with your rich fragrant favours Nor may nor ever shall those honour'd flowers Be spoil'd by summers heat or winters showers But last when eating time shal gnaw the proudest towers 16 Happy thrice happy times in silver age When generous plants advanc't their lofty crest When honour stoopt to be learn'd wisdomes page When baser weeds starv'd in their frozen nest When th' highest flying Muse still highest climbes And vertues rise keeps down all rising crimes Happy thrice happy age happy thrice happy times 17 But wretched we to whom these iron daies Hard daies afford nor matter nor reward Sings Maro men deride high Maro's layes Their hearts with lead with steel their sense is barr'd Sing Linus or his father as he uses Our Midas eares their well tun'd verse refuses What cares an asse for arts he brayes at sacred Muses 18 But if fond Bavius vent his clowted song Or Maevius chaunt his thoughts in brothell charm The witlesse vulgar in a numerous throng Like summer flies about their dunghills swarm They sneer they grinne Like to his like will move Yet never let them greater mischief prove Then this Who hates not one may he the other love 19 Witnesse our Colin whom though all the Graces And all the Muses nurst whose well taught song Parnassus self and Glorian embraces And all the learn'd and all the shepherds throng Yet all his hopes were crost all suits deni'd Discourag'd scorn'd his writings vilifi'd Poorly poore man he liv'd poorly poore man he di'd 20 And had not that great Hart whose honour'd head Ah lies full low piti'd thy wofull plight There hadst thou lien unwept unburied Unblest nor grac't with any common rite Yet shalt thou live when thy great foe shall sink Beneath his mountain tombe whose fame shall stink And time his blacker name shall blurre with blackest ink 21 O let th' Iambick Muse revenge that wrong Which cannot slumber in thy sheets of lead Let thy abused honour crie as long As there be quills to write or eyes to reade On his rank name let thine own votes be turn'd Oh may that man that hath the Muses scorn'd Alive nor dead be ever of a Muse adorn'd 22 Oft therefore have I chid my tender Muse Oft my chill breast beats off her fluttering wing Yet when new spring her gentle rayes infuse All storms are laid I 'gin to chirp and sing At length soft fires disperst in every vein Yeeld open passage to the thronging train And swelling numbers tide rolls like the surging main 23 So where fair Thames and crooked Isis sonne Payes tribute to his King the mantling stream Encounter'd by the tides now rushing on With equall force of 's way doth doubtfull seem At length the full-grown sea and waters King Chide the bold waves with hollow murmuring Back flie the streams to shroud them in their mother spring 24 Yet thou sweet numerous Muse why should'st thou droop That every vulgar eare thy musick scorns Nor can they rise nor thou so low canst stoop No seed of heav'n takes root in mud or thorns When owls or crows imping their flaggy wing With thy stoln plumes their notes through th' ayer fling Oh shame They howl croke while fond they strain to sing 25 Enough for thee in heav'n to build thy nest Farre be dull thoughts of winning dunghill praise Enough if Kings enthrone thee in their breast And crown their golden crowns with higher baies Enough that those who weare the crown of Kings Great Israels Princes strike thy sweetest strings Heav'ns Dove when high'st he flies flies with thy heav'nly wings 26 Let others trust the seas dare death and hell Search either Inde vaunt of their scarres and wounds Let others their deare breath nay silence sell To fools and swoln not rich stretch out their bounds By spoiling those that live and wronging dead That they may drink in pearl and couch their head In soft but sleeplesse down in rich but restlesse bed 27 Oh let them in their gold quaffe dropsies down Oh let them surfets feast in silver bright While sugar hires the taste the brain to drown And bribes of sauce corrupt false appetite His masters rest health heart life soul to sell. Thus plentie fulnesse sicknesse ring their knell Death weds and beds them first in grave and then in hell 28 But ah let me under some Kentish hill Neare rowling Medway 'mong my shepherd peers With fearlesse merrie-make and piping still Securely passe my few and slow-pac'd yeares While yet the great Augustus of our nation Shuts up old Ianus in this long cessation Strength'ning our pleasing ease and gives us sure vacation 29 There may I master of a little flock Feed my poore lambes and often change their fare My lovely mate shall tend my sparing stock And nurse my little ones with pleasing care Whose love and look shall speak their father plain Health be my feast heav'n hope content my gain So in my little house my lesser heart shall reigne 30 The beech shall yeeld a cool safe canopie While down I fit and chaunt to th' echoing wood Ah singing might I live and singing die So by fair Thames or silver Medwayes floud The dying swan when yeares her temples pierce In musick strains breathes out her life and verse And chaunting her own dirge tides on her watry herse 31 What shall I then need seek a patron out Or begge a favour from a mistris eyes To fence my song against the vulgar rout Or shine upon me with her Geminies What care I if they praise my slender song Or reck I if they do me right or wrong A shepherds blisse nor stands nor falls to ev'ry tongue 32 Great prince of shepherds then thy heav'ns more high Low as our earth here serving ruling there Who taught'st our death to live thy life to die Who when we broke thy bonds our bonds would'st bear Who reignedst in thy heav'n yet felt'st our hell Who God bought'st man whom man though God did sell Who in our flesh our graves and worse our hearts would'st dwell 33 Great Prince of shepherds thou who late didst deigne To lodge thy self within this wretched breast Most wretched breast such guest to entertain Yet oh most happy lodge in such a guest Thou first and last inspire thy sacred skill Guide thou my hand grace thou my artlesse quill So shall I first begin so last shall end thy will 54 Heark then ah heark you gentle shepheard-crue An Isle I fain would sing an Island fair A place too seldome view'd yet still in view Neare as our selves yet farthest from our care Which we by leaving finde by seeking lost A forrain home a strange though native coast Most obvious to all yet most unkown to most 35 Coëvall with the world in her nativitie Which though it now hath pass'd through many ages And still retain'd a naturall proclivitie To ruine compast with a thousand rages Of foe-mens spite which still this Island tosses Yet ever grows more prosp'rous by her
of this doubtfull fight Saw now the field swimme in her Champions bloud And from her heart rent with deep passion sigh'd Limming true sorrow in sad silent art Light grief floats on the tongue but heavie smart Sinks down and deeply lies in centre of the heart 44 What Daedal art such griefs can truely shew Broke heart deep sighs thick sobs burning prayers Baptizing ever limbe in weeping dew Whose swoln eyes pickled up in brinie tears Crystalline rocks corall the lid appeares Compast about with tides of grief and fears Where grief stores fear with sighs and fear stores grief with tears 45 At length sad Sorrow mounted on the wings Of loud-breath'd sighs his leaden weight uprears And vents it self in softest whisperings Follow'd with deadly grones usher'd by tears While her fair hands and watrie shining eyes Were upward bent upon the mourning skies Which seem'd with cloudie brow her grief to sympathize 46 Long while the silent passion wanting vent Made flowing tears her words and eyes her tongue Till Faith Experience Hope assistance lent To shut both floud-gates up with patience strong The streams well ebb'd new hopes some comforts borrow From firmest truth then glimpst the hopefull morrow So spring some dawns of joy so sets the night of sorrow 47 Ah dearest Lord my hearts sole Soveraigne Who sitt'st high mounted on thy burning throne Heark from thy heav'ns where thou dost safely reigne Cloth'd with the golden Sunne and silver Moon Cast down a while thy sweet and gracious eye And low avail that flaming Majestie Deigning thy gentle sight on our sad miserie 48 To thee deare Lord I lift this watrie eye This eye which thou so oft in love hast prais'd This eye with which thou wounded oft wouldst die To thee deare Lord these suppliant hands are rais'd These to be lilies thou hast often told me Which if but once again may ever hold thee Will never let thee loose will never more unfold thee 49 Seest how thy foes despitefull trophies reare Too confident in thy prolong'd delayes Come then oh quickly come my dearest deare When shall I see thee crown'd with conqu'ring bayes And all thy foes trod down and spred as clay When shall I see thy face and glories ray Too long thou stay'st my Love come Love no longer stay 50 Hast thou forgot thy former word and love Or lockt thy sweetnesse up in fierce disdain In vain didst thou those thousand mischiefs prove Are all those griefs thy birth life death in vain Oh no of ill thou onely dost repent thee And in thy dainty mercies most content thee Then why with stay so long so long dost thou torment me 51 Reviving Cordiall of my dying sprite The best Elixar for souls drooping pain Ah now unshade thy face uncloud thy sight See every way 's a trap each path's a train Hells troops my soul beleaguer bow thine eares And hear my cries pierce through my grones fears Sweet Spouse see not my sinnes but through my plaints and tears 52 Let frailty favour sorrow succour move Anchour my life in thy calm streams of bloud Be thou my rock though I poore changeling rove Tost up and down in waves of worldly floud Whil'st I in vale of tears at anchour ride Where windes of earthly thoughts my sails misguide Harbour my fleshly bark safe in thy wounded side 53 Take take my contrite heart thy sacrifice Washt in her eyes that swimmes and sinks in woes See see as seas with windes high working rise So storm so rage so gape thy boasting foes Deare Spouse unlesse thy right hand even steers Oh if thou anchour not these threatning fears Thy ark will sail as deep in bloud as now in tears 54 With that a thundring noise seem'd shake the skie As when with iron wheels through stonie plain A thousand chariots to the battell flie Or when with boistrous rage the swelling main Puft up with mighty windes does hoarsly roar And beating with his waves the trembling shore His sandie girdle scorns breaks earths ramperd doore 55 And straight an Angel full of heav'nly might Three several crowns circled his royall head From Northern coast heaving his blazing light Through all the earth his glorious beams dispread And open laies the Beasts and Dragons shame For to this end th' Almighty did him frame And therefore from supplanting gave his ominous name 56 A silver trumpet oft he loudly blew Frighting the guiltie earth with thundring knell And oft proclaim'd as through the world he flew Babel great Babel lies as low as hell Let every Angel loud his trumpet sound Her heav'n exalted towers in dust are drown'd Babel proud Babel's fall'n and lies as low as ground 57 The broken heav'ns dispart with fearfull noise And from the breach out shoots a suddain light Straight shrilling trumpets with loud sounding voice Give echoing summons to new bloudy fight Well knew the Dragon that all-quelling blast And soon perceiv'd that day must be his last Which strook his frighted heart all his troops aghast 58 Yet full of malice and of stubborn pride Though oft had strove and had been foild as oft Boldly his death and certain fate defi'd And mounted on his flaggie sails aloft With boundlesse spite he long'd to try again A second losse and new death glad and fain To shew his pois'nous hate though ever shew'd in vain 59 So up he rose upon his stretched fails Fearlesse expecting his approaching death So up he rose that th' ayer starts and fails And over-pressed sinks his load beneath So up he rose as does a thunder-cloud Which all the earth with shadows black does shroud So up he rose and through the weary ayer row'd 60 Now his Almighty foe farre off he spies Whose Sun-like arms daz'd the eclipsed day Confounding with their beams lesse-glitt'ring skies Firing the aire with more then heav'nly ray Like thousand Sunnes in one such is their light A subject onely for immortall sprite Which never can be seen but by immortall sight 61 His threatning eyes shine like that dreadfull flame With which the Thunderer arms his angry hand Himself had fairly wrote his wondrous name Which neither earth nor heav'n could understand A hundred crowns like towers beset around His conqu'ring head well may they there abound When all his limbes and troops with gold are richly crown'd 62 His armour all was dy'd in purple bloud In purple bloud of thousand rebell Kings In vain their stubborn powers his arm withstood Their proud necks chain'd he now in triumph brings And breaks their spears cracks their traitour swords Upon whose arms and thigh in golden words Was fairly writ The KING of Kings LORD of Lords 63 His snow-white steed was born of heav'nly kinde Begot by Boreas on the Thracian hills More strong and speedy then his parent Winde And which his foes with fear and horrour fills Out from his mouth a two-edg'd sword he darts Whose sharpest steel the bone and marrow parts And with his keenest
barres which stop all backward going 24 The last full spring out of this left side rises Where three fair Nymphs like Cynthia's self appearing Draw down the stream which all the Isle suffices But stop back-waies some ill revolture fearing This river still it self to lesse dividing At length with thousand little brooks runnes sliding His fellow course along with Hepar chanels guiding 25 Within this Citie is the palace fram'd Where life and lifes companion heat abideth And their attendants passions untam'd Oft very hell in this strait room resideth And did not neighbouring hills cold aires inspiring Allay their rage and mutinous conspiring Heat all it self and all would burn with quenchlesse firing 26 Yet that great Light by whom all heaven shines With borrow'd beams oft leaves his loftie skies And to this lowly seat himself confines Fall then again proud heart now fall to rise Cease earth ah cease proud Babel earth to swell Heav'n blasts high towers stoops to a low-rooft cell First heav'n must dwell in man then man in heav'n shall dwell 27 Close to Kerdia Pneumon takes his seat Built of a lighter frame and spungie mold Hence rise fresh aires to fanne Kerdia's heat Temp'ring those burning fumes with moderate cold It self of largest size distended wide In divers streets and out-wayes multipli'd Yet in one Corporation all are joyntly ti'd 28 Fitly 't is cloath'd with hangings thinne and light Lest too much weight might hinder motion His chiefest use to frame the voice aright The voice which publishes each hidden notion And for that end a long pipe down descends Which here it self in many lesser spends Untill low at the foot of Cephal mount it ends 29 This pipe was built for th' aires safe purveiance To fit each severall voice with perfect sound Therefore of divers matter the conveiance Is finely fram'd the first in circles round In hundred circles bended hard and drie For watrie softnesse is sounds enemie Not altogether close yet meeting very nigh 30 The seconds drith and hardnesse somewhat lesse But smooth and pliable made for extending Fills up the distant circles emptinesse All in one bodie joyntly comprehending The last most soft which where the circles scanted Not fully met supplies what they have wanted Not hurting tender parts which next to this are planted 31 Upon the top there stands the pipes safe covering Made for the voices better modulation Above it foureteen carefull warders hovering Which shut and open it at all occasion The cover in foure parts it self dividing Of substance hard fit for the voices guiding One still unmov'd in Thelu double oft residing 32 Close by this pipe runnes that great chanel down Which from high Cephals mount twice every day Brings to Koilia due provision Straight at whose mouth a floud-gate stops the way Made like an Ivie leaf broad-angle-fashion Of matter hard fitting his operation For swallowing soon to fall and rise for inspiration 33 But see the smoak mounting in village nigh With folded wreaths steals through the quiet aire And mixt with duskie shades in Eastern skie Begins the night and warns us home repair Bright Vesper now hath chang'd his name and place And twinkles in the heav'n with doubtfull face Home then my full-fed lambes the night comes home apace CANT V. BY this the old nights head grown hoary gray Foretold that her approaching end was neare And gladsome birth of young succeeding day Lent a new glory to our Hemispheare The early swains salute the infant ray Then drove the dammes to feed the lambes to play And Thirsil with nights death revives his morning lay 2 The highest region in this little Isle Is both the Islands and Creatours glorie Ah then my creeping Muse and rugged style How dare you pencill out this wondrous storie Oh thou that mad'st this goodly regiment So heav'nly fair of basest element Make this inglorious verse thy glories instrument 3 So shall my flagging Muse to heav'n aspire Where with thy self thy fellow-shepherd sits And warm her pineons at that heav'nly fire But ah such height no earthly shepherd fits Content we here low in this humble vale On slender reeds to sing a slender tale A little boat will need as little sail and gale 4 The third precinct the best and chief of all Though least in compasse and of narrow space Was therefore fram'd like heaven sphericall Of largest figure and of loveliest grace Though shap'd at first the least of all the three Yet highest set in place as in degree And over all the rest bore rule and soveraigntie 5 So of the three parts fair Europe is the least In which this earthly Ball was first divided Yet stronger farre and nobler then the rest Where victorie and learned arts resided And by the Greek and Romane monarchie Swaid both the rest now prest by slaverie Of Mosco and the big-swoln Turkish tyrannie 6 Here all the senses dwell and all the arts Here learned Muses by their silver spring The Citie sever'd in two divers parts Within the walls and Suburbs neighbouring The Suburbs girt but with the common fence Founded with wondrous skill and great expence And therefore beautie here keeps her chief residence 7 And sure for ornament and buildings rare Lovely aspect and ravishing delight Not all the Isle or world with this compare But in the Thelu is the fairer sight These Suburbs many call the Islands face Whose charming beautie and bewitching grace Ofttimes the Prince himself enthralls in fetters base 8 For as this Isle is a short summarie Of all that in this All is wide dispread So th' Islands face is th' Isles Epitomie Where ev'n the Princes thoughts are often read For when that All had finisht every kinde And all his works would in lesse volume binde Fair on the face he wrote the Index of the minde 9 Fair are the Suburbs yet to clearer sight The Cities self more fair and excellent A thick-grown wood not pierc'd with any light Yeelds it some fence and much more ornament The divers-colour'd trees and fresh aray Much grace the town but most the Thelu gay Yet all in winter turn to snow and soon decay 10 Like to some stately work whose queint devices And glitt'ring turrets with brave cunning dight The gazers eye still more and more entices Of th' inner rooms to get a fuller sight Whose beautie much more winnes his ravisht heart That now he onely thinks the outward part To be a worthie cov'ring of so fair an art 11 Foure severall walls beside the common guard For more defence the citie round embrace The first thick soft the second drie and hard As when soft earth before hard stone we place The second all the Citie round enlaces And like a rock with thicker sides embraces For here the Prince his court standing palace places 12 The other two of matter thinne and light And yet the first much harder then the other Both
most I love with just adoring That Mantuan swain who chang'd his slender reed To trumpets martiall voice and warres loud roaring From Corydon to Turnus derring-deed And next our home-bred Colins sweetest firing Their steps not following close but farre admiring To lackey one of these is all my prides aspiring 6 Then you my peers whose quiet expectation Seemeth my backward tale would fain invite Deigne gently heare this purple Islands nation A people never seen yet still in sight Our daily guests and natives yet unknown Our servants born but now commanders grown Our friends and enemies aliens yet still our own 7 Not like those Heroes who in better times This happy Island first inhabited In joy and peace when no rebellious crimes That God-like nation yet dispeop'led Those claim'd their birth from that eternal Light Held th' Isle and rul'd it in their fathers right And in their faces bore their parents image bright 8 For when the Isle that main would fond forsake In which at first it found a happy place And deep was plung'd in that dead hellish lake Back to their father flew this heav'nly race And left the Isle forlorn and desolate That now with fear and wishes all too late Sought in that blackest wave to hide his blacker fate 9 How shall a worm on dust that crawls and feeds Climbe to th' empyreall court where these states reign And there take view of what heav'ns self exceeds The Sunne lesse starres these lights the Sunne distain Their beams divine and beauties do excell What here on earth in aire or heav'n do dwell Such never eye yet saw such never tongue can tell 10 Soon as these Saints the treach'rous Isle forsook Rusht in a false foul fiend-like companie And every fort and every castle took All to this rabble yeeld the soveraigntie The goodly temples which those Heroes plac't By this foul rout were utterly defac't And all their fences strong and all their bulwarks raz'd 11 So where the neatest Badger most abides Deep in the earth she frames her prettie cell And into halls and closulets divides But when the stinking fox with loathsome smell Infects her pleasant cave the cleanly beast So hates her inmate and rank-smelling guest That farre away she flies and leaves her loathed nest 12 But when those Graces at their fathers throne Arriv'd in heav'ns high Court to Justice plain'd How they were wrong'd and forced from their own And what foul people in their dwellings reign'd How th' earth much waxt in ill much wan'd in good So full-ripe vice how blasted vertues bud Begging such vicious weeds might sink in vengefull floud 13 Forth stept the just Dicaea full of rage The first-born daughter of th' Almighty King Ah sacred maid thy kindled ire asswage Who dare abide thy dreadfull thundering Soon as her voice but Father onely spake The faultlesse heav'ns like leaves in Autumne shake And all that glorious throng with horrid palsies quake 14 Heard you not late with what loud trumpet sound Her breath awak'd her fathers sleeping ire The heav'nly armies flam'd earth shook heav'n frown'd And heav'ns dread King call'd for his three-forkt fire Heark how the powerfull words strike through the eare The frighted sense shoots up the staring hair And shakes the trembling soul with fright shudd'ring fear 15 So have I seen the earth strong windes detaining In prison close they scorning to be under Her dull subjection and her power disdaining With horrid struglings tear their bonds in sunder Mean while the wounded earth that forc'd their stay With terrour reels the hils runne farre away And frighted world fears hell breaks out upon the day 16 But see how 'twixt her sister and her sire Soft-hearted Mercy sweetly interposing Settles her panting breast against his fire Pleading for grace and chains of death unloosing Heark from her lips the melting hony flowes The striking Thunderer recals his blowes And every armed souldier down his weapon throwes 17 So when the day wrapt in a cloudie night Puts out the Sunne anon the rattling hail On earth poures down his shot with fell despight His powder spent the Sunne puts off his vail And fair his flaming beauties now unsteeps The plough-man from his bushes gladly peeps And hidden traveller out of his covert creeps 18 Ah fairest maid best essence of thy father Equall unto thy never equall'd sire How in low verse shall thy poore shepherd gather What all the world can ne're enough admire When thy sweet eyes sparkle in chearfull light The brightest day grows pale as leaden night And heav'ns bright burning eye loses his blinded sight 19 Who then those sugred strains can understand Which calm'd thy father and our desp'rate fears And charm'd the nimble lightning in his hand That all unwares it dropt in melting tears Then thou deare swain thy heav'nly load unfraught For she her self hath thee her speeches taught So neare her heav'n they be so farre from humane thought 20 But let my lighter skiffe return again Unto that little Isle which late it left Nor dare to enter in that boundlesse main Or tell the nation from this Island reft But sing that civil strife and home dissension 'Twixt two strong factions with like fierce contention Where never peace is heard nor ever peaces mention 21 For that foul rout which from the Stygian brook Where first they dwelt in midst of death and night By force the left and emptie Island took Claim hence full conquest and possessions right But that fair band which Mercie sent anew The ashes of that first heroick crue From their forefathers claim their right Islands due 22 In their fair look their parents grace appeares Yet their renowned sires were much more glorious For what decaies not with decaying yeares All night and all the day with toil laborious In losse and conquest angrie fresh they fight Nor can the other cease or day or night While th' Isle is doubly rent with endlesse warre and fright 23 As when the Britain and Iberian fleet With resolute and fearlesse expectation On trembling seas with equall fury meet The shore resounds with diverse acclamation Till now at length Spains firie Dons 'gin shrink Down with their ships hope life and courage sink Courage life hope and ships the gaping surges drink 24 But who alas shall teach my ruder breast The names and deeds of these heroick Kings Or downy Muse which now but left the nest Mount from her bush to heav'n with new-born wings Thou sacred maid which from fair Palestine Through all the world hast spread thy brightest shine Kindle thy shepherd-swain with thy light flaming eyn 25 Sacred Thespio which in Sinaies grove First took'st thy being and immortall breath And vaunt'st thy off-spring from the highest Iove Yet deign'dst to dwell with mortalls here beneath With vilest earth and men more vile residing Come holy Virgin in my bosome sliding With thy glad Angel light my blindfold footsteps guiding 26 And thou dread Spirit which at first
