I 'm fearful lest Lifes way being rough and long I from it turn by my own or Foes deceit I have a Friend 't is true that from Heav'ns height Came down to free me and redress my Wrong Of love he came but quickly ' amidst the throng I lost him whose return in vain I wait Upwards he flew and flying thus did cry Burd'ned and weary Souls behold your Way Hither come hither to me and find Rest What Grace what Love my Lord what Destiny Will give me a Doves wings on which I may Mount from this Earth and be of Heav'n possest SONNET To the same Purpose Poi che voi io piu vòlte c. SINCE you and I my Friend so oft have prov'd How false our Hopes and full of Vanity To that best Good at length thy Heart apply Which still the more 't is known the more 't is lov'd The present Life 's a Field till thus improv'd In which midst Flowers an hidden Snake does lie And tho its Verdure please the wanton Eye Death from th' unwary Foot 's not far remov'd Would you then have a Mind at last secure And endless Joys in which thou mayst persever Follow the Few to them thy Steps inure And all thou canst to leave the most endeavour Brother you teach well but youâ—self first sure Who oft have stray'd yet more of late than ever SONNET To the now M rs M. W. under the feigned Name of Iärma with the Parable of the Pilgrim ATEDIOUS Age I like this Pilgrim spent In search of that fair Place where Heav'n design'd I should an end of all my Travels find But still I stray'd the more the more I went I stray'd till Clelia in a Vision sent Illustrious Rays diffus'd o're all my Mind And made me see the Way lay far behind Whose entrance was my Wandrings to Repent She told me what Companions I should take How Resolution and Humility And Faith and Charity I should provide If I a prosperous Journey hope'd to make But where dear Clelia do these Graces lie Iärma has them all make her your Guide 1666. SONNET To the Reverend Mr. J. G. TO GOD it is my Friend and you I owe What I have been the twenty Years that last In various Changes o're my Head have past And forty more if Heav'n shall on me throw How good so e're I by that time may grow For Great I wish not and who makes less haste To your account shall be at th' Audit plac'd Who Virtues Path by few trod mad'st me know And timely didst my wandring Youth reclaim By Grave Advice tho not so reckoned then The more my Folly how e're it has been since But when the Spirit Divine to blow begins What Boys we scorn'd we follow close grown Men And the kind Warner have in greatest Fame SONNET On the Picture of our LORD represented on the Cross as Dead Pietoso quanto accorto c. SOMETHING there was Great Master more than chance That Thou the Pencils Wonders to express And therein Thy more wonderous Hands address Tookst my Dead Lord the Colours to advance Pity directed Thee that Choice to make And having in Thy Pious Brest design'd To shew how rude the Jews Thy Self how kind His Pale and Lifeless Form resolve to take 'T was nobly done for hadst Thou made him breathe Ever in Torment he had seem'd to live And from Thy Hands a greater Wound receive Than all their Cruelty contriv'd in his Death For such Thy Picture is now he enclines his Head That he would Groan and Speak but that he 's Dead St. Paul done by Titian A Madrigal DEAD to the World and far from Heav'n remov'd Long'd for by him so much and so much lov'd The blessed Paul while here Did really as Dead appear But in Thy Colours Titian looks so warm and clear So Mortifi'd and yet so full of Life That the most curious need not be at strife But confidently swear If they could both together see The true with this design'd by Thee Such breathing Strokes do from Thy Pencil fall Live Paul's the Draught Thy Draught the living Paul 1668. SONNET The Vanity of thinking to get Fame by Riming WHAT dost Thou Man what thinkst Thou to what end Of old Bards emulous and their ancient Praise In Riming spendst Thou all Thy Strength and Days Nor ever what 's of more concern intend Fame which Thou courtest never did commend Of true Desert or if she does delays Till ' it be too late no Monument does raise But to along since dead or dying Friend And Thou if Thou desir'st that Friend to be What art the better for it in the Grave Thither Thy Fame will never follow Thee Nor with the Dead shalt Thou more Honour have For Verse than if Thou Verse hadst never known The Living will not Dead can give Thee none SONNET To give o're Riming and fall to Business AS I one Day did of my Fate complain And to Loves Charge the great Occasion laid Recounting all the Ways I had assay'd A Name or Fortune in the World to gain And still to ' obtain it strive but all in vain Ah! sottish Wretch with Rage and Scorn he said Me with Thy Artless Follies to upbraid When Thou alone art cause of all Thy Pain Go and to Business Man Thy self present Business the noblest Mistress tho ' it be late Who many Servants has and more will take Riming and Modesty ne're got Estate Or Name or Fortune 't is the Confident And Busie carry ' all Love I did mistake ODE To the Right Reverend Father in God JOHN late Lord Bishop of Chester upon his Promotion thither I. FAIR Seminary of the Flourishing Arts Great Wadhams bounteous Legacy The last result of Heav'n-born Charity Who mounting thither from these Frozen parts Design'd Thee with an high intent To be both Hers and Thy own Pious Founders Monument Thee WADHAM first of all I sing Where in soft Verse I learnt the early Skill Ah! that one so well Disciplin'd should rehearse so ill And have for all Thy care no better Strains to bring Thee sacred Colledg who dost rise Like a new Sion to the North Of th' Muses City with Thy Wings stretcht forth And in their Kingdom hast her Royalties OXFORD the brightest City ' and Kingdom which the Muses have Small as thou art but wondrous brave Both Peacefully there to Command And send abroad Thy Fathers through our Land Thee I tho far unworthy Greet And at Thy Gates as does a Son befit To lead him to his Stall with Songs Thy late great Guardian meet II. With Thee my Song in Thee this happy Man Whilst only Thine a bold Attempt began Whose Fame Posterity shall ne're let die But thence it self instructed how to live Due Honours to the first Discoverer give And Consecrate his Name to Vast Eternity A bold Attempt it was worthy this Age And Him whom Heaven did with the thought Inspire Yet which this Age
is no great matter that for their own Diversions they â—â—ll them by what Names they please so they give me â—he like liberty as I list to name mine THE TABLE OF THE CONTENTS The Letter a added to the Number of the Pages refers to the First Part or the Paraphrase on the Canticles b to the Second Part or the Rimes 1 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Stanza Page 3. a Avoid Prophane avoid for such as you The Canticles in VIII Partitions 2 I. Divini Amoris Ecstasis quae Protasis Stanz p. 6. a False glozing World in vain 3 II Evocatio Sponsae Couplets Stanz Mixt. p. 13. a Earths glittering Stars vying with those above 4 III. Dolor de absentiâ Sponsâ— seu Epitasis Coupl p. 21. a 'T was Night a sad and dismal Night 5 IV. Desiderium Stanza p. 26. a Behold thou' art Fair my Love behold thou' art Fair. 6 V. Catastasis Stanza Coupl p. 33. a I heard Thee call my Sister my Spouse 7 VI. Ambitio Sponsae Stanz Coupl Mixt. p. 39. a Whither is Thy Beloved gone 8 VII Amores mutui Coupl p. 44. â— Fair One who dost from Loins of Kings descend 9 VIII Catastrophe Couplets p. 48. a I love but cannot yet my Love enjoy 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Three Cantos or the Legend of Love 10 I. Canto Stanzas p. 54. a Song which the God of Love did first inspire 11 II. Canto Stanz p. 76. a I oft am thinking whether Love was known 12 III. Canto Stanz p. 100. a Tir'd with the Way I have already gone 13 To the Right Reverend Father in God SETH Lord Bishop of Sarum Sonnet p. 119. a Mindful whence first she learnt the early skill The Six great Hymns of St. Luke 14 I. The Angels Salutation Monostrophos p. 3. b Hail of Heaven highly grace'd 15 II. The Salutation of Elizabeth Stanz p. 4. b Blest Thou among all Women be 16 III. The Magnificat Stanz p. 5. b My Soul doth magnifie the Lord. 17 IV. The Benedictus Stanz p. 7. b Israels great God eternally be prais'd 18 V. The Angelic Hymn Rondeau p. 9. b Glory be to God on High 19 VI. The Nunc dimittis Stanz p. 10. b Enough my God enough I beg no more 20 Comiato to Sir Nicholas Stuart Baronet Monostroph p. 12. b Songs made in lieu of many more The Eight great Hymns of the Apocalyps 21 I. The Adoration of the XXIV Elders Stanz p. 13. b Worthy Thou art all Honour to receive 22 II. The overthrow of the Dragon Stanz p. 14. b Now is Salvation now is come the Hour 23 III. The happy Dead Quadrains p. 15. b Blest are the Dead who in the Lord depart 24 IV. The Song of Moses and the Lamb. Stanz p. 16. b Great are thy Works and marvelous thy Praise 25 V. The Angels of the Waters Lauds Stanz p. 17. b Righteous art Thou O God who art and wast 26 VI. The overthrow of Babylon Stanz p. 18. b Hallelujah to our King 27 VII Epithâ—lamium on the Lambs Marriage Sta. p. 19. b Praise him ye Servants of th' Eternal King 28 VIII The New Jerusalem Stanza p. 22. b Blest state of Innocence 29 Our Blessed Lordâ—s Thanksgiving Stanz p. 25. b I thank Thee Father Lord of all 30 The Song of Moses Ode p. 26. b Since the Almighty has in Triumph led 31 The Well Stanza p. 30. b Sacred Fountain Mystick Spring 32 The Prayer of Jabez Stanz p. 31. b Thus Jabez prayed and thus pray I. 33 The Song of Deborah Ode p. 34. b Israel the blest and happy State 34 David ' s Elegie on the death of Saul and Jonathan Stanza p. 43. b Israels delight the Glory of our Land 35 David ' s Thanksgiving and Prayer Stanz p. 46. b Who am I Lord and whatâ—s my Family 36 David's last Words Terzetti p. 50. b Thus David Jesses Royal Son did sing 37 The Song of Hezekiah Stanz p. 52. b Revolving the sharp Sentence past Three Psalms according to the Ordinary Mâ—trâ— 38 I. Beatus Vir qui non abiit p. 55. b The Man is blest whose doubtful Patâ—s 39 LVII Miserere mei Deus Miserere p. 56. b Great God on whom I have rely'd 40 CXIV In exitu Israel de p. 58. b When Israel was by Gods address 41 CLI Psalm according to the LXXII Stanz p. 59. b Youngest of all my Brethren and the least 42 Job cursing his Birth Couplets p. 61. b May the Day perish and its hasty flight 43. The Prayer of Habakkuk Ode p. 64. b My God I have Thy Wonders heard 44 The saying of Cleanthes Stanz p. 72. b Lead me O Providence Divine 45 A storm of Thunder Ode p. 73. b Great God of Thunder at whose Voice 46 The Nativity Ode p. 74. b Who would not envy if he durst your Grace 47 The Star A Carol for the Epiphany p. 80. b See how that glorious Star at Noon does rise 48 The Passion Ode p. 82. b Twice sixteen Years have almost o're Thee past 49 An Epigram on the same out of Latine p. 87. b When â—y God di'd I first began to live 50 Exstasie of Divine Love out of Spanish Stan. p. 88. b That sacred bond of Charity 51 The flight Quadrains p. 92. b No wonder Soul thou so admirest a Verse 52 A Hymn and Prayer to the Holy Jesus Parode AIl ' Italiana p. 94. b Jesu th' Eternal Sun of Righteousness 53 Hymn for Vâ—spers Out of Greek Monostroph p. 100. b Jâ—su Christ blest Light of Light 54 Lent A Sestine p. 101 Welcome great Queen of Fasts thrice welcom Lent 55 The fall of Lucifer Stanz p. 103. b Son of the Morning First-born of the Light 56 Convertimento à Deo Stanz p 105 Lord my First-fruits should have been brought c. 57 The Altar Monostroph p. 106 This Altar to thy Name Great God I raise 58 Ad Passagium Out of Italian F. P. Ode p. 108. b Blest Soul in Heaven expected long 59 To the Right Reverend Father in God GEORGE Lord Bishop of Wâ—nton Out of Italian F. P. Ode p. 113. b A Fair and Virtuous Dame 60 Sonnet of the same p. 118. b Prepare Thy Chariot Love and heaviest Chain 61 The Apologie Out of Italian F. P. Ode p. 119. b Citing my old and cruel Master Love 62 Ballad Out of Spanish Prophane Love Stan. p. 126. b Love is a Net and Love 's a Snare 63 Loves Exaltation Sonnet p. 127. b Enlarge Thy Flight Love said I and on High 64 The Thoughts Out of Italian F. P. Ode p. 128. b Full of strange Thoughts and Pensive as I go 65. Convertimento à Dio. Out of Italian F. P. Son p. 135. b Tir'd and almost o'recome with th' heavy weight 66 To the same purpose Out of Italian F. P. Sonn p. 135. b Since you and I my Friend so oft have prov'd 67 To Mrs. M. W. with the Parable of the Pilgrim Sonnet p. 136. b A tedious Age I like this Pilgrim spent 68
The form assum'd which likest was to ' his own And will but as a Male when sung in Verse be known XIII Love said it and Heav'n all he said approv'd By signs authentick which none durst deny The new Creation in soft measures mov'd And the whole World of beings waiting by Bow'd all a-down and blest the Augury They bow'd and blest it as they waiting stood They bow'd and blest it each tho near so high From the Angeliâ— Natures to the Brood Of Earth-born Vegetables and God saw 't was Good XIV 'T was good He saw for Man to have his Make Man saw no less 't was good for him to love And in his Arms the Virgin Bride did take With all the' endearments that affection move Nor Hell that lookt askaunce could th' Rites reprove In ' his Arms he took her as Superiour She as one yet who would be Conquer'd strove Till safe arriving at the Genial Bowre And conquer'd both Love each saluted Conquerour XV. There gentle purpose did they enterchange And all the innocent delights that make Blest Wedlock happy nor did think it strange Connubial pleasures to or leave or take For nor him Inn'ocence did nor her forsake And they who think it did or that the place Or state forbad such use 'i th sordice rake Of their own lusty-head fouly miss the case And on God's noblest Masterpiece retort disgrace XVI Think so who will for me and bear the shame Of such sad thought those just ones thought not so Nor God nor Love who kindled first the flame Wherewith they in desire alike did glow Desire unhappy never till 't would know Secrets of knowledg unpermitted it Unhappy knowledg source of all our Woe Unhappy Tree i th' midst oth Garden set Unhappy seen but tasted more unhappy yet XVII Forbidden therefore 't was but that alone What else beside Man could or wish or crave Enclosure Limit and Restraint had none Nor other Law than what Right Reason gave Right Reason unforc'd yet to be a Slave To ' its under Ministers a Lawless suit Of stubborn Lusts when they the Mastery have Less of the Man partaking than the Brute And are the dire effects of the forbidden Fruit. XVIII Too dire Effects if God had seen it fit Which Natures Course disturb'd and alter'd so That all the Bands which held it were unknit And quite revers'd the Pyramis did show Above a Front unshapely 'a point below Thus while 't was turning but once set upon It 's no Foundation for so grim a Brow Or which was but a point as good as none Down fell the Heap Hell trembled and the Earth did groan XIX Love was that Pyramis which whilst it stood As fixt by Heav'n on its own proper Base Matter in Mankind cemented by Blood Spiritous where Sense had lowest place Reason supreme whole Nature did embrace Which o're her Works such Robes of Beauty threw And with such Rays did th' Universe enchase That