which his Birth-Day could not confute In vain His Mother hired the Physitians Might To war against that Shaddow and constrain That imbred sturdy Blacknesse to relent In vain her money and her love she spent 323. Lesse thick the Darknesse was which did revenge The lustfull glances of old Sodoms Eyes When the hot Lovers damped by a strange Invasion of Pitch with
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
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
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
Him from within whilst every Part Rack'd and transfixed with intestine Streins In streams of purple Tears bewail'd its Pains 173. Down to the Ground this sweating Torrent flows To wash away the Curse which on it grew Whilst moated in his melted Selfe thy Spouse The noble fight doth with fresh Strength renew His Mortall Nature three stout Onsets gave To his immortal Piety and Love 174. Father He cri'd by that thy tender Name Commiserate thy most afflicted Son If thy Omnipotence a way can frame How to exempt Me from my Passion O let thine Hand which brings this Cup to Me Far hence remove it and my Misery 175. But straight by most athletick Braverie Above himselfe He gets and nobly cries Although all Bitternesse triumphant be In this sad Cup it amply does suffice That from thy Hand it comes Thy Will shall be And not mine own the Rule and Rein to me 176. Thus reverend Abraham when by Gods Command He was to bath his Sword in Isaac's blood Divided was in his own bowells and With his brave Selfe in competition stood Till valourous Piety her Powers strain'd And the hard Laurell of Selfe-conquest gain'd 177. But when thy mighty Lord atchieved had This triple Conquest Judas and his Rout Like furious Boars into the Garden made And for their Prey all rang'd and rov'd about Not knowing He as ready was to be Betray'd as they to work their Treachery 178. For like a most victorious Champion who Before his other Foes has conquer'd Fear He meets their Furie asking Whom with so Eager and strong a Chase they hunted there Their traytorous Spight and whom it sought He knew Yet this brave Challenge in their face he threw 179. Jesus of Nazareth We seek said they Alas Blinde Soules He came to seek out you And lead you safely in the Kings high way Unto his Throne above that on your brow Heav'ns Crowns for ever might have shin'd but ye In nothing would be Found but Treachery 180. Nor they nor Judas Psyche now did know Thy Spouses face which flamed heretofore With gracious Beauty but was clouded now With his strong Agonies all bloody Gore Thus like some duskie Meteor Phebus shows When an Eclipse upon his Count'nance grows 181. But He who would not be unknown to those Who came to suck what Blood was left behinde Which burned in his Veins till it got loose And flow'd as largely as his liberall Minde Revests his Look with gracefull Majesty And makes this brave Profession I am He. 182. If ever Thou hast seen what killing Dread Doth on base-hearted Traytors seize when They Are by their awfull Prince discovered Whose Voice and Looks their spurious Courage slay Treble this Fright and then conceive what Fear Shot through the Soules of these vile Caytiffs here 183. A stream of Horror drove them trembling back And over whelm'd Them flat upon the Ground And in the depth of this dismaying Wrack Their shivering Spirits had been surely drown'd Had He not spred his Pitty over Them Whose Swords and Staves and Spight all made at Him 184. O how will they endure his Dreadfull Eyes Which all this World on flaming fire shall set When He in triumph sweeping through the skies Shall hither come and mounted on his great Tribunall once again crie I am He No more the Prey but Judge of Treachery 185. When they no Lanthorns nor no Torches Light Nor Juda's Conduct any more shall need But by our Trumpets death-awakning fright Be summon'd up and by our hands be led Into the presence of Heav'ns glorious Son Whom then they would not finde but cannot 〈◊〉 186. But now He brideled in his awfull Raies And on condition his Disciples may Without disturbance goe their severall 〈◊〉 Offers himselfe unto his Foes who lay Quaking before Him but took courage now Perceiving They again might 〈◊〉 grow 187. As when a serpent bruis'd and beaten back Spies any way to reinforce her fight Her head she raises and deep care doth take Her Wrath and Poyson how to spit aright So did these Elves start up and cheer their Head And this Iscariot was to doe the Deed. 188. Iscariot that Prince of Treason now Forgetfull of his royall Masters Love And of the Dint of that majestick Blow Which strook Him and his Armie down to prove His cursed Selfe Earths Lucifer led up Against the Lord of Hosts his desperate Troop 189. And then none but a golden Arrow shot Burnish'd with faire and complementall grace Yet in as mortall Venome dipp'd as that Which Eve's Heart felt when she saluted was By faire-tongu'd Hell and by the Tempter driven With courteous Treason from her earthly Heaven 190. Hail Master was the Word What Ear could now Disrellish such a suger'd Noise as this Or once suspect Discording Jarrs should grow In such soul-plying Accents Master is The Phrase of Service Hail of Love Yet He Could make these honest Words insidious be 191. And when his faithlesse Tongue her part had done His Lips succeeded in the Treachery With matchlesse Impudence He ventured on Against the very face of Majesty And to make sure his Project should not misse Seal'd it upon his Master with a Kisse 192. O Wit of Treason could no Signe but this The gentlest Token of soft Courtesie Be made the Marke of deepest Barbarousnesse Monstrous Iscariot how dost thou by thy Inhumane Kindnesse both a Traytor prove Of Loves great Master and the Badge of Love 193. Is not a Kisse the soft and yeilding Signe Which clapps the Bargain of Affection up The sweet and joyous Marriage between The tenderest Pair of Lovers Lip and Lip The closing Harmony which when the Tongue Has done its best compleats the pleasing Song 194. Is not a Kisse the most delicious Seal By which Friends Cement their concording Hearts Must this Betrayed be Must faithlesse Hell Poyson this dainty Truth Must Hatreds Arts Be clothed in the softest sweetest Dresse Of courteous Peace and amorous Tendernesse 195. Must sweet Arabia's Beds breath out a Stinck And harbour all the Bane of Thessaly Must milkie Lilies stain their Leaves with Ink Must Roses Buds with Thorns all prickly be Must Silk and Down be harsh Must Honey flow With Gall Must Summer Gales bring Ice Snow 196. O what will Treason not presume to doe Which more than all those strange Mutations makes In this own venturous Fact of Judas who Ev'n in this Tie of Love all Friendship breaks Who biteth with his Lips not with his Teeth And strives to Kisse his dearest Lord to death 197. But though Iscariot his own Love betrayes His Lord triumphs beyond all Treachery And doth against the Traytors Hatred raise A Counterwork of heav'nly Lenitie O Mystery of Love though Jesus may Betrayed be no Plots his Grace betray 198. Who teacheth all Succeeding Traytors how To burnish over that foule rankling Brasse Of impudence which arms their sullen Brow To tip Rebellion with meek Lies to grace Their arrogant Treaties with submissive Words Whilst
frown on Thee who betray'st its Son The Lord of Life to Death thy Saviour to Most sure most undeserv'd Destruction Into one Bolt let all Gods Thunders goe And on thy cursed Heart his Justice throw Which scorned all the Mercie He could show 226. That Stroke will send Thee down into thy Place Of Death but yet of never-dying Pain Where melted with the flames of this my face Thy thirty silver Peeces I will drain Into thy Heart that Thou mayst shreik and roat Whilst there they burn and boile for evermore 227. This said th' infulting Prince of Tyranny In scornfull Spight with-drew being confident Maturity would get her Wings and flie To overtake his Plot yet e'r he went Seav'n times he thresh'd the Conscience with the flaile Of his enormous poyson-pointed Taile 228. As when the Deluge in great Noahs time Broke out upon the World and with a Sea Of universal Woe surpriz'd the Crime Of that impenitent Age their Misery To those unhappy Mortals op'd their graves In Desperation first then in the Waves 229. So Judas taken in this mighty flood Of deepest Anguish had no power to think How to escape or that his Saviours blood Might drown that sea in which he fear'd to sink O no! the thought of that dear blood alone Pour'd on his face Guilts blushing Ocean 230. Since long ago his Trust He rather built On Money than on God he durst not hope That Mercie now could reach his heightned guilt And thus by fear to impudence set ope The way for by this dread of goodnesse he Gives flat defiance to its Lenitie 231. And now sees vengance aiming at his head And his foule Treason flying in his face He sees the whole Worlds anger marshalled Against his odious crime He sees the place Deep in the heart of Hell where damned He Designed is for evermore to be 232. With that his Cloths his Hair his Flesh he tore He roar'd he rav'd and thus to cursing fell May that unhappy day be read no more In any Calendar but that of Hell Which to this balefull Life did me betray A Life to living Death the dying way 233. Curs'd be my Father who did me beget Curs'd be my Mother who did me conceive Curs'd be my Nurse because in every Bit She mix'd not Poison which might Me repreive From this most damned Night And cursed be All sicknesses which would not murder me 234. Curs'd be this Hand of mine which oft has had A Knife and yet forbore my throat to cut Curs'd be these Feet which oft their way have made Over the brows of Precipices yet Would never stumble that I might have fell Then but to Earth who tumble now to Hell 235. Curs'd be that Day which me acquainted brought With Jesus and enroll'd my ominous Name Amongst his Chaplanes Cursed be that thought Which spur'd me to the Priests to trade with them Curs'd be the project which hath curs'd me so Curs'd be the Bargain and the Chapmen too 236. Curs'd be this Garden upon every bed May fatall Hemlock Woolfbane Poppy grow May Vipers Adders Basilisks be spred In every corner on each Tree and Bough May Ravens and Scritchowls dwell that something may Resemble Judas here another day 237. Another day ô no! may thickest Night Upon this Sceen of Treason ever dwell That neither Sun nor Star may reach their light More unto this than to the other Hell The bloody beams of Ghosts and Furies will With fittest lustre this black garden fill 238. But may the deepest of all Execrations On you my thirty silver torments fall How shall I be reveng'd on your temptations Which thus have drown'd me in a Sea of Gall Is there no way base pale and paltry Clay How I may you as you did me betray 239. Shall I take you along with me to Hell And hold you fast amidst my endlesse flames Or send you back unto your former Cell The High-Priests wicked Bag surely this seems The blacker and the deeper Pit and I Thither again will damn you instantly 240. This said Like that tormented Man in whose Possessed heart a Legion of Feinds Did tyrannize He to the Citie goes Where in the Temple he his Chapmen findes Unhappy Temple which was now Possest With them as was with Satan Juda's Breast 241. With hideous yelling he amongst them ran Flinging about his hands his head his eyes And having strein'd his ejulation Wide as his throat could reach O Me he cries My sin burns in my breast and domineers Too high to hope for quenching from my tears 242. No Expiation does that Altar know Which for my deep di'd guilt can satisfie The stream of Jesu's blood so full doth flow On my unpardonable Soule that I Am drown'd for ever in my deep offence Being Condemned by his Innocence 243. Take your vile Money and my Curse with it May all Heav'ns wrath your bloody Bargain crown Here with indignant furie having spit On Them first on his Silver next and thrown It at their hated Heads away He flung Raving and Cursing as he ran along 244. For all the way he thought he struggled through An Army of reviling Detestations Over his head he both his Arms did throw To sh heild it from his own Imaginations Through which from heav'n and earth such arrows flew As wounded Him at every stop a new 245. For Melancholy dark as is the Pitch Which on the throat of Hell so thick doth grow Chok'd every glimpse of Sense and Reason which Offer'd to dawn in his Soules sphear and show Him by what torturing Mistakes he had Himselfe unto Himselfe a Tyrant made 246. Thus came He to a secret silent Place Without the Town yet could not think it so For still he fancied all the City was Hot in the chase of Him 〈◊〉 Saviours Foe Each Bird or Flie that moved made him start Each Winde that puffed blew quite through his heart 247. His Eyes distracted were first looking up For fear least Heav'n should fall upon his head Then down least Earth her dread full Mouth should ope And snatch him to his grave e'r he were dead Till tired with this fear his breast he stroke And into right down Desperation broke 248. Adieu all hopes he cries and fears adieu Come Veng ance come my heart is ready here I see how vainly I my Money threw Back to the Priests whose burden still I bear The Rust sticks close and heavy still upon My knawed Soule and I must be undone 249. If Heav'n be just why does it yet delay To poure its Wrath on my deserving head Am I not Judas He who did betray Its onely Son Is not my Conscience red With his most innocent Blood and yet must I Be still endur'd to live when He must die 250. At least great Satan doe not thou deny Thy Servant Pay for this grand Work which He Hath compass'd with unparalleld Treachery In high obedience to thy Hell and Thee No Soule did ever more than I have done Nor ernd
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
