Thou The Worlds great King did'st ready finde below 171. Goe great Retinues gaudy Palaces Goe Beds of down of gold of ivorie Goe wait upon your dainty Prince's Ease And help to countenance poor Majesty But yet lament your Prides dishonor since You are not owned now by Glories Prince 172. But Thou ô pretious glorious Poverty Enobled by this Morns bright Miracle Shalt my Delight my Pomp my kingdom be Thy Raggs shall all Embroyderies excell Thy Cottages all Marble Towers out-shine Thy Hardship pleasant be thy Shame divine 173. And yet dread Infant give my Wonder leave To gaze upon a greater Change than this Thou did'st from thy omnipotent Sire receive Thy equall Selfe and sweetly rest in His Bright Bosome where unbounded Pleasures swim Joying from all Eternity with Him 174. But now thou art a Son of Time become And of poor Me a shorter thing than Time That Bosome thou exchangedst for my Womb Light 's largest Heav'n for a dark narrow Clime Where of Mortality thou did'st lay hold And up in Dust thy gallant Godhead mould 175. All my amazed Thoughts are swallow'd quite In this Abysse of thy Humility O vast Abysse as deep as ever Height It selfe was high I yeild I yeild to be In this miraculous Sea of Goodnesse drownd Which onely Thou the God of it canst sound 176. But ô how far thine Handmayd is beneath That noble Accusation Gabriel layd Unto my charge Thy Condescention hath Monopoliz'd all Meeknesse and array'd The World in Prides due shame which though it seek Lower than dust to stoop now is not meek 177. Whil'st in this sweet ecstatick Passion Of Piety Her blessed Soul did flame A Flock of Shepheards with an heav'nly Tone Fresh on their echoing Tongues in triumph came Unto the Cave which to their eyes did yeild A fairer Sight than their late glorious Field 178. In Joseph they beheld the best of Men The flower of Females they in Mary saw The sweetnesse of all Infants in Her Son Who yet was far more beauteous than his show This Sight determined their Vows which they Before the Manger with due reverence pay 179. For with a prostrate Soul and bended Knee Each one upon that simple Altar lays A tender Lamb The Offring smil'd to see The innocent argument of its own Praise Beholding in the royall Babe how nigh It was of kin to his meek Majesty 180. O sweet and Mighty Little One said they Deign thy Acceptance of these rurall Things The Cream of our poor Flocks which whil'st they stray About the Plains may thy Protections Wings Shelter both Them and Us to whom no 〈◊〉 Shall be a Diety but Thou alone 181. Whene'r the hasty Wolfe the hideous Bear Or raging Lyon challengeth his Prey O let the Shield of thy Defence be near Th' injustice of their Challenge to gain-say Alas our Crooks are feeble Things and We As weak as they repose our trust in thee 182. The venerable Mother joy'd to hear Their humble Orison And What said She My honest Friends has call'd you from your Care Thus to attend on this new Piety To Night and Dangers what has made you leave Your other Lambs and these why doe you give 183. Fair Queen of Grace and Blisse the Men repli'd Bowing themselves before her reverend Feet No Fears nor Dangers can our Flocks betide Whil'st We are come our new-born King to greet Heav'n sent Us hither and We need not fear But Heav'n is able to supply our Care 184. Whil'st in the open Field our Watch we kep'd Befriended by the Moon and Stars that no Perill might wake our tender Flocks which slep'd Together with their tenderer younglings Loe There rush'd from Heav'n a sudden mighty Light Which out of all the wide field chased Night 185. The Frighted Moon and Stars flew all away With unexpected Gold the Skie grew bright We never yet beheld the entring Day Break from the East with such commanding Light 'T was Glories Morning this and in our eyes No Sun but Majesty did seem to rise 186. With that and with Amazement blinded we Fell down supposing Heav'n had done so to And that the Beauties of Sublimitie Came poste on some grand Businesse below And here we see what fetch'd them down thy Son May well wooe all Heav'n after Him to run 187. But as poor Bats and wretched Birds of Night Surprised by a sudden-rushing Flame Are strook with horror at the glorious Sight Which seals their eyes and open sets their shame So wee by this strange Apparition were Besieg'd no lesse with lustre than with Fear 188. When as we trembling lay a radiant Friend Who gently hover'd in the neighbour Aire Did fan fresh comfort with his Wings and lend Our Hearts new Courage 'T is no Night of Fear Said he Look up and view this Sceen of Joy Set forth in Heav'ns most festival Array 189. We op'd our Eyes and round about beheld How Smiles and Comforts had bedeck'd the Place Which seem'd no more a common Countrey Field But Paradise's own delicious face And such wee should have thought it still had we Not hither come and seen thy Son and Thee 190. But yet a Beauty next to yours wee saw Almost as bright as sweet as milde as grave That Angel which did upon Us bestow That courteous Item His Attire was brave His Looks the Glass of Heav'n most sweet his Tongue From which these blessed Words of Comfort rung 191. BEHOLD I bring you News of greater Joy Than kindest Heaven till now did ever send Joy which through every Heart shall melt its way And with the Sun its equall Course extend Joy which shall know no Limits but through all The World display its gallant Festivall 192. For unto you and your grand Blisse this Morn In royall Davids City Christ the Lord Of Him and You and this whole World is born A mighty King who cometh to afford The often-promis'd long-desir'd Salvation Unto his fainting and decayed Creation 193. Stagger not at the News but let this Signe Assure your Faith and banish needlesse Doubts You shall at Bethlehem finde this divine Infant wrapp'd up in simple swadling Clouts And in a plain and correspondent Bed The Asses Manger resting his sweet Head 194. As we for Joy at these strange Tidings started Behold a sudden Globe of flaming Light Into a stranger Apparition parted And to new Wonders summoned our sight For at a diamond Table fair and wide A numerous Quire of Angells we descri'd 195. Soul-charming Melodie amongst them sate At her left hand Applause Joy at her right Behinde her Glory Praise before her at Her foot luxuriant but pure Delight The Spectacle alone was ravishing But ô what Raptures when they 'gan to sing 196. Glory to God in all Sublimity Peace upon Earth and unto Men Good Will This was their Dittie but their lofty Key Did not our mortall reach alone excell But surely pos'd the Sphears though these they say In soveraign Musick spend both night and day 197. O
Soule rejoyced all the way it ran And taught his Fast to be a glorious Feast Each Greif each Pain each Suffring he did scan And what the deepest was he liked best Not for a World would he have wanted one But could have wish'd a bitterer Passion 133. Thus did he spend his Day and when the Night Upon Heav'ns face her sable Mantle spread He other Work began No leaden Weight Of Sleep could heavy sit upon his Head His Fast now grew so strong that no dull Cloud Out of his Stomack to his Brain could crowd 134. Those silent Houres He spent in ardent Prayers His Evening and burnt Sacrifice and by The quick ascent of those mysterious Stayers Climb'd back again to Heav'ns sublimity Where more Ejaculations He did spread Than Angels or than Stars are marshelled 135. There did he pray the World might not disdain The gentle Yoke he came on it to lay Nor force Heav'n to come down to Earth in vain But unto its obtruded Blisse give way That now God stoop'd down to Humanity Man would indeavour like his God to be 136. And now no lesse then fourty times the Sun The Gyant of the Day had from the East Prick'd forth his golden trapped Steeds and run His never wearied Race into the West And watchfull Vesper had as often light The silver Tapers and trimm'd up the Night 137. When thy Wise Spouse who all the seasons knew Of Heav'ns mysterious Dispensations gave The bridled Monster leave on him to shew Her Teeths full power And how profound and brave This Counsell was thou by and by shalt see For He has me injoin'd to teach it thee 138. As when the ravenous Dog who long has layn Muzzel'd up in the presence of his meat Begins to feel the loosning of his Chain For all the time He lost he strives to eat Flying like Lightning on his Breakfast which He with his teeth and paws at once doth catch 139. So Famin now releas'd to her own Will Revenged her Restraint with greedy spight And had it but been possible to kill Lifes unconsenting Lord sh' had done it strait For never with such fell remorfelesnesse She rag'd in any Breast as now in His. 140. His empty Stomack roar'd his Bowels clung The heav'nly Graces of his Countnance fell Thirst parch'd his beauteous Lips burnt his Tongue But all by his divine Consent for well He knew that if he grew not faint and wan Hell needs must take Him to be more than Man 141. Hells jealous Prince knew all the Prophesies Which pointed out a greater King then he A King which was from Jesse's Root to rise And promised to quell his Tyranny Upon his Guard He stood and watch'd to see The dangerous time and who that Man should be 142. The Angels Song which warbled to the Earth Peace and Good Will shot Terror through his Heart The Sheepherds story of the Infants Birth No sooner strook his ear but made him start He Simeons Jubilation echoed by A Groan and Anna's Preaching by a Sigh 143. With deep mis-giving Thoughts he chew'd upon The Benedictus of old Zachary The eastern Star which unto Bethlehem ran Did with amazement blinde his fearfull eye Guilty Suspition his black soule did knaw When He the Wise Mens Adoration saw 144. At length these fatall Items roused Him To take some course this Danger to represse Forthwith he chose the Fauchion of grim Herod nor did He think He strook amisse Besides now Thirty yeares could not discover Any great fear he hop'd the worst was over 145. And much it cheer'd him to remember that Messias was to be a Virgins Son As for thy Lord He term'd him Josephs Brat The silly Carpenters poor Urcheon Who likelier was some simple House to build Than raise a Kingdome and a Scepter weild 146. Yea to that fond and shamlesse Boldnesse He Hardned his Thoughts as to imagine that Great Daniels heav'n inspired Prophesie Was prov'd abortive and He car'd not what The other Prophets talk'd now hee who set Messia's Time so fouly fail'd in it 147. But when on Jordans Bank hee heard and saw The Testimony Heav'n gave of its Son His sturdy Confidence began to thaw And Teiror through his cursed Bones to run Som time it was e'r hee could recollect Himselfe and study how his part to act 148. At length He hither traced Him and set That Fury Famine to begin the fight O with what anguish did hee vex and fret To see the vain contention of her spight For fourty dayes together But at length When she prevail'd His Pride renew'd its strength 149. On Chance's vain Account hee scor'd it up That Jesus had sustain'd the fight till now As hee had done when from their Pillars top Egyptian Idols lately down did bowe Because since then he saw some new Ones able To stand and Memphis once more Isi's Stable 150. And now his Cue was come to Hell hee stepp'd And op'd a Casket which by his Beds side For 't was the dearest Thing he had he kepp'd There lay ten thousand quaint Delusions ti'd All one within another never Art More cunningly than here did play her part 151. There lay smooth burnish'd Words quick Mutations Sleight-handed Tricks 〈◊〉 Courtesies Sweet Looks delicious Shapes and dainty Fashions False Loves invenom'd fawnings holy Lies There lay the Crafts by which he did deceive The credulous Heart of thy Grandmother Eve 152. And those by which He holy Aaron made More silly than the Calfe that he erected Those which unconquer'd Samsons strength betray'd Those which the fort of Chastitie dejected In Davids heart and those whose witchery Charm'd his wise Son to fond Idolatry 153. This also was the cursed Nest of those More wiley Wiles by which hee did entise The brave Inhabitants of Heav'n to close With his Conspiracy when in the skies He drew his Army up and ventured on Against the Thunders Mouth and Gods own Son 154. And these he takes and squeaseth into one Conflux of more then quintessentiall Guiles With which insidious Extraction His thirst he quenches and his breast he fills And so returns into this Desert well Stuff'd with the best that is the worst of Hell 155. Imperiall was his Retinue for A thousand gallant Peers of Phlegeton Had robb'd Aire Earth and Sea of their best store Of braveries and proudly put them on All which where echoed by the rich attires Both of their haughty Horses and their Squires 156. But as the Cedar upon Libans head Dishonours all the Shrubs that creep below As the displayed Peacocks Train doth spread Disgrace upon the Sparrow or the Crow So far Majestick Satans port transcended What ever in his Lords might be commended 157. Twelve sable Steeds smug as the old Rav'ns wing Of even stature and of equall Pride Sons of the Winde or some such speedy thing Unto the Chariot all abreast were ti'd So Princes us'd to range their Steeds that all Their severall Beauties in full view might fall 158.
sulphure doth confesse What is its work and where it kindled was 128. A double Alablaster Conduit hung Down from his Forehead where is nothing now But those two rotten Pipes not to be wrung Least with the Moisture down the Nose do flow That banefull Moisture which 't is hard to say Whether it be more Poyson than its Way 129. Two Rows of Roses on those Lipps did grow To sweeten every word that passed by But now scorch'd black as Hel's own mouth they show What kind of Breath is wont through them to flie A Breath like that which from the Chimneys topp Speaks it owne stink by what it vomits up 130. His Cheeks which lifted up but yesterday Two Hills of Spices now are sunk so low That like two hollow untill'd valleys they With nothing else but Desolation grow Now grizly Haire has spoil'd his polish'd skin Shewing what He to Satyrs is of kin 131. His lovely Hands are now two monstrous Paws Whose Nail's much longer than their Fingers be Sure his Imbrace is daintie when he throws Those Arms about his Love But prithe see What now behind the Gallants back doth trail His courtly Sword 's turn'd to a dangling Tail 132. Behold his goodly Feet where one great Cleft Davides two Toes pointed with iron Claws The rest of his fine Body must be left Sealed up close by Modesties chast Laws Yet mayst thou safely look into his Breast And see what Treasures there have made their Nest. 133. Look where ten thousand Charmes and kisses lie And Complements of every garbe and kind With which He doth on herdlesse Virgins flie And Correspondent Entertainment find Look where upon the Topp those Courtships be By which He wooed and inchanted Thee 134. In that slie corner and observe it well Lie various Shapes which alway changing be Shapes trim and smooth and faire without but full Of inward Poyson which industrious He Subtlie improv'd and dayly did devise Handsome Impostures and well-favoured lies 135. See'st thou not there the model of the Beast That hideous Witchery which chased Thee With all the amorous Story fairely drest To Court and cheat thy credulous Chastity Never did Cozenage with more lovely Art Or Face more honest act its divelish Part. 136. But there is something stranger yet behind See'st thou that Scroll It is a full Commission By which he made this Voyage ready sign'd And strengthned by the broad Seal of Perdition Come I 'l untwine the knot of Snakes which tie It up and lay it open to thine Eye 137. Loe here a scheem of such confounding Letters And scrambling Lines as never Conjurer writt His Forks Hooks Prongs Racks Gibbets Gridirons Fetters And other Tools of his infernall spight Are Belzebub's mad Alphabet But hear How well I ken his mystick Character 138. Satan the great by mine owne Power alone God of Hell Earth and Aire Immortall Foe To Men to Angels to Heav'n and Heavn's Son Monarch of Pride Rage Blasphemy and Woe Out of our royall grace to our right vicious And trustie friend and Cosen Aphrodisius 139. By these our Letters Patents We doe give Thee full Authoritie the Souleto seize Of hated Psyche that she may receive What share of Pangs our royall Self shall please Given at our flaming Court of Desperation This sixt Age of our Soveraigne Damnation 140. This being read He folds it up againe And thrusting it into the Furies breast Goe home says He and ask thy Soveraigne A larger Patent See thou art releas'd But here I hang the Withe if ever thou Returnst this Way thou mayst this token know 141. The loosned Fiend fetching a deep drawn Sigh And tearing his owne breast with helplesse wrath Flung downe his Patent and away did flie The Grove smoak'd as He went in all his Path No Tree did meet him though the place were full But downe He tore it and made hast to Hell 142. This Spectacle so wrought on Psyche's Heart That fill'd brimme full of holy shame and Ioy Her equall thanks and blushes she doth part Between he carefull friends Never may Day Shine on this face if I forget says she Your Loves and mine own reskew'd Chastity 143. Farewell fond Passions Heav'n above I 'm sure Is full as faire within as 't is without No Aphrodisius there but all as pure As is the spotlesse Chrystall or your thought Deare Phylax which from thence its pattern takes And a new Heav'n in your sweet Bosome makes 144. There will I fix my Heart there dwells my Love My Life my Lord much purer than his Home Whose Paradise shall be the onely Grove Henceforth to which my soul shall strive to come Forbid it Jesu any thing below Be master of this Soule whose Lord art thou 145. Thus sweetly breathing out her holy Passion To ease her high-swolln heart she homeward goes With her dear Consorts yet at every station Renews her thanks and her pathetike Vows At length got home She to her Closet hasts Where all her Soul at her Loves feet she casts 146. What praiers were there what thanks what sighs what tears What Languishments what amorous extasies What confidence what shame what hopes what fears What pains what joys what thoughts what words she dies And yet she lives and yet she dies againe And would for ever live so to be slain 147. But fainting Nature for 't was midnight now And farr sh' had travell'd and wrought hard that day Permitted sleep to grow upon her brow And though unwilling downe at last she lay Sweet was that rest but yet much sweeter was The Dream which now before her Soul did passe 148. Imagination swiftlie carried Her Into a Garden where more Beauties smil'd Than did in Aphrodisiu's Grove appeare And gentler Gales the aire with odours fill'd Lillies alone on every bed did grow Which scornd comparison with Northerne Snow 149. The goodly Walks with Alablaster were Pav'd all alone whose smooth and spotlesse face Layd fairlie ope unto the silver sphear Which roll'd above a comely looking glasse Whither upward she or downward turnd her Eye Still she 〈◊〉 the same Heaven's Majesty 150. No Fountaine bubled there but fed with springs Of purest Milk upon whose dainty shoare Unsported Pidgeons sate and wash'd their wings Though full as white and pure as it before But thus one Candor powr'd upon another Does kindely kiste and sport it with his brother 151. High in the midst a princelie Castle stands Invincible for strength and for delight Built all of Virgin-christall and by Hands As pure as the Materials were bright A cleerer Court was ne'r by Poets braine Built for Queen Thet is in her watery Main 152. Ten thousand Blushes stood before the Gate With Magnanimities all hand in hand As many Purities behind them sate And after those as many Beauties and Young smiling Graces whose sweet task it was To be the Guard of that delicious Place 153. As Psyche wonder'd at the stately sight She turns and spies her Phylax standing by What Place is
she the Reins Almost as soft's the Hand which them contains 58. As through the whirling Orbs she faster flies The new Imbroyderie to the Starrs she shows They twinckled all asham'd of their own Eyes So was the splendid Zodiak which throws His spangled Girdle round about the Sphears To keep in order and gird up the years 59. Orions Blush confess'd how much this sight Outvied all the glories hee could show His yeilding Count'nance fell and to the bright Triumphant Apparition did bow Three times hee tri'd and faine hee would have 〈◊〉 How to unbuckle his out-shined Belt 60. But comming to the Soveraign Palace she Hasts in to her expecting Lord and layes Her Face and Work upon his Footstool He Her dainty pains with high Approofe repayes Yet On this Ground had thine own Storie grown The Girdle would said hee have fairer shown 61. With that unto his Cabinet hee goes Where Spirits of purest Gemms extracted lie Out of which Heart of Richnesse hee did choose The softest Dropps and in one Jewell tie Such Rarities as my Tongue cannot tell But thy dear Soul their ravishments shall feel 62. For to the Girdle having linked it He deign'd to grace Me who stood wondering by Take this said he and see how it will fit Thy Psyche but more mine Be sure to tie It close and straight that by this Token she May understand how neer she is to Me. 63. The second Houre's scarce entring since I took It and my leave and heer the Present is Come wipe thine Eyes a purified Look Is 〈◊〉 due 〈◊〉 where the sight is Blisse 〈◊〉 Phylax op'd the Girdle whence such beams Broke loose as drowned Psyche in their streams 64. For as the rurall Swain whose courser Eyes Ne'r star'd on other beauteous things than what Begay the simple Fields when first hee spies A Princes Wardrobe open straight is shot Quite through with Wonder and in fear doth deem The sight is too too glorious for Him 65. So mortall Psyche was at first dismayd At the immortall Spectacle When hee Cries out What Error makes thee thus afraid This Zon's not torrid though it flaming be Nor sent thy Spouse this Token to destroy Thine Eyes but diet them with sparkling Joy 66. See'st thou that Building there which lifteth high Its shining Head and scorns to pay the Sun Homage for any beams for sanctity Glitters about it and 'twixt every stone Lies thicker than the Cement know that this Illustrious Pile the Jewish Temple is 67. Many long years had run their Round and spent Their own upon Heav'ns lasting Orbs before This Fabrick first grew to its Complement But here a moment raisd it and to more Magnificence than it at first could shew Such potent Art from Maries fingers flew 68. That reverend Senior whose high-mitered Head Points out his princely Office is the Priest You in his awfull Count'nance might have read What his Attire proclaims Were he undrest He still with Virtues would arrayed be Who now clothes holy Robes with Sanctity 69. His left Hand on his Sealed Mouth he lays Back to the Altar hee his right doth stretch His Eyes are full of talke and trie alwayes How they without a Tongue his Minde may preach At length that Throng of People there began To guesse the Sense and what befell the Man 70. Whil'st hee did on the Incense Altar place It s aromatick Fuell and supply What Heat or sweetnesse there deficient was By many a fervent Vow and pretious Sigh His Clowd flew highest for the Incense smoke Soon fainted but his sighs through all Heav'n broke 71. And being there upon their odorous Back An Angell gets whence posting down to Earth Unto the Temple hee his way doth take Where standing by the Altar hee breaths forth A sweet repayment unto Zachary Of what his Soul had panted out so high 72. Behold sayes he thy Vows and Prayers are Come back to fill thy bosome with Successe I am no Messenger great Saint of Fear Trust Me and trust thy priviledged Blisse Thine Heart so fruitfull in sublime Affection Hath for thy Body earn'd an high production 73. Thy dear Eliza whom thy Piety As neer in Virtue as in Wedlock ties Shall have a son in whom thine Eyes shall see The fruit of both those Knots whom Heav'n doth prize So high that I aforehand must with thee Bargain about his Name John it must be 74. A Son of Smiles and Gladnesse hee shall prove And make thine aged Heart young with Delight The Morning he is born shall Joy and Love Together spring and take their blessed flight To thousand Soules where they shall sit and tell What Hopes what Wonders in thy John do dwell 75. Never did friendly Starrs conspire to frame So Fortunate a Birth for Noblest Kings In Gods own Eye wherein the World doth seem Lesse than these Atoms on the Airs light wings Great shall thy Sonne appear Let Doubting go Immensitie resolves to make him so 76. For whil'st hee nestls in the narrow Cell Of thine Eliza's Womb the Spirit of Heav'n O how much vaster than all it shall fill His breeding Heart which when it once is thriven Unto a pitch mature shall nobly prove To Earth how it by Heav'n alone doth move 77. No boist'rous roaring Wine or rampant Drink Shall his sweet Lipp defloure His cup must be Fill'd at some Virgin-Fountains Chrystall brink And teach his Palate too Virginitie For in his sacred Veins no fire must flow But what Heav'ns Spirit pleaseth there to blow 78. And with that fire He Israel must refine Israel o'r-grown with rust and filth that so He may make clean the Way where his divine Redeemer means close after Him to go For braver Flames ne'r warm'd Elia's breast Than in thy Sons shall make their gallant Nest. 79. Alas the Priest replies decayed I Want Blood enough to paint a Blush at this Too worthy News Can fifty Summers fly Back and with Youth my withered Spirits blesse Frost in my Veins and Snow upon my Head Bid me already write More than halfe dead 80. Nor in Eliza doth less deadnesse Live How then in two such Winters can there grow A Spring whose sudden Vigorousnesse may give New Lives to Us and make them over-flow Into a third Sweet Angell thy strange Word May well some sign unto my Faith afford 81. Sure then thou know'st me not the Angell cries For had'st thou known that Gabriel I am Who in the Presence-Chamber of the skies Give high attendance to God and the Lamb Thou might'st have well presum'd no fraud could come From purest Verities eternall Home 82. Yet shalt thou have a sign and I will fast Seal 't on thy faithlesse Tongue which asked it Henceforth thou shalt be Mute untill thou hast Seen what thou would'st not credit Then I 'le let Thy Tongue be loose again that it may sing A Benedictus to thy gratious King 83. The Angells Word full in the Priests face flew And fastned mystick Chains upon his Tongue He soon
poisnous Misery 13. Your scorn by wretched Me so deeply ern'd My wronged Freinds at length let me obtein O Charis my all guilty Soule is burn'd By those fair Flames which in thine Aspect reigne How can such Night-birds as vile I endure The holy Lightning of a Look so pure 14. And Yoa deare Phylax lose your Pains no more Upon an undeserving hideous Thing Why should proud Psyche dwell as heretofore Under the shelter of thy scorned Wing O let it free it self and take its flight Why should black I defile an House so white 15. The odious Bat with more decorum will Flutter about a Thing as dark as she And lend her sooty Wings to make a veil For correspondent Ouglines in me The ominous Raven will fitter be to spread Her swarthy Plumes on my polluted Head 16. Let me enjoy the sad Inheritance Of my deep-stained Birth Was I not born Apparent Heir to an entayld Mischance Did not my wretched Beings lowry Morn Dawn with eternall Night Dwelt not Death in The fatall Spring of my Parentall sin 17. Why must my breath defile the Virgin Air Why must I load the harmlesse Earth with Guilt Why must I stain the World which would be fair If I were gone My Tombe is ready built In any place where Filth and Dunghils lie Let Justice have her course and let me die 18. My due Home is where Arrogance and bold Rebellion dwell O Let me thither goe May worthy Eys behold the Sunns fair Gold And view their way to Heav'n I have to doe With nought but Pitch and Darknes which may hide The equall Horror of my wilfull Pride 19. My heav'nly Spouse ô why doe I blaspheme That Spouse who long desired to be mine Me thinks from Heav'n doth with a piercing Beam Full on my face and faithlesse Bosome shine And by that Light read all that Treason I Have wrought against his loving Majesty 20. O it will scorch Me up I my Sinnews crack My Bones are burnt and all my Marrow fries My Bosome melts the Flame devoures my back My Heart flows down and wofull Psyche dies I die and yet I breath My Death lives still No kinde of Slaughter e'r like this did kill 21. Surely the Flames which make all Hell so black Are cool and gentle if compar'd with these Why goe I not to take my Kinder Rack And in th' infernall Torments finde some Ease Have done fond fruitlesse Tears you are too weak The greater Torrent of this Fire to slake 22. Here Phylax here loe I my selfe ungird This Token can no treacherous Heart befit Return it back to my abused Lord And beg my Pardon who have stayned it What will it not unbuckle Must I be Still Pris'ner to his wronged Courtesie 23. And must this Girdle now besiege Me round With an indissoluble Check of my Disloyaltie Must I thus close be bound Up in my Selfe and not have room to flie From what I hate far more than Death and Hell The sinfull Blots of which this Breast is full 24. So strait upon my griped Soul the Chains Of deep Damnation can no Torments tie As this sweet Cincture bindes me to the Pains Of self-confusion O Me Here her Crie Did with her Spirits faint and down she fell Griefs totall Prey and Pitties Spectacle 25. Pitty was neer For Charis stood close by Whose yearning bowells all this while did move But rous'd more by herfall she instantly Obey'd the nimble Violence of Love Love mov'd her Heart and that her Hand by which To fainting Psyche she reliefe did reach 26. She took her up and with a sweet Imbrace Instilled gentle Warmth into her Breast Whose never-failing Virtue did displace Griefs vast Plethora which had her opprest And by delicious degrees restore Her ship wrack'd Thoughts to their composed shore 27. So have I seen a wise Physition New spirits to his swowning Patient give Who though his Heart before were sunk and gone Doth by the Potion it again receive Whil'st in the cheerly salutiferous Cup A draught of liquid Life he drinketh up 28. Awakened Psyche with amazed Eyes Beheld her Friends but wonder'd more to see Her stout Disease made a tame Sacrifice Unto that heav'nly Cordiall which she Felt reigning in her breast and which did seize Her Heart both with Astonishment and Ease 29. Ambiguous Fancies toss'd her up and down Uncertain whether some Dreams Flattery Into a vain Elysium had thrown Her cheated Soul or whether truely she Was by some courteous Gale snatch'd from the Billows And on the Bank laid safe on Peace's pillows 30. Which Charis seeing You may trust said she Your sudden Happinesse which wears no Cheat. But see that you misplace no thanks on Me Which all are more than due unto your great And constant Spouse who though forgot by You Could not his Love away so quickly throw 31. Those life-renewing Sweets I brought you down Were none of mine He sent both me and them He knew your Wants and counted them his own Who longs to have you be all one with him Then by these Comforts which have cur'd your Smart Learn who it is that most deserv's your Heart 32. O'r-powred with unweildy Thanks and Praise At this vast Tide of her obtruding Blisse Here Psyche strove her labouring Breast to ease Yet neither Thanks nor Praise she could expresse For what she had conceived was so great She neither could contain nor utter it 33. But Phylax seeing her sweet Agonie Cri'd 't is enough Heav'n can hear mute Desires Come Psyche you shall travell now with me To finde full fuell for your amorous Fires It will be worth your voyage when you see What Balm did grow to heal your Miserie 34. The God of Goodnesse by his powerfull Eye Reaching those Things which yet were short of Being Did in the Volumes of Eternity Read all the future World where clearly seeing What mischiefe would be done by foolish Pride A potent Remedie He did provide 35. Indeed had no Redemption invited Thy Spouse to Feast the World with his dear Blood Yet to Mans Nature hee would have united His own that the Creation might have stood Fast ti'd unto its Maker and by this Conjunction been neer sharer in his Bliss 36. But seeing by Hereditarie Stains The Stream of Humane Blood runs foule and black It found work for the virtue of his Veins The Poyson of the tainted Flood to check Which nobly he perform'd as thou shalt see When I have led thee through his Historie 37. As she now cheer'd her heart and count'nance up A radiant Chariot caught her wondering Eye The winged Steeds foam'd at that little stop And though their Wings were down their thoughts did fly Speed was the Chariots Mettall and each Wheel Composed was of never-tyring Zeal 38. Come Psyche come this Couch for haste doth call Cri'd Phylax fear not 't is no cheating one Nor like thy last will bear thee to thy Fall I mean to hold the Reigns Come let 's be one If you