Thou beauties lilie set in heav'nly earth Thy fairs unpattern'd all perfections stain Sure heav'n with curious pencil at thy birth In thy rare face her own full picture drew It is a strong verse here to write but true Hyperboles in others are but half thy due 31 Upon her forehead Love his trophies fits A thousand spoils in silver arch displaying And in the midst himself full proudly sits Himself in awfull majestie araying Upon her brows lies his bent Ebon bow And ready shafts deadly those weapons show Yet sweet that death appear'd lovely that deadly blow 32 And at the foot of this celestiall frame Two radiant starres then starres yet better being Endu'd with living fire and seeing flame Yet with heav'ns starres in this too neare agreeing They timely warmth themselves not warm inspire These kindle thousand hearts with hot desire And burning all they see feel in themselves no fire 33 Ye matchlesse starres yet each the others match Heav'ns richest diamonds set on Ammel white From whose bright spheres all grace the Graces catch And will not move but by your load-starres bright How have you stoln and stor'd your armourie With Loves and deaths strong shafts and from your skie Poure down thick showers of darts to force whole armies flie 34 Above those Sunnes two Rainbows high aspire Not in light shews but sadder liveries drest Fair Iris seem'd to mourn in sable tire Yet thus more sweet the greedie eye they feast And but that wondrous face it well allow'd Wondrous it seem'd that two fair Rainbows show'd Above their sparkling Sunnes without or rain or cloud 35 A bed of lilies flower upon her cheek And in the midst was set a circling rose Whose sweet aspect would force Narcissus seek New liveries and fresher colours choose To deck his beauteous head in snowie tire But all in vain for who can hope t' aspire To such a fair which none attain but all admire 36 Her rubie lips lock up from gazing sight A troop of pearls which march in goodly row But when she deignes those precious bones undight Soon heav'nly notes from those divisions flow And with rare musick charm the ravisht eares Danting bold thoughts but cheering modest fears The spheres so onely sing so onely charm the spheres 37 Her daintie breasts like to an Aprill rose From green-silk fillets yet not all unbound Began their little rising heads disclose And fairly spread their silver circlets round From those two bulwarks Love doth safely fight Which swelling easily may seem to sight To be enwombed both of pleasure and delight 38 Yet all these Starres which deck this beauteous skie By force of th' inward Sunne both shine and move Thron'd in her heart sits Loves high majestie In highest majestie the highest Love As when a taper shines in glassie frame The sparkling crystall burns in glitt'ring flame So does that brightest Love brighten this lovely dame 39 Thus and much fairer fair Parthenia Glist'ring in arms her self presents to sight As when th' Amazon Queen Hippolyta With Theseus entred lists in single fight With equall arms her mighty foe opposing Till now her bared head her face disclosing Conquer'd the conquerour wan the fight by losing 40 A thousand Knights woo'd her with busie pain To thousand she her virgin grant deni'd Although her deare-sought love to entertain They all their wit and all their strength appli'd Yet in her heart Love close his scepter swayd That to an heav'nly spouse her thoughts betraid Where she a maiden wife might live and wifely maid 41 Upon her steps a virgin Page attended Fair Erythre whose often-blushing face Sweetly her in-born shame-fac't thoughts commended The faces change prov'd th' hearts unchanged grace Which she a shrine to puritie devotes So when cleare ivorie vermeil fitly blots By stains it fairer grows and lovelier by its spots 42 Her golden hair her silver forehead high Her teeth of solid eyes of liquid pearl But neck and breast no man might bare descrie So sweetly modest was this bashfull girle But that sweet paradise ah could we see On these white mountlets daintier apples be Then those we bought so deare on Edens tempting tree 43 These noble Knights this threatned fort defend These and a thousand moe heroick Swains That to this ' stressed State their service lend To free from force and save from captive chains But now too late the battell to recite For Hesperus heav'ns tapers 'gins to light And warns each starre to wait upon their Mistres Night CANT XI THe early Morn lets out the peeping day And strew'd his paths with golden Marygolds The Moon grows wanne and starres flie all away Whom Lucifer locks up in wonted folds Till light is quencht and heav'n in seas hath flung The headlong day to th' hill the shepherds throng And Thirsil now began to end his task and song 2 Who now alas shall teach my humble vein That never yet durst peep from covert glade But softly learnt for fear to sigh and plain And vent her griefs to silent myrtils shade Who now shall teach to change my oaten quill For trumpet ' larms or humble verses fill With gracefull majestie and loftie rising skill 3 Ah thou dread Spirit shed thy holy fire Thy holy flame into my frozen heart Teach thou my creeping measures to aspire And swell in bigger notes and higher art Teach my low Muse thy fierce alarums ring And raise my soft strain to high thundering Tune thou my loftie song thy battels must I sing 4 Such as thou wert within the sacred breast Of that thrice famous Poet-Shepherd-King And taught'st his heart to frame his Canto's best Of all that e're thy glorious works did sing Or as those holy Fishers once amongs Thou flamedst bright with sparkling parted tongues And brought'st down heav'n to earth in those all-conqu'ring songs 5 These mighty Heroes fill'd with justest rage To be in narrow walls so closely pent Glitt'ring in arms and goodly equipage Stood at the Castles gate now ready bent To sally out and meet the enemie A hot disdain sparkled in every eye Breathing out hatefull warre and deadly enmitie 6 Thither repairs the carefull Intellect With his fair Spouse Voletta heav'nly fair With both their daughter whose divine aspect Though now sad damps of sorrow much empair Yet through those clouds did shine so glorious bright That every eye did homage to the sight Yeelding their captive hearts to that commanding light 7 But who may hope to paint such majestie Or shadow well such beautie such a face Such beauteous face unseen to mortall eye Whose powerfull looks and more then mortall grace Loves self hath lov'd leaving his heav'nly throne With amorous sighs and many a lovely mone Whom all the world would wooe woo'd her his onely one 8 Farre be that boldnesse from thy humble swain Fairest Ectecta to describe thy beautie And with unable skill thy glory stain Which ever he admires with humble dutie But who to view such blaze of beautie longs Go
various flowers damask the fragrant seat And all the grove perfume in wonted ranks Securely sit them down and sweetly play At length thus Thirsil ends his broken lay Left that the stealing night his later song might stay 2 Thrice oh thrice happie shepherds life and state When Courts are happinesse unhappie pawns His cottage low and safely humble gate Shuts out proud fortune with her scorns and fawns No feared treason breaks his quiet sleep Singing all day his flocks he learns to keep Himself as innocent as are his simple sheep 3 No Serian worms he knows that with their threed Draw out their silken lives nor silken pride His lambes warm fleece well fits his little need Not in that proud Sidonian tincture di'd No emptie hopes no courtly fears him fright No begging wants his middle fortune bite But sweet content exiles both miserie and spite 4 In stead of musick and base flattering tongues Which wait to first-salute my Lords uprise The cheerfull lark wakes him with early songs And birds sweet whistling notes unlock his eyes In countrey playes is all the strife he uses Or sing or dance unto the rurall Muses And but in musicks sports all difference refuses 5 His certain life that never can deceive him Is full of thousand sweets and rich content The smooth-leav'd beeches in the field receive him With coolest shades till noon-tides rage is spent His life is neither tost in boist'rous seas Of troublous world nor lost in slothfull ease Pleas'd full blest he lives when he his God can please 6 His bed of wool yeelds safe and quiet sleeps While by his side his faithfull spouse hath place His little sonne into his bosome creeps The lively picture of his fathers face Never his humble house or state torment him Lesse he could like if lesse his God had sent him And when he dies green turfs with grassie tombe content him 7 The worlds great Light his lowly state hath blest And left his heav'n to be a shepherd base Thousand sweet songs he to his pipe addrest Swift rivers stood beasts trees stones ranne apace And serpents flew to heare his softest strains He fed his flock where rolling Iordan reignes There took our rags gave us his robes and bore our pains 8 Then thou high Light whom shepherds low adore Teach me oh do thou teach thy humble swain To raise my creeping song from earthly floor Fill thou my empty breast with loftie strain That singing of thy warres and dreadfull fight My notes may thunder out thy conqu'ring might And 'twixt the golden starres cut out her towring flight 9 The mightie Generall moved with the news Of those foure famous Knights so neare decay With hastie speed the conquering foe pursues At last he spies where they were led away Forc't to obey the Victours proud commands Soon did he rush into the middle bands And cut the slavish cords from their captived hands 10 And for the Knights were faint he quickly sent To Penitence whom Phoebus taught his art Which she had eakt with long experiment For many a soul and many a wounded heart Had she restor'd and brought to life again The broken spirit with grief and horrour slain That oft reviv'd yet di'd as oft with smarting pain 11 For she in severall baths their wounds did steep The first of Rue which purg'd the foul infection And cur'd the deepest wound by wounding deep Then would she make another strange confection And mix it with Nepenthe soveraigne Wherewith she quickly swag'd the rankling pain Thus she the Knights recur'd and washt from sinfull stain 12 Mean time the fight now fiercer grows then ever For all his troops the Dragon hither drew The two Twin Loves whom no place mought dissever And Knowledge with his train begins anew To strike fresh summons up and hot alarms In midst great Fido clad in sunne-like arms With his unmatched force repairs all former harms 13 So when the Sunne shines in bright Taurus head Returning tempests all with winter fill And still successive storms fresh mustered The timely yeare in his first springings kill And oft it breathes a while then straight again Doubly powres out his spite in smoking rain The countreys vows hopes swimme on the drowned plain 14 The lovely Twinnes ride 'gainst the Cyprian bands Chasing their troops now with no feigned flight Their broken shafts lie scatter'd on the sands Themselves for fear quite vanisht out of sight Against these conquerours Hypocrisie And Cosmo's hated bands with Echthros slie And all that rout do march bold the Twinnes defie 15 Elpinus mightie enemies assail But Doubt of all the other most infested That oft his fainting courage 'gan to fail More by his craft then ods of force molested For oft the treachour chang'd his weapon light And sudden alter'd his first kinde of fight And oft himself and shape transform'd with cunning slight 16 So that great river with Alcides striving In Oeneus court for the Aetolian Maid To divers shapes his fluent limbes contriving From manly form in serpents frame he staid Sweeping with speckled breast the dustie land Then like a bull with horns did armed stand His hanging dewlap trail'd along the golden sand 17 Such shapes and changing fashions much dismaid him That oft he stagger'd with unwonted fright And but his brother Fido oft did aid him There had he fell in unacquainted fight But he would still his wavering strength maintain And chase that Monster through the sandie plain Which from him fled apace but oft return'd again 18 Yet him more strong and cunning foes withstand Whom he with greater skill and strength defi'd Foul Ignorance with all her owl-ey'd band Oft-starting Fear Distrust ne're satisfi'd And fond Suspect and thousand other foes Whom farre he drives with his unequall blows And with his flaming sword their fainting armie mows 19 As when bloud-guilty earth for vengeance cries If greatest things with lesse we may compare The mighty Thunderer through the ayer flies While snatching whirlwinds open waies prepare Dark clouds spread out their sable curtains o're him And Angels on their flaming wings up bore him Mean time the guilty heav'ns for fear flie fast before him 20 There while he on the windes proud pineons rides Down with his fire some lofty mount he throwes And fills the low vale with his ruin'd sides Or on some church his three-forkt dart bestowes Which yet his sacred worship foul mistakes Down falls the spire the body fearfull quakes Nor sure to fall or stand with doubtfull trembling shakes 21 With Fido Knowledge went who order'd right His mighty hands so now his scatter'd troops Make head again filling their broken fight While with new change the Dragons armie droops And from the following victours headlong runne Yet still the Dragon frustrates what is done And eas'ly makes them lose what they so hardly wonne 22 Out of his gorge a hellish smoke he drew That all the field with foggie mist enwraps As when Tiphoeus from his panch
constant ever And men though ever firm are constant never For men that to one fair their passions binde Must ever change as do those changing fairs So as she alters alters still their minde And with their fading Loves their love impairs Therefore still moving as the fair they loved Most do they move by being most unmoved But women when their lovers change their graces What first in them they lov'd love now in others Affecting still the same in divers places So never change their love but change their lovers Therefore their minde is firm and constant prov'd Seeing they ever love what first they lov'd Their love ty'd to some vertue cannot stray Shifting the outside oft the inside never But men when now their Loves dissolv'd to clay Indeed are nothing still in love persever How then can such fond men be constant made That nothing love or but a nothing shade What fool commends a stone for never moving Or blames the speedie heav'ns for ever ranging Cease then fond men to blaze your constant loving Love's firie winged light and therefore changing Fond man that thinks such fire and aire to fetter All change men for the worse women for better To my onely chosen Valentine and wife Anagram MAYSTRESS ELISABETH VINCENT IS MY BRESTS CHASTE VALENTINE THink not fair love that Chance my hand directed To make my choice my chance blinde Chance hands Could never see what most my minde affected But heav'n that ever with chaste true love stands Lent eyes to see what most my heart respected Then do not thou resist what heav'n commands But yeeld thee his who must be ever thine My heart thy altar is my breast thy shrine Thy name for ever is My brests chaste Valentine A translation of Boëthius the third book and last verse HAppie man whose perfect sight Views the over-flowing light Happie man that canst unbinde Th' earth-barres pounding up the minde Once his wives quick fate lamenting Orpheus sat his hair all renting While the speedie woods came running And rivers stood to heare his cunning And the lion with the hart Joyn'd side to side to heare his art Hares ran with the dogs along Not from dogs but to his song But when all his verses turning Onely fann'd his poore hearts burning And his grief came but the faster His verse all easing but his master Of the higher powers complaining Down he went to hell disdaining There his silver lute-strings hitting And his potent verses fitting All the sweets that e're he took From his sacred mothers brook What his double sorrow gives him And love that doubly-double grieves him There he spends to move deaf hell Charming divels with his spell And with sweetest asking leave Does the lords of ghosts deceive The dog whose never quiet yell Affrights sad souls in night that dwell Pricks up now his thrice two eares To howl or bark or whine he fears Struck with dumbe wonder at those songs He wisht more eares and fewer tongues Charon amaz'd his oare foreslowes While the boat the sculler rowes Tantal might have eaten now The fruit as still as is the bough But he fool no hunger fearing Starv'd his taste to feed his hearing Ixion though his wheel stood still Still was rapt with musicks skill At length the Judge of souls with pitie Yeelds as conquer'd with his dittie Let 's give back his spouses herse Purchas'd with so pleasing verse Yet this law shall binde our gift He turn not till ha's Tartar left Who to laws can lovers draw Love in love is onely law Now almost he left the night When he first turn'd back his sight And at once while her he ey'd His Love he saw and lost and dy'd So who strives out of the night To bring his soul to joy in light Yet again turns back his eye To view left hells deformitie Though he seems enlightned more Yet is blacker then afore A translation of Boëthius book 2 verse 7. WHo onely honour seeks with prone affection And thinks that glory is his greatest blisse First let him view the heav'ns wide-stretched section Then in some mappe the earths short narrownesse Well may he blush to see his name not able To fill one quarter of so brief a table Why then should high-grow'n mindes so much rejoyce To draw their stubborn necks from mans subjection For though loud fame stretch high her pratling voice To blaze abroad their vertues great pefection Though goodly titles of their house adorn them With ancient Heraldrie yet death doth scorn them The high and base lie in the self same grave No difference there between a King and slave Where now are true Fabricius bones remaining Who knowes where Brutus or rough Cato lives Onely a weak report their names sustaining In records old a slender knowledge gives Yet when we reade the deeds of men inhumed Can we by that know them long since consumed Now therefore lie you buried and forgotten Nor can report frustrate encroaching death Or if you think when you are dead and rotten You live again by fame and vulgar breath When with times shadows this false glory wanes You die again but this your glorie gains Upon my brother Mr G. F. his book entituled Christs Victorie and Triumph FOnd lads that spend so fast your posting time Too posting time that spends your time as fast To chant light toyes or frame some wanton rhyme Where idle boyes may glut their lustfull taste Or else with praise to clothe some fleshly slime With virgin roses and fair lilies chaste While itching blouds and youthfull eares adore it But wiser men and once your selves will most abhorre it But thou most neare most deare in this of thine Hast prov'd the Muses not to Venus bound Such as thy matter such thy Muse divine Or thou such grace with Mercie 's self hast found That she her self deignes in thy leaves to shine Or stoll'n from heav'n thou brought'st this verse to ground Which frights the nummed soul with fearfull thunder And soon with honeyed dews thawes it'twixt joy and wonder Then do not thou malicious tongues esteem The glasse through which an envious eye doth gaze Can eas'ly make a mole-hill mountain seem His praise dispraises his dispraises praise Enough if best men best thy labours deem And to the highest pitch thy merit raise While all the Muses to thy song decree Victorious Triumph Triumphant Victorie Upon the B. of Exon. Doct. Hall his Meditations MOst wretched soul that here carowsing pleasure Hath all his heav'n on earth and ne're distressed Enjoyes these fond delights without all measure And freely living thus is thus deceased Ah greatest curse so to be ever blessed For where to live is heav'n 't is hell to die Ah wretch that here begins hells miserie Most bessed soul that lifted up with wings Of faith and love leaves this base habitation And scorning sluggish earth to heav'n up springs On earth yet still in heav'n by meditation With the souls eye foreseeing th' heav'nly station Then