Such genuine beams of Piety descrised As soon dispell'd all mists of Jealousie Which serupulous Fear had rais'd unknown untried She is receiv'd Besides the holy Priest By Heav'n was warn'd to entertain this Guest 180. Phylax withdrew his nimble Selfe into His Closet of Invisibility Yet still attended on his Psyche who Approached to the royall Mystery With such brave fervor that her hungry Haste Almost as boundlesse seemed as the Feast 181. O how her Soule into the Dish did leap And dive down to the Bottom of the Cup With what Inamorations did she weep What sighs of Joy did break her bosome ope How did Fear strive with Love How did she groan Between Humility and Ambition 182. O how She thinks her Lips and Heart impure And yet she cannot for a World refrain She knows not how this Life she should endure If from the Life of Life She must contain She knows not how her Iron should for beak To meet the Loadstone now it was so neer 183. Whilst in this dainty Agony she lay Into her Mouth the Priest gives her her Blisse Which to her Heart directly took its way And drown'd it in exuberant Sweetnesses She now no longer Psyche is for she Is all converted into Ecftafie 184. O most Miraculous Feast how fain my Song Would be Luxuriant in admiring Thee But neither mine nor Phylax's high Tongue Knows how to reach that lofty Harmonie Of all united Sweets and Joyes which lie In bounteous Loves protoundest Mystery 185. Yet may my pained Soule have leave to lay At this Songs foot its just and heavy Sighs Which never since mine Eyes first op'd on Day So deeply rellished Lifes miseries The more my shame whose mighty Sins for Me Have earned this Heart-knawing Agonie 186. Time was when Heav'n in this late happy 〈◊〉 Kept open house when this Celestiall Feast Did freely wooe all Hearts to come and fill Their holy Appetites with all the best Of antidated Blisse and grow Divine With this Spirituall mighty Bread and Wine 187. But now both Feast and Bord devoured are By a new Banquet as jejune and drie As barren Air for all this Pulpit Cheer Feeds but the itching Ears strange Boulimie Whilst still the Heart remains as lank and thin And nothing fatter grows but lusty Sin 188. Sin fatter grows so fat that now it dares Kick both at Earth and Heav'n and scorns to be Aw'd by those generous and ingenuous Fears Which are the Reins of Virtuous Modesty It mocketh Veng'ance and derideth Law Because their patient Sword they slowly draw 189. O how come Christian Soules so well content To want the choisest Viands Heav'n could give O how preposterously Abstinent Are they who with all riotous Dainties strive To fortisie the Belly but can finde No Time to Victuall and enforce the Minde 190. Surely those Hero's were more prudent far Upon whose nearer hearts the warmer Blood Of Jesus dropp'd not once a Moneth or year Ordivers Years they with this holy Food Cheer'd up their Soules but every Morning fed And made the Lord of Life their Daily Bread 191. With Heav'n this alway kept their bosomes warme This made Them Eagle-like their strength renew With death-despising Courage this did arme Their gentlest Spirits By this they Masters grew Of Earth and Hell which having trampled down Heav'n too by Violence They made their own 192. But ô my Heart why art Thou stealing thus From thine own Woes thy Neighbours to deplore Time was when whilst thine unsledged Wickednesse Flew not at Heav'ns long patient face nor tore This Judgment thence I once a Week at least Could at this Bord of Blessings be a Guest 193. Then with sweet Comfort could I turn mine Eye Back on the year which with Delight did run Then could I count what Gains I reaped by My constant Trading in Devotion Rejoycing in my satisfied Minde That every Sunday I in Heav'n had din'd 193. But now the flaming Coursers of the Sun Are drawing on the fourteenth Moneth since I Attended on the Celebration Of this sweet life-enlivening Mystery Which yet I then was fain to steal and so A Thief that Day to Paradise did goe 194. I went indeed But a Forbidden Tree Strait woo'd my liquorish Hand and foolish I Beleev'd the flattering Bait and would not see How treacherous an Hook beneath did lie Dear wonderous dear this heedlesse Fault did cost Me For all my heav'nly Joyes and Powers it lost Me 195. It lost Me all and no Recruit was nie But I am lest aPrey to this long Fast O how the Palate of my Soule is drie What burning Drought doth shrivell up and waste The Bowels of my Heart how is my Minde With most uncomfortable Squalor pin'd 196. O how my Understandings Pinions tire And flag below when I aloft would soar What leaden Numnesse damps those hopes of Fire With which my Fancie'gan to glow before What Languor cloggs my fainting Will whilst On dark unworthy Earth thus groveling lie 197. O how this drie and barren Verse attests The heavy Truth of these my Lamentations O pitty Me all you whose gentle Breasts E'r felt the Stings of Mysticall Vexations Pitty Me ô my candid Readers now What makes me tire your Patience you know 198. Had I my wonted Share in that dear Feast Which with celestiall Spirits embraves the Heart A fairer Banquet I for You had drest Who now can onely by my pined Smart Warn You to prize and to imbrace with 〈◊〉 Religious Tendernesse what I have lost 199. Lost hitherto But must that Losse run on And can my Life mean while make good its Name Can Day maintain her Self if once the Sun Deny to feed her with his vitall Flame Can Rivers keep their constant full-tide Course If once the living Spring doth them divorce 201. O tender King of Love whose sumptuous Care For hungry Hearts that high Provision made Behold my starved Soule lies gasping here For one dear Crumb of thy mysterious Bread And craves to cool its burning Tongue one Drop Of liquid Life from thy all-saving Cup. 202. I know my Worthlessenesse sweet Lord and how Unfit I am to look for any Share In those peculiar Delicates which Thou For thine own genuine Children didst prepare Yet to a Dogg once more thy leave afford To catch what falleth from thy Childrens Bord. PSYCHE OR LOVES MYSTERIE CANTO XIII The Death of Love ARGUMENT LOve having Liv'd for Man is pleas'd to Dy To make his purchase sure by Life and Death Through Earths profoundest Gulfe of Tyranny And the vast Ocean of Heav'ns mighty Wrath He nobly waded and upon the Shore Having first spent his Blood his Soule did poure 1. SOule of all Sweets ô Life how dear art Thou To all that ever had a Taste of Thee How much of Heav'n it selfe infus'd doth flow Into the region of thy Suavity Indeed Heav'n were not Heav'n did it not joyn To make it Selfe by Marrying Thee divine 2. Thou in the Center of Divinity Before the Birth of
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
Tell Him I thank Him for his Courtesie It made Me merry as You all have seen I will not rob his Lordships Pleasures by Keeping this Idiot from Him When I mean To play with Fools I hope my Galile With one such Sheeps-head more may furnish Me. 160. Thus Jesus in a gorgious Robe is clad That more conspicuous his shame might be And so through fresh Disdains and Scoffings led To be the Game of further Tyranny Pilate admir'd to see his splendid Hue Knowing what Garb was to Delinquents due 161. For Pris'ners when their Lives presumed were Forfeit to Law and Death were wont to be In funeral Black array'd which might prepare Them to the thoughts of their Catastrophe And intimate the Colour of that Sin Whose horrid Darknesse cloth'd their Soules within 162. But so did Providence correct their Spight That He whose Breast was purer than the Day Did in his Vesture wear no guilty Night But by his Foes own Hands in an Array Of Glory was attir'd and quitted when They hal'd Him to his Condemnation 163. So oftentimes when a Conspiracy Of Windes their puffing labouring Wrath doe blow About the World in hopes to damp the Skie With swarthie Clouds and Storms they onely throw All Vapors out and with a full and fair Serenity array the purged Aire 164. But Pilate pondering what had hapned now And feeling Moral Honesty beat high Ev'n in his Pagan Heart could not allow His Conscience to be Slave unto the Crie Of the importunate Jews who roaring stood And set their Mouths wide ope for guiltlesse Blood 165. My duty I have fully done said He Him and your Accusations have I Unto the bottome sifted As for Me I hope I never gave you reason why You should presume that any Clamors may Fright Pilate out from Justice's High-way 166. Neither your Temple nor your Altars be More venerable unto you than is My most unspotted Judgement Seat to Me For all Hells yellings and impatient Cries I trust Mine shall as valiantly resist As Mino's or as Rhadamanthu's Breast 167. What I to Caesar owe and what to Right I long have known and must not now forget My Heart is Romane and the dearest Light Of Heav'n is not so pretious to it As spotlesse Honor which can never be Cohabitant with Wrong and Tyranny 168. Mine own Heart-blood I rather would let flow And let your Thirst carouse in it then I From any guiltlesse Veins their Streams will draw To quench the loudest Importunity Mine is mine own but what have I to doe To give Anothers Life when Law sayes No. 169. Law takes no hold of Jesus nor must I Nor did the Tetrarch and why then will you He that he is a King doth not deny But adds withall His Kingdomes not below No harm to Cesar by this Man is done Who doth his Kingdome fancy in the Moon 170. There let his Fancy rule and reign But yet 'T is pitty for his Follie He should Die. It never yet was heard that Want of Wit Pass'd for a Capital Offence Nay I Have been inform'd that in the Tribute He Has witnessed sufficient Loyalty 171. For by his Doctrine He did it maintain And by his Practise too though Calumnie Hath your Beliefe abus'd and cast a Stain Upon his Innocence Come therefore I Will for your Credits Him Chastise and so Give Him Dismission without more adoe 172. And this the rather since by Custome I Ingaged am to honor this your Feast In granting some Offendors Liberty Who in your Judgement shall deserve it best And who can you think lesse deserveth Death Then He whose Innocence him acquitted hath 173. Thus strove the Judge that He might not condemn Both Jesus and himself When loe the Priests His gracious offer shamelesly contemn And spur the People in whose furie rests Their finall Hope to beg with all the Strise Of stoutest throats none but Barabba's life 174. Prodigious Priests is not Barabbas He Whom all the Town knows guilty of the fact You fain would fasten upon Iesus yee Your selves beheld what tumults he did act And how his desperate riot he pursued Untill in Murder he his hands imbrued 175. And is the Murderers life so dear that He Must live with you whilst Innocence does die Does foule Barabbas his curs'd Company Suit better with your reverend Sanctitie Or can you think both God and Man so blinde As not to see and hate your bloody minde 176. Strange Psyche strange it was with what loud cryes The mad-brain'd vulgar heav'n and earth did tear Barabba's Name through all their clamour flies And they for none but for Barabbas care He is their Darling and they cannot live If Pilate will not grant them his Reprieve 177. Thus hellish Hate op'd Providences door To heav'nly Love and made Barabba's be The whole Worlds type which from the fatal Pow'r Of endlesse Death and equall Miserie Was to be snatch'd to day whil'st in its place A Lamb all white and guiltlesse sentenc'd was 178. Mean while the Judges Lady sent her Page In posting speed to pray her troubled Lord Not to be mad because that Rout did rage Nor venture to prophane the Roman sword With innocent blood for certainly said she Jesus is just and they seditious be 179. For my good genius as I lay asleep Appear'd unto me hand in hand with thine Thine beat his Breast and bitterly did weep And toll'd the reason of his griefe to mine He said and deeply sighed as he said Pilate with Jesus now will be betrai'd 180. Pilate will be betrai'd to take away The Life of Jesus and his own withall For Jesus blood will crie another day And unto Pilats veins and heart will call His veins and heart must answer that strong cry I started here and out the Dream did flie 181. Thus heav'n admonish'd Claudia strove to drive Her husband from his Precipices brow And did withall miraculous witnes give What wrongs the Jews at Jesu's life did throw For Heav'n was pleas'd that his integritie By either sex should now asserted be 182. No sooner had the trembling Page delivered His ominous Message but the Judges heart With fatall jealousie and horror shivered His joints unbuckled and his eyes did start His hair stood staring up his blood flew back And left his lips and all his visage black 183. But when the Scribes and Priests had learn'd this news Behold they cry how He by Magick art Hath sent some 〈◊〉 Spirit to abuse The honest thoughts of noble Claudia's heart That by this trick the Judge might frighted be Our Truthes made slanders and himself set free 184. Then all the People with fresh clamors roard Thundring Barabbas in the Judges ear That violent storm quite blew away the Word His Lady sent Him and through sudden fear Of insurrection He returns to treat About the Busines which himself did hate 185. Friends ask your second thoughts said He and see If they upon Barabbas needs will dote I would not that your too much
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
but stricken there With awfull reverence onely sent his Eye Into the bottome of the Cavern where The Resurrections Relicts He did spie The linen Clothes which had the grace to kisse The sacred Body of all Sweetnesses 132. But panting Peter there arrived ' in The wonted boldnesse of his fervid Zeal Entred the Cave Which pattern straight did win So much on John that to the Spectacle He follow'd Him and with joint Wonder there Gaz'd and examined the Sepulchre 133. He gaz'd and cleerly found his Eye told true This rous'd his Faith and made Her likewise ope Her Eyes the blessed Mystery to view She look'd and plainly saw Her Lord was up And needed now no Angels Tongue to seal To Her the Truth of that grand Miracle 134. These two Disciples having seen their fill To feed upon the Wonder home return'd But Magdalene who had thither follow'd still Stay'd by the Tomb to quench her Heart which burn'd With Griefs impatient Love The Springs which kept In both her Eys she Bravely broach'd wept 135. She weep'd and pitted her prevented Spice Which now breath'd short and panting lay to see It came too late to be a Sacrifice Unto the Lord of Sweets She weep'd that she Her Tears Drink-offring could present no more On his Feets blessed Altar as before 136. Had she the plenitude of whatsoe'r Th' idolatrous World ' adores she still would be Poorer than Poverty it selfe whilst here She nothing findeth but Vacuity The empty Tombe with open Mouth alas Tells her her onely Gem removed was 137. Removed and quite lost for ought she knew And how can Mary live without her Life Such lamentable Mourning never slew The Turtles Joies in her disconsolate strife Of Love and Grief when her dear Mate is lost As this sad Storme of Weeping Mary tost 138. Thus having Weep'd for what she saw again She look'd to read fresh cause of further Tears But in the Tombe she spi'd new Splendor reign Two Angells ready to out-shine her Fears And drie her Cheeks with Comfort there did sit One at the Monuments Head one at the Feet 139. In festival Array they gorgeous were Being clothed in Joies Colour milkie White Woman said They what reason finde you here To cloud your brows in this fair Sceen of Light Alas cri'd she what Light mine Eyes can cheer Seeing my Lord is laid I know not where 140. Her Eyes here gush'd a fresh and back she turn'd To give their crowding Streams full Liberty But Jesus Heart which melted as she mourn'd And answered ever Tear by Sympathy Could not endure her gentle Soule to see Suspended longer in this Agonie 141. For back unto his Sepulchre he stepp'd That his dear Weepens loyal Eyes might see Their earned Spectacle And Why she wept Was his soft Question but blubber'd she Blinded with Grief could not discover Who It was examin'd her about her Woe 142. She took Him for the Gardner of the place And meekly pray'd him if he had Removed The Body thence to tell her where it was That she might goe and wait on her Beloved And 't was the Gardner who did plant and dresse The World in goodly Braveries excesse 143. The Gardner who betimes a Weeding fell Ev'n in the virgin Spring