sweet Sir will have it so content Said she and meekly blushing in she went 39. Up flew Devotion and Chastitie The gallant Steeds which did the Chariot draw Her native Albion soon began to be Lost in a Sea of Air and now she saw The wealthy Fields of Gallia which as fast Behinde her fled as she did forward post 40. Then climbing higher in her yeilding Way Eternall Banks of obstinate Frost and Snow Which Winter on the Alps high back did lay Spight of the nearer Sun she leaves below And through the tumult of the justling Clouds Down into the Italian Heav'n she crouds 41. From thence she launch'd into that Region Which by the Adriatick Storms doth frown And sped her course above that Ocean About whose sides the Mid-land shores are thrown So well did Phylax steer that to a Port So far off ne'r was made a Cut so short 42. For having reach'd blest Palestine she flew Over the groveling Towns of Galile Untill the Steeds as if the place they knew At Nazareth brake off their Course where she Viewing the simple Village wondered why Her Convoy thither took such pains to flie 43. But Phylax having led her by the Hand To the unlikliest House Behold said hee This pretious Monument which still doth stand To chide their Arrogance who needs will be Immur'd in Cedar and roof'd o'r with Gold O who would think poor Dust should be so bold 44. This silly Mansion though it scarce would win Ev'n Poverty it selfe in it to dwell Was once the House Home where the bright Queen Of Glories kept her Court in this mean Cell Dwelt She in whose illustrious Family All Heav'n desir'd a Sojourner to be 45. She the transcendent Crown of Females She Great Jacobs Ladder Aarons budding Rod The Chrystall Princess of Virginity Davids fair Tower the Mother of her God Mary her selfe O may that lovely Name Be Blessings Nest and the dear Theam of Fame 46. There her plain Cates she eat or rather kept Her healthfull Rules of sober Abstinence There did she plie her Prayers and there she slept When midnight Zeal had tir'd her mortall Sense No Corner was in all this House but she Did dedicate it unto Piety 47. How many Temples in this narrow Room Erected were by her Devotion Who taught all Virtues here to take their Home But if Sin knock'd She bid it straight be gone For at her Door Humility she set A Potter which would no such Guests admit 48. Here on her pious knees she wept one day In wondring Meditation of that She Whom God would chuse to make the noble Way Unto his own fore-told Humanity O how she blest that Soule who ever was To be advanced to that matchlesse Grace 49. Not for a thousand Worlds would she have thought Her Selfe the long-designed She but rather Would with a thousand thousand more have bought An Hand-mayds place to wait upon that Mother To kisse her blessed feet or bear her Train In whom all Excellence rejoyc'd to reign 50. But whil'st her meek admiring Fancie flies Through this high Contemplation which drew Applauding joyous Christall from her Eyes A bright and gallant Stranger hither flew One who from Heav'n her sweet reflection brings Looking almost like Her but for his Wings 51. Youth bloomed in his Face the blessed Throne Where purest Beauties in fair Triumph sate Their brisk and sparkling Combination All ravishing Joyes into his Eyes had put His Looks commanded Love but did withall By potent Purity all Lust fore-stall 52. His Head was crown'd with its own golden Hair Which down his back its dainty Wealth did shed The Alabaster of his Neck was bare Sweetly betraying what below was hid In the green ambush of his Robe of Silk The Curtain drawn upon his Fleshie Milk 53. That Robe was guarded with the orient Lace Which on Aurora's Virgin Coat you see Neglect seem'd to have put it on yet Grace And Comelinesse would not prevented be But did in every carelesse fold and pleit To catch Spectators Wonder lie in wait 54. A silver Girdle did his Loins imbrace With the prest fashion of Travellers Like Loves sweet Bow his left Arm bended was Upon his Side whil'st high his Right Hand bears A Lillie which from thence received more Sweetnesse and Whitenesse than it had before 55. The Candor of his Wings was no such kinde Of glaring thing as in the Alpine Snow Or on the purest Cygnets neck we finde Or on the soft face of new Milk doth flow But a celestiall Tincture pure and bright Made not by scorching but by whitening Light 56. He was an heav'nly Citizen and one Whose place is in an higher form than mine In neer attendance on his Makers Throne He with his Archangelick beams doth shine Whence he when Heav'n has greatest businesse here Dispatched is the choise Ambassadour 57. But though his Eyes their education had Amongst those Claritudes which gild the skies They never yet at Home did seem to read So much of Heav'n at large as here he spies Epitomized in the lovely Glass Of Maryes modestly-illustrious face 58. And Hail said He Thou dearest Favorite Of our great King in whose selected Breast His Majesty with singular delight Doth take his private and mysterious rest Hail thou the Crown of Females on whose Head Their best exuberance all Blessings shed 59. The humble Virgin started at the sight But much more at the Salutation The complementall Youth did her affright Who us'd such charming Companie to shun Untill his Wings admonish'd her that he One of her wonted heav'nly Guests might be 60. But yet her lowly Soul could not digest The tumor of that strange Hyperbole Which still she boulted in her thought-full Breast Being suspitious least some Flattery Had borrow'd an Angelike shape by which A Woman it more easily might bewitch 61. O strange but nobly-pretious Jealonsie Which onely dost in holy Bosoms rest Thou art the Bar which dost accesse deny To whatsoever might an Heart molest Pride Usher to all Sins comes not neer thee So low thou liest so high strutteth hee 62. When Gabriel observ'd her doubtfull Look Where Blushes and where Palenesse mutually Their fearfull and their modest Stations took Mary said He thy meek Anxiety May spare its pains No Danger dares draw neer Her whom the Prince of Power doth hold so dear 63. He who is Lord of Love hath seal'd on thee His amorous Heart the choisest of his Graces The flowre of all his Sweets th' Immensitie Of his best Favours and his Joyes he places On thee alone whom he exalts as high As thou art sunk in thy Humility 64. Witnesse this Message I have now to tell How much too glorious for Me to bring The onely Message which could parallel The boundlesse Love of Heav'ns inamored King A Message which the World hath long expected But fit to thee alone to be directed 65. Behold thy blessed Womb shall Fertile be With a more blessed Son whom at the due And wonted Season
Northerne Blasts took their unworthy way What pious Heart would not have been at cost Of its warme Sighs that sharp Breath to allay Yet slowly went for Maries time was come And God lay heavy in her tender Wombe 119. Alas She to her Travell travelled And came at length all-weary to the Town Where the poor Court'sie of an hired Bed To lay her weather-beaten Body down She hop'd to find But Winter now had cast On Men as well as on the Earth a Frost 120. The Men were Ice so were their Doors for both Were frozen up against poor looking Guests Wher e'r they knock'd the surly Host was wroth And cri'd my House is full Indeed those Nests Were onely courteous 〈◊〉 which barred out All Birds but those which feathers for them brought 121. The Inns by silken and by purple Things Were taken up each Gallant must have room Room for his great Self Room for those He brings To make Him greater Room for what doth come Swelling about Him his fond State and Port Which in a Chamber must alone keep Court 122. Thus was the Universe's King shut out Of his own World as He was entring in Long had the tired Pilgrims sought about And yet at no Door could Admission win And now Night crowded on apace and drew Their Curtains who as yet no Lodging knew 123. Amongst the other Beasts this made them call For Pitty seeing none was left with Men Observe that Rock which all along the Wall Lifts up its Head to meet the Easterne Sunne See'st thou the craggie Mouth it opens That Was then the Hospitable Stables gate 124. Come neer and mark it well This Caverne was The homely Lodging of an honest Oxe Whose Chamber-fellow was a simple Ass Neither the House nor Dwellers needed Locks Or Barrs or Hoste to keep the door and make Intruding despiceble Guests turne back 125. But to rejected Ioseph and his Spouse This Rock less stony proves than all the Town The pair of courteous Beasts to them allows Far more Humanitie than They whose own Nature engag'd them to be Men and kind To those at least in whom Themselves they find 126. In went the blessed Travellers and from The Beasts whose Hearts no Avarice had scar'd Borrow'd a portion both of their Room And of their Straw and there their Bed prepar'd Where to a Temple having turn'd the Cave Themselves to Rest they after Vespers gave 127. But though sleep sealed up the Virgins Eye Her Heart was watchfull and did Travell still It travell'd through a Visions Mysterie But of this Way no weariness did feel Her Womb seem'd all on fire whence issued out A flash of Lightning and whirl'd round about 128. It whirl'd about the World and in its way Devoured every thing compos'd of Dross Of idle stubble or of fainting Hay The silver Creatures beare somelittle Loss But those of genuine Gold grew onely more Illustrious and youthfull than before 129. The World refined by this searching flame In every part grew radiant and brave No Blemish or Capacitie of Blame Peep'd out from East to West but all things gave A fair account of their own selves and by Their perfect Beautie satisfi'd Heav'ns Eye 130. Whilst on this splendid Reformation She Her Wonder pour's Dame Natures vigilant Clock Discovering Midnight rouz'd her Piety Unto its wonted Task The earliest Cock Had rarely crow'd e'r she began to pray But heer you know she faint and tired lay 131. Yet to bring forth her Prayers she rose But now A greater Birth was ripe Nights silent Fear With the grimme Powers of Darkness bold did grow And on the sleeping Worlds face domineer Little suspecting that an High-noone Day From Mid-nights bosome could break out its way 132. When LOE the Virgin bringeth forth her Son Who by the Glories of his own sweet Face Commands the dusky Shaddows to be gone And to his full-tide Day resigne their place Her friends about Her Soveraign Pleasures were Joy was the Midwife which assisted Her 133. No faintings chill'd her Heart no Pangs did tear Her Privileg'd Bowells nor no Crie her Throat Those sad Revenues all entailed were Upon polluted 〈◊〉 She whom no Blot Of sinfull pleasure could pretend to stain Advanced was beyond the Shot of Pain 134. No Circumstance of Shame or Filth did blurre The noble Birth the Work was pure and clean Shame on those Hearts whose Thoughts deflowred Her Accomplish'd Purities unspotted Queen Shame on their slovenish 〈◊〉 whose Brains Rais'd nere a Fount to wash the Infants stains 135. Her dear Virginity remain'd the same Unbroken Jewell that it was before As God into Her reverend Bowells came Yet never stayd to open any door So He returned thence that devoted She Might still a Virgin though a Mother be 136. Thus when the Virgin-Soul is big with Thought Without all Pangs and Stains and Ruptures She 〈◊〉 of Her Burden is and out Her Off-spring comes all clad in Purity Thus when the fire the beuteous flame brings forth ' As pure it keeps as 't was before that Birth 137. Thus when Heav'ns Light doth through the Window press It bears the Colours it found painted there Yet neither breaks nor robbs nor blurrs the Glass But makes its Beauties more advanc'd and clear Thus when a Brood of 〈◊〉 fills the Air Their Mother flowres still no less Virgins are 138. Thus though great Phebus every Morning springs From fair Aurora's lap yet she a Maid Remains as pure as are those smiling Things Those Roseall Blushes at her portall layd Heav'n being pleased to contrive this Way To make Her Virgin-Mother of the Day 139. But ô Aurora's Day is Night to this Which in the Night from Maries womb did Rise This was the Day of 〈◊〉 of Love of Bliss The Day of Jewells and of Rarities The Day of Miracles the conquering Day Which never shall to any Night give way 140. The Day which made Immensitie become A Little One which printed more than May Upon Decembers face which drew the Summe Of Paradise into one Budde the Day Which shrunk 〈◊〉 into a Span Of Time Heav'n into Earth God into Man 141. Heav'ns twinkling Lights shut up their dazeled Eyes And payd their blinde Devotion to the Dawn Of Jacob's Star The Moon did sacrifice Her silver Beams unto 〈◊〉 golden Crown Of Glories which their royall Circle made About the place where the bright Child was layd 142. His softest Feathers Winter thither sent To be a 〈◊〉 for the Infant 's Head And sure no Harm the honest Season meant When in the Cave his fluttering Snow He spread But at his Presence into Tears they fell Seeing a whiter chaster Spectacle 143. Fain would the most illustrious Hoste of Heav'n Whose Wings were up whose Thoughts already flew Have hither march'd and to their Soveraign giv'n A Volley of full Praise and Thanks But due To the dear Mother's brave Devotion Was this great Grace first to salute her Sonne 144. She therefore having with exuberant Joy Beheld the Wonder
Lesse sweet they thought the Altar and would faine Be nestling in her Breast or Lap againe 28. But holy Simeon whose stout Expectation Grounded upon Heav'ns Credit did sustein His aged Life by potent Inspiration Forgot his leaden pace and flew amain Into the Temple for the nimble Blast Of Gods owne Spirit lent him youthfull haste 29. O how his greedy Soule did Worke and Beat And thinke the time an Age till He was come Unto his Blisses Shore where in the heat Of hastie Zeale He snatch'd his Saviour home Into his longing Armes and Heart which now Broke from his Lips and in these Words did flow 30. O Life thou now art out of debt to my Long-stretch'd Attendance and can'st nothing show Of further Worth wherewith to charme mine Eye And make it still be hankering heer below No I have seen what I did live to see The worlds Hopes and mine owne and heer-they be 31. Deare Lord of Heav'n heer is that hop'd-for He In whom lie treasur'd up Power and Salvation Which now thy love exposed hath to be The blessed Theame of humane Contemplation All Eyes may see this Face as well as I And cleerly read their owne Felicitie 32. This noble Face by whose Soule-piercing Rayes The 〈◊〉 untill now damm'd up in Night Admonish'd are to understand their Wayes And tread the open Paths of High-noone Light This Face whose more than golden Beauties be The glorious Crown of Iacobs Progenie 33. O Death if thou dar'st draw neer Life's great King Come take possession of my willing Heart That I a swarthy and unworthy Thing From his too radiant presence may depart I am too blest to live and cannot bear The burden of this heav'nly Lustre here 34. The good Old man thus eas'd his pious Zeal And having sacrific'd a Kisse upon The Infants royall Foot began to feel His Prayers were heard and that Death hasted on Which He to meet went home and order gave With sweet and hasty Joy about his Grave 35. As Echo unto his Devotion Loe The venerable Matron Anna came She whose Prophetick Heart did bid her goe To wait upon and to adore the same Young Son of Wonders that her Sex in Her As His in Him its duty might prefer 36. And here she met a full reward of all Those nights and dayes which in that place she spent Her Fastings now turn d to a Festivall Her longing Prayers which unto Heav'n she sent To pull it down now found it ready here For in the Infants Face it did appear 37. So cleerly it appear'd that She could not Restrain her Tongue from being Trumper to The Dawne of its convincing Brightnesse but Through Salems longest thickest Streets did goe Spreading her Proclamation to each Eare And Heart which long'd that heav'nly News to hear 38. This call'd so many wondering Eyes to gaze Upon the Mother and her fairer Son That from the glory of that populous Place To poor and private Nazaret she did run Where in her humble House she hop'd to hide Her humbler Selfe from Honours growing Tide 39. But Honour loves to scorn the Zealous Chase Of most ambitious eager Hunters and Pursues those modest Soules from place to place By whom she sees her orient Presence shunn'd Nor is she e'r out-run or fails to raise Their Names with Trophies and their Brows with Bays 40. But when in Salem the great News grew hot And flam'd to Herods Court the Tyrants Breast Swell'd with new Rage for much he feared that This Fire might reach his Throne which made Him cast Deep desperate Counsells in his jealous Minde How for this Danger he some Curb might finde 41. Mean while as holy Joseph sleeping lay To gain new strength to work his Winged Friend Rouz'd up his Soul by a Celestiall Ray Bidding him his swift flight to Egypt rend For Herod now contrives to slay said He The Childe and in Him both thy Wife and Thee 42. O that my Wings might be his Chariot But This noble Favour Heav'n reserves for thee Flie then But see thy selfe thou trouble not With thy Return for when the Storm shall be Cleerly blown over I will thither come And from thy Gods own Mouth recall thee Home 43. This said his nearest way the Angel took To Heav'n and flutter'd loud as He went up The noise made Joseph start who straight awoke And look'd about But He had gain'd the Top Of heav'n and in the Sphears inclosed was E'r Josephs mortall Eye could thither passe 44. Yet by the blessed influence He behinde Had left the Saint did Him intirely Know The priviledg'd Eyes of his religious Minde Had long acquainted been with him and now He doubts not but this was his Guardian who Had taught him oft what He instraits should doe 45. Whil'st by her sable Curtains Night as yet Muffled up Heav'n and kept the World in Bed Himselfe He dressed and made all things fit For his long journey On the Asse He spred His Coverlet and his own Pillow sweet And cleanly Hay he gave him for his meat 46. The Beast thus baited He his Axe his Saws His Planes Rules Mallets and his other Store Of busie honest Implements bestows In his large Bag the Treasury of his poor Industricus subsistance which he ties Fast to his Staffe and on his Shoulders tries 47. Two Bottles then all that the poor Man had Fresh filled at a neighbour Fountain He Puts on his Girdle with three Loaves of bread In a plain Pouch Then stepping reverently Unto the Bed where the great Mother lay Arise said He for Heav'n calls Us away 48. When She the bus'nesse heard and saw how He Had all things ready for their journey made Far be it she repli'd that I should be At any houre to follow Heav'n afraid Or that I for the Mornings light should tarry Who in my Arms my fairer Day doe carry 49. I can be no where lost deare Babe whil'st I Travell with Thee who never canst depart From thine own Home Wherever Thou dost flie Thine own Land still will meet Thee for thou art By thine eternall Right the Prince as well Of Ham and Egypt as of Israel 50. Arabia's Devotion has long since Supplid thee with this sacred Treasure to Defray thy Charges Thine own Providence Thy Purveyer was Thou knew'st we were to goe And hast layd in Provision e'r wee Could dream of any such Necessity 51. And yet Necessity is no such thing To mighty Thee whose all-commanding Hand Doth hold the Reins of Fate the bloody King Musters his Wrath in vain would'st thou with-stand His Spight in open Field But thou know'st why It will be now more glorious to File 52. This Journey 's but a step to Thee who from The Pinnacle of all Sublimity Thy Fathers bosome did'st a Pilgrim come And take up thy abode in worthlesse Me Me who from Heav'n much further distant am Than Memphis is from fair Jerusalem 53. With that She wrapp'd the Infant close and took The Asses back whose bridle
daring Men Affronted God with to wring Villanie Forgot its ever-polish'd Smiles and in Tempestuous Violence breaking through the shore Of heav'n a flood of Death on Earth did poure 237. So now thy noble Spouse who never yet Had suffer'd frowns to gather on his Brow An angry Look against the Tempter set And with disdainfull Answer made him know That all his Pageantry did not conceal Nor Him nor what he sought to hide his Hell 238. Proud Satan 't is enough that I said He Thus long have seen and born thine Insolence Loe I defie thy Promises and Thee Vainer than them I charge thee get thee hence Behinde my back and there thy shamelesse Pride If any thing may hide it learn to hide 239. Does not the sacred Scripture plainly say Thine Adoration Thou to God shalt give And unto Him alone thy Service pay All Heav'n forbid that We should Him bereave Of his due Homage and embezill it Upon the Prince of the infernall Pit 240. As when on Sodoms Impudence of old Heav'n pour'd its Fire to purge those lustfull flames The wretched Town repented not yet howl'd And mix'd its tears amongst the Brimstone streams But all in vain for straight the Houses burn'd And with their Dwellers into Ashes turn'd 241. So now at Jesu's Answer which did flie Like Lightning from his Lips the Globe did melt And nothing of that Universall Lie Remain'd but Ashes which so strongly smelt That other Stincks compar'd with this might seem Perfumes and Arabies breath in Sodoms steam 242. Confounded Satan backward from his Throne Fell down the Mount and tumbled into Hell Whil'st the loud Trumpet of his bellowing Groan His dreadfull Comming to the Deeps did tell But as he fell his Horns and Taile and Claws Brake out so did the Sulphure from his Jaws 243. His yelling Peers and lamentable Crew Of Pages tumbled headlong after Him Presenting to thy Lords victorious View A Copie of that Sight when from the brim Of highest Heav'n them and their King He beat Down to the bottome of their damned Seat 244. And now the Sceen is chang'd and Satan to The Lord his God his Adoration paid Which to himselfe he woo'd that God to doe So Jesu may all Treasons be betray'd So may all Rebells finde their cursed feet Snarled for evermore in their own Net 245. Whil'st these three Conflicts pass'd Heav'n set its Eye On its divinest Champion but forbore All Helpe or Comfort till the Victory Was cleerly gain'd When loe triumphant Store Of Angells hovering down with high-straind Lays Back to the sphears return'd the Victors praise 246. O Psyche hadst thou heard that royall Song Thou would'st have learn'd how We above imploy Our blessed Time wher on each high-tun'd Tongue Sit endlesse Raptures of excessive Joy Whil'st every hearty Angell as he sings Clapps his Applause with his exultant 〈◊〉 247. Their Gratulation ended on their Knees A sumptuous Banquet They to Him present Wherein was choise of all Varieties With which Heav'ns King could his dear Son content And He in whom all princely grace doth reign Was pleas'd their ministry not to disdain 248. But when He thus had broke his mighty Fast The Fury which so long lay in his breast Impatient gnawing Famine out hee cast Returning her unto her odious Nest And bid an Angell tie her in that Chain When hee had drove her to her Den again 249. There must she dwell and never be let loose But when his royall Pleasure thinks it fit To poure his Wrath on his relentlesse Foes Whom lusty Fatnesse makes too bold and great To be his Subjects in whose Laws they hear Of Abssinence a yoak they will not bear 250. And now by that Eternall Spirit who Brought Him into the lists of this great Fight He to the Coasts of Galilee doth goe Whither He could have flown by his own Might But Heav'n was studious to attend Him and In his great Businesse joy'd to have an hand 251. Another World of Wonders will appear When thither I shall carry Thee but now Thou shalt repose thee here a while and cheer Thy Spirits to run that ravishing Race I know That thou so dear are thy Lords wayes to Thee Would'st longer Fast but now it must not be 252. This said He spred his wing as he before Had often done and on that Table set Out of his own unseen but copious store Chaste and delicious Cates for her to eate She blest her gratious Lord who fasted so Long time before he eate and then fell to 253. But whil'st on those externall Meats she fed Her soule sate at a secret feast for she Her Hearts fair Table fully furnished With the rich Dainties of this Historie Knowing her Lord and this advanc'd the Cheer Did Fast and fight not for himselfe but Her 254. And now because the Sun made haste to rest And smok'd already in the Western Deep Phylax his chariot curtains drew and prest The Virgins Eyes to doe as much by Sleep One Wing beneath and one above her head He layd and turn'd her Bord into her Bed PSYCHE OR LOVES MYSTERIE CANTO X. The Marveils ARGUMENT LOve to convince the World in whom alone It ought to treasure all its Confidence Affords a fair and full Probation What undeniable Omnipotence Dwelt in his Hand which alway sheltered Those who unto its Sanctuary fled 1. IT is not Beauty which its Blush doth owe Unto the Pixe and Pencill 'T is no King Who on the Stage doth make a rusling show And thunder big imperious Words which ring With awfull Noise about the Sceen when He By the next Exit must some Begger be 2. All is not Gold that in a glistering Ray Fairly conceals its foule hypocrisie The gareish Meteors though they display Good store of shining Proofs will never be Own d by the Stars for Bretneren nor can The Ape with all his Tricks be genuine Man 3. The heady Rebell though all Texts he skrews To force Truth to confession of a Lie Though at the Barr of Natures Laws he sues To justifie unnaturall Liberty Though Conscience and Religion the thigs He overthrows he for his ground-work brings 4. Though from Successe a firmer Argument For the Odrysian Christian-hating Race He pleads the Sanctity of his Intent And blasphemously makes Heav'n own his Cause In vain strives to transforme his hell-bred Sin Which still makes Him to Lucifer a kin 5. The staring Wizzard never yet could by His mumbling Charms his Herbs his Lines his Wand His hideous Sacrifices form a Lie Able against the face of Truthe to stand Nor can his Master Satan though all Hell He rends or blends effect a Miracle 6. Oft has he ventured and strove to tread In those Almighty Steps of Heav'n but still The Paces were so wide that all He did Was but the proving of his feeble Will His Wonders never reach'd above Deceits With which imprudent Eyes and Hearts he cheats 7. No God alone is King of Nature and She hir own Soveraign