'gins his life when he 's of life bereaven Ah blessed soul that here begins his heaven Upon the Contemplations of the B. of Excester given to the Ladie E. W. at New-yeares-tide THis little worlds two little starres are eyes And he that all eyes framed fram'd all others Downward to fall but these to climbe the skies There to acquaint them with their starrie brothers Planets fixt in the head their spheare of sense Yet wandring still through heav'ns circumference The Intellect being their Intelligence Dull then that heavie soul which ever bent On earth and earthly toyes his heav'n neglects Content with that which cannot give content What thy foot scorning kicks thy soul respects Fond soul thy eye will up to heav'n erect thee Thou it direct'st and must it now direct thee Dull heavie soul thy scholar must correct thee Thrice happie soul that guided by thine eyes Art mounted up unto that starrie nation And leaving there thy sense entrest the skies Enshrin'd and sainted there by contemplation Heav'n thou enjoy'st on earth and now bereaven Of life a new life to thy soul is given Thrice happie soul that hast a double heaven That sacred hand which to this yeare hath brought you Perfect your yeares and with your yeares his graces And when his will unto his will hath wrought you Conduct your soul unto those happie places Where thousand joyes and pleasures ever new And blessings thicker then the morning dew With endlesse sweets rain on that heav'nly crue These Asclepiads of Mr. H. S. translated and enlarged Nè Verbum mihi sit mortua Litera Nec Christi Meritum Gratia vanida Sed Verbum fatuo sola Scientia Et Christus misero sola Redemptio UNletter'd Word which never eare could heare Unwritten Word which never eye could see Yet syllabled in flesh-spell'd character That so to senses thou might'st subject be Since thou in bread art stampt in print art read Let not thy print-stampt Word to me be dead Thou all-contriving all-deserving Spirit Made flesh to die that so thou might'st be mine That thou in us and we in thee might merit We thine thou ours thou humane we divine Let not my dead lifes merit my dead heart Forfeit so deare a purchas'd deaths desert Thou Sunne of wisdome knowledge infinite Made folly to the wise night to prophane Be I thy Moon oh let thy sacred light Increase to th' full and never never wane Wise folly set in me fond wisdome rise Make me renounce my wisdome to be wise Thou Life eternall purest blessednesse Made mortal wretched sinne it self for me Shew me my death my sin my wretchednesse That I may flourish shine and live in thee So I with praise shall sing thy life deaths storie O thou my Merit Life my Wisdome Glorie Certain of the royal Prophets Psalmes metaphrased Psalm 42. which agrees with the tune of Like the Hermite poore LOok as an hart with sweat and bloud embrued Chas'd and embost thirsts in the soil to be So my poore soul with eager foes pursued Looks longs O Lord pines pants and faints for thee When O my God when shall I come in place To see thy light and view thy glorious face I dine and sup with sighs with grones and teares While all thy foes mine eares with taunting load Who now thy cries who now thy prayer heares Where is say they where is thy boasted God My molten heart deep plung'd in sad despairs Runnes forth to thee in streams of teares and prayers With grief I think on those sweet now past dayes When to thy house my troops with joy I led We sang we danc'd we chanted sacred layes No men so haste to wine no bride to bed Why droop'st my soul why faint'st thou in my breast Wait still with praise his presence is thy rest My famisht soul driv'n from thy sweetest word From Hermon hill and Jordans swelling brook To thee laments sighs deep to thee O Lord To thee sends back her hungrie longing look Flouds of thy wrath breed flouds of grief and fears And flouds of griefbreed flouds of plaints and teares His early light with morn these clouds shall clear These drearie clouds and storms of sad despairs Sure am I in the night his songs to heare Sweet songs of joy as well as he my prayers I 'le say My God why slight'st thou my distresse While all my foes my wearie soul oppresse My cruel foes both thee and me upbraid They cut my heart they vant that bitter word Where is thy trust where is thy hope they said Where is thy God where is thy boasted Lord Why droop'st my soul why faint'st thou in my breast Wait still with praise his presence is thy rest Psal. 63. which may be sung as The widow or mock-widow O Lord before the morning Gives heav'n warning To let out the day My wakefull eyes Look for thy rise And wait to let in thy joyfull ray Lank hunger here peoples the desert cells Here thirst fills up the emptie wells How longs my flesh for that bread without leaven How thirsts my soul for that wine of heaven Such oh to taste thy ravishing grace Such in thy house to view thy glorious face Thy love thy light thy faces Bright-shining graces Whose unchanged ray Knows nor morns dawn Nor evenings wane How farre surmount they lifes winter day My heart to thy glorie tunes all his strings My tongue thy praises cheerly sings And till I slumber and death shall undresse me Thus will I sing thus will I blesse thee Fill me with love oh fill me with praise So shall I vent due thanks in joyfull layes When night all eyes hath quenched And thoughts lie drenched In silence and rest Then will I all Thy waies recall And look on thy light in darknesse best When my poore soul wounded had lost the field Thou wast my fort thou wast my shield Safe in thy trenches I boldly will vant me There will I sing there will I chant thee There I 'le triumph in thy banner of grace My conqu'ring arms shall be thy arms embrace My foes from deeps ascending In rage transcending Assaulting me sore Into their hell Are headlong fell There shall they lie there howl and roare There let deserv'd torments their spirits tear Feel they worst ills and worse yet fear But with his spouse thine anointed in pleasure Shall reigne and joy past time or measure There new delights new pleasures still spring Haste there oh haste my soul to dance and sing PSAL. 127. To the tune of that Psalme IF God build not the house and lay The ground-work sure who ever build It cannot stand one stormie day If God be not the cities shield If he be not their barres and wall In vain is watch-tower men and all Though then thou wak'st when others rest Though rising thou prevent'st the Sunne Though with lean care thou daily feast Thy labour 's lost and thou undone But God his childe will feed and keep And draw the curtains to
his winding-sheets he dead doth shew To buried souls the way to live anew And in his grave more powerfully now preacheth Who will not learn when that a dead man teacheth Upon Mr. Perkins his printed sermons PErkins our wonder living though long dead In this white paper as a winding-sheet And in this velome lies enveloped Yet still he lives guiding the erring feet Speaking now to our eyes though buried If once so well much better now he teacheth Who will not heare when a live-dead man preacheth FINIS ELISA OR AN ELEGIE UPON THE UNRIPE DECEASE OF Sr. ANTONIE IRBY Composed at the request and for a monument of his surviving Ladie Anagramma Antonius Irbeus An virtus obiens Esto mei mortisque memor Funus virtuti foenus Printed by the printers to the Vniversitie of Cambridge 1633. To the right worthy Knight Sr. ANTONIE IRBY SIR I am altogether I think unknown to you as having never seen you since your infancie neither do I now desire to be known by this trifle But I cannot rule these few lines composed presently after your fathers decease They are broken from me and will see more light then they deserve I wish there were any thing in them worthy of your vacant houres Such as they are yours they are by inheritance As an Vrn therefore of your fathers ashes I beseech you receive them for his sake and from him who desires in some better employment to be Your servant P. F. ELISA LOok as a stagge pierc'd with a fatal bow As by a wood he walks securely feeding In coverts thick conceales his deadly blow And feeling death swim in his endles bleeding His heavy head his fainting strength exceeding Bids woods adieu so sinks into his grave Green brakes and primrose sweet his seemly herse embrave 2 So lay a gentle Knight now full of death With clowdie eyes his latest houre expecting And by his side sucking his fleeting breath His weeping Spouse Elisa life neglecting And all her beauteous faires with grief infecting Her cheek as pale as his 't were hard to scanne If death or sorrows face did look more pale or wanne 3 Close by her sister fair Alicia sits Fairest Alicia to whose sweetest graces His teares and sighs a fellow passion fits Upon her eye his throne Love sorrow places There Comfort Sadnesse Beautie Grief embraces Pitie might seem a while that face to borrow And thither now was come to comfort death sorrow 4 At length lowd Grief thus with a fearfull shriek His trumpet sounds a battell joy defying Spreading his colours in Elisa's cheek And from her eyes his watch-tower farre espying With Hope Delight and Joy and Comfort flying Thus with her tongue their coward flight pursues While sighs shrieks tears give chace with never fainting crues 5 Thou traitour Joy that in prosperitie So lowdly vaunt'st whither ah whither fliest And thou that bragg'st never from life to flie False Hope ah whither now so speedy hiest In vain thy winged feet so fast thou pliest Hope thou art dead and Joy in Hope relying Bleeds in his hopelesse wounds and in his death lies dying 6 But then Alicia in whose cheerfull eye Comfort with Grief Hope with Compassion lived Renews the fight If Joy and Comfort die The fault is yours so much too much you grieved That Hope could never hope to be relieved If all your hopes to one poore hope you binde No marvel if one fled not one remains behinde 7 Fond hopes on life so weak a threed depending Weak as the threed such knots so weakly tying But heav'nly joyes are circular ne're ending Sure as the rock on which they grow and lying In heav'n increase by losse live best by dying Then let your hope on those sure joyes depend Which live grow by death waste not when they spend 8 Then she Great Lord thy judgements righteous be To make good ill when to our ill we use it Good leads us to the greatest good to Thee But we to other ends most fond abuse it A common fault yet cannot that excuse it We love thy gifts and take them gladly ever We love them ah too much more then we love the giver 9 So falling low upon her humbled knees And all her heart within her eye expressing 'T is true great Mercy onely miseries Teach us our selves and thee oh if confessing Our faults to thee be all our faults releasing But in thine eare I never sought to hide them Ah! thou hast heard them oft as oft as thou hast ey'd them 10 I know the heart knows more then tongue can tell But thou perceiv'st the heart his foulnesse telling Yet knows the heart not half so wide an hell Such seas of sinne in such scant banks are swelling Who sees all faults within his bosome dwelling Many my tenants are and I not know them Most dangerous the wounds thou feel'st and canst not show them 11 Some hidden fault my Father and my God Some fault I know not yet nor yet amended Hath forc't thee frown and use thy smarting rod Some grievous fault thee grievously offended But let thy wrath ah let it now be ended Father this childish plea if once I know it Let stay thy threatning hand I never more will do it 12 If to my heart thou shew this hidden sore Spare me no more no more I will offend thee I dare not say I will I would no more Say thou I shall and soon I will amend me Then smooth thy brow and now some comfort lend me Oh let thy softest mercies rest contented Though late I most repent that I so late repented 13 Lay down thy rod and stay thy smarting hand These raining eyes into thy bottle gather Oh see thy bleeding Sonne betwixt us stand Remember me a childe thy self a father Or if thou mayst not stay oh punish rather The part offending this rebellious heart Why pardon'st thou the worse and plagu'st my better part 14 Was 't not thy hand that ty'd the sacred knot Was 't not thy hand that to my hand did give him Hast thou not made us one command'st thou not None loose what thou hast bound if then thou reave him How without me by halves dost thou receive him Tak'st thou the head and leav'st the heart behinde Ay me in me alone canst thou such monster finde 15 Oh why dost thou so strong me weak assail Woman of all thy creatures is the weakest And in her greatest strength did weakly fail Thou who the weak and bruised never breakest Who never triumph in the yeelding seekest Pitie my weak estate and leave me never I ever yet was weak and now more weak then ever 16 With that her fainting spouse lifts up his head And with some joy his inward griefs refraining Thus with a feeble voice yet cheerfull s'ed Spend not in tears this little time remaining Thy grief doth adde to mine not ease my paining My death is life such is the scourge of God Ah if his rods be such who would not
live with me els shall they see me never 37 My God oh in thy fear here let them live Thy wards they are take them to thy protection Thou gav'st them first now back to thee I give Direct them thou and help her weak direction That reunited by thy strong election Thou now in them they then may live in thee And seeing here thy will may there thy glorie see 38 Bettie let these last words long with thee dwell If yet a second Hymen do expect thee Though well he love thee once I lov'd as well Yet if his presence make thee lesse respect me Ah do not in my childrens good neglect me Let me this faithfull hope departing have More easie shall I die and sleep in carelesse grave 39 Farewell farewell I feel my long long rest And iron sleep my leaden heart oppressing Night after day sleep after labour's best Port after storms joy after long distressing So weep thy losse as knowing 't is my blessing Both as a widow and a Christian grieve Still live I in thy thoughts but as in heav'n I live 40 Death end of old joyes entrance into new I follow thee I know I am thy debtour Not unexpect thou com'st to claim thy due Take here thine own my souls too heavie fetter Not life lifes place I change but for a better Take thou my soul that bought'st it cease your tears Who sighing leaves the earth himself and heaven fears 41 Thus said and while the bodie slumbring lay As Theseus Ariadne's bed forsaking His quiet soul stole from her house of clay And glorious Angels on their wings it taking Swifter then lightning flew for heaven making There happie goes he heav'nly fires admiring Whose motion is their bait whose rest is restlesse giring 42 And now the courts of that thrice blessed King It enters and his presence sits enjoying While in it self it findes an endlesse spring Of pleasures new and never weary joying Ne're spent in spending feeding never cloying Weak pen to write for thought can never feign them The minde that all can hold yet cannot half contain thē 43 There doth it blessed sit and looking down Laughs at our busie care and idle paining And fitting to it self that glorious crown Scorns earth where even Kings most serve by reigning Where men get wealth and hell so loose by gaining Ah blessed soul there sit thou still delighted Till we at length to him with thee shall be united 44 But when at last his Lady sad espies His flesh of life her self of him deprived Too full of grief closing his quenched eyes As if in him by him for him she lived Fell dead with him and once again revived Fell once again pain wearie of his paining And grief with too much grief felt now no grief remaining 45 Again reliev'd all silent sat she long No word to name such grief durst first adventer Grief is but light that floats upon the tongue But weightie sorrow presses to the center And never rests till th' heavie heart it enter And in lifes house was married to life Grief made life grievous seem and life enlivens grief 46 And from their bed proceeds a numerous presse First shrieks then tears sighs the hearts ground renting In vain poore Muse would'st thou such dole expresse For thou thy self lamenting her lamenting And with like grief transform'd to like tormenting With heavie pace bring'st forth thy lagging verse Which cloath'd with blackest lines attends the mournfull herse 47 The cunning hand which that Greek Princesse drew Readie in holy fires to be consum'd Pitie and sorrow paints in divers hue One wept he pray'd this sigh'd that chaf'd and fum'd But not to limme her fathers look presum'd For well he knew his skilfull hand had fail'd Best was his sorrow seen when with a cloth 't was vail'd 48 Look as a nightingale whose callow young Some boy hath markt and now half nak'd hath taken Which long she closely kept and foster'd long But all in vain she now poore bird forsaken Flies up and down but grief no place can slaken All day and night her losse she fresh doth rue And where she ends her plaints there soon begins anew 49 Thus sat she desolate so short a good Such gift so soon exacted sore complaining Sleep could not passe but almost sunk i' th' floud So high her eye-banks swell'd with endlesse raining Surfet of grief had bred all meats disdaining A thousand times my Antonie she cried Irby a thousand times and in that name she died 50 Thus circling in her grief it never ends But moving round back to it self enclineth Both day and night alike in grief she spends Day shews her day is gone no sun there shineth Black night her fellow mourner she defineth Light shews his want and shades his picture draw Him nothing best she sees when nothing now she saw THou blacker Muse whose rude uncombed hairs With fatal eugh and cypresse still are shaded Bring hither all thy sighs hither thy teares As sweet a plant as fair a flower is faded As ever in the Muses garden bladed While th' owner haplesse owner sits lamenting And but in discontent grief findes no contenting 2 The sweet now sad Elisa weeping lies While fair Alicia's words in vain relieve her In vain those wells of grief she often dries What her so long now doubled sorrows give her What both their loves which doubly double grieve her She carelesse spends without or end or measure Yet as it spends it grows poor grief can tell his treasure 3 All as a turtle on a bared bough A widow turtle joy and life despises Whose trustie mate to pay his holy vow Some watchfull eye late in his roost surprises And to his God for errour sacrifices She joylesse bird sits mourning all alone And being one when two would now be two or none 4 So sat she gentle Lady weeping sore Her desert self and now cold lord lamenting So sat she carelesse on the dusty floor As if her tears were all her souls contenting So sat she as when speechlesse griefs tormenting Locks up the heart the captive tongue enchaining So sat she joylesse down in wordlesse grief complaining 5 Her chearfull eye which once the crystall was Where Love and Beautie dress'd their fairest faces And fairer seem'd by looking in that glasse Had now in tears drown'd all their former graces Her snow-white arms whose warm sweet embraces Could quicken death their now dead lord infold And seem'd as cold and dead as was the flesh they hold 6 The roses in her cheek grow pale and wan As if his pale cheeks livery they affected Her head like fainting flowers opprest with rain On her left shoulder lean'd his weight neglected Her dark-gold locks hung loosly unrespected As if those fairs which he alone deserv'd With him had lost their use and now for nothing serv'd 7 Her Lady sister sat close by her side Alicia in whose face Love proudly lorded Where Beauties self and Mildnesse sweet
crosses By with'ring springing fresh and rich by often losses 36 Vain men too fondly wise who plough the seas With dangerous pains another earth to finde Adding new worlds to th' old and scorning ease The earths vast limits dayly more unbinde The aged world though now it falling shows And hastes to set yet still in dying grows Whole lives are spent to win what one deaths houre must lose 37 How like 's the world unto a tragick stage Where every changing scene the actours change Some subject crouch and fawn some reigne and rage And new strange plots brings scenes as new strange Till most are slain the rest their parts have done So here some laugh and play some weep and grone Till all put of their robes and stage and actours gone 38 Yet this fair Isle sited so nearely neare That from our sides nor place nor time may sever Though to your selves your selves are not more deare Yet with strange carelesnesse you travell never Thus while your selves and native home forgetting You search farre distant worlds with needlesse sweating You never finde your selves so lose ye more by getting 39 When that great Power that All farre more then all When now his fore-set time was fully come Brought into act this undigested Ball Which in himself till then had onely room He labour'd not nor suffer'd pain or ill But bid each kinde their severall places fill He bid and they obey'd their action was his will 40 First stept the Light and spread his chearfull rayes Through all the Chaos darknesse headlong fell Frighted with suddain beams and new-born dayes And plung'd her ougly head in deepest hell Not that he meant to help his feeble sight To frame the rest he made the day of night All els but darknesse he the true the onely Light 41 Fire Water Earth and Aire that fiercely strove His soveraigne hand in strong alliance ti'd Binding their deadly hate in constant love So that great Wisdome temper'd all their pride Commanding strife and love should never cease That by their peacefull fight and fighting peace The world might die to live and lessen to increase 42 Thus Earths cold arm cold Water friendly holds But with his drie the others wet defies Warm Aire with mutuall love hot Fire infolds As moist his dryth abhorres drie Earth allies With Fire but heats with cold new warres prepare Yet Earth drencht Water proves which boil'd turns Aire Hot Aire makes Fire condenst all change and home repair 43 Now when the first weeks life was almost spent And this world built and richly furnished To store heav'ns courts and steer earths regiment He cast to frame an Isle the heart and head Of all his works compos'd with curious art Which like an Index briefly should impart The summe of all the whole yet of the whole a part 44 That Trine-one with himself in councell sits And purple dust takes from the new-born earth Part circular and part triang'lar fits Endows it largely at the unborn birth Deputes his Favorite Vice-roy doth invest With aptnesse thereunto as seem'd him best And lov'd it more then all and more then all it blest 45 Then plac't it in the calm pacifick seas And bid nor waves nor troublous windes offend it Then peopled it with subjects apt to please So wise a Prince made able to defend it Against all outward force or inward spite Him framing like himself all shining bright A little living Sunne Sonne of the living Light 46 Nor made he this like other Isles but gave it Vigour sense reason and a perfect motion To move it self whither it self would have it And know what falls within the verge of notion No time might change it but as ages went So still return'd still spending never spent More rising in their fall more rich in detriment 47 So once the Cradle of that double light Whereof one rules the night the other day Till sad Latona flying Iuno's spite Her double burthen there did safely lay Not rooted yet in every sea was roving With every wave and every winde removing But since to those fair Twins hath left her ever moving 48 Look as a scholar who doth closely gather Many large volumes in a narrow place So that great Wisdome all this All together Confin'd into this Islands little space And being one soon into two he fram'd it And now made two to one again reclaim'd it The little Isle of Man or Purple Island nam'd it 49 Thrice happy was the worlds first infancie Nor knowing yet nor curious ill to know Joy without grief love without jealousie None felt hard labour or the sweating plough The willing earth brought tribute to her King Bacchus unborn lay hidden in the cling Of big-swoln grapes their drink was every silver spring 50 Of all the windes there was no difference None knew mild Zephyres from cold Eurus mouth Nor Orithyia's lovers violence Distinguisht from the ever-dropping South But either gentle West-winds reign'd alone Or else no winde or harmfull winde was none But one winde was in all and all the windes in one 51 None knew the sea oh blessed ignorance None nam'd the stars the North carres constant race Taurus bright horns or Fishes happy chance Astraea yet chang'd not her name or place Her ev'n-pois'd ballance heav'n yet never tri'd None sought new coasts nor forrain lands descri'd But in their own they liv'd and in their own they di'd 52 But ah what liveth long in happinesse Grief of an heavy nature steddy lies And cannot be remov'd for weightinesse But joy of lighter presence eas'ly flies And seldome comes and soon away will goe Some secret power here all things orders so That for a sun-shine day follows an age of woe 53 Witnesse this glorious Isle which not content To be confin'd in bounds of happinesse Would trie what e're is in the continent And seek out ill and search for wretchednesse Ah fond to seek what then was in thy will That needs no curious search 't is next us still 'T is grief to know of grief and ill to know of ill 54 That old slie Serpent slie but spitefull more Vext with the glory of this happy Isle Allures it subt'ly from the peacefull shore And with fair painted lies colour'd guile Drencht in dead seas whose dark streams full of fright Emptie their sulphur waves in endlesse night Where thousand deaths and hells torment the damned sprite 55 So when a fisher-swain by chance hath spi'd A big-grown Pike pursue the lesser frie He sets a withy Labyrinth beside And with fair baits allures his nimble eye Which he invading with our-streched finne All suddainly is compast with the ginne Where there is no way out but easie passage in 56 That deathfull lake hath these three properties No turning path or issue thence is found The captive never dead yet ever dies It endlesse sinks yet never comes to ground Hells self is pictur'd in that brimstone wave For what retiring from that hellish grave Or
