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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
ELEGY Upon the death of SAUL and JONATHAN 2 Sam. 1. Considera Israel pro hiis qui mortui I. ISRAELS delight the glory of our Land How are the Mighty overthrown Before their Enemies Swords they could not stand Nor conquer'd fall by any but their own In Thy High-places Israel both did fall A publick Victim for their Land in view of all II. Let not in Gath the mournful News be known Nor in Philistia publish it Stop the Report e're it reach Ascalon Nor let our Captive names their Arches fit Lest fearful Women whom they left at Home With Songs to share the Spoil and meet their Triumph come III. And ye Gilboas Mounts may never Rain Or fertile Showres descend on you But on your Heads let there abide that stain Which Seas should they pour down would but renew Let the curst Earth no more an Offering yield Nor God expect his First-fruits from the empty Field IV. 'T was there the valiant Saul resign'd his Breath And there his Shield was thrown away Never was such a Trophy rear'd to Death Nor ever sacred arms so scattered lay The valiant Saul's as if he ne're had been The Lord 's Anointed or his Chosen Peoples King V. From the pursuit the Bow of Jonathan Some Regal Spoil did daily bring Destruction after his fleet arrows ran And at the Wounds they made Death entred in The Sword of Saul did never empty come But a new Purple from the Blood of Kings brought home VI. Alike in Life in Death alike they were Not more in Blood ally'd than Mind Themselves alone you with them could compare Who none their equals saw or left behind And on their arms there hung such Victory That Men they only seem'd because they both could die VII For as the Eagle to her Prey does haste And hovering o're the Quarry flies Or the fierce Lion having once a taste Of Blood does all the Shepherds noise despise And at their Slings no shew of fear does make Like Lions they o're-came like Eagles did o're-take VIII And you O Daughters of so great a King Our Tribes support his Death lament Whose Victories you before were wont to Sing And clad in Scarlet to adorn them went Now put on Mourning to attend his Hearse Sad as your own complaints and mournful as my Verse IX For Lo the Glories of our State and Land Lo how the Mighty are o're-thrown Before their Enemies Swords they could not stand Tho Saul by none could perish but his own In thy High-places Jonathan thou didst fall A publick Victim where thou shouldst have reigned o're all X. For thee my Brother 't is for thee I grieve The best of Friends as well as Men In whose Death I that fatal Wound receive Which clos'd will ne're be till we meet again And in the Mansions of the Saints above Enjoy what here we vow'd our more than mortal love XI Israels Delight the Glory of our Land How are the Mighty overthrown Before his Enemies Sword one could not stand Nor th' other fall by any but his own In thy High-places Israel both did fall A publick Victim for their Land in view of all DAVID's Thansgiving and Prayer Ingressus est autem Rex David sedit coram Domino dixit Quis ego sum Domine quae I. WHO am I Lord and what 's my Family The youngest House of the Jessean Race In all things little but that Grace Which Thou on us hast shour'd but most on me Who am I that Thou hitherto Hast brought me Lord Thy Bounty and Thy Power to show II. Hitherto Thou hast brought me and that Hand Which for a Sling and Sheephook was design'd A nobler Service is enjoyn'd And Men instead of Flocks are my command Israel the Flock and care Divine And my exalted Name does midst rich Trophies shine III. Like the great Mens of th' Earth Thou ' hast made my Name And yet as if all this were not enough And thousand Pledges more of Love But the foundation only of that Frame Thou in Thy mind hadst cast to raise Of future Glories Thou foretell'st and growing Praise IV. Of Times to come Thou ' hast told long hence to come And that my House and Throne upheld shall be Like a Prince born Thou ' hast treated me As having what Thou ' art making for me room And are Men Lord thus wont to do Who rather than exalt the Poor will keep them low V. Yet thus Thou ' hast done and what can I say more Or greater for Thy Honour Lord or mine Which both here equal issues joyn That all who th' Work admire may Thee adore Greater