Sphears shall sooner leap And tumble down all Height into the Deep 98. Then any Syllable which droppeth from The Lipps of Jesus can be born away Upon the Windes swift wings and never come Back with its full effect And yet the day Will come when Men will be so mad in this Cleer point as to dispute away their Blisse 99. It is in vain to tell these Wranglers how Jesus could graft cold stones into the stock Of Abraham and make them Fertile grow In Israelites Or that the Bread He took In 's daily diet was not wholly spent But part into his Bodies substance went 100. In vain to tell them how into his Blood The Wine he drank was changed day by day For though such Speculations understood With prudent reverence might make easier way Unto the Mysterie yet Wranglers will Because they will be so be Wranglers still 101. But as the sweetest Roses are beset With a strict Seige of Thorns whilst vulgar 〈◊〉 Which are not worth the Choking never meet With armed Neighbours whose infestive Powers Might plant their Bane about them so it fares With this rich Bread invaded by the Tares 102. What heart can of the monstrous Gnostiks think And not abhorre their damned sacrifice The matchlesse and the most blasphemous sink Of odious impudent Impieties Psyche Thou never yet heardst of so black A sin as they doe their Religion make 103. But I in reverence to thy Blush forbear That deep Abominations Den to rake Whose rank Sent reaks up to the highest Sphear And in Gods Nostrills stincks Yet leave must take To tell thee thine own Albion will not be Afraid of Sacramentall Villany 104. For in the Dreggs of Time when Wealth and Pride Have fatned British Hearts fit to defie All Sacred Discipline and to the Tide Of furious Licence and Impiety Op'd a vast Gap unhallowed Hands will dare From holy Priests this reverend Work to tear 105. Mechanick Zeal inspir'd by Sottishnesse And by enthusiastick Ordination Of Self-deluded Fancie Call'd to dresse This Mystick Feast in the reformed fashion Will purest Purity it selfe defile And by Heav'ns Gate finde out a Way to Hell 106. But happy Thou who shalt not live to see Thine Eyes tormented by that cursed Sight Which shall both Acted and Permitted be By equal Sons of everlasting Night Come then let our Discourse return and be Spent on this Miracle of Purity 107. Thy Lords great Feast was the high Consummation Of Israels Passover A Feast which did With mystick power antidate his Passion And that long-long'd-for Word 'T is finished Right noble was that typick Passover But nobler this because Substantial here 108. How much more pure and pretious is this Lamb Who though the Feast unto himselfe be soure Presents no Sauce of bitter herbs to them Who are the Convives but with all the power Of Sweetnesse entertains their Palates and All Joyes to wait upon them doth command 109. This is that more renoun'd Viaticum The Israel of God to fortifie When they from Pharaohs iron Bondage come And travell to their holy Liberty O Psyche those old Stories plainlier are Reacted in the Christian Hemisphear 110. Sin is that hatefull Egypt where doth reign A King how much more fierce than Pharaoh was The Tyrant Belzebub who throws his Chain About the World and makes all Nations passe Under a more unreasonable Law Than making Brick whilst They 'r denyed Straw 111. But pious Soules are by this Paschal Feast Both strengthned and encouraged to throw This servile Yoak away and thither haste Where everlasting Liberty doth grow Although their hard obstructed Passage be Thorough the Wildernesse and the Red Sea 112. This enigmatick Life of Misery Can own both those repugnant Names what are Its Storms and Broils and Tumults but a Sea Red with Destruction What is daily fear With helplesse Desolation and Distresse If not a squalid fatal Wildernesse 113. But through this wretched Desert and this Sea The Virtue of this Passover will lead Beleeving Soules untill they safely be Of blessed Canaan inherited That Canaan whose Milk and Honey is The sweetnesse of exuberant Paradise 114. That Canaan where no Jebusites shall be Thorns in the Sides of its accomplish'd Rest And whence no Babylonish Potency Shall root Them out who there are once possest A Canaan which alone makes good the grand And glorious Title of The holy Land 115. This Sacramental Bread and this alone Is that supporting Staffe of Life by which The stout and faithfull Generation Take their brave journey unto Heav'n and reach The top of their Desires more surely far Than by his Staffe the Artist does the Star 116. By Bread and Bread alone Man now must live Ev'n by this Bread which from Gods own Mouth came Christs potent institution did give This Virtue to it and Himselfe proclaim Aforehand that Men must not hope or think To Live but by this Suppers Meat and Drink 117. All Delicacies moulded up in one Pure pretious Composition are here Ne'r did the Sybarit s Invention Upon their Tables sacrifice such cheere Unto their 〈◊〉 which alone to them The greatest of the Deities did seem 118. The Syracusian Bords did never sweat Under such Dainties Alexandrian Feasts Did never with such princely sprightfull Meat Ravish the Palates of their dearest Guests No Asiatick nor no Medick Fare No Cates of Marseils may with these compare 119. Great Solomons profoundest Industrie Which through all Nature did his Pleasures hunt Sifting and boulting everie Suavitie To finde what Sweets did flow with most Content Nought but unsa vorie Vanitie could taste All Solid pleasures here alone are plac't 120. Here in this Bread this rich Conspiracie Of most substantiall Delights to which That pure Angelick Cheer which bounteouslie Heav'ns carefull Hand did every morning reach Unto his Israel journying in the bare And hungrie desert was course homely fare 121. Nor is the Dainties of the Cup lesse rich Than that which in the noble Patin lies The Wine of Love of Life of Spirits which By new un-heard of heavenly properties The heart of Man with such Delights doth cheer As never fears the worst assaults of fear 122. Heavens prudent Law had taken order that No Creatures Blood the Lippe of Man should stain O no The Caution was just and fit That all those Mouthes might be reserved clean In reverence to the Blood of this great Lamb Which was into beheving lips to stream 123. O blessed bloody peacefull Wine O how Divinely hast thou satisfaction made For that enflaming Poison which doth flow In other Wines may Noah now be glad Of his Invention since his foule mishap Is clean wash'd out by this all purging Grape 124. This is that Wine wherein dwells Veritie The Veritie of Heav'n For Heav'n in it All melted is Those noble Joies which we Bath'd in at home are heer together met In sweet epitomie and smiling swim About the Chalices most reverend Brim 125. Let Luxurie turn other wines into The milk of
Venus and unto its Cupps As to the Bottles of her bosome goe Whence onely furious uncleannesse drops This is the purest Juice that can be prest From Chastities own most unspotted breast 126. Of this milde Doves may drink and never fear An inflammation which might entrench On their chaste Spirits Devoted Virgins heer Their 〈◊〉 and bashfull Hearts may safely drench This Liquor breeds no flames but soft and cool Which though they burn cannot infect the soul. 127. Should Greek Canarie or Pannonian Wine Should Spanish French Italian and the rest Which crown the Bowles of Princes all combine In one Extraction and be richly drest With Aromatick Helps they would be all If paralleld with this but costly Gall. 128. Ambitious Cleopatra's sumptuous Bowle Where her Luxuriant Jewell learn'd to swimme And its inestimable Riches roule Melted and mixed with the gallant stream Compared with this Cup was full as vile As any Bottle filled at her Nile 129. This makes those wines all blush for their own shame Which in proud Belteshazzers Goblets smil'd Which Holofernes to the beauteous Dame And yet more Masculine then Beauteous fild That Dame who in her Nations quarrell durst Lesse for his Wine than for his heart-blood thirst 130. Sardanapalus with his Coste and Care Such precious liquor never could obtaine No Epicurean wishes ever were Advanced unto so sublime a strain As to desire so rich a Draught as this Whose worthabove all Fancies Compasse is 131. For where the Juice of other Grapes doth reign Both Sense and Reason feel its Tyranny Which being drownd together with their Brain Forth with each Member and each faculty To beastly Madnesse is enslav'd and flies On Murders Rapines Rapes and Villanies 132. But where this Wine of Angels domineers The Heart with noble Drunkennesse it fills For all its Powers and Spirits it overbears With a sweet stream of mystick Miracles Untill intoxicated by this Flood Of Love and Heav'n the Man is Drunk with God 133. Strange Psyche are this Drunkennesses Fits Oft have I seen and them as oft admired The World has thought these Men besides their Wits When with this Liquors flame it saw them fired But We know what ecstatick Raptures mean And Zeals exploits when it hath got the Rein. 134. Oft have I seen brave Spirits when they rose From this great Banquet fill'd with generous Rage Flie in the face of Sin and nobly choose The stoutest Foes whereon they might engage Their heav'nly Confidence nor has their high Adventure faild to reach down Victory 135. Oft have I seen Them scorn the Frown of Death Oft have I seen them hug the Crosse and Spear Oft have I heard them spend their finall breath In wooing greater Torments to come neer Oft have I seen them enter single fight Both with the Peers and with the Prince of Night 136. For well they know what Strength they have within And by tenacious Faith they hold it fast How can those Champions ever fail to win Amidst whose Armour Heav'n it selfe is plac'd What Battery can prevail against that Breast Which is infallibly with God possest 137. For to augment the Wonder Psyche this Great Feast of Feasts can never all be spent When Millions are filled still it is Intirely whole and knows no detriment So though the whole World drinks in Air yet still The undiminish'd Region is full 138. And yet not so For here each One doth eate The totall Feast yet each One leaves it whole These antecedent Ages cannot cheat Those which lagg on behinde whilst Heav'n doth roll And Earth stand still this ever-teeming Bord. The same Delights will unto All afford 139. No Fount lives on such living Springs as dwell In this pure Cup of Life to which though all The World doe daily flock to drink yet still It keeps its equal Plenitude nor shall The busie School with all its Company Of Doubts and Queries hope to draw it drie 140. Though all Heav'ns starry Tapers lighted be At Phebu's eyes his Raies are still intire Though in each River Fountain Lake or Sea His Image shines yet his original Fire Is onely one which doth it selfe so wide In its compleat Similitude divide 141. Thus and more really than thus this Feast Most absolutely One it selfe doth spread Into the Mouth and Heart of every Guest And there far more celestial Splendor shed Than when the Sun by his meridian Ray Triumphs upon the highest Throne of Day 142. The Blessed Lord not many years agoe Had borrow'd of the World Humanity And dress'd Himselfe in Maries bowells so That He became compleatly Man yet He Though by this Condescent new Raies He set In Natures Crown still thought Himselfe in debt 143. Right Generous as He was He ment to pay All back again which He receiv'd from Her His Body and his Blood He ment to lay Upon the Crosse and make Requitall there To all his Creditors and freely by That Payment ransome Them from Misery 144. And yet because his Humane Nature He So dearly lov'd that He resolv'd to bear It home in Triumph and eternalie Those Robes of boundlesse Love and Mercie Wear E'r He his journey took He plotted how It might Ascend and yet Remain below 145. Remain below and be as oft Restored As Man would please to take it And the way He Instituted was by this adored Mysterious Banquet which doth day by day Repay his Flesh and Blood that Man may eat And drink and with his God incorporate 146. For to compleat his most excessive Love Beyond the reach of any Parauel This 〈◊〉 Pay He doth so far improve That his 〈◊〉 Godhead joyns to swell The royall Feast for this can never be Dissevered from his Humanity 147. O Banquet fit for His Magnificence Who is the Universes Soveraign By this dear Project Psyche Mercies Prince Collecteth in his more than golden Chain His World unto Himself and ties 〈◊〉 close That no Disunion can interpose 148. The glorious Incarnation began To tie this Knot which now redoubled is There God vouchsas d to joyne Himselfe with Man Here Man has leave to make the Juncture His And knit himself to his 〈◊〉 O What God stoop'd ever to his Creature so 149. By this sweet Combination Men doe grow 〈◊〉 of their Singularities Their 〈◊〉 Interests their I and Thou Their Mine and 〈◊〉 their grounds of Avarice Of Envie of 〈◊〉 any comply In holy Peaces common Unitie 150. This is the Cement which together ties The Stones which in the Churches Fabrik lie The common Ligature which doth comprise Each Joynt and Member in the Mysterie Of Christs spirituall Body untill He The Shepheard and his Sheep in one agree 151. For as the Reasonable Soule doth swimm Intirely one through all the Body yet In every Member and in every Limm In its Totality doth single sit So by this Sacramentall Union Jesus is One to All and All to One 152. Beleeve it Psyche though thy Mortal Eye Sees no such brave Attendance on this Bord Yet
to be sure his Blasphemie might want No Complement of desperate Impudence Though six and fourty yeares he knew were spent In compassing that works Magnificence He blush'd not to avouch that in three dayes The Fabrick to perfection he would raise 82. But Psyche how shall Feeble Waves prevail Against impenetrable Rocks in vain This wretched Lie indeavoured to assail Unshaken Truth which did in Jesus reign And split it self could the blinde Judges eye Have seen its shivers which about did fly 83. For grant this Article were full as true As it is false Why must it branded be As Blasphemous in Him who in the view Ofample witnesse prov'd his Potencie Sufficient was the Temple to restore When He from Death her Captive Lazarus tore 84. But strait a Murmur rolld about the Hall Which the Fond People toss'd from one another The Council gravely shak'd their heads and all Mingled their jealous Whisperings together Till Caiaphas stood up and ask'd thy Lord Why He no kinde of Answer would afford 85. Jesus who never spilt a word in vain For sweet and pretious was his blessed Breath Would no Reply unto that witnesse deign Which shamelesse Falshood venteth and which hath Its Answer in its self to any Ear But that which is resolved not to hear 86. Wherefore the Preist advisd by Satan now Contests him deep to trie if He could make Him prove his own Accuser All Men know Said He those towring Words of thine must speak A more then Mortall Power nor must thou hope Thy silence now shall lock the Businesse up 87. For by the everliving God whose Name Too glorious is on Mortall Tongues to sit I heer conjure Thee cleerly to proclaim Whither Thou be the Christ whom Holy Writ Has promis'd to the World that Blessed One The Heir of Heav'n and Gods eternall Son 88. O who would think this Consecrated Tongue Which with such reverentiall Awe doth make Mention of God mean while should burn in strong Thirst of most guiltlesse Blood But Hell can break Ev'n into Heaven it selfe and Satan dare Before Gods Throne amongst his Sons appear 89. And He his Scholars teacheth to begin The foulest Crimes with Gods all-beauteous Name That so more easily He may usher in What else by plain and necessary shame Would be obstructed Thus the Charmers Tongue Distills his Poison through his dainty song 90. But he who came Truth 's glorious Lamp to light Was pleased now to give a full Replie His Heav'n his Sire Himself did him excite Himself his Sire his Heav'n not to denie In Me said He fulfill'd your Scriptures are I am God's Son and Heav'ns apparent Heir 91. And though your Eyes now look such Scorn on Me Time comes when they shall melt in tears for this When on the Clouds high Chariot they shall see My Majestie in Glories high Excesse And at the first glimpse of my Power know I have a Judgement Seat as well as you 92. No sooner was this generous Truth profest But Caiaphas in deep dissimulation His politick but bloody Malice drest And starting from his seat in zealous Passion Tore his own Clothes in token of his high Distaste at that presumed Blasphemy 93. 'T is true his Law did cleerly Him forbid To rend his Clothes but what car'd He for Law Who now about Injustice beat his Head And onely aim'd how He the World might draw Into opinion that the Pris'ners Case Beyond all possible holy Patience was 94. Vain Hypocrite keep thy Clothes whole to hide Thy shamelesse self whom Thou one day shalt tear For setting forth this Embleme which doth bid The People use the Pris'ner at the Bar As Thou thy Robe But they are dull and yet Reade not what Thou commend'st to Them by it 95. They read it not But Psyche bloody He Awakes their drowsie crueltie and cries What need we further Witnesses for yee Your selves have heard his wide-mouth'd Blasphemies Speak what you think the Case seems unto Me So plain that I dare let you Judges be 96. O Righteous Judge and worthy of the Chair Of reverend Moses who doth first invite The People unto Blood and then repair Unto their Sentence Whither Wrong or Right Speak what think ye a Firebrand is and will Kindle the Furie of their Murdering Zeal 97. For when the Bloodhounds feel their feet are loose They straight pursue the Sent and with joint Crie Proclaim him guiltie And say They may Those Not live who think He is not fit to Die This roaring Sentence serv'd the turn and so Abused Jesus for Condemn'd doth goe 98. What matter though the sacred Rolls can show No Statute which as due his Life demands This Popular extemporal Vote is Law Enough to yeeld Him into barbarous Hands And He so foul and monstrous is his Cause Must die for breaking that which never was 99. Forthwith the busie Officers and all The insolent Servants take Him as their Prey And setting him amidst the smoakie Hall Make his unmoved Patience their Play Where as a Preface to his deep disgrace Their odious Scorn they spit upon his Face 100. One at his Mouth another at his Eyes One at his Nose another at his Beard His Slaver aimes and impudently tries To shoot his shame with Art Was ever heard Such putid Crueltie Where are ô Jews Your Eyes and Face that thus you His abuse 101. Have not all Beauties made their gracefull seat In this Majestick Look Is Libanus Is Paradise is Heav'n so fair and sweet Are Phebu's Eyes so purely glorious Is delicate Aurora's April Cheek So roseal as this so soft so sleek 102. Cull out ten thousand of the fairest Faces Where goodly Feature ever made her home And draw an Extract of their richest Graces Yet that bright Quincessence must 〈◊〉 come Into the presence of these Looks to which All Humane Beauties cannot hope to reach 103. For ne'r did milder purer Lovelinesse Crown'd with the best of Comlinesse's Joyes Flourish upon so fair a Throne as His Accomplish'd Countenance in which the Choise Jewells of most incomparable Grace Had every one their goodly proper place 104. And must this blessed Face of Sweets alone Be made the Sinck of your vile Excrement Much rather upon Caiapha's or on Great Cesar's Cheeks your Spittle might be spent Or on the Starts whose Fires all lighted were At those bright Eyes your Filth becloudeth here 105. Is this the pay his Spittle must receive His Soveraign Spittle which unto the Blinde His never known nor hop d for Sight did give That now Himselfe his own pure Eyes Must finde Drown'd in the Scum of your foule Mouths O stay Dear Psyche I have something more to say 106. Thy pious Tears are ready broach'd I see To wash this filth from off thy Spouses face But rein them in a while that they may be Officious unto His more deep Di grace The greatest Griefs are still behinde More great Than thine or then the whole Worlds Tears can wet 107. These Varlets when their clotted
And that he ment upon the Aires high back To shew himselfe in State to Us but now His Crosse is all the Chariot he can show 316. He often bragg'd that God was his great Sire How is it then his Father owns Him not Sure were He worth the owning all the Quire Of Heav'n would hither Flock to hide this Blot Of his broad Shame with their pure Wings bear Him hence in triumph to his native Sphear 317. Shame on your Blasphemies you shamelesse Rout Of Priests and People Jesus aimeth not To save Himselfe but You who sting and flout His noble Patience He has not forgot That in his Soveraign Hands and Fingers still The whole Train of Omnipotence doth dwell 318. For those Almighty Hands he stretcheth out And busie is in working your Salvation He could Come down but stayes till he has wrought That mighty Act of his victorious Passion He could come down but stayes till he may draw Up after Him this groveling World below 319. He could come down did you not fix Him there Not with your Nails but with your stronger Sins He could come down were his own Life as dear To him as yours But on his Wrongs he winns And by all resolute Love strives to prevail Against all Spight and Rage which him 〈◊〉 320. O Psyche cruell were those Scoffs but yet More stinging Scorn then this is still behinde For now the very Theeves upon him spit Their odious Taunts and seem in Him to finde What their vile Soules amidst the Miseries Of their own cursed Crosses dare despise 321. Ink scorns the Snow foule Night accuseth Day The dirty Puddle mocks the virgin Spring Dark Shades contemn the Suns meridian Ray Black Night-ravens call the Swan a swarthy Thing Ignoble Bats revile the Eagles Eyes And Hell it selfe insults o'r Paradise 322. Art thou that mighty Christ said they and yet Hang'st here the Game of all Contempt and Spight Can Heav'ns great Son his Selfe so far forget As rather to endure to Die then fight Discredit not by yeilding cowardly The Lord of Hosts if he thy Father be 323. Come justifie that royal Title there Which now but laughs at thine ignoble Head Approve thy Selfe King of the Jews and fear Not to redeem thy Fame and Life But spread Thy Favour too on Us that under Thee The Soveraign We may glorious Nobles be 324. For since in these thy deep Misfortunes We Of all thy World thy sole Companions are We well in your restor'd Prosperity May promise our Desert the deepest share So spake the Theeves and then they roar'd for Pain But quickly fell to scoffe and curse again 325. And shall not Heav'ns Artillery now attend Its wronged King and vindicate his Cause Can Earth hear this and not in sunder rend Snatching these Elves into her deepest Jaws No Jesus now no Veng'ance doth approve But that of patient and Silent Love 326. Sweet Veng'ance which so strongly wrought upon One of this loud blaspheming Pair that he Converts his Curses to Devotion And prompts his Fellow unto Piety Rebuking sharply his malitious Tongue Which still persu'd his Lord with shameless Wrong 327. Then like a wise and sober Theif indeed He seeks to steal into his Saviours grace O King of Heav'n he cries I plainly read Thy Majesty though in thy clounded Face Sure Thou hast taught mine Eyes this skill ô then Compleat this Mercy which Thou hast begun 328. When in thy Kingdome Thou shalt mounted be Upon thy Throne of Glory ô forger Those Wrongs which ignorant I did poure on Thee On Thee the God of Innocence but yet Forget not Me who must for ever die Unlesse repreived by thy Clemencie 329. Jesus whose Goodnesse never did disdain 〈◊〉 hear and answer a meek Sinners Crie Though his provoked Lips he did refrain Amidst those thick Storms of loud Blasphemie With gracious Sweetnes doth Assurance give Unto the Dying Theif that he shall live 330. Fear not said He thy Death is drawing nie But it shall prove the Gate of Life to Thee My Word the Pillar of all Certainty I freely pass Thou from that cursed Tree Shalt step this Day to Paradise and there Under the Bowers of Blisse with Me appear 331. The Preists and People laugh'd and scoff'd to hear Him talk of giving Blisse who hung in Pain Blinde Fools who could not now discern how clear His Power shin'd which thus its Prize could gain Out of Hells Mouth with Loves sweet constreint Make of a Cursing Theif a Praying Saint 332. By this deer Token He to every one Of them aforehand did their Pardon seal If they would doe what the meeke Theif had done And to his Grace with penitent hearts appeal But most unhappy They this deep Designe Of Love did obstinately countremine 333. Profoundly did this Scorn of Mercy tear Thy Spouses most compassionate Breast But He Observing now his dearest Followers there The Mother of Him and Virginitie With faithfull John a keen and double Dart Of fresh Greif shot quite through his bleeding Heart 334. For in his Mothers tender Soule he saw That cruel Sword stuck deep which Simeon Foretold so long agoe The Virgin now Who at the first brought forth her blessed Son Whithout all Pangs doth in hard Labour strein And pays her Debt of puerperiall Pain 335. O how the Bowels of her yearning Heart Are tent and torn her hands her feet her head All bear their proper Torments and no Part Can say To me these Sorrows doe not spread For from her Sons deer Body every Wound Doth on her sympathetik Self rebound 336. Her Temples are with thick-set Thorns hedg'd in Nail'd unto Tortures are Her dainty Feet Tatter'd and mangled is Her tender Skin Her Flesh plow'd up Her veins wide open set And all her modest Body to the view Exposed is of every shameless Jew 337. On Her those Jeers and Taunts and Blasphemies Their venome pour and swell with Greif her Breast That Breast which noble Love so straitly ties And coments to her Sons that not the least Division can interpose nor make This Double One themselves for single take 338. If She had in her other Self if she In Mary had been Crucifi'd the Crosse Had tolerable been but thus to be Destroy'd in Jesus is so vast a Loss That Mari's swallow'd up in it and this Calamitie becomes both Hers and His. 339. Her Hope her Joy her Life her Love her Blisse Her Heav'n her Son her God all these She now Beholds betrayed to her Enemies And what has Mary more How shall she row Through this vast Sea which in each gaping Wave Presents her ô how much more than a Grave 340. As oft as to the Crosse she opes her Eyes Death rusheth in Yet she as oft doth Die As unto their Compassion she denies That ruefull Spectacle If Psyche I Or Thou or any Seraph had been so Beseig'd with Soveraign Griess What could We do 341. What could we doe but sink Yet noble she Struggling amidst a
115. Had Delilahs tongue not been so Musical It ne're had ventur'd upon Sampsons might Nor in his Chamber conquer'd more than all Philistia's Powers could do in open fight But when the strongest Bands were all in vain With her soft-language she did Him enchain 116. Puff'd with Heav'n-daring Pride and Victorie Great Holofernes fear'd no dint of Fear When walled in with his vast Army He Vow'd the Jews stock up by the roots to tear Yet Judiths glozing Tongue made Him her Prey His Heart first then his Head she stole away 117. O then let Prudence stop thy sober Ear When any worldly Charm doth tune its strings Much happier is it to be deaf than hear The Musick of those faithlesse Flourishings Which sliely stealing to thine Heart will there With everlasting Jars thy Conscience tear 118. The Voice of Truth though wonderous plain it be Flows with more Hony than all Tongues beside With Hony so sincere that Puritie It selfe a long with all its Streams doth glide Here mayst Thou be Luxuriant yet thine Ear No Surfet from this Fulnesse needs to Fear 119. Let others slander't with the Name of Pride I 'l stile it Virtue in Thee to disdain That empty Foam of Prattle which doth ride Upon the idly-busy Tongues of vain And shallow Men who though they all the Day Spin out their long Discourses Nothing say 120. Have patience tickling Accents to forbear A while that Thou the best of them mayst gain Years post about apace the Time draws near When thou exalted on Heav'ns glistering Plain With those rich Notes shalt enterteined be Whose Consort makes the Sphearik Melodie 121. My Philax's blessed Voice there shalt Thou hear And all the Winged Quire whose dainty Tongues The Triumphs and the Joyes of Heav'n doe chear With the brisk Raptures of their lofty Songs Songs which no Ears must drink but those which are On purpose kept and not enchanted here 122. On Acoe so hard this Lesson grated That in her Heart she wish'd she had been deaf Yet since their old Rebellion was defeated She feard the Senses could have no Releif By standing out And well she knew beside Who most should feel it when her Queen did chide 123. She Sigh'd and let her Lute-strings down as though She loosned had with them those of her Heart And then O sweetest Wombe of Pleasures how Shall Acoe live said she now I must part With Thee And here She fetch'd another Sigh And kiss'd her Lute and gently laid it by 124. Next Osphresis came in who in one Hand Courted a Civet Box and in the other A nest of Rose-budds built upon a wand Of Juniper and neatly set together Which Psyche seeing Use it warilie Roses wear Pricks as well as Leaves said She. 125. Could all the Balme of Gilead all the spice Of happy Arabie but inform Thee how To counterplot those fatal Miseries Whose certain seeds in thine own heart doe grow I could approve such Helps But They We know Are frail and mortal Things as well as Thou 126. Alas so deep Corruption rooted is Ev'n in the Centre of thy fading Breast That O dours strive in vain to weed and dresse The tainted Soile How largely 't is confest By former Ages dead and rotten now How sure Mortality in Man doth grow 127. And shall the Son and the Apparent Heir Of Rottennesse mispend his Time upon Unnecessary Sweets by which the Air Trimm'd and inriched is and that alone Sweets which each silly Wind which whisketh by Snatcheth and scattereth in proud Mockery 128. Why should'st Thou take such Pains to make the Prey Of stinking Wormes so sweet and dainty why Upon perfumed Pillows wouldst Thou lay Thine Head when it to rot must onely lie This Cost and Pains for nothing usefull be But doubling of Corruptions Victorie 129. Wert not a cheaper and a wiser plot Aforehand with displeasant Smells to be Acquainted that the brackish Grave may not By being strange be bitterer to Thee At least not to be tainted with the Sweet Contagion which in Perfumes We meet 130. O Osphresis that Thou didst truely know What Crops of Odours and what Beds of Spice What Hills of Sweets what Plains of flowers grow In the delicious Lap of Paradise Thou couldst not chuse but generously disdain These poor Perfumes of Earth to entertain 131. Yet all the purest Names of Odours are Short of that everlasting Incense which From Heav'ns high Altar doth its volumes rear And Blessednes it self with sweets inrich Save than thy self for these which will one day Thine Abstinence with Plenitude repay 132. And yet mean while I will to thee allow Far richer sweets then those Thou throw'st away In virtue's Garden doe but walk and 〈◊〉 hou Shalt meet such spicy Breaths of holy Joy As will compell thy ravish'd Soule to think This Worlds Gentilest sent but pretious stink 133. Such Breaths as will perfume thy heart indeed And all thy Thoughts and Words aromatize Untill their odorous Emanations breed Delight in Gods own Nostrils who doth prize The sweetnes of all Incense by the sent Of the meek sacrificers pure intent 134. Here Osphresis thrice on her Civet and Thrice on her smiling Posie smelt but yet At length she dropp'd them out of either Hand When she perceived Psyche's Countenance set With a wfull Resolution and strait As Geusis enterd meekly did retreat 135. Geusis brought in her Hand an Honey-combe Which prompted Psyche thus the Maid to greet What if that Nest of sweetnes hath no room For any thing that is intirely Sweet What if the Bee hath in that Cabinet More of her sting than of her Honey set 136. Full hard it is to eat no more than may True friend-ship keep twixt safetie and delight The least Excess will Thee to Pangs betray And break thy Work by day thy Rest by night Indeed a surfet goes most sweetly down But strait with Gall the heart is overflown 137. The raging Sword 's a keen and ravenous Thing Witness whole Armies swallow'd up by it Yet Luxury doth wear a sharper sting And wider ope her hungry Throat is set No reeking steel thou ever yet didst see Blush in the guilt of so much Blood as Shee 138. Of his Sobrieties sage stayed weight Had great Belshazzar not been cozen'd by The cruel sweetnes of her soft Deceit He had not in Heav'ns scale of Equity Been found so light as by Darius down From his high Empires Zenith to be blown 139. Of Her in time had Dives taken heed When in each Dish for him She lay in wait When into every Boule her self she shed And made of each superfluous Bit a Bait Beneath the wretched Gallant had not lain Acting poor Lazarus his part in vain 140. His broiled Tongue had not so clamorous been In lamentable Out-cries to obtain No crowned Cups of lustie foaming Wine But a few drops of Water to restrain Those free and jovial flames which now did trie On him another kinde of Luxurie 141. But Lazarus whose meek