Instinct some the' rest Inclination drew Only to Love and what was lov'd by Love pursue XX. Love and Fruition of their Kind was the' whole Whither to ' arrive most Creatures did aspire By Sense led and arriv'd but Man whose Soul Had particles of an Aethereal Fire Aim'd at Fruition too but of what high'er And more sublime was laid up than his Kind Or that part of ' it his Flesh whence to retire In Innocence he found himself inclin'd The beauties of his own and of th' Eternal Mind XXI His Kind he lov'd as all things did beside All things beside his Kind he also lov'd In their due Rank but how to be apply'd To use th' Hypothesis was to be prov'd And thousand Stones to move and be remov'd E're Love he to so just an height could raise As in his Intellect it was approv'd That he from Earth to Heav'n by steps of Praise Might hourly mount and boldly tread God's secrer Ways XXII Deep in himself was the Foundation laid And in those Acts wherein he did partake With meaner Beings for his Empire made And of which some for Propagation make By their first Institution call'd Love by mistake Whose name they have engrost but Love Or cause or sign of Love no more are take But the Disguise off as bare Acts they prove Nor higher look than 't is Love naturally to move XXIII These therefore were laid deep and of the Pile If ought Substruction consecrate to Night The sense of Touch too subject to beguile Where Reason does not hold the Ballance right Reason wherein true Love and pure Delight Only consists and is the Fabricks Scale Uninterruptedly to ' ascend Heav'ns height To him who has the skill Heav'n thus to assail And o're th' Omnipotent by almighty Love prevail XXIV The first Man had that Skill and of his Love BEAUTY and GOOD the Object he it sought In that bright Sphere where it on High does move And thither by Reduction all things brought Which in their Season beautiful are wrought All that in others or himself he spi'd Which of the Heav'nly Goodness Trace had ought And by this Chain did an Ascent provide To th' Foot-stool of that Throne where its first Link was ty'd XXV By view hereof He upward did ascend Still upward as he cast his curious view The Higher any thing did upward tend The better 't was and much more Beauteous grew And with it from the Earth Love upward drew From th' Earth of which once having lost the sight Love more refin'd became by Objects new And all presented by a clearer Light That did exhaust the Flesh and ravished the Sp'rit XXVI For having past at length the Atmosphere By many a Stage the Flesh was left behind And now another Face of things appear And other Beauties that surprize the Mind On which to gaze he did strange Pleasure find And tho their Light excessive he scarce bear Seeing above his Journey unconfin'd Upward he presses still and void of Fear As perfect grown above the Skies his Head does rear XXVII Above the Skies he to those Heav'ns does mount Step after step ascending where there be For happy Souls as sacred Writ does count Mansions prepar'd for their sublimity The third Heav'n call'd and ' its Furniture does see With which he could delighted ever stay But that advanced to the last Degree That mortal Foot e're toucht a farther way By Wing to be dispatcht he ' espies Loves last Essay XXVIII So on he claps his best and largest Wings And swift as thought but more direct upright Than Eagle soars into a Welkin springs If so it may be call'd of Flame more bright And pure than what by this Worlds Sun and Light Can be compar'd and in blest Extasy With sacred Wonder but without affright Those fair Idaeas contemplates whereby Himself and th' World was made and there laid up do lie XXIX Ascended hither Love the place well knew As whence himself into our World came down Eve'n Man as nearer to his God he drew New
for Thee searcht about To Princes Thou thy rise dost owe Who digg'd Thee first and made Thee flow Spring happy Well by Princes made Without or Mattocks help or Spade The' ill-boading Instruments of Graves But digg'd by Princes with their Staves And by their Lawgiver survey'd 'T was He to th' Work those Worthies sent Spring Well and teach his great Intent And what He by the Mystery meant That as to all Thy Wateâ—â—â—ow So should their equal Justice do Sacred Fountain Mysric Spring Lo how to Thy Dance we Sing And Cymbals tun'd by Thy soft purlings Ring Spring Eternally O Well Spring up and into Rivers swell The Prayer of JABEZ Invocavit autem Jabez Deum Israel dicens Si benedicens benedixeris mihi dilataveris terminos meos fuerit manus tua mecum feceris me à malitia non opprimi Et praestitâ—â— Deus quae precatus est I. THUS Jabez pray'd and thus pray I Great God O that it might Thee please Thy Servant who upon Thee does relie With Thy choice Favours and indeed to bless T is Prayer alone can this obtain And but to Thee even Prayer is vain II. Enlarge those Coasts wherein I dwell Nor let me ever live retir'd But in Thy CHURCH those mighty Wonders tell Which have my Verse with Heav'nly Flame inspir'd Lord to my House Thy Love secure And let it like Thy Word endure III. Yet not for Greatness do I pray Nor e're Thy Time is to be known But do Thy Will I can its Pleasure stay Waiting that Harvest for which Thou hast sown Only till then make me content And leave to Thee th' whole Management IV. Thou know'st I do Thy Temple love I know there 's time enough behind Why should I make th' Enjoyment bitter prove By hasting what I 'm sure Thou hast design'd In hope at present I rejoyce And both my Heart employ and Voice V. For what concerns my poor estate Since I to Thee my All commit No time when e're it falls shall be too late To soon it may if I encumber it With Wishes that unlawful be And vain affects which move not Thee VI. No! I 'll never think the time too long How long so e're the time may be Let but Thy Hand through Patience make me strong And keep off Evil from disturbing me If Jabez thus to Thee did cry And could be heard Lord why not I Haec Sacrorum Ordinum desiderio raptus mihimet ipsi meus Vates cecini III Nonas Decemb. M. DC.LX.VII In quos post multas hujusce vitae varietates mediâ maturâ aetate ab aerumnosis saeculi curis otio neutiqam licet ignobili hoc juxta Vaticinium biennio post redemptus fui XIV Kalend. Januar. Per Reverendum admodùm in Christo Patrem Dominum Dominum GEORGIUM Episcopum Wintoniensem cujus R. R. Paternitati hîc impares licet tanto Beneficio grates quas tamen Divino Numini imprimis debeo secundas saltem ex toto animo in conspectu Populi Ecclesiae refero Manda Deus virtuti confirma quod operatus es a Templo Sancto tuo Ode The Song of DEBORA Cecineruntque Debora Barac filius Abinoem in illo die dicentes Qui sponte obtulistis de Israel c. I. ISRAEL the blest and happy State For whom th' Almighty all his Wonders show'd Israel your great Redeemer celebrate And what for you he did rehearse aloud Tell how he made his â—and and appear And when the willing Tribes their Youth an Off'ring sent How God before the Sacred Army went And vengeful Ruine follow'd in the Reer And ye O Kings whose awful Sway The many-headed Multitude obey And at whose feet they both their Necks and Tributes lay Princes and Rulers to my Song attend Whose lofty Subject challenges your Ear By all that can a Verse commend Or greatest Kings perswade to hear A tuneful Voice with Charms divinely strong A Woman begs your audience now And if that will not do Deb'rah a Judg in Israel sings and Israels God 's the Song II. Domine cum exires de Seir. Lord out of Seir when Thou didst go Marching the Hill before Thine Host adown When Thou mad'st Edoms Fields Thy Conquests know And with Arm'd Troops the Wilderness didst crown Affrighted Earth did at Thy Presence quake Heav'ns labo'ring Machin did the Warning take And from its torn sides dreary Tempests shake It thundred and down fell from Heavens high Tow'r Of Stones and scalding Rain a mighty show'r With Darkness all the Sky was cover'd o're Through which the blew-wing'd Lightning flew And after it a trail of kindled Brimstone drew It strook the Rocks and they took fire The Mountains with excessive heat did melt Unusual scorching Sinai felt And tho than other Hills exalted higher Tho with its head it did to th' Clouds aspire Sinai nor could resist nor bear the Flame But down in a burning Torrent headlong came III. In diebus Samgar c. Samgar and Jahel wondrous Saviours were And did in Counsel and in Arms excel Of Jahels Prudence we the Trophies are Six hundred Philistims by Samgar fell All with an Ox-goad slain and driv'n like Beasts to â—ell But yet the Roads untrodden lay Scar'd Passengers through Woods did stray And but to Dens Caves led not the Mountainous high-way Woods and thick Bushes in all Pastures grew The Plough-man and his Labour ceast The Land as Curst enjoy'd its rest And not each Seventh alone but every Year a Sabbath knew It rested till I Debora rose at last At last in Israel I a Mother rose Then when new Gods the People chose And from Rebellion to Idolatry had past But see the Vengeance that pursu'd their Sin Slavery and Cowardise at the Breach rusht in And not a Shield or Spear was found midst forty thousand Men. IV. Cor meum diligit Principes c. Fly fly my Muse from this unmanly race And to new Pomps thy strains address Israels great Generals who to efface Of all our foregone Miseries the very trace Couragiously did to the Battel press And where in Irons we lay with Laurels strew'd the place With them my Heart with them my Praise shall be And ye O Fathers who at Home reside And you who equal Justice to dispense Unguarded to your peaceful Cities ride And Justice done return unguarded thence Judges and People by their arms set free Come in and joyn with me And let us bless the Lord as we their Spoils divide Come let us bless Him and proclaim The Wonders of his Reverend Name There whence we exil'd were of late And at our Fountains first begin Where we so oft have rescu'd been Scaping the Death we saw upon the Wing Our Fountains tuneful numbers will inspire And by their purling falls direct the Quire Which well tun'd there we may advance in state And bring with Harps and Songs our Praises to the City Gate V. Surge surge Debora surge c. Awake O
by the Rivers side Whose loaded Boughs in Fruits return Their Tribute to the Tide No Storm or Drought shall make him fade But he unmov'd shall stand Nor shall Success less prosp'rous crown What e're he takes in hand No so the Wicked who as Chaff By Tempests rais'd on high The triumph of fierce Winds are made And as they drive them flie Unlike in Life unlike shall be The ends which on them wait Whilst these in Judgment cannot stand And those are prais'd i th' Gate For why the ways of Righteous Men Unto the Lord are known But Sinners ways hid to themselves Unto the Dead lead down PSAL. LVII Miserere mei Deus miserere GREAT God on whom I have reli'd Whose Mercy is my stay Under Thy Wings or let me hide Or on them flie away Or hide or flie until the Storm Which threatens me is past Thou all things for me dost perform In Thee my hope is plac'd To God I 'll cry who shall descend From Heav'n i th' Fight to close And while his Love does me defend His Truth shall slay my Foes With Lions Lord my Soul lies down shut up within their Den Lions so fierce were never known Cruel and bloody Men. Whose Tongues are Swords and Eyes all Fire With gore and slaughter Red And who against me all conspire To look or speak me Dead Yet set Thy Glory ' above the Skies O're th' Earth exalted be For tho so high I cannot rise Thou mayst stoop down to me Thou didst so for as I lookt round Pensive and full of care My prostrate Enemies strew'd the Ground Each tane in his own Snare Fixt is my Heart to sing Thy Praise T is fixt and I 'll rejoyce Awake my Harp and with Thee raise To Heav'n my tuneful Voice I will awake too and my Song To th' Nations shall rehearse Mercies whose Praise to Heav'n belong Worthy an Angels Verse Lord set Thy Glory ' above the Skies O're the Earth exalted be Lo how thy Son does thither rise Lift from the Grave by Thee Turn'd and Transcrib'd with the following Psalm for an Hymn upon Easter-day 1671. PSAL. CXIV In exitu Israel de c. WHEN Israel was by God's address And his Almighty Hand From Bondage led and wondrously Brought to the Promis'd Land In Judah God his Glory shew'd And did his Power declare Israel his great Inheritance Temple and Empire were The Sea it saw and suddenly Amaz'd rose up and fled The parted streams of Jordans Flood Ran trembling to their Head Aside the Mountains leapt like Rams And to the Hills did show The Hills which shook like frighted Lambs The way which they should go What ail'd the Sea that all amaz'd So suddenly it fled And what made Jordans parted streams Run trembling to their Head Why did the Mountains leap like Rams And to the Hills first show The Hills which shook like frighted Lambs The way which they should go Confess O Earth thy Soveraign Lord And at his Presence quake Before the Face of Jacob's God Bow and Obeysance make 'T is he who caus'd those Rocks to hear And when Thy Springs are dry Can from their flinty Bowels fetch Streams which shall never die PSAL. CLI According to the LXXII 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. I. YOUNGEST of all my Brethren and the least In the Jessean House to ' a Service I enclin'd Which both my Age and Innocence suited best And best the Throne to which I was design'd My Fathers Flock was early set to keep And how to govern Men first learn among my Sheep II. I kept and fed them with a pious care And as they fed my Harp and Pipe assayd Them and my self to please did Songs prepare And variously as pensive Shepherd playd Till having wearied out an humbler String A bolder flight I dare'd Israels Great God to Sing III. But who such Praise can worthily rehearse I strove my best and it acceptance found With Heav'ns Blest King who to approve my Verse A double Glory round my Temples bound By ' his Prophets Hand there plac'd the Regal Crown From the Flock calling me the Poet 's with his own IV. I many Brethren had and great of Might All valiant Men and all renown'd in War Oft tri'd but God in them took no delight For Causes tho from us removed far To ' himself best known who sees not as Man sees But as the Heart is judges and gives Dignities V. For that and his own Pleasure He chose me And having chosen call'd me forth to fight With Raphas Giant-son whose blasphemy Levell'd at Heav'n on his own Head did light By ' his Gods he curst me and his Gods he curst Himself as the chief God propitiating thus first VI. But such curse Proof I out against him went The firmlier arm'd as he disarm'd thereby And certain Death into his Fore-head sent E're he the place could guard or turn to flie He fell I ran to th' lifeless Monster came From him with 's own Sword took his Head from Israel shame Job cursing his Birth After this opened Job his Mouth and cursed his Day And Job spake and said Pereat dies in qua natus sum MAY the Day perish and it s hastly flight Be still be still retarded by a sluggish Night The Day unhappy Day whereon 't was known My Mother could that name and sorrows own Let it look black as Hell no Ray appear Nor on it God in common Light draw near But unregarded may it from above To ' all other Days a different Circle move Augment the last Nights gloom and ne're be found But in a Sea of Rapes and Murder drownd Let Deaths grim Terrors on it ever dwell Of if 't has Light let it be such as fell On Sodom when avenging Heav'n did showr Tempests of Fire and flouds of Lightning pour And for the Night if yet it were the Night For any Day too bad which first disclos'd the sight Dark of it self let Horrour on it seize And when all others welcome are for th' ease And respit which they bring the toilsome care Of pains which in their Curtains hidden are Let it be Curst too and by ' a fatal Breath Doom'd not the shadow of it but very Death Sad dismal solitary know no Joys No chearful shouts but a dull confus'd noise Of Groans and Shrieks as when the parting Soul Labours in vain its dest'iny to controul And as the Criminal who to die next Morn The pity of the many and their Scorn Curses its shortness and does think it done Sooner than other Nights are well begun Let it abide Curst and grown Ominous Its Tale in some prodigious ruine lose Black be its Twilight in it rise no Star But such as when 't is seen tho from a far Famine portends and Blood and the Worlds flame And all the Plagues that have or have not Name Let it expect the Light and pine away To Darkness palpable but see no Day With thousand Curses more And Day