I 'd say Thou knowst full well And more but what I know not how I cannot tell VI. Unless I add that for Thy great Words sake Thou didst it that Thou mightst at once fulfil The secret Counsels of Thy Will And what they were known to Thy People make For Thine own sake my God and mine For Thou thy Servant knowst and that his will is Thine VII Great art Thou Lord and wondrous are Thy Ways The best and greatest the only God alone Beside or like whom there is none Glorious in Holiness fearful in Praise Thus sing we who did first receive The Truth from our Fore-fathers but seeing now believe VIII For what one Nation as from them of Old We ' have often heard with Israel can compare For whom Himself God did not spare But came from Heav'n in Person to behold The Mise'ries they did undergo And not to see alone but to Revenge them too IX From Heav'n he came from Heav'n himself came down All cloath'd in Tempest and sulphureous Flame To get Himself the greater Name And do what by His Word He might have done That thus from Egypts Gods set free Himself he might declare His Peoples God to be X. This our Fore-fathers told us but we ' have seen Our selves as mighty Wonders of Thy Love Nor need we fetch from them our Proof Who ' our selves as mighty Wonders oft have been Confirm'd by Thy after vast expence And more 's to come to be Thy great Inheritance XI And now my God the Word which Thou hast said Th' irrevocable Word concerning me Let it for ever stablisht be And stablisht be that House which Thou hast made Thy Servant David thus approv'd Establish with his House nor let them be remov'd XII So shall Thy Word and Name be ever prais'd And Israels Holy God shall Israel sing Is God alone and Israel's King He His Anointeds Horn on high has rais'd Of David and his House approv'd David and ' his House establisht ne're to be remov'd XIII Not that I 'm worthy Thou shouldst hear my Vows Only Thy self was pleas'd the Word to pass Lord since I ' have with Thee found this Grace To be assur'd Thou It build Thy Servants House Another Grace turn not away Which in my Heart I since have found even thus to pray XIV Thy Promise 't is this
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
they rose with Bays and Ivy Crown'd Not such as Mortal Poets wear below But what i th' Heav'nly Tempâ—e grow And with whose Wreaths the first great Makers Brows are bound IX Go Shepherds go and kiss th' Eternal Son To Bethle'hem go and the first Tributes bring To Israels Saviour and Heav'ns New-born King To you this more than common Honour 's done To ' approach your God and Worship at his humble Throne Make haste nor by your own delay For others to prevent your Joys give way Why should they first be happy whilst you only stay For Kings shall come e're long from th' East By a less Flame than what 's your Guide Directed hi'ther to find that Rest Which seems not theirs till by ' you accepted or deny'd Of you God takes the first and greatest Care Who thus by Angels Summon'd are When they tho Kings and coming from afar Shall wait and both to call and lead them only have a Star 14 Jan. 166â— The STAR A Carol For the Epiphany by the III Kings SEe how that Glorious Star at Noon does rise And like another Sun new Guilds the Skies Look how it dares the Ruler of the Light And in His clearest Beams appears more bright Calling before its time the sluggish Night Rather the Conquer'd Sun to ' its Rays gives way And but a Phospher seems to its new Day The Conquer'd Sun c. Chorus trium Sure 't is no common Star see where it goes A daring Passage it self only knows And cross the Heav'n points out to Palestine And as it that way leads more bright does shine Come let us follow where it leads and see What may the Cause of its appearing be Whether it set a Star or some Divinity Come let us c. Chorus alter trium Some greater Power which to direct our Way Has chose this borrowed Shape and glorious Ray And when we knew not well which Road to go Does tow'rds Judea our great Journey show That way it points that way we must along No fear when Heaven 's out Guide we should go wrong That way c. Chorus trium tertius O're Bethle'm lo at length the Flame does rest Bethle'm that with the Prince of Peace is blest Bethle'm which must by ancient Prophecy The Tyring-House of the Almighty be Where he will cloath Himself with base Humanity And that 's the House where we our Gifts must bring To the World's God and Israel's Infant King Chorus Omnium Hither 't was hither the bright Star did lead Let 's enter humbly and approach with Fear The Star which brought will shew him us more clear And be a Glory round the Infants Head O this is He fall down and worship him fall down And kiss his Feet whose Head ev'n Heav'n thus stoops to Crown 23. Decemb. 