PSYCHE OR LOVES MYSTERIE In XX. CANTO'S Displaying the Intercourse Betwixt CHRIST and the SOULE 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 S. Greg. Naz. in de Carminib suis. By JOSEPH BEAUMONT Mr. in Arts and Ejected Fellow of S. Peters College in Cambridge LONDON Printed by John Dawson for George Boddington and are to be sold at his Shop in Chancery-lain neer Serjants-lnn M. D. C. XL. VIII INTO THE MOST SACRED TREASURIE OF THE Praise and Glorie OF Incarnate GOD The Worlds most Mercifull REDEEMER THE Vnworthiest of His Majesties CREATURES in all possible Prostrate VENERATION Beggs Leave to Cast This His DEDICATED MITE The AUTHOR to the READER THE Turbulence of these Times having deprived mee of my wonted Accommodations of Study I deliberated For the avoyding of meer Idlenesse what Task I might safelyest presume upon without the Society of Books And concluded upon Composing this Poem In which I endeavour to represent a Soule led by divine Grace and her Guardian Angel in fervent Devotion through the difficult Temptations and Assaults of Lust of Pride of Heresie of Persecution and of Spiritual Dereliction to a holy and happy Departure from temporal Life to heavenly Felicitie Displaying by the way the Magnalia Christi his Incarnation and Nativitie his Flight into AEgypt his Fasting and Temptation his chief Miracles his being Sold and Betrayed his Institution of the Holy Eucharist his Passion his Resurrection and Ascension Which were his mighty Testimonies of his Love to the Soule I am not ignorant that very few Men are competent Readers of Poems the true Genius of Poetrie being little regarded or rather not subject at all to common Capacities so that a discourse upon this Theam would bee to smal purpose I know also how little Prefacing Apologies use to be credited Wherefore though I had much very much to say and justly in this kinde I will venture to cast my self upon thy Ingenuitie with this onely Protestation that If any thing throughout this whol Poem happen against my intention to prove Discord to the Concent of Christs Catholicke Church I here Recant it aforehand My Defire is That this Book may prompt better Wits to believe that a Divine Theam is as capable and happy a Subject of Poetical Ornament as any Pagan or Humane Device whatsoever Which if I can obtain and into the Bargain Charm my Readers into any true degree of Devotion I shall be bold to hope that I have partly reached my proposed Mark and not continued meerly Idle J. B. A Syllable of the CANTO'S 1. The Preparative 2. Lust Conquered 3. The Girdle or Love-token 4. The Rebellion 5. The Pacification 6. The Humiliation 7. The Great Little one 8. The Pilgrimage 9. The Temptation 10. The Marveils 11. The Traytor 12. The Banquet 13. The Death of Love 14. The Triumph of Love 15. The Poyson 16. The Antidote 17. The Mortification 18. The Persecution 19. The Dereliction 20. The Consummation PSYCHE OR LOVES MYSTERIE In XX. Canto's CANTO 1. The Preparative ARGUMENT INrag'd at Heav'n and Psyche Satan lay's His plots how to beguile the tender Mayd Phylax mean while a contrework doth raise And mustereth Joseph's Legend to her ayde That strengthned by this chaste example shee To lusts Assaults impregnable might bee 1. ETernal Love of sweetest Poetrie The sweeter King before thy gentle throne Deign to behold prostrate Vow and mee No Muse no Gods but thy sweet power alone I invocate for both his heads full low Parnassus to thy Paradise doth bow 2. Thy Paradise amongst whose Hils of Joy Those Springs of everlasting Vigour run Which makes souls drunk with heav'n clensing away All earth from Dust and angelizing men Great David and his Son drench'd in these streams With Poets wreaths did crown their Diadems 3. Defiance other Helicons O may These pretious founts my Vow and heart refine Deare Love thou art my task If ever bay Hereafter court my Muse it shall be thine My soule untun'd unstrung doth waite on thee To teach her how to sing thy MYSTERIE 4. A MYSTERIE wrapp'd in so close a cloud That Psyches young and well-acquainted eye Staggers about it yet more shades do croud And heap their night upon its secrisie Feirce Belzebub who doth in blacknesse dwell Would fain have all things else as dark as Hell 5. For He th' immortall Prince of equall spight Abhorr's all Love in every name and kinde But chiefely that which burn's with flames as bright As his are dark and which as long shall finde Their living fuell These enrage Him so That all Hel's Furies must to councell go 6. For as the wounded Lyon in his Den Roar's out his griefe so from his boyling heart A hideous groan broke forth which thundering in His hollow Realm bellow'd to every Part The frightfull summons All the Peers below Their Kings voice by its soveraign stink did know 7. Nor dar'd they stay by kembing to make neat Their snarled Snakes or draw their Tails huge trains Into a knot or trim their cloven feet With iron shoes or gather up their Chains Onely their hands they fill with Rage and bring That common Subsidie unto their King 8. Hel's Court is built deep in a gloomie Vale High wall'd with strong Damnation moated round With flaming Brimstone right against the Hall Burn's a black bridge of brasse the yards abound With all invenom'd Herbs and Trees more rank And fruitlesse than on Asphaltite's bank 9. The Gate where fire and smoak the Porters be Stands alwayes ope to them that be without Hither flock'd all the states of miserie As younger Snakes though crawling far about When the old Serpent's hisses summon them Into her patent mouth of poyson stream 10. The Hall was roof'd with everlasting Pride Deep paved with Dispaire checker'd with spight The Hangings were of Torments fair and wide The upper end presented to their sight Great Satans Arms drawn in an iron sheild A Crowned Dragon Gules in sable field 11. On his immortall throne of Death they see Their mounted Lord who in one hand did bear His Globe for all the world He take's to bee By right his own and in the other wear His Mace on which ten thousand Serpents knit With restlesse madnesse gnaw'd themselves and it 12. His awfull Horns above his Crown did rise And made them shrink in theirs his Forehead Was Plated with triple Impudence his Eyes Were Hell reflected in a double Glasse Two Comets stareing in their bloody stream Two Beacons boyling with their pitch and flame 13. His Mouth well-neer as wide's his Palace Door But much more black his Cheeks which never could Blush in their own had rak'd the world for store And deeply dy'd their guilt in humane Blood His griezly Beard all singed did confesse What kinde of Breath us'd through his lips to presse 14. Which as he op'd the Centre on whose back His Chair of ever-fretting Pain was set Frighted beside it self began to
quake Throughout all Hell the barking Hydra's shut Their awed mouths The silent Peers in fear Hung down their tailes and to their Lord gave eare 15. Three times he shak'd his Horns three times his Mace He brandish'd towards Heaven three times he spew'd Live sulphure upward which when on his face It soused back foul Blasphemy ensu'd So big so loud that his huge Mouth was split To make a passage to his Rage and it 16. I yeild not yet Defiance Heaven said He And though I cannot reach thee with my fier Or scepter yet my Brain shall able bee To grapple with thee nor canst thou be higher Than my brave spight Know though below I dwel Heaven has no stouter hearts than live in Hell 17. For all thy confident Promise to the Seed Of Dust-begotten Man my Head is here Unbroken still When thy proud foot did tread Me down from my own sphears my Forehead there Both met and scorn'd the Blow and thou at first What e'r thou talk'st to Man did'st do thy worst 18. Courage my Lords ye are the same who once Ventur'd upon that high Designe with me Against the Tyrant call'd Heavens righteous Prince What though Chance stole from us the Victory 'T was the first time we fought and he being in His own Dominion might more easily win 19. How often since have we met him mid way And in th' indifferent World not vainly fought Witnesse those Prisons where our numerous Prey Lie's chained up which we from Earth have brought Are they not Men of the same flesh and blood With that same Christ who needs would be a God 20. A pretty God whom easily I of late Caus'd to be fairly hangd Indeed he came By stealth and in the night broke ope Hel's gate But snatch'd he any Captive hence that Fame Might speak him valiant No he knew too well That I was King and you the Peers of Hell 21. But yet to save his wretched credit He Hi'd him beyond that Gulfe to Abraham's Den Who for his ready inhumanitie Was dubb'd the Father of all faithfull Men How much lesse Pilat was thy crime I yet thou O righteous Heav'n now yellest here below 22. His willing Captives thence He wun but how Forlorn a Prize by Lazarus you may see Who the late pittie of vile Dogs was now A speciall Saint And this vain victorie Homeward He bore with Banner proudly spred As if with his own Bloodt ' had not been red 23. Me think's I could permit him to possesse That sneaking honour so he strove not how My Subjects from their loyaltie to presse And mortall Men to his obedience draw But by my wrath I swear I 'le make him know That of the Air I am the soveraign too 24. Was 't not enough against the righteous Law Of Primogeniture to throw Us down From that bright home which all the world do's know Was by confest inheritance our own But to our shame Man that vile worm must dwell In our fair Orbs and Heav'n with Vermin fill 25. Ten thousand tricks and charms and mystick arts With all the blandishments of his sweet things He doth imploy to woe these silly hearts Doubtlesse much like a God his Powers he brings Into the field to gain his victorie Yet who forsooth the tempters are but We 26. Psyche a simple thing I wot and one Whom I as deeply scorn as Him I spight He seek's to make his Prize Psyche alone Take's up his amorous thoughts both day and night Wer 't not our wrong I could contented be The King of Heaven had such a Spouse as She. 27. But She is ours I have design'd a Place That must be hers amid'st you brimstone lake Which shall revenge whatever in her face Do's now her lustie God a wooer make He promis'd her that with the Angels shee Should live and so she shall but those are We 28. Lust thou shalt give the Onset Quickly dresse Thy self with every bravery that my Aerial kingdome yeelds and subt'lie presse Our contreplot Remember but how thy Sweet powers did once a mighty King subvert However fam'd to be After God's heart 29. Then Philautie and Pride her breast shall fill With swelling poyson and make her disdain Heav'ns narrow gate whil'st wealth it self doth spill Into her bosome in a golden rain That she may seem too rich to match with One Of a poore Carpenter the poorer Son 30. If still demure and godly she will be Let Heresie teach her to grow too wise To take up points on trust and fooled be By saucy Faith plainly against her eys Then let despaire my dear despaire not faile Her Soule with Hell aforehand to assaile 31. Nor shall the service unrewarded be Checking my royall bounty as grown poor The Feind who captive Psyche bring 's to me Shall her sole torturer be and twenty more I 'l to his jurisdiction add that yee May know your Soveraign scorn's in debt to be 32. Nay for his greater honor every night Seven lashes he shall have at Cain's fell heart And seven at Judas his nor from my sight Henceforth on any work shall he depart But here at my right hand shall seated bee For ever and blaspheam the next to mee 33. Go then in god's name but that god am I And may my blessing go along with you If we that wench can catch our subtletie Will torture Christ though all Heav'ns joys do flow About him and we shall revenge this pain In which the tyrant doth all Us detain 34. This said the Senate with an hideous Roar Applaud their Prince and the designed Feinds Their snakey heads thrice bowing to the floore Take their damn'd leave With that a tempest rends Hel's wide mouth wider ope that through the gate Their cursed Progresse they may make in state 35. Old Tellus wonder'd what the treason was Which then tore up her bowels for as from The monstrous Canons thundring mouth of brass A sudden cloud of rage and death doth foam So from beneath these hasty Furies broke Such was the flashing fire and such the smoak 36. But greater was the stink the flowers they say Frighted from their own sweets grew faint and di'd Stout trees which had endured many a day The worst of blasts could not this breath abide Only some venomous weeds whose roots from hell Suck in their deadly living lik'd it well 37. Lust goes to work the first a Spirit as foule As he 's ambitious beautifull to seem Uncleanesse keep 's her Court amid'st his Soul And Poison at his mouth her breath doth stream Black is the fire that burneth in his eye Diseases thick in every member lye 38. But Circe's and Medea's arts he knew For hee their tutor was The purest aire Which on mount Liban virgin sweetnes blew With magick nimblenes hee doth prepare And mould's it up so close that it can take The shape of any Lye he 's pleas'd to make 39. And thus the Nimph which was so loose before And at the mercy of
these sweets of my inchanting face Which have abus'd and tempted you so long These nailes of mine shall all those Charms erase And cut such ghastly wounds as soon shall cure Those which my beautie made your heart endure 141. I will transform my self into a State Which more your Pittie than your love shall crave Or if this love of mine must reap your hate Somewhere or other I shall finde a grave And there with greater comfort rest my head Than if I slept on your delicious bed 142. As when a mighty torrent hasting on Is by some sturdy bank forc'd back again The waters roar and foam and swell upon Themselves for spight to see their strength was vain So did Potiphera's heart whose lustfull course Unshaken Joseph back again did force 143. A thousand Passions boiling in her breast Raise up a tempest of impatient flames Still night which to all others sealeth rest Waken her cares Her bed with torments streams 'Cause Joseph is not there O where may we With heav'nly love a Soule thus wounded see 144. She has no rellish of the dà intiest meat But onely on distracted thoughts she feeds The spiced wine to other palates sweet Mocks hers alone and odious loathing breeds Thick sighs and tears from her own mouth and eys Echo the storm which in her heart did rise 145. Oft she renewed her suit but su'd in vain At last grown faint and sick she ask's him how He would her Murder answer Such a stain Will ill become said she thy dainty brow In the unnaturall furrows of whose frown The seeds of my unhappy death are sown 146. But when this mov'd him not who like a Rock Stood firm upon his solid Chastitie Her finall resolution she awoke And all her strength with it that she might be Provided to correct her loves mishap By valiant managing her plotted Rape 147. Watching her time she takes him all alone And harpy-like one Tallon clapping fast Upon his Clothes least hee away should run Her other Arm about his neck she cast Loose was her Coat and shewed her more full Then he desir d to see or I to tell 148. Thou art my prisoner now said she as I Have long bin thine though thou did'st scorn thy prize But I 'm resolv'd of thy Captivitie To make some use Thou shalt no more despise My prayers for I command thee now to be Whither thou wilt or no happy with Mee 149. Perhaps thy needles Maiden modesty Stay'd by thy Lover to be ravished Then be it so But if thou still deny My loyall Love I swear by thine own Head Which yet I onely worship that no blood But from thy Heart shall these my Wrongs make good 150. I will exclaim and tell the houshold how With lustfull force thou here surprised'st Me This monstrous Crime will cost thy life for know My Ly can soon out-face thy Veritie Had'st thou not better take thy pleasure here Than be for nothing thought a Ravisher 151. Whil'st thus Her lust foam'd Joseph makes all haste How to escape and loosning secretly His upper garment which she grasp'd so fast Leaves that to Her and out himself doth flye Wise Serpents thus their Ears against the Charm Do stop and cast their skins to scape the harm 152. Potiphera an hideous out-cry 〈◊〉 Her Handmaid first then the whole familie Scar'd with the noise into her Chamber breaks Where on her Bed hearing a wofull sigh Behold said she this garment Which of you Would think the Hebrew slave so bold should grow 153. He thought because his Master was from home My faith had been so too He thought that he Might as his Lords Vice-gerent freely come And challenge right unto my chastitie 'T was time to cry which I no sooner did But hee the guilty Hypocrite was fled 154. He fled but left for fearfull haste behinde That Pledge of his unfort'nate impudence For confident he me should willing finde He gun to doff his Cloths Come bear me hence From this curs'd place but bring the Cloak with me That Potiphar his Dailings Badge may see 155. When he came home she met him with this Lye And threw the garment to Him for her proof He took no time the businesse to try But judg'd that argument more than enough Joseph's to Prison sent a place lesse warm To him but sweeter than his Mistresse arm 156. He lay not long oppressed with his Chain But ev'n the Jaylor He his Prisoner takes Such pow'rfull sweetnes doth in Virtue reign That all Spectators she her subjects makes Heav'n would not suffer other Bonds to hold Him whom Lust's Chains and Charms could not infold 157. The Keeper now keeps nothing but his name The Keys at Joseph's girdle hang and He Is in this closer Stewardship the same He was in Potiphar's large familie Yet has no Mistresse which might make him be As ill in Prison as when He was free 158. At length the guerdon of his worth drew neer And dreams which had occasion'd his low state Help him to climbe up into glories sphear The great designs which uncontrolled Fate Was into Egypt ready now to bring Are in a mystick vision shew'd the King 159. Their curious brains the old Magitians beat About the Riddle but were all too weak To peirce that mighty cloud wherein the great Secret inshrined lay The King must seek Some wiser Head and whod'yee think was hee But this young Hebrew this the Man must be 160. He teacheth Pharaoh what the Kine did mean Heav'n shew'd him feeding upon Nilu's shore Why sev'n were wonderous fat and sev'n as Lean Which did portend the famine Which the store What both the kindes of Corn foretold what cares Were requisite against the following years 161. First thanks to Heav'n cryes Pharaoh then to thee In whom its Spirit I so plain descrie And who can better my assistant be Then he who holds all wisdom's Monarchy The throne and scepter shall continue mine But all the rest of Egypt shall be thine 162. Then his own Ring his royall Love to seale On Joseph's hand he puts and him invest's With purest Linnen on his neck which steel Had lately gall'd a golden chain he cast's And his own second Chariot to him gave Who lately into Egypt trudg'd a slave 163. Thus what hee was to Potiphar before What to the Taylor now hee 's to the King The soveraign Steward and the Governour Set but his Prince aside of every thing And here at length to justifie his dream His Father and his Bretheren reverenc'd him 164. Thus Chastitie's pure King his Champion sees Amply repaid who having got Command Of his own flesh and blood can rule with ease A Kingdoms reins in his unspotted Hand Take notice Psyche and remember this The Case may once be thine which here was His. PSYCHE OR LOVES MYSTERIE CANTO II. Lust Conquered ARGUMENT Lust who in ambush lay the On-set gives To carelesse Psyche as she gad's abroad Charis the over-powred Maid reliev's Phvlax unmask's the Feind
every thought which labour'd to comprise What she had but half-seen makes her complain Her thoughts were dazeled as before her Eyes Yet still she thinks and still she loves to be Puzled in that delicious Miserie 7. And happy Yee stout Eagles happy Yee Crie's she whose genuine Eyes are tempered To 〈◊〉 brave pitch that the full Majestie Of your beloved Sun can never shed Such 〈◊〉 extremities of Heav'n but you Can 〈◊〉 them in as fast as they can flow 8. You perch'd on some safe Rock can sit and see When the young East unlocks his rubie gate How from the 〈◊〉 bed of Roses hee Sweeter than it doth rise what Robe of state That Day He chooseth and what Tire of light He on his Temples bindes there to grow bright 9. Into his Chariot of flaming Gold You see him mount and give his purple Steeds Leave to draw out the Day You see him roll'd Upon his diamond Wheels whose Bounty breeds That populous Family of Pearls which dwells On eastern shoares close in their Mother-shells 10. You see him climbe up to Heav'ns silver Hill And through crosse Cancer make the Houres run right There with his widest Looks your own you fill And ryot in that royall Feast of light Whil'st to your eyes your souls flie up and gaze On every beauty of his high-noon Face 11. You see him when into the steep-down West He throws his course and in th' Atlantick Deep Washes the sweat from his 〈◊〉 Brow and Breast And cools his smoking 〈◊〉 and goes to sleep Among the waterie Nymphs who in his rest Waft him through by-paths back into his East 12. Thus the kinde Day makes all her houres attend Your undisturbed Joys But fainting Me With one poor minute she will not befriend That I my fairer sweeter Sun may see Yet why blame I the Day She 's clear and fair But you adulterate Eyes too cloudy are 13. Had you been constant such had been my Blisse But you with faithlesse cowardize gave in Surely I 'le be reveng'd on you for this Till you repent your Treachery in Brine Perhaps when Tears have wash'd you clean the pure And free face of my Spouse you may endure 14. These querulous sighs by their tempestuous Blast Drove on the Cloud and now the Rain began Dropps great and numerous down her Cheeks made haste For more and greater still came crowding on 〈◊〉 either eye-lid sprinkled in the Crowd A living Rainbow on its margin show'd 15. But as the Storm swell'd high in Phylax flies And much adoe his yearning sweetnesse had To bridle in his sympathetick eyes Seeing how great a flood Phyche's had made Were not eternall Joyes deep Printed on Angelick Spirits sure now his springs had run 16. But with his Wing he wip'd her blubber'd face And fann'd fresh comfort on her fainting Minde Quairell not with thine Eyes thy Vision was Too visible said hee and they though blinde Perform'd their duty being clogg'd as yet With lazie Dust for sprightfull signts unfit 17. Have patience till that Dust be put to bed And mixed with the grave then shall thine Eye With ample vigorous Beams imbellished Open into a full capacity Of viewing Him whose lovely Princely look Shall be thy safe and everlasting Book 18. Mean while this Token He by me doth send Hoping Thou 'lt wear t for his sake next thine heart No Lover 〈◊〉 woo'd his adored Friend With ticher Present That thou ne'r may'st start From his affection with this Girdie hee Desues to binde thee to Felicity 19. The Ground 's a texture all of Turtles down Which dares call Virgin-Snow both harsh and black For he himself deep dy'd it in his own River of Whitenesse which its Spring doth take From under His great throne where once when He But dipp'd his hand the Fount proov'd Puritie 20. Unto a Grace to spin He put it out That the fine thread might answer her neat hand Then in the Jewell-house of Heav'n he sought What Gems to Honour with this ground The Strand Of pretious India no such Treasure shows Above the Ocean of true Jewells flows 21. Ten thousand glittering things he turned o're And wish'd Thee every one Yet if said He I on my Darling throw this massie store 'T will to a Burden swell my Courtesie She 's tender and I cannot but be so I wish her all but these for all shall goe 22. And those were Jaspers Diamonds Onyxes Topazes Berylls Rubies Amethysts All ready fitted for imbroyderies But richer farr than ever flam'd on Priests Or Princes Crown which as he sending was To set on work another curious Grace 23. His Snowie Mother waiting all that while At his right hand melted down on her knee And sweetly begg'd that Office In a smile His usuall visage toward her and Thee He grants her kind request Yet stay says He And let thy Needle of my choosing be 24. A Twist of Glories o'r his shoulders thrown About his back a sportfull Qniver roll'd Of metall in this grosser World unknown The thrice-refined Quintessence of Gold Yet was the splendid House lesse pure and fine Than were the sweet Inhabitants within 25. No sooner He unlock'd the glorious Lid But a pure Cloud of living Joys and Smiles Which in that merry Region had been bred Breaths out it self and the Spectators fills With vigorous Pleasures and with fresh Desires To view that Fountain whence such Blisse expires 26. Innumerable arrows there doe lie Keeping each other warm with mutuall flames For mystick Ardor is the metall they Are made of metall purer than those Beams Which play about the starrs or those which flow From Phebu's eys when they in High-noone glow 27. The finest Rays which darted purest light From his owne crown great Love himself did cull And these said He shall be my Arms in fight With this Artillery I 'l my Qaiver fill The Heavn's already bent from East to West And that 's the Bow by which my darts I 'l cast 28. Ther 's no such thing beleeve it Psyche there As leaden Arrows steep't in Scorn and Hate Each Dart's a sonn of splendor and does wear A rich remembrance of its Masters fate For in his blood the blood of Love dy'd deep Its tincture and its virtue it doth keep 29. With these he wounds his best beloved Hearts And by the wound sets ope to Life its way Life is the point of these mysterious Darts Which with pure Joy and dainty Vigor slay They slay indeed yet still reviving be They nothing murther but Mortality 30. The Hairs of softest Flax grow grosse and course When these draw neer so delicare are they Yet cruell steel strikes with lesse boysterous force And with lesse fatall certainty doth slay Immortall Eys alone can see them but Not fence the Blow if they at them beshot 31. Love choosing one of these from its bright Nest Applies it towards his all-peircing eye From whose acute intention there prest A Ray so potent that immediately The yeelding Dart
does answer it and now Becomes a Needle and its Eye can show 32. Then from his golden Locks that curled Grove Where thousand little Loves for ever play He pluck'd an Haire and this said He will prove Sufficient Thred to finish all thy gay Imbroyderie 't will stretch and alwaies be Longer and longer to Eternity 33. Heer take thy Tools and let th' Invention be Thine owne Conceit for who can better fitt The Emblematick gift of Chastitie Than thou the Mother both of Me and it She bowing low her thanks and Dutie throws Before his feet and to her work she goes 34. Millions of Graces tripped after hâ—r The fair attendants on her 〈◊〉 rain Unto that Tower of living Chrystall where Thy Vision lately Thee did entertaine That Miâ—â—ie Way which downe Heavn's Mountain flows Its beauteous smoothnes to her footsteps ows 35. Oft had she trac'd it for you see the Way Is broad and Heavn's faire amplitude doth suit Yet ne'r with cheerlier Count'nance than that Day 〈◊〉 the decotum she did well compute Rejoycing that this Virgin-work should be 〈◊〉 to the Mother of Virginity 36. The Castle Gares did in a smile stand ope To see their Queen and bid her wellcome in She looks about her in that curious shop Of Purities uncertain where to ' gin Nothing dislikes Her but she spends her care Among so many Bests which to preferre 37. The lofty Roofe of the illustrious Hall With Sighs and amorous Languishment was seel'd From whence upon the princely floor did fall Full many an hearty Teare which there did yeeld A 〈◊〉 Pavement which the cool Grounds Kisse Into chast firmitude did chrystalize 38. The Twilights teares 〈◊〉 in the Laps of flowers Reflected not so 〈◊〉 Heavn's rising Eye When Phebus let in the diurnall Howres And trimm'd his face upon the Morning skie As these reverberated that fair Look Which from the Virgins entring face they took 39. The Walls impeopled were with all the stories Of those whom Chastity had cloth'd in White From antient Abels most unspotted Glories Unto the latest Beames of Virgin-light That Abel who first to his 〈◊〉 tied Martyrdomes 〈◊〉 in whose Bed he died 40. But at the upper end a Table hung All of one sparkling Diamond faire and high Whose brighter lines can by no Angells tongue Be fully read It was the History Of Love himself crav'd by art so divine That every Word the Table did out shine 41. Long look'd shee on this pourtract and forgot By looking long almost for what shee came The Sight 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 her eys that shee had not Her wonted power to be Queen of them At 〈◊〉 shee calls them home and bids withall Her heart come back which out with them had stole 42. Then ô. cries shee that this unworthy Hand Could draw those lines of Blisse of Life of Love A thousand yeares I d be content to stand And practise heer so I at length might prove Artist enough to forme one Copy which With more than all Heav'n would the Earth inrich 43. But my Almighty Lord and Sonne who did React his stories on this diamond sceen By his owne finger can be copied Onely by it Though He would make a Queen Of worthlesse Me yet He was pleased still In his poor Handmaid some defect should dwell 44. This Word straight summoned into the Cheek Of all the Graces which about her prest An universall Blush to see how meek Their Empresse was And give us leave at least Say they to copy this Humility More due to Us than unto royall Thee 45. But turning to the next her studious eye And reading in that Table fairely drawn The sweet Exploits of her Virginitie She blushed more than they and of their owne Blush made them all asham'd to see how farr It was out-blushed and out-grain'd by her 46. What help cries she for He is Lord and King What help if he be pleas'd to have it so If He my Memorie next his owne will bring And print it in a Book of Diamond too 'T is not the picture of what I did merit But what his love hath made me to inherit 47. With that the Graces all upon their knecs In a conspiracy of reverend Love Assault her thus Seek no more stories these Of thine the best imbroyderie will prove Degrade not what thy Son preferres nor be Because he loves thee thine owne Enemie 48. Nay gentle Sisters sweetly she replies I love my selfe too well to be so proud Let other Hands applaud my Victories But to mine own it must not be allow'd Were that my Work this Needle at each letter Would prick my Heart because I was no better 49. Loe in that Rubie Table there I see A heav'nly Storie well the Man I know A pretious Friend both to my Lord and Me When We with Him were Sojourners below Pure was his Life pure was his Office too Cleansing the Way where Purenesse was to goe 50. Whil'st on the noble Baptist thus her Eye And Praises dwelt a Grace had fill d in haste Her lappe with Lilies and the mayden prize Into a Chair of Alablaster cast The gentle Virgin smil'd at first to see 't Then down she sate and made her Cushion sweet 51. Her diligent Maydens compasse Her about And with a Jewell each one ready stands To her pure Work she falls and as she wrought A sweet Creation followed her Hands Upon her Knee apace the Table grew And every Figure to the Texture flew 52. As active Fancy in a Midnights Dream With strange extemporall dexterity What Sceens what Throngs what Worlds she lists doth frame Making the most divided things agree And most united quarrell though one Cell Be all the room for this vast spectacle 53. So wrought the nimble Artist and admired Her selfe to see the Work go on so fast Sure the ambitious Historie desired To this its own new honour to make haste And purchase to its single Rubie Beams The various Lustres of ten thousand gems 54. The forward Figures crowded close for all Would needs come in and rather chose to be Justled and throng'd and nipp'd into a small Yet a well ordered Epitomie Than in that little Dwelling loose their seat Where sweet Contraction would make them more great 55. And now the Girdle proves a Multitude Of sundry things made friends and tied in one But eminent among the rest is shew'd The lovely Master of the businesse John One-different John who as the Work doth rise Lives preaches washes suffers prison dies 56. Th' Imbroyderie finish'd thus that with more speed She might present it to her mighty Sonne She gives command her Birds be harnested Quick as the Word her ready Maydens run And from the milkie shore of the next spring Five Paire of her immortall Pidgeons bring 57. Her Coach was double gilt with that pure Light Whose grosser part fills Phebu's face with glory Not glaring like his Eyes but Milde and White Shining much like its Owners Virgin-storie Her Coursers take their place and