A PARAPHRASE UPON THE CANTICLES AND SOME SELECT HYMNS OF THE NEW and OLD TESTAMENT With other occasional Compositions IN English VERSE By Samuel Woodford D. D. LONDON Printed by J. D. for John Baker at the three Pidgeons and Henry Brome at the Gun in St. Paul's Church-Yard 1679. TO THE Most Reverend FATHER in GOD WILLIAM Lord ARCH-BISHOP of CANTERBURY Primate of all ENGLAND and Metropolitan And one of his MAJESTIES most Honourable PRIVY COUNCIL Most Reverend WEre I indeed a greater Master of Verse than the best of those whether of our own Country-Men or Foreigners whose several manners I have in the following Compositions endeavoured to imitate I durst not yet presume to make an humble Present of them to your Grace unless invited by the Sacredness of the most noble Argument An Argument so Sacred as to the greatest part of the Subjects if not spoil'd by my unskilful handling that it must be ever acknowledged worthy your Grace and beside that the best and most refined Spirits of the Christian Church have happily labour'd in them whose Design his late MAJESTY of ever Blessed Memory was particularly pleased to Encourage and Promote To attest this were it either necessary or pertinent I might reckon up several Names not unknown to your Grace but shall instead of all content my self with the generally approved Mr. George Sandy's who first under so Excellent a Prince opened the way to Divine Poesy in this Nation and gave it a more than ordinary Credit from whose Hands as not unbecoming His Royal Self He vouchsafed to accept a short Paraphrase upon the Canticles not long after the time that the Pious Sieur Godeau had with much success made a Dedication of the same Divine Song under the Title of Sacred Eclogues with some few other Religious Stanzas to the great Cardinal Richelieu of France For Honours sake I here mention the Bishop of Grasse and Mr. Sandy's and that thereby I may both Apologize for my self if there be need and defend the best that I can against the most Censorious and Critical the affixing your Graces Name to the same Canticles and a few other English Rimes of which for the performance as being my own tho I have no better opinion than I ought or than the great Judges of Verse in the Town shall allow they deserve it may be not so good yet if as in the first place in this Dedication they are intended they shall serve most humbly to express my Duty without reflection of Dishonour upon your Grace and be so received I shall nor wish for my self greater Credit nor for them a better Recommendation to such as have any gust for Christian Poesy That God Almighty may have your Grace in his perpetual and most mercifull Protection and long very long continue you an invaluable Blessing to this his best of Churches is the daily Prayer of Hartley Malduit Hampsh 1678. Most Reverend Your Graces most Humble most Dutiful and most Obedient Son Sam. Woodford Upon a Paraphrase of Salomon's Song Done by his Worthy Friend Dr. Samuel Woodford WHilst Thou with Sacred Rage inspir'd dost Sing The Mystic Song of Songs can Cold Age bring An Offering fit Or without Fire devote True Zeal to Verse Or can I tell by rote Thy Praises without measure due Shall I Confound Thy Consort then or Modesty Prophane in Print No let me silent be A Monumental Foyl to Poetry and Thee Nicholas Stuart Baronet ODE To his Honoured Friend Dr. Woodford On his Excellent Paraphrase of SALOMON'S SONG SO Eastern Spices and rich Gums send out In the warm Limbeck while they pant A precious Vapour spreading all about Which the cold Mass did seem to want But urg'd with equal heat it up do's rise The Active Spirit now more nimbly flies Ascending Balm in Dew distils And far-extended Air with fragrant Essence fills An holy Fire Woodford in Thee has rais'd Numbers so sweet so rich and high Methinks I see Thy eager Soul amaz'd In its blest lyric Ecstasy Melting away in Stream of fairest Verse Which when to Mortal Ear Thou do'st rehearse With purling Noise it seems to move Itâ—s Music Charms th' attending Ear the Soul it 's Love Hail blessed Flame that did'st such Verse inspire And to an humble Heart dispense From the chast Touch of an Harmonious Lyre Such Angel sounds such Mystic sense High God of Love's Love unto Man he sings The Spouses choicest Beauties are the Kings Who pour'd his Blood here sweetly pours His Soul out to his Spouse in these Divine Amours Immortal Love Cement of this huge Frame Dearest First-born of the Mind Who wer 't become Impure Romance a Name Thee undebauch'd where could we find Yet art indeed wise Natures beauteous Child Till with the Bodies fouler steam defilâ—d Here rais'd to Soul and Mystery All pure all holy thou art agen Love Travestie Wisest of Kings and Men was there sent down A double Portion of Thy Rage And Heavenly Laurel this chast Brow to Crown Greater than Men and Kings did engage Thee happy Wordford to this lofty Song Touch't from his Altar with a Coal thy Tongue Then we and no prophane Thought neer May say a greater too than Salomon is Here. W. Croune M. D. Fellow of the Colledg To my dear Old Friend the Reverend Dr. Samuel Woodford On his Sacred Rimes I. WELL since it must be so so let it be For what do Resolutions signifie When we are urg'd to Write by Destiny II. I had Resolv'd nay and I almost Swore My Bed-rid Muse should walk abroad no more Alas 't is more than time that I give o're III. In the Recesses of a private Brest I thought to entertain your Charming Guest And never to have boasted of my Feast IV. But see my Friend when through the World you go My Lacquy-Verse must shadow-like pursue Thin and Obscure to make a Foil for you V. 'T is true you cannot need my feeble Praise A lasting Monument to your Name to Raise Well-known in Heav'n by your Angelique ' Layes VI. There in indelible Characters They are writ Where no pretended Heights will easie sit But those of Serious Consecrated Wit VII By immaterial defecated Love Your Soul it 's Heavenly Origin doe's approve And in least dangerous Raptures soar's above VIII How could I wish Dear Friend unsaid agen For once I rank'd my self with Tuneful Men Whatever dropt from my unhallowed Pen IX The trifling Rage of Youthful heat once past Who is not troubled for his Wit misplac'd All pleasant Follies breed regret at last X. While Reverend Don 's and noble Herbert's Flame A glorious Immortality shall claim In the most durable Records of Fame XI Our Modish Rimes like Culinary Fire Unctuous and Earthy shall in Smoke expire In odorous Clouds your Incense shall aspire XII Let th' Pagan-World your Pious Verse defy Yet shall they envy when they come to Die Your Wiser Projects on Eternity Thomas Flatman The Reader is desired to Correct the following Errata which
The very Mountains make him room And bow their Heads to yield him way The Hillocks dart a brighter ray Over the Mountain tops he skips Light as the Wind o're th' Hillocks trips And now he 's there and now he 's here Swift as the fleet wing-footed Deâ—â— And now behind our Wall he stands Looks at the Window and commands My ' attendance at the Lattice with his beckning hands Nay he speaks too and I hear him say Rise up my Love my Fair one come away Winter at length is past and gone Look how th' expected Spring comes on Apace it comes on Zephyrs riding And the Rain that stopt it chiding The Rain is gone too and gives place And now appears a clearer face Of Heaven and Earth than did before Enough of Storms there 's now no more Lo how the Flowers lift up their heads And start out of their drousie beds Wak'd by the Quire of Birds that sing And Carol to the new-come Spring They sing and dance from bough to bough As if they Winter ne're did know As if they Winter ne're did fear And 't would be Summer all the Year And every Night and every Day Who more rich or pleas'd than they Unbidden Pipe and unrewarded play The Fig-Tree too on every twig Puts out its callow unflesht Fig. Unflesht unripe unripe tho'it be Hatc'ht at once by its Mother-Tree Born at one pang without the throws The' hard tâ—eming Olive undergoes That Gems and Flowers and flowring dies E're th' half form'd Embry'o up does rise Or the slow Vine its clusters brings That gentle Plant made up of Rings Crispt and curld and wondrous sweet But modest too and veild toth feet Which in their courses all attend And forth their Odours all do send The Springs to perfume and thy way Rise up my Love my Fair One come away Thus thus but softer 't was he spake With words a very Rock would break And e'ven in Stones impression make Hark and you too O Friends may hear him spâ—ak SPONSUS Columba mea in foraminibus c. MY DOVE that in the Cliffs dost dwell And there to stones thy griefs dost tell To stones which nor Thy plaints can hear Nor a part with Thee in them bear Not lend one sigh nor shed one tear Come forth of Heaven and me belov'd And be to a better Seat remov'd To one less deaf thy prayers direct Whom as Thy self but more they may affect Make them my Love make them to me And let me Her who makes them see Thy Voice tho hoarse with calling grown And almost to Thy self unknown To me as sweet as e're it was As Charming seems and full of Grace And thy fair Eyes with tears be spent Look through the liquid Chrystal far more Orient For why to Heav'n no pompous Sacrifice Than Holy Prayer can more accepted rise And the Lambs Bride no richer Garment wears Than simple White or poudred with her pearly tears Come then of Heavâ—n and me belov'd And be to a better Seat remov'd SHE comes she comes I see her come The Cliffs that held her make her room And stoop their Heads to plain her way Our Lawns reflect her brighter ray Take us the while the Foxes take Which in our Vineyards Burroughs make The little Foxes which dispoil Our Vines into a Gin beguile For there 's a blessing in our Vine The tender Grape begins to shine A blessing of its own her blessing 't has and mine SPONSA Dilectus meus mihi c. WHO would not such a Dear One love Who thus and thousand ways does prove How constant He how great my bliss My ' BELOVED's MINE and I AM HIS His who amongst the Lillies feeds And with them to be crown'd first for them bleeds O! were that Day come and the Night Gone which retards Thy gladsome sight Hasten it LOVE and bring the Day The shadows soon will flee away If Thou on Bethers top appear Swift as the fleet wing-footed Deer On Bethers top shedding Thy Light Fleet as their heels and than their horns more bright CAP. III. DOLOR DE ABSENTIA SPONSI SPONSA CHORUS Amicorum Sponsi SPONSA SOLA In Lectulo meo per Noctes 'T WAS Night a sad and dismal Night Without one glim of chearful Light Silence and horror seiz'd its place And rioted i th' empty space When wake'd with dread Lo all alone I found my self my LOVE was gone With trembling Hand to find him out I felt I sought but found him not At last thus to my self I said I 'le up and see whither he ' is stray'd Fearless the City compass round Nor give o're till my LOVE is found No labour spare i th' quest or pains Through the broad Streets and narrow Lanes But eve'ry Lane and every Street Measure out with my weary Feet And thus or find him or thus prove My truth to His and to my Love I spake I rose but in vain sought And tir'd my self yet found him not Him I found not but they found me Who the City-Warders be And in their Night-walks compass it Amaz'd a stricter Watch to meet And thus themselves first askt to be Him whom my Soul loves did you see My steps scarce from them could I move But I found Him my Soul does love I held him fast nor would let go my hold Chast in my Love and in his Favour bold Till to my Mothers House I brought Him And all my adventurous search had taught him To the glad room where I was born But in my Birth less joyous than in his return And now fair Daughters of Jerusalem Who are and to your selves more glorious seem In his attendance than your own fair stem By the Hills and by the Launs By the Roes and by the Fauns By the Fields and by the Woods By the Springs and by the Floods All that I or you count dear All he loves and all I fear I charge you I charge you not to awake My LOVE from the rest which now he does take Till himself pleases the signal to make CHORUS Amicorum Sponsi Quae est ista quae ascendit per c. WHAT fair One's that who from the Desert comes Strait as a Palm and breathing Odorous Gums Or like those Pillars which from th' Altar rise Of mystic Smoak on which Heav'ns Pavement lies Th' expiring Soul of Myrrh to its last abode Hasting as if 't would be it self a God So choice a Beauty and Divinely fair A meen so lovely and so bright an Air Centred in whom all just Perfections meet The Wise the Good the Awful and the Sweet Is only worthy him whose sacred Love None equal knows but his who reigns above Behold his Bed his Bed that 's Salomons As far as Heav'n admits comparisons No Queen need dread the terrors of the Night With such a Watch so ' appointed and so bright About it Sixty valiant Grooms attend Such as for triumph Israel forth do's send All valiant Men and