1660. The PASSION An Ode I. TWice sixteen Years have almost o're Thee past Twice sixteen more Thou mayst as fondly waste In expectation Sylvius as thou hast The swift-wing'd Years which in their Passage scap'd thee last The Kalendar is searcht and all in vain Wouldst Thou have this Day return To the same Point as when in ' it Thou wert Born But 't will not be this Age if it e're come again Enough 'tis that Thou once didst see The great Conjunction Wait not o're long for what may be Too late for Thee And is sufficient of it self alone Without that Circumstance to fill Thy Song For grant it now what could to Thee be ' apply'd But that thy Birth fell out the Night thy Saviour Di'd II. Rise then my Muse but from a nobler Ground And sing in Numbers mournful as the Day Of Natures fright and disarray Which did Philosophy confound And scattered dismal Horrours all around When Heaven and Earth and Hell partook In the Darkness and the Night Which like a Sea o'reflow'd the plains of Light And all Spectators with amazement strook Unlike to that which once in Egypt raign'd When solid Night did Rhamases invest But Goshen of the Sun possest Over the Gleam a Prospect gain'd And uninvellopt saw how far the Heav'ns were stain'd Nor was it to the Antipodes The Day had hastned his access For they unsensible of Light Lay buried all the while in Night And without Miracle could not behold it bright Unless Thou add'st the Prodigie to raise And which none else but Thou O Muse dares say Th' Antipodes at Midnight rose to gaze And Night Jerusalem less admir'd than they the Day III. A thought too wild this and extravagant And which does all but its own airy basis want Say rather that the Pangs and Agonies Of a new and better World Which was thence to take its rise Were thus conceal'd from Mortal Eyes And Darkness as at first o're all th' Expansion hurld God's sacred Kingdom was that Birth The same New Heaven and new Earth Which the belov'd Disciple saw In all its Beauties as it did appear And to provoke Adventurers there A Chart thereof by Vision did exactly draw For on the Cross as our great Saviour hung And just Expiring bow'd his Conquering Head From the black Skies bright beams like Lightning sprung But as the Day continued long Chasing wing'd Darkness which before them fled And as the first Creations Work begun By the commanding Word which He To Nothing and to Chaos sed Making when He spake only Let there be By a no less Word this too was done Created by that Voice which cry'd T is Finished IV. 'T is Finished the Mighty Victor cry'd All reaking in Triumphal Gore Which his own Wounds not Enemies Necks supply'd For tho with them He Skirmisht had before And oft rebated had their Power He could not throughly for us Conquer till He Di'd Alone He did the Wine-press tread Of his Just Father's Wrath alone Israels to raise stoopt his own Head And to assist Him was there none So far from that that i th' pursuit Of Satan Sin and Death when He cry'd out With fainting Groans I Thirst His Patience some and some his Conquest Curst And Gall and Vinacre of the bitter Tree was all the Fruit. Till having tasted of the Brook i th' way Anew He follow'd till He gain'd the Day And to compleat his Victory Got thence more Aids and strength enough to Die V. Blest Saviour who but Thou couldst Live so long And in one Soul so many Deaths endure And different all and all their Pains so strong That their rehearsal does fresh Griefs ensure And again pierce those Hearts Thou bledst to Cure When in the Garden Thou didst first begin Gethsemane for ease design'd And safe retirements of a troubled Mind Purging thence all th' effects of Sin Which still tho hid remaind behind The dregs of what on Man in Paradise brake in Fatal but happy Place that where did grow Midst whole Woods no less beauteous but one Tree That even by Wilfulness alone could be The occasion of our Misery
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