of his Creation Those rank encroaching Weeds which on Heav'ns 〈◊〉 Aspir'd to over-grow the new Plantation Up by the roots he pluck'd in righteous ite And threw them thence into eternal Fire 144. The Gardner who at length deign'd to come down Unto his Nurserie in Earths Valley where All Tares and Poisnous 〈◊〉 that 〈◊〉 had sown He rooted up and out of matchlesse care To make the Soil be fertile every Bed With his own pretious Blood he watered 145. The Gardner who contented was to let The Thorns upon his Temples rather stand Than they should vex the Grafts which he had set In his own Body by his tender hand The Gardner who indeed had born away What in the Tombe untill this morning lay 146. But pittying Magdalens gloomy sorrow He Whose single potent Word all Clouds can clear In Loves milde tone the onely musick she Could be delighted with saluted her Yet his salute was neere as short as sweet For onely by her name He Her did greet 147. Mary in Maries ear no sooner sounded From Jesu's lips but to her breast it flew And with incomparable joy rebounded Upon her wakened heart She straitway knew The blessed voice in her own Name for this With sweet significance did echo his 148. She knew 't was Jesus and her heart must now Have split with swelling triumph had not she Unlock'd it strait and let it freely flow In a full torrent of high Pietie Her Life her Love her Heav'n when least shee thought Were all at once to her fruition brought 149. Surely a Breast so soft as hers had by This sudden onset of all joyes been broke Had not her Lord with his own Potency Assisted Her to beare the mighty stroak Master she cry'd but then could not go on Her ecstafie her other words out-ran 150. Down flat she fell and aimed at those feet Which pious she before did oint and kiss No Haste dear Mary Jesus cry'd for yet At ample distance my Ascention is But go and tell my Brethren I intend Unto our common Father to ascend 151. At this injunction Marie needs must goe Who on the Angels errand went before And yet her loyall Heart could not doe so But still behinde did linger to adore Her lost-found Lord whom that she ne're again Might loose Her Soule she to his feet did chain 152. This Message startled the Disciples but The hubbub of the City mov'd them more For by the Watch-men now the news had got Into the Town and knock'd at every door The High-priests wakened at the summons call A Common Council and to Plotting fall 153. Their Heads they beat and boulted every way How they their now endanger'd fame might save How they might damp the Resurrections day And stop the open mouth of Jesu's Grave Long did they think but could no trick contrive How he who lived might not seem to live 154. For Belzebub who us'd to have his Place In all their Councils tardy came that day His new-received wound and deep disgrace Upon his vanquish'd heart with terror lay Yet seeing them so forwards lothe he was The Priests in his own trade should him surpass 155. He rais'd his head and wiped off the gore Three times he sighed and three times he shook His broken horns and at the last he swore By his own might and realus that though the stroak Took him at unawars yet Jesus had How e'r he brav'd it out no Conquest made 156. And had he been said he a generous foe He would have pitch'd the day and pitch'd the field With trumpets sound he would have march'd unto The fight and not his slie designe conceal'd He would have called Heav'n and Earth to be Spectators of his noble Chevalrie 157. But
five hundred did at once appear 210. Yet not transfigur'd as before for now His proper Shape was radiant Majesty For from all Mortal Drosse refin'd you know Out of his Tombe he sprang no more to be By any Cloud bedimm'd nor had he need That Heav'n should ope its Mouth his Worth to spread 211. This was that solemn Apparition he On Easter Morn by Mary promised That the appointed Sceen might ready be With plenty of Spectators furnished And so it was for his Disciples thither Had gather'd all their trusty Friends together 212. When loe their Hopes they met upon the Mount And more than their Ambition too for now Jesus set ope his Lips and let the Fount The blessed Fount of potent Sweetnesse flow Which in the Chanel of these Words upon The Heads and Hearts of his Disciples ran 213. The Nerves and Sinews of all Power and Might Which spread through Heav'n and Earth so far and wide Here in this single Hand of mine unite And to my royal Will alone are ti'd By virtue of which Soveraignty I Commit to you compleat Authority 214. Goe take your Charge whose Limits here I make Coequall with the Worlds My Gospel preach To every living Soule for whose dear sake I on the bitter Crosse my self did stretch That in as large a Circle as the Sun The more illustrious Beams of Grace may run 215. He who despiseth your great News and You Shall doe it at his own Soules price for he Shall finde his slaming Punishment below In Desperations Eternity But he who to your faith his own doth give As long 's that other Dying is shall live 216. Nor shall his Glory onely future be Miraculous Power shall on him attend Upon the stoutest boldest Devills he Shall invocate my Name and make them bend From mortal Bosomes he shall them expell And sorce them howling home unto their Hell 217. Babels Confusion shall not him confound But every Language on his Tongue shall dwell That He my Gospel freely may resound And every Ear with its Salvation fill I who did it create as easily can With Words as Meat supply the Mouth of Man 218. In vain shall Scorpions bite him and in vain Shall Adders sting him by my power he Over all Serpents shall as surely gain As over Hells foule Dragon victory For those mysterious stings I did endure Shall from their dint and danger Him secure 219. In vain shall Poyson steal into his Cup And thence into his Bowells slide for he Although he should drink all Thessalia up Or Sodoms Lake shall not invenomed be That Cup which on my Crosse I drank shall make Wholsome to him all Draughts that he can take 220. More Virtue than in Trees and Plants doth grow Much more than Balsame in his hand shall dwell Those whom incurable Diseases throw Upon their desperate Bedds shall straight grow well If touch'd by Him whose faith on Me relies The grand Physitian of all Maladies 221. But his Initiation must be By being washed in the potent Name Of Father Son and Holy Ghost that he May know at whose sole Honor he must 〈◊〉 Remembring he by Baptism unto 〈◊〉 Was consecrated but the Triple On. 222. So spake the mighty Lord and then again With-drew himselfe that they might feed upon These heav'nly Priviledges he did deign To earth by faithfull Meditation He knew his Presence was right dear and yet He by Withdrawing more endeared it 223. But now the signal Time was come when He Who cheer'd the Earth for forty dayes with his Bright Apparitions meant that Heav'n should be Embellish'd with his glorious Accesse That he might as Himselfe he raised hither So also reach his Resurrection thither 224. His dear Companions now again he met So dear that loth he seem'd with them to part And walking Them along to Olivet Spun out the Time by Loves discursive art But on the Mountains Top arrived he Began in Tone and Aspect chang'd 〈◊〉 be 225. Stir not said he from Salem but attend The Fathers Promise you have heard of Me It was a Baptism which doth far transcend Johns poor and frigid institution He Baptiz'd with Water but your Baptism shall In Heav'ns sweet Spirit of Fire immerge you all 226. Erected at this solemn Item they No lesse than Crowns and Sceptres fancied Yet still their Thoughts below the Promise lay Hankring in Earths dull sphear for nothing did They reach but what too worthlesse was for Him Their great Ascendent Lord to leave to them 227. We know said they that 〈◊〉 Crown is 〈◊〉 Unto thine onely Head most fit for it Is this the Time dear Lord that thou wilt shew And make thy Title good Shall we now 〈◊〉 On our inferior Thrones before thy Feet And to the Tribes of 〈◊〉 Judgement 〈◊〉 228. Thus when wise 〈◊〉 along 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 They to 〈…〉 And for their Maint nance 〈…〉 But the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 tall to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 silly 〈…〉 〈◊〉 delight and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 229. Jesus who at his Parting could not Chide This secular Grossenes of their Thoughts pass'd by And with all delicate Gentlenes repli'd Those Times and Seasons which enshrined lie In Gods own Cabinet too mystick be For you to dive into their privacie 230. Yet though this Mystery you may not know Ten thousand others you shall cleerly see When the eternall Spirits Power shall flew Down on your Heads Your Glory then shall be To goe as Heralds and my royall Name Through every Quarter of my World proclaim 231. Hast Thou not seen the glittering Spark Ascend With natural Lightnes to its proper Sphear So glorious Jesus having made an end Of all his sweet and blessed Bus'nes here Upon the Wings of his own Puritie Lifted himselfe up to his Native Skie 232. They started at the sight and with their Eyes And Heads and Hands all elevated high Labour'd to trace his Path and to arise After their to wring Master who did flie A way with all their Hearts when loe a Cloud Between their Ecstasie and Him did crowd 233. It crowded on apace for fear to misse That honour which would make it fairer be And dress'd with more celestial Statelinesse Than the brisk Forehead of Serenitie So fast it crowded that the tired Winde Which would have born it puffing came behinde 234. All other Clouds which its Prerogative saw Grew black with Greif and melted into Tears When loe the Welkin clears her dainty brow And smiling Duy with open eyes prepares Her Admiration to gaze upon The Motion of a fairer sweeter Sun 235. This happy Cloud her delicate shoulders bent And meekly stooped to her Makers Feet Her pliant Volumes gather'd close and went Into the fashion of a Princely Seat That in a seemly Chariot Jesus might Unto his Throne take his Triumphant Flight 236. The golden Coach studded with eastern Gemms And burnished with living Fire wherein Great Phoebus in his brightest glory swimms Through heavens high Chanell never yet could winne Such credit as this noble Chariot which
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
streams let flow Which his tempestuous grief did thither blow 108. And now his Lips no more had power to speak In Zealous Kisses He does them imploy He kiss'd the Soile where once that Blood did reek Which all the Earths Redemption did pay And every Kisse did new Desire beget Of more affectionate Imbracing it 109. Psyche observing his sweet Passion swell With such Devotion soon forgot her own And with the Stranger in such love she fell That at his feet her self she bowed down She bowed down and little thought that then She stoop'd to enter the forbidden Gin. 110. But as the wary Seaman when He spies The amiable Mermaid floating nie Turns from the dangerous Bait his jealous Eyes Hoiseth his sail up and his Oars doth plie So this Devoto seeing Psyche there Confess'd and fortifi'd his holy fear 111. For starting at the unexpected sight Shield me my blessed Guardian said He Satan who doth with everlasting spight Disturb the Course of Zealous Piety Hath to facilitate my molestation In this fair Damosell sent me my Temptation 112. But whosoe'r thou art goe seek thy Prey Where rampant Lust in furious Bonfires reigns Thy Beauties Lustre must not thaw its way Thorow my tame and now long-cooled veins How know I but thou art some fair dress'd Feind To make Me foule and here Himself He sign'd 113. Ravish'd with this Religious Jealousie Sweet Sir said Psyche I was hither come Upon that errand which your Piety Hath here dispatched in that very room I purpos'd my devoted sighs to blow And make mine Eyes their liquid Dutie know 114. My bounteous Lord took my Intent I see For actual Deed and hath rewarded it He knew no blessing would more welcome be Unto my Heart then this which here I met And this art Thou in whom I plainly read The love of Him of whom my soul is Head 115. I heard thy holy Sighs and hearty Grones As towards Heav'n from thy Sweet Breast they flew I heard thy generous Lamentations And by those zealous Characters I knew That Jesus had by his Soule-conquering Dart Engrav'd Heav'ns best impression on thy Heart 116. I thank Thee that thou wert of Me afrayd For much I reverence that pious fear Yet be assured thou hast met a Maid In whom no Embers of black fervor are No no my Heart will no such Guests allow For it too well doth Aphrodisim know 117. Indeed I might have been what you suspected Foule Satans Agent and a feind of Hell Had our deer Lord the care of Me neglected And not seal'd sure on mine his blessed Will And so might'st Thou had He not spread above Thy helplesse head the Banner of his Love 118. That Love which wheresoe'r I finde it shine Doth humble Reverence from my heart command Wonder not at my Case but make it thine And think how thou could'st shun or how withstand Thy Charming Self If I immodest be Like Love will pardon Loves Immodestie 119. Yet 't is no Boldnes to admire the Sunn To love the starrs and what more lovely is Their Sovercign and ours what I have done To Thee great Jesus gave me leave to his Own Self to doe Wherefore no more admire That I grow warm now I come neer thy fire 120. My Warmth is pure as is its spring in thee I mix'd it not at all with other fires And onely on thy Zealous Pietie I feast the Hunger of my chaste Desires I am a stranger here and hither come On Loves deer businesse from my British Home 121. But in this Land of Holinesse I meet Such deer Remembrances of Heav'n that I Desire my native Albion to forget And where my Saviour did both live and die Me thinks I heer am neerest Him who is Whither I live or die mine onely Blisse 122. Yet some Acquaintance and Companion I Would gladly gain with whom my foul might live In holy freindships sweet society And mutual Heats of Zeal from Him receive Heav'n puts you in my way and if you be What you appear you will be kinde to Me. 123. This said sometimes to Him her pleading Eye Sometimes to Heav'n She turn'd and by that mute But most mysterious Importunity Sollicited her earnest bashfull suit Urging by this her yeelding silence more Strong Arguments than she had spoke before 124. Mov'd with her soft Expressions and her Tears For these flow'd out as thick and sweet as they The Man gives credit unto both and cheers His clowded Looks and cries O happy Day Which hast discover'd unto Me a Breast Of Heav'ns pure dove the chaste unspotted Nest. 125. Pardon dear Stranger pardon my Mistake And be no longer in that Name to me What recompence I can I vow to make To thy misprised slandered Pietie I at thy bounteous Offer catch and will Both thy Desire and mine own Joyes fulfill 126. Rare are those friends as Birds of Paradise In this unworthy world but seldome seen Whose Harts in one no other Cement ties But heav'nly Zeal and Love and had I been As good as I am vile thy Offer were Worthy to be unto my Soule most deer 127. If by the royall Law of our great Lord Pretious in our esteem our Foes must be O what Embraces must We then afford To them who Us out vie in Charitie Come gentle Soule and this chaste Token take That to thy Wish my heart I pliant make 128. Here by an Holy Kisse for that of old The Symbole was of Christian Consent He seal d his Words then reverently took hold Of her right Hand and down the Mountain went Leading Her to his Dwelling whither she Went cheerly on fearing no Treacherie 129. Into the Vulturs Nest thus slies the Dove Thus to the smiling Shelfs the Ship doth run The stranger thus to the enchanted Grove Goes for delight Thus to the fatal Den Of the fair tongu'd Hyoena skips the Lamb The Childe thus leaps into the playing flame 130. Come to his House Authades for his Name Was so pray's Psyche not to take it ill That since she in a busy season came His sacred Office He did first fulfill Before on her He waited But said He The work though great will soon dispatched be 131. In his eighth journey Phoebus now did run Since his first-born Authades did enjoy Who by the rule of his Religion Was bound to circumcise the Childe that Day Which with a consecrated knife of stone He did and gave his own name to his Son 132. The Infants Wound the softer heart did slay Of Psyche who strait wrep'd and knock'd her breast And then with indignation turn'd away But cunning He perceiving how his Guest Dis-rellished her welcome to her stepp'd And 〈◊〉 first demanded why shee weep'd 133. In sullen silence she made her Replie Compos'd of Frowns and of compleat disdain Till forc'd by his milde Importunitie She gave her angry Tongue a liberal Rein Shame on my credulous Love which thus said she Bewithc'd me to the Den of Heresie 134. Are you