to guard the Fort does stand And dares the rudest Shock of th' roughest Hand This as my WELL-BELOVED heard me say The Holy Boast he did approve And in his Eyes I found such grace that Day I dare no longer doubt his Love SPONSVS Vinea fuit Pacifico in ea c. I HAVE a Vineyard so has Salomon His at a distance lies in Baal-hannon To Keepers and to Under-Keepers set And Yearly for a thousand pieces let But mine the Vineyard that 's my own does lie In my own care and ever in my Eye Accountable for ' its Fruits to me alone And sharers in them with me have I none Compare we now our Vineyards peaceful King Which does to ' its Lord the greatest Profit bring Thine for a thousand Pieces yields its store Admit it do 't is worth two hundred more But these the Keepers have Mine is my own Accountable for ' its Fruits to me alone As for its care and sharers have I none Thou art that Vineyard Love my Vineyard Thou Who in the Flowry Gardens dwellest low Low but with all the Stars of th' Garden crown'd And Thy Companions sitting Thee around Attent and listning to Thy tuneful Voice O make me hear it and fulfil my Joys SPONSA Fuge Dilecte mi assimilare c. AND so Thou shalt LOVE bring the Day Haste it LOVE and come away On th' Spicy Mountain tops appear Swift as the fleet-wing footed Deer And driving thence the baleful Night On th' Spicy Mountains shed Thy Light Fleet as their heels and than their Horns more bright Veni Domine JESV Veni citò SOLI DEO GLORIA Cujus Amore inflammato corde haec occini Inscius licet indignus Suscipe laudes Famuli tui AMEN Apud Hartley Maudet Com. Southton in Vigiliâ Ascensionis MDCLXXVII 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 THE LEGEND OF LOVE CANTO I. I. SONG which the God of Love did first inspire Not he the blind and sottish World calls so No God nor ought save a wild raging Fire Which with incessant Bellows Lust does blow But HE to whom all things their being owe In whom alone they live in whom they move And by his Love made to perfection grow All who below adore Him or above The Mighty Lord of Hosts the very GOD of LOVE II. Song by the very God of Love inspir'd And of a thousand more the sacred Chief But wherein Salomon from himself retir'd Not what his Love but what was his belief Songs ill became the cause of all his Grief If love we to our Mortal Standart bring Whose spoils are Robbe'ries and whose God 's a thief Under Love's borrow'd name to th' World did sing LOVE is the borrow'd Name Holy Churches FAITH the thing III. Song which the borrow'd Name dost understand And all the Mysteries which in it lie For 't is the Dialect of the Heav'nly Land Nor as to us it sounds does signifie Blest Souls in Love discourse with the most High Thou who knowst this and more than this whence came The profanation of the Deity And how this lustful Earth took th' empty Name Embracing sulphu'rous clouds for its Gods purest flame IV. Tell the World Song whence first its madness grew Who knows not thâ— World is mad Thou best of all Which if 't were possible Inno'cence to renew To its first Inno'cence wouldst the World recal And more than e're it lost i th' wretched Fall By love Thou callst it and the Voice is known Well known 's the Voice but we too sensual So brutishâ— in our Lusts obscene are grown That call'd by it's name we think 't an Idol of our own V. Yet none of ours is what we ' have stol'n the name That Idol which we thus with Mirtles crown But with our form from Heav'n at once it came From Heav'n was with a Silver Cord let down And into the Souls mass divinely thrown To be its Salt miraculously contriv'd And first in Heav'n the name of Love was known From whence at length it hither was deriv'd And here a while such and so call'd in pleasure liv'd VI. In pleasure ' it liv'd and with its chang'd aboad Strangely surprizd was strangely pleas'd a-while At first perceiv'd not the unusual load But in her Face who should betray ' it did smile As fearless as unconscious yet of guile And to a Body tho it were design'd A Body as the Land of its exile All parts so ' agreeable and soft did find It s Tour seem'd thence enlarg'd more than confin'd VII For all with Spiâ—rits it did converse before It self a Spirit but when the Eternal Mind To new displays of his creating Power In beings of a lower Rank inclin'd Which Angels yet should not come far behind Soon as the great Resolve was past above And Man of all those Works the Lord design'd Love the first mover and the last did move That He whom all obey'd o're all should rule by Love VIII It mov'd thus and the motion was embrac't Al 's ' Love that made it downwards took its way And viewing how the Bodies parts were cast Seiz'd with the Spiâ—rit the scarce yet moulded Clay Nor for partition or nice choice did stay But blending both together seiz'd the whole Both in the whole whole both in each part lay And both together making th' humane Soul Th' unactive Matter did both quicken and controul IX The Spi'rit gave Life with what to Life pertain Sense Motion and the several Faculties A cheerful goodly and a pompous Train When rul'd as they ' ought and manag'd by the Wise The wise is Love that th' whole unites and ties And which where e're it undisturb'd does reign Makes th' earthly frame with th' Heav'nly sympathize Nor to rebel dare any passion strain When o're them reason o're that love does hold the rein X. Thus i th' first happy Pair a while Love reign'd And but a while with regal Soveraignty Who to its Lore so early both were train'd That Love it self as rapt in extasie Wondred what in dull Flesh the' effects might be It wondred but so chast and innocent So Love-conspiring every part did see And so obsequious to its great intent That Love it self enamour'd was of its descent XI Forthy the happy pair with sever'd flame Which yet in both was one to love inclin'd Two downwards only but rise'n whence it came Again collected in one point and joynd And still the higher rise'n the more refind They lov'd and so in Heav'n to love are seen Bright Seraphs nor could Differe'nce be assignd But that the Body here did croud between There by pure Spi'rits was dressed out the mighty Scene XII The new form'd Body here did croud between But all to love was so dispos'd and made In either Sex and with so Beauteous meen That either seem'd with other well appay'd And Love himself the Hymenaeal said For Love 's an He who proud of what was done And of Man most as fairest there Pourtraid
motions felt and Powers before unknown And swallow'd up in Speculation Forgot what ever he admir'd below Himself and Her whom he had left alone To wait ' his return and rapt he scarce knew how To th' Land of Love himself a Love transform'd did grow XXX For why that Tract the Realm of Love was stil'd And all who thither in deducted mind Leaving this lower Earth arrive are fill'd As the bright Region is with thoughts refin'd And Quintessence of Love but of what kind Impossible it is to be exprest And in a Chime of soundful Words design'd Which but Conceits are to our Fashion drest And if Immortal with the mortal Load opprest XXXI Suffice it Angels there Inhabited Rang'd all in their Trinal Triplicities Into a Body under Love their Head And ready all for some Renown'd Emprise Soon as the mighty Signal given is He saw it given and all before a Throne Of Heav'nly Diamond vailing each his Eyes Each Angel prostrate on his Face falls down And at its Foot-stool casts his Consecrated Crown XXXII From simple ANGELS as th' Inferiour Band To the ARCHANGELS led by Michael Then to DOMINIONS that the third Rank stand To VIRTUES then whose numerous Banners swell And PRINCIPALITIES of whom none fell With Rebel Lucifer ' or abbetted him To POWERS then and to THRONES whom who can tell And so up to th' eighth Order CHERUBIM But by the ninth compleat Love-flaming SERAPHIM XXXIII All these our Father saw by Love retir'd In and above Himself but o're them all One fairer yet to whom his Mind aspir'd Th' Incomprehensible Original In whom no Blemish and no Spot can fall By Love he saw Him and in Him the end And utmost point of Love enough to ' appall The Holie'st of his Sons who should descend From ' his after sinful Loins and thither after tend XXXIV But him the sight appall'd not rather fill'd With Images more fair his enlarg'd Brest And from the Principles his Love instil'd On naught less high could he affix his rest Or be content tho of the Earth possest The' whole Earth that in this Res'very view'd round Too scanty seem'd an Heav'n-born Soul to ' invest Too scant a Limit and too scant a Bound For what an Infinite was only equal found XXXV Excursions therefore into that he made Often Excursions into Infinite Infinite Love and Beauties seen display'd I' th' Prototype by Intellectual Light And Reasons yet undim'd discursive sight Tho when that fail'd or when t was weary grown Through ' excess of conceiv'd Vision as it might The' Almighties self would come in Person down And oft prevent Man's journey to Him with His own XXXVI Or come or send Him frequent Embassies Of Angels who still ready on the Wing With hasty flight from summit of the Skies Would seem to vie who should the Message bring And first approach the Favorite of their King Tho all the Message which they bore was Love And all their Service was but Ministring To one below them made yet who above Was Heav'ns great Care and greatest Ornament should prove XXXVII Not much below them while his Innocence On its Foundation did unshockt abide And perfect Love seen in obedience The nether World so fast to th' upper ti'd That Hell between them could not once divide One Heart one Business was in both approv'd One God alike in both was magnifi'd That mighty Axis round which both were mov'd And whom alike both prais'd and whom alike both lov'd XXXVIII Alike they lov'd and as they lov'd alike All Vertues in that Act did comprehend Which did in both an awful Reverence strike And careful made them lest they should offend But chiefly Man did thence his Mark intend With greater vigour as on whom was laid Fear for a Rein if Hell its Wiles should send For Death was threatned if he disobey'd And He not to be ' high-minded chose to be afraid XXXIX Love made him chuse so kind and wholesome Fear From which all Torment yet secluded was And but the brighter made his Love appear Like Beams reflected upon burnisht â—rass That their own Native Lustre thence surpass So shon his Love and thence his Temperance That the forfended Limit would not pass Nor to behold it care'd with wanton Glance What ever fond Conceit its Glories might enhance XL. Hence Justice hence true Magnanimity Prudence and Wisdom o're his Soul did flow And sacred Truth and peaceful Loyalty And all the Graces that to Love do owe Their Rise and into ' Eternal Rivers grow And all upon the Supreme Beauty plac'd That Good which still the more we come to know The more we ' admire till in its Arms embrac'd An end of all our Love we find the First and Last XLI Such was his Love and like it was his Praise A Service wherein with him Nature joyn'd Whole Nature and each part by several ways As with him in one love they were combin'd And various was the Anthems stops and kind Articulate by Man their High Priest made And in one sacred Hallelu-jah twin'd Which he as First-Fruits on Earths Altar laid And Heav'n with grateful Odours early did invade XLII Their Orisons which he each Morning paid With his fair Partner or by Angels taught Or whereof capable their Form was made By Images from Heav'n first thither brought And which they into perfect Figure wrought By Plastic Art of Words harmonious Which to the great Occasion came unsought And whether sung in Verse or said in Prose In Prose most powerful were in Verse most numerous XLIII For Verse and all that does to Verse belong In this lowe'r World had its first happy rise In Innocence which first invented Song And how so e're one may its Charms despise Or which is worse abuse in Paradise By Pause and Fugue's adapted to fit strains Was first perform'd to whose Discoveries The Sons of Verse now elocate their pains And save from Heav'n expect not their Immortal gains XLIV In Paradise discover'd first was Verse And Voice and Number with it given to Song And glorious Subjects which both did reherse Alternate and in Chorus as or long Or short returns did to the Ground belong But than of Love they sounded nothing more Or ofter or with Brest more large and strong The Love Divine whom thus they did implore In raptur'ous Odes and as they of it sang adore XLV They sang how All things their beginning had From Loves diffusive and Life-giving heat How Immaterial Spirits with Glory clad It s First-born were with Love as high and great As from this lower World 's remov'd their Seat Then how this lower World from Nothing rose And No-where in that beauteous order met That Place and Matter which the whole compose And circumscribe unconceiv'd Luster did disclose XLVI Not at an instant made but by degrees As confus'd Chaos could th' impression take In Six Days space and throughly purge its Lees Hell newly form'd more horrible to make And its own new made
Enmities off-shake For of such jarring Parts it was contriv'd And of such contrarieties did partake That it by Discord and Confusion liv'd A life such as it was with Death to be surviv'd XLVII So strove they thus would they have striven ever Till pittying their debate the Spirit of Love Calm'd the discordant Mole and did dissever Th' Eternal Combatants plac'd some above Others did to the deep Abysse remove Fast to be held in Adamantine Chain Whilst those few Parts that did more ductile prove Into Four Principles which all contain Themselves in all contain'd were solely left to reign XLVIII FIRE which as lightest took the highest place And upward rais'd its towring Head then AIR That followâ—d it but with unequal pace And tho it vy'd to be and look as fair Forc'd in the midst to hang self-ballanc'd there Next WATER which the Surface cover'd o're That pregnant Mother of the EARTH less rare In its vast Womb conceiv'd but which before It could emerge lackt mighty Love to force the Door XLIX And so it did but LIGHT was first to shine And an whole Day for that which makes the Day But little enough was thought i th' Mind Divine Through Darkness palpable to clear its way And all its various Beauties to display Darkness which tho but counted Privative Such claims to th heap whence 't was call'd out did lay That Love like equal shares to both did give Alternately each Day in Day and Night to live L. But harder were the teeming Waters Throes When on the second Day Earth nearer came To its great Birth like weight that heavier grows Long born and to break through disjoynts the frame The Waters pangs compar'd thus were the same When they divided burst but ne're to close Stopt by the solid FIRMAMENT whose Name Immoveable Partition does suppose By ' whose Shoar disjoyn'd upper and nether Ocean flows LI. And now the third Day of her Monstrous Child Half way deliver'd the Great Mother was Monstrous unsightly yet with Horrour fill'd Which in its Oasy Arms it did embrace And half supprest to the' Birth would ne're let pass But with it joyn'd one Monstrous Body made Above DRY GROUND below a confus'd Mass Part Earth with Briny Hatchments overlaid Part unmixt Water upon empty Nothing staid LII And called SEA as what appear'd was LAND Rough bare mishape't tho dry unbeautifi'd It self unbeautiful vast plains of Sand More horribly deform'd with terrors Pride Mountains that to ' Heav'n aspir'd and gaping wide With rais'd up Jaws threatned to swallow down In gorge unsatiate glories there envy'd And wrinkled Forehead which scarce made did frown And Omens give of Future War from cause unknown LIII Nor could there cause be gi'ven for a new Face From the' Love Divine it took and Nakedness Was cloath'd upon with all the Charming Grace Of Fruit and Flower and the grim Gyantess Its own Eternal Goodness to express Kind Heav'n illumin'd with a double Light The fourth Day made the greater and the less By Day the SUN with vital heat and bright To warm the MOON with starry Robe to ' invest at night LIV. Nor was this all but at the fifth Days dawn Earth and her Mother Sea replenished With new Inhab'itants were and every Laune And every Hill scar'd Solitude thence fled Legions of FOWL produc'd