Leagu'd to the neighbour towns with sure and friendly bands 3 Such as that starre which sets his glorious chair In midst of heav'n and to dead darknesse here Gives light and life such is this citie fair Their ends place office state so nearely neare That those wise ancients from their natures sight And likenesse turn'd their names and call'd aright The sunne the great worlds heart the heart the lesse worlds light 4 This middle coast to all the Isle dispends All heat and life hence it another Guard Beside those common to the first defends Built whole of massie stone cold drie and hard Which stretching round about his circling arms Warrants these parts from all exteriour harms Repelling angry force securing all alar'ms 5 But in the front two fair twin-bulwarks rise In th' Arren built for strength and ornament In Thelu of more use and larger size For hence the young Isle draws his nourishment Here lurking Cupid hides his bended bow Here milkie springs in sugred rivers flow Which first gave th' infant Isle to be and then to grow 6 For when the lesser Island still increasing In Venus temple to some greatnesse swells Now larger rooms and bigger spaces seizing It stops the Hepar rivers backward reels The stream and to these hills bears up his flight And in these founts by some strange hidden might Dies his fair rosie waves into a lily white 7 So where fair Medway down the Kentish dales To many towns her plenteous waters dealing Lading her banks into wide Thamis falls The big-grown main with fomie billows swelling Stops there the sudding stream her steddy race Staggers awhile at length flies back apace And to the parent fount returns its fearfull pace 8 These two fair mounts are like two hemispheres Endow'd with goodly gifts and qualities Whose top two little purple hillocks reares Most like the Poles in heavens Axletrees And round about two circling altars gire In blushing red the rest in snowy tire Like Thracian Haemus looks which ne're feels Phoebus fire 9 That mighty hand in these dissected wreathes Where moves our Sunne his thrones fair picture gives The pattern breathlesse but the picture breathes His highest heav'n is dead our low heav'n lives Nor scorns that loftie one thus low to dwell Here his best starres he sets and glorious cell And fills with saintly spirits so turns to heav'n from hell 10 About this Region round in compasse stands A Guard both for defence and respiration Of sixtie foure parted in severall bands Half to let out the smokie exhalation The other half to draw in fresher windes Beside both these a third of both their kindes That lets both out in which no enforcement bindes 11 This third the merrie Diazome we call A border-citie these two coasts removing Which like a balk with his crosse-builded wall Disparts the terms of anger and of loving Keeps from th' Heart-citie fuming kitchin fires And to his neigbours gentle windes inspires Loose when he sucks in aire contract when he expires 12 The Diazome of severall matter 's fram'd The first moist soft harder the next and drier His fashion like the fish a Raia nam'd Fenc'd with two walls one low the other higher By eight streams water'd two from Hepar low And from th' Heart-town as many higher go But two twice told down from the Cephal mountain flow 13 Here sportfull Laughter dwells here ever sitting Defies all lumpish griefs and wrinkled care And twentie merrie-mates mirth causes fitting And smiles which Laughters sonnes yet infants are But if this town be fir'd with burnings nigh With selfsame flames high Cephals towers fry Such is their feeling love and loving sympathie 14 This coast stands girt with a peculiar wall The whole precinct and every part defending The chiefest Citie and Imperiall Is fair Kerdia farre his bounds extending Which full to know were knowledge infinite How then should my rude pen this wonder write Which thou who onely mad'st it onely know'st aright 15 In middle of this middle Regiment Kerdia seated lies the centre deem'd Of this whole Isle and of this government If not the chiefest this yet needfull'st seem'd Therfore obtain'd an equall distant seat More fitly hence to shed his life and heat And with his yellow streams the fruitfull Island wet 16 Flankt with two severall walls for more defence Betwixt them ever flows a wheyish moat In whose soft waves and circling profluence This Citie like an Isle might safely float In motion still a motion fixt not roving Most like to heav'n in his most constant moving Hence most here plant the seat of sure and active loving 17 Built of a substance like smooth porphyrie His matter hid and like it self unknown Two rivers of his own another by That from the Hepar rises like a crown Infold the narrow part for that great All This his works glory made pyramicall Then crown'd with triple wreath cloath'd in scarlet pall 18 The Cities self in two partitions reft That on the right this on the other side The right made tributarie to the left Brings in his pension at his certain tide A pension of liquours strangely wrought Which first by Hepars streams are hither brought And here distill'd with art beyond or words or thought 19 The grosser waves of these life-streams which here With much yet much lesse labour is prepar'd A doubtfull chanel doth to Pneumon bear But to the left those labour'd extracts shar'd As through a wall with hidden passage slide Where many secret gates gates hardly spi'd With safe convoy give passage to the other side 20 At each hand of the left two streets stand by Of severall stuffe and severall working fram'd With hundred crooks and deep-wrought cavitie Both like the eares in form and so are nam'd I' th' right hand street the tribute liquour sitteth The left forc't aire into his concave getteth Which subtile wrought thinne for future workmen sitteth 21 The Cities left side by some hid direction Of this thinne aire and of that right sides rent Compound together makes a strange confection And in one vessel both together meynt Stills them with equall never-quenched firing Then in small streams through all the Island wiring Sends it to every part both heat and life inspiring 22 In this Heart-citie foure main streams appeare One from the Hepar where the tribute landeth Largely poures out his purple river here At whose wide mouth a band of Tritons standeth Three Tritons stand who with their three-forkt mace Drive on and speed the rivers flowing race But strongly stop the wave if once it back repace 23 The second is that doubtfull chanel lending Some of this tribute to the Pneumon nigh Whose springs by carefull guards are watcht that sending From thence the waters all regresse denie The third unlike to this from Pneumon flowing And his due ayer-tribute here bestowing Is kept by gates and
Tactus may eas'ly seem his father and his brother 55 Tactus the last but yet the eldest brother Whose office meanest yet of all the race The first and last more needfull then the other Hath his abode in none yet every place Through all the Isle distended is his dwelling He rules the streams that from the Cephal swelling Runne all along the Isle both sence motion dealing 56 With Gustus Lingua dwells his pratling wife Indu'd with strange and adverse qualities The nurse of hate and love of peace and strife Mother of fairest truth and foulest lies Or best or worst no mean made all of fire Which sometimes hell sometimes heav'ns inspire By whom oft Truth self speaks oft that first murth'ring liar 57 The idle Sunne stood still at her command Breathing his firie steeds in Gibeon And pale-fac'd Cynthia at her word made stand Resting her coach in vales of Aialon Her voice oft open breaks the stubborn skies And holds th' Almighties hands with suppliant cries Her voice tears open hell with horrid blasphemies 58 Therefore that great Creatour well foreseeing To what a monster she would soon be changing Though lovely once perfect and glorious being Curb'd her with iron bit and held from ranging And with strong bonds her looser steps enchaining Bridled her course too many words refraining And doubled all his guards bold libertie restraining 59 For close within he sets twice sixteen guarders Whose hardned temper could not soon be mov'd Without the gate he plac'd two other warders To shut and ope the doore as it behov'd But such strange force hath her enchanting art That she hath made her keepers of her part And they to all her slights all furtherance impart 60 Thus with their help by her the sacred Muses Refresh the Prince dull'd with much businesse By her the Prince unto his Prince oft uses In heav'ly throne from hell to finde accesse She heav'n to earth in musick often brings And earth to heaven but oh how sweet she sings When in rich graces key she tunes poor natures strings 61 Thus Orpheus wanne his lost Eurydice Whom some deaf snake that could no musick heare Or some blinde neut that could no beautie see Thinking to kisse kill'd with his forked spear He when his plaints on earth were vainly spent Down to Avernus river boldly went And charm'd the meager ghosts with mournfull blandishment 62 There what his mother fair Calliope From Phoebus harp and Muses spring had brought him What sharpest grief for his Eurydice And love redoubling grief had newly taught him He lavisht out and with his potent spell Bent all the rigorous powers of stubborn hell He first brought pitie down with rigid ghosts to dwell 63 Th' amazed shades came flocking round about Nor car'd they now to passe the Stygian ford All hell came running there an hideous rout And dropt a silent tear for every word The aged Ferrieman shov'd out his boat But that without his help did thither float And having ta'ne him in came dancing on the moat 64 The hungry Tantal might have fill'd him now And with large draughts swill'd in the standing pool The fruit hung listning on the wondring bough Forgetting hells command but he ah fool Forgot his starved taste his eares to fill Ixions turning wheel unmov'd stood still But he was rapt as much with powerfull musicks skill 65 Tir'd Sisyphus sat on his resting stone And hop'd at length his labour done for ever The vulture feeding on his pleasing mone Glutted with musick scorn'd grown Tityus liver The Furies flung their snakie whips away And molt in tears at his enchanting lay No shrieches now were heard all hell kept holy-day 66 That treble Dog whose voice ne're quiet fears All that in endlesse nights sad kingdome dwell Stood pricking up his thrice two listning eares With greedy joy drinking the sacred spell And softly whining piti'd much his wrongs And now first silent at those dainty songs Oft wisht himself more ears fewer mouths tongues 67 At length return'd with his Eurydice But with this law not to return his eyes Till he was past the laws of Tartarie Alas who gives love laws in miseries Love is loves law love but to love is ti'd Now when the dawns of neighbour day he spi'd Ah wretch Eurydice he saw and lost and di'd 68 All so who strives from grave of hellish night To bring his dead soul to the joyfull skie If when he comes in view of heav'nly light He turns again to hell his yeelding eye And longs to see what he had left his sore Grows desp'rate deeper deadlier then afore His helps and hopes much lesse his crime judgement more 69 But why do I enlarge my tedious song And tire my flagging Muse with wearie flight Ah! much I fear I hold you much too long The outward parts be plain to every sight But to describe the people of this Isle And that great Prince these reeds are all too vile Some higher verse may fit and some more loftie style 70 See Phlegon drenched in the hizzing main Allayes his thirst and cools the flaming carre Vesper fair Cynthia ushers and her train See th' apish earth hath lighted many a starre Sparkling in dewie globes all home invite Home then my flocks home shepherds home 't is night My song with day is done my Muse is set with light 71 By this the gentle boyes had framed well A myrtle garland mixt with conqu'ring bay From whose fit match issu'd a pleasing smell And all enamel'd it with roses gay With which they crown their honour'd Thirsils head Ah blessed shepherd-swain ah happy meed While all his fellows chaunt on slender pipes of reed CANT VI. THe houres had now unlockt the gate of day When fair Aurora leaves her frosty bed Hasting with youthfull Cephalus to play Unmaskt her face and rosie beauties spread Tithonus silver age was much despis'd Ah! who in love that cruel law devis'd That old love's little worth and new too highly priz'd 2 The gentle shepherds on an hillock plac'd Whose shadie head a beechie garland crown'd View'd all their flocks that on the pastures graz'd Then down they sit while Thenot 'gins the round Thenot was never fairer boy among The gentle lads that in the Muses throng By Chamus yellow streams learn tune their pipe song 3 See Thirsil see the shepherds expectation Why then ah why sitt'st thou so silent there We long to know that Islands happy nation Oh! do not leave thy Isle unpeopled here Tell us who brought and whence these colonies Who is their King what foes and what allies What laws maintain their peace what warres victories 4 Thenot my deare that simple fisher-swain Whose little boat in some small river strayes Yet fondly lanches in the swelling main Soon yet too late repents his foolish playes How dare I then forsake my well-set bounds Whose new-cut pipe as yet but harshly sounds A narrow compasse best my ungrown Muse impounds 5 Two shepherds
didst spread On those dark waters thy all-opening light Thou who of late of thy great bounty head This nest of hellish fogges and Stygian night With thy bright orient Sunne hast fair renew'd And with unwonted day hast it endu'd Which late both day thee and most it self eschew'd 27 Dread Spirit do thou those severall bands unfold Both which thou sent'st a needfull supplement To this lost Isle and which with courage bold Hourely assail thy rightfull regiment And with strong hand oppresse keep them under Raise now my humble vein to lofty thunder That heav'n and earth may sound resound thy praises wonder 28 The Islands Prince of frame more then celestiall Is rightly call'd th' all-seeing Intellect All glorious bright such nothing is terrestriall Whose Sun-like face and most divine aspect No humane sight may ever hope descrie For when himself on 's self reflects his eye Dull and amaz'd he stands at so bright majestie 29 Look as the Sunne whose ray and searching light Here there and every where it self displayes No nook or corner flies his piercing sight Yet on himself when he reflects his rayes Soon back he flings the too bold vent'ring gleam Down to the earth the flames all broken stream Such is this famous Prince such his unpierced beam 30 His strangest body is not bodily But matter without matter never fill'd Nor filling though within his compasse high All heav'n and earth and all in both are held Yet thousand thousand heav'ns he could contain And still as empty as at first remain And when he takes in most readi'st to take again 31 Though travelling all places changing none Bid him soar up to heav'n and thence down throwing The centre search and Dis dark realm he 's gone Returns arrives before thou saw'st him going And while his weary kingdome safely sleeps All restlesse night he watch and warding keeps Never his carefull head on resting pillow steeps 32 In every quarter of this blessed Isle Himself both present is and President Nor once retires ah happy realm the while That by no Officers lewd lavishment With greedie lust and wrong consumed art He all in all and all in every part Does share to each his due and equall dole impart 33 He knows nor death nor yeares nor feeble age But as his time his strength and vigour grows And when his kingdome by intestine rage Lies broke and wasted open to his foes And batter'd sconce now flat and even lies Sooner then thought to that great Judge he flies Who weighs him just reward of good or injuries 34 For he the Judges Viceroy here is plac't Where if he live as knowing he may die He never dies but with fresh pleasures grac't Bathes his crown'd head in soft eternitie Where thousand joyes and pleasures ever new And blessings thicker then the morning dew With endlesse sweets rain down on that immortall crue 35 There golden starres set in the crystall snow There daintie joyes laugh at white-headed caring There day no night delight no end shall know Sweets without surfet fulnesse without sparing And by its spending growing happinesse There God himself in glories lavishnesse Diffus'd in all to all is all full blessednesse 36 But if he here neglect his Masters law And with those traitours 'gainst his Lord rebells Down to the deeps ten thousand fiends him draw Deeps where night death despair and horrour dwells And in worst ills still worse expecting fears Where fell despite for spite his bowels tears And still increasing grief and torment never wears 37 Prayers there are idle death is woo'd in vain In midst of death poore wretches long to die Night without day or rest still doubling pain Woes spending still yet still their end lesse nigh The soul there restlesse helplesse hopelesse lies The body frying roars and roaring fries There 's life that never lives there 's death that never dies 38 Hence while unsetled here he fighting reignes Shut in a Tower where thousand enemies Assault the fort with wary care and pains He guards all entrance and by divers spies Searches into his foes and friends designes For most he fears his subjects wavering mindes This Tower then onely falls when treason undermines 39 Therefore while yet he lurks in earthly tent Disguis'd in worthlesse robes and poore attire Trie we to view his glories wonderment And get a sight of what we so admire For when away from this sad place he flies And in the skies abides more bright then skies Too glorious is his sight for our dimme mortall eyes 40 So curl'd-head Thetis waters feared Queen But bound in cauls of sand yeelds not to sight And planets glorious King may best be seen When some thinne cloud dimmes his too piercing light And neither none nor all his face discloses For when his bright eye full our eye opposes None gains his glorious sight but his own sight he loses 41 Within the Castle sit eight Counsellers That help him in this tent to govern well Each in his room a severall office bears Three of his inmost private counsell deal In great affairs five of lesse dignitie Have outward Courts and in all actions prie But still referre the doom to Courts more fit and high 42 Those five fair brethren which I sung of late For their just number call'd the Pemptarchie The other three three pillars of the state The first in midst of that high Tower doth lie The chiefest mansion of this glorious King The Judge and Arbiter of every thing Which those five brethrens poasts in to his office bring 43 Of middle yeares and seemly personage Father of laws the rule of wrong and right Fountain of judgement therefore wondrous sage Discreet and wise of quick and nimble sight Not those seven Sages might him parallell Nor he whom Pythian Maid did whilome tell To be the wisest man that then on earth did dwell 44 As Neptunes cestern sucks in tribute tides Yet never full which every chanel brings And thirstie drinks and drinking thirstie bides For by some hidden way back to the springs It sends the streams in erring conduits spread Which with a circling dutie still are led So ever feeding them is by them ever fed 45 Ev'n so the first of these three Counsellers Gives to the five the power of all-descrying Which back to him with mutuall dutie bears All their informings and the causes trying For through strait waies the nimble Poast ascends Unto his hall there up his message sends Which to the next well scann'd he straightway recommends 46 The next that in the Castles front is plac't Phantastes hight his yeares are fresh and green His visage old his face too much defac't With ashes pale his eyes deep sunken been With often thoughts and never slackt intention Yet he the fount of speedy apprehension Father of wit the well of arts and quick invention 47 But in his private thoughts and busy brain Thousand thinne forms and idle fancies flit The three-shap't Sphinx and direfull
cloth of gold aspires In hundred-colour'd silks the Tulip playes Th' Imperiall flower his neck with pearl attires The Lily high her silver Grogram reares The Pansie her wrought Velvet garment bears The red Rose Scarlet and the Provence Damask wears 70 How falls it then that such an heav'nly light As this great Kings should sink so wondrous low That scarce he can suspect his former height Can one eclipse so dark his shining brow And steal away his beautie glittering fair One onely blot so great a light empair That never could he hope his waning to repair 71 Ah! never could he hope once to repair So great a wane should not that new-born Sun Adopt him both his brother and his heir Who through base life and death and hell would run To seat him in his lost now surer cell That he may mount to heav'n he sunk to hell That he might live he di'd that he might rise he fell 72 A perfect Virgin breeds and bears a Sonne Th' immortall father of his mortall mother Earth heav'n flesh spirit man God are met in one His younger brothers childe his childrens brother Eternitie who yet was born and di'd His own creatour earths scorn heavens pride Who th' deitie inflesht and mans flesh deifi'd 73 Thou uncreated Sunne heav'ns glory bright Whom we with knees and hearts low bent adore At rising perfect and now falling light Ah what reward what thanks shall we restore Thou wretched wast that we might happy be Oh all the good we hope and all we see That we thee know and love comes from thy love and thee 74 Receive which we can onely back return Yet that we may return thou first must give A heart which fain would smoke which fain would burn In praise for thee to thee would onely live And thou who sat'st in night to give us day Light and enflame us with thy glorious ray That we may back reflect and borrow'd light repay 75 So we beholding with immortall eye The glorious picture of thy heav'nly face In his first beautie and true Majestie May shake from our dull souls these fetters base And mounting up to that bright crystal sphere Whence thou strik'st all the world with shudd'ring fear May not be held by earth nor hold vile earth so deare 76 Then should thy shepherd poorest shepherd sing A thousand Canto's in thy heav'nly praise And rouze his flagging Muse and flutt'ring wing To chant thy wonders in immortall laies Which once thou wrought'st when Nilus slimie shore Or Iordans banks thy mighty hand adore Thy judgements thy mercies but thy mercies more 77 But see the stealing night with softly pace To flie the Western Sunne creeps up the East Cold Hesper 'gins unmask his evening face And calls the winking starres from drouzie rest Home then my lambes the falling drops eschew To morrow shall ye feast in pastures new And with the rising Sunne banquet on pearled dew CANT VII THe rising morn lifts up his orient head And spangled heav'ns in golden robes invests Thirsil up starting from his fearlesse bed Where uselesse nights he safe and quiet rests Unhous'd his bleating flock and quickly thence Hasting to his expecting audience Thus with sad verse began their grieved mindes incense 2 Fond man that looks on earth for happinesse And here long seeks what here is never found For all our good we hold from heav'n by lease With many forfeits and conditions bound Nor can we pay the fine and rentage due Though now but writ and seal'd and giv'n anew Yet daily we it break then daily must renew 3 Why should'st thou here look for perpetuall good At every losse against heav'ns face repining Do but behold where glorious Cities stood With gilded tops and silver turrets shining There now the Hart fearlesse of greyhound feeds And loving Pelican in safety breeds There shrieching Satyres fill the peoples emptie steads 4 Where is th' Assyrian Lions golden hide That all the East once graspt in lordly paw Where that great Persian Beare whose swelling pride The Lions self tore out with ravenous jaw Or he which 'twixt a Lion and a Pard Through all the world with nimble pineons far'd And to his greedy whelps his conquer'd kingdomes shar'd 5 Hardly the place of such antiquitie Or note of these great monarchies we finde Onely a fading verball memorie And empty name in writ is left behinde But when this second life and glory fades And sinks at length in times obscurer shades A second fall succeeds and double death invades 6 That monstrous beast which nurst in Tibers fenne Did all the world with hideous shape affray That fill'd with costly spoil his gaping denne And trode down all the rest to dust and clay His batt'ring horns pull'd out by civil hands And iron teeth lie scatter'd on the sands Backt bridled by a Monk with sev'n heads yoked stands 7 And that black Vulture which with deathfull wing O're-shadows half the earth whose dismall sight Frighted the Muses from their native spring Already stoops and flagges with weary flight Who then shall look for happines beneath Where each new day proclaims chance change and death And life it self 's as flit as is the aire we breathe 8 Ne mought this Prince escape though he as farre All these excells in worth and heav'nly grace As brightest Phoebus does the dimmest starre The deepest falls are from the highest place There lies he now bruis'd with so sore a fall To his base bonds and loathsome prison thrall Whom thousand foes besiege fenc'd with frail yeelding wall 9 Tell me oh tell me then thou holy Muse Sacred Thespio what the cause may be Of such despite so many foemen use To persecute unpiti'd miserie Or if these cankred foes as most men say So mighty be that gird this wall of clay What makes it hold so long and threatned ruine stay 10 When that great Lord his standing Court would build The outward walls with gemmes and glorious lights But inward rooms with nobler Courtiers fill'd Pure living flames swift mighty blessed sprites But some his royall service fools disdain So down were flung oft blisse is double pain In heav'n they scorn'd to serve so now in hell they reigne 11 There turn'd to serpents swoln with pride and hate Their Prince a Dragon fell who burst with spight To see this Kings and Queens yet happy state Tempts them to lust and pride prevails by slight To make them wise and gods he undertakes Thus while the snake they heare they turn to snakes To make them gods he boasts but beasts and devils makes 12 But that great Lion who in Iudahs plains The awfull beasts holds down in due subjection The Dragons craft and base-got spoil disdains And folds this captive Prince in his protection Breaks ope the jayl brings the prisoners thence Yet plac't them in this castles weak defence Where they might trust and seek an higher providence 13 So now spread round about this little hold With armies