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
I such holy Sweets to sipp Hadst Thou vouchsaf'd Me but thy Feet to Kiss That favour I had hugged as my Bliss 188. Thus cheated She did her Mishap admire As doth the silly flie the beauteous Flame Little surmising what outragious Fire Reign'd in that Bait which look'd so mild and tame Ne'r did she stand on such a Brink as this And never feared less a Precipice 189. Pseudagius whose faire-faced Piety Compleat possession of her Heart had wonn Now exercised his full Tyranny Upon his tender yeilding Prey and soon Infus'd his Poisons with such holy Art That their Contagion rul'd in every Part. 190. Satan who lurk'd in Ambush to espie How his Designe would take rejoyc'd to see That Psyche by this moderate Heresie So easily charmed was for crafty He When but a little Leaven was cast in Had oft the tainting of the whole Lump seen 191. He knew a little Gap might quickly turn A mighty Chasm He knew one Spark might thrive Into a full-grown Flame and serve to burn The strongest Fort He knew one Wheel might drive A thousand more He knew a carelesse Slip Might cause a Fall as well's a desperate Skip 192. He knew that they who once a foot had set In Errors Labrynth would easily be Allured further to proceed in it By their own tickling 〈◊〉 He knew they soon might fall in love with Night Whose Eys once turn'd from Truths meridian Light 193. But yet to make all sure he Logos fill'd With foolish Pride and Confidence since He Saw Thelema and Psyche forc'd to yeild At last to what He did at first agree And They abashed with unhappy shame His domineering Carriage durst not blame 194. By this unbrideled Insolence he grew So vain and carelesse in his Work that he Presum'd far more than all the World be knew In Truths judicious Discovery Thus foolish Dreamers think they view the skies When duskie Sleep hath sealed up their Eyes 195. For as one Morning Psyche walked out Intending for her Saviours Sepulchre Full in her way the watchfull Tempter brought One who no common Mortal did appear Grave was his Garb but graver far his Look And him for some deep-learned Man she took 196. Capricious Logos could not rest content Till he had sounded what the Man could say Big with a spruce and eloquent Complement He brings it forth and layes it in his way Bo wing down to the ground with it which done Agyrtes stayd and Logos thus went on 197. Sir if your Head unto your Looks be true It is of Knowledge a vast Treasury And those Spiritual Riches never knew What Losse or Diminution meant when by A liberal Impartment they were thrown To others Breasts yet not pluck'd from their 〈◊〉 198. For though his radiant Largise on the Moon And every Star and all the World beside He poureth out yet still the copious Sun Doth in his undiminish'd Glory ride Although a thousand Chanels it doth fill The teeming Fountain lives in Fulnesse still 199. A portion of your Streams and of your Light Is that We beg not to impoverish you But to enrich our Selves Our ignorant Night To knowing Day may by your Influence grow Our arid barren Intellect may be By your Effusions taught Fertility 200. That natural Desire which did enflame Your Industry to reach at Knowledge is Common to Us nor will your Wisdome blame Our free and bold Obedience unto this Potent Instinct by following which you have Attain'd that Blessing which of you We crave 201. When by a grave and gracefull Pawse the Man More reverence had won with friendly Eye He first their Welcome look'd then thus began To speak it out Though Silence suits with my Devout Profession more than Words yet now To Courtesies strong Law my Tongue must bow 202. If I to strangers should not Kindnes show I should affront that Lord who owned Me A stranger unto Him Yet please to know That I professe not by my Industrie To have arived unto any pitch In that wherein you take Me to be rich 203. Alas Agyrtes had as sottish been As is the vilest he that sees the light Had Heav'ns sweet Rays not deignd to interveen Between my Heart and Ignorances Night But Jesus who is King of Love as well As Wisdome pleas'd with both my Breast to fill 204. Yet this no other Wisdome is then what Concerns Him and his Heav'n wherfore if you For any other look from me but that You must goe seek where Vanitie doth grow That that or none sweet Sir said Psyche We Would onely in Heav'ns Wisdome learned be 205. This yeilding Answer made Him smile within And promise to his proud Heart Victory Yet to make sure and grace his holy Sin To Heav'n he turn'd his hell-directed Eye And lifting up his Hands seem'd thence to take The Copie of what now he ment to speak 206. With that upon the ready Grasse which there Offer'd its gentle service they sate down Then thus Agyrtes Though you Strangers are Your holy Wish thus far has made you known That I perceive you are not yet to be Inform'd there is a Christ and Pietie 207. But as the noblest Things beseiged are With greatest Difficulties so is this Religion and Truth yet never were Enthron'd so high but saucie Wickednes Would muster Errors round about them and Before their face in flat Defiance stand 208. Yet if in great Cerinthu's Schole you were Ever a Candidate I need not strive To ope my Bottles to your Thirst who there All Fulnes from the Fountain did receive My Schole cri'd Psyche gentle Sir alas Onely in blinde and barbarous Albion was 209. Know then said He that when Heav'n planted had Its blessed Gospell in our World below Ten thousand Weeds a conjuration made To choke it when it first began to grow The Blade no sooner peeped forth but there These pois'nous Tyrants strait did domineer 210. And surely all the Harvest Hopes had been Slain in their Birth had Jesus tender Care Into his Feild not sent Cerinthus Sin The Crop ev'n in the Spring began to shear And Truth her infant Head sought where to hide So rampant Error was and spread so wide 211. But this brave Gardner with his prudent Hook Cut those Intruders down and cleerd the ground The Churches Soile strait like it selfe did look And reskew'd Truth full room to flourish found The mystick 〈◊〉 began to be From the insidious Serpents Dangers free 212. The reverend Law whose flaming Majesty Flashed from Sina now brake out again And chasing all licentious Mists which by Heretik Sloth had gain'd Religions Rein Mingled its Lustre with the Gospels Ray And doubled fair Truthes most unspotted Day 213. Blind Ignorance was grown so bold that she Sought to perswade the World it had no Eyes Making the Lazie Name of Mystery In stead of Demonstration suffice From this black Pit those monstrous Prodigies Of hood-wink'd and abused Faith did rise 214. Who can imagin Heav'n would e'r obtrude Upon
substantial Faith though Rocks should split Though Earths vast Grounsells which are â—amme'd fast Unto the Centre should in peeces flie These still will hold their own Soliditie 113. That strange Soliditie whose mystick Root Cross unto all the world beside doth grow For its profoundly-paradoxik foot Implanted is above and not below Whilst by Loves all uniting-strengthning Art The Roof it self the Pillars doth support 114. Those spatious Windows there which 〈◊〉 Eye Open its way to Heav'n 〈…〉 The brittle Embleme of 〈◊〉 Vanitie But of firm Hope through which the Soul doth pass And climb aforehand to thoâ— Joves above Which have monopoliz'd her loyal Love 115. That golden Chymney and the Fire which there With unconsuming Sweetness flames so high The Shop and fervent Operations are Of strong and never-idle Charity Whose soft Extremities of fostering Heat In the brave Pulse of pious Hearts doth beat 116. But this resplendent Mount of Majesty Which in the middle of the Room doth rise This Diamond Throne whose Glorie doth outvie The beams of Solomons erected is For Her whose Beauties make the seat appear But poor and dim when it supporteth Her 117. Just as He spake from her retiring Room Attended by her most majestick Train Unto that Throne the Queen her self did come And justifie the Angels word In vain The Diamonds Sparkles were which all gave way To Hers as Stars to Phoebus and his Day 118. In her sweet Looks such blessed Gallantrie Triumphant was that Psyche judged Her To be no Daughter of Mortalitie But sprung from heavenly Race nor did she fear Idolatrie in worshipping that Face Which of much more than Heav'n the Mirrour was 119. But as she for prostration did prepare Phylax adviseth her to satisfie Her eyes profoundest Hunger with the Chear The royall Chear whose superfluitie Was so excessive And Thou then said He Shalt know who is this Queen of Sweets from Me. 120. This Item She obey'd But as a Childe Into some Princes Garden brought which He Sees with innumerable Beauties fill'd Yeelds up himself to daintie ecstasie Not knowing where he should begin to gather Seeing every flower woo's Him from one another 121. So in delicious Confusion She Among the Graces of this Empresse lost Her wondring Self nor could resolved be Which Part deserv'd her admiration most She look'd to finde one better than the rest Yet saw at last all in their kinde were best 122. For from the head of the accomplish'd Queen Unto her foot there was no room for Blame Sooner shall Pitch in Venu's Raies be seen Sooner shall Glories face be damp'd with Shame Sooner shall Christa guilty be of Blots Than purer She can be accusd of Spots 123. As through the roseal Casements of the East Aurora looks when fresh come out of Bed So is her briskly-blooming Aspect drest With all the Delicates of Blushing Red Yet though these Streames of Blushes overflow They keep firm truce still with their neighbour snow 124. As goodly Phoebe in th' unclouded 〈◊〉 Smiles with chaste Beautie so doth 〈◊〉 She But yet more spotlesse for Sols Majesty Doth with her virgin Mildenesse here agree The Moons sweet silver and his stately Gold Are in this faces sphear together roll'd 125. Yet such its temper is that if bold Eyes Confront it no lesse Terror flames in it Than from a marshall'd Army doth surprise Cold-harted Cowards when the Standards get Free leave to poure their awful Colours through The Aire and the bright Banners open flow 126. This makes the Ladies pretious feature be As pleasant as the graceful Structure is Of beauteous Tirza and her Majesty As rich as Salems was in Comelinesse When her best Excellence had crown'd her Queen Of all things that below the Sun were seen 127. As the illustrious Tree of Victorie The verdant Palm lifts her triumphant Head Above the vulgar Shrubs so flameing She Her portly Stature And 't is fairly read In the Halls noble Characters how near Of kin the Palm and She by Conquests are 128. Carmel which looks from his exalted Seat With state upon the Vales that creep beneath And is so strong in high-grown Woods so sweet In fragrant Pastures fairly copieth Her princely Head the Crown which there is set T' enoble all the Members under it 129. As from steep Gilead the milkie Flocks Of climbing Goats doe gracefully appear Such is the beautie of her slaxen Locks Whilst like young Kids their Curles all sporting are And by their sport though feeble Chains they be Do Captive take the King of Majestie 130. Under the daintie shelter of her Hair Half-hid half-ope her pretious Temples lie Which like a rich Pomgranate lovely are And lovelier by that open secrisie For what is naked speaks for what is hid And more desire doth in Spectators breed 131. Who by Bethrabbim Gate hath ever seen The Pools of Heshbon 〈◊〉 to the brim Where living Smiles inhabit where sereen And genuine Puritie delights to swim Where both the Stars by Night and Sun by Day As in a softer Heav'n rejoice to play 132. The Embleme of Her Eyes He hath beheld Her Eyes the limpid Mirrour whence those beams Which dart forth Loves and Joyes which sweetly gild Spectators Hearts poure out their daintie streams Her Eyes the softest Nest of brightest Blisse The purest springs of mystick Paradise 133. That white and stately Tower of Marble which Down from its Lebanon its Looks extended Unto Damascus did but onely teach What Princely Beautie Her fair Nose commended Whose Alabaster Prominence doth by Its situation gain that Majesty 134. Her Lips of Scarlet are a fine-spun Thred Yet not so fine or beauteous as is The rare Effusion which through them is shed Wher that sweet spring of 〈◊〉 doth bless 〈◊〉 Auditors when vocal Gold Ana Honey from th' enclosed longue is roll'd 135. No Sheep new shorn and even and come but now From 〈◊〉 all in 〈◊〉 order can Afford the 〈◊〉 more delightfull show Than her two Ranges of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 when A 〈◊〉 or some such sweet Occasion hath Display'd the equal 〈◊〉 of her 〈◊〉 136. As Davids goodly Tower the dwelling place Of Beautie and of strength such is her Neck A thousand mighty Sheilds that Fort doe grace And full as many Jewels this doe deck Or rather decked are by hanging there Their wealthy Place for them can lustre spare 137. Two tender Roes the Sons both of one Dame And of one Birth which in a little field Are put to Pasture in another Name Are her two Breasts with lovely softnes swell'd Which in her Bosomes fragrant Carden feed Amongst those whitest Sweets which there are bred 138. Her royal Roab was all of purest silk In softnes parallel to her own skin Which it embrac'd in whitenes to her Milk A cunning Needle over it had run And scatter'd pritty Hils and Valleys where Neat Flocks of Lambs feeding and sporting were 139. But as when Aprils gentle