First-fruits should have been brought to thee Whose due I am and all that 's mine By Birth-right Thou a Title hast to me And by Command those Fruits are Thine But Thine or mine neither have bin Offered before to Sin Sin came and first conceal'd my right in Thee And then usurpt what e're was mine But let Redemption clear Thy Right to me And then both shall again be Thine Both Thine and mine tho they have bin Offered before to Sin Instead of First-fruits Lord I bring to Thee Th' whole Harvest which yet is not mine Thou in return shalt give Thy self to me And make it so because 't is Thine Both Thine and mine as if 't had bin Neve'r offered up to Sin Deo Opt. Max. S. Qui huc usque auxiliatus est in futurum mihi Providebit THIS Altar to Thy Name Great God I raise The Pious Labour of my too late Praise With Stones from Thine own sacred Quarry brought Tho by my Artless Hand but rudely wrought Artless and rude tho its Traces be Methinks I by it clearly see My Past Supports and Future care And what of both ' is my present share The Guidance of the Love Divine Making me call his Pleasure mine O let it in Thy Presence stand Inviolable from any Hand And when on it thou deignst to look Write down the Votary in Thy Book Who at his Foot has his Dependance set And in th' Inscription thus proclaimes Thee Great To God who hitherto has helpt my only Trust And for the Future will provide for He is Just. Ad Psalmos 1667. The following Compositions and Translations are therefore here Printed by the Authors consent and allowance suitable enough to the general Title of RIMES and he hopes not unbecoming his Habit tho done the most of them long before his Admission into Holy Orders because they have as to such of them at least which he could much rather have wished lost and forgotten by some too curious Collector of such Trifles against his will and knowledge been already from very false Copies very falsly Published and he is not wholly out of danger for the rest as neither was he till now for a good number of those above whose Copies he doubts are in many Hands ODE Ad Passagium inducendum I. O aspettata in ciel Beata c. BLEST Soul in Heaven expected long And long in Heav'n mayst Thou expected be Who ' art cloath'd not loaded with Humanity Like others but more Resolute and Strong Of God belove'd those briny Paths to tread Which from our unjoyn'd World unto his Kingdom lead Look how a Western Gale Do's on Thy Barques spred Canvass blow Loos'd from the Shore long since with hoys'd up Sail A better Port than what Thou leav'st to know The Wind is to Thy Service prest And from this gloomy Vale where we complain Both of our own and others Wrongs in vain Of Thy first Innocence possest In a strait Line will drive Thee to Thy Rest And whether now thou ' art bound to the true East II. Forse I devoti c. 'T was that or now the fervent Prayers Of holy Men re'inforced by their Tears Had on th' Eternal Goodness wrought Or if both Prayers and Tears were weak And useless Arms to stop th' Almighty Justice thought Nor us'd it may be its fixt Course to break T was that of His meer Love alone Heav'ns Sacred King again deny'd Again by ' His Murdr'ous Enemies defi'd i th' place where He in triumph Di'd In pity thither did at length look down He lookt and in the generous Brest Of holy Charles revenge inspir'd Revenge which was too long desir'd Revenge whose lingring Europe did infest But only to be greater was a while deferr'd Thus would He help his Spouse belov'd And of a War just Heav'n approv'd The bare report found Babylon thoughtful left her mov'd III. Chiunque alberga ' tra Garonna c. All who between the Alps and Garoone dwell Twixt Rhodanus and Rhene and the salt Sea The Christian Armies with their Banners swell Whole Spain that Jealous ever us'd to be Of others Honour to the Camp does come Leaving the Pirenes behind to guard its empty Home Britain and all the Isles that lie From th' Orcades extremity To where the Straits do Afric bound With all where e're is found But the first Traces of the Gospels sound Various in Garb various in Arms and Speech Chari'ty does to th' high Impress provoke or else beseech And worthier her what could be ever done Or who has e're so just a War begun Not Menelaus for his Wife nor Minos for his Son IV. Vna parte del mondo è c. Up in the North midst Winter and thick