and kindly bred Which on large Wings above the Ground did fly But perching on some Tree made that their Bed Whilst Lakes and Streams and the huge Sea fast by With mighty WHALES were fill'd and with the lesser FRY LV. Fill'd were the Floods with these but still the Earth As whose Wing'd-People most partook of th' Air Their haunt impregnate with a second Birth For which disclos'd 't had room enough to spare Did on the sixth Day to disclose prepare And out all BEASTS and REPTILS in their kind Sprang from the fertile Womb proportion'd fair Each to its Nature but with Look declin'd To th' Earth whence tane to th' Earth whereto confin'd LVI Of these and other Works of God they sang In Lays harmonious as Love utterance gave Yet these and others which they lowdly rang Were but as Praeludes which with Mast'ry brave Their Voice shew'd and what compass Verse might have Verse which then triumpht in Recitative When they all other Grounds resolv'd to wave Sang of themselves and Him who at once did give One power to Sing thus to Him and like Him to live LVII A wondrous Work it was from Nothing thus All things in weight and measure up to raise And perfect Order form'd most beauteous Subordinate as different were the Ways Whereby their Maker would direct his Praise But none so Wondrous did and strange appear Of Power and Beauty with so rich displays As Mans Formation made the Rule to bear And sublim'd Earth equal to highest Heaven rear LVIII That Dust could Live in what was done before Was plainly told but that it too could love As Love all life in it contains and more All that or Reason knows or can improve Th' Eternal Treasures only were enough To drein and to be drein'd For God but spake And all below and all the Hosts above Being and Life from the great Word did take But Hands Divine Man's model were employ'd to make LIX By Hands Divine his Body first was wrought The full Abridgment of this World to be With curious Art to ' its last perfection brought But infinitely base in its degree To th' Soul the Pourtraict of the Deity Into his Nostrils breath'd that in his Brain Might be infixt the Heav'nly Ima'gry And Life with Vital Blood in every Vein To th' Parts extream convey'd the Character retain LX. Love was that Character in Holiness And perfect Purity exemplifi'd And Innocence which that first state did bless And Reason with them Empire to divide And o're th' Inferiour Appetite preside Which it restrain'd and furnisht with true Skill It self in all its Acts to curb and guide At least had power to do so and fulfil The Charge Divine close backt by Freedom of the Will LXI Blest Qualities which made him Lord and King Of all this lower World and Majesty On his Erected Countenance stampt did bring Heav'n down to Earth and Earth that flat did lie Advance'd to be for Angels Company Nay farther and what Angels did admire For its Aetern Exemplar the Most High Who with his Work delighted would retire Frequent from Heav'n as to divert and view it nighe'r LXII Himself hereby Man dexterously did guide And o're himself so absolutely reign The greatest Kingdom in the World beside And which all other Kingdoms did contain In ' it self in Chief or Vassalages Chain That only Peace and only what was Good And only Love was given for Love again With Charms that by no force could be withstood And centred in one Point Indivisible GOD. LXIII Hail happy state of Innocence thrice Hail Hail to Thy Love and Thee And may my Verse From thence inspir'd with generous Souls
prevail As they deserve Thy Wonders to reherse And through the World thy Sacred Name disperse No Theam like that so high can Numbers raise Or render more Humane Mankinds converse For if there any Vertue be or Praise They in Perfection shon in those first happy Days LXIV Ah! that those Happy Days should be so few Ended cut off e're scarce they were begun Whose early Happiness when known to Two A Third crept in by whom all was undone And Love unthron'd hard drive'n away to run Follow him Muse for if he should go wrong Thou art in danger too whose Fates are one With his Nor canst Thou be without him long But do it if thou'hast Courage in another Song THE LEGEND of LOVE CANTO II. I. I OFT am thinking whether Love was known To the World Heathen and what was their sense Of Man's and His Origination Or if of this first state of Innocence They any certain knowledg had and whence The Notice was deriv'd and to them came Dark as it was and turn o're Books but thence Am little satisfi'd find there the Name 'T is true but Pillars of black Smoak instead of Flame II. Fiction I there find has so Truth disguis'd That hard it is for one to know what 's true And amongst all the Vanities they priz'd How much or little 't was they truly knew And ancient Faith obscur'd with Fancies new Which diversly as diffe'rent was their Art They dressed out and 'mongst the People threw Part plain with lame or monstrous Figures part As in a scarce or not discover'd Countrys Chart. III. For there as We ' Hippogryphs and Satyrs place Or Seas or Carra'vans when there 's nothing found Of certainty to fill the empty space That each Man in his own sense may abound Just so did they but more the Truth confound With Fable as themselves it suited best Who so they did but keep the markt out bound Convey'd them by Tradition for the rest Left it to others as 't was left them to be ghest IV. A Godlike therefore 't was and Golden Age Tho little known to them who call'd it so And of it counted fill'd with ancient rage Not as it was but did at distance show Tho something 't is confest they seem'd to know And what they of it said by chance was true As to the main if somewhat we allow For the false Light and those who ' its Figure drew In Plane or Prospective and were but Copiers too V. By Negatives the Plane was most design'd And prov'd the Fairest and the luckiest Draught The Prospective was stiff and more enclin'd To an hard confus'd roughness scarcely brought To decence done by Images they sought In their own Breasts or Age by Heav'nly Light Unlumin'd and by false Priests blindly taught Love only made o're all to take his Flight Came nearest to the Truth if understood aright VI. For by a Child they Love did represent As his best Emblem under which disguise For such it was they hid with high intent Or rather plainly shew'd those Mysteries Which were conceal'd from base and vulgar Eyes Native Simplicity pure Innocence Absolute freedom from all touch of Vice An easie mildness Favours to dispense And all those Graces that its Actions influence VII Not that they would that Ages Faults approve In Lovers but its Vertues thence propound For tho a Child they made and painted Love Scarce such another Child i th' World was found By whose soft Hands were fiercest Lions bound Traind to his Yoke the Course of Thunder staid And all the Gods above and underground Which Gentilisms great Religion made As sottish as it was in heavy Fetters laid VIII Naked 't is true they feign'd him but just so As we who yet esteem our selves more Wise In Oratories naked Angels show Nor count it blame our selves thus to advise How open all we do or think to Heaven lies That from it nought we can or would conceal That from us banisht is all Artifice All which by ' his Nakedness Love does reveal And from his Step-dames Temples to the Church appeal IX But by his Fillet they such Lessons taught As the Worlds present Learning far out-goes Nor did the Master who design'd the Draught And for a Dia'dem put it on Loves brows E're think it would his Sacred Head expose Tho be ' it a Fillet what can it intend What teach but that which every Lover knows Eve'ry true Lover that to chuse a Friend Barely by sight 's beginning where scarce Fools would end X. His Eyes were therefore hid if hid they were From all commerce in Love to ' exclude the Eyes Which judging as the Object does appear Too oft impose impos'd by Flatteries False mirrors of an Heart which deeper lies The Heart where Love that 's true does first begin By Reason guided it s own worth to ' apprize Then by Discretion seld in Lovers seen Who still the more 's the outward glare see least within XI Eyes Intellectual he ' had wherewith agree Those Wings which they no less unto him gave I 'll Furniture for Love if Blind he be Who rather then would want a Guide to have Himself from dangers unforeseen to save But love himself alone was his own Guide Nor needed any others Conduct crave And with his Wings spread and extended wide A flight to Heav'n attempted none durst dare beside XII For why no Love it is whose vile desires Incline it downwards to the Miry Ground This Earth of ours which Sottices inspires Preying on Carnage there or made or found And with ignoble thoughts does most abound But that 's true Love and does deserve the Name Whose noble Acquists nothing mean can bound And mindful of the Region whence it came Thither aspiring terminates with Heav'n its Fame XIII Like Wings like Quiver With bright Arrows fill'd Of different sorts but with like Mystery As is well known to them who in Love are skill'd Well taught what Motions in the Mind there be And how both Love and Hatred there agree Hatred of all that bears the' impress of ill With love of all that 's good in its degree The Choques and just fixt byass of the Will Which make up Love and all its various parts fulfil XIV The Golden pyl'd its Inclination prov'd Leaden Aversion ne're to be deny'd Or if thereof there should be Question mov'd The Torch Love bore his other Arms beside Too bright did shine the Mystic Truth to hide That Soul of th' World that all things keeps intire In Life and Motion nobly Typifi'd Noblest of Elements but yet rais'd hi'gher Than place'd at first when made Loves noblest Symbol Fire XV. Thus by the Ancients Love was first express'd And tho a Child their God most ancient own'd Older than Saturn whom Jove dispossess'd Of Right usurpt and in his stead was Crown'd Son of Vrania as in Books is found Venus Vrania whom we Heaven call With them who their Mythologie expound Distinct from that Pandeme who was
thus shame on those Whose either Atheism or Impiety Dare the Tremendous Figure or expose Or subject make it of foul Raillery And to vile Lust embase the Mystery That of their Happ'ness have so little sense Their God their Souls and their Civility That they with things most sacred can dispense And rather than not give it take from Heav'n offence XLVII From Thee most sacred and inspired Song The humblest Condescention of Heav'ns King From which my roving Verse has stray'd too long Led by the Mock-love and now late does sing Next that the humblest which with Saffron Wing Gabriel the True-loves mighty Harbinger Foretold to the' EVER-VIRGIN e're the thing Was full accomplisht and thereof did bear When done first News and what the signs to know him were XLVIII Signs too unlikely till by Angels told Whereby the Maker of all things to find For who would think a simple Cratch should hold Eternal Majesty mean Swathings bind Th' Incomprehensible and Unconfin'd And that an Ox and Ass were company To Scorn enur'd and labour by their kind In an Inns-Stable fit for God Most High And that a Babe should be that God and expos'd lie XLIX Yet signs they were with Heav'n which suited best And best with God when God should Flesh appear And so was Wedlock thence to be exprest E're that time came the Image he should bear Or rather what our selves allyed to ' him near Nearer by Purchase than Creation Should thence become like Glories with him wear And since to us it could not else be known Till Man to Heav'n should rise high Heav'n to Man bring down L. By Love to bring it And by Love HE brought it Who all the Mysteries of Love did know Second alone to Loves dear self who taught it As or above it was or as below And in thee Song its Mystic Power did show Not as thy Words to ' us sound but as thy Sense To th' Church apply'd by â—oly Churches Vow Must be expounded with this Difference Of God 't is Figure All of Man all Innocence LI. Of Soul and Body but of Soul the most Whose Acts and Motions Thou dost most intend By views Material to our Light dispos'd But where the Matter does all Act suspend And shadows what it cannot comprehend Is nothing or as nothing how e're laid Compar'd with what comparison does transcend Nor meant at all tho by it all is said That 's said of Love which through its broken Pipe 's convey'd LII So wouldst Thou Song so must Thou be understood And short of this who e're Thy Flight would bound To th' Deity sacrifices Human Blood And fixes on th' Impassible that Wound Which the Mock-love to offer had astound For He soon as he heard the words Divine His Sentence in them and his Doom he found At which affrighted back he did resign All he before usurpt nor ought had to rejoyn LIII Happy he so could scape tho e're away Cast and condemn'd he into Exile went The True Love who long waited for that Day Hymen his great Embassadour down sent To beg some Exemplary Punishment And Caution that he would return no more But all the Caution which to give he meant Was but his Word nor longer tâ—at than Power Should fail him to attempt what he had done before LIV. For Punishment 't was yet too early Day To move or hope Himself enough had done By those Spoyls which unforce'd he down did lay The Jurisdiction of Heav'ns Court to own Whom that acknowledgment must serve or none And out he went with stern and bloody Eyes And bitter Railings on blest Hymen thrown Who all his Railings did no less despise Content since he no more could get with the bare Prize LV. Marriage restor'd to ' its Just and Ancient Right And all th' Intents to which it was design'd Marriage which once secur'd does Souls unite And made in Heav'n to Heav'n so near is joyn'd That only there we purer Love can find Marriage of th Fallen World the best Estate Marriage most Honourable with Mankind Which to abuse a Man his Flesh must hate Marriage God's Blessing when He gave o're to create To the Muse ODE PINDARIC I. STROPHE BUT whither bear'st Thou me O Love Sovereign Disposer of all things Beyond the flight of Verses Wings Which after Thee a Course unequal move So swift Thy passage is and wondrous light Scarce can I of Thee get the sight And all so here and there So unconfin'd and every where Appear Thou dost and disappear A Phantosm Thou would'st reckned be But that whole Nature lives alone by Thee I. ANTISTROPHE From Heav'n to Earth from Earth again To Heav'n who has Loves Journy trace't Hail ye bright Stars which saw him last And greater Lustre by his grant obtain You last of all his parting Charge receiv'd And still to keep it are believ'd In times and seasons thence Which you to all his Works dispense With kind and wholesome Influence And at his Thrones dread Footstool wait Illustrious Guards and Messengers of Fate I. EPODOS Happy the Man whose noble Soul Hath rais'd him to a pitch so high That he the Heav'ns as they about him roll Undazled can behold with curious Eye And every Mystic note That 's in their Mighty Volume wrote As clearly understand As if acquainted with no other hand Yet happier He by far Who like the Kings first guided by a Star Obtains like Royal Grace Into the Sacred Presence usher'd thus to pass II. STROPHE An Honour done but to a few As few there be who care to joyn Their quest to th' search of Love Divine Thither applying what from thence they drew Heav'ns Priests and Loves who have the lucky skill Both Services at once to fill Nor like the most all day Or Idle stand or play And gaze tho' on Heaven their Age away Of Love who largely boast the Name But never saw his Light or felt his Flame II. ANTISTROPHE At once both Services he fill'd Whom the Muse sings both knows the best Of any who e're those Gifts possest In Books so different so divinely skill'd Natures and God's the Gloss that this the Text And read together unperplext While that by ' it self alone Read as too oft is done But Altars rears to ' a God unknown To th' True this does a way provide But difficult to walk without a Guide II. EPODOS Not SETH whose Pillars Fabulous Surviv'd the all-devouring Flood Taught the New World the Half he teaches us Were all he taught as well but understood Tho when of Love He treats And His high Mysteries repeats All hear and what is heard By all for certain Truth is so rever'd The ravisht Soul resents Its teadious stay and future joys prevents Rapt in Ecstatic Fires To the Divine Aboads almost i th' Flame expires III. STROPHE Witness Thou Sarums sacred Pile Which from the day Thou first cam'st down From the parcht neighbouring Hill the Town Attending Thee and shouting all the while None