wilfull erre And oft convicted still would snatch and snarle His Crambe oft repeats all tongue no eare Him obstinacie Pride and Scorn attended On 's shield with Truth Errour disguis'd contended His Motto this Rather thus erre then be amended 35 Last marcht Hypocrisie false form of grace That vaunts the show of all ha's truth of none A rotten heart he masks with painted face Among the beasts a mule 'mong bees a drone 'Mong starres a meteor all the world neglects him Nor good nor bad nor heav'n nor earth affects him The earth for glaring forms for bare forms heav'n rejects him 36 His wanton heart he vails with dewy eyes So oft the world and oft himself deceives His tongue his heart his hands his tongue belies In 's path as snails silver but slime he leaves He Babels glory is but Sions taint Religions blot but Irreligions paint A Saint abroad at home a Fiend and worst a Saint 37 So tallow lights live glitt'ring stinking die Their gleams aggrate the sight steams wound the smell So Sodom apples please the ravisht eye But sulphure taste proclaims their root 's in hell So airy flames to heav'nly seem alli'd But when their oyl is spent they swiftly glide And into jelly'd mire melt all their gilded pride 38 So rushes green smooth full are spungie light So their ragg'd stones in velvet peaches gown So rotten sticks seem starres in cheating night So quagmires false their mire with emeralds crown Such is Hypocrisies deceitfull frame A stinking light a sulphure fruit false flame Smooth rush hard peach sere wood false mire a voice a name 39 Such were his arms false gold true alchymie Glitt'ring with glassie stones and fine deceit His sword a flatt'ring steel which gull'd the eye And pierc't the heart with pride and self-conceit On 's shield a tombe where death had drest his bed With curious art and crown'd his loathsome head With gold gems his word More gorgeous when dead 40 Before them went their nurse bold Ignorance A loathsome monster light sight ' mendment scorning Born deaf and blinde fitter to lead the dance To such a rout her silver heads adorning Her dotage index much she bragg'd yet feign'd For by false tallies many yeares she gain'd Wise youth is honour'd age fond 's age with dotage stain'd 41 Her failing legges with erring footsteps reel'd Lame guide to blisse her daughters on each side Much pain'd themselves her stumbling feet to weeld Both like their mother dull and beetle-ey'd The first was Errour false who multiplies Her num'rous race in endlesse progenies For but one truth there is ten thousand thousand lies 42 Her brood o're-spread her round with sinne and bloud With envie malice mischiefs infinite While she to see her self amazed stood So often got with childe and bigge with spite Her off-spring flie about spread their seed Straight hate pride schisme warres seditions breed Get up grow ripe How soon prospers the vicious weed 43 The other Owl-ey'd Superstition Deform'd distorted blinde in shining light Yet styles her self holy Devotion And so is call'd and seems in shadie night Fearfull as is the hare or hunted hinde Her face and breast she oft with crosses sign'd No custome would she break or change her setled minde 44 If hare or snake her way herself she crosses And stops her'mazed steps sad fears affright her When falling salt points out some fatall losses Till Bacchus grapes with holy sprinkle quite her Her onely bible is an Erra Pater Her antidote are hallow'd wax and water I' th' dark all lights are sprites all noises chains that clatter 45 With them marcht sunk in deep securitie Profanenesse to be fear'd for never fearing And by him new-oaths-coyning Blasphemie Who names not God but in a curse or swearing And thousand other fiends in diverse fashion Dispos'd in severall ward and certain station Under Hell widely yawn'd and over flew Damnation 46 Next Adicus his sonnes first Ecthros slie Whose prickt-up eares kept open house for lies And sleering eyes still watch and wait to spie When to return still-living injuries Fair weather smil'd upon his painted face And eyes spoke peace till he had time and place Then poures down showers of rage and streams of rancour base 47 So when a sable cloud with swelling sail Comes swimming through calm skies the silent aire While fierce windes sleep in Aeols rockie jayl With spangled beams embroid'red glitters fair But soon 'gins lowr straight clatt'ring hail is bred Scatt'ring cold shot light hides his golden head And with untimely winter earth's o're-silvered 48 His arms well suit his minde where smiling skies Breed thund'ring tempests on his loftie crest Asleep the spotted Panther couching lies And by sweet sents and skinne so quaintly drest Draws on her prey upon his shield he bears The dreadfull monster which great Nilus fears The weeping Crocadile his word I kill with tears 49 With him Dissemblance went his Paramour Whose painted face might hardly be detected Arms of offence he seld ' or never wore Lest thence his close designes might be suspected But clasping close his foe as loth to part He steals his dagger with false smiling art And sheaths the trait'rous steel in his own masters heart 50 Two Iewish Captains close themselves enlacing In loves sweet twines his target broad display'd One th' others beard with his left hand embracing But in his right a shining sword he sway'd Which unawares through th' others ribs he smites There lay the wretch without all buriall rites His word He deepest wounds that in his fawning bites 51 Eris the next of sex unfit for warre Her arms were bitter words from flaming tongue Which never quiet wrangle fight and jarre Ne would she weigh report with right or wrong What once she held that would she ever hold And Non-obstantes force with courage bold The last word must she have or never leave to scold 52 She is the trumpet to this angrie train And whets their furie with loud-railing spite But when no open foes did more remain Against themselves themselves she would incite Her clacking mill driv'n by her flowing gall Could never stand but chide rail bark and bawl Her shield no word could finde her tongue engrost them all 53 Zelos the third whose spitefull emulation Could not endure a fellow in excelling Yet slow in any vertues imitation At easie rate that fair possession selling Still as he went he hidden sparkles blew Till to a mighty flame they sudden grew And like fierce lightning all in quick destruction drew 54 Upon his shield lay that Tirinthian Swain Sweltring in fierie gore and pois'nous flame His wives sad gift venom'd with bloudie stain Well could he bulls snake shell all monsters tame Well could he heav'n support and prop alone But by fell Jealousie soon overthrown Without a foe or sword his motto First or none 55 Thumos the fourth a dire revengefull swain Whose soul was made of flames whose flesh of fire Wrath
in his heart hate rage and furie reigne Fierce was his look when clad in sparkling tire But when dead palenesse in his cheek took seisure And all the bloud in 's boyling heart did treasure Then in his wilde revenge kept he nor mean nor measure 56 Look as when waters wall'd with brazen wreath Are sieg'd with crackling flames their common foe The angrie seas 'gin foam and hotly breathe Then swell rise rave and still more furious grow Nor can be held but forc't with fires below Tossing their waves break out and all o'reflow So boyl'd his rising bloud and dasht his angry brow 57 For in his face red heat and ashie cold Strove which should paint revenge in proper colours That like consuming fire most dreadfull roll'd This liker death threatens all deadly dolours His trembling hand a dagger still embrac't Which in his friend he rashly oft encas't His shields devise fresh bloud with foulest stain defac't 58 Next him Erithius most unquiet swain That all in law and fond contention spent Not one was found in all this numerous train With whom in any thing he would consent His Will his Law he weigh'd not wrong or right Much scorn'd to bear much more forgive a spight Patience he th' asses load and cowards Vertue hight 59 His weapons all were fram'd of shining gold Wherewith he subt'ly fought close under hand Thus would he right from right by force withhold Nor suits nor friends nor laws his slights withstand Ah powerfull weapon how dost thou bewitch Great but base mindes spott'st with leprous itch That never are in thought nor ever can be rich 60 Upon his belt fastned with leather laces Black boxes hung sheaths of his paper-swords Fill'd up with Writs Sub-poena's Triall-cases This trespast him in cattel that in words Fit his device and well his shield became A Salamander drawn in lively frame His word was this I live I breathe I feed in flame 61 Next after him marcht proud Dichostasis That wont but in the factious court to dwell But now to shepherd-swains close linked is And taught them fools to change their humble cell And lowly weed for courts and purple gay To sit aloft and States and Princes sway A hook no scepter needs our erring sheep to stay 62 A Miter trebly crown'd th' Impostour wore For heav'n earth hell he claims with loftie pride Not in his lips but hands two keyes he bore Heav'ns doores and hells to shut and open wide But late his keyes are marr'd or broken quite For hell he cannot shut but opens light Nor heav'n can ope but shut nor buyes but sells by slight 63 Two heads oft three he in one body had Nor with the body nor themselves agreeing What this commanded th' other soon forbad As different in rule as nature being The body to them both and neither prone Was like a double-hearted dealer grown Endeavouring to please both parties pleasing none 64 As when the powerfull winde and adverse tide Strive which should most command the subject main The scornfull waves swelling with angrie pride Yeelding to neither all their force disdain Mean time the shaken vessel doubtfull playes And on the stagg'ring billow trembling stayes And would obey them both and none of both obeyes 65 A subtil craftsman fram'd him seemly arms Forg'd in the shop of wrangling sophistrie And wrought with curious arts and mightie charms Temper'd with lies and false philosophie Millions of heedlesse souls thus had he slain His sev'n-fold targe a field of Gules did stain In which two swords he bore his word Divide and reigne 66 Envie the next Envie with squinted eyes Sick of a strange disease his neighbours health Best lives he then when any better dies Is never poore but in anothers wealth On best mens harms and griefs he feeds his fill Else his own maw doth eat with spitefull will Ill must the temper be where diet is so ill 67 Each eye through divers opticks slily leers Which both his sight and object self belie So greatest vertue as a mote appeares And molehill faults to mountains multiplie When needs he must yet faintly then he praises Somewhat the deed much more the means he raises So marreth what he makes praising most dispraises 68 Upon his shield that cruell Herd-groom play'd Fit instrument of Iuno's jealous spight His hundred eyes stood fixed on the maid He pip't she sigh'd his word Her day my night His missile weapon was a lying tongue Which he farre off like swiftest lightning flung That all the world with noise foul blaspheming rung 69 Last of this rout the savage Phonos went Whom his dire mother nurst with humane bloud And when more age and strength more fiercenesse lent She taught him in a dark and desert wood With force and guile poore passengers to slay And on their flesh his barking stomack stay And with their wretched bloud his firy thirst allay 70 So when the never-setled Scythian Removes his dwelling in an empty wain When now the Sunne hath half his journey ranne His horse he blouds and pricks a trembling vein So from the wound quenches his thirstie heat Yet worse this fiend makes his own flesh his meat Monster the ravenous beare his kinde will never eat 71 Ten thousand Furies on his steps awaited Some sear'd his hardned soul with Stygian brand Some with black terrours his faint conscience baited That wide he star'd and starched hair did stand The first-born man still in his minde he bore Foully aray'd in guiltlesse brothers gore Which for revenge to heav'n from earth did loudly roar 72 His arms offensive all to spill not spare Swords pistols poisons instruments of hell A shield he wore not that the wretch did care To save his flesh oft he himself would quell For shew not use on it a viper swilling The dammes spilt gore his emptie bowels filling With flesh that gave him life his word I live by killing 73 And last his brutish sonnes Acrates sent Whom Caro bore both in one birth and bed Methos the first whose panch his feet out-went As if it usher'd his unsetled head His soul quite sowced lay in grapie bloud In all his parts the idle dropsie stood Which though alreadie drown'd still thirsted for the floud 74 This thing nor man nor beast tunnes all his wealth In drink his dayes his yeares in liquour drenching So quaffes he sicknesse down by quaffing health Firing his cheeks with quenching strangely quenching His eyes with firing dull and faint they roll'd But nimble lips known things and hid unfold Belchings oft-sips large spits point the long tale he told 75 His armour green might seem a fruitfull vine The clusters prison'd in the close-set leaves Yet oft between the bloudie grape did shine And peeping forth his jaylers spite deceives Among the boughs did swilling Bacchus ride Whom wilde-grown Moenads bore and every stride Bacche Iō Bacche loud with madding voice they cri'd 76 On 's shield the goatish Satyres dance
dearest heir Did helplesse lie and Greek lords watching still Observ'd his hand guided with carefull will About was wrote Who nothing doth doth nothing ill 34 By him went Idlenesse his loved friend And Shame with both with all ragg'd Pouertie Behinde sure Punishment did close attend Waiting a while fit opportunitie And taking count of houres mispent in vain And graces lent without returning gain Pour'd on his guiltie corse late grief helplesse pain 35 This dull cold earth with standing water froze At ease he lies to coyn pretence for ease His soul like Ahaz diall while it goes Not forward poasteth backward ten degrees In 's couch he 's pliant wax for fiends to seal He never sweats but in his bed or meal He 'd rather steal then work and beg then strive to steal 36 All opposite though he his brother were Was Chaunus that too high himself esteem'd All things he undertook nor could he fear His power too weak or boasted strength misdeem'd With his own praise like windie bladder blown His eyes too little or too much his own For known to all men weak was to himself unknown 37 Fondly himself with praising he disprais'd Vaunting his deeds and worth with idle breath So raz'd himself what he himself had rais'd On 's shield a boy threatens high Phoebus death Aiming his arrow at his purest light But soon the thinne reed fir'd with lightning bright Feel idlely on the strond his word Yet high and right 38 Next brave Philotimus in poast did ride Like rising ladders was his climbing minde His high-flown thoughts had wings of courtly pride Which by foul rise to greatest height enclin'd His heart aspiring swell'd untill it burst But when he gain'd the top with spite accurst Down would he fling the steps by which he clamb'red first 39 His head 's a shop furnisht with looms of state His brain the weaver thoughts are shuttles light With which in spite of heav'n he weaves his fate Honour his web thus works he day and night Till fates cut off his threed so heapeth sinnes And plagues nor once enjoyes the place he winnes But where his old race ends there his new race begins 40 Ah silly man who dream'st that honour stands In ruling others not thy self thy slaves Serve thee and thou thy slaves in iron bands Thy servile spirit prest with wilde passions raves Would'st thou live honour'd clip ambitions wing To reasons yoke thy furious passions bring Thrice noble is the man who of himself is King 41 Upon his shield was fram'd that vent'rous lad That durst assay the Sunnes bright-flaming team Spite of his feeble hands the horses mad Fling down on burning earth the scorching beam So made the flame in which himself was fir'd The world the bonefire was where he expir'd His motto written thus Yet had what he desir'd 42 But Atimus a carelesse idle swain Though Glory off'red him her sweet embrace And fair Occasion with little pain Reacht him her ivory hand yet lozel base Rather his way and her fair self declin'd Well did he thence prove his degenerous minde Base were his restie thoughts base was his dunghill kinde 43 And now by force dragg'd from the monkish cell Where teeth he onely us'd nor hands nor brains But in smooth streams swam down through ease to hell His work to eat drink sleep and purge his reins He left his heart behinde him with his feast His target with a flying dart was drest Poasting unto his mark the word I move to rest 44 Next Colax all his words with sugar spices His servile tongue base slave to greatnesse name Runnes nimble descant on the plainest vices He lets his tongue to sinne takes rent of shame He temp'ring lies porter to th' eare resides Like Indian apple which with painted sides More dangerous within his lurking poyson hides 45 So Echo to the voice her voice conforming From hollow breast for one will two repay So like the rock it holds it self transforming That subtil fish hunts for her heedlesse prey So crafty fowlers with their fair deceits Allure the hungrie bird so fisher waits To bait himself with fish his hook and fish with baits 46 His art is but to hide not heal a sore To nourish pride to strangle conscience To drain the rich his own drie pits to store To spoil the precious soul to please vile sense A carrion crow he is a gaping grave The rich coats moth the courts bane trenchers slave Sinnes hells winning baud the devils fact'ring knave 47 A mist he casts before his patrons sight That blackest vices never once appeare But greater then it is seems vertues light His Lords displeasure is his onely fear His clawing lies tickling the senses frail To death make open way where force would fail Lesse hurts the lions paw then foxes softest tail 48 His arms with hundred tongues were poud'red gay The mint of lies gilt fil'd the sense to please His sword which in his mouth close sheathed lay Sharper then death and fram'd to kill with ease Ah cursed weapon life with pleasure spilling The Sardoin herb with many branches filling His shield was his device the word I please in killing 49 Base slave how crawl'st thou from thy dunghill nest Where thou wast hatcht by shame and beggerie And pearchest in the learn'd and noble breast Nobles of thee their courtship learn of thee Arts learn new art their learning to adorn Ah wretched mindes He is not nobly born Nor learn'd that doth not thy ignoble learning scorn 50 Close to him Pleasing went with painted face And Honour by some hidden cunning made Not Honours self but Honours semblance base For soon it vanisht like an emptie shade Behinde his parents duely him attend With them he forced is his age to spend Shame his beginning was and shame must be his end 51 Next follow'd Dyscolus a froward wight His lips all swoln and eyebrows ever bent With sootie locks swart looks and scouling sight His face a tell-tale to his foul intent He nothing lik't or prais'd but reprehended What every one beside himself commended Humours of tongues impostum'd purg'd with shame are mended 52 His mouth a pois'nous quiver where he hides Sharp venom'd arrows which his bitter tongue With squibs carps jests unto their object guides Nor fears he gods on earth or heav'n to wrong Upon his shield was fairly drawn to sight A raging dog foaming out wrath and spite The word to his device Impartiall all I bite 53 Geloios next ensu'd a merrie Greek Whose life was laughter vain and mirth misplac't His speeches broad to shame the modest cheek Ne car'd he whom or when or how disgrac't Salt round about he flung upon the sand If in his way his friend or father stand His father his friend he spreads with carelesse hand 54 His foul jests steep'd and drown'd in laughter vain And rotten speech ah was not mirth but madnesse His armour crackling thorns all flaming
stain With golden fires embleme of foppish gladnesse Upon his shield two laughing fools you see In number he the third first in degree At which himself would laugh and fleer his word We three 55 And after Agrios a sullen swain All mirth that in himself and others hated Dull dead and leaden was his cheerlesse vein His weary sense he never recreated And now he marcht as if he somewhat dream'd All honest joy but madnesse he esteem'd Refreshings idlenesse but sport he folly deem'd 56 In 's arms his minde the workman fit exprest Which all with quenched lamps but smoking yet And foully stinking were full queintly drest To blinde not light the eyes to choke not heat Upon his shield an heap of fennie mire In flagges and turfs with sunnes yet never drier Did smoth'ring lie not burn his word Smoke without fire 57 Last Impudence whose never-changing face Knew but one colour with some brasse-brow'd lie And laughing loud she drowns her just disgrace About her all the fiends in armies flie Her feather'd beaver sidelong cockt in guise Of roaring boyes set look with fixed eyes Out-looks all shamefac't forms all modestie defies 58 And as her thoughts so arms all black as hell Her brasen shield two sable dogs adorn Who each at other stare and snarle and swell Beneath the word was set All change I scorn But if I all this rout and foul aray Should muster up and place in battell ray Too long your selves flocks my tedious song would stay 59 The aged day growes dimme and homeward calls The parting Sunne mans state describing well Falls when he rises rises when he falls So we by falling rose by rising fell The shadie cloud of night 'gins softly creep And all our world with sable tincture steep Home now ye shepherd-swains home now my loved sheep CANT IX THe Bridegroom Sunne who late the Earth had spous'd Leaves his star-chamber early in the East He shook his sparkling locks head lively rouz'd While Morn his couch with blushing roses drest His shines the Earth soon latcht to gild her flowers Phosphor his gold-fleec't drove folds in their bowers Which all the night had graz'd about th' Olympick towers 2 The cheerfull Lark mounting from early bed With sweet salutes awakes the drowsie light The earth she left and up to heav'n is fled There chants her Makers praises out of sight Earth seems a molehill men but ants to be Teaching proud men that soar to high degree The farther up they climbe the lesse they seem and see 3 The shepherds met and Thomalin began Young Thomalin whose notes and silver string Silence the rising Lark and falling Swan Come Thirsil end thy lay and cheerly sing Hear'st how the Larks give welcome to the day Temp'ring their sweetest notes unto thy lay Up then thou loved swain why dost thou longer stay 4 Well sett'st thou friend the Lark before mine eyes Much easier to heare then imitate Her wings lift up her notes to loftie skies But me a leaden sleep and earthly state Down to the centre ties with captive string Well might I follow here her note and wing Singing she loftie mounts ah mounting should I sing 5 Oh thou dread King of that heroick band Which by thy power beats back these hellish sprites Rescuing this State from death and base command Tell me dread King what are those warlike Knights What force what arms where lies their strengths increase That though so few in number never cease To keep this sieged town 'gainst numbers numberlesse 6 The first Commanders in this holy train Leaders to all the rest an ancient pair Long since sure linkt in wedlocks sweetest chain His name Spiritto she Vrania fair Fair had she been and full of heav'nly grace And he in youth a mightie warrier was Both now more fair strong which prov'd their heav'nly race 7 His arms with flaming tongues all sparkled bright Bright flaming tongues in divers sections parted His piercing sword edg'd with their firy light 'Twixt bones and marrow soul and spirit disparted Upon his shield was drawn a glorious Dove 'Gainst whom the proudest Eagle dares not move Glitt'ring in beams his word Conqu'ring by peace and love 8 But she Amazon-like in azure arms Silver'd with starres and gilt with sunnie rayes Her mighty Spouse in fight and fierce alarms Attends and equals in these bloudie frayes And on her shield an heav'nly globe displaying The constellations lower bodies swaying Sway'd by the higher she bore her word I rule obeying 9 About them swarm'd their fruitfull progenie An heav'nly off-spring of an heav'nly bed Well mought you in their looks his stoutnesse see With her sweet graces lovely tempered Fit youth they seem'd to play in Princes hall But ah long since they thence were banisht all Or shine in glitt'ring arms when need fierce warre doth call 10 The first in order nor in worth the last Is Knowledge drawn from peace and Muses spring Where shaded in fair Sinaies groves his taste He feasts with words and works of heav'nly King But now to bloudy field is fully bent Yet still he seem'd to study as he went His arms cut all in books strong shield slight papers lent 11 His glitt'ring armour shin'd like burning day Garnisht with golden Sunnes and radiant flowers Which turn their bending heads to Phaebus ray And when he falls shut up their leavie bowers Upon his shield the silver Moon did bend Her horned bow and round her arrows spend His word in silver wrote I borrow what I lend 12 All that he saw all that he heard were books In which he read and learn'd his Makers will Most on his word but much on heav'n he looks And thence admires with praise the workmans skill Close to him went still-musing Contemplation That made good use of its by meditation So to him ill it self was good by strange mutation 13 And Care who never from his sides would part Of knowledge oft the waies and means enquiring To practise what he learnt from holy art And oft with tears and oft with sighs desiring Aid from that Soveraigne Guide whose wayes so steep Though fain he would yet weak he could not keep But when he could not go yet forward would he creep 14 Next Tapinus whose sweet though lowly grace All other higher then himself esteem'd He in himself priz'd things as mean and base Which yet in others great and glorious seem'd All ill due debt good undeserv'd he thought His heart a low-rooft house but sweetly wrought Where God himself would dwell though he it dearly bought 15 Honour he shunnes yet is the way unto him As hell he hates advancement wonne with bribes But publick place and charge are forc't to wooe him He good to grace ill to desert ascribes Him as his Lord contents a lowly room Whose first house was the blessed Virgins wombe The next a cratch the third a crosse the fourth a tombe 16 So choicest drugs in meanest shrubs are found So precious