Snow Beyond the Suns auspicious Ray Where Clouds and Storms mete out the short liv'd Day Is bred a Nation which did never know Peace and her Charms or if it did but as a Foe Who ne're were heard or Wounds to flie or Pain Or of Deaths Icy Fetters to complain That were their Country to upbraid and Birth to stain These more devout grown than of old With German rage have of the Sword tane hold Turks Arabs Saracens and the shame They go against of Heathen Deities Only to know were to despise As fit but with their Blood their bordring Sea anew to name A People naked timo'rous ignorant of War That ne're strook blow but from a far And only with their Arrows wound the bloodless Air V. Dunque hora è l tempo c. Now is the time from our too patient Neck That ancient Yoke wherewith we ' are gall'd to break And from our Eyes the Vail to lay aside Which both the Ene'mies weakness and our strength does hide And now my Friend is an occasion seen Wherein you may those Virtues show Which part from Heav'n you have and part have gaind below The Trophies of your Tongue and learned Pen Nor will it longer any Wonder be Tho you of Orpheus and Amphion read Whose Songs tam'd Beasts and Stones did lead When of your own a greater Miracle you see And Men more Deaf and Salvager than they Led by your Skill go where you point the Way When Italy awak'ned by the sound Of your loud Voice and all her Sons around Rise from their sleep expecting that bright Day When they ' may get him Laurels who with Thorns was Crownd Ne're had that Aged Mother yet An opportunity so fair her Sons a cause more great VI. Tu è hai per arrichir c. Thou who to ' enrich the Treasure of thy Brain Hast many a flying Roll turnd o're Of th' present Times and those that went before And on those Wings to Heav'n aloft doâ—â— soar Seeing the Fates of Empires all beneath Thee plain Full well Thou knowst how in the Roman State From the first Day that Mars his Son In Blood laid its Foundation Till great Augustus who thrice entred the triumphal Gate Rome of Blood was ever free And
who after her should come The mighty Cowley since has there obtain'd a Room And Davenant as with her they in the Muses service shar'd With other Names which there I saw Enroll'd And in bright Characters enchast But who they were must not be told Till they the fatal Stream have past And after Death ha here their Breathing Statues plac'd My Muse alone those Worthys did out-shine As she approacht me there in shape Divine Her Golden Hair was all unbound With careless Art and wantonly did play Mov'd by her Strings harmonious sound As on her Shoulders the loose Tresses lay A wondrous Mantle on her Back was thrown And her gay Mystic Vest below In Royal State traild all adown An Harp was in her Hand and on her Head a Crown VII Amaz'd I at her Feet did fall And Prostrate lay till up she bid me stand Saying For this I Thee did never call But boldly to receive my great Command Arise for Lo a better Fate Does on Thy tuneful Numbers wait Than what Thou in the Deep has tri'd of late Not but that all thy Labours there To Thine own Wish shall amply be repaid How ever for a while delay'd For I by whom enroll'd they are Second to none but Heav'n in that great care Which of Thy Verse and Thee I ever had Will look so large allowance for them shall be made And all the time Thou hast or shalt have staid That the whole Damage which Thou didst sustain Shall not compare with Thy Immortal Gain VIII Witness Thy Table which I here accept Worthy for the' Hand design'd it to be kept Within my Archives a fair Room to have And Thy mean Name from dark Oblivion save Till to another Temple that 's above Thy Souls true Image I hereafter shall remove Where several whom Thou here dost know Ambitious at their very Names to bow Leaving their wanton Strains behind And from all base alloy refin'd More to resemble the Eternal Mind With several who were never here So Godlike all their Numbers were As Heman Ethan Moises and the Quire Of Jewish Psalmists whom Heaven did inspire And Jesses Son whose Harp thou late didst bear In Glory with the first Great Maker live And for your Mortal Bays a Starry Diadem receive IX But first my Son Thou ' again to Sea must go And many Towns and Men and Countries see In the new World of Heav'nly Poesy Part of which long since was design'd to be The happy Fruits of thy