his own the Life o' th' World to spare VII Teach the World Child and make his Israel know Whence their Salvations mighty Source does flow That from Remission of their Sin The mighty Source does first begin Through our God's tender Mercy who the Way To Pardon does by Penance lay Penance which does the glories of his Grace display VIII That Grace whereby the Day-spring from on High Now visits us with Streams which ne're shall die Streams of pure Aethereal Light To shine on those who in darkness sit Which Death 's pale shadow shall with Rays encrease And hopes long Pris'ners thence release And both theirs guide and our feet into th' way of Peace V. HYMN The ANGELIC Hymn Gloria in Altissimis c. GLORY be to God on High i th' Highest Great Jehovah bless Good will tow'rds Men on Earth be Peace Glory to God on High And may this Round begun thus last eternally VI. HYMN The Song of SIMEON Nunc dimittis servum tuum c. I. ENOUGH my God enough I beg no more Nor Thou tho begg'd canst greater Grace bestow My Prayers at length are answer'd and I ' adore The Word which from thy Mouth did go The Word which like thy Self no change does know And now Thy Servant is content to die Now as the best time since Thy Word and Life 's so nigh II. Nigh is the Word which Thou to me didst pass Nor has Death come me and Thy CHRIST between As nigh is Life Thy other Word which I embrace And who that has thus happy been In two great Words fulfill'd one t'other seen Would not like me desire in peace to die And mortal Life exchange for Immortality III. In Peace I die and Thou dismissest me My God in Peace since with these very Eyes Before their change I Thy Salvation see And lack not from the Dead to rise As Prophets must to ' approve their Prophecies By Faith they only at a distance saw What in my Arms I hold the end of all their Law IV. Hail blest Salvation of the Eternal King Hail Thou who hither bringst it Blessed Child In whom as holy Bards inspir'd do sing Those wondrous Truths shall be fulfill'd Which to Immortal Verse shall subject yield Hail to you both prepar'd of God to be This Worlds Redemption Heav'ns and Angels scrutiny V. Such is the great Behest such is Thy Will Who now before all Nations dost prepare What shall with joyous Praise all Nations fill As in Him all have equal share Thy Son who shall to those who ' in darkness are Rise as the World's Sun does with scattered Light But Israels Glory be with Rays like ' his own Flames bright Comiato To Sir Nicholas Stuart Baronet SONGS made in lieu of many more And more than Songs which to his Love I owe Who when your Master waited at the Door First let him in and sacred Honours did bestow You blessed Songs i th' Temple first to sing And then to Descant on an humbler thing To his and your lov'd Patron go And tho you ne're can recompence The ease and leasure both of us have thence Proffer the utmost service Verse can do And as He is your Ornament Be of my grat'itude and his Virtue the fixt Monument The VIII Great HYMNS of the Apocalyps I. HYMN The Adoration of the XXIV ELDERS Gratias agimus tibi Domine Deus Optime I. WORTHY Thou art all Honour to receive Thrice Honour'd we who may that Honour give Blest King who in One undivided now The scatter'd Parts of Time collected hast The Future Present and the Past And every Time and Age dost in one moment know II. We praise Thee ' Almighty God for that Thou ' hast tane To Thee thy great Power and at length dost Reign Thou Reign'st and tho the Nations troubled are Thy Wrath is come and therewith come the Time When Thou wilt sentence every Crime And all the Dead shall for the Great Assize prepare III. Up shall they rise and as their Works have been Or Shame or Glory on all Brows be seen Thy Prophets and Thy Saints shall shout for joy And all who fear Thy Name both small and great But Vengeance from Thy Judgment Seat Th' Earths bold Destroyers shall eternally destroy II. HYMN The Acclamation of Heaven upon MICHAEL's overthrow of the Dragon and his Angels Nunc facta est Salus Virtus c. I. NOW is Salvation now is come the Hour That long expected never shall be done Now Reigns our God with whom in equal Power And strength Enthron'd sits his Anointed Son They Reign and Judg and having Judgment past The Brethrens great Accuser or'e the Bar have cast II. Both Night and Day the Brethren he accus'd Heav'ns common Barrettor with Charge unjust Their Patience and the Judges Grace abus'd Tho from them the forg'd Calumny they thrust And his false Evidence or'e-rul'd bore down By the Lambs Blood in Court attested and their own III. These were the Pleas whereby they overcame And these the Witnesses call'd and allow'd Which ev'n the Devil their slanderer heard with shame And self-condemn'd to the just Sentence bow'd Greater their Word was than could be deni'd But greater yet their Testimony that they Di'd IV. For this O Heav'ns rejoyce and ye who there In Sacred Bliss uninterrupted dwell Rejoyce and a part with you let them bear Who from below shall of your Justice tell With joy shall Sing how the' Dragon overthrown From Heav'ns high-top to th' Earth was tumbled down V. But wo worth you to whom in wrath he 's come Of Earth and Sea the miserable ' out-cast On whom he 'll seek to be aveng'd the Doom Was on himself and curs'd Abettors past With rage he comes and whole Hells last effort Fury incenst because he knows his time 's but short III. HYMN The Happy Dead Beati mortui qui in Domino moriuntur I. BLEST are the Dead who in the Lord depart From henceforth Blessed write them down For Labours tho and Pain they have known Of neither feel they more the irksome smart II. So says the Spiri't for but to ' enjoy full rest From all their Toils are they remov'd And of their Works by God approv'd That follow close in Bliss they are possest IV. HYMN The Song of MOSES and of the LAMB Magna Mirabilia sunt opera c. I. GREAT are thy Works and marvelous thy Praise Lord God Almighty just and true Thy Ways Blest King of Saints who would not fear In Thy dread Presence to appear Whom Angels and attending Thrones revere II. Who would not Fear Thee Lord and Glorifie That Name of Thine which Thou hast rais'd so high Thy Holy Name by which Thou art known For Holiness is Thine alone But better than each single Man by ' his own III. Take then Blest King what is Thy proper due And through all Landâ— and Coasts Thy Right persue That eve'ry Coast and every Land Who wondring
holy boldness gives That Word of Thine which like Thy self is sure And through all Ages shall endure True as its Speaker who for ever Lives The God of Truth who cannot Lye Nor his own Goodness promis'd thus to his Child deny XV. Please it Thee therefore may it please Thee Lord Thy Servant and Thy Servants House to bless With Blessings that may never cease Blessings as fixt as Thy Eternal Word For Thou my God canst bless alone Thus bless and once thus blessing me indeed I ' have done The last words of DAVID Dixit David filius Isai dixit vir c. Terzetti THUS David Jesse's Royal Son did sing Thus spake the Man who the great Promise had That from his Loyns the CHRIST of God should spring On whose Eternal Shoulders should be laid The Government Psalmist of Israel Thus sang he thus from Heav'n inspir'd he said The Spirit of God in Vision on me fell And by my Mouth Himself th' Almighty spake His Words they are which I his Prophet tell His who the Care of Israel does take And hitherto ne're falsifi'd His Trust Nor will tho Heav'n and Earths Foundations shake The Man who rules o're others must be Just Ruling himself and them i th' sacred Fear Of Heav'ns dread King to whom account he must For all the wrongs he does or makes them bear By an Impartial Judgment to be tri'd Whose Doom definitive he forc'd shall hear Thrice happy Prince who e're that Oyes cry'd The God within his Brest his Conscience Appealing and appeal'd has satisfi'd There first absolv'd with approv'd Innocence His Righteousness shall shine as Morning Light When th' early Sun his Glories to dispense New guilds the Sullys of the murky Night And without Cloud between his Beams to pass As higher he ascends appears more bright So shall he shine or as the tender Grass Shooting its verdant Head above the Ground With gems of pearly Dew midst Flowers takes place This I 'll not say that in my Rule I 've found A perfect and uninterrupted Bliss For what 's my House or Rule thus to be own'd Yet for my Kingdoms Justice I 'll say this That with me God a lasting Cove'nant made In all things sure as His great promise is Order'd and sure nor e're to be oâ—resway'd Tho I too oft have forfeited His Love And when I should have rul'd my Lusts obey'd But even then did I and do now reprove The Follies I so passionately pursu'd And whose remembrance greater Passions move Blest God forgive me be Thy Word renew'd For all before Thee is my whole desire All in Thy sight as it by me is view'd Confirm Thy Promise humbly I require Not for my sake O Lord but for Thine own And double Zeal into my Son inspire So shall he grow up as a Plant alone And in his Fame tho dead I too shall grow The happy Father of an happier Son Whilst those who will not to his Scepter bow As Thorns shall all of them be thrust away Thorns which th' unguarded Hand tho they pierce through To th' Hook and Fire shall be an easie Prey Justice which in his time from th' Earth shall spring And Peace from Heaven descending meet half way The Song of HEZEKIAH Ego dixi in dimidio dierum meorum I. REVOLVING the sharp Sentence past And how an end e're thought was on me come How soon said I have I approacht my last And unawares reacht Natures farthest Home Ah! now I to the Grave must go No more or Life or Pleasure know But a long doleful Night in darkness deep below II. No more my God shall I see Thee Nor the great Works of Thy Almighty Hand No more a Votary at Thy Altar be Nor in the crouds of them who praise Thee stand Mankind no more shall I behold Nor tell nor of Thy Love be told Eve'n mine to Thee shall like my ashes Lord be cold III. Lo as a Tent am I remov'd And my lives thread which I thought wondrous strong Too weak to bear the Looms extension prov'd i th' midst broke off too sleasie to run long With Sickness I am pine'd away And feel each moment some decay All Night in Terrors and in Grief die all the Day IV. For as a Lion hasts to ' his Prey And havieg gripe'd it breaks the yielding Bones So on me came th' Almighty whilst I lay In vain expecting help but from my Groans O take said I Thy Hand away See how I feel my Loins decay All Night in Terrors and in Grief die all the Day V. Then like a Swallow or a Crane I chatt'red o're my Fears his Heart to move The widow'd Turtle does not more complain When in the Woods she ' has lost her faithful Love My Eyes O God with waiting fail Why shouldst Thou thus a Worm assail I 'm Thine O let for once th' Almighty not prevail VI. Yet do Thy Will I must confess Worse Plagues than these my Sins deserve from Thee The Sentence past is than my Crimes far less And only Hell a fit reward can be Ah! let my Prayers that Doom prevent My age in Mournings shall be spent And all the Years Thou giv'st shall be but to repent VII On Thy great Pleasure all depend During which only I and Mankind live To teach us this Thou dost Diseases send And daily claim'st the Life which Thou didst give Yet such is Thy resistless Power That when our age is quite past o're What Thou at first didst give Thou canst our Life restore VIII And thus with me Lord hast Thou dealt Tho I for peace had only bitterness Th' effects of mighty Goodness thus have felt Beyond what words or numbers can express For from the Pit Thou drew'st me back And that I might no pleasures lack Upon Thy Self the burden of my Sins didst take IX Triumphant Saviour the still Grave For so great Love Thy Name can never praise Nor in the Pit canst Thou Memorial have Thy Truth or hop'd for or ador'd Thy Ways The Living Lord the Living are The Men who must Thy Power declare And of them chiefly such whom Thou like me shalt spare X. They to their Children shall make known As I do now the Wonders of Thy Hand How when we eve'n to Hell did head-long run To stop our passage Thou i th' way didst stand Lord since Thou ' hast thus deliver'd me Thus made me Thy Salvation see My Life and Harp and Song I 'll consecrate to Thee 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 III. ID NOV 1667. Three Psalms according to the old Version and Meeter ordinarily used in Churches a little alter'd PSAL. I. Beatus Vir qui non abiit THE Man is blest whose doubtful Paths Unrul'd by Sinners are Who in their Council never stood Nor sat i th' Scorners Chair But in the Law of God the Lord Hath fixt his whole delight And in that Law does exercise Himself both Day and Night He shall be like a Tree which grows Close