gold in deepest centre dwells So sweetest violets trail on lowly ground So richest pearls ly clos'd in vilest shells So lowest dales we let at highest rates So creeping strawberries yeeld daintiest cates The Highest highly loves the low the loftie hates 17 Upon his shield was drawn that Shepherd lad Who with a sling threw down faint Israels fears And in his hand his spoils and trophies glad The Monsters sword and head he bravely bears Plain in his lovely face you might behold A blushing meeknesse met with courage bold Little not little worth was fairly wrote in gold 18 With him his kinsman both in birth and name Obedience taught by many bitter showers In humble bonds his passions proud to tame And low submit unto the higher powers But yet no servile yoke his forehead brands For ti'd in such an holy service bands In this obedience rules and serving thus commands 19 By them went Fido Marshal of the field Weak was his mother when she gave him day And he at first a sick and weakly childe As e're with tears welcom'd the sunnie ray Yet when more yeares afford more growth might A champion stout he was and puissant Knight As ever came in field or shone in armour bright 20 So may we see a little lionet When newly whelpt a weak and tender thing Despis'd by every beast but waxen great When fuller times full strength and courage bring The beasts all crouching low their King adore And dare not see what they contemn'd before The trembling forrest quakes at his affrighting roar 21 Mountains he flings in seas with mighty hand Stops and turns back the Sunnes impetuous course Nature breaks natures laws at his command No force of hell or heav'n withstands his force Events to come yet many ages hence He present makes by wondrous prescience Proving the senses blinde by being blinde to sense 22 His sky-like arms di'd all in blue and white And set with golden starres that flamed wide His shield invisible to mortall sight Yet he upon it easily descri'd The lively semblance of his dying Lord Whose bleeding side with wicked steel was gor'd Which to his fainting spirits new courage would afford 23 Strange was the force of that enchanted shield Which highest powers to it from heav'n impart For who could bear it well and rightly wield It sav'd from sword and spear and poison'd dart Well might he slip but yet not wholly fall No finall losse his courage might appall Growing more sound by wounds and rising by his fall 24 So some have feign'd that Tellus giant sonne Drew many new-born lives from his dead mother Another rose as soon as one was done And twentie lost yet still remain'd another For when he fell and kist the barren heath His parent straight inspir'd successive breath And though her self was dead yet ransom'd him from death 25 With him his Nurse went carefull Acoe Whose hands first from his mothers wombe did take him And ever since have foster'd tenderly She never might she never would forsake him And he her lov'd again with mutuall band For by her needfull help he oft did stand When else he soon would fail and fall in foemens hand 26 With both sweet Meditation ever pac't His Nurses daughter and his Foster-sister Deare as his soul he in his soul her plac't And oft embrac't and oft by stealth he kist her For she had taught him by her silent talk To tread the safe and dangerous wayes to balk And brought his God with him him with his God to walk 27 Behinde him Penitence did sadly go Whose cloudie dropping eyes were ever raining Her swelling tears which ev'n in ebbing flow Furrow her cheek the sinfull puddles draining Much seem'd she in her pensive thought molested And much the mocking world her soul infested More she the hatefull world and most her self detested 28 She was the object of lewd mens disgrace The squint-ey'd wrie-mouth'd scoffe of carnall hearts Yet smiling heav'n delights to kisse her face And with his bloud God bathes her painfull smarts Afflictions iron flail her soul had thrasht Sharp Circumcisions knife her heart had slasht Yet was it angels wine which in her eyes was masht 29 With her a troop of mournfull grooms abiding Help with their sullen blacks their Mistresse wo Amendment still but still his own faults chiding And Penance arm'd with smarting whips did go Then sad Remorse came sighing all the way Last Satisfaction giving all away Much surely did he owe much more he would repay 30 Next went Elpinus clad in skie-like blue And through his arms few starres did seem to peep Which there the workmans hand so finely drew That rockt in clouds they softly seem'd to sleep His rugged shield was like a rockie mold On which an anchour bit with surest hold I hold by being held was written round in gold 31 Nothing so cheerfull was his thoughtfull face As was his brother Fido's Fear seem'd dwell Close by his heart his colour chang'd apace And went and came that sure all was not well Therefore a comely Maid did oft sustain His fainting steps and fleeting life maintain Pollicita she hight which ne're could lie or feigne 32 Next to Elpinus marcht his brother Love Not that great Love which cloth'd his Godhead bright With rags of flesh and now again above Hath drest his flesh in heav'ns eternall light Much lesse the brat of that false Cyprian dame Begot by froth and fire in bed of shame And now burns idle hearts swelt'ring in lustfull flame 33 But this from heav'n brings his immortall race And nurst by Gratitude whose carefull arms Long held and hold him still in kinde embrace But train'd to daily warres and fierce alarms He grew to wondrous strength and beautie rare Next that God-Love from whom his off-springs are No match in earth or heav'n may with this Love compare 34 His Page who from his side might never move Remembrance on him waits in books reciting The famous passions of that highest Love His burning zeal to greater flames exciting Deep would he sigh and seem empassion'd sore And oft with tears his backward heart deplore That loving all he could he lov'd that Love no more 35 Yet sure he truely lov'd and honour'd deare That glorious name for when or where he spi'd Wrong'd or in hellish speech blasphem'd did heare Boldly the rash blasphemer he defi'd And forc't him eat the words he foully spake But if for him he grief or death did take That grief he counted joy and death life for his sake 36 His glitt'ring arms drest all with firie hearts Seem'd burn in chaste desire and heav'nly flame And on his shield kinde Ionathan imparts To his souls friend his robes and princely name And kingly throne which mortals so adore And round about was writ in golden ore Well might he give him all that gave his life before 37 These led the Vantguard and an hundred moe Fill'd up the emptie ranks with ord'red train But
first in middle ward did justly go In goodly arms a fresh and lovely Swain Vaunting himself Loves twin but younger brother Well mought it be for ev'n their very mother With pleasing errour oft mistook the one for th' other 38 As when fair Paris gave that golden ball A thousand doubts ranne in his stagg'ring breast All lik'd him well fain would he give it all Each better seems and still the last seems best Doubts ever new his reaching hand deferr'd The more he looks the more his judgement err'd So she first this then that then none then both preferr'd 39 Like them their armour seem'd full neare of kinne In this they onely differ th' elder bent His higher soul to heav'n the younger Twinne 'Mong mortals here his love and kindenesse spent Teaching strange alchymie to get a living By selling land and to grow rich by giving By emptying filling bags so heav'n by earth atchieving 40 About him troop the poore with num'rous trains Whom he with tender care and large expence With kindest words and succour entertains Ne looks for thanks or thinks of recompence His wardrobe serves to cloath the naked side And shamefull parts of bared bodies hide If other cloaths he lackt his own he would divide 41 To rogues his gate was shut but open lay Kindely the weary traveller inviting Oft therefore Angels hid in mortall clay And God himself in his free roofs delighting Lowly to visit him would not disdain And in his narrow cabin oft remain Whom heav'n earth all the world cannot contain 42 His table still was fill'd with wholesome meat Not to provoke but quiet appetite And round about the hungry freely eat With plenteous cates cheering their feeble sprite Their earnest vows broke open heav'ns wide doore That not in vain sweet Plentie evermore With gracious eye looks down upon his blessed store 43 Behinde attend him in an uncouth wise A troop with little caps and shaved head Such whilome was infranched bondmens guise New freed from cruell masters servile dread These had he lately bought from captive chain Hence they his triumph sing with joyfull strain And on his head due praise and thousand blessings rain 44 He was a father to the fatherlesse To widows he suppli'd an husbands care Nor would he heap up woe to their distresse Or by a Guardians name their state impair But rescue them from strong oppressours might Nor doth he weigh the great mans heavie spight Who fears the highest Iudge needs fear no mortall wight 45 Once every week he on his progresse went The sick to visit and those meager swains Which all their weary life in darknesse spent Clogg'd with cold iron prest with heavy chains He hoords not wealth for his loose heir to spend it But with a willing hand doth well expend it Good then is onely good when to our God we lend it 46 And when the dead by cruell tyrants spight Lie out to rav'nous birds and beasts expos'd His yearnfull heart pitying that wretched sight In seemly graves their weary flesh enclos'd And strew'd with dainty flowers the lowly herse Then all alone the last words did rehearse Bidding them softly sleep in his sad sighing verse 47 So once that royall Maid fierce Thebes beguil'd Though wilfull Creon proudly did forbid her Her brother from his home and tombe exil'd While willing night in darknesse safely hid her She lowly laid in earths all-covering shade Her dainty hands not us'd to such a trade She with a mattock toils and with a weary spade 48 Yet feels she neither sweat nor irksome pain Till now his grave was fully finished Then on his wounds her cloudy eyes 'gin rain To wash the guilt painted in bloudy red And falling down upon his gored side With hundred varied plaints she often cri'd Oh had I di'd for thee or with thee might have di'd 49 Ay me my ever wrong'd and banisht brother How can I fitly thy hard fate deplore Or in my breast so just complainings smother To thy sad chance what can be added more Exile thy home thy home a tombe thee gave Oh no such little room thou must not have But for thy banisht bones I wretch must steal a grave 50 But whither wofull Maid have thy complaints With fellow passion drawn my feeling mone But thus this Love deals with those murd'red Saints Weeps with the sad and sighs with those that grone But now in that beech grove we 'l safely play And in those shadows mock the boyling ray Which yet increases more with the decreasing day CANT X. THe Shepherds to the woodie mount withdrew Where th' hillock seats shades yeeld a canopie Whose tops with violets di'd all in blue Might seem to make a little azure skie And that round hill which their weak heads maintain'd A lesser Atlas seem'd whose neck sustain'd The weight of all the heav'ns which fore his shoulders pain'd 2 And here and there sweet Primrose scattered Spangling the blue fit constellations make Some broadly flaming their fair colours spread Some other winkt as yet but half awake Fit were they plac't and set in order due Nature seem'd work by art so lively true A little heav'n on earth in narrow space she drew 3 Upon this earthly heav'n the shepherds play The time beguiling and the parching light Till the declining Sunne and elder day Abate their flaming heat and youthfull might The sheep had left the shades to minde their meat Then all returning to their former seat Thirsil again began his wearie song repeat 4 Great power of Love with what commanding fire Dost thou enflame the worlds wide Regiment And kindely heat in every heart inspire Nothing is free from thy sweet government Fish burn in seas beasts birds thy weapons prove By thee dead elements and heavens move Which void of sense it self yet are not void of love 5 But those twinne Loves which from thy seas of light To us on earth derive their lesser streams Though in their force they shew thy wondrous might On thee reflecting back their glorious beams Yet here encountred with so mightie foe Had need both arm'd and surely guarded go But most thy help they need do not thy help foreslow 6 Next to the younger Love Irenus went Whose frostie head proclaim'd his winter age His spring in many battels had he spent But now all weapons chang'd for counsell sage His heavie sword the witnesse of his might Upon a lopped tree he idlely pight There hid in quiet sheath sleeps it in endlesse night 7 Patience his shield had lent to ward his breast Whose golden plain three Olive-branches dresse The word in letters large was fair exprest Thrice happie authour of a happie peace Rich plenty yeelds him power power stores his will Will ends in works good works his treasures fill Earths slave heav'ns heir he is as God payes good for ill 8 By him Andreos pac't of middle age His minde as farre from rashnesse as from fears Hating base thoughts
he to Sinah th' holy groves amongs Where that wise Shepherd chants her in his Song of songs 9 The Islands King with sober countenance Aggrates the Knights who thus his right defended And with grave speech and comely amenance Himself his State his Spouse to them commended His lovely childe that by him pensive stands He last delivers to their valiant hands And her to thank the Knights her Champions he commands 10 The God-like Maid a while all silent stood And down to th' earth let fall her humble eyes While modest thoughts shot up the flaming bloud Which fir'd her scarlet cheek with rosie dies But soon to quench the heat that lordly reignes From her fair eye a shower of crystall rains Which with his silver streams o're-runs the beauteous plains 11 As when the Sunne in midst of summers heat Draws up thinne vapours with his potent ray Forcing dull waters from their native seat At length dimme clouds shadow the burning day Till coldest aire soon melted into showers Upon the earth his welcome anger powres And heav'ns cleare forehead now wipes off her former lowres 12 At length a little lifting up her eyes A renting sigh way for her sorrow brake Which from her heart 'gan in her face to rise And first in th' eye then in the lip thus spake Ah gentle Knights how may a simple maid With justest grief and wrong so ill apaid Give due reward for such your pains and friendly aid 13 But if my Princely Spouse do not delay His timely presence in my greatest need He will for me your friendly love repay And well requite this your so gentle deed Then let no fear your mighty hearts assail His word's himself himself he cannot fail Long may he stay yet sure he comes and must prevail 14 By this the long-shut gate was open laid Soon out they rush in order well arang'd And fastning in their eyes that heav'nly Maid How oft for fear her fairest colour chang'd Her looks her worth her goodly grace and state Comparing with her present wretched fate Pitie whets just revenge and loves fire kindles hate 15 Long at the gate the thoughtfull Intellect Staid with his fearfull Queen and daughter fair But when the Knights were past their dimme aspect They follow them with vowes and many a prayer At last they climbe up to the Castles height From which they view'd the deeds of every Knight And markt the doubtfull end of this intestine fight 16 As when a youth bound for the Belgick warre Takes leave of friends upon the Kentish shore Now are they parted and he sail'd so farre They see not now and now are seen no more Yet farre off viewing the white trembling sails The tender mother soon plucks off her veils And shaking them aloft unto her sonne she hails 17 Mean time these Champions march in fit aray Till both the armies now were come in sight A while each other boldly viewing stay With short delayes whetting fierce rage and spight Sound now ye trumpets sound alarums loud Heark how their clamours whet their anger proud See yonder are they met in midst of dustie cloud 18 So oft the South with civil enmitie Musters his watrie forces 'gainst the West The rowling clouds come tumbling up the skie In dark folds wrapping up their angry guest At length the flame breaks from th' imprisoning cold With horrid noise tearing the limber mold While down in liquid tears the broken vapours roll'd 19 First did that warlike Maid her self advance And riding from amidst her companie About her helmet wav'd her mighty lance Daring to fight the proudest enemie Porneios soon his ready spear addrest And kicking with his heel his hastie beast Bent his sharp-headed lance against her dainty breast 20 In vain the broken staffe sought entrance there Where Love himself oft entrance sought in vain But much unlike the Martial Virgins spear Which low dismounts her foe on dustie plain Broaching with bloudy point his breast before Down from the wound trickled the bubbling gore And bid pale death come in at that red gaping doore 21 There lies he cover'd now in lowly dust And foully wallowing in clutter'd bloud Breathing together out his life and lust Which from his breast swamme in the steaming floud In maids his joy now by a maid defi'd His life he lost and all his former pride With women would he live now by a woman di'd 22 Aselges struck with such a heavie sight Greedie to venge his brothers sad decay Spurr'd forth his flying steed with fell despight And met the virgin in the middle way His spear against her head he fiercely threw Which to that face performing homage due Kissing her helmet thence in thousand shivers flew 23 The wanton boy had dreamt that latest night That he had learnt the liquid aire dispart And swimme along the heav'ns with pineons light Now that fair maid taught him this nimble art For from his saddle farre away she sent Flying along the emptie element That hardly yet he knew whither his course was bent 24 The rest that saw with fear the ill successe Of single fight durst not like fortune trie But round beset her with their numerous presse Before beside behinde they on her flie And every part with coward odds assail But she redoubling strokes as thick as hail Drove farre their flying troops thresht with iron flail 25 As when a gentle greyhound set around With little curres which dare his way molest Snapping behinde soon as the angrie hound Turning his course hath caught the busiest And shaking in his fangs hath welnigh slain The rest fear'd with his crying runne amain And standing all aloof whine houl and bark in vain 26 The subtil Dragon that from farre did view The waste and spoil made by this maiden Knight Fell to his wonted guile for well he knew All force was vain against such wondrous might A craftie swain well taught to cunning harms Call'd false Delight he chang'd with hellish charms That true Delight he seem'd the self-same shape and arms 27 The watchfull'st sight no difference could descrie The same his face his voice his gate the same Thereto his words he feign'd and coming nigh The Maid that fierce pursues her martiall game He whets her wrath with many a guilefull word Till she lesse carefull did fit time afford Then up with both his hands he lifts his balefull sword 28 You powerfull heav'ns and thou their Governour With what eyes can you view this dolefull sight How can you see your fairest Conquerour So nigh her end by so unmanly slight The dreadfull weapon through the aire doth glide But sure you turn'd the harmfull edge aside Else must she there have fall'n and by that traitour di'd 29 Yet in her side deep was the wound impight Her flowing life the shining armour stains From that wide spring long rivers took their flight With purple streams drowning the silver plains Her cheerfull colour now grows wanne and pale Which oft she strives