〈◊〉 nor ever failes to hit Its blessed Marke whither on Prayers Wings Or Contemplation's it takes its flight And there with busie Angels rank'd it sings Admires adores and studies to forget There is a Breast below which look's for it 110. How often has his fainting Body made Complaint of his injurious Piety How often has it cri'd I am betrayd My life and spirits all away do flie And smile in Heav'n whilst I below am left To live this Death of death and life bereft 111. That Cave his Palace was both safe and strong Because not kept by jealous Door nor Barr Those Groves his Gardens where hee walk'd among The Family of Dread yet knew no feare Fear 's proper Region and Dominion is A guilty Breast more than a Wildernesse 112. Those Bears those Boars those Wolves whose irefull face Strikes Terror into other Mortall Eyes With friendly Mildnesse upon him did gaze As on old Adam in calme Paradise They slandered are with Salvagenesse No spleer They owe to Man but onely unto Sinne. 113. So wilde so black and so mis-shap'd a Beast Is Sinne that other Monsters it doe hate As a more monstrous thing then they and cast About how to revenge it But the Gate And Looks of Purity so reverend are That dreadfull Beasts wait upon it with feare 114. The beams of this Angelick Life at last Broke out and summon'd in the Admiration Of all the Countrey Man that runder Beast Convinc d by these Examples learn'd their fashion Behold that thronging Rout which hither flies See how they stare and scarce beleeve their Eyes 115. These Deserts nothing lesse than such do seeme Being crowded from themselves and now become Judea's Towns and fair Jerusalem Which hither have remov'd their populous Home What now has John lost by his private Cell To which whole Towns and Cities flock to dwell 116. And having now so fair an Auditory The noble Ermite is resolv'd to Preach Behold sayes hee the Dawn of that great Glory Which to behold the Patriarks did reach Their Necks and Eyes through many a shady thing In your Horizon now begins to spring 117. O faile ye not to meet his spotlesse Beams With undefiled Hearts for such is He And will Baptize you with refined streams Of searching Fire Then first be Wash'd by Me My Water for His Fire will you prepare As must your Tears for this my Water here 118. Observ'st thou Psyche how that silver stream It s limpid selfe doth through the Girdle winde This Jordan is looke how the People seem At strife who first should enter in to finde A better Baptism in those floods which may Their fruitlesse Legall Washings wash away 119. But mark Who standeth there how sweet his Eye How delicate and how divine his Face Embellish'd with heart-conquering Majesty Wert thou to choose thy Spouse would'st thou not place Thy soul on Him 'T is He ô no it is As much of him as Jewells can expresse 120. To be Baptiz'd but not made clean comes He Who is more spotlesse than that living Light Which gilds the Crest of Heav'ns Sublimity He comes to be Baptized and wash white Baptism it selfe that it henceforth from Him And his pure Touch with Puritie may swim 121. As when amongst a grosse ignoble Croud Of Flints and Pebles and such earth-bred Stones An heav'n-descended Diamond doth shroud Its Lustres brave ejaculations Although it scapes the test of Vulgar Eyes Yet a wise Jeweller the Gem descries 122. So John his Master straight discovered And Heav'n forbid that worthless I cries He Should wash a thing more bright then it and shed These lesse clean Waters upon mighty Thee Dear Lord my great Pollutions bid Me fall Prostrate and unto thee for Baptism call 123. If I be Lord thy gentle Spouse replies Pay then thy Duty to my first Injunction It must be so This Mandate did suffice The Saint and He submits to his high Function Cast but thine Eye a little up the stream Wading in Chrystall there thou seest them 124. Old Jordan smil'd receiving such high Pay For those small Pains obedient hee had spent Making his pliant Waves ope a drie Way When numerous Israel into Canaan went Nor does he envy now Pactolu's streams Nor Eastern Floods whose Paths are pav'd with Gems 125. The Waves came crowding one upon another Unto their Lord their chaste Salute to give Each one did chide and justle back his Brother And with contentious foaming murmur strive To kisse its Maker and more spotless grow Than from its Virgin spring it first did flow 126. But those most happy Drops the Baptist cast Upon his Saviours head return'd with Joy And to the Wealthy Ocean making haste Amaz'd the Treasures which there heaped lay The Deeps look'd up and op'd their richest Breast To make these Guests a correspondent Nest. 127. See there thy Spouse is on the Bank and more Than Heav'n come down and pitch'd upon his Head That snowie Dove which perched heretofore High on the all-illustrious Throne of God Hath chose this seat nor thinks it a Descent Upon such tearms to leave the Firmament 128. And Heav'n well witness'd this strange truth which at That wonderous instant op'd its mouth and cri'd This is my Darling Son in whom are set All my Joyes Jewells O how farre and wide That Voice did flie on which each Wind caught hold And round about the World the Wonder told 129. This businesse done to Court the Baptist goes Where lusty Sinnes as well as Herod reign Long Sanctity had made him fit with those Proud Enemies a Combat to maintain He who does nothing but his Maker fear Against all Monsters may proclaim a War 130. Behold how Pomp besots great Herod there O what impostumes of fond Majesty Pride puffs into his face Dares there appeare A Censor now a just Truth to apply Home to the King and tell him that his Eyes Should rather swell with Tears his Breast with sighs 131. Yes there the Heav'n-embraved Baptist is Who feareth not but pittieth to see A Prince made subject to vile Wickednesse Great Sir the Match unlawfull is cries He O farre be it from Kings to break the Law For whose Defence so strong their Scepters grow 132. Since to thine own Commands just duty Thou Expect'st from these thy subjects Let thy Neck Not scorn to thine own Makers yoak to bow The Precedent may dangerous prove and wrack Thy Throne and Kingdome if thy People read Such stat and high Rebellion in their Head 133. Thy Brothers Wife to Him as neer is ti'd As He himselfe ô teare Him not in sunder You murder Him alive if you divide His Heart all one with Hers The worst of Plunder Is Mercy if compar'd with this which doth By tearing off one Halfe unravell both 134. God who has this Enclosure made and Her To Philip given still hath left to thee And thy free choise an open Champain where Millions of sweet and Virgin Beauties be Adorn thy Bed with any
never trouble Worms But Psyche's toss'd and torn with civill storms 6. She from her Palace Window saw her Griefe Must'red in terrible Battalia In vain within she looked for Reliefe Where nought but empty Desolation lay Logos and Thelema were absent He To Violence Pris'ner to Enchantment She 7. Syneidesis indeed stay'd still behinde But by her stay made Tortures doe so too Full in the face of Psyche's wounded Minde The guilt of this Rebellion she did throw Blame not the Passions said the if they Revolt Thou to their Treason op'dst the way 8. Had'st thou been carefull how to weild thy Might And in due time approv'd thy self a Queen Strait had'st thou held the Reins and driven right Thy royall Chariot Still your Beasts had been Themselves as loyall unto you and milde As now they salvage are become and wilde ' 9. When in a stealing Preface to the Flood The first streams sliely creep with ease may We Divert their course into some other road But if We sleight what seems so weak to be They grow upon Us strait disdaining more Our strength than wee their Weakness did before 10. You scorn'd the Passion 's breeding Garboils You Forsooth on Safetie's wings sate mounted high And pray what is that Rivulet come too now What wants it of a Sea's immensitie It is a Sea which though perhaps it may Not clense your Crime can wash your Life away 11. And where is Charis where is Phylax now O you were too secure their aid to need You well could lend them to poore Heav'n I trow A place which more did want their Help Indeed You 'r a great Queen at Home and can command Look how your Subjects your high will attend 12. Unhappy Psyche stung by these Reproaches Receiv's the wound full deep into her Heart Which with her blood her Lamentations broaches And thus she streameth out her double smart Nay then I pardon them without if thou Upon my heavy Griefe more load do'st throw 13. Cruell Syneidesis why staidst thou heer To grind my dying Soul with neerer rage Why joyndst thou not with them who vex Me there At distance Must my bosome be the Stage Of thy more dangerous undermining Wrath Which from my verie Heart diggs out my Death 14. Are these thy thanks to Me who alwaies kept Thee next my self and hugg'd thee in my Breast How little dream'd I that a Viper slept In this my neerest and my dearest Nest Yet be assur'd by gnawing out thy way That thou thy self as well as Me shalt slay 15. The Priviledge of other Vipers Thou In vain expect'st who art more Fell than they That decent Vengeance they their Damms do owe Which by sage Natures righteous Law they pay But surely thou art of a kinder breed Thy Matricide all pardon must exceed 16. Yet what gain I by thy Destruction Who thee and all those Rebells deerly love Unfortunate Me who cannot die alone But in my single Death all yours must prove And which is worse than Death betrayed I By your mad rage thus oft at once must die 17. But sterne Syneidesis who knew full well She on irrefragable Truth did lay The ground of all her Actions 'gan to swell With confident Scorn and yet awhile gave way Since She her Loyall Duties part had done To see what Psyche meant Who thus went on 18. O Charis would'st not thou bid Me Adieu But by discourteous parting leave poore Me Unwarned and unarmed Grant it true That my deserts could no invitement be To stay Thee heer My misery at least Might wooe thy Charity to be my Guest 19. O Phylax Why wilt thou forsake Me who 'Twixt Me and Danger hath so often spread Thy Wings impenetrable sheild That Foe Who in the Grove under thy Conquest bled Was but a single Feind Why then shall thy Brave Hand not reap this fairer Victory 20. How shall I grapple with this monstrous Crew Confederate against my desolate Head Whom one Antagonist did then subdue What reason then soever made thee speed Unto my Aid is multiplied now And how how canst thou less Releif allow 21. O Prince of this my consecrated Breast O thou whose Majestie did not disdaine To make suit unto Me but oft profest By thy Ambassador thine amorous pain And sweet-tormenting Longings for my Love What makes thy tender Heart forgetfull prove 22. Hadst thou for ever not remembred Me I had not been mock'd with a tast of Bliss Why did not Aprodisiu's Treacherie Prevent the worse extremity of this That soft and single Death why dy'd not I But am reserv'd a thousand times to die 23. What profit has to my soul's Treasurie Accrew'd that I so oft did Fast and Pray What brake the Bottle wont of old to be The trustie Store-house of our Teares What Pay Have all my faithfull amorous Groans and Sighs If I must proue mine own slaves Sacrifice 24. What meant this Token which did gird my Heart So close to Thee if Me you cast away Was this the Farewell you did Me impart When you some other Love had chose which may Monopolize your constant favours and In banish'd Psyche's place for ever stand 25. No wonder if my Passions mutinous prove Breaking the Yoke which ti'd their faith to Me If blessed Jesus can forget his love Knit in this spousall knot of Chastitie How can I longer be displeas'd with them Vnless I could and dar'd fall out with Him 26. O all my Joyes take Psyche's long Adieu Dwell somwhere else where you can finde a Room My tumid Griefs have left no place for you But made my whole usurped Heart their Home And more than so Far far must you flie hence To scape my Sorrows vast Circumference 27. And you poor Hopes your time why doe you loose In hankering here in my unhappy Breast Goe goe I give you leave goe forth and choose In any place but this a fortunate Nest. Be confident you cannot faile else-where For all Misfortunes are collected here 28. But ô Disconsolations be you free For I resign my selfe your totall Prey Why should I not embrace my Misery When still to look and look in vain for Joy Doubles self-torment Why should I alone When all things hate me else my selfe bemaone 29. Whil'st thus she feeds on desolate Vexations The Rebells at their Councill busie were Where tir'd with hard and knotty Consultations Which course was best to wreak their Wrath on Her Up rose Suspition and first looking over Each shoulder thus did her Advice discover 30. Princely Agenor and you Sisters all Great is the businesse We have now in hand And Heav'n forbid our Caution should be small Haste may be good when once wee understand The way is clear If otherwise to run Is onely with more speed to be undone 31. Anger 's Advice were sound if Psyche were So weak a thing as her Opinion makes her But on what Rocks shall wee our Vessell steer By this untried Card if she mistakes her Fear would she speak could
shew you such a List Of Psyche's Powers as soon would coole our Haste 32. Alas how can wee force the Queen if she Deny to yeild when wee our battery make Is not the Palace and those Gates wee see All of immortall Metall We may break Our Engins and our Plots and Furie too And sooner than those Walls our selves undoe 33. A lingring Leaguer what can that effect Unlesse we hope at length to starve her out But she long since all Dainties did neglect With which the whole World had her Table fraught Her Prayers and her Heav'n her diet were And now she 's all alone she best doth fare 34. But as for Us who at the Siege must lie We fed with Hope of Victory must starve Before we get it For what will supply Us daily with Provision to serve So many Mouths which Psyche fill'd till now And if she be shut up so must they too 35. Besides who knows but some of her Allies Phylax or Charis or some such strong Friend May rush upon our backs and by surprise Both our Design and Us in pieces rend New is the Lesson in the Grove you read Can you forget how Aphrodisius sped 36. Nay you have heard of Heav'ns immortall Son In whose vast hand Omnipotence doth reign That Hand which when great Lucifer begun To let his Eyes but glimmer with disdain Tumbled him headlong into Death and Hell I tell you Friends this Christ loves Psyche well 37. We cannot be too carefull and for my Own part I judge the safest Way the best And this is by a present Embassie With humble Lies and Oaths and Glozings drest To cheat her from her strength So we may gain Our Ends and seem to scape Rebellions stain 38. But let a Vow of Perseverance first Seal Us all sure to our Conspiracy That by her selfe that Passion may be curst Afore-hand who shall false or fearfull be If one should chance to fail why may not two If two why may the Summe not higher goe 39. This said An eye of Doubt and Fear she cast Upon Agenor to observe how He Rellish'd her Words But soon she saw their Taste 〈◊〉 welcome in his palate Instantly I like her Counsell best He cries and You Shall strengthen your Adventure by this Vow 40. Thus shall my Might escape what I did Fear The vile Encounter with a Woman and My Pittie unto You no lesse declare Whil'st in your Front my Majesty doth stand And strike such Terror without any Blow Into your Queen that she shall yeild to you 41. Then calling for a Baçin and a Pin He prick'd his annular Finger and let fall Three Drops of Blood And what He did begin As solemnly reacted was by All The Company Which done again He takes The Baçin and three Elevations makes 42. And may that Blood which still remains behinde Be forc'd to follow these Three Drops He cri'd If ever I unbend my resolute Minde Or from this Wars stout Prosecution slide May this my present Poyson be and here He dipped his Tongue if now I falsely swear 43. Then sprinkling on the back of his Right Hand Another Drop This Martiall Mark said He Shall for a Badge and Memorandum stand Of our now sure and sacred Unity You see our Covenants Rites Now every One Doe what your willing Generall has done 44. Never did Health more cheerly walk its Round When lusty Wine and Mirth the Boule had fill'd Than did this bloody barbarous Baçin crown'd With Rage and Madness Their Rebellion seal'd Thus by this desperate Ceremony They To Psyche speed their Messenger away 45. And this was Love upon whose Tongue although Perpetuall Sleights and Fallacies did dwell Yet with industrious Deceptions now And studied Flatteries she her Mouth did sill She knew the Queen was wise and strong and would With common known Delusions not be fool'd 46. Thus to the Gate demurely come She tri'd It with a modest Knock and paus'd a while Then strok again a timorous Stroke to hide In this soft Preface her meek-insolent Guile The gentle Knock bad Psyche courage take To come and see what it would further speak 47. No sooner had she op'd a Casement and Reach'd out her doubtfull Head the News to know But she beheld where Love did trembling stand With weeping Eyes and with dejected Brow She lik'd the Posture yet demanded why She thither came a false and fawning Spie 48. Love by that Word warn'd to skrew up her Art Fell on her knees and three times smote her breast And Woe is Me she cri'd whose loyall Heart Can finde no milder Language from my best And dearest Prince What strange Mischance doth throw This Wrong on Me and that Mistake on You 49. If to repair to You in humblest Guise Who here immured d'well in Desolation If to discover where the Error lies Whose secret Venome breeds this Perturbation Of your whole Realm deserve the Name of Spie I well can bear this glorious Infamy 50. But if Misprision so doth cheat your Eyes That looking with a jealous Glance on Me They in my Count'nance read an Enemies I must beg leave to tell your Majesty For it concerns my Essence you forget Your Creature and take Love it selfe for Hate 51. Yet your Mistake shall make no change in Me Use your vast Power in any thing but this I still am Love and so resolve to be Nor fear that false and envious Witnesses Can swear Me from my selfe Heav'n cannot frame What I had rather be than what I am 52. Sure I with that right genuine Love which You Hugg next your Soule have some Affinity Can that brave Passion adulterate grow And stain its spotlesse selfe with Treacherie Can Odours stinking Honey bitter bee Silke harsh Down hard that thus you think of Me 53. O no dear Soveraign I am hither sent The soft Ambassadour of Peace to you Nor of my Office does it me repent What wrath so e're stands bent in your stern brow And though I know not what will hence ensue I to my native sweetness must be true 54. I see you thought you ' Company had bent Some treacherous Plot against your royall Head And is 't nor likely they would all consent Their own Life and Heart blood in yours to shed Madame beleeve 't Selfe 's not a dearer Name To noble You than to the worst of them 55. 'T is true a peice of Discontent has put Them in that posture of Defence But by Your Majestie I swear they brew no Plot But what becomes a Subjects Modesty If Mischeife their intention were what Charms Could dead their hands damp their glitt'ring Arms 56. If strong-embattel'd injur'd Patience be A Signe of Treason they are Traytors all But sure this loyall kinde of Treacherie Doth more for Thanks and Praise than Anger call O never be it said that you alone Could in Arm'd Mecknesse read Rebellion 57. By me their homage they present to you Beseeching that with it you would embrace Their humble
Beams Epitomize the Worlds estate of Gems 84. His sword look'd Lightning through its chrystall sheath Whose round Hiltits Victorious blade did crown But yet his Scepter did more terrout breath Such Majestie about it he had thrown The Ball in 's hand was swell'd to that Degree As if it meant indeed the World to be 85. At his right Hand stood Scorn turn'd was her Head Over her shoulder with contemptuous Eye Through a thick frowne her fullen mind she spred And seeing scorn'd to see the Company Nor did she mend or mollifie her Brow But when Agenor's growing rough she saw 86. At his left hand stood gaudie Philautie But dwelt more on a Chrystall Glass she held Eternally neer her admiring Eye In which her foolish self she read and smil'd On her faire lession though the brittle Glass Admonish'd her how vain her Beautie was 87. Before him on a golden Pillar at Whose foot a Laurell and a Palme did grow Upon the back of triumph glory sate Whose dazeling Robes did with more lustre flow Than breaks from Phebu's furniture when He Through Cancer rides in all June's gallantry 88. About Him round his whole Retinue was Dispos'd in royall equipage His owne Attendants had the credite of the place Which glittered neerest his illustrious Throne Then stood the Passions all admiring how This Sceen of Wonders could so quickly grow 89. Crafty Agenor having paus'd a while To give respect to his own State and let Psyche both bite and swallow down the Guile About which He so fair a Bait had put By soft and proud degrees vouchsaf'd to stirre And being risen thus accosted Her 90. Did Pitties generous and Soveraign Law All points of Ceremony not forbid Agenor must not have descended now To stand at Psyche's Gate But I am led Below my selfe by Virtue that my Might May help these wronged Passions to their right 91. 'T is Fortunes pleasure that casts me upon These mercifull Designs and I 'm content The Honor's Gain enough this Pay alone My Pains expect Indeed the common Rent By which my most renowned Self I keepe Are the Revenues I from Glory reap 92. And for these sillie Creatures sake who thought I had been but some single Errant Knight I let this glimpse of what I am break out To teach their Error my authentick Might Needs no supplies from them This Part of my Ne'r-conquer'd Train dares Heav'n and Earth defie 93. I was resolved by this Swords dread Flame To sacrifice you to my Wrath But now You are a Female thing I hold it shame To make my Conquests honor stoop so low I 'm loth the World should say Agenor drew His Sword and like a Man a Woman slew 94. In Womans blood my Weapon never yet Blush'd for its base Exploit nor will it now Begin its shame and a vile Victory get Unlesse enforc'd by Fortune Fate and You. But I forget my selfe through Courtesie Pretious are Princes Words and few should be 95. Love knew her Cue and stepping gently forth Great Queen said she I chosen am to be My suppliant Sisters Mouth And may this Earth Ope hers to close up mine if Falsitie Break from my lipps or any Fraud conceal What They and Truth and Justice bid me tell 96. What Heav'n has made Us 't is our Blisse to be And that 's your Subjects Though cross Error now A confident Blot throws on our Loyalty The lest of treacherous Thoughts We disavow Alas what would the Members gain if they Combine their Wit and Strength their Head to slay 97. Yet your wise Majesty full well doth know That as your Self a Free Prince are so We Are Free-born Subjects Nature does allow In our sweet Common-weal no Tyranny She knew this mutuall Freedome best would bless Both Prince and People with joint Happiness 98. But what broad Innovations rush'd of late Into our State justling out Liberty O that wee could not feel Had it been 〈◊〉 Which thrust on Us this boistrous Misery We had been silent But wee know what Hand Hath stoll n our Freedome and by whose Command 99. Nor I nor any of my Sisters were Suffer'd our Selves in quiet to possesse We could not Love nor Hate nor Hope nor Fear We could not Sorrow know nor Joyfulnesse Nor any thing that pleas'd not Them who had A Prey of all our Priviledges made 100. Surely wee had a legall Title to What ours by reverend Natures bounty was Yet snatch'd from thence wee must be press'd to goe And serve abroad we knew not where alas Nor e'r shall know for how should wee comprise Mysterious things and Matters of the Skies 101. Nor is this sad Case onely ours who are Inlanders here Your Subjects too abroad Who at your Cinque-ports with perpetuall care In gathering your royall Customes stood Are loaded with like Grievances and they Pray'd Us with our Complaints theirs to display 102. They have not leave poor leave to Hear or See Or Smell or Taste or Feele what is their own But chain'd up in unnaturall Slavery Of their starv d Lives and Selves are weary grown Yet this Griefe more than all their hearts doth break That their Religion too lies at the Stake 103. They must a new Devotion learn and be Tortur'd with Watchings Prayers and Prostrations With Ceremonies of pale Piety With Fastings and severe Mortifications And if this Superstition they refuse Some Mulct on the poor Confessors ensues 104. And by what Law must either They or We Under this Arbitrary Power lie Where is the Free-born Subjects Liberty Who have no power at all unlesse to Die And surely Death a greater Blessing were Than such a Life as We doe groan in here 105. Mistake not gracious Soveraign what I speak As if I charg'd the guilt of these our Woes Upon your Soule My heart-strings first should crack With their own Torments loud e'r I would loose My Tongue in such a slaunder you alas May with your Subjects for a Sufferer passe 106. A Sufferer in that which nearest lies And dearest unto every Princes Heart Your royall Honor in our Miseries Is rack'd and tortur'd and torn part from part Ask not by Whom but recollect who were They whose bold Charms in Court did domineer 107. Logos that wiley Fox Was never well But when on you and Us he made a prey Some hansome Tale or other He would tell Whereby to your Mistake He might betray Your unheard Subjects From your Highness thus He stole your Eare onr Liberty from Us. 108. His Majors Minors Maxims Demonstrations With most profound Deceit He gravely drest And by these sage and reverend Conjurations Pour'd Cruelty into your Gentle Breast And made you count his Plots good sober Reason Which in the Passions must have gone for Treason 109. Hence issued those Commands which day by day Illegall Burdens on our Backs did heap And to this sad Necessity betray Our loth Soules that they could no longer sleep In patient Silence Though all Warrants came From his fell Hand