look and swore that there She 〈◊〉 The true and faithfull Image of her Face But yet the shamelesse Est as oftenlyed That trusty Glasse will no false Colours shew But unto 〈◊〉 and Truth alone is true 197. But mark what clings about the Virgins 〈◊〉 A Knot of Things whose Lustre bids 〈◊〉 Eye Be with a glimpse content and not 〈◊〉 With that which blindes bold 〈◊〉 Faiths Mysteries they are which by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Excesse of their own Beams 〈◊〉 and from 〈◊〉 198. In vain Thou seekst these 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 By any Beauty which e r 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Eye Soule which in most 〈◊〉 Worth 〈◊〉 Cannot 〈◊〉 their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 But happy count 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they can 〈◊〉 199. And happy Thou my Psyche who art hither By Heav'ns indulgence and my Conduct brought If Thou that Happinesse scornst not to gather Which now is ripe and woo's thee to reach out Thy Hand and Heart that both may filled be At highest heav'nliest Wealths own Treasury 200. Thus Phylax spake but Psyche all the while Rap'd with these several Glories of the Court Did with as many Satisfactions Fill Her wondering Soule and make Luxuriant sport In her new Blisse untill Truths Contemplation Monopolized all her Admiration 201. For as the noble Eaglet perched high In a fair prospect to the naked Sun Doth feast and not with her ravish'd Eye In that bright Sea of Beauty where alone Her genuine Sight meets with its flaming Love And by his soveraign Beams its own doth prove 202. So She with strong impatient Ardour here Stood feeding upon Truthes all-glorious Face Yet still with that most satisfying Cheer Remain'd unsatisfi'd cause such it was Till lost in amorous Greedines she cries Sweet Guardian help Me or thy Psyche dies 203. Phylax who knew the Soule of that Complaint For on his own it beat with tender Hand Relev'd his Pupill as He saw her faint And well said He thy Greif I understand I understand it well and love it too Thy Joyes had did hadst thou not Greived so 204. The Image of thy late Acquaintance and Newly ambibed Doctrines in the Eye Of thy now selfe-revenged Heart doth stand Checking thy venturous Credulity Which durst embrace such Monsters and dismisse A Beauty so divinely Bright as this 205. Yet let not Sorrow quench thy Hopes for She All Injuries rejoyceth to forget And never yet laugh'd at the Misery Of any Heart which would to her submit Revenge indeed but soft and sweet she takes Her Foes to Liberty She Captives makes 206. This said unto the Virgin Her He led Whom by their old Acquaintance He desired Her favour on this begging 〈◊〉 to spread Who with her lustre was already fired Truth gently smiled at his sweet Request And by her Looks her forwardnesse confest 207. Then stooping down where Psyche trembling lay Powring her Tears and Heart before her feet She mildly took her up and gave her Joy That She with Her so happily had met That word she clos'd with an Embrace and this With the deer Blessing of an heav'nly Kisse 208. As when the courteous vernal Sun draw's neer And with his tender Raies doth Earth imbrace Her cold and 〈◊〉 Veins begin to cheer New Life and Verdure smile in all her Face Inriched and arrayd She gins to be With her bie and with floury gailantrie 209. So Psyche hugg'd and gently warmed by The Arms and Lips of Truth soon felt her breast Before invelopp'd in Obscurity Now by a pure and pretious Light possest She felt her inward mystick Day arise Which gently flourish'd through her wondering Eys 210. Logos who had so pert and busy been Was strangely startled at the sudden Sight And now to see his Blindnesse did begin By the sweet Dawn of this all-opening Light He saw his Blindnes and in seeing this Descri'd withall a thousand Mysteries 211. And that so clearly that He fear'd no more What Mists Authades in his Way could throw Agyrtes Charms He scorned which before Into the pathes of Darknesse him did draw This happy Morn He bless'd and kissed which His Eyes with Heav'ns fair Prospect did enrich 212. For here far more convincing Things He read Than were his late-adored Demonstrations No brisk Distinction here durst show her Head Or hope to damp those glorious Probations Which on Syneidesis her selfe did get Such power that unto Them her Seal she set 213. Nor lesse on Thelema this Wonder wrought For with intire and free Submission she Bow'd down her mighty Neck and low did lout To every Thing which Logo's eye did see And then she hugg'd them fast within her Heart Resolved never more with them to part 214. With high and holy Joy replenished Was humble Psyche at this happy Sight All Catholik Verities at large were spred In her bright Soule whence Scruples took their flight Resigning all that Region to be Possest by Satisfactions Clarity 215. Ten thousand Thanks to courteous Truth she paid And would as many times have paid them o'r But Phylax her excesse of Passion staid Telling her she must now imploy that Store She here had gain'd where need call'd for it and Study how to enrich her native Land 216. With that she Rose but strait fell down again Before the Throne to pay her Homage to The Queen who now high in her Heart did reign And then with sweeter Cheer prepar'd to goe Having receiv'd a Benediction from Ecclesia for her dear Viaticum 217. But as she went she bless'd the blessed Place And ô how happy are the Soules said she Who in this Holy Courts illustrious Face May be Attendants and these Glories see With constant freedome which all Heav'n can dart With one short glimpse on the Spectators Heart 218. O happy They who in this Hall may live Perpetualy these noble Spoiles to read And Acclamations of Honor give To Her who all these Monsters Blood did shed To Her whom all the World doth yeild to be As large as is it Selfe in Victory 219. O happy They who have but leave to dwell Here in this Praeface to that larger Blisse This noble Portch alone doth far excell The fulnesse of all other Palaces This is the Morning unto Glories Day The Brink of Joy the Top of Heav'ns High-way 220. O happy They who in this beauteous Court May wait upon the Portch and feed their Eyes And with their Eyes their Hearts in any Sort Upon this House and Home of Mysteries This Neighbourhood to Blisse would serve to be Sufficient Felicity for Me. 221. O happy They who may permitted be Ev'n in this Realm of Thorns and craggie Waies This Field of Hardship and Perplexity This Maze of Fears and Snares to spend their Days The Prospect to yon' Palace would suffice To blesse and sweeten all Anxieties 222. O happy They who may remain with Thee Disconsolate Mayd ev'n at this outmost Gate The Comfort but of such Vicinity To yon' fair Towers would easily abate The trouble of thy Sighs and ne'r would I Repent of Panance's sad
115. Had Delilahs tongue not been so Musical It ne're had ventur'd upon Sampsons might Nor in his Chamber conquer'd more than all Philistia's Powers could do in open fight But when the strongest Bands were all in vain With her soft-language she did Him enchain 116. Puff'd with Heav'n-daring Pride and Victorie Great Holofernes fear'd no dint of Fear When walled in with his vast Army He Vow'd the Jews stock up by the roots to tear Yet Judiths glozing Tongue made Him her Prey His Heart first then his Head she stole away 117. O then let Prudence stop thy sober Ear When any worldly Charm doth tune its strings Much happier is it to be deaf than hear The Musick of those faithlesse Flourishings Which sliely stealing to thine Heart will there With everlasting Jars thy Conscience tear 118. The Voice of Truth though wonderous plain it be Flows with more Hony than all Tongues beside With Hony so sincere that Puritie It selfe a long with all its Streams doth glide Here mayst Thou be Luxuriant yet thine Ear No Surfet from this Fulnesse needs to Fear 119. Let others slander't with the Name of Pride I 'l stile it Virtue in Thee to disdain That empty Foam of Prattle which doth ride Upon the idly-busy Tongues of vain And shallow Men who though they all the Day Spin out their long Discourses Nothing say 120. Have patience tickling Accents to forbear A while that Thou the best of them mayst gain Years post about apace the Time draws near When thou exalted on Heav'ns glistering Plain With those rich Notes shalt enterteined be Whose Consort makes the Sphearik Melodie 121. My Philax's blessed Voice there shalt Thou hear And all the Winged Quire whose dainty Tongues The Triumphs and the Joyes of Heav'n doe chear With the brisk Raptures of their lofty Songs Songs which no Ears must drink but those which are On purpose kept and not enchanted here 122. On Acoe so hard this Lesson grated That in her Heart she wish'd she had been deaf Yet since their old Rebellion was defeated She feard the Senses could have no Releif By standing out And well she knew beside Who most should feel it when her Queen did chide 123. She Sigh'd and let her Lute-strings down as though She loosned had with them those of her Heart And then O sweetest Wombe of Pleasures how Shall Acoe live said she now I must part With Thee And here She fetch'd another Sigh And kiss'd her Lute and gently laid it by 124. Next Osphresis came in who in one Hand Courted a Civet Box and in the other A nest of Rose-budds built upon a wand Of Juniper and neatly set together Which Psyche seeing Use it warilie Roses wear Pricks as well as Leaves said She. 125. Could all the Balme of Gilead all the spice Of happy Arabie but inform Thee how To counterplot those fatal Miseries Whose certain seeds in thine own heart doe grow I could approve such Helps But They We know Are frail and mortal Things as well as Thou 126. Alas so deep Corruption rooted is Ev'n in the Centre of thy fading Breast That O dours strive in vain to weed and dresse The tainted Soile How largely 't is confest By former Ages dead and rotten now How sure Mortality in Man doth grow 127. And shall the Son and the Apparent Heir Of Rottennesse mispend his Time upon Unnecessary Sweets by which the Air Trimm'd and inriched is and that alone Sweets which each silly Wind which whisketh by Snatcheth and scattereth in proud Mockery 128. Why should'st Thou take such Pains to make the Prey Of stinking Wormes so sweet and dainty why Upon perfumed Pillows wouldst Thou lay Thine Head when it to rot must onely lie This Cost and Pains for nothing usefull be But doubling of Corruptions Victorie 129. Wert not a cheaper and a wiser plot Aforehand with displeasant Smells to be Acquainted that the brackish Grave may not By being strange be bitterer to Thee At least not to be tainted with the Sweet Contagion which in Perfumes We meet 130. O Osphresis that Thou didst truely know What Crops of Odours and what Beds of Spice What Hills of Sweets what Plains of flowers grow In the delicious Lap of Paradise Thou couldst not chuse but generously disdain These poor Perfumes of Earth to entertain 131. Yet all the purest Names of Odours are Short of that everlasting Incense which From Heav'ns high Altar doth its volumes rear And Blessednes it self with sweets inrich Save than thy self for these which will one day Thine Abstinence with Plenitude repay 132. And yet mean while I will to thee allow Far richer sweets then those Thou throw'st away In virtue's Garden doe but walk and 〈◊〉 hou Shalt meet such spicy Breaths of holy Joy As will compell thy ravish'd Soule to think This Worlds Gentilest sent but pretious stink 133. Such Breaths as will perfume thy heart indeed And all thy Thoughts and Words aromatize Untill their odorous Emanations breed Delight in Gods own Nostrils who doth prize The sweetnes of all Incense by the sent Of the meek sacrificers pure intent 134. Here Osphresis thrice on her Civet and Thrice on her smiling Posie smelt but yet At length she dropp'd them out of either Hand When she perceived Psyche's Countenance set With a wfull Resolution and strait As Geusis enterd meekly did retreat 135. Geusis brought in her Hand an Honey-combe Which prompted Psyche thus the Maid to greet What if that Nest of sweetnes hath no room For any thing that is intirely Sweet What if the Bee hath in that Cabinet More of her sting than of her Honey set 136. Full hard it is to eat no more than may True friend-ship keep twixt safetie and delight The least Excess will Thee to Pangs betray And break thy Work by day thy Rest by night Indeed a surfet goes most sweetly down But strait with Gall the heart is overflown 137. The raging Sword 's a keen and ravenous Thing Witness whole Armies swallow'd up by it Yet Luxury doth wear a sharper sting And wider ope her hungry Throat is set No reeking steel thou ever yet didst see Blush in the guilt of so much Blood as Shee 138. Of his Sobrieties sage stayed weight Had great Belshazzar not been cozen'd by The cruel sweetnes of her soft Deceit He had not in Heav'ns scale of Equity Been found so light as by Darius down From his high Empires Zenith to be blown 139. Of Her in time had Dives taken heed When in each Dish for him She lay in wait When into every Boule her self she shed And made of each superfluous Bit a Bait Beneath the wretched Gallant had not lain Acting poor Lazarus his part in vain 140. His broiled Tongue had not so clamorous been In lamentable Out-cries to obtain No crowned Cups of lustie foaming Wine But a few drops of Water to restrain Those free and jovial flames which now did trie On him another kinde of Luxurie 141. But Lazarus whose meek
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