with courage to recall And rouze her fainting head which down as oft would fall 30 All so a Lilie prest with heavie rain Which fills her cup with showers up to the brinks The wearie stalk no longer can sustain The head but low beneath the burden sinks Or as a virgin Rose her leaves displayes Whom too hot scorching beams quite disarayes Down flags her double ruffe and all her sweet decayes 31 Th' undanted Maid feeling her feet denie Their wonted dutie to a tree retir'd Whom all the rout pursue with deadly crie As when a hunted Stag now welnigh tir'd Shor'd by an oak 'gins with his head to play The fearfull hounds dare not his horns assay But running round about with yelping voices bay 32 And now perceiving all her strength was spent Lifting to listning heav'n her trembling eyes Thus whispring soft her soul to heav'n she sent Thou chastest Love that rul'st the wandring skies More pure then purest heavens by thee moved If thine own love in me thou sure hast proved If ever thou my self my vows my love hast loved 33 Let not this Temple of thy spotlesse love Be with foul hand and beastly rage defil'd But when my spirit shall his camp remove And to his home return too long exil'd Do thou protect it from the ravenous spoil Of ranc'rous enemies that hourely toil Thy humble votarie with loathsome spot to foil 34 With this few drops fell from her fainting eyes To dew the fading roses of her cheek That much high Love seem'd passion'd with those cries Much more those streams his heart and patience break Straight he the charge gives to a winged Swain Quickly to step down to that bloudie plain And aid her wearie arms and rightfull cause maintain 35 Soon stoops the speedie Herauld through the aire Where chaste Agneia and Encrates fought See see he cries where your Parthenia fair The flower of all your armie hemm'd about With thousand enemies now fainting stands Readie to fall into their murdring hands Hie ye oh hie ye fast the highest Love commands 36 They casting round about their angrie eye The wounded Virgin almost sinking spi'd They prick their steeds which straight like lightning flie Their brother Continence runnes by their side Fair Continence that truely long before As his hearts liege this Ladie did adore And now his faithfull love kindled his hate the more 37 Encrates and his Spouse with flashing sword Assail the scatter'd troops that headlong flie While Continence a precious liquour pour'd Into the wound and suppled tenderly Then binding up the gaping orifice Reviv'd the spirits that now she 'gan to rise And with new life confront her heartlesse enemies 38 So have I often seen a purple flower Fainting through heat hang down her drooping head But soon refreshed with a welcome shower Begins again her lively beauties spread And with new pride her silken leaves display And while the Sunne doth now more gently play Lay out her swelling bosome to the smiling day 39 Now rush they all into the flying trains Bloud fires their bloud and slaughter kindles fight The wretched vulgar on the purple plains Fall down as thick as when a rustick wight From laden oaks the plenteous akorns poures Or when the blubbring ayer sadly lowres And melts his sullen brow and weeps sweet April showers 40 The greedy Dragon that aloof did spie So ill successe of this renewed fray More vext with losse of certain victorie Depriv'd of so assur'd and wished prey Gnashed his iron teeth for grief and spite The burning sparks leap from his flaming sight And forth his smoking jawes steams out a smouldring night 41 Straight thither sends he in a fresh supply The swelling band that drunken Methos led And all the rout his brother Gluttonie Commands in lawlesse bands disordered So now they bold restore their broken fight And fiercely turn again from shamefull flight While both with former losse sharpen their raging spite 42 Freshly these Knights assault these fresher bands And with new battell all their strength renew Down fell Geloios by Encrates hands Agneia Moechus and Anagnus slew And spying Methos fenc't in 's iron vine Pierc't his swoln panch there lies the grunting swine And spues his liquid soul out in his purple wine 43 As when a greedy lion long unfed Breaks in at length into the harmlesse folds So hungry rage commands with fearfull dread He drags the silly beasts nothing controlls The victour proud he spoils devours and tears In vain the keeper calls his shepherd peers Mean while the simple flock gaze on with silent fears 44 Such was the slaughter these three Champions made But most Encrates whose unconquer'd hands Sent thousand foes down to th' infernall shade With uselesse limbes strewing the bloudie sands Oft were they succourd fresh with new supplies But fell as oft the Dragon grown more wise By former losse began another way devise 45 Soon to their aid the Cyprian band he sent For easie skirmish clad in armour light Their golden bowes in hand stood ready bent And painted quivers furnisht well for fight Stuck full of shafts whose heads foul poyson stains Which dipt in Phlegethon by hellish swains Bring thousand painfull deaths and thousand deadly pains 46 Thereto of substance strange so thinne and slight And wrought by subtil hand so cunningly That hardly were discern'd by weaker fight Sooner the heart did feel then eye could see Farre off they stood and flung their darts around Raining whole clouds of arrows on the ground So safely others hurt and never wounded wound 47 Much were the Knights encumbred with these foes For well they saw and felt their enemies But when they back would turn the borrow'd blows The light-foot troop away more swiftly flies Then do their winged arrows through the winde And in their course oft would they turn behinde And with their glancing darts their hot pursuers blinde 48 As when by Russian Volgha's frozen banks The false-back Tartars fear with cunning feigne And poasting fast away in flying ranks Oft backward turn and from their bowes down rain Whole storms of darts so do they flying fight And what by force they lose they winne by slight Conquerd by standing out and conquerours by flight 49 Such was the craft of this false Cyprian crue Yet oft they seem'd to slack their fearfull pace And yeeld themselves to foes that fast pursue So would they deeper wound in nearer space In such a fight he winnes that fastest flies Flie flie chaste Knights such subtil enemies The vanquisht cannot live and conqu'rour surely dies 50 The Knights opprest with wounds and travel past Began retire and now were neare to fainting With that a winged Poast him speeded fast The Generall with these heavy newes acquainting He soon refresht their hearts that 'gan to tire But let our weary Muse a while respire Shade we our scorched heads from Phoebus parching fire CANT XII THe shepherds guarded from the sparkling heat Of blazing aire upon the flowrie banks Where
doth spew Black smothering flames roll'd in loud thunder-claps The pitchie vapours choke the shining ray And bring dull night upon the smiling day The wavering Aetna shakes and fain would runne away 23 Yet could his bat-ey'd legions eas'ly see In this dark Chaos they the seed of night But these not so who night and darknesse flee For they the sonnes of day and joy in light But Knowledge soon began a way devise To bring again the day and cleare their eyes So open'd Fido's shield and golden veil unties 24 Of one pure diamond celestiall fair That heav'nly shield by cunning hand was made Whose light divine spred through the mistie aire To brightest morn would turn the Western shade And lightsome day beget before his time Framed in heav'n without all earthly crime Dipt in the firy Sunne which burnt the baser slime 25 As when from fennie moor 's the lumpish clouds With rising steams damp the bright mornings face At length the piercing Sunne his team unshrouds And with his arrows th' idle fogge doth chase The broken mist lies melted all in tears So this bright shield the stinking darknesse teares And giving back the day dissolves their former fears 26 Which when afarre the firie Dragon spies His slights deluded with so little pain To his last refuge now at length he flies Long time his pois'nous gorge he seem'd to strain At length with loathly sight he up doth spue From stinking panch a most deformed crue That heav'n it self did flie from their most ugly view 27 The first that crept from his detested maw Was Hamartia foul deformed wight More foul deform'd the Sunne yet never saw Therefore she hates the all-betraying light A woman seem'd she in her upper part To which she could such lying glosse impart That thousands she had slain with her deceiving art 28 The rest though hid in serpents form arayd With iron scales like to a plaited mail Over her back her knotty tail displaid Along the empty aire did lofty sail The end was pointed with a double sting Which with such dreaded might she wont to fling That nought could help the wound but bloud of heav'nly King 29 Of that first woman her the Dragon got The foulest bastard of so fair a mother Whom when she saw so fil'd with monstrous spot She cast her hidden shame and birth to smother But she welnigh her mothers self had slain And all that dare her kindely entertain So some parts of her damme more of her sire remain 30 Her viperous locks hung loose about her eares Yet with a monstrous snake she them restrains Which like a border on her head she wears About her neck hang down long adder chains In thousand knots and wreaths infolded round Which in her anger lightly she unbound And darting farre away would sure and deadly wound 31 Yet fair and lovely seems to fools dimme eyes But hell more lovely Pluto's self more fair Appears when her true form true light descries Her loathsome face blancht skinne and snakie hair Her shapelesse shape dead life her carrion smell The devils dung the childe and damme of hell Is chaffer fit for fools their precious souls to sell. 32 The second in this rank was black Despair Bred in the dark wombe of eternall Night His looks fast nail'd to Sinne long sootie hair Fill'd up his lank cheeks with wide-staring fright His leaden eyes retir'd into his head Light heav'n and earth himself and all things fled A breathing coarse he seem'd wrapt up in living lead 33 His bodie all was fram'd of earthly paste And heavie mold yet earth could not content him Heav'n fast he flies and heav'n fled him as fast Though ' kin to hell yet hell did much torment him His very soul was nought but ghastly fright With him went many a fiend and ugly sprite Armed with ropes and knives all instruments of spite 34 In stead of feathers on his dangling crest A lucklesse Raven spred her blackest wings And to her croaking throat gave never rest But deathfull verses and sad dirges sings His hellish arms were all with fiends embost Who damned souls with endlesse torments roast And thousand wayes devise to vex the tortur'd ghost 35 Two weapons sharp as death he ever bore Strict Iudgement which from farre he deadly darts Sinne at his side a two edg'd sword he wore With which he soon appalls the stoutest hearts Upon his shield Alecto with a wreath Of snakie whips the dam'd souls tortureth And round about was wrote Reward of sinne is death 36 The last two brethren were farre different Onely in common name of death agreeing The first arm'd with a sithe still mowing went Yet whom and when he murder'd never seeing Born deaf and blinde nothing might stop his way No prayers no vows his keenest sithe could stay Nor Beauties self his spite nor Vertues self allay 37 No state no age no sex may hope to move him Down falls the young and old the boy and maid Nor begger can intreat nor King reprove him All are his slaves in 's cloth of flesh araid The bride he snatches from the bridegrooms arms And horrour brings in midst of loves alarms Too well we know his power by long experienc't harms 38 A dead mans skull suppli'd his helmets place A bone his club his armour sheets of lead Some more some lesse fear his all-frighting face But most who sleep in downie pleasures bed But who in life have daily learnt to die And dead to this live to a life more high Sweetly in death they sleep and slumbring quiet lie 39 The second farre more foul in every part Burnt with blue fire and bubbling sulphure streams Which creeping round about him fill'd with smart His cursed limbes that direly he blasphemes Most strange it seems that burning thus for ever No rest no time no place these flames may sever Yet death in thousand deaths without death dieth never 40 Soon as these hellish monsters came in sight The Sunne his eye in jettie vapours drown'd Scar'd at such hell-hounds view heav'ns ' mazed light Sets in an early evening earth astound Bids dogs with houls give warning at which sound The fearfull ayer starts seas break their bound And frighted fled away no sands might them impound 41 The palsied troop first like asps shaken fare Till now their heart congeal'd in icie bloud Candied the ghastly face locks stand and stare Thus charm'd in ranks of stone they marshall'd stood Their uselesse swords fell idlely on the plain And now the triumph sounds in loftie strain So conqu'ring Dragon bindes the Knights with slavish chain 42 As when proud Phineus in his brothers feast Fill'd all with tumult and intestine broil Wise Perseus with such multitudes opprest Before him bore the snakie Gorgons spoil The vulgar rude stood all in marble chang'd And in vain ranks and rockie order rang'd Were now more quiet guests from former rage estrang'd 43 The fair Eclecta who with grief had stood Viewing th' oft changes
point unbreasts the naked hearts 64 The Dragon wounded with this flaming brand They take and in strong bonds and fetters tie Short was the fight nor could he long withstand Him whose appearance is his victorie So now he 's bound in adamantine chain He storms he roars he yells for high disdain His net is broke the fowl go free the fowler ta'ne 65 Thence by a mighty Swain he soon was led Unto a thousand thousand torturings His tail whose folds were wont the starres to shed Now stretcht at length close to his belly clings Soon as the pit he sees he back retires And battel new but all in vain respires So there he deeply lies flaming in icie fires 66 As when Alcides from forc't hell had drawn The three-head dog and master'd all his pride Basely the fiend did on his Victour fawn With serpent tail clapping his hollow side At length arriv'd upon the brink of light He shuts the day out of his dullard sight And swelling all in vain renews unhappie fight 67 Soon at this sight the Knights revive again As fresh as when the flowers from winter tombe When now the Sunne brings back his nearer wain Peep out again from their fresh mothers wombe The primrose lighted new her flame displayes And frights the neighbour hedge with firie rayes And all the world renew their mirth sportive playes 68 The Prince who saw his long imprisonment Now end in never-ending libertie To meet the Victour from his castle went And falling down clasping his royall knee Poures out deserved thanks in gratefull praise But him the heav'nly Saviour soon doth raise And bids him spend in joy his never spending dayes 69 The fair Eclecta that with widowed brow Her absent Lord long mourn'd in sad aray Now silken linnen cloth'd like frozen snow Whose silver spanglets sparkle 'gainst the day This shining robe her Lord himself had wrought While he her love with hundred presents sought And it with many a wound many a torment bought 70 And thus arayd her heav'nly beauties shin'd Drawing their beams from his most glorious face Like to a precious Jasper pure refin'd Which with a Crystall mixt much mends his grace The golden starres a garland fair did frame To crown her locks the Sunne lay hid for shame And yeelded all his beams to her more glorious flame 71 Ah who that flame can tell ah who can see Enough is me with silence to admire While bolder joy and humbe majestie In either cheek had kindled gracefull fire Long silent stood she while her former fears And griefs ran all away in sliding tears That like a watrie Sunne her gladsome face appeares 72 At length when joyes had left her closer heart To seat themselves upon her thankfull tongue First in her eyes they sudden flashes dart Then forth i' th' musick of her voice they throng My Hope my Love my Joy my Life my Blisse Whom to enjoy is heav'n but hell to misse What are the worlds false joyes what heav'ns true joyes to this 73 Ah dearest Lord does my rapt soul behold thee Am I awake and sure I do not dream Do these thrice blessed arms again infold thee Too much delight makes true things feigned seem Thee thee I see thou thou thus folded art For deep thy stamp is printed in my heart And thousand ne're-felt joyes stream in each melting part 74 Thus with glad sorrow did she sweetly plain her Upon his neck a welcome load depending While he with equall joy did entertain her Her self her Champions highly all commending So all in triumph to his palace went Whose work in narrow words may not be pent For boundlesse thought is lesse then is that glorious tent 75 There sweet delights which know nor end nor measure No chance is there nor eating times succeeding No wastfull spending can empair their treasure Pleasure full grown yet ever freshly breeding Fulnesse of sweets excludes not more receiving The soul still big of joy yet still conceiving Beyond slow tongues report beyond quick thoughts perceiving 76 There are they gone there will they ever bide Swimming in waves of joyes and heav'nly loves He still a Bridegroom she a gladsome Bride Their hearts in love like spheres still constant moving No change no grief no age can them befall Their bridall bed is in that heav'nly hall Where all dayes are but one and onely one is all 77 And as in state they thus in triumph ride The boyes and damsels their just praises chaunt The boyes the Bridegroom sing the maids the Bride While all the hills glad Hymens loudly vaunt Heav'ns winged shoals greeting this glorious spring Attune their higher notes and Hymens sing Each thought to passe each did passe thoughts loftiest wing 78 Upon his lightning brow Love proudly sitting Flames out in power shines out in majestie There all his loftie spoils and trophies fitting Displayes the marks of highest Deitie There full of strength in lordly arms he stands And every heart and every soul commands No heart no soul his strength and lordly force withstands 79 Upon her forehead thousand cheerfull Graces Seated in thrones of spotlesse ivorie There gentle Love his armed hand unbraces His bow unbent disclaims all tyrannie There by his play a thousand souls beguiles Perswading more by simple modest smiles Then ever he could force by arms or craftie wiles 80 Upon her cheek doth Beauties self implant The freshest garden of her choicest flowers On which if Envie might but glance ascant Her eyes would swell and burst and melt in showers Thrice fairer both then ever fairest ey'd Heav'n never such a Bridegroom yet descri'd Nor ever earth so fair so undefil'd a Bride 81 Full of his Father shines his glorious face As farre the Sunne surpassing in his light As doth the Sunne the earth with flaming blaze Sweet influence streams from his quickning sight His beams from nought did all this All display And when to lesse then nought they fell away He soon restor'd again by his new orient ray 82 All heav'n shines forth in her sweet faces frame Her seeing Starres which we miscall bright eyes More bright then is the mornings brightest flame More fruitfull then the May-time Geminies These back restore the timely summers fire Those springing thoughts in winter hearts inspire Inspiriting dead souls and quickning warm desire 83 These two fair Sunnes in heav'nly sphere are plac't Where in the centre Joy triumphing sits Thus in all high perfections fully grac't Her mid-day blisse no future night admits But in the mirrours of her Spouses eyes Her fairest self she dresses there where lies All sweets a glorious beautie to emparadize 84 His locks like ravens plumes or shining jet Fall down in curls along his ivory neck Within their circlets hundred Graces set And with love-knots their comely hangings deck His mighty shoulders like that Giant Swain All heav'n and earth and all in both sustain Yet knows no wearinesse nor feels oppressing pain 85 Her amber hair like
While smiling heav'ns spread round a canopie Now tost with blasts and civil enmitie While whistling windes blow trumpets to their fight And roaring waves as drummes whet on their spite 8 Such cruel storms my restles heart command Late thousand joyes securely lodged there Ne fear'd I then to care ne car'd to fear But pull'd the prison'd fishes to the land Or spite of windes pip't on the golden sand But since love sway'd my breast these seas alarms Are but dead pictures of my raging harms 9 Love stirres desire desire like stormy winde Blows up high swelling waves of hope and fear Hope on his top my trembling heart doth bear Up to my heav'n but straight my lofty minde By fear sunk in despair deep drown'd I finde But ah your tempests cannot last for ever But ah my storms I fear will leave me never 10 Haples and fond too fond more haples swain Who lovest where th' art scorn'd scorn'st where th' art loved Or learn to hate where thou hast hatred proved Or learn to love where thou art lov'd again Ah cease to love or cease to woo thy pain Thy love thus scorn'd is hell do not so earn it At least learn by forgetting to unlearn it 11 Ah fond and haples swain but much more fond How canst unlearn by learning to forget it When thought of what thou should'st unlearn does whet it And surer ties thy minde in captive bond Canst thou unlearn a ditty thou hast con'd Canst thou forget a song by oft repeating Thus much more wilt thou learn by thy forgetting 12 Haplesse and fond most fond more haplesse swain Seeing thy rooted love will leave thee never She hates thy love love thou her hate for ever In vain thou hop'st hope yet though still in vain Joy in thy grief and triumph in thy pain And though reward exceedeth thy aspiring Live in her love and die in her admiring 13 Fair-cruel maid most cruel fairer ever How hath foul rigour stol'n into thy heart And on a comick stage hath learnt thee art To play a Tyrant-tragical deceiver To promise mercy but perform it never To look more sweet maskt in thy looks disguise Then Mercy self can look with Pities eyes 14 Who taught thy honied tongue the cunning slight To melt the ravisht eare with musicks strains And charm the sense with thousand pleasing pains And yet like thunder roll'd in flames and night To break the rived heart with fear and fright How rules therein thy breast so quiet state Spite leagu'd with mercy love with lovelesse hate 15 Ah no fair Coelia in thy sunne-like eye Heav'n sweetly smiles those starres soft loving fire And living heat not burning flames inspire Love's self enthron'd in thy brows ivorie And every grace in heavens liverie My wants not thine me in despairing drown When hell presumes no mar'l if heavens frown 16 Those gracefull tunes issuing from glorious spheares Ravish the eare and soul with strange delight And with sweet Nectar fill the thirsty sprite Thy honied tongue charming the melted eares Stills stormy hearts and quiets frights and fears My daring heart provokes thee and no wonder When earth so high aspires if heavens thunder 17 See see fair Coelia seas are calmly laid And end their boisterous threats in quiet peace The waves their drummes the windes their trumpets cease But my sick love ah love full ill apayd Never can hope his storms may be allayd But giving to his rage no end or leisure Still restles rests Love knows no mean or measure 18 Fond boy she justly scorns thy proud desire While thou with singing would'st forget thy pain Go strive to empty the still-flowing main Go fuell seek to quench thy growing fire Ah foolish boy scorn is thy musicks hire Drown then these flames in seas but ah I fear To fire the main and to want water there 19 There first thy heav'n I saw there felt my hell There smooth-calm seas rais'd storms of fierce desires There cooling waters kindled burning fires Nor can the Ocean quench them in thy cell Full stor'd with pleasures all my pleasures fell Die then fond lad ah well my death may please thee But love thy love not life not death must ease me 20 So down he swowning sinks nor can remove Till fisher-boyes fond fisher-boyes revive him And back again his life and loving give him But he such wofull gift doth much reprove Hopelesse his life for hopelesse is his love Go then most loving but most dolefull swain Well may I pitie she must cure thy pain FINIS ECLOG IIII. CHROMIS Thelgon Chromis Thel CHromis my joy why drop thy rainie eyes And sullen clouds hang on thy heavie brow Seems that thy net is rent and idle lies Thy merry pipe hangs broken on a bough But late thy time in hundred joyes thou spent'st Now time spends thee while thou in vain lament'st Chrom 2 Thelgon my pipe is whole and nets are new But nets and pipe contemn'd and idle lie My little reed that late so merry blew Tunes sad notes to his masters miserie Time is my foe and hates my rugged rimes And I as much hate both that hate and times Thel 3 What is it then that causeth thy unrest Or wicked charms or loves new-kindled fire Ah! much I fear love eats thy tender breast Too well I know his never quenched ire Since I Amyntas lov'd who me disdains And loves in me nought but my grief and pains Chrom 4 No lack of love did ever breed my smart I onely learn'd to pity others pain And ward my breast from his deceiving art But one I love and he loves me again In love this onely is my greatest sore He loves so much and I can love no more 5 But when the fishers trade once highly priz'd And justly honour'd in those better times By every lozel-groom I see despis'd No marvel if I hate my jocond rimes And hang my pipe upon a willow bough Might I grieve ever if I grieve not now Thel 6 Ah foolish boy why should'st thou so lament To be like him whom thou dost like so well The Prince of fishers thousand tortures rent To heav'n lad thou art bound the way by hell Would'st thou ador'd and great and merry be When he was mockt debas'd and dead for thee 7 Mens scorns should rather joy then sorrow move For then thou highest art when thou art down Their storms of hate should more blow up my love Their laughters my applause their mocks my crown Sorrow for him and shame let me betide Who for me wretch in shame and sorrow died Chrom 8 Thelgon 't is not my self for whom I plain My private losse full easie could I bear If private losse might help the publick gain But who can blame my grief or chide my fear Since now the fishers trade and honour'd name Is made the common badge of scorn and shame 9 Little know they the fishers toilsome pain Whose labour with his age still growing spends not His care and watchings