they wore your gentle Name 110. Some woefull Comfort it had been if We Had to one single Tyranny been damn'd But We at Home in forrein slavery Were held A Grievance we would not have nam'd In reverence to your Credit could the thing Have easie grown by our long suffering 111. What is that Charis unto Us that she In our Free State such arrogant sway must bear Or what made you so weak a Prince that We Must be Commanded by a Forreiner We grant She 's brave and Princely Yet wee know We owe Allegiance to no Queen but You. 112. She came from Heav'n if wee her Word may take But what woo'd Her from such a place as that To dwell in this ignoble World and make Her high Selfe stoop unto she knew not what I would be loth to wrong Her Yet I fear There 's something in 't why Heav'n gatrid of Her 113. And being here what-was the Trade she drove But how to barbarize your gentle Breast With strange Austerity and to remove Us from your love with which We once were blest Your smiles she all monopoliz'd and left Us quit of all things but your Hate bereft 114. If this Devotion be and heav'nly Zeal What is Unnaturalnesse Alas that We None but destructive Piety must feel And by Religion consumed be Alas that Heav'n and Godliness must thus Be forc'd to suffer injury with Us 115. Nor is proud Phylax one who with less Art Hath conzen'd you into this Tyrannie Soft are his Wings but cruell is his Heart Sweets in his Looks Gall in his Thoughts doth lie Fair does He speak you but the bait is cheap His streams run smoothest where the chanell's deep 116. Were you a Youngling and devoid of Friends Whose riper Arms might help your tender Hand To sway the Scepter then what he pretends With tolerable Sense perhaps might stand But must your Nonage still goe on and He For evermore the Lord Protector be 117. Now by your honour mighty queen 't is time For you no more to think your self a Childe Know your own power and loose it not in Him Who has your credulous Love too long beguil'd 'T is no discredite for a Prince to throw Away an Error and with it a Foe 118. Your Confidence in Him which flames so high Was kindled by his service in the Grove Yet what if that were but a Mysterie Of deep deceir and no exploit of Love If Phylax and not Aphrodisius were In all that Sceen of Charms the Conjurer 119. Who but the noble Aphrodisius there Bravely forgetfull of his own life from Immediate Death wide-gaping in the Boar Your helpless soul did reskew And from whom Did Phylax 〈◊〉 you but from his Imbrace Who your deliverer and your Lover was 120. And then enrag'd With shameless spight to see You to another your protection owe Upon the courteous strasngers Piety The powers of magick Malice He did throw How much more Monster was you Phylax there Who made the goodly Knight so foule appeare 121. Yet well it were if he would onely trie His Charms on Aphrodisius and for bear To exercise on Us his Witcherie But We alas so Metamorphoz'd are With that Rough-cast of shapes He on Us cleaves That you in your owne Subjects He deceives 122. We seem like Fiends for Rebells sure are so And monstrous things in your abused Eye Although ev'n Phylax in his Heart doth know Our Lives are not so deare as Loyaltie To honest-meaning Us And whose was this Desperate Enchantment if it were not his 123. 'T is true He talks of Love and needs will be The Paranymphus of the heav'nly spouse But surely I should ken as well as He All Mysteries of Love The whole world knows That my Creation onely aims at this And is my naturall Art less mine than His 124. That the Etheriall Prince makes love to you As to the dearest she that treads his Earth I easily grant because so well I know Your Majesties incomparable Worth But Heav'n forbid that I should Him esteeme So strange a Spouse as Phylax maketh Him 125. Sure He is King of sweetnesse and Delight And with more zeal abhorrs all Tyrannie Than Phylax loves it Sure his gentle Might Strives for a correspondent Victorie Not all the world shall make Me think that He Will ever wooe his Spuose by Crueltie 126. Lents Embers Vigils Groans Humi-cubations Tears Pensiveness disconsolate Privacie Severest Arts of all Mortifications Are not conditions required by An earthlie Suiter and can Heavn'ly He Imbitter thus his deare Suits Suavitie 127. Can He expect his tender spouse should prove Her Loyaltie pants with intire affection By nothing but self-hatred can his Love Finde no Security but your Destruction Pardon my fear great Queen you love not Him Whom such a spightfull Lover you can deeme 128. But farr be all such Omens hence Had I Or Nature any Glass which could present Your totall self to your considering Eye The gallant sight would make your heart repent This dangerous Heresie that Heav'ns gentle King Would use so harshly such a lovely thing 129. What is there of Delight of Love of Joy Of Grace of Beautie in this World below Or that above which did escape a way From the Creator's fingers when on you Himself he wrote and bade your Bosome be The Vniverse's rich Epitomie 130. But Phylax brews this cruell-flattering Plot Because it is his Rack and Hell to see That Fate or Fortune Psyche should allot To any Spouse but Him This makes Him be So subtly active in his secret Art How he may you and your great Suiter part 131. O then first for your own illustrious sake And next for Us wrapp'd up in you beware Of his Designs in time Just courage 〈◊〉 In what deserves your speediest stoutest Care Nor you nor We can be secure winle He Both from your Court and Favour 〈◊〉 be 132. Nor can your Palace be a dwelling Place For safety so long as Logos or Charis thus revell in your Princely Grace One Edict may 〈◊〉 them all and farr From this their 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 Treachery Pack them to that foule place where Trayters lie 133. So shall your royall self securely dwell And your 〈◊〉 undeceived Hand Sway its own Scepter So shall We dispell By prest obedience unto your Command That caus lesse Error which upon our Head The foule Blot or Rebellion hath spred 134. So shall our reskew'd Liberries appear In their own Looks So We by Love shall doe More of your Will than disingenuous Fear And lawlesse 〈◊〉 e'r hal'd Us to So you no more shall mark'd and dreaded be For Rigor but reign Queen of Clemencie 135. So shall your sweetned Countenance proclaim That you Lov 's dear Adventure doe profess So shall you court with your Eys answering Flame Your Spouse's beams So shall His Tendernesse A soft capacity find in your Heart Of his destroying yet enlivening Dart. 136. Here bowing low Love sealed up her Lip With a Kisse on the
in these Herbs doth any Serpent sneak Them to enyenome or my Safety check 215. My serious Labours and my ridgid Fear Fright hence the tender Sons of Luxury Distempers and Diseases Guests which are Fed at the Bord of Superfluity In health and vigour I can night and day Trade with my Maker and my Prayers say 216. He though no wanton Bathes have softened My carelesse Skin which tann'd and rough you see Though all my weeds be of a rurall Thred Spun by Neglect and by Simplicity Esteems nor Me nor my Condition poor Because I build my Hopes upon his Store 217. His royall Store which since this World below So narrow was fills Heav'ns vast Treasury And till the Sons of Dust and Ashes grow As high as that in vain they look to be Enrich'd by it But there 's a Way by which We Dwarfs to that Sublimity may reach 218. A strange Way which does by Desentions Wings Teach Us to soar These Contrarieties Into the field not onely Nature brings But Grace with opposite Cures meets Maladies Pride threw Us down when we were perched high Our ladder to get up's Humility 219. Humility that Art enobled by His own Profession whom all Heav'ns adore Himselfe He Lowest made who was most High And of the Richest King became most Poor By his Example teaching Us that We Must onely by Rebound exalted be 220. Psyche with great contention deign'd to hear Him hitherto but could endure no more What Pitty'tis said she that now thy Beer Hath long stood waiting for thee at thy Door Thou art no Wiser yet this signe doth shew Thy Dotage is past Help Poor wretch adeiu 221. Then with relaxed Rein admonishing Her smoaking Steeds They snatch'd her Coach away With sparkling foaming fervor copying Her hasty indignation untill they Drew neer the Citty where their pace they bate Marching in statelier slownesse to the Gate 222. The People gaz'd upon her as she past And fill'd the Street with Wonder Every Eye It s foolish homage in her way did cast And by that Admiration raise more high Her tumid Looks who had the more to scorn The more Spectators did her way adorn 223. For whilst some prais'd the Coach and some the Steeds And all her Person who rode Queen of them With carelesse Looks Contempt about she spreads Both on their Admiration and on them She lov'd the Honor yet lov'd to despise What in her own esteem was her best prize 224. So when a burly Tempest rolls his Pride About the World though mighty Cedars bow Though Seas give way unto his greater Tide Though Mountains lay their proudest heads full low Before his feet yet still He roars amain And rusheth on in blustering Disdain 225. On many Pallaces her Eye she cast But yet could not vouchsafe to view them long At last contemning all she saw she prest With insolent fiercenesse through the gazing Throng Crying These Cottages can afford no room For Psyche's Entertainment I must Home PSYCHE OR LOVES MYSTERIE CANTO VI. The Humiliation ARGUMENT HEr heav'nly Friends by soule-subduing Art Recover Psyche from her shamefull Glory And sure to seal upon her softned Heart Religious Meeknesse Phylax tells the Story Of her immortall all-producing Spouse And then her own originall Vilenesse shows 1. BUt what is Home unto unhappy Her Whose onely Castle is surrender'd to A Pack of Rebells who resolved were To use the licence of their Conquest so That she should in her own Dominion Have no power left her but to be undone 2. She might have safelier call'd all Tempests in And to the loudest Windes fet ope her Gate Or giv'n her Key to Bears and Tigers then To those more dangerous Beasts whose fair-tongu'd hate Does work by this Prerogative that they By Honey poyson by Imbraces slay 3. Flat Enemies are honest harmlesse Things Because they tell Us what We have to fear But double-hearted Friends whose Blandishings Tickle our Ears but sting our bosomes are Those dangerous Syrens whose sweet mayden face Is onely mortall Treasons burnish'd Glasse 4. These are the Pits whose mouths with flowers spred Sweetly invite our Feet unto a Fall The golden Cups whose Lips are sugeted To the dissembled Poyson ours to call The crafty Hooks which in a dainty Bait To catch the Liquorish Palate lie in wait 5. These are those flattering Pipes whose wily Tune Enchants the silly Birds into the Net These are those fragrant Bedds of fair-look'd June With smileing Roses and with Lilies set Where th' unsuspecting Gardner to surprise By fatall sleight perdu the Serpent lies 6. These are those Delilahs whose weeping Eye Whose sighs whose Kisses whose Imbraces be The truer Wit hs and Ropes and Web where-by They binde the stoutest Sampsons on their knee Where while they hope to rest they polled are At once both of their Liberty and Hair 7. These are the politick Hyena's who Make bloody Thirst in humane Accents speak And with such sweet Hypocrisie can wooe The heedlesse Swain compassion to take That to his Foe his door he openeth And in fond Pitty letteth in his Death 8. These are those Judas's whose Lips can drop The honey of a friendly Salutation And with a Kisse seal the soft bargain up Though in their Hearts a trayterous Conjuration Lies rankilin and they study how they may In Looks and Words of Love their God betray 9. And surely Psyche by this Treason had Been cheated of her life and selfe if He Who in his Judas tryall of it made Had lent no Pitty to her Misery Had Jesu's tender Goodnesse not out-rid His faithless Spouse who now from Him was fled 10. Charis and Phylax He a while with-drew That being left unto her selfe she might Of her own Weaknesse take convincing view When she occasion had and cause to fight But now He sends them back to help Her down From the high Ruine where He saw her thrown 11. Make haste said He my Love and Her Distresse Call for your speed 〈◊〉 To you full power I give To ease Her of that wretched Mightiness Before it split her Heart to undeceive Her cheated Soule and shrink it till it be Little enougn to fit my Heav'n and Me. 12. They having thrice ador'd his Foot-stool flew Upon the wings of Thought through every Sphear No Lightning ever made more haste to view The East and West at once than this swift Pair Of earnest Messengers or with more Light Did all Spectators startled Eyes afright 13. For when the Passrons saw them darting neer Immediate Terror upon them did seize Down fell their changed Looks and Necks though Fear Was left at home she present seem'd in these The suddennesle made Psyche too afraid And both her Courage and her Chariot stay'd 14. But though the first Assault of Lightning be Pointed with Dread and Awe the second does Break forth with more abated Majesty And in our Eyes at least some Brightnesse loose Custome though young and breeding yet can make The dint and edge of any strangness
Then gorgeous Summer came and spred his way With Gales of gentle Aire and Clouds of Spice Whil'st jolly Flora in her best array As prodigall is of her Varieties But plainer Winter did more distance keep And farre behinde his burning Chariot creep 119. The Sea however surly the first Day No sooner heard her great Creator speak But her Rebellious Waves she flat did lay And op'd her mighty Womb from whence did break The Winged Nation all Pair by Pair The Musicall Inhabitants of Aire 120. The other Germane Brood whose moister Wings Abhor the drying Windes she kept at home Where through the Deeps they flie strange-shaped things Which though brought forth live in their Mothers womb A womb of wonders whose dimensions can Afford a full flight to Leviathan 121. Leviathan whose smoking Nostrills blow The Sea of Fire which from his Mouth doth break Whose dreadfull sneesings by their flashes show The brazen Scales which seal his mighty Back Whose Beacons dare out-face the Mornings Eyes Whose Heart in hardness with the Milstone vies 122. Leviathan who laughs at Him that shakes The bug-bear Spear and 〈◊〉 the idle Stone Who steely Darts for wretched Stubble takes Who to the Iron sayes Vain Straw be gone Who makes the boiling Sea answer his Wrath Who where he goes plows up his hoary Path. 123. He at whose dismall generation Fear Fled far away and nothing left behinde But Might and Boldnesse which compounded were Into the Mettall of the Monsters Minde He who exalted in his thoughts doth ride The Soveraign Prince of all the Sonnes of Pride 124. But now the Sixt Day dawn'd and Tellus is Commanded to bring forth her People too She heard the Voice and with strange Activenesse Bids Beasts and Reptiles with her answer goe They started up and cri'd Loe We are heer Before the Words sound left their Mothers eare 125. Hast thou not seen the gallant Horse whose Eye Is fed with living Lightning whose high Neck Is cloth'd with mighty Thunders Majesty Whose glorious Nostrills Terrors language speak Who never would beleeve the Trumpets sound But with proud nerceness swallows up the Ground 126. Who with Impatience doth the Valleyes paw When he hath smelt the Battell from afarre Who mocks the Sword and brave disdain doth throw Upon the Quver and the glittering Spear Who both the Trumpet 's and the Souldier's shout With his more martiall Ha ha doth flout 127. Hast thou not seen Behemoth that vast Mount Of flesh and bone that Earths Leviathan Whose monstrous Thirst though many a living Fount And River it hath slain still trusts it can Through the profounder Channell of his throat All Jordan ev'n in time of harvest shoot 128. Whose Navell is a Knot of Power whose Loins The Mansion of Strength whose massie Bones Which to their sockets steely Grissells joyn Are Brasse the lesse the greater Iron ones Who mounts his mighty Tail so high that He Seems like the Hill that like the Cedar Tree 129. These goodly Creatures and ten thousand more Some great some small did Tellus then bring forth But who shall now reign Prince of all this Store And of the Oceans more numerous Birth This was so high a bus'nesse that the great Creator will for it in Counsell sit 130. A Place there is retired far and high In the bright Tower of eternall Rest Roof'd pav'd and walled with Immenfitie In at whose Door no Creature ever past Th' Infinite Three there by joint Consultation Determine of the Work and of the Fashion 131. Then stepping down to Earth this Triple One Takes up the next Dust that lay at his feet Which he compacts and moulds and frames so soon That the quick shape did rather seem to meet His Hand than follow it and every Part As wak'd by 's touch up from the Dust to start 132. Then round about the Universe He reach'd His mighty Arm and cull'd from every Thing The choicest Excellence what had inrich'd Their Severall Tribes to trim their breeding King That they more willingly might Him obey In whom their own and the Worlds Treasures lay 133. Fair was the Image For its form was true To that brave Modell which th' Eternall Son Had for himselfe design'd And that which drew Him to this Work was that Design alone All things but wait upon this Mystery The World was made that God a Max might be 134. As yet this hopefull Fabrick was no more Than a meer Statue fair but cold and dead When loe the kinde Creators Breath did pour Lifes Flood into its Nostrills whence it spred By the Veins Channells into every Part But chose its Manour-house amid'st the Heart 135. That Breath immortall was as flowing from His Bosome whom Eternity calls Sirc And kindled by its Blast so pure a Flame As shall out-live Heav'ns stoutest fairest Fire 'T is not the Crack and Ruine of the lesse Or greater World that can the Soul suppresse 136. Thus Adam op'd his Eyes by which such beams Of inbred Majesty did look abroad That now again the portly Creature seems The royall Image of his mighty God Heav'ns Soveraignty doth shine in God and who But Man looks like the King of all below 137. Nor are his Looks in vain For in his Hand Are put the Reins of Air of Earth of Sea And under his imperiall Command All kindes of Birds of Beasts of Fishes be Which though you now so boistrous see and wilde Before their King at first were tame and milde 138. This Prince of the inferiour World thus made God founds a Pallace where He might reside When all the Earth his Eye examin'd had A dainty place which in the East he spi'd Wonne his best liking where he builds the Seat Of his new Viceroy delicate and great 139. It was a Garden if that Name can speak The Worth of those illustrious Sweets which there A brisk Conspiracy of Joyes did make To prove Heav'n dwelt not in the starry Sphear The Earth look'd poor in all her other Soil Whose Meannesse serv'd but for this Jewells foile 140. No Weed presum'd to show its roytish face In this Inclosure Nettles Thistles Brakes Thorns Bryars Cockle Hemlock rampant Grasse With all those Herbs the meager Wizard rakes Into his deadly Boxes either yet Were not at all or far from Eden set 141. The Yew the Box the Cypress and the other Trees which to Funeralls consecrated be Had there no bus'nesse Nor Death nor her Mother Being as yet conceiv'd No crook-back'd Tree Disgrac'd the place no foolish scrambling Shrub No wilde and careless Bush no clownish Stub 142. Rude Boreas and his Winter did forbear To walk this way so did Distempers Cares Perplexities Sighs Melancholy Fear Doubts Jealousies Seditions Treasons Wars Storms Thunders Lightnings Earthquaks Ruptures Streins Wounds Boils Diseases inward outward Pains 143. For on the Gardens Margin ran a Wall High built with Beauty which begirt it round Delight stood at the Gate and let in all Things like her selfe But whensoe'r she found A
her hardest travell come O who can tell the Pangs by which she was Tortur'd and torn when her unhappy Womb It self unloaded for the Curse was sure Nor could those Torments ever find a Cure 275. In sin conceiving she brought forth in pain And with Pollution dy'd her Progenie Through all Successions her anneiled stain Did propagate its own Deformitie And all her Heirs bind in an Obligation Of Death and what is deadlier Damnation 276. Besides the peevish and importunate 〈◊〉 Of restless Kicking at Heav'ns gentle Law It s fretfull Taint did in proud Triumph stretch Through the whole Current of her Blood which now In humane veins so madly boyls and flames That kindled at the fire of Hell it seems 277. Thus when black Venome has into the Spring Infused Death the Streams which from it runne How farre so e'r they travell still they bring Along with them that first Contagion The furthest Drop knows not how to escape The reach of that Originall Mishap 278. Your Souls I grant rise not from that foul Spring Nor did they ever swimme in Adams veins Yet is the Body so unclean a thing That strait it doth communicate its Stains Nor can the soul be pure which married is To so contagious a Spouse as this 279. Yet call not God unjust who doth commit So fair a Gemme unto so foul a Case Thereby infallibly engaging it To be as black and cursed as its Place O no He still is kind and knows a way Through Wrath and Judgement Mercy to display 280. No Plot of Satans spight shall undermine Or make a breach in the Creations frame Nature shall still proceed and Heav'ns Designe Of Mans felicitie persist the same God-like it is indeed Fates Scales to turne And make them Blest who to a Curse were born 281. Whilst God makes pure Souls dive into this stream Of Blackness gratious He contriveth how To wash and cleanse and re-imbellish them Till they unto such pow'rfull Beautie grow That sweetly on their Bodies they can be Reveng'd infecting them with Puritie 282. Such purging Might in Jesus Blood there flows That from the face of its least Drop doe flie This Stain which at the Root of Mankind grows And all those Blots which on the Branches lie And this dear Fountain in Decree was broach'd Long e'r the Soul by any Taint was touch'd 283. They who desire 't may here refined be Into a Claritude becomming that High Paradise of whose felicitie Edens was onely the faint Shaddow But They who scorn such Bliss would themselves have thrown To Hell though Eve had never help'd them down 284. And tell me Psyche what thou thinkest now Of thy Extraction which from wretched Dust The Scumm of Earth and game of Winds doth flow What of thy rotten Kindred since thou must Corruption for thy Mother own and call Each Worm thy Sister that in mire doth crawl 285. Yet Worms are ly'ble to one onely Death A Death which quickly will it selfe destroy But thy Composure in its bosome hath A Living Poyson that may finde a way To kill thee with surviving Death by which Thy torture to Eternity shall reach 286. Think well on this and if thou canst be proud Who by the Pride of thy first Parents art With this destructive Portion endow'd And from thy Birth betroth'd to endlesse Smart Think what vast distance lies 'twixt worthlesse thee And the Almighty King of Majesty PSYCHE OR LOVES MYSTERIE CANTO VII The Great Little One. ARGUMENT THe Angell convoys Psyche to the Sceen Of Mercies grand Exploits to shew Her what Dear Care Heav'n took to wash her bosome clean From the foule shame of every sinfull Blot Betimes he 'gins and from the morning Glory Of Loves bright Birth lights in the blessed Story 1. ILlustrious Spirits of Fire who e'r you be This Lesson will be no discredit to Your towring Flames nor must Heroick Yee To Schoole to Psyche's Legend scorn to goe Such Sparks as you for all your glittering be In your Originall as dim as she 2. As other Fires at length to Ashes grow So must brave Yee Yet they were lighted from Some generous bright Originall but you And your Extraction did from Ashes come Whether forward you or backward turn your eye Your Bounds are Vilenesse Shame and Miserie 3. Examine Alexanders Monument Or Helens Tombe and marke what there does lie Or if your Nostrills dread the banefull sent Of their in-vain-embalmed Majesty Trust that strong Proof which bidds you sadly think That you though great and fair must end in stink 4. But trust not Pride whose tumid Treachery Did to that Rottennesse all the World betray No Poyson yet did ever swell so high Or to such certain Death prepare the way Steep headlong Danger on the Mountains reigns Let them who safe would walk walk on the Plains 5. Plain are the Walks of mild Humility And know no Precipice but planted are With sweet Content with pious Privacie With cheerfull Hope and with securing Fear An Humble Soule which always dwells below Prevents that Ruine which on Hills doth grow 6. The Tempest's aim is at those lofty Things Which rise against it and its strength defie This to the Pines and Oaks Destruction brings Whilst modest Shrubbs beneath in peace doe lie Thus come proud Rocks to rue the angry Wind Which to the humble Vales is alway kinde 7. Humility is provident and acquaints Aforehand with her Ashes which she knowes Must be her End She in no flattering Paints Her sober Judgment and her self will loose She dies betimes how long so e'r she lives And Death but as a long known Freind receives 8. She huggs her Herse and does her Grave imbrace And pants and longs her finall Ev'n to see When in that cool and undisturbed Place Her weary Head to rest may setled be Assured of a Friend whose Care hath found For Her to Heav'n a passage under ground 9. She strongly woo's the Worms to crawle apace She prays not slow Corruption to make haste Toward Death for life she runs and thinks her Race Is long because she yet lives On as fast She speeds as Sighs of Love can blow Her or Fire of unquenchable Desire can spurr 10. O meek Ambition which correctest Pride Into a Virtue and mak'st Venome grow Plain Antidote An heart which thou dost guide Struggles and reaches still to be more low And prides it self in nothing but to be From Prides Dominion intirely free 11. The Seeds of this fair Grace deep planted were In Psyche's tender Heart by Charis hand Which as they sprouted up with heav'nly care To weed and dresse them Phylax by did stand And now to make them flourish higher she Will with her liberall Tears their Waterer be 12. For Phylax had no sooner made an end But She begins first by her showring Eys Then by her Tongue which with their Tears did blend Its Lamentations Woe is me she cries What now should Psyche doe who needs would be Proud of her shame and
of Maturity Thou to this Light lesse fair than him shalt shew Nor need'st thou study to contrive the frame Of his due Title JESUS is the Name 66. More reason shall that Name finde in thy Son Than it of old did in Nuns warlike Heir More noble shall be that Salvation By which his Israel he will repair Than that which from Beersheba unto Dan Gave them no more but earthly Canaan 67. He shall be Great as Great as Might and Worth Can swell an Heros or as stoutest Fame Can with her fairest widest Trump blow forth Which shall be stretch'd with his magnifick Name For to proclaim his Soveraignitie His Stile shall run The Son of the Most High 68. He who is Lord of Crowns and supream King Of Scepters shall establish him upon His Seat from whose high linage he shall spring His most renowned Father Davids Throne Where hee a King of nobler Peace shall sit Than Solomon with all his Wealth and Wit 69. All Jacobs Seed to him shall homage doe And govern'd be by his more gentle Law Yea Time it selfe shall be his Subject too And his long Sithe unto his Sceptre bow The Earth shall sink the Heav'ns shall melt but hee Shall reach his Kingdome to Eternitie 70. And here the Angell paus'd But trembling she Veild in the scarlet of her modest Cheek Repli'd Bright Sir it seems you know not Me A worthless Maid who for your high Mistake Wear no pretence nor may so great a King From a vile Worms polluted Bowells spring 71. Yet though this Vilenesse be sufficient to Excuse Me from such Exaltation Be pleas'd to know I am that Mary who Finding my selfe too mean for any Son Of Princely Davids Progeny to wed Resolv'd to die upon my virgin Bed 72. So shall no sprouts from my unhappy Root Clog the World with their fruitlesse Company So shall I scape Parentall Tasks and not With Childrens Education burdned be Who finde such Work as poseth all my Art In ordering mine own untoward Heart 73. Though I to Joseph now espoused am 'T is but to shelter my Virginity In whose defence he wears an Husbands Name And of my Weakness will Protector be My Word is past that I to God will give My Body back as I did it receive 74. Alas what other Sacrifice have I To render Him for all his patient Love Wherewith he hath thus long sustained my Rebellious Life and mercifully strove With my Demerits O bid me not aspire To what transcends my Reach and my Desire 75. Miraculous Meeknesse How would other Hearts Have leap d to catch this matchlesse Dignity From which this most deserving Virgin starts O how would st thou thy selfe have joy'd to see So high an offer What would'st thou have said Had thy Agenor Gabriels Promise made 76. Her Answer forc'd his Admiration higher And op'd the Door to this sublime Replie Heav'n is not ignorant of thy sweet Desire Thy gallant Vow stands register'd on high Upon a Table neer as white and fair As thine own Heart and Resolutions are 77. Such Vows are Jewells ev'n in Heav'ns esteem Which is the pure Realm of Virginity For there th' Eternall Father wears this Gem With whom the Son and Spirit Virgins be After whose fair Example We aspire And copie it in all our Winged Quire 78. Through Mounts of Miracles God breaks ope a way To keep thee'still as pure as thy Desire When All Things in their first Confusion lay Being a shapeless groveling Mass of Mire Who would have thought the Womb of that Abysse Could have produc'd so fair a World as this 79. But then th' Almighty Spirit spread his Wing Upon those hopelesse Volumes of the Deep And by his generative Warmth did bring To light those Seeds which in that Night did sleep Thus all this populous Universe you see Sprung from the Bowells of Virginity 80. This Holy Spirit over Thee shall hover And with prolifick Virtue thee endow He who on Powers Top doth reign shall cover Thee with his Might a Might which will allow Nature no leave nor possibility To contradict a Virgin-pregnancie 81. This is one Cause and 't is a noble one Why He who shall thy glorious Off-spring be Shall wear the Soveraign Title of the Son Of God for genuine Divinity Shall be 〈◊〉 but in a mystick fashion In the great Businesse of his Generation 82. Doubt not his Power whose well-known Limits spread Wide as his boundless Will the whole World knows How Sarahs dead Wombe now doth live in seed Which past the shores of Numeration flows How the Preists Rod its sudden Almonds ought Neither to Soile nor Seed nor Sap nor Root 83. But I have mighty News to tell thee She Whose snowie Head confest her Springs was past Thy Cousen both in Blood and Piety Cold drie Elizabeth hath now at last Conceiv'd a Son an argument to thee How Nature can by Heav'n corrected be 84. The World had stamp'd the Name of Barren on Her sealed Womb and damm'd the way to Hope Of any Seed yet five full Moneths are gone And now the Sixt succeeds since Heav'n did ope That froazen Seal good cause have I to know The Time who was imployed then as now 85. I bare the Tidings to great Zachary And when his trembling jealous Soul would not Credit my supernaturall Embassie I on his Tongue a Lock of Silence put That he might know God could as easily ope His Spouses Womb as I his Mouth could stop 86. His Silence bids thee trust these Words of mine And since the Hopes of Heav'n and Earth attend With panting Expectation for thine Assent on which their noblest Joyes depend For their sakes yeild and for thy Makers who By Me his best-beloved Spouse doth wooe 87. He e'r since Times first Birth did wait for thee And has endur'd a World of Sin below Stretching his strongly-patient Constancie Through every Age of Wickednesse till now Knowing that Time at length would bring forth thee The sweet Reward of all his Lenitie 88. And now thy mighty Houre is come ô why Mak'st thou a gentle Virtue prove so hard Why by thy rigorous Humility Must ripened Joy and Happinesse be barr'd From all the Universe O why wilt thou Not let the golden Age have leave to grow 89. Why must the gloomy Shaddows which have now Weighed their heavy Wings in hopes to flie Return their Night upon Religion's Brow Which 'gan to clear up at the Dawn of thy Long long'd-for Birth and would'st thou but give way Would straight break open into Grace's Day 90. As when the Moisture which contented was To dwell below and nestle in the Earth Is by the powerfull Sun entic'd to passe Unto an higher Home it issues forth With gentle Resignation and doth rise In meer submission to dwell neer the Skies 91. So now the lowly Virgin conquer'd by The potent Pleasure of her loving Spouse Exceeds her old by new Humility And with her selfe her former Meeknesse throws Before his feet content