ne're have kindled their own flames So all the Rays of Goodnes which make fine Created Eyes are Sparks of the Divine 328. Meer Sparks indeed who of their weaknes by Their twinckling tremor plain Confession make But Gods supream original Bonity From its own Home doth its Dimensions take It lives and flames in his unbounded Breast And fils with sweetest fulnes all its nest 329. Heer The lema leap'd in who now had found That God alone was absolutely good And fain she would her ravish'd self have drown'd In this delicious Attribute's deer flood But Psyche reind her in whose life she meant Should in another sacrifice be spent 330. Her fourth days Task was wonderous hard and high For now her thoughts adventured to look On the vast Volumes of Immensitie Which were the sacred admirable Book Of her great Makers face a Book which made All Heav'n and Earth to lesse than Nothing fade 331. But as her Contemplations wander'd here The further they went on the further they Were from their end and in their boundlesse Spheat Lost both themselves and their increasing way Yet Psyche found her Heart fill'd with Delight Thus to be lost from Morning unto Night 332. Oft did she cry What though by Loosing I Am fain to finde and by being Blinde to See What though I cannot Comprehend but by Granting mine own want of Capacitie I am content dear Lord since I by this Negation thy Greatnes doe Confesse 333. I see thou art Immense and Infinite Therefore I see thee not yet see thee more By this unable and denying sight Than they whose saucy Eyes dare by the poor Comparison of whatsoe'r it be Expresse the Measure of the Deitie 334. But since thou art so great ô mighty Lord. Whence is it that Mans narrow Heart to thee An acceptable dwelling can afford How is it that thy Eave's Immensitie Shrinks up thy Nature's which is yet as great As 't was before ev'n in this litle seat 335. The fifth day summond all her Might to view The matchlesse Power of the Deitie Strait in her face the whole Creation flew With witnes of its Author's strength which she Read from the fairest Heav'ns sublimest Crest Down to the gloomy Centre 's lowest Nest. 336. And though the universal Fabrick were The full Expansion of Magnificence Yet oft she chose the smallest Character Of close short-writ Epitomies and thence Observ'd Gods finger-worke in little flies As great as was his Arms in widest skies 337. But Man took up her deepest Admiration Man the rich extract of all things beside The wondrous Juncture of the whole Creation By which the Heav'n unto the Earth is ty'd Yea more than Heav'n for God unto the Creature Is married by none but Humane Nature 338. Yet not content thus at the second Hand To feed her hungry Meditations she Gallantly made a further venture and Gaz'd on her Makers naked Potencie Where she discover'd strength enough to build More Worlds than Atoms she in this beheld 339. No Bounds nor Bars she saw which could forbid The pleasure of his Hand but onely those Which Contradiction had established Yet they were not his Power to enclose But to demonstrate that his noble Might Could nothing doe but what was True and Right 340. O how she pittied those Princes who Upon exterior helps misplace the Name Of strength and dread not what all foes can doe If they have once prevail'd with vaunting Fame To publish to the World their numerous Force Of Castles Ships Arms Money Men and Horse 341. For what are those swoll'n Names unto a King Whose Arms as short whose Sinews are as weak As are his meanest Servants who can bring No Legions into the field nor wreak His challeng'd furie on his ready foe Unless His be his Subjects Pleasure too 342. Can his sole Word the Battell fight and wrest The Laurell from his strugling Enemies O no his Power doth in Others rest More than himself and if by Mutinies Unhappy Spark Rebellions flame breaks out By his own Strength his Overthrow is wrought 343. But Psyche saw how her Creators Might Fast unto his own Will alone was cham'd Omnipotence when e'r he pleas'd to fight 〈◊〉 all his Marches for it reignd In 〈◊〉 vast Hand which doth support and stay All other Arms from mouldering away 344. Yet though thus Potent He is also 〈◊〉 And She as such the sixt Day Him admired Deeply she weighed how all Ages held One Principle of Boldness and conspired Against their Patient God as if his strong Right-hand were bound because He held his Tongue 345. Amaz'd she was to see how He kept under Incensed Justice who would fain have thrown His ready Veng'ance dress'd in dreadfull Thunder In Warrs in Plagues in Drought in Famine down Upon the wretched Heads and Hearts of those Who durst in spight of Mercy be his Foes 346. Indeed she saw that Mercy fix her Eye Upon the Rainbow where she seem'd to read An Obligation of her Lenitie Though Heav'n-defying Sin bore up its Head Never so high Yet by her own Consent Yea and Desire that Signall Bow was bent 347. The Bow was bent yet not to shoot but show How Mercy bound her self to doe her best The World to shelter from a second Blow Which from the first her onely Love releast Else had the Deluge not repented and To Earth made restitution of drie Land 348. This Speculation inform'd her how Much more heroick is the Victory When Sweetness wreaths the Bay about the Brow Than when plain force doth snatch it thither He In whom both are supreme takes more delight In conquering by his Mercy than his Might 349. And ô may I said when Night at length Warn'd this her Meditation to conclude Not by the Dint of thy all-conquering Strength Dear Lord but by thy Mercy be subdu'd If on a Worme thy Power thou wilt trie O let it be the Might of Lenity 350. But then the seavnth Day gave her Thoughts their cue To trace the Wonders of his Glory which Did from the antecedent Week accrew And with transcendent Brightnes Him enrich Brightness which gave Heav'ns Quire their task to sing Eternal Hallelujahs to their King 351. And ravish'd heer with mighty Joy and Love She needs would take with Them her Part of Praise With utmost Zeals intension she strove Her Acclamations to their Key to raise And though she could not sing so high nor clear Yet did her Musick please Heavn's candid ear 352. She Thought and Sung and then she Thought again For still new floods came rouling in upon Her God's other Attributes illustrious Train Themselves in Homage pay unto his Honour In whose incomparable Vastness they Can all their owne Infinitudes display 353. What ever breaths or lives or has the least Share of Existence constant Tribute brings Unto this Treasurie as well's the best And brightest Cherub yea ev'n empty Things Defects and Sinns though not by Doing yet By Suffring what they merit render it 354. And shall
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
The silliest Flocks who would themselves commit To Him who leaves them free to any Wrong And tels them plainly they must suffer it For his dear sake Right dear indeed if they Their lives unto His Memory must pay 72. Mad were the Sheep which would attendant be Upon a Sheepheard who did them assure That for that onely Cause the Tyrannie Of thousand Wolves and Bears they must endure Nay Sheep would never be so sheepish yet Men to this Paradox themselves submit 73. Grant Heav'n be in reversion their own What shall the fondlings get by being there Who must eternaly be crouching down And paying Praise's tribute to His Ear Who will requite them with a Chain which shall Keep ev'n their Wils in everlasting Thrall 74. Were not their Soules more generous if they The gallant freedome of our Hell would choose Which knows not what it meaneth to Obey But le ts full Blasphemy for ever loose Faint-hearted fools who needs will Vassals be For fear least I should make them truely free 75. Thou see'st this sin is crying and for high Revenge beats loud upon my royal Ear And should my Fury wake and instantly Those mad 〈◊〉 all in peeces tear Surely my Justice I could well acquit However envious Heav'n would raile at it 76. But I for this doth best become a King A better rellish finde in Lenity I know the Galileans Tongues doe ring With restlesse Clamours on my Tyranny Forgetting that their Lord did banish Me From Heav'n against all Law and Equitie 77. Yet shall not they Me so ignoble make As to requite their Basenesse in its kinde No let them henceforth Demonstration take In what a pack of Forgeries combin'd Unto my Charge they lay all Cruelties Judge all the World who Father is of lyes 78. For I resolved am at first to try Them by my royall Mercy to reclaim Far rather would I win them thus than by Stern Vengeance utterly extirpate them The Peoples fault alas is not so great As His whose Gospel Pipe charm'd them to it 79. My pleasure therefore is that thou mak'st speed To Britain and divulge my Proclamation Of Grace and Pardon unto every Head Which strait abjures that dangerous Innovation And penitent for his Christian Heresie With orthodox Devotion Bows to Me. 80. But if my princely favour be despised Both Heav'n and Earth must needs my Rage approve Denounce all Vengance that can be devised By scorn'd and therefore most indignant Love Make all the stupid stubborn Rebels feel That Maries Son cannot my Wrath repell 81. This said The Furie who had all this while Smiled in hopes of her new Task made haste To take her Coach and thought each step a Mile As through the spatious House to it she past Then mounting at the Gate they parted He Home to his Hell and to wards Britain She. 82. Forth with in terrible Magnificence An hundred Trumpets sent their Voice before To tell the People that their awfull Prince Her Progress now began That stately Roar Through every street imperiously flew And warned 〈◊〉 this mightie sight to view 83. When lo the sweating throngs bespred her way With admirations of her Pomp and Train Before the Chariot two road single they Suspition were and Envy both did rein Their fitting Steeds the one a Fox the other A Wolfe and forced them to march together 84. Next follow'd Pride upon a sirly Horse Whose stomack neer as high as hers did swell Fire sparkled in his eyes and martial force In the bent Bow of his large neck did dwell About he flung his Foam and champ'd his Bit For both his Rider he disdain'd and it 85. But she an Ensigne in her right Hand held Whose bosome she displayed to the Winde Forth with the Flag with stately fulnes swell'd Wherein the Tyrants golden Scutcheon shin'd A wide-spred Eagle whose faire Pinions seem'd To bear her up still as the Colours stream'd 86. Then came the Coach which two strange Monsters drew For one a dreadfull Lybian Dragon was Who from his Mouth did flaming Sulphure spew And poisned all the Way which he did passe The other an enormous Crocodile The most accursed Son of happy Nile 87. On them two feirce Postillions mounted were Intolerable head-strong Anger who To lash her Dragon never did forbear Though he with Furie's violent Feet did goe And Cruelty whose Heart was harder than Her knotty 〈◊〉 black iron Skin 88. Upon the Coachbox sate a Driver hight Selfe-will a mad-braind most outrageous He Who in impatient Speed doth still delight Though thousand Perils in his Passage be Never could Hils or Dales or Sea or Land Or desperate Precipices make Him stand 89. The Metall of the Chariot all was Brasse Bright burning Brasse which upon either side With sharp and cruel Hooks thick platted was To mow down All it met In this did ride The dreadfull Queen a Queen of mighty Fame Who hath not heard of Persecutions Name 90. Whatever makes the Tigres Faces be Of ravenous Crueltie the hideous Book With indefatigable Industry She had transcrib'd into her monstrous Look Heav'n sheild all pious Soules and turn their Fears To generous Faith when ever She appears 91. Her Coat is Steell besmeared all with blood And in her Hand she holds a Twist of Snakes With which though still her Coachman never stood Eternaly she threshes Him and makes His furious Speedmore speedy grow that she Might at her Prey as soons her Wishes be 92. Thus whirl'd she through the Popular Rout and flew To her desired Isle the straitest way Behinde the Coach her cursed Train she drew All glad to tread her cruel Steps for they No other were but her own hellish Brood Whom she had nurs'd and fatned up with Blood 93. Upon a Goat more stinking far than he Rode Ravishment who threw his licorish Eyes And they black fire on every Company Of Females of what everage or guise The Chariots haste he curs'd a thousand times Which snatch'd Him from the fuel of his Crimes 94. Perch'd on a Vultures back was 〈◊〉 who In length of 〈◊〉 did that Bird exceed Starv'd with 〈◊〉 though fat in Spoils she so 〈◊〉 was that still she wish'd more speed Had hurried on the Coach that ravenous she Might sooner at her British Banquet be 95. Upon an Ostrich more unnatural Than was her barbarous Bird rode Astorgie Vowing aloud to tear in sunder all Those cords of love which did together tie The Soules of Parents and of Children and Break the sweet Links of every Nuptial Band. 96. Mounted upon an Hydra Heresie With more and stranger heads than had her Steed Rejoyc'd in hope that now contagious she Her Poison to another World should spread And Albions Sands which brideled in the Sea Should by her stouter Tide o'r-flowed be 97. On a black grizlie Dog rode Profanation She who ne'r learn'd distinction of Place Or Time or Things who never yet could fashion A modest Look or paint upon her face The least glimpse of a
Judge for this his treacherous Love And sooner I said He my Self will burn Then Incense to an Idoll Could you prove Your favour would not surely me destroy I it would hug with humble Thanks and Joy 178. But Sir I am not now to learn that they On whom you thrust the Name of Deities Are weaker far than We poore things of Clay And that the Carpenter you so despise Is He who fram'd both you and me and all The Fabrick of this universal Ball. 179. And His revenging Arm it is which now Lasheth the World with those Calamities Which to the charge of our Religion you So freely lay your own Idolatries Force Him to Justice who had rather be Known unto all his World by Lenitie 180. If he thinks fit to rescue Me it is Not all your Power or your Queens can stand Against his Might Yet though I must by His Permitted be to your tyrannick Hand His Pleasure dearer is than life to Me I durst Die but dare not Apostate be 181. No Sea repulsed by a solid Rock E'r swell'd and foam'd and roar'd with more disdain Than now the Judge to heare the Prisner mock His Gods and Him His throat he wide did strain And cry'd then let Him Burn since He denies To offer make Him be Joves Sacrifice 182. The Souldiers who where much afrayd least He Should have accepted of the Judges Grace Rejoyc'd and clapp'd their cursed Hands to see That to their rage he now condemned was Away they hale him to the stake and there A Fort of Fagots round about him rear 183. Then with a Brand they from Joves Altar brought The Pile they kindle and blow up the flame Which as it rose they bellow'd out a Shout And cry'd May this Reward betide all them Who scorn the Gods and fondly trust in Him Who from the Crosse could not himself redeem 184. But milde Vranius having kiss'd the stake And every Fagot which his Lips could reach Strong supplications unto Heav'n did make For pardon for his raging Murderers which Blinded with spight and Superstition Perceived not at all what they had done 185. Then purer than the Flame and brighter far Which mounted from his Pile his Soule did fly Higher than that it flew and reach'd the Sphear Not of the Stars but of Felicity Where it was welcom'd to its final Home By the illustrious Crown of Martyrdome 186. So when brave Gold hath by the Cruelty Of the incensed Furnace been refined It s genuine Substance is allow'd to be With the Imperial Image fairly signed Free leave and full authority it has Current through all its Soveraigns Realm to passe 187. Psyche who with sweet Tendernesse attended 〈◊〉 is holy Tragick-Comedie No 〈◊〉 saw how gloriously it ended But 〈◊〉 with her pious Plaudit she Forgetfull of the furious Standers by Thus eas'd her Soules exultant Ecstasie 188. Goe valiant Saint thy Conquest is compleat Goe where immortal Laurel ready is With endlesse Triumphs thy brave Head to meet Goe and possesse thy Masters Realm of Blisse Thy Name and Fame shall reverend be beneath So long as Piety on earth shall breath 189. O may poor Psyche but obtain the Grace Though at the price of all the Worlds worst spight To kisse thy glorious Feet and win a place Where on thy Triumph I may wait O might I through thy hottest Flames climbe after Thee And from this mortal Drosse refined be 190. This pious Passion well beseemed Her And made good Musick in all holy Ears But like flat