Discovery Where none of all Thy Nation has been yet The Way so dangerous and the Task so great Nor doubt but it shall recompense thy cost And were it more that Age they cry thou hast lost When Thou didst Tibers City fly The dusty ruines of Antiquity And for my Service thy old Love to ' her Stones deny And later since didst Laws and the' Bar forsake And for the long Robe th' Ivy Garland take As that which would Thy Name Immortal make Much I confess much that alone can do Very much I But more my Elder Sister Sage Theology Whom thou e're long shalt know And from my Service to attend her go Her to attend but not renounce me utterly For I have Honours to bestow And endless Treasures tho I rarely show The happy Country where they grow And tho some Wretch the Plague endure Of Ridiculous Poverty The fault 's his own and not in me Not that he is my Votary But under that disguse to her an Enemy Not I but they who count and make me so are poor X. Try me this once and once more tempt the Main Thou shalt not unattended go For when thou next putst forth to Sea again I'll be Thy Pilot and the Passage show Nay wonder not for 't is no more Than what I several times have done before When Tasso I through unknown Straits did guide And made my Bartas o're the Surges ride And Collins sacred Mulla deifi'd Those Admi'rals of my Seas which did extend Their Countrys Bounds and Savage Nations made attend 'T was I Conducted them those Lands to find Where each did plant his Nations Colonies All spreading less their Sails than Victories And there are yet more Lands for thee behind Or to Discover or Improve by a nobler kind Let 's go my Son and all the way rehearse The Birth of things as they from Nothing rose By that Almighty Word which shall inspire thy Verse And help Thee all its Wonders to disclose No Storm upon Thy Mast shall rest Nor any Blasts but Vernal blow The Sea it self to my great Service prest In plains of Liquid Diamond shall lie below And its obedience to my Rule in dancing Billows show And when thou Home return'd shalt be And of thy Native Earth once more take hold My self thy Barque will Consecrated see And for this New World thus found out by Thee Make it an Heav'nly Sign next that which sav'd the Old Or if this pleases not Too long laid by too long forgot And that thy Habit chang'd thou changest thy design Thy own be the free choice the Conduct shall be mine Made first 1666 and some time after review'd Comiato Song that thou shouldst of all be understood I little hope and less design Tho few there be who wish thy Masters good And know him but they something will divine That Verse so early he began Scarce will the Poet die before the Man And that the boasts he makes of Bays The most that almost any of the Trade e're got And happy he if this be his Lot Is the thin Diet of an Airy Praise On which he like his Brethren lives his Verse to raise 1677. FINIS Sponsa Sponsus Sponsa Sponsus Sponsa Sponsa Sponsus Sponsus Sponsus Sponsa Sponsa Chorus Sponsa Sponsus Sponsa CAP. 5. Sponsus Sponsa Chorus Sponsa CAP. 7. Chorus 〈…〉 Sponsus Chorus Sponsa Chorus Sponsa CAP. 7. Sponsus Sponsa CAP. 8. Sponsa Chorus Sponsus Sponsa Chorus Sponsus Sponsa Sponsus Sponsa Lucae 1. 28. Lucae 1. 42. Lucae 1. 47. Lucae 1. 68. Lucae 2. 24. Lucae 2. 29. Apoc. 11. 17. Apoc. 12. 10. Apoc. 14. 13. Apoc. 15. 3. Apoc. 16. 5. I. Angel II. Angel Apoc. 9. 1. Apoc. 19. 5. Apoc. 21. 5. Mat. 11. 25. Exod. 15. II. Part. 4. Judic 5. 2 Sam. 7. 1 Paral. 17. 2 Sam. 23. Isa. 38. 1663. Epict. cap. 77. Sen. Ep. 107. Jer. 36. 1. King 2. King 3. King 2. King 1. King 3. King 3. King 1. King 2. King 1. King 2. King 3. King 15. Apr. 1636. Out of Latine Out of Spanish S. Teresa The hint and manner of stanza taken from the last Canzoue of Fr. Petrarc Lib. 11. Virgine â—ella Out of Greek Out of Italian of Mr. Fr. Petrarchae lib. 1. canza 2. Out of Italian 〈◊〉 Fr. Petrach l. 1. Canz. 12. Out of Italian of Mr. Fr. Petrarcha lib. 2. canza 7. Out-of-Spanish Out of the Italian of Fr. Petrach l. 1. Canz. 21. Out of Italian of Mr. Fr. Petrarc Sonnet 59. Out of the same Pâ—â—r Sonnet 76. The Hint out of the Italian of Marâ—no Out of Italian * The Right R. R. Dr. SETH Ward Bishop of Saram Dr. WALTER â—landford Warden of Wadham Bishop of Worcester Dr. JOHN Wilkins â—arden also of Wadham Bishop of Chester Hor. l. 2. Ode 14. Cl. Abr. Coulâ—i