to be whate'r His most victorious Love would make of Her 92. Behold said she The Handmayd of the Lord For he hath given Me leave to use that Stile Since Heav'n will have it so may thy great Word My worthless Bowells with Performance fill To Him who made Me I my Selfe resign 'T is fit His Pleasure and not mine be Mine 93. This blessed Word no sooner brake from her Sweet Lipps but to the Top of Heav'n it flew Where in the Mouthes of all the winged Quire It found its Echo and was made a new And pretious Anthem for the Sphears that Day Measur'd their high Dance by this onely Lay. 94. All Nature heard the Sound which in her Eare Spake Life and Joy and Restauration O blessed Musick which so cheared Her That her old Wrinkles into Smiles did run Fresh Fire she glowing felt in every Vein And briskly thought of growing young again 95. For now that Spirit which first quickned her Return'd again and flew to Maryes breast O what Excesse of Sweets and Joyes did bear Him company unto his Virgin Nest O what pure streams of Light what glorious showrs Of most enlivening and prolifick Powers 96. With these flew down Enternities great Son To be a Son of Time and parting from His Fathers Bosome Glories sweetest Throne Chose Ashes for his House Dust for his Home Having taught Exaltation to bow And of the Most High made Himselfe Most Low 97. In vain should I or all the Angells strive To reach at that impossible Eloquence Which might a paralled Description weave For that immense mysterious Confluence Of purest Joyes with which in this Imbrace The most enobled Virgin ravish'd was 98. Onely her spatious Soul the blessed Sea Where all those Floods of pretious Things did meet Knew what it comprehended Glorious She Did taste the rellish of each mystick Sweet In one miraculous Instant and did trie The various Dainties of Divinity 99. For though this Generation had been The deepest Project of Eternity Yet were its Wonders all transacted in Durations most concise Epitomie One single Moment crowned was with this Exploit of most unbounded Power and Bliss 100. O mighty Moment at whose feet all Dayes And Moneths and Years and Ages homage pay Upon whose Head Time all its Glories lays Wishing that thou migt'st never slide away Eternity holds it selfe deep in debt To thee in whom its sweetest Wonders meet 101. This Universe for ever thou dost tie Close to its greater Maker Thou dost join These Mortall Things to Immortality And in one Knot both Heav'n and Earth combine Thou giv'st Fertility a new-found Home And bid'st it flourish in a Virgin-Womb 102. For Mary now the Mansion-house became Of her conceived God who deign'd to take His Pattern from her reverend Bodies frame And borrow part of Her thereby to make A Garment for himselfe that hee might be As true and genuine Flesh and Blood as she 103. O Paradise how poore a Soile art Thou To the rare Richnes of this Virgin Bed That Tree of Life which in thy Heart did grow It self but as the shade of this was spread Here is the Garden where the noble Tree Of everlasting Life would planted be 104. Blush all yee Heav'ns the gallant Virgins Wombe Hath left no Looks but those of shame for You All Glories here have chose their dearer Home And fairer shine because They make no show Here dwells a Sunn whose Count ' nance is a Book So bright your Phebus dares not on it look 105. The most resplendent equall Character The flaming Brightnes of the Fathers Face Hath now vouchsafed to exchange his Sphear And in this lesser Heav'n to plant his Rays Which yet He hath so sweetned and allayd That He consumeth not the tender Mayd 106. Thus when to Moses He came down of old Arrayed all in fire and took his Seat Upon a simple Bush his flaming Gold In mercie to the shrubb reind in its Heat And all the leaves with harmlesse Brightnes fill'd Which He was pleased not to Burn but Gild. 107. When Gabriell had seen this wonderous sight He bow'd his holy Head first to adore His new-conceived Lord wishing he might Have made his dwelling on this blessed Floor And then to take his reverent leave of Her Whom yet to Heav'n He in his mind did bear 108. Whether as He mounted up the News He tells To every Orb and Star but cheifly to Th' inquisitive Spirits whose ears and hearts he fils With all the Wonders He had seen below Till with applause from every Angels Tongue The pretious Name or humble Mary rung 109. Thus Phylax spake When Psyche fill'd with Joy And Admiration cri'd Why may not I Have leave in this dear Mansion to stay Where can I better live or sweetlier die Humilities own Palace best will fit Me who through Pride stand most in need of it 110. If that be thy Desire thou strait shalt see Phylax reply'd a fairer House than this Fairer in more transcendent Poverty And nobler farr in higher Lowlines With that into the Chariot again He takes her up and gently moves the Rein. 111. The ready steeds no more Monition needed For through the Ayr they Snatch'd their greedy way And o're the Galilean Regions speeded No Hills were high enough to bid them stay No windes out-ran them but to Bethlehem Well neer as soon's their Drivers thought they came 112. There lighting down Behold this Town my Dear The Guardian cri'd where Fame once lov'd to grow Jesse's illustrious Sonn was nurtured here Here reverend Samuell did prepare his Brow For royall Honour when upon his Head The Crowns rich Ernest holy Oile he shed 113. This chosen Root in Kings was fertile whose Successive Hands through many Ages bore The Jewish Sceptre till with other Foes Sin stronger than the rest combin'd and tore It from its guilty Owners farr from Home First unto Babylon and next to Rome 114. Rome holds it still and makes this wretched Land Pay that sad Debt its Wickednes contracted How oft has an imperious Command Heavy blood-squeazing Taxes here exacted Drowning in Gall this servile Country now Which did of old with Milk and Honey flow 115. Such miserable Gains fond wilfull Men Condemned are to reap who needs will be Driving the self-destoying Trade of sin To such heart-galling Bonds of Tyranny All those unhappy Nations make haste Who from their Necks Heav'ns gentle Yoke do cast 116. This golden Trick Augustus learned and Summon'd the People to a generall Taxe The Warrants strait awak'ned all the Land And every One to pay his Homage packs To his Parentall Town the Register Of Tribes and Kindreds being setled there 117. This cost good Joseph and his blessed Spouse A tedious journey for the Way was long But short the Days in Winters inmost House Cold churlish Capricorne the Sunn had clung The Morning and the Ev'n so close together That there was left no room for cheerly Wether 118. The holy Travellers through Cold and Frost And
which her self had bred And opening through applauding Tears the way To her exultant 〈◊〉 offered Her Self a prostrate Sacrifice before His feet and taught the World what to adore 145. Cri'd O my pretious Son and more than mine How shall thy worthlesse Mother and thy Maid With due Attendauce wait on thy divine Cradle without thine own almighty Aid How shall my wretched Dust Great Thee imbrace On whom the brightest Angells durst not gaze 146. These words wak'd pious Joseph Who when he Beheld the Infant stayed not to ask Whose or whence was that blooming Majesty But straight bows down himselfe to his due Task Those Beams of such convincing Sweetnesse were That He concludes his God must needs be there 147. With lowly Adoration on the Floor The dear example of his heav'nly Spouse He sweetly copied and his Soul did poure Forth in ecstatick Thanks and Praise and Vows For at the radiant Casement of those Eyes God looking out call'd for that Sacrifice 148. Those dainty Easts of gentle living Light Those diamond Quivers of divinest Love Those Wells of ever-springing Joyes those bright Mirrours of purer Beauties than doe move About the silver Heav'ns when Night is fine Or when the Day in Cancer's height doth shine 149. As the Doves Eyes thrice wash'd in milk upon The neighbour Rivers Chrystall move and play So on the Mother did this Spotlesse Son The Purity of his fair Looks display That by his Eye he might himselfe approve Conceiv'd by none but Heav'ns eternall Dove 150. His skin the seat of softest White and Red Did that delicious Conjunction shew By which his Mothers Blush was married Unto that lovely Doves all-Snowie Hue. Ten thousand Ladies Pencills ne'r could teach A Skin so rich perfection to reach 151. His goodly Head is of refined Gold Being it selfe unto it selfe a Crown O that the fond bewitched Worldlings would Exchange their Avarice and once fall down To worship this diviner Mettall which With surer Wealth their Coffins would enrich 152. The gentle Hillocks of his Cheek present Two soft and living Beds of pretious Spice With which their flowrie Neighbours blend their sent And in one fragrant Combination rise His Lips like Lilies whensoe'r thy stir Thick Blessing drop of odoriferous Myrrh 153. As Berylls marshalled in golden Rings So in his richer Hands are Graces set As Ivory which prides the Throues of Kings When Streaks of Saphirs Lustre garnish it Such is his lovely Bellie onely this Thrills through its Beauty Warmth and Tenderness 154. As slender Pillars of white Marble which On Sockets of the finest Gold do stand So his fair Leggs are builded on his rich And gracefull Feet His Aspect doth transcend The loftiest Excellence of Cedars when They look from their Majestick Lebanon 155. His Mouth the Gate of Sweetnesse is and he Is round array'd with nothing else but Love In this miraculous Epitomie All choise Extremities of Glory strove Which should be most Extream and in that fair Contention every One was Conqueror 156. As Joseph with these Wonders Feasts his Eye The reverent Mother on her Sons dear Feet A consecrated Kisse presents and by That Taste encouraged unto a sweet Audacity she ventured to sip The roseall Dainties of his heav'nly Lip 157. O noble Kisse which might a Seraph hire His highest Orb to leave his Mouth to wipe In hopes to drink in more delicious Fire From this young Altar than from all the ripe Flames of the Empyreum Fire which is Fed with no fuell but pure Joy and Blisse 158. O Kisse which fetch'd the Mothers joyous Heart Into her lip and seal'd it on her Son Which he receiving did his own impart In answer to her sweet Impression O Kisse the sacred Complement between Heav'ns highest King Earths most lowly 〈◊〉 159. This done her carefull and most tender Hands Begin their duty to the noble Childe Whom having dress'd in simple swadling Bands She to her Breast applies whose Bottles fill'd With Milk but more with Joy and with Delight To his first Breakfast did their God invite 160. Then stepping to the Manger on that Bed The onely Bed except her own soft breast Where Hay and Straw were for the Coverings spred She laid Him down to take his hardy Rest Forth with the Oxe his Infant-Owner knew The wondering Asse his Masters Crib did view 161. They both due distance kept and as they could Adored Him who saves both Man and Beast Him who alone did nourish and uphold Them from the Field with a perpetuall Feast Their Manger Straw and Hay they well can spare For his dear Service whose own Gifts they were 162. As there He lay the holy Mothers Breast Grew big with noble Contemplation Which as her Tongue brought forth and sweetly drest In vocall graces all the Cave begun To imitate the Accents of her voice And in soft Echo's duplicate the Noise 163. Almighty Infant who till now said She Wert round arrayed with celestiall Flames Whose Mantle was eternall Majesty Whose Crown was Glories most unbounded Beams What condescent of mighty Love is this Which of that supream Pomp doth thee undress 164. Could Clouts and Raggs have ever hop'd to be Exalted to this strange Prerogative That wretched They should unto naked Thee The courtesie of their poor shelter give Surely henceforth all simple Weeds which be Of kin to these shall pretious be to Me. 165. Let Silks and Gold goe puffe up Prince's Pride Who for their Stains doe need a beauteous Veil This home-spun Rayment will a Body hide When friezing Cold or melting Heat assail Thou art contented to be but thus fine Then let who will for Me their God out-shine 166. Thou art my God this Vestures duskie Cloud No such ecclipse can on thy Glory throw But through its gloominesse my Faith can crowd And see to whom I adoration owe. Loe I adore Thee who art still Most high Ev'n in this Bottom of Humility 167. Fair was thy Throne when Thou did'st mounted sit At the Right Hand of thine Imperiall Father When all the Heav'ns were bow'd to be thy great Chair of Majestick state when Earth did gather It selfe up close and ready stand to be A faithfull Foot-stoole to thy Sire and Thee 168. When the vast Volumes of Immensitie Unto their utmost Bounds were stretched out To spread a correspondent Canopie Over thy glorious Head When round about Brightnesse and Power to compleat thy Port Fill'd the brave Circuit of thy mighty Court 169. But now the Sceen is chang'd now this poor Cell This Manour-house of shame and scorn must be Thy native Palace now thy Throne doth swell No wider than this Cratch now Poverty Has layd Hay for thy Pillow faded Hay Which speaks what Weaknesse thou assum'st to day 170. Now all those flaming Hierarchies which did With Halalujhs fill thy royall Eare Are left at home now thou art furnished With these dull Waiters which stand silent here This Oxe and Asse the onely Servants
how our pretty Lambs did leap and dance What Troops of merrie Wolves came tripping in How were the Bears seiz'd with a gentle Trance How did this Harmony the Lyons win All Salvagnesse was quickly charm'd asleep And every Beast was now a gentle Sheep 198. The Stones look'd up and seem'd to wish for feet The Trees were angry that they stuck so fast All Things desir'd the Melody to meet And as they could unto the Dance made haste With that our silly oaten Pipes wee broke And then our Parts with cheerly Nature took 199. And though our Feet never more nimbly flew Than in their Answer to this Musicks Pleasure Doing their best indeavour to trip true To every Turn and Point and Aire and Measure Yet in our joyous Breasts we felt our Hearts With more Activity dancing their Parts 200. The Anthem finished That glorious Fire About the Company its Arms did spread And homeward convoy'd the illustrious Quire We saw how wide a Gate Heav'n opened To let them in We saw it shut and yeild Back to the Stars their free etheriall Field 201. Thence came We hither and the Promise found As true and noble as our Expectation Which from this Cave shall by our Tongues rebound To every Ear we meet By this Narration Our Hearts shall eased be least by the Wonder Of this Heav'n-crowned Morn they split in sunder 202. But when the Yeares fresh youth returns to deck The Bed of Aprill in its vernall Hue The choysest sweets and Beauties We will pick And wreath a Chaplet for the fairer Brow Of this our blooming Lord. Till when We place Our Hopes of safety in his onely Grace 203. Here with three Adorations to the Sonne They of the Mother and good Joseph take Their humble leave But she when they were gone Deep in her Bosome prints what they had spake The News the Quire the Song the glorious Light Which duely she reads over Morn and Night 204. And well she div'd into the Reason why That glorious Hoste kept distance from the Cave And to these Creatures of Humility These simple honest Swains the honour gave Of being his first Visiters who came To be at once a Sheepheard and a Lamb. 205. But when the Sunne seav'n times himself had shown To all the World and bid it idolize His Beams no more but fall down to its own Almighty Rising Phebus at whose eys His Flames were kindled Janus op'd the door And in her Armes Aurora New-year bore 206. And this was Circumcisions sacred Day Nor would the royall Infant spared be 〈◊〉 under this sad bloody Yoke did lay His tender Neck that exemplary he Who was through all Obedience to runne His Race of Patience might betimes begin 207. There sate He on his yerning Mothers Knee Who with all tendernesse the Work dispatch'd O how much 〈◊〉 in her Heart did she Receive the Knife when it the Infant touch'd But yet she knew her Wound would greater prove If she had broke the Law by too much love 208. Down fell the pretious purple Dew and gave The World sure earnest of what was behinde For 't was resolved it at length should have The utmost Drop his deepest Vein could finde Mean while these few will serve to write the Bonds By which he for the rest engaged stands 209. O liquid Jewells happily have You Be-sprinkled all the Fore-head of the Year The Year which now on his be-decked brow More beauties then the face of Heav'n doth wear The Year which sealed is by You to be From Sins and Mischeifs Impositions free 210. Thus when the Paschal Lambs lesse worthy Blood Bedew'd th' Egyptian Doors of Israels Sonnes Peace and Security for Porters stood And stav'd Destruction from their Mansions Had but this Blush on other Gates been seen Both Grace and Safety had dwelt within 211. Now Januaries Calends washed be By these dear Droppes from all that guilty Gore Which Heath'nish most unholy Sanctity In lavish Floods upon their face did poure Fair shines the Day thus reskew'd and releast From Pagan stains to Pieties pure Feast 212. And now is printed on the Childe that Name Which sweetly sate upon bright Gabriels Tongue When to his Mother with the News he came That Name which sweetens every Cherubs song That Name of Bowells of omnipotent Love Of all the Ioyes that make Heav'n be above 213. JESUS ô what vast Treasures couched lie In the rich bosome of this little Word A Word which spreads its mighty Majesty Through Heav'n Earth and Hell all which are stor'd With reverend Awe when e'r it sounds and on Their bended Knees adore the Virgins Sonne 214. JESUS ô Name of glorious Dainties how Unwilling are my Lipps with thee to part Yet shall thy Musick never cease to flow In pretious Echo's all about my Heart JESUS ô sweeter Name of Life ô Name Which makest famous ev'n eternall Fame 215. These matchlesse Things my Psyche hapned here This simple Place with noble worth to crown But yet these were not all Has not thine ear Been fill'd with Balaams infamous Renown Whose innocent Asse was fain to use her Tongue And check her sillier Master for her wrong 216. This Son of Avarice and Heir of Hell By frighted Balak hired to enchant And heap his Curses upon Israel Was by thy Spouse enforced to recant His dire intentions and change his Tone Against his Nature as his Ass had done 217. Thy Spouse did thrust reverend Prophesie Into his Mouth of Jacobs rising Star Which he himfelf left as a Legacie To all his Heirs and charg'd them to have care That no forgetfulness did blind their Eys From watching when that promis'd Light should rise 218. Amongst their mystick Notes these Words they laid From Age to Age and often read them o'r With dread Devotion being still afraid The Star might chance to deep from Heav'n before They were a ware and spie their souls asleep Whom Balaam had fore-warn'd their Watch to keep 219. No Comet on the World did ever look But strait into their studies them it sent Where after Counsell had with many a Book Through all its flaming Lineaments they went Examining the length of every Hair By its own light which Head or Beard did wear 220. But when Eternities sweet Day began To rise not from the East but this poor Cave A gallant Star into Arabia ran And notice of the glorious Bus'nes gave To Everie Eye which was instructed how To read the Characters of Heav'ns bright Brow 221. Three Venerable Men dwelt there all Grey As well within as they appear'd without Kings of the Villages and Fields where they Reign'd by their secret Wisdoms high Repute No Star but they knew well for from the East They had been long acquainted to the West 222. They looking out that Night their friends to view Espi'd Stranger dress'd in bright Attire To which their wondering Contemplations flew And busie were about the radiant Fire The more they look'd the fairer room they found Where on
more Admitation to ground 223. Eys which have gazed since the Star was set Have read in it a flaming Child upon Whose golden shoulders a large Cross was put Such power has superstitious Fiction To credit whatsoe'r it does espie In the blind Book of its own Fantasie 224. A Book which cunning Hell improves so high That it has often cost poor Truth full dear For Lies embroidered upon Verity Makes ev'n the Ground-work fictious appear And when course Tares amongst pure Wheat creep up They spoyle the credit of the hopefull Crop 225. These sage Observers no such thing descri'd But onely a miraculous Beautie read In this unusuall Star whose Beams out-vi'd All glories that bright Venu's face could plead And when the Day drew on displayed far More cause why this should be the Morning 〈◊〉 226. For when from roseall Aurora's door Fair Titan shak'd his locks and marched out Nor any of the other Spangles nor Brisk Venus could approve herself so stout To stay in Heav'n and view his Soveraign Light But slipp'd aside and waited for the Night 227. But this brave Star stayd still and to his face Told Phebus that he had as much to doe In Heav'n as He that his fire kindled was To light a fairer Day than He could show A Day which sprung not from his vulgar East But chose its Morning where it pleased best 228. This Resolution of the Star did much Amaze the Magi who in all their old Records of Wonders could not meet with such A venturous Apparition inroll'd And why said they at length may this not be The Star which Ballam's quick-eyd Soul did see 229. Then throwing all their useless Books aside They to that God who Balaam did inspire Address their Prayers to be satisfi d About the meaning of that wonderous Fire God kindely answered them and taught them why He check'd the Sunne by that fair Prodigie 230. Heav'ns mighty Love so universall is That through the Schoole of Magick Darknes it Disdaineth not with gracious Beams to press Where in their black Profession it doth meet The Sonns of Night with radiant Mercie and Them to the Day of Life and Bliss doth send 231. Their Sumptures now they in all hast provide Though yet uncertain which way they should tend When loe the Star deign'd to become their Guide And with a moderate pace its course did bend To Palestine that it might not out-run Their Dromedaries mortall Motion 232. Sweeet was their journey O dear Star said they Who would not follow thy Direction What Error now can cheat Us of our Way Who under Heav'ns illustrious Conduct run That fierie Pillar which led Israel We Now envie not who convoy'd are by Thee 233. Thus travelling till Salems towrie Head Had met their Eys they thither turn'd their way Presuming there to find the Princely Bed Whereon the New-born King of Salem lay But now the Star grew wroth and hid its face To chide their doting Error on that Place 234. That chode in earnest but mistaken They Conceiv'd its Office here expired was Having unto the period of their way Now brought them safe Into the Town they pass Swoll'n big with mighty Hopes forth with to see Thy glorious Spouses Infant-Majesty 235. With their great Question every street they fill Enquiring where the native Palace stood Of Him who was born King of Israel By whose bright Star We from the East have rode Said they and come to represent our meet And bounden Homage at his royall Feet 236. Much was the Boldness of the Men admir'd Who now within the reach of Herods spight So stoutlie for another King enquir'd Plainly confuting his usurped Right But this the Valour was of Pietie Which doth securely all the World defie 237. With fears and jealousies this News did pass Through thousand ears till it to Herod's came The guilty Tyrant stung and startled was At the strange broaching of that dangerous Fame His Heart throbbs high his Sceptre seems to quake His Throne to totter and his Crown to crack 238. Yet to elude those threatning Omens He Muster'd up all his cruell Wit to lay Some holie-looking Plot whose subtiltie Both his young Rival and his Fears might slay His rage He cloak'd and in a Synod sought How to resolve the noble Strangers Doubt 239. The Priests and Scribes their reverend Records bring And by inspired Mica's Prophesie About the mighty Point informe the King Who in his Privie Chamber did descrie The bus'nes to the Pilgrims and enquire Each circumstance about their Leading Fire 240. Which having heard at large Goe then said He And may Success your brave Devotion crown Yet grant your friend this easie Courtesie That you will not engross Him as your own When you have found the Infant let me know That I may Him adore as well as you 241. No tedious Entertainment now shall stay Your pious zeal although mine Honor be Ingaged thus a while to stop your Way But at your more convenient Leisure We Shall take such royall course that you shall finde Our Court cannot to Strangers be unkind 242. Here taking leave in Bethleem Rode they went When loe the Star which scorn'd its beams to shew To cursed Herod did again present Their reconciled Convoy to their View Kindling fresh hopes and comfort in their Breast To see themselves from their sad Night releast 243. For Day to them did wear no other face But of black Night till they espi'd this Light And Phebus posting to another place Did with his uselesse beams but mock their sight Onely this faithfull Star directed them Their Way till to its period they came 244. But then it stay'd for all its Work was done And pointing with a perpendicular Ray Upon the Cave bid them behold that Sun Of which it selfe was but the shaddow They Down from their Beasts with nimble gladnesse light To blesse their eyes with their desired sight 245. Their severall Grooms the foaming Coursers took The Pages their Oblations ready made But wondering at the Stables simple Look Which promis'd nothing lesse than what it had To shew the Princes turn'd their eyes to know Of their bright Guide if they were right or no. 246. But when they saw constant Assurance shed It selfe down from the peremptory Star They march'd in cheerly and no sooner had Observ'd the humble Majesty which there Did keep its Court but down they fell and in Prostration their first Homage did begin 247. The Mothers Eyes call'd theirs to admiration As did the Infants unto Ecstacie For in the foft and balmie Habitation Of Her deare bosome He enshrin'd did lie As in the pretious and glistering breast Of Mother-Perl the Jewell makes its Nest. 248. They having kiss'd the ground cri'd out Behold Great King of all the World unworthy We Whom by thy Star Thou sendest for are bold To creep thus neer thy gratious Majesty The Name of King has flatter'd Us a while But We resigne to thee that noble Stile 249. The foolish World surnames