Discord it did grate and jar Upon the Soldiers whose most studious Cares Were how to tune their Curses to a Key Of wilde impetuous Importunity 191. And how intolerable unto Them Was this her Note they make her fully feel For running on her in a surious Stream With headlong haste they hurry her untill They come unto the Judge in Hopes that He Their bloody Hungers Caterer would be 192. Here they exclaim that this bold Woman was As manly as the Priest in wickednesse That she nor fear'd nor blush'd to make his Case Heav'ns Quarrel and his cursed Death to blesse That she must needs as guilty be as He Of Sins Perfection Christianity 193. Yea of the worst and foulest Part of it Witnesse the Sheltre of the Night and Cave In which they took them napping which could fit None but Lusts filthy Work And now you have Just Sir said they arreigned here before Your Judgment Seat a Christian and a Whore 194. But she commanded by the Judge to make Her own Apologie which best said he Will be evinc'd if you that 〈◊〉 take And by your Offring choak all Calumnie With elevated Eyes thank'd Heav'n for this Occasion to aspire unto her Blisse 195. Then spreading all her face with gallant Joy Like a brave Champion ready for the fight Or like a Bride dress'd on her wedding Day Or silver Venus smiling in the Night Or brisk Aurora garnishing the Morn Or goodly Ceres golden in her Corn 196. Or rather like that glorious Deacon who First op'd the rubie Gate of Martyrdome Whom sweet and princely Beams embellish'd so That Heav'n it selfe aforehand seem'd to come And pitch upon his Face which to his Foes An Angels Count'nance did in Mans disclose 197. She thus began No Confutation I But Thanks alone to my Accusers owe Who charge on Me no vulgar Piety But rank me with Vranius and allow That simple I deserve no lesse than he With Martyrdomes fair Crown adornd to be 198. Onely I must take leave to tell my Foes Their Spight in one thing much mistaketh Me For if I freedome had my Flames to choose I rather would for ever schorched be With all Hells burning Sulphure than give way That Lnsts black Fire should make my hearts its 〈◊〉 199. But how have I demean'd my Selfe that You Wise Sir should think this wretched Life to Me Can be more pretious than the Faith I owe To Him who can from Deaths Captivity Redeem his Subjects and a Course will take Uranius from his Ashes how to rake 200. If e'r this Tongue of mine was known to spill The least Consent or seeming Approbation Of You or of your Gods which sure my Will Was never privie to this Detestation May wipe it off and make my Guilt proceed As high as my Accusers it did plead 201. Jove is no more nay not so much to Me As you or as the meanest Wight that lives He to your Fancies ows his Deity And from your Superstition receives His livelihood and therefore well may you Be bold with him and what you please allow 202. Sometimes a Bull must serve sometimes a Swan For King of Gods Men sometimes a shoure Of Gold and when you kindest are a Man But such a Man as waste's his God-ships Power In Lust and Luxurie that prudent Yee May by your Gods Example wicked be 203. And must I offer Incense to perfume His Name the Name of Filth and Stinks must I Tempted by such a wretched Bait presume
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
On desolate Psyche who at first was stroke For unexpectedly the Fiend appeared And with a sudden dint at her fell look And yet not so as to be beaten over For strait her strength and self she did recover 101. The Tower thus which at the furious Blast Of rushing Tempests yeilds a while to quake Forgetteth not withall to stand more fast Than those proud Buildings which disdain to shake And therefore by an instant Ruine down From their exalted Confidence are thrown 102. Dispair percerving that her looks were vain Drew her more dangerous Weapon out and this Was her be witching tongur which she did strain Unto the highest Key of Crastines And casting down her luggage thus assaid To doe as much upon the constant Maid 103. If I thy doubtfull Count'nance read aright Thou neither understandest who am I Nor who thy Selfe But this thy 〈◊〉 plight So charms my Pitty that I must descrie Both unto Thee and if thou wilt befriend Thy selfe thou maist thy 〈◊〉 state amend 104. I knew my 〈◊〉 speaketh nothing lesse Than 〈◊〉 But Things which fairest be Doe often veil in their enchanting Dresse The 〈◊〉 Stings of odious Treachery And soher Wisdome alway doth commend 〈…〉 Friend 105. Were it not so thy Selfe hadst never strove Against the 〈◊〉 Tide of Things below 〈◊〉 sull alwayes of the soothing Love With which the Worlds inviting Smiles did slow Were it not so what Price could be so high To 〈◊〉 Thee thus thy Selfe to Mortisic 106. Suspect not then my Looks which needs must show Like Terrors most abhorred Book to them Whose vain deluded Bosomes overflow With secular Pleasures frothy empty Stream These think each Winde though it would blow them to The Haven will prove a Storm and them undoe 107. But thy Condition if Thou weigh'st it right Will teach Thee better what concerns thy Blisse Remember then that since Thou saw'st the Light Thou ne'r had st reason to be friends with this Unhappy Life which from thy Cradle to This Houre hath swarm'd with Nothing but thy wo. 108. The dainty Budds of thy young Vigorous years Serv'd not trim a Gatland for Delight By Virtue 's rigid and untimely Cares They blasted were and Thou ev'n in despight Of blooming Tendernesse preventedst Time And provedst old and withered in thy Prime 109. Whilst other Maydons 〈◊〉 for 〈◊〉 joy Gather d the sweetest 〈◊〉 of cheerly 〈◊〉 Thou joyn'dst thy self in marriage to 〈◊〉 Living a 〈◊〉 and Single 〈◊〉 And thus of Griefs a numerous 〈◊〉 Thou springing from thy virgin 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 110. 〈◊〉 from this Isle of Blisse thy native Home Thy 〈◊〉 Zeal drove Thee into the East Where Thou about 〈◊〉 Palistine didst rome Both to the Place a 〈◊〉 and to Rest What found'st thou there but thine own Loss whilst Thou 〈…〉 which the 〈◊〉 did dow 111. Alas the dear 〈◊〉 of thy Lord Which with thine hankering Eys thou there didst read Did but Assurance to thy Soule afford That He its onely Joy to Heav n was 〈◊〉 And surely here at home Thou wert as neer The skies as thou wert in thine Exile there 112. Thus having wasted out thy Strength and Time And Credit too with those who lov'd Thee best Back wert thou hurried to thy British Clime Lake a 〈◊〉 wearied Bird to her poor Nest Where when thou countedst up thy Journeys Gains Thou onely foundst thy Labour for thy Pains 113. Then fired by unhappy Piety Upon thy Selfe thou didst the Tyrant play Thy lamentable Body she weth by Its ghastly Leanesse how thou strov'st to slay Thy guiltlesse Flesh and what Pains thou didst 〈◊〉 Languid and senselesse every Sense to make 114. And for no other End but to refine Thy Selfe from this dull clogging Earth unto A State which might thy backward Spouse 〈◊〉 To love thy loyal Heart which laboured so To trace his hardiest Steps and cheerly tosse Upon her Shoulders his most heavy Crosse. 115. Yet when thou justly didst thy Boon expect Lesse due unto Uranius than to Thee Unto a Dungeon He did thee reject A Place how far from 〈◊〉 Liberty Where thou who in the 〈◊〉 long'dst to expire Wert forc'd to lead a dying Life in 〈◊〉 116. Remember what intolerable Chains Into thy Soule their cruel 〈◊〉 prest What Heaps of boiling Sores and 〈◊〉 Pains Were pour'd upon Thee and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Whence when the Romane 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 prepared 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 thee free thy freedome 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 117. It was debarred by no other Hand But that which rather should have lent thee Aid What Phylax did was by thy Lords Command When from that Gaole he stole thee and betray'd Thy Hopes of Martyrdome which now was grown Mature and offered 〈◊〉 thine Head its Crown 118. I grant thy torturing Sores He healed but Deserv'd nor Pay nor Thanks for that his Cure Which did but thy repaired Body put In a fit able posture to endure This greater Load whose mercilesle Excesse Doth thy unpittied Shoulders 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 119. Shoulders unpittied by Him from whom Thou hadst most reason to expect Relief But in his cruel Ears there is no Room To lodge and entertain the Suit of Grief Had there been any surely He would not Thy mighty Supplications out have shut 120. How has the Stroke of thy impetuous Crie Taught this dumb Desert Mournings Dialect Whilst all its Rocks and Caverns shaken by Thy Groans and Lamentations them reflect To Heav'n with doubled fervor and agree Fellow-Petitioners to be with Thee 121. And yet thy grated Throat is not so drie As are thy now exhausted Eyes from whence Thy Spouse's cruel Heart to mollifie Thou freely pourdst thine utmost Influence But still the Stone which on his Breast doth grow Will not by all those Drops be pierced through 122. O no! unkindly He doth turn away His Face least any Glimpie should leap to Thee And thou long flatter'd by his Favours Day Art now betrayed to the Misery Of blackest Night O may all Soules beware How they Heav'ns wiley Prince doe trust too far 123. Alas thy desolate Heart too well doth know That thy Condition I doe not mistake And with secure Presumption Psyche Thou Maist from my Art this sound Conclusion make That I who can discover all thy Grief May tell what physick will yeild thee 〈◊〉 124. Thy Phylax once esteem'd thy trustiest Friend Well understands the depth of thy Disease Yet finding all his skill too weak to lend Thee any real Aid himselfe he frees From fruitlesse Trouble and is fled away Ashamed now his weaknesse to betray 125. I know not how but alwaies at a Pinch When great Extremities crave equal Aid Your common Comforters use still to flinch And crie Heav'ns Will be done But I afraid Of nothing am no not Heav'ns Destination 〈◊〉 along can feel no Desperation 126. I I the onely able Doctresse who In desperate Cases certain Physick give In pitty of thy unregarded Woe Am hither come prepared to relceve Thy helplesse Heart Nor doe I ask a Fee My 〈◊〉 Guerdon shall thy
at their Soveraigns hearts they aime their Swords 199. He call'd no Lightning from the Clouds or from His potent Eyes to flash on Juda's face And throw on his bold Lips that flaming Doom Which due unto their odious Treason was He charg'd not Earth her dreadfull Mouth to ope And on the hellish Kisser close it up 200. O no With heav'nly Tendernesse He cries Friend wherefore art Thou come Strange Miracle Of gentle Patience Who can comprise Thy blessed depth Upon the face of Hell Shall the sweet Name of Friend be printed by Him who beholds and feels its Treachery 201. Is foul Ingratitude plain Apostacie Right down Rebellion now become a freind Or rather is not this Disciple by His curs'd Revolt transformd into a Feind And will his wronged Lord by none but this Deare Name revenge his most invenomed Kisse 202. O Psyche Jesus tortured was to see Judas himself into all Torments throw And by this Charme of noblest Lenitie Back into Heav'n indeavored him to draw He knew Loves Cords were strong and from his Crime By these he strives to hale rescue Him 203. Why art thou come thus to betray thy Freind Why art thou come with Arms against a Lamb Why art thou come all Bonds of Love to rend Why art thou come to fight for thine own shame Why art thou come with this strong Preparation For thy Lords death for thine own Damnation 204. Thy Kisse I in its naturall Language will Kindely interpret and make my Replie In the same Dialect if thou wilt still Imbrace my ever faithfull Courtesie And yeild that Blisse may in thy heart have room Say then my Friend say wherefore art Thou come 205. Thus did the Prince of sweetnesse plead and wooe But the deaf Serpent stopp'd his cursed ear In 's heart the Thirty Peeces chinked so That He no other Harmonie can hear When loe the Souldiers knowing now their Prey On Iesus fell and haled Him away 206. For love of Thee and all his other Brides Thus Psyche was thy Lord content to be Sold at so vile a Rate and Mock'd besides Ev'n by his own Disciples Treacherie Shrink not if thy neer Freinds abuse thy love Since Gods own Favorites so faithlesse prove 207. And let the World by this one Copie learn That hell-bred Boldnesse is not strange or new By which most Fostered Favoured Creatures turn Flat Enemies and lead an armed Crew Of Miscreanrs with bloody Impudence Against the Powers and Person of their Prince 208. But when no mercy could the Traytor winne To entertain his Pardon Vengeance made Haste to poure out her selfe upon his sinne For Satan who his heart possessed had His Treason in his proper Coin repayd And the Betrayer fatally betrayd 209. Into a Corner of the Garden where Thoughtfull disconsolate Night sate thick and black She crowded him alone and having there Prepar'd and fitted her infernall Rack With studied furie not his Body but His captivated Soule on it she put 210. For by the beames of their owne hellish Light Unto Iscariots intellectuall Eyes Herselfe She did display Excessive Fright The Traytors wretched Heart did strait surprise Each Joynt and Member quak'd and sweat and He Felt in this Garden too his Agonie 211. He saw feirce Beizebubs sulphureous face Flaming with swarthy fire His Horns he saw Mounted high on his head with dreadfull grace Which his erected snakie Hair did knaw He saw his adamantine Nails and Paws His steely Teeth his brazen gaping Jaws 212. He saw the Tempest of his flaming Breath Which swarthy Volumes spred of stinking smoke He saw the windows of eternal Death Flung open in his staring Eyes whose Look Slew him alive He saw his Iron Mace His burning feet and his enraged Pace 213. He saw his forked Tail in tryumph thrown Upon his shoulder and his irefull Brow With cruell scorn contracted in a frown Rampant Implacabilitie he saw In every Gesture and did plainly read The full Description of Immortal Dread 214. When loe stern Lucifer threw out his hand And by her Throat his woefull Conscience took And now he cries I 'l make thee understand What thou hast chose and what thou hast forsook Look on this dainty Pair of Damsells heer Who more than Heav'n and God to thee were dear 215. Just at the word He opened to his view The horrid Carkaise of foule Avarice And fouler Treachery not in her hue Of borrowed Smiles and outside Comelinesse But in her naked native Filth and then Shaking his Horns and Paws He thus went on 216. Maddest of Fools how many Hells dost Thou Deserve who with such Hags could'st fall in love When Jesus woo'd thy Heart Well take Them now Th' hast paid so dearly for Them They will prove Sweet Brides and pretiously adorn thy Bed Which in the Bottome of my Realm is spred 217. If any Part at all there be in Them Which is not horrid may my Scepter break And may my royall Tongue no more Blaspheam For once I tell Thee true and Thou mayst take The Devills Word There are few Furies who In monstrous Ouglinesse thy Wives out-goe 218. And was thy Lord so vile a Thing that He Might not with these in Competition stand Did those unthankfull Eyes of thine e'r see A face inrich'd with such pure Beauties and Majestick Graces as in his did shine Making Humanity appear Divine 219. Most stupid Sot How often hast Thou seen Divinity from His great Hand break out How oft might plain Omnipotence have been Read in the Miracles He daily wrought Casting forth all my stoutest Fiends Yet Thou And here He beat the Soule to Me wouldst bow 220. Nay never houle 't is but the Earnest this Of what 's to come Thou needs wouldst bow to Me To Me of whom that Christ the Conqueror is He threw Me down from Heav'ns Sublimity Into that Pit of Pangs where I am now The damned Soveraign of such as Thou 221. Had'st not as good have bowed unto Him Whose Yoak Thou would'st have lighter found than mine I tell thee Judas I am but a grim And rugged Lord what Prizes once I win Infallibly for evermore shall frie In Torments bottomlesse Extremity 222. And is my Hell my everlasting Spight My unrelenting Furie so much worth That Paradise and Heav'n and Jesus might Not finde acceptance Brings Damnation forth Such strong Temptations Can eternal Blisse Not wooe and win as potently as this 223. Sure Hell and Death are gallant Things and I Cannot allow Thee them untill Thou hast Through all Contempt and Hate and Infamie Which Salem or the World can yeild thee past That Preface shall for that eternall Smart Which gapes longs for Thee prepare thine Heart 224. Goe then the Ages Blot and Monster goe Let every Mouth spit on thine hated Head Let every Tongue thick Curses on Thee strow Let every Hand be arm'd to strike Thee dead Let every Eye abhorre thy balefull Sight Let all the World revenge thy Traytorous Spight 225. Let Heav'n