drown'd The yeare with winter storms all rent and wasted Hath now fresh youth and gentler seasons tasted The warmer sunne his bride hath newly gown'd With firie arms clipping the wanton ground And gets an heav'n on earth that primrose there Which 'mongst those violets sheds his golden hair Seems the sunnes little sonne fixt in his azure spheare 3 Seest how the dancing lambes on flowrie banks Forget their food to minde their sweeter play Seest how they skip and in their wanton pranks Bound o're the hillocks set in sportfull ranks They skip they vault full little caren they To make their milkie mothers bleating stay Seest how the salmons waters colder nation Lately arriv'd from their sea-navigation How joy leaps in their heart shew by their leaping fashion 4 What witch enchants thy minde with fullen madnes When all things smile thou onely fitt'st complaining Algon Damon I onely I have cause of sadnesse The more my wo to weep in common gladnesse When all eyes shine mine onely must be raining No winter now but in my breast remaining Yet feels this breast a summers burning fever And yet alas my winter thaweth never And yet alas this fire eats and consumes me ever Damon 5 Within our Darwin in her rockie cell A Nymph there lives which thousand boys hath harm'd All as she gliding rides in boats of shell Darting her eye where spite and beauty dwell Ay me that spite with beautie should be arm'd Her witching eye the boy and boat hath charm'd No sooner drinks he down that poisonous eye But mourns and pines ah piteous crueltie With her he longs to live for her he longs to die Algon 6 Damon what Tryphon taught thine eye the art By these few signes to search so soon so well A wound deep hid deep in my fester'd heart Pierc't by her eye Loves and deaths pleasing dart Ah she it is an earthly heav'n and hell Who thus hath charm'd my heart with sugred spell Ease thou my wound but ah what hand can ease Or give a medicine that such wound may please When she my sole Physician is my souls disease Damon 7 Poore boy the wounds which spite and Love impart There is no ward to fence no herb to ease Heav'ns circling folds lie open to his dart Hells Lethe's self cools not his burning smart The fishes cold flame with this strong disease And want their water in the midst of seas All are his slaves hell earth and heav'n above Strive not i' th' net in vain thy force to prove Give woo sigh weep pray Love's only cur'd by love Algon 8 If for thy love no other cure there be Love thou art cureles gifts prayers vows and art She scorns both you and me nay Love ev'n thee Thou sigh'st her prisoner while she laughs as free What ever charms might move a gentle heart I oft have try'd and shew'd the earnfull smart Which eats my breast she laughs at all my pain Art prayers vows gifts love grief she does disdain Grief love gifts vows prayers art ye all are spent in vain Damon 9 Algon oft hast thou fisht but sped not straight With hook and net thou beat'st the water round Oft-times the place thou changest oft the bait And catching nothing still and still dost wait Learn by thy trade to cure thee time hath found In desp'rate cures a salve for every wound The fish long playing with the baited hook At last is caught Thus many a Nymph is took Mocking the strokes of Love is with her striking strook Algon 10 The marbles self is pierc't with drops of rain Fires soften steel and hardest metals try But she more hard then both such her disdain That seas of tears Aetna's of love are vain In her strange heart weep I burn pine or die Still reignes a cold coy carelesse apathie The rock that bears her name breeds that hard stone With goats bloud onely softned she with none More precious she and ah more hard then diamond 11 That rock I think her mother thence she took Her name and nature Damon Damon see See where she comes arm'd with a line and hook Tell me perhaps thou think'st in that sweet look The white is beauties native tapestrie 'T is crystall friend yc'd in the frozen sea The red is rubies these two joyn'd in one Make up that beauteous frame the difference none But this she is a precious living speaking stone Damon 12 No gemme so costly but with cost is bought The hardest stone is cut and fram'd by art A diamond hid in rocks is found if sought Be she a diamond a diamond's wrought Thy fear congeales thy fainting steels her heart I 'le be thy Captain boy and take thy part Alcides self would never combat two Take courage Algon I will teach thee woo Cold beggars freez our gifts thy faint suit breeds her no. 13 Speak to her boy Al. Love is more deaf then blinde Damon She must be woo'd Al. Love's tongue is in the eyes Damon Speech is Love's dart Al. Silence best speaks the minde Damon Her eye invites Al. Thence love and death I finde Damon Her smiles speak peace Al. Storms breed in smiling skies Damon Who silent loves Al. Whom speech all hope denies Damon Why should'st thou fear Al. To Love Fear 's neare akinne Damon Well if my cunning fail not by a gin Spite of her scorn thy fear I 'le make thee woo and winne 14 What ho thou fairest maid turn back thine oare And gently deigne to help a fishers smart Nicaea Are thy lines broke or are thy trammels tore If thou desir'st my help unhide the sore Ah gentlest Nymph oft have I heard thy art Can soveraigne herbs to every grief impart So mayst thou live the fishers song and joy As thou wilt deigne to cure this sickly boy Unworthy they of art who of their art are coy 15 His inward grief in outward change appeares His cheeks with sudden fires bright-flaming glow Which quencht end all in ashes storms of teares Becloud his eyes which soon forc't smiling cleares Thick tides of passions ever ebbe and flow And as his flesh still wastes his griefs still grow Nicaea Damon the wounds deep rankling in the minde What herb could ever cure what art could finde Blinde are mine eyes to see wounds in the soul most blinde Algon 16 Hard maid t' is worse to mock then make a wound Why should'st thou then fair-cruel scorn to see What thou by seeing mad'st my sorrows ground Was in thy eye may by thy eye be found How can thy eye most sharp in wounding be In seeing dull these two are one in thee To see and wound by sight thy eye the dart Fair-cruel maid thou well hast learn'd the art With the same eye to see to wound to cure my heart Nicaea 17 What cures thy wounded heart Algon Thy heart so wounded Nicaea Is 't love to wound thy love Algon Loves wounds are pleasing Nicaea Why plain'st thou then Al. Because thou art unwounded Thy wound my
greedie minde The sad Hungarian fears his tried might And waning Persia trembles at his sight His greener youth most with the heathen spent Gives Christian Princes justest cause to fear His riper age whose childhood thus is bent A thousand trophies will he shortly rear Unlesse that God who gave him first this rage Binde his proud head in humble vassalage To Mr. Jo. Tomkins THomalin my lief thy musick strains to heare More raps my soul then when the swelling windes On craggie rocks their whistling voices tear Or when the sea if stopt his course he findes With broken murmures thinks weak shores to fear Scorning such sandie cords his proud head bindes More then where rivers in the summers ray Through covert glades cutting their shadie way Run tumbling down the lawns with the pebles play Thy strains to heare old Chamus from his cell Comes guarded with an hundred Nymphs around An hundred Nymphs that in his rivers dwell About him flock with water-lilies crown'd For thee the Muses leave their silver well And marvel where thou all their art hast found There sitting they admire thy dainty strains And while thy sadder accent sweetly plains Feel thousand sugred joyes creep in their melting veins How oft have I the Muses bower frequenting Miss'd them at home and found them all with thee Whether thou sing'st sad Eupathus lamenting Or tunest notes to sacred harmonie The ravisht soul with thy sweet songs consenting Scorning the earth in heav'nly extasie Transcends the starres and with the angels train Those courts survaies and now come back again Findes yet another heav'n in thy delightfull strain Ah! could'st thou here thy humble minde content Lowly with me to live in countrey cell And learn suspect the courts proud blandishment Here might we safe here might we sweetly dwell Live Pallas in her towers and marble tent But ah the countrey bowers please me as well There with my Thomalin I safe would sing And frame sweet ditties to thy sweeter string There would we laugh at spite and fortunes thundering No flattery hate or envy lodgeth there There no suspicion wall'd in proved steel Yet fearfull of the arms her self doth wear Pride is not there no tyrant there we feel No clamorous laws shall deaf thy musick eare They know no change nor wanton fortunes wheel Thousand fresh sports grow in those daintie places Light Fawns Nymphs dance in the woodie spaces And little Love himself plaies with the naked Graces But seeing fate my happie wish refuses Let me alone enjoy my low estate Of all the gifts that fair Parnassus uses Onely scorn'd povertie and fortunes hate Common I finde to me and to the Muses But with the Muses welcome poorest fate Safe in my humble cottage will I rest And lifting up from my untainted breast A quiet spirit to heav'n securely live and blest To thee I here bequeath the courtly joyes Seeing to court my Thomalin is bent Take from thy Thirsil these his idle toyes Here I will end my looser merriment And when thou sing'st them to the wanton boyes Among the courtly lasses blandishment Think of thy Thirsil's love that never spends And softly say his love still better mends Ah too unlike the love of court or courtly friends Go little pipe for ever I must leave thee My little little pipe but sweetest ever Go go for I have vow'd to see thee never Never ah never must I more receive thee But he in better love will still persever Go little pipe for I must have a new Farewell ye Norfolk maids and Ida crue Thirsil will play no more for ever now adieu To Thomalin THomalin since Thirsil nothing ha's to leave thee And leave thee must pardon me gentle friend If nothing but my love I onely give thee Yet see how great this Nothing is I send For though this love of thine I sweetest prove Nothing 's more sweet then is this sweetest love The souldier Nothing like his prey esteems Nothing toss'd sailers equal with the shore Nothing before his health the sick man deems The pilgrim hugges his countrey Nothing more The miser hoording up his golden wares This Nothing with his precious wealth compares Our thoughts ambition onely Nothing ends Nothing fills up the golden-dropsied minde The prodigall that all so lavish spends Yet Nothing cannot Nothing stayes behinde The King that with his life a kingdome buyes Then life or crown doth Nothing higher prize Who all enjoyes yet Nothing now desires Nothing is greater then the highest Iove Who dwells in heav'n then Nothing more requires Love more then honey Nothing more sweet then love Nothing is onely better then the best Nothing is sure Nothing is ever blest I love my health my life my books my friends Thee dearest Thomalin Nothing above thee For when my books friends health life fainting ends When thy love fails yet Nothing still will love me When heav'n and aire the earth and floating mains Are gone yet Nothing still untoucht remains Since then to other streams I must betake me And spitefull Chame of all ha's quite bereft me Since Muses selves false Muses will forsake me And but this Nothing nothing els is left me Take thou my love and keep it still in store That given Nothing now remaineth more Against a rich man despising povertie IF well thou view'st us with no squinted eye No partiall judgement thou wilt quickly rate Thy wealth no richer then my povertie My want no poorer then thy rich estate Our ends and births alike in this as I Poore thou wert born and poore again shalt die My little fills my little-wishing minde Thou having more then much yet seekest more Who seeks still wishes what he seeks to finde Who wishes wants and who so wants is poore Then this must follow of necessitie Poore are thy riches rich my povertie Though still thou gett'st yet is thy want not spent But as thy wealth so growes thy wealthy itch But with my little I have much content Content hath all and who hath all is rich Then this in reason thou must needs confesse If I have little yet that thou hast lesse What ever man possesses God hath lent And to his audit liable is ever To reckon how and where and when he spent Then this thou bragg'st thou art a great receiver Little my debt when little is my store The more thou hast thy debt still growes the more But seeing God himself descended down T' enrich the poore by his rich povertie His meat his house his grave were not his own Yet all is his from all eternitie Let me be like my Head whom I adore Be thou great wealthie I still base and poore Contemnenti COntinuall burning yet no fire or fuel Chill icie frosts in midst of summers frying A hell most pleasing and a heav'n most cruel A death still living and a life still dying And whatsoever pains poore hearts can prove I feel and utter in one word I LOVE Two fires of love and grief each upon
his sleep Though th' hast a wife fir young and fair An heritage heirs to advance Yet canst thou not command an heir For heirs are Gods inheritance He gives the seed the bud the bloom He gives the harvest to the wombe And look as arrows by strong arm In a strong bow drawn to the head Where they are meant will surely harm And if they hit wound deep and dead Children of youth are even so As harmfull deadly to a foe That man shall live in blisse and peace Who fills his quiver with such shot Whose garners swell with such increase Terrour and shame assail him not And though his foes deep hatred bear Thus arm'd he shall not need to fear PSAL. 137. To be sung as See the building WHere Perah's flowers Perfume proud Babels bowers And paint her wall There we laid asteeping Our eyes in endlesse weeping For Sions fall Our feasts and songs we laid aside On forlorn willows By Perah's billows We hung our harps and mirth and joy defi'd That Sions ruines should build foul Babels pride Our conqu'rours vaunting With bitter scoffes and taunting Thus proudly jest Take down your harps and string them Recall your songs sing them For Sions feast Were our harps well tun'd in every string Our heart-strings broken Throats drown'd and soken With tears and sighs how can we praise and sing The King of heav'n under an heathen king In all my mourning Ierusalem thy burning If I forget Forget thy running My hand and all thy cunning To th' harp to set Let thy mouth my tongue be still thy grave Lie there asleeping For Sion weeping Oh let mine eyes in tears thy office have Nor rise nor set but in their brinie wave Proud Edoms raging Their hate with bloud asswaging And vengefull sword Their cursed joying In Sions walls destroying Remember Lord Forget not Lord their spightfull cry Fire and deface it Destroy and raze it Oh let the name of Sion ever die Thus did they roare and us and thee defie So shall thy towers And all thy princely bowers Proud Babel fall Him ever blessed Who th' oppressour hath oppressed Shall all men call Thrice blest that turns thy mirth to grones That burns to ashes Thy towers and dashes Thy brats 'gainst rocks to wash thy bloudie stones With thine own bloud and pave thee with thy bones PSAL. I. BLessed who walk'st not in the worldlings way Blessed who with foul sinners wilt not stand Blessed who with proud mockers dar'st not stay Nor sit thee down amongst that scornfull band Thrice blessed man who in that heav'nly light Walk'st stand'st and sitt'st rejoycing day and night Look as a thirstie Palm full Iordan drinks Whose leaf and fruit still live when winter dies With conqu'ring branches crowns the rivers brinks And summers fires and winters frosts defies All so the soul whom that clear light revives Still springs buds grows and dying time survives But as the dust of chaffe cast in the aire Sinks in the dirt and turns to dung and mire So sinners driv'n to hell by fierce despair Shall frie in ice and freez in hellish fire For he whose flaming eyes all actions turn Sees both to light the one the other burn PSAL. 130. FRom the deeps of grief and fear O Lord to thee my soul repairs From thy heav'n bow down thine eare Let thy mercie meet my prayers Oh if thou mark'st what 's done amisse What soul so pure can see thy blisse But with thee sweet mercie stands Sealing pardons working fear Wait my soul wait on his hands Wait mine eye oh wait mine eare If he his eye or tongue affords Watch all his looks catch all his words As a watchman waits for day And looks for light and looks again When the night grows old and gray To be reliev'd he calls amain So look so wait so long mine eyes To see my Lord my Sunne arise Wait ye saints wait on our Lord For from his tongue sweet mercie flows Wait on his crosse wait on his word Upon that tree redemption grows He will redeem his Israel From sinne and wrath from death and hell AN HYMNE WAke O my soul awake and raise Up every part to sing his praise Who from his spheare of glorie fell To raise thee up from death and hell See how his soul vext for thy sinne Weeps bloud without feels hell within See where he hangs heark how he cries Oh bitter pangs Now now he dies Wake O mine eyes awake and view Those two twin-lights whence heavens drew Their glorious beams whose gracious sight Fills you with joy with life and light See how with clouds of sorrow drown'd They wash with tears thy sinfull wound See how with streams of spit th' are drencht See how their beams with death are quencht Wake O mine eare awake and heare That powerfull voice which stills thy fear And brings from heav'n those joyfull news Which heav'n commands which hell subdues Heark how his eares heav'ns mercie-seat Foul slanders with reproaches beat Heark how the knocks our ears resound Heark how their mocks his hearing wound Wake O my heart tune every string Wake O my tongue awake and sing Think not a thought in all thy layes Speak not a word but of his praise Tell how his sweetest tongue they drownd With gall think how his heart they wound That bloudie spout gagg'd for thy sinne His life lets out thy death lets in AN HYMNE DRop drop slow tears and bathe those beauteous feet Which brought from heav'n the news and Prince of peace Cease not wet eyes his mercies to intreat To crie for vengeance sinne doth never cease In your deep flouds drown all my faults and fears Nor let his eye see sinne but through my tears On my friends picture who died in travel THough now to heav'n thy travels are confin'd Thy wealth friends life and countrey all are lost Yet in this picture we thee living finde And thou with lesser travel lesser cost Hast found new life friends wealth and better coast So by thy death thou liv'st by losse thou gain'st And in thy absence present still remain'st Upon Doctor Playser WHo lives with death by death in death is lying But he who living dies best lives by dying Who life to truth who death to errour gives In life may die by death more surely lives My soul in heaven breathes in schools my fame Then on my tombe write nothing but my name Upon my brothers book called The grounds labour and reward of faith THis lamp fill'd up and fir'd by that blest Spirit Spent his last oyl in this pure heav'nly flame Laying the grounds walls roof of faith this frame With life he ends and now doth there inherit What here he built crown'd with his laurel merit Whose palms and triumphs once he loudly rang There now enjoyes what here he sweetly sang This is his monument on which he drew His spirits image that can never die But breathes in these ' live words and speaks to th' eye In these
kisse his rod 17 My deare once all my joy now all my care To these my words these my last words apply thee Give me thy hand these my last greetings are Shew me thy face I never more shall eye thee Ah would our boyes our lesser selves were by thee Those my ' live pictures to the world I give So single onely die in them twice-two I live 18 Your little souls your sweetest times enjoy And softly spend among your mothers kisses And with your prettie sports and hurtlesse joy Supply your weeping mothers grievous misses Ah while you may enjoy your little blisses While yet you nothing know when back you view Sweet will this knowledge seem when yet you nothing knew 19 For when to riper times your yeares arrive No more ah then no more may you go play you Lancht in the deep farre from the wished hive Change of worlds tépests through blinde seas will sway you Till to the long-long'd haven they convey you Through many a wave this brittle life must passe And cut the churlish seas shipt in a bark of glasse 20 How many ships in quick-sands swallow'd been What gaping waves whales monsters there expect you How many rocks much sooner felt then seen Yet let no fear no coward fright affect you He holds the stern and he will safe direct you Who to my sails thus long so gently blew That now I touch the shore before the seas I knew 21 I touch the shore and see my rest preparing Oh blessed God! how infinite a blessing Is in this thought that through this troubled faring Through all the faults this guiltie age depressing I guiltlesse past no helplesse man oppressing And coming now to thee lift to the skies Unbribed hands cleans'd heart and never tainted eyes 22 Life life how many Sylla's dost thou hide In thy calm streams which sooner kill then threaten Gold honour greatnesse and their daughter pride More quiet lives and lesse with tempests beaten Whose middle state content doth richly sweeten He knows not strife or brabling lawyers brawls His love and wish live pleas'd within his private walls 23 The King he never sees nor fears nor prayes Nor sits court-promise and false hopes lamenting Within that house he spends and ends his dayes Where day he viewed first his hearts contenting His wife and babes nor sits new joyes inventing Unspotted there and quiet he remains And 'mong his duteous sonnes most lov'd and fearlesse reignes 24 Thou God of peace with what a gentle tide Through this worlds raging tempest hast thou brought me Thou thou my open soul didst safely hide When thousand crafty foes so nearely sought me Els had the endlesse pit too quickly caught me That endlesse pit where it is easier never To fall then being fall'n to cease from falling ever 25 I never knew or want or luxurie Much lesse their followers or cares tormenting Or ranging lust or base-bred flatterie I lov'd and was belov'd with like consenting My hate was hers her joy my sole contenting Thus long I liv'd and yet have never prov'd Whether I lov'd her more or more by her was lov'd 26 Foure babes the fift with thee I soon shall finde With equall grace in soul and bodie fram'd And left these goods might swell my bladder'd minde Which last I name but should not last be nam'd A sicknesse long my stubborn heart hath tam'd And taught me pleasing goods are not the best But most unblest he lives that lives here ever blest 27 Ah life once vertues spring now sink of evil Thou change of pleasing pain and painfull pleasure Thou brittle painted bubble shop o' th' devil How dost thou bribe us with false gilded treasure That in thy joyes we finde no mean or measure How dost thou witch I know thou dost deceive me I know I should I must and yet I would not leave thee 28 Ah death once greatest ill now onely blessing Untroubled sleep short travel ever resting All sicknesse cure thou end of all distressing Thou one meals fast usher to endlesse feasting Though hopelesse griefs crie out thy aid requesting Though thou art sweetned by a life most hatefull How is 't that when thou com'st thy coming is ungratefull 29 Frail flesh why would'st thou keep a hated guest And him refuse whom thou hast oft invited Life thy tormenter death thy sleep and rest And thou poore soul why at his sight art frighted Who clears thine eyes and makes thee eagle-sighted Mount now my soul seat thee in thy throne Thou shalt be one with him by whom thou first wast one 30 Why should'st thou love this star this borrow'd light And not that Sunne at which thou oft hast guessed But guess'd in vain which dares thy piercing sight Which never was which cannot be expressed Why lov'st thy load joy'st to be oppressed Seest thou those joyes those thousand thousand graces Mount now my soul leap to those outstretcht embraces 31 Deare countrey I must leave thee and in thee No benefit which most doth pierce and grieve me Yet had not hasty death prevented me I would repay my life and somewhat give thee My sonnes for that I leave and so I leave thee Thus heav'n commands the lord outrides the page And is arriv'd before death hath prevented age 32 My dearest Bettie my more loved heart I leave thee now with thee all earthly joying Heav'n knows with thee alone I sadly part All other earthly sweets have had their cloying Yet never full of thy sweet loves enjoying Thy constant loves next heav'n I did referre them Had not much grace prevail'd 'fore heav'n I should preferre them 33 I leave them now the trumpet calls away In vain thine eyes beg for some times reprieving Yet in my children here immortall stay In one I die in many ones am living In them and for them stay thy too much grieving Look but on them in them thou still wilt see Marry'd with thee again thy twice-two Antonie 34 And when with little hands they stroke thy face As in thy lap they sit ah carelesse playing And stammering ask a kisse give them a brace The last from me and then a little staying And in their face some part of me survaying In them give me a third and with a teare Shew thy deare love to him who lov'd thee ever deare 35 And now our falling house leans all on thee This little nation to thy care commend them In thee it lies that hence they want not me Themselves yet cannot thou the more defend them And when green age permits to goodnesse bend them A mother were you once now both you are Then with this double style double your love and care 36 Turn their unwarie steps into the way What first the vessel drinks it long retaineth No barres will hold when they have us'd to stray And when for me one asks and weeping plaineth Point thou to heav'n and say he there remaineth And if they live in grace grow and persever There shall they