or Night be ' it Ev'ning or the Morn From th' Years account let it be ever torn To me it self and Heav'n and all be lost And from the number of the Days be crost O had it never been or had that Hour But barr'd the Gate and damn'd the fertil Door Unhappy Gate but Hour unhappy more Sorrow I ne're had known nor had these Eyes Beheld the Light which none but Fools can prize Rather why di'd I not making the Womb At once my busie tyring House and Tomb But by the Knees I must perverted be And live more Deaths than one to act more Plagues to see Draw th' hated Brests only to fetch supply After ten thousand Deaths new deaths to try And at the last with greater sense and torment die Had I then dy'd still as the Night or Grave My Voice had been without a Death to crave Still had I lain and in Oblivion's brest Enjoy'd a sweeter sleep and sounder rest The Earth which does in its cold Lap enfold All Arts and Arms Princes and all their Gold Which Sepulchers does for their Tombs prepare Great in their Dust and in their Ruines fair For me to Die then had I been allow'd Had markt a place amidst the awful Crowd There where untimely Births i th' Pit are thrown And through the Earths soft pores the Plains with verdure crown An awful place it is with Company The best and great'st where in appartments lie Kings and their Counsellors each in his Bed With each his Sword clapt underneath his Head For there the proud Usurpors terrors cease And there the weary are at perfect ease And the whole Region riots in the spoils of Peace Pris'ners enjoy their Liberty at least know No other Chains than what their Jaylors do Both small and great there undistinguisht be Undisturb'd by outworn Authority Masters and Servants throw those Names aside And for a nobler freedom both provide No fear of the Oppressor's there no wrong No Clamours no Reproach amidst that throng But a deep silence fills the profound wast Deaf to all calls but the last Trumpets blast Ah might I rest there Why is Death deni'd To him who seeks it in those shades to hide Who for it digs and would more gladly find That Treasure than the mines he leaves i th' way behind Light and this Life will but encrease his pain Light and this Life of which he does complain And would for ' one Death exchange but all in vain Why is Life thrust on such a Man who 's dead Dead to himself and God all comfort fled Me why is 't thrust on who the Gift despise As th' worst of this Worlds great impert'nencies Nay more its greatest Curse unwelcome Guest That never le ts me never be at rest Nor Bed nor Board their just refreshment give Which who would thus thus I 'd not always live Too long already to feel what I fear'd Sadder than can be told too doleful to be heard At rest I ne're was but compar'd with this All former Grief as gone and vanisht is And all but very Hell would be a kind of Bliss 1660. The Prayer of HABAKKUK Hab. 3. Domine audivi auditionem I. MY God I have Thy Wonders heard And their report like those who saw them feard I heard what Thou of Old hast done Revive Thy Work nor let it die But since to make us hope Thou hast begun Let our Deliverance too draw nigh Lord in the midst of th' Years appear Nor ever ever thus forbear To put an happy issue to our Fear i th' midst of th' Years Thy Greatness show For we are ready if Thou ' art but so Let us in Wrath Thy Mercy see Remembred this let that forgotten be What tho with us the full Time 's not expir'd With Thee 't is ended and by us desir'd Ages to come and Ages long since past In Heav'n where Thou art present are 'T is ever now and now will ever last O Now from Heav'n Thy Power declare And let it once be here what it is ever there II. Deus ab Austro veniet God came from Teman and the Holy One Descended from Mount Paran with a mighty Train The Earth to Heav'n did dart the Rays again And as He past the Skie with Glory shone Refined Light without allay Such as above makes Angels Day Such was His Brightness and such was His Way He was all Light but from His Side Shot forth a Beam so clear and pure That none to see it could endure And there as in the dark He did His Glories hide The Pestilence before Him went Gathering new Poysons as the old were spent Ruine and Desolation at His Feet Never to part again did meet But sworn to execute His Wrath on Man Kist and embrac'd each other close as they before Him ran III. Stetit mensus est Terram He stood and in His Hand He held a Line and measuring Wand Both to mete out and to destroy his Land Over the Earth the fatal Line He threw And that it level on all sides might lie He smote the Nations and they ' in haste withdrew Th' affrighted Earth that fain would flie Seeing it could not stir the Line did take But did with horrour and amazement shake The Rocks as it came o're their Backs did quake Bow'd down their Heads and griev'd they were so high The everlasting Mountains scatt'red lay And the perpetual Hills sank down and stole away IV. Pro iniquitate vidi Tentoria I saw the Tents of Egypt in distress Methoughts I heard their doleful groans The Land did tremble and its emptiness An hollow murmur added to its moans And shriekt a deadly eccho from the wounded Stones When not content to see their First-born slain Conquer'd on Land they once again Would try the fortune of the Main Since they the Tenth Shock could so stoutly brave They scorn'd to fear the Eleventh Wave Till they themselves and that saw buried in a Grave What ail'd the Rivers Lord what ail'd the Flood That Thou shouldst make their streams true Veins of Blood What could the Sea against Thee do So small against so great a Foe Exalted Thou so high and that so low Could it deserve Thy Wrath or roar so loud From Heav'n Thy Throne to call Thee down Or in its swellings was it grown so proud It ' sdeign'd a check from a single frown Unless in Triumph God would o're it ride And Seas from Seas below as first from those above divide V. Suscitans suscitabis Arcum So on the Sea i th' Air his Bow was seen Not by Reflection like the Rain-bow made Where all the pleasing Colours are together laid That Man might be no more afraid Of a new Deluge to be unsherd in And once more drown what it could never purge his Sin That is his Bow of Peace but this of War The Skie about it was with Darkness spread Slaughter and Gore had stain'd it red Ghastly and terrible it glistned from afar A poysoned
Arrow on the string did hang It hung a while but when the Bow He drew Drawn to the head away it flew And flying gave a deadly twang The Air a good while after rang The sound how loud the Pile how keen How would it enter when no Mail could come between Such was his Word which did their Way prepare The Oath which to the Tribes He past Making them Conquerors every where Till they were in Canaan plac'd Till to the Promis'd Land He brought them safe at last VI. Semper fluvios scindes Tâ—rrae But first the War did rage at Home Thirst a worse Foe than Amaleck to be o'recome To God for Drink they cry Not with a Wet but envious Eye For Drought long since had made those Cisterns dry They cry'd and murmur'd to ' Egypt back would go Till from the Rock God bid the Waters flow The Rock obey'd and to the sacred Rod did bow Out gusht new Streams th' admiring Earth gave way But wondred how such Rivers should come there Yet lookt again to see her fear And as she saw it quak't and ready cut in Channels lay VII Viderunt te doluerunt Montes There as He marcht the Mountains saw their God And stagger'd as he shook His Rod The surly Deep past silent by And fearful any more to look on high In humble plains of liquid Chrystal flat did lie The bolder Waves which yet would rise And with their towring Billows dare the Skies Seeing Him started and shriekt out No more of their Defiance thought And of His Presence were asham'd to doubt As when one sees some Ruine near Ready upon his Head to fall Which yet he cannot help at all Cannot prevent but with unequal strength must bear Expecting the dead weight he stands Shrinks in his Shoulders and lifts up his Hands So stood the Waves and without power to flie With rais'd up Hands and Eyes had hardly strength to cry VIII Sol Luna steterunt The Sun amaz'd stood still and at the sight Bid the Moon stop and see the bloody Fight Never was such a Fight never so long a Day When Heav'n it self did waiting stay Nor till it saw the Victors went away The Lord Himself that Day marcht out Hail-stones and Coals of Fire hurl'd all about In wrath He marcht through the whole Land And thresht the Nations as He past along His Arm so weighty and his Wrath so strong None durst against Him stand To save his People did He thus appear To them so Glorious to His Foes so full of Fear IX Percussisti Caput de domo c. To th' Earth He stroke their Princes down Their Villages destroy'd sack'd every Town Tho like a Whirlwind they against us came God for us fought in arms of Flame Flames which their blasts made fiercer burn And on themselves with double Vengeance turn In Fire God came against them and o'recame Did through the Sea on His great Horses ride Whilst Waves to make Him room stood up in heaps on either side X. Audivi contuâ—batus est c. This as I heard my Joynts unloos'd Through all my Veins chill Horrour was diffus'd My Belly trembled and my Lips did quake My Bones for very rottenness did shake Afraid I was yet could not chuse but fear When I such mighty things did here When e're I was aware The God who did them I perceiv'd drew near O may I rest when he to judg shall rise For when He does the wicked World chastise How heavy then will be His Hand how red his Eyes XI Ascendam ad Populum From Thee Lord then to my God now I flie And for Thy Mercy on Thy Power relie Propitious Thee thy Land has found and so shall I. Nothing shall make me quit my trust For Thou art Pitiful as well as Just. No tho the Fig-Tree blossom not And on the Vine the generous clusters rot Tho th' labours of the Olive cease And all the lesser Plants of Life With Man as He is with his God at strife Deny to give their rich encrease Let th' Earth threat Famine bear no Grass Iron below as Heav'n above is Brass No Fruit no Pasture yield But be with Thorns and Brambles fill'd And they burnt up whilst there 's a Furnace in each Field Let the Flocks die and in the Stall The Ox not by the Knife but want of Fodder fall Yet in my God will I rejoyce Whose care I am as I made him my choice 'T is He 's my strength and freed from fear For me on high He shall His Truth display Or when the Desolation's near Give me Hinds Feet to scape away Comiato Song wherewith I first Begun My Great Redeemers Praise to sing And from a far more noble string Than I was wont an Hebrew Descant run For the great Harp of Jesses Son To be prepar'd when Time should be Preserve that Times blest Memory And all that by Thee ' inspir'd I since have done That if with Men no Grace I find With Heav'n I may and Peace in my own Mind OCCASIONAL RIMES The Saying of CLEANTHES 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 DVC me Parens Celsique Dominator Poli Quocunque placuit nulla parendi mora est Adsum impiger fac nolle comitabor gemens Malusque patiar quod pati licuit bono I. LEAD me O Providence Divine Where e're Thou hast appointed me to go I 'll follow willingly and show By my quick pace that one design Tho hid to me acts Thy unerring Will and mine II. Briskly I 'll follow Thee for so I shall prevent my Fate which to decline Beyond my Compass is and Line Worse by resistance I shall grow And after all be driven whether I will or no. Vpon a terrible Storm of Thunder Wind and Rain 25 July 1670 done by Night in the midst of it I. GREAT God of Thunder at whose Voice The Earth and its Foundations shake And Man whom Thou hast made its Lord does quake Still the dreadful and amazing Noise Lo as Thy People Israel did of old By Fear surpriz'd yet by our fear made bold Lord lest we die we beg Thou wouldst Thy Voice withhold II. Yet speak for Lo Thy Servants hear And speak Thy self but not in Smoak and Flame The mighty Storm that by the Tishbite came And rent the Hills and did the Mountains tear The Tishbite saw unmov'd knowing Thou wert not there At length was heard an awful sound Whispers and murmers undistinct around With silence waited on profound And a soft Voice in which the Thunders shouts were drownd The Prophet listned and inclin'd his Head Fill'd with sacred and unusual Dread His Face did in his Mantle hide For Thou in triumph on the peaceful sound didst ride And He who brav'd the Thunder bow'd and worshipped III. With such another Voice Divine Lord speak to us and we will hear Thy Thunder
But in all else more secret Snares than we Till by them Caught shall ever know From this to clear it and restore To th' Garden what it had before And perfect Innocence add one Beauty more As there fall'n Man his Life first forfeited There to Redeem him first the Blood of God was shed VI. How grievous were his Pains there and how great Burning tho in the frosty shades of Night Shivering with Cold but in a Bloody Sweat And all dissolv'd at his approaching Passions Sight Thrice did He his Disciples leave And thrice to his Great Father pray'd Thrice to himself He answer made And by an Angel did support receive But O! th' Assaults that were within Compar'd with which his Bodies Flame Was temperate heat and scarce deserv'd the Name When in his Soul the Burning did begin And Hell to ' encrease the Fire did Mines of Brimstone bring A thousand Fiends about him flew And Coals and bailful Firebrand threw That seiz'd at length the noblest Part Beyond the weak defence of Nature or of Art And unconsum'd did only leave the Heart VII The Heart did unconsum'd remain By the Arch-Fiend With its own Grief to burst design'd When in the Judgment Hall again He should the Charge renew but all in vain Thither betray'd by 'a Kiss the Traytors bring With Fetters bound Heav'ns Sacred King Where being Cited and Blasphem'd Flouted Scourg'd Spat upon Derided and Contemn'd By them Revil'd deny'd by ' His own A Reed in ' his Hand his Head with Thorns they Crown And lead to Golgotha their God whom they ' had Condemn'd VIII Follow Muse if thou hast the heart and see What other Torments they prepare I know the utmost of their Cruelty And from thy Mouth had rather hear The sad Report than a Spectator be Yet that thou mayst not stand thy self surpriz'd Stript off his Clothes in Nakedness disguiz'd To th' Cross they 'll nail his Hands 't is said And bore with Nalls his tender Feet Then all his Sufferings to upbraid Cry If Thou art the Son of God let 's see 't Now from the Tree triumphantly come down Or reign thence like Thy self alone Or any other Wonder show Whereby Thy De'ity may be known And to its Scepter we will bow As if there greater Miracle could be Than all that Patience which they do but will not see IX Nor is this all but when He 's Dead His Side they 'll open with a Spear Approach the Wound and look what Blood is shed For it Mysterious will appear And be another Argument for thee next Year A better Spring will thence arise Than Helicon so Fam'd of old There bath thy self if thou art wise Nor fear in those chast Streams to be too bold But see be sure too long thou dost not stay For all the while Thou art away Tears only from these Eyes will flow And in my Fancy I shall double o're All that I have told thee now before And all that thou return'd will'st tell again and more Beside my Verse will fetter'd be and slow And want both Wings to flie and Feet to go 10. Martii 166â— EPIGRAM WHen my God Di'd I first began to Live And Life which he refus'd Heav'n me did give Unlike that Day O how unlike we were Him dead the Cross me ' alive the Knees did bear But may not I die too This life of mine I can as well as Thou dispise if not like Thine Ah dearest Lord this Legacy bestow A double Life then to Thy Death I 'll owe And sanctifi'd thus in my Birth by Thee A living Death my dying Life shall be 5. Decemb. 