Heav'n and Jesu's Company now grown Things so indifferent that my longing Eyes Should spare their Tears when I am snatch'd away From them and fore'd on for did Earth to stay 283. O Phylax Thou hast not repreived Me From any of my Pains I 'm at the Stake I burn I burn nor will my Agonie But by my final Dissolution slake She fainted here But Phylax took her up And hasted thus her Sorrows Tide to stop 284. Courage my Dear and be assured I Have not deceiv'd thee of try Noble Aim Thy Spouse designs a Martyrdome whereby To draw thee to himselfe but not the same By which he snatch'd 〈◊〉 no for thee He treasured hath a braven 〈◊〉 285. 〈◊〉 long more strong and 〈◊〉 Pain 〈…〉 be than from the Spight Of this though 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈…〉 Thou 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for 〈◊〉 Fight Then 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 fought and this shall be The Theater of thy mighty 〈◊〉 286. Here in this very Place shalt thou maintain 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Combat whilst thy Spouse and all His 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 on his royal Train Will be Spectators O doe not forestall Thy greater Fame by hasty Zeal but stay With patience for thy Coronation Day 287. This ample Answer such Refreshment blew On Psyche s Heats that meek and pliant she Cool'd her importunate Desires and grew Content to wait the full Maturity Of her affected laurel though as yet She little knew how she must Gather 〈◊〉 PSYCHE OR LOVES MYSTERIE CANTO XIX The Dereliction ARGUMENT PSyche abandon'd to the Solitude Of Soule and Body by the resolute Might Of patient loyal Constancie subdu'd Hels Champion Dispair in single fight Yet in her Conquest no free Joy could have Because she still was Derelictions Slave 1. HOw grim how cold how comfortless soe'r Thou look st dear Solitude sure in thy breast Some worthy Sweets thou dost 〈◊〉 bear Witness that Vilenesse and that high Request By which betwixt the lazie earthly heart And Pious Soule thou so divided art 2. He who when e'r his Conscience him doth take Alone it 〈◊〉 full on his guilty face A large Inditement doth against thee make And on thee poures the bottome of Disgrace Calling thee Mother of vexatious Folly Of Horrors and dispaning Melancholy 3. He no where but among his roaring Boyes Can meet a quire whose Musick suits his Ear Whil'st in the tumult of that boistrous noise He drowns those thoughts which would his bosome tear And in the throng of Sinners cannot finde Free room to take a view of his own Minde 4. And thus unhappy Man he onely lives In his outside and therefore liveth not But when sure ' Death his wofull summons gives Strangely amazed and not knowing what To do or think in vain for help he cryes And to himself a wretched stranger dies 5. He dies and leaves that Body which would not Endure to be a little while alone In the Graves tedious Solitude to rot Whilst in the Tumult of Damnation His now uncloysterd Soule is forc'd to dwel Amongst the Roarers of eternal Hell 6. But he who dares his Bosome ransack and Take a survey of every thing within That he may always ready have at Hand An Inventary of himself and win Time upon Death by prudent Preparation To entertain and kisse his Consummation 7. He who both Leisure and Desire can finde To sequester Impertinences that His proper busnes he may onely minde And by industrious Thrift mend his Estate So that though naked he goes to his grave An endlesse stock of riches he may have 8. He He 's the Man whom all the Cities joyes And proud excess the Countries hearty sport The Licence endlesse Fashions glittering Toies And all the Pomp and Glories of the Court Cannot so far enchant but sober he Can of plain Solitude inamored be 9. He there more store of Company can meet And of more high and worthy quality Than in the thickest Theatre doth sweat Where Spectacles professe to court the Eye Such Presses justle out all Heav'n but He Reads it at large in this Vacuitie 10. An undisturbed view he here can take Of all its fairest and its loftiest stories His Contemplation here can freely break Through all the Treasures of its boundlesse glories And in the Court where Blisse and Pleasures reign With Saints and Angels brave Acquaintance gain 11. Here to the Universe's King can He His free attendance pay from Morn to Night Whil'st in the everlasting One and Three He learns both to Divide and to Unite His mystick Homage as the Spirits Gale Makes him through this Abysse of Wonders sail 12. Here he doth always stand upon his Watch That when the roaring Lyon who doth run About the World his carelesse Preys to catch Hunteth that way his On-set he may shun Or with awakened and prepared Might Confront his Foe and entertain the fight 13. Here from the saplesse Worlds enchanting Breast Where nothing but the froth of Milk doth spring Himself he weans and studies how to feast Upon some masculine substantial thing Which may not mock him with short false Content But to his Soul yeeld solid Nutriment 14. No Humor of the Times no Garbs or Fashions Can here take up his Care No boistrous News Of publike Woes or fatal Alterations The Calm of this his Harbour can abuse No storms can rage but in the open seas His private Bay the Cloister is of Ease 15. His righteous Soule is not afflicted here To See and Hear how wretched Worms defie Omnipotence's King and scorn to fear The Jaws of Hell to which their Villany Makes them apparent Heirs but take delight The Love and Blood of Jesus to despight 16. Here past the reach of those bewitching Darts Which flash with radiant Bane from wanton eyes And make both timorous and martial hearts Yeeld to fantastick self-made Wounds He lies Secure and safe and undisturbed may Prepare for his eternal Nuptial Day 17. Here leave and leisure he enjoys to weed And cultivate his Heart in which he plants Each Herb of Grace and sows the blessed Seed Of every Virtue which his bosome wants In certain hopes his labours will conclude In a full Harvest of Beatitude 18. With prudent foresight here he doth provide An ample stock that he may ready be To bear all Charges which may Him betide In managing a publike Life if he Be called from his private Nest and made Against the thronging stream of Sin to wade 19. More furnished with strength of Argument From learned Athens never Student came Though He his nimblest years and Spirits had spent The Engins of most active Wit to frame Then doth this sagely-sprightfull Champion from His private Schole of publick Virtue come 20. For having learned their due Scorn to throw Upon those Incerests and Baits which make The biass'd Hearts of Men unmanly grow And cowardly Sins sneaking By paths take In spight of all the World which dares say No He in the King of Heav'ns High-way will go 21. Thus in all Sorts of high Advantage this Life of
Retirement doth the Garland wear Which therefore onely dear and pretious is To Them who Sons of Heav'n and Wisdome are And which insipid timorous Soules as They Cannot beleeve so never can enjoy 22. Psyche who now conducted was into This solitary State though fervent She Did in Uraniu's Steps desire to goe Yet since it might not on the sudden be Appeas'd the flames of her Impatience by The streaming Comforts of her Privacy 23. If in the tumult of the World She still Had mingled been the Crowd had surely slain her For all Earths furniture and friendlyest Skill Could not with any Solace entertain her Her Heart already was in Heav'n and She Was best where She could least behinde it be 24. And that was here where by no secular Care Or Interruption She molested was But dwelling in a calmie Hemisphear Upon free Meditations Wings could Passe Above the Moon and Sun and Troops of fair Stars which upon Heav'ns Plains embatled are 25. But as at length She gan to pant again For that dear Day of final Conflict She By Phyla'x Promise hoped to obtein And that alone Loe on the sudden He Call d thence by other Buisnesse takes his leave Yet telling her He would not her deceive 26. As She made haste to ask the reason He Took Wing and instantly outfled her Eye A Sigh strait strove to follow Him but She Repulsed it with noble Constancy And cri'd It must not and it shall not grieve me Did Heav'n not call Him Phylax would not leave me 27. Then down upon her humble Knees She fell And casting up ward her most loyal Eyes So long as Thou as truely here dost dwell Sweet Lord said She as in the highest skies Though Phyla'x Wings now shelter not my head Yet thine are alwayes o'r thine Handmayd spred 28. Though pretious is His Company to Me Yet not so dear as is thy blessed Will Though here alone a feeble Thing I be I can and dare be more abandon'd still If mighty Thou who never wilt forsake Me With neerer Losses pleased art to rack Me. 29. Fain would I quit the Debt in which to Thee And mine own Vows I stand fain would I prove By combating with any Misery The Truth of my how deep-obliged love Thou bidd'st Us Follow with our Crosse and loe I in thy bloodyest Steps desire to goe 30. I would not to a Figures Courtesie Beholden be in my Affliction nor To such a tender Crosse condemned be As must be helped by a Metaphor To make its hard Name good for that I 'm sure Was true and real which Thou didst endure 31. No golden Plenty do I crave of Thee No soft Content or silken Peace Impart Those favours unto whome Thou wilt for Me Thy sharpest Blessings best will please my Heart My heart which burneth in profound desire Of some Heroick and consuming fire 32. O do not slay Me by denying Death To suffer want of Suffrings is to Me The onely Dregs which from thy deepest Wrath Can squeazed be from this one Misery Which is the Pith of all I beg repreive I dy in torment if in ease I live 33. Jesus whose Ear is alwayes ope to them Who speak Loves Dialect straight heard her Crie Which made such welcome Musick unto him That her Petition he could not deny His sweetned Bitternesse apace he sent And bless'd her with her begged Punishment 34. Charis accustom'd open House to keep In her free Heart he there shut up so close That now no nimble glimmering Ray could peep Forth from that Nest of Light Nor could she choose But be suspitious that the Spring was dri'd From whence no Emanations did glide 35. When loe the Welkin which before was clear And flowed with the Suns transparent Gold Started from its fair Looks with sudden fear And did in swarthy Beams it selfe enfold Day was abash'd to see how boldly Night Incroach'd upon her and despis'd her Light 36. The Aire presageing what outrageous Pain Would tear her tender weatherbeaten Sides With hollow Groans and Mournings did complain Aforehand of the Storm which as she 〈◊〉 She but awakes and so provokes to rage With louder furie on the whole Earths Stage 37. Forthwith the Clouds came tumbling one upon Anothers back for fear to loose their Place And Office in that blinde Confusion With which the Element now gravid was Close quaking in his Cave lay every Beast And every Bird lamenting in his Nest. 38. Strange Phantoms dressed in a spurious Light Fed by foule Sulphure flashed all about Fell griezly Ghosts arrayed all in Fright Both with themselves and one another fought Whole Troops of gastly Fiends and Furies rent Their Snakes as through the sable Aire they went 39. The labouring Clouds at length with open Crie Brought forth their Griefe and thunder'd their Complaint The most obdurate Rocks could not deny Their Pitty but straight trembled and grew faint So did the massie Earth which quak'd to hear The woefull Outcrie of its Neighbour Sphear 40. Psyche alone as yet refus'd to melt By any tremor onely in her Heart A kinde of Numnesse creeping on she felt 'Cause Charis there forbore her wonted Part When loe an heavy black condensed Cloud Down to the Ground before her face did crow'd 41. Where having op'd its hideous Curtains wide Forth at the Gap a Stream of Lightning broke Whose sudden dazeling though now harmlesse Tide The resolute Mayd with some amazement stroke But straight an Hand reach'd out it Selfe and held A mighty Cup with greater Terrors fill'd 42. It held it to her Lip and what before Was Thunder now prov'd an articulate Voice And bad her drink up all that dreadfull Store Since she had been so venturous in her choise She nothing more than Pleasures fear'd and here Was nothing lesse than what her Heart did fear 43. Thus challeng'd by the Voice whose Sound she knew And durst not disobey She sent her Eye Into the Cup to take a plenal View Of the black Liquor which in it did ly Wherein such boyling Horrors she descried That down she prostrate fell and thus she cried 44. Weak Woman as I was how has my Pride My silly Pride betrayed me to Woe On Confidence's Wings I needs would ride Although I towr'd but to my Overthrow Had I remembred that a Worm I am I ne'r had crawl'd so high to mine own Shame 45. How is it Jesu that Griefs mighty Cup Which thou didst once unto the Bottome drink Is to its woefull Brim now filled up What has renu'd this more than deadly Sink Whose Sorrows though to thine they shallow be Yet are too deep for poor unhappy Me. 46. Alas thy naked Anger here I see In which no glimpse of Favour mixed is What will become of weak abandon'd Me Who in thy Count'nance read mine onely Blisse If I be drowned in this Sea of Night And cover'd up from my dear Spouse's sight 47. Sweet was the Cup of which Uranius drunk For being swallow'd up in Streams of Fire