1668. An Extasie of Divine Love Aquesta Divina Vnion c. I. THat sacred Bond of Charity Wherein I uncorrupted Live Makes God the Captive Chain receive But my pinion'd Heart sets free Tho causing still such love in me To see Heav'ns King my Pris'ner lie That I die 'cause I cannot die II. How teadious now this Life is grown The way to Death how hard and long How dark the Dunge'on th' Ir'ns how strong With which my ' unwilling Soul 's kept down And has no trust but hope alone These thoughts my Troubles raise so high That I die 'cause I cannot die III. Bitter Life shalt thou be to me Where I my God can ne're enjoy But if my Love has no alloy My hope as try'd and pure may be Ah! come my Lord and set me free Take off this weight which makes me cry That I die 'cause I cannot die IV. By hope alone it is I Live Hope that I bear the seeds of Death And dying once a second Birth Secures that Hope and Life do's give O Death I 'll ne're thy coming grieve When Life succeeds through hope so nigh That I die 'cause I cannot die V. Who can the Charms of Love refuse Ah Life no more my Heart betray 'T is only thou stand'st in my way Which rather than my Love I 'll loose And Death for my great Champion choose So much alate thy Enemy That I die 'cause I cannot die VI. The Life alone that 's hid above Can of true Life the Title claim That Toy which here usurps the Name Its pleasure hides and deads our Love And a worse Foe than Death does prove Death for whose sake I Life so flie That I die 'cause I cannot die VII What can I give frail Life but thee To th' God who in me deigns to live Yet how can I the nothing give Till he first grants me Liberty O let me die his Face to see But that 's so distant from my Eye That I die 'cause I cannot die VIII Beside my God from thee away Who would not of a Life complain That terrible and full of pain Suffers a thousand Deaths each Day A Mortal but a slow decay And this so swells my Misery That I die 'cause I cannot die IX All Creatures love their Element And pleasure there enjoy and rest And if by Death they are disseas'd To their first nothing they are sent But I 'm beyond kind Death's extent And yet so many hardships try That I die 'cause I cannot die X. When in the Eucharist my dull Soul Eating thy Flesh it self would ease A thousand thoughts for entrance press And there not to enjoy Thee whole Whole and alone I a ' new condole For 't is the Voice of every Sigh That I die cause I cannot die XI I please my self i th' Hopes 't is true E're long my God of seeing Thee But fearing lest they false should be My Torments with my Fears renew And both so close my Soul pursue Hoping mid both so heartily That I die 'cause I cannot die XII Lord from this Death deliver me And Life thus beg'd at length bestow Why should I still be kept below Look how I die for love of Thee And since enjoy'd Thou canst not be In this Lifes death regard my cry That I die 'cause I cannot die XII My dying Life
I 'll then lament And living Death in Tears bewail For my Sins sake those Foes prevail And all my Age in Mourning 's spent To my release at length consent Nor let me grieve eternally That I die 'cause I cannot die L'Envoy Blest Soul that hither couldst arrive How do I love yet envy Thee Wishing my self this Extasie And that th' Example Thou dost give Would make me less afraid to live And to each close of Thine reply That I die cause I cannot die 20. May 1668. The FLIGHT I. NO wonder Soul thou so admir'st a Verse And countst thy self in its Possession brave For 't is what e're thou canst desire to have On this side Heav'n but more to make than to rehearse II. 'T is th' end of Preaching Loves best Exercise The Quintessence of Prayer Praises refin'd A Change exstatic into th' Heav'nly Mind And on whose soaring Wings above the World I rise III. O could I always stay where 't first sets me How naked looking down would th' World appear Its Joys how empty and how vain its Fear Another flight would make me leave Mortality IV. For as the sealed Dove so high does towre That i' th' pure Air at last it flying dies So should I mount too and above the Skies Rapt to th' Etern aboads unfeel my dying Hour V. But I must live still and my flight to bound Till truly seal'd there something Lord will be Some Work of Thine be ' it be it but a Tree Eve'n there I nearer Heav'n shall rest than on the Ground 22. Jan. 1671 2. noctu Exsurrexi adhuc sum tecum An Hymn and Prayer To the Holy JESUS my Lord. Parode I. JESU th' Eternal Sun of Righteousness Unlike our Mortal Suns which Rise and Set Subliming this and t'other World with Light Love bids me of Thy wondrous Power to Treat But how Thy Power or Wonders to express I know not till Thou make my Darkness bright And with Thy Beams dispel the shades of Night Therefore I beg Thy aid JESU to whom I' have pray'd And still pray that I worthy Thee may write Illustriously o're all th' Expansion shine And if I 'm weak to endure A Light so pure dart through my Verse a ray Divine II. JESU the Wisdom of the Deity In whom the Mistic Treasures are conceal'd Be'yond Reasons search of the Eternal Mind And with whose Stripes the Afflicted World is heal'd Proof against Death the Vanguishts Victory Under whose Standart to its God rejoyn'd Love for the Noblest Service is design'd Love that 's a Rebel now JESU so Great that Thou From Heav'n Thy self must come his Slaves to ' unbind That I some Trophies of Thy Power may boast When Thou dost Conquering ride I 'll Crowns provide and sing Thy Triumphs through his Coast. III. JESU the Virgins and the Martyrs Wrath Who without Spot or Wrinkle didst adorn The fairest Soul which in a Body all Of Charms was wondrously Conceiv'd and Born Fought'st and wast fought resign'dst thy labouring Breath The Lost to Save and from the Dungeon call Hopes weary Pris'ners and Death's Captive thrall To Thrones at Thy Right Hand JESU as Thou dost stand At Thy Great Father's in Heav'ns Judgment Hall Grant me the Grace and Thou the Grace canst grant That when Thou shalt come next Tho now perplext to attend Thee then I nothing want IV. JESU in whom the Godhead does repose Infinites Comprehension and the Bound Of boundless Majesty fathomless Deep With Thorns first pierc'd and e're with Glory Crown'd Submitted to the Triumphs of Thy Foes A Man of Sorrows and inur'd to weep Substantial God and Man who both dost keep Unmixt and Unconfus'd JESU th' Untoucht and Bruis'd Quickning the Dead yet who i th' Grave didst sleep 'T is Thou hast broke our Bands th' Uusurper hurld Headlong into the Pit In whose sides sit the great Disturbers of the World V. JESU the Way the Truth whose Life does give The' exactest Method how we may direct Our wandring Course to Thy Divine Aboad And whence seduc'd to stray is not to Live A Way Thy self while here Unerring trode And now Exalted dost with Blessings load A Way which rough at first JESU appears and Curst But entred once proves worthy Thee and God Shew me Thy Way nor take it in ill part Since I am blind and weak If I bespeak Thee ' in that whose Guide and End Thou art VI. JESU Whose Cross the surest Anchor makes Both strong and sure entring within the Vail Where Passions waves how fierce and uncontroul'd So e're rage not and yet they dare assail The holiest Place and Heav'n i th' Tempest shakes Thou seest how there I have fixt all my hold And am i th' midst of Storms and Floods grown bold Yet still there is a Shelf JESU I mean my Self 'Gainst which I am in danger to be roll'd I sink O now thy saving Hand forth stretch Now e're my Head with th' Weeds Which this Sea breeds is wrapt and I 'm below Thy reach VII JESU how many Tears have I in vain How many Sighs and Prayers in vain pour'd out Tho by th' expence my Flame alone 's encreast My Life from its first Stage trac'd all about Unchang'd by change of Habit 's nought but Pain Anguish and Torment void of Peace and Rest Nay even my Soul Heav'n-born has been opprest And humbled to the Grave JESU make hast to save Nor tarry tho of Men I ' have lov'd Thee least Now help to Morrow may not be so well For Misery and Sin Have me ' on the Wing and where they 'll pitch me who can tell VIII JESU one half of me 's already gone So gone that tho I have piec'd up the Rent Methinks I 'm not the perfect thing I was Tho happy still in that I am content And who shall be more perfect when th' World 's done And One made Three into ' One again shall pass Unhappy Man unhappy were my case Such doubts gave'st Thou not skill JESU to Reconcile Thou who see'st Past and Future in one Glass Dear Lord for whom too hard there nothing is Give all my Griefs such end As may intend Thy Honour first and then my Bliss IX JESU my Confidence my Hope my Fear Able to help in time of Need and Free O leave me not when my last Hour shall come Not for my sake but His who Ransom'd me Merit crys No. But th' Image which I bear Pleads Lord and would for Ancient Love make room Tho I have been betray'd by Errors doom To a Fairy Wood and Brook JESU my Shepherd look Find Thy lost Sheep and bring the Stragler home Of Streams so troubled may I drink no more Or having found my Way Any more stray or wander as I did before X. JESU My God who far off seest the Proud And hatest him let Thy Blood some pity move An Heart all bruis'd and contrite to regard That does at length bewail its sottish love And which if once it
Thrall To Vulgar Souls and had from th' Earth Original XVI Two unlike Mothers of two Sons unlike Eros and Anteros whose oppos'd Name Which different Sentiments in them did strike From their own first great Opposition came That from their Nature and tho judg'd the same In one and t'other Sex where they preside The Male and Female Hymeneal Flame Are two so that once kindled they divide Just like those Fatal Brethrens who Dead each defi'd XVII Eros was Elder and the stronger too Of Constitution likely to endure Eternal Ages if the Spi'rit he drew Were not empoyson'd by an Air impure Of which consulting how to be secure 'T was plainly told him from th' Oraculous Throne Than that of Themis far more Old and sure A Tripode which ne're fail'd When two are One Then Love in danger is by Love to be undone XVIII Of two made one Love well enough conceiv'd For that himself had seen himself had done But it by Love could hardly be believ'd That he to ' himself so contrary should run As to provoke what most he sought to shun Against himself that he should so prevail As thence in hazard be to be undone This ev'en to Love obscur'd in Mortal Vail Abstruse did seem and by another sai'd might fail XIX But Time a little time the Mysterie clear'd When by another Love this Anteros He was betray'd who that which first appear'd And 't was the Sun when from the Earth he rose Ador'd as his chief God with sacred Vows And many Altars to it after made By ' his Votaries on whom he did impose The Task Idolatrous and First-fruits pai'd Himself the first Idolater there prophanely laid XX. From Earth first rose this feign'd and Idol Love By DIS begot tho not till after known Who was his Sire or what himself would prove Of a curst Father the as cursed Son Born Arm'd for others Ruine and his own With all the Ensigns Love was wont to bear By th' Heathen read that if together shown All but themselves to ' impose on they 'd go near And here 's the true Love one would say one he 's there XXI Like Youth in both like Face and Looks were seen Like naked Limbs with covered Impudence In this but gesture tending to obscene In a free gayety ' hid to ' elude the Sense Like Chaplet for their Brows and Eyes defence Like Wings like Quiver hung their Backs adown Like different Arrows to be drawn out thence Like burning Torch which Flames so like did crown Either would seem the true if single and alone XXII Ah! that they had like Grace those Arms to use But this was loudly by the False decry'd Who only took them that he might abuse The World by whom he should be Deifi'd And acts inglorious in that Visor hide Never to use them was his full intent Or if he did not as before well try'd But to a Love and Learning different Where Sense alone should be supreme in Government XXIII Love saw all this for what to Love is hid The true Love saw it and withdrew in haste No place was left him on the Earth to ' abide Wherefore he to the Empyrean past And only Conscience his Vicegerent plac'd With Promise yet that if in time to come Man wiser grew the Counterfeit uncas'd Himself his now left Charge would reassume And once again to Man return as his last Home XXIV For Man 't is known scarce the wild Phanto'sm saw This Pageant Counterfeit of Love Divine But his Allegeance back he straight did draw And to the Enemies part from Love decline By Sense led which had quickly sunk a Mine Reason or to surprize or to o'rethrow And the vain Stratagem had drest so fine With umbrage that it Good and Ill should know The Fort surrendred was scarce known for what or how XXV But up 't was given and therewith given was all For Nothing or what 's worse than nothing lies What ever Man his own by right might call Or by Commission but sure ne're did prize Deserv'dly since he ' it could so soon despise His Life his Soul what most was of behoof To ' a Being so dispos'd and fram'd as His Of his Obedience the first easie proof And what as Heav'n it self was valuable his Love XXVI All were give'n up and now adieu blest Love Adieu all Happiness and Innocence Honour and Vertue which the same Course move And Mortals very rarely visit since Adieu unto you all for Love 's gone hence And only left your empty Names behind Upon the Stage to please or give offence As variously Spectators are inclin'd But wherewith most are pleas'd as most 'gainst Love combind XXVII Honour and Love adieu And now my Song Since thou hast trace'd them to their first aboad Rest they a while and tell as does belong To the Mock-Love the World's and â—coples God! But make of every Rime an Iron Rod Wherewith thou mayst the Profligate chastise And tho thou goest a way as yet untrod Despair not but thy Work shall beauteous rise And with the Sober find acceptance and the Wise XXVIII With these acceptance but with others scorn Who to this Anti-Love blind Vassals made By our First-Fathers Act have Fealty sworn To a fell Tyran who must be obeyâ—d And will nor in his furious heats gain-said Unhappy Men if their unhappiness They could but know and how they are betray'd Enough unhappy would they but confess The little that they know which words can scarce express XXIX Slaves of Vile Passions which drive furiously And all that 's Sacred with high Hand bear down Themselves their Ancestors the Deity Reason and Reasons Guide Religion The Worlds consent attested by their own Till to the Winds and Seas their Faith they gave And sought what else they could not flee to drown In bottomless Abyss nor Shipwrackt have The least security they shall their Fraightage save XXX And yet who more secure But this their Love Their New Love in whose Service they 're retain'd Gives as his own and their most urging Proof That they true Conquerors have the Victory gain'd And broke those Iro'ns wherewith all else are chain'd Ill Education brutal Thunders dread A fear of what 's above to which they ' are train'd And what 's to come dreams of the long since dead That first made Gods and what their Fears made worshipped XXXI Horrors th' Anti-diluvian World ne're knew Or if it did durst not bare-face'd profess Tho from one Seed their Love and Atheism grew Both Ills but which the greater which the less Is hard to say almost as hard to ghess For either both in both was either had In both and either lost Man's Righteousness I' th' cause or in th' effect both equal bad And both that sensually and this prophanely mad XXXII But for Prophaneness Sense was th' Harbinger And busily by Love prepar'd its way For so Iâ—ll call awhile the Worlds Troubler Who all its Stages did before-hand lay And longer here and