Successor to Smart 2. After Nights soot the face of Heav'n hath smear'd Dayes lovely Beauty all the Welkin gilds When Winters churlish Moneths have domineer'd The lively Spring with youth cheers up the fields When Clouds have weep'd their Bottles out 't is fair When Windes are out of breath Thou still'st the Air. 3. But yet the dearest of thy Blessings is Soft Sleep which thou dost to no Pains deny When Phebus through all Heav'n has speeded his Long smoking Course Thou giv'st Him leave to lie Upon the Pillows of the watery Main Untill Aurora wakens Him again 4. When Trees have all the Summer labour'd hard Their blossoms leaves and fruit in bringing forth The night of Winter thou dost them afford And bid'st their Vigour goe to Bed in Earth Down to the Root strait runs the weary Sap And sleeps close and secure in 〈◊〉 lap 5. When Rivers many tedious Moneths have runne Through cragged Rocks and crooked peevish waies Thou mak'st stern Boreas pittifull who on Their necks a seasonable Bridle lays This bindes them up in Glasse and makes them rest Till they are wak'd by Summers Southern Blast 6. When Man has travell'd with his Hand or Minde For this both toiles and sweats as well as that Thou in a tender mistie Veil dost binde His heavy Head untill his Eyes have shut Out Greif and Pain and Wearines and He Repos'd in Sleeps all-downie Bosome be 7. Yet other Creatures little finde in Sleep But the dull pleasure of a gloomy Rest Which they themselvs perceive not when they reap Man onely by this privilege is blest That Sleep it self can be awake to Him And entertein Him with some courteous Dream 8. He when his Touch his Tongue his Eye his Ear His Nose in Sleeps thick Night are muffled up Can feel can taste can smell can see can heare And in his quick Dispatches finde lesse Stop Than when He wakes for now his Soule alone Through all his mystick Busines doth run 9. O sweet Prerogative 〈◊〉 by which we may Upon our Pillows travell round about The Universe and turn our Work to Play Whilst every Journey is no more but Thought And every Thought doth with as quick a pace Run through its longest as its shortest Race 10. Nor is the Body more befriended then The Soule in its Digestion by Sleep This is the undisturbed Season when The Minde has leisure to concoct that Heap Of crude unsettled Notions which fill The weak Brains over-charged Ventricle 11. In this soft Calm when all alone the Heart Walks through the shades of its own silent 〈◊〉 Heav'n takes delight to meet it and impart Those blessed Visions which pose the best Of waking Eyes whose Beams turn all to Night Before the Looks of a spirituall Sight 12. By this time Psyche having failed through The Infant-Story whilst her Dream did steer Her Soules mysterious Bark she felt her Brow Eas'd of its cloudy Weight and growing cleer Strait Phylax spi'd her looking up and cir d 'T is well thou hast thy Spouses Lodging tri'd 13. How dost thou think this Manger could agree With the most tender Infants dainty Head But by this Copie He commends to thee The scorn of Wantonesse's plumie Bed Thou see'st sweet Sleep is possible upon A cold and churlish Couch of Bord or stone 14. Learn then that 't is not any thing without Which can with genuine softnes clothe thy Rest. Down proves but pretious Thorns 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 doth slout His hopes of quiet Sleep whose treach 〈◊〉 Breast Though with externall Unguents sleek within Is harsh and rugged being lin'd with Sin 15. If Vice and Vengeance had not Us prevented We to the Temple now our way should ake But they long since were there and the lamented Ruines too late their sad consession make Fire and the Roman Rage on it have preyd And all its Glory in the Ashes layd 16. Whilst yet it stood the Virgin-Mother when The Law did cite her to Purification Hast's thither with her offrings and her Sonne To pay obedience to that needlesse Fashion Needlesse to Her who of no Humane Seed Had ever been the spotted Soile and Bed 17. Can Ceremonies think themselvs so clean As to presume to wash the Mornings face When she hath brought forth Glory's Sunne and been New gilded by that Birth with fairer grace How shall the Virgin Christall purer grow What Legall Rites can purge and whiten Snow 〈◊〉 18. Yet is the gallant Morn content to goe So is the spottlesse Chrystall and the Snow And own Pollution rather then not doe Their ready homage to the reverend Law Which by a stronger backed was for She Went summon'd by her own Humility 19. And there arrived She unto the Shade The Substance brought and Truth unto the Type Broad Day She of a glimmering Twy-light made Long breeding and crude Hopes She turn'd to ripe Fruition whil'st She with her Offerings A fairer Temple to the Temple brings 20. A Temple where not one but every Gate Was Beautifull a Temple where each Roome Most Holy was a Temple where though State Shin'd not without Heav'ns Prince did make his Home A Temple which had its foundation Above a Temple which was God and Man 21. When He drew neere the Walls and Pavement smil'd The Roof would fain have bow'd to kisse His feet The pious Incense smelt the sweeter Childe And chang'd its usuall Path with Him to meet It soar'd not up but to the Doore did stretch Finding that neerer way its Heav'n to reach 22. The Cberubs which dwelt close behinde the Veil Had much adoe to keepe themselves within Knowing that from their secret Oracle The outward Temple did the Glory winne In which was now a Higher Preist then He For whom alone that yearly once was free 23. O how the second Temples Lustre now Dazells the first That fabrick reared by Davids wise Sonne did long afore hand bow Unto this younger Temples Majesty And kiss the Dust resigning up its place To this which Jesu's Presence was to grace 24. And now the Mother on her bended knee Before the Preist presents to Heav'n her Sonne Was ever heard of such a Preist as She Who offers God for an Oblation To Her th' Eternall Father sent Him down And noble She returns Him back his owne 25. When reverend Johazar receiv'd the Childe A secret Joy through all his bosome ran Much did he marvell how his Heart came fill'd With more than usuall Devotion Nor did He know that in his Arms much more Than Paradise or than all Heav'n He bore 26. But then being so admonish'd by the Law She payes five Shekells and receives her Soune Were all the World her owne She would bestow It and her Selfe for his Redemption But this poore Price serv'd Her to ransome Him Who came Her and the whole world to redeeme 27. Then two white Pidgeons her own Emblems She Presents as Duties of Purification The gentle Birds a mourning fell to see That they must leave their dearer Habitation
their Fire-branes mixed heavy Chains 262. His Strength deceiv's him and his Bed is now His onely throne where he the King doth raign Of mighty Torments all his Bowells 〈◊〉 Exulcerated with deep-gnawing Pain And Water swelling underneath his Skin Adds scoffing torture to the fire within 263. His shamfull Parts are made more odious by Right down Corruption which grew fertile there With monstrous Vermin whose impatient frie Their most unpittied Prey aforehand tear The leisure of his grave they scorn'd to stay But undermine his Heart and eat their way 264. And yet a Worm far worse then those was got Thither before which did his Conscience gnaw To stisle which long did He labour but The trusty Torment still did stronger grow And wound about his guilty Soule so close That no Inventions power could get it loose 265. His Sinews shrunk and all his Joynts forgot The ready service of their wonted motions The Aire which He had long defil'd would not Wait on his Lungs but frequent Suffocations Forc'd him to die as many deaths as He Indebted stood for by long Tiranny 266. Oft did he call his Freinds but neither they Nor his Physitians durst come neer his Bed For his hell-breathing stinck obstructs the way To Physick and to Freindship Never did The Feinds below more loud for Pitty crie Nor finde lesse comfort for their Misery 267. The dismall scene of Bethlehem-slaughter now Was open layd unto his burning Soule The running shreiking Mothers there he saw And all the Infants Blood which seem'd to roule Into his Bosome in a violent stream Yet not to quench but to augment the flame 268. An hundred Furies at hot contestation Which first upon his bloody Heart should seize With Hells wide mouth and the grand Preparation To entertain him there at large he sees And seems to hear all Ages poure a stream Of cursing Detestations on his Name 269. To Heav'n He would not and he could not cry But let the reins loose to wilde Desperation And now resolved once for all to die Contrives how He might his owne murther fashion And by his never-daunted cruelty Upon himselfe conclude his Tyrannie 270. He thought of Poyson but He had no friend Who would that cruell Courtesie supply Besides he fear'd no Venome could contend With his extreemly-posnous Malady At length by woefull Fortune He 〈◊〉 His Fauchion hanging by his 〈◊〉 side 271. Which as He snatch'd a venturous Page ran in And stopp'd the stroke but could not stop his throat Which straight He opened to an equall Sin And in the face of Heav'n spew'd out his hot Impatient Blasphemies next which He threw His Courses upon all the World he knew 272. Mean while to prison where his Son in Chains He kept the false News of his death was spred Which whil'st Antipater gladly entertains His Smiles became the price of his own head Herod but heard he smil'd and now the Worms Had eat his Bowells at his Son he storms 273. Yet shall that Villan know that I said He Have Life and Rage enough Him to destroy Now by these finall Spirits which pant in me I swear His Life shall answer for his Joy Fetch me his Heart that with these Vermin here Their fellow-trayter I all torn may tear 274. Their fellow-trayter and their Fellow-Son For from my Body sprung both He and They And both conspire in my destruction By Gnawing they by smiling He. Away Fetch me his Heart that having bless'd mine Eye With that deare sight I may the cheerlyer dy 275. Yet not content with this sole Sacrifice To his vast fury he contrives a way How all his Nobles to his Obsequies No lesse than all their Blood and lives might pay That Sighs and Tears might wait upon his Herse If not for his own Death at least for theirs 276. But Heav'n prevented this fell Plot and He Now having five dayes liv'd and felt his Death No Prayers but his wonted Blasphemy Repeated and blew out his finall breath So an old Dragon when his Spirits flit Breaths his last Poyson and his Life with it 277. Hell had his Soul no sooner swallowed But pious Josephs Angel hither came And as the Saint lay on his sober Bed Painted the News unto Him in his Dream Bidding Him now return to Jewry where The storm was over and the Coast grown clear 278. Thus did th' Angel his own Word fulfull And justifie the Prophets Vision For great Hosea did of old fore-tell That out of Egypt God had call'd his Son Joseph awakes and unto Mary shews The long-expected and now welcome News 279. His thrifty House-hold-stuffe then packing up And tenderly providing for his dear And mighty Charge He makes no doubt or stop A pious Breast allows no room for fear When e'r Heav'n summons it but cheerly sets Onward his Way before the Day permits 280. For now the Morn lay long before she rose And dull Aquarius would not wake the Sun Till it was late Thus did thy hardy Spouse In the Years most disconsolate Portion His journey take and teach Thee what to doe At any time when Heav'n shall bid Thee goe 281. This the Ninthe Winter was which seal'd the Earth With Ice and covered his Seal with Snow Since by his own to Wonders He gave Birth Who in a Soil most like to that did grow Bate but the cold and churlish Qualities And what 's a Virgins Womb but Snow and Ice 282. This Age had more inabled Him to bear A speedy Journey and did much allay The scruples of his tender Parents Care Who now with greater haste devour'd their way Than when to Egypt they did pick their Path And thus in peace reach'd their old Nazareth 283. Their Nazareth for sacred Prophesies By adamantine Bands are surely tied To their Effects The Fire shall sooner freeze All Mettalls in a Bank of Snow be tried The Sun because of Night of Drought the Rain Then Falsehood any Prophets Tongue can stain 284. Those quick-ey'd Seers long agoe had seen His Habitation there and had foretold His humble Surname should be Nazarene A Name of holy Dignity of old Which sate fair on all pious Heads untill It was out-shined by the Christian Stile 285. And Psyche what should We doe longer here Come let Us follow their deare Steps and see Some further Marvells of thy Spouse and where He prosecuted Loves sweet Mystery This said He gave his Steeds the Rains and they Together with the Winde snuff'd up their Way PSYCHE OR LOVES MYSTERIE CANTO IX The Temptation ARGUMENT IN the dead Desert Love Whom salvage Beasts Acknowledged by eager Famin is Assail'd who forty Dayes upon Him feasts To her sharp Teeth slie Satan joyneth his Soft Tongue yet both their utmost Powers set But ope the way unto their own Defeat 1. WHat reach of Reason e'r could Fadome why Slight Dust and Ashes vile Corruptions Son The Heir apparent to the Misery Which lives in Death and blends Destruction With all its Life the Worms own
the Life of Man said He Shall lean not onely on the Staffe of Bread But by a surer Prop supported be By the more wholsome Word of God being fed What need We Loaves our Hungers rage to still Out of Gods Mouth comes that which Man 's will fill 185. O most impenetrable Buckler how Slender an Help is triple Steel to thee Seav'n-times-redoubled Adamant must bow To thy lesse vulnerable Durity O Scripture what vain shades and fethers were Goliah's Arms if they with thee compare 186. This Psyche this is that unconquer'd shield Under whose sure Protection Thou may'st goe Although all Hell pitch'd in a Martiall Field Conspired has and sworn thine Over-throw Thy Spouse hath taught thee its great use and He Did fight with none but this Artillerie 187. Yet as the greedy Wolfe once beaten back By that Repulse is but enraged to A second Onset and doth fiercelier make His fresh Incounter Angrie Satan so Bruis'd by this Fall and vexed at the pain Plucks up his Spirits and ventures on again 188. Yet being forc'd to his slie shifts to runne He plausibly pretends the sullen Place To be the stage where Heav'ns illustrious Sonne Should act his Greatnesse too unworthy was And instantly resolves to change this mean And despicable to some gallant Sceen 189. For as a dainty Cloud came by that Way He the usurping Prince of all the Aire With a stern Look commanded it to stay And so gat up into his flying Chair Taking thy Lord with Him who was content To trie what by this new Designe he meant 190. Then bidding the next Winde upon Him wait He through the Welkin scour'd and quickly came For now his Way all open lay and straight Unto the Top of fair Jerusalem Where on the Temples highest Pinnacle He Jesus set and to his businesse Fell. 191. Alone he fell to it His numerous Train Being left behinde and charged to attend Their Kings Return for much he did disdain In case he could not now atchieve his end His envious Elves again should witnesse how A starv'd Man gave Hells Prince the Overthrow 192. He wisely ponder'd that the Arms whereby He first Repulsed was the mightiest were And therefore cunningly resolv'd to trie If he could Scripture bowe to serve his War O Wit of deepest Hell which makes a sword Of Gods own Word to fight with God the Word 193. And then I grant said He that thy Replie Was true but yet no Answer to my Doubt Loe here a Sceen where Thou may'st satisfie By one Experiment every scrupulous Thought If God thy Father be throw thy selfe down For He for certain will preserve his own 194. Is it not Written That He shall Command His trusty Angels to attend on Thee And with a watchfull ready stretched Hand From the least touch of Danger keep Thee free That no rude Stone with churlish Shock shall meet So tender is He thy secured feet 195. Mark Psyche mark the Cheaters Craft how he Mangles the Text and skips what likes him not In all thy Wayes they shall Assistant be So ran the tenor of the Scripture but He knew full well that Precipices were No Wayes for Man and therefore that did spare 196. Be sure it move thee not if henceforth thou Seest any of his Urcheons Scripture spit For they by his authentick Copie know Both how to geld and to adulterate it Or at the least such peevish Glosses make As it against it selfe shall force to speak 197. But with another genuine Text thy Lord Nobly confuted Him and thus Repli'd This Lawe 's enacted in the sacred Word Thou shalt not tempt thy God and Heav'n forbid That I should dare his Providence and think When I plunge down my selfe I cannot sinck 198. Perhaps thy Wonder asks why Satan now He on the Brink of Danger him had set Bridled his Fury and forbore to throw Him headlong thence But thou must not forget That He was jealous still and feared least His Foe at force of Arms might get the best 199. Alas the Chain of all his Power is short Beleeve it Psyche there 's no Mortall Wight But if he would resolve to hold his Fort Might tire his Siege and all his On-slates sleight But silly Men unto his strength make way Whil'st they by lazie Fears themselves betray 200. Satan at this Repulse deep in his Heart Stifled his Griefe and smothered his shame And now resolv'd to act another Part Leap'd on that Cloud upon whose back he came With which He through the wondering Aire did swim Hurrying thy patient Lord along with Him 201. To his expecting Train He swumm for now Put to his last Reserve of Plots he ment To venture all at one great Cast and though Still both that they should see Him foild he went With desperate resolution to the fight Deer was his Credit but more deer his Spight 202. Unto a Mount he march'd whose heav'nly head Despised Basan Carmell Libanus The Alpes where Winter all year keeps his bed With Pendle Calpe Atlas Caucasus And all the proudest Cliffs of Ararat Where Noahs floating Ark first footing got 203. A Mount which on the highest Clouds look'd down And saw all kindes of Weather far below A Mount which seem'd to be Earths soveraign Crown Where never any Winde aspir'd to blow A Mount which bravely reach'd at Heav'n made Far distant Countries subject to its shade 204. Arrived there with a new plate of Brasse His never-blushing Front he fortifi'd Being now upon an Enterprise which was Second to that in impudence and pride When arm'd with spightfull Fury and Disdain He ventur'd to assail Heav'ns Soveraign 205. 'T was was the same Son of Heav'ns eternall Father To whom his stomach then refus'd to yeild Obedience and homage and chose rather To trie it with Him in a pitched Feild Foole who by his first Fall no warning took For what He was the second fight to look 206. A massie Throne of beaten Gold stood there Whose lustre round about the Region spred Plac'd on a Pavement glorious and clear Refined Silver newly burnished Triumphant Arch's and Columns on each side In laurel Wreaths hid and displayd their Pride 207. Here Satan pitch'd him down when loe the Crew Of his attending Elves in humble guise Themselves before his radiant footstool threw Adoring Him with millions of lies Nor durst they from the Pavement stir untill His nod did intimate his gratious Will 208. Then stretching out his Hand he gave the Signe To that brave Apparition which He By sprightfull Art had taught how to combine With his profound but glorious forgerie One Moment was sufficient for the Sceen Before his Hand was quite stretch'd out came in 209. A mighty Globe came rolling up the Hil Which on an aerie Axell turn'd before His stately Throne and to that Bulk did swell That the full figure of the World it bore No Conjurations ever grew so strong As this of all Inchantments the huge Throng 210. There might You see the
and trie How He from Juda's bosome might remove Intruding Hells pernitious monarchie For Heav'n forbid that Pitties Lord should fashioa A way to plunge Him deeper in Damnation 60. O no! may those black Mouthes for ever be Damm'd up with Silence and with Shame which dare Father the foulest deepest Tyranny Upon the God of Love And busie are In pleading it from his own Word although By it they make Him Contradictious too 61. But all the rest were faithfull Soules who stood True to their Lords Cause which they strove to write As He in His had done in their own blood And never started at the sharpest Fight But by their own Deaths studied as they Were able His great Death how to repay 62. James was the first old Zebedees elder Son To whom proud Herods Sword the way cut ope And gave Him leave that noble Race to run Which leadeth straight to Heav'ns illustrious Top. How little dream'd the Tyrant that He did Put on his Crown when He took off his Head 63. The next was Philip who with noble Heat Flew to the North and hunted out the Ice From those dull Hearts which ne'r with Heav'n did beat But with congealed stupid Ignorance freeze For his large Sceen was snowie Scythia where December takes his Walk through all the year 64. When He that Winter all on fire had set With Christian Flames He bent his Course into A Clime which should have been much warmer but At his lifes price He found it was not so For soon He saw that more than Scythias Ice Bound up the Heart of Hierapolis 65. Joves Name had left no room for Jesus there And when He tells the People of the shame The Nails the Crosse his Lord for them did bear He his own Torments did aforehand name Enough of Jesus now said They for We Will quickly make as good a God of Thee 66. Then with a thousand Taunts they pierce his ear And next with nails his sacred Hands and feet And so his Crosse with acclamations rear Where like a Mark to fury being set Flints neer as hard 's themselves they poure upon Him And from their World thus into Heav'n did stone Him 67. Thomas whose Doubts did fix his Faith so Fast That neither Life nor death could make it shake With Jesus in his Mouth through Parthia past And charm'd what Rome could never pliant make The AEthiop's too did hear his Voice but He Resolv'd to reach the Worlds Extremity 68. He had observed how the greedy West Into the East was drawn by thirst of Gold Which had the Suns and Natures Courses crost And into Jndu's Mouth the Ocean roll'd And will none goe a richer prize to win Than that fair Ore said He the Soules of Men 69. Sure Indians Soules of purer Metall are Than that which Avarice doth so far adore Thomas will thither trade though India were More Worlds off than it is from Jordans shore For in his Zealous Sails Gods Spirit blows And not to fetch but carry Gold He goes 70. If Gold be not too poor a Name to set Upon the forehead of his royall Wares Loves Joyes Peace Glory Blisse and every Sweet Of sweetest Paradise He thither bears For these and more than these inshrined be In Jesu's Name Heav'ns best Epitomie 71. With this He traded to make India rich And not Himselfe who now could not be poor As having more than All though not so much As any thing layd up in provident Store He knew his Lord was Plenties King and He Did as his own account His Treasury 72. Close to his work without all further care He falls and having op'd his Merchandize Come Buy saies He for though these Wares be far Above your glittering Ore's adored price Yet you on Trust may goe for all this Blisse Give but your Faith and yours the Treasure is 73. The Brachmans wonder'd at the generous Man So did the sage Gymnosophists untill A barbarous unmoved Faction Pass'd a blinde Act of Spight to seize and kill The noble Merchant who as ready stood To poure it forth as they to suck his Blood 74. Arm'd with their Kings Consent and with their spears Unto his Heart they ope their cruell way Whil'st He with sweet content their Madnesse bears And for his Doubting Hand returns this Pay This finall Pay for that now faithfull Hand Which deep in debt to 's Masters Side did stand 75. The younger Jame's whose noble Family Advanc'd Him to be Brother to his Lord Much neerer grew of Kin by Piety No man with stouter fervor Him ador'd Nor with more resolute Constancy than He Witnesse his reverend Forehead and his Knee 76. His Knee all plated with Austerity Which on the Temples Pavement night and day Did naked dwell till it arriv'd to be Hard as the Marble which beneath it lay There never grew on painfull Camels Knees So stiffe a Proofe of Patience as on His. 77. His Forchead which was sealed with the same Stamp of Severity for by Prostration Its fleshie Tendernesse hee overcame O sacred Impudence of Humiliation Whil'st wicked 〈◊〉 armed were with Brasse His prous Front in Brawn immured was 78. A Brawn which shall hereafter check their Pride And foolish Superstition who by new Coyned Devotion will the Old deride And think no worship from the Body due But in pretence their Conscience tender is Maintain their dainty Fleshes Tendernesse 79. His dearest Meat and drink was to fulfill His Masters Pleasure Ne'r did dangerous Grape Its blood on his abstemious Palate spill Nor stain his sacred Cup for mean and cheap His Liquor was the virgin Fountains were His onely Cellars and his onely Beer 80. Ne'r did the rampant flesh of Birds or Beasts Reek in his Kitchin nor sweat on his Board Chaste Moderation cooked all his Feasts And well she knew how to content her Lord His highest Fare were sober modest Fishes Where Water serv'd for Beer the aptest Dishes 81. Ne'r did perfumed Oiles his Body dew With their soft Flattery of delicious Sweat Unmanly Bathes his skin did never brew Nor cheat his Vigour with effeminate Heate His Limbs in active Linnen us'd to dwell Being never muffled up and lost in Wooll 82. Nor was that Linnen though full course and plain Contemned in the Peoples Eye for they On bended knees were Suiters to obtain His leave their offrings on its Hemm to lay That as hee through the Streets was passing by Their Lips and Kisses they might sanctifie 83. O how imperious is meek Piety Whether it will or no commanding All Spectators into Love and Reverence hee Who counts Blisse by true Honor must let fall All other Plumes and wisely learn to dresse Body and Soule in humble Holinesse 84. Nay now the surly Priest among the rest Of James his matchlesse Worth convinced is And finding him to be the holier Priest Grants him into the Oracle free Accesse Of which mysterious Place he had the glory And none but hee to make his Oratory 85. He was the holier
Priest indeed for now The ancient Priesthood with the Veil was rent The Diademe too was falne from Juda's brow And famous Salems Regall Glory spent But James did there erect the sacred Throne Of his Episcopal Dominion 86. Yet are the Northern Windes and Irish Seas More trusty than the Jewes The Jewes to day Can heap their Kisses and their Courtesies On him whom They to morrow will betray Jew's Mouths unto thy face can speak all good This houre and in the next will suck thy Blood 87. With Acclamations They this Saint had set In state upon their Temples Battlement Where hee no sooner did assert the great Name of his Lord but with one mad consent Of Rage they throw him headlong down and stain The ground both with his blood and with his Brain 88. Zelotes and Thaddaeus that brave Pair When He in Egypt preached had and He In Mesopotamia united were To reap in Persia their felicity This was the Crown of Martyrdome which in The Quarrell of their Saviour they did win 89. Peter the Leader of that glorious Train When he had fix'd the Antiochean Seat For his more reverend Throne a place did gain In Caesar's conquering Citty where the great Irradiations of his Fame did call Romes noblest Strength to trie with Him a Fall 90. This Strength was Simon whose Apostacie From Truth in Deeps of Magick Him did drown But more in Lies and desperate blaspemie For all Gods Rights He claimed as his owne And left no Trinitie in Heav'n but taught That He himselfe alone with it was fraught 91. The Father in Samaria the Sonne In Jewrie and in all the world beside The Spirit He preach'd Himselfe And yet alone Pretended not ability to guide His owne Creating Hand but when He made The Angells granted He had Helens aid 92. This was the surest way he had to gain His pretious Whore to set her on his Throrie And in his God head let her Partner raign Besides to help on the production Of Heresies and blasphemous Portents Hell Thought Females usefull then and always will 93. And so the World will say when it has known Priscilla Maximilla and the Pair Of Philumena's with the double Spawn Of lying Elkai for her wretched share In such Deceits some Eve will still come in As Helen heer did into Simons Sinne. 94. He taught his Scholars in Himselfe and Her To treasure up the hopes of their Salvation And heedless Souls the surer to ensnare He freely loos'd the Reins to every Passion No matter how you live or die said He So long 's your Faith builds on my Grace and Me. 95. This was that Champion by whose Magick skill Befooled Nero thought Him God indeed And pray'd Him by some Signall Miracle To dash those daring Wonders Peter did His Credit bid Him to that Motion yeild And set the Day when He would fight the Field 96. The Day is come and Simon boldly makes The Challenge which was unto Heav'n to file With that his Arms he weighs and spreads and takes His unwing'd flight but turns his scornfull Eye Down upon Peter whom into the Hands Of Justice and of Death He recommends 97. The Clowds had gathered thick about the Skie To guard the fair Heav'n from his soule intrusion Yet their Battalia He broke and by His working Arms unto his high Delusion Forc'd ope the way The People as he went Their Wonder after Him and Worship sent 98. But as the never-beaten Fencer lets His bold capricious us Combatant grow high Before He strikes in carnest and so getts A later but a nobler Victorie So Peter letts his Foe alone till He High enough for a fatall Fall might be 99. Then posting after Him with mighty Prayers The Divells which bore Him up He forc'd away Forth with down headlong his aeriall Stayrs The Conjurer fell and on the Pavement lay Where bruis'd and batter d all in gore imbrew'd His black blood and his blacker soul he spew'd 100. Strait in the Peoples Mouths the Divells crie Peter our God hath by enchantment slain And so did this unreasonable Lie Prevail that He is first unto a Chain Condemn'd and afterward unto a Crosse. Unhappy Rome which mad'st thy Gain thy Loss 101. For Thou no sooner gain'st thy freedome from That cursed Wizard but Thou dost betray Thine owne Deliverer if Simon whom Thou seest confounded by the Power which lay In Peters Prayers were a God ô why Must Peter now not be a Deitie 102. Yet He cries out This Altar is too rich For Me so poor and vile a sacrifice Was not the Cross that glorious Place on which My Master paid the Worlds eternall price Sure were some gallant Seraph hear to die This Engine would his Passion dignifie 103. Yet if I must thus high aspire may I At least obtain this leave of you to show That I desir'd not in this Pomp to die So Hang Me that my reverent Head below May pay its finall Kisses on the Feet Of my most royall Saviour's dying Seat 104. Nero to such Requests as these was free Full glad that He had learn'd a new-found-way To cross and double Crucifixion He Commands his Serjeants not to disobey The wretches wilde Desire but so He died To let Him any way be crucified 105. The Saint thus fix'd on the reversed Tree Now findes his Eyes turn'd from all things below As was his Heart before And joyous He In spight of all his obst'nate Nailes knows how That Place to which his Feet did aime to gaine Which Footstoole Simon reached at in vain 106. Andrew his Brother both in Nature's and In Zeale's and Pietie's much straiter Tie Through Thrace and Scythia travell'd with the grand Charge of appeased Heav'ns sweet Embassie The dark Barbarians wondred at the bright Meridian Day amidst their Northerne Night 107. The Day He brought was that which ows its East Not to the East but to the South for there In priviledg'd Palestine thy Lord was pleas'd First unto his Horizon to appeare It was thy Lords sweet Day on which depends The High-noone of that Bliss which never ends 108. Thence into Greece the restless Preacher came Arrogant Greece who though her own She makes The opposite to the Barbarian Name Yet more inhumane salvage Courses takes Than Thrace or Scythia O that famous Arts Should raise Mens Witts yet stupifie their Hearts 109. Achaia smil'd and with disdainfull Mirth Patrae confuted all that Andrew said His Beggar-God's poore miserable Birth And viler Death They scoffingly upbraid Nor did AEgaeus though Proconsul He Stop but spurre on the Peoples Villanie 110. A Cross they make Him of a new-found frame Whither his meek Desire or their wise spight Projected it which thenceforth bare its Name As it did Him that day A Cross not right Erected and transverse but thwarted so That it a X more then a Cross did show 111. A X the blessed Letter which began His Masters deare Name and his own His Cross It self proclaims He dies a Christian
Name is Mammon and although he be So dead a Lump that aid he cannot lend Unto himself yet to his Deity Almost all living Men do couch and bend Heav'ns King with all his Powers of Love Bliss Works upon Humane Hearts with lesse Successe 69. Both those who see and those who have no eyes Are by his splendor equaly invited For Both are Blinde when they begin to prize His worthlesse Worth and finde their Soules delighted With the bare contemplation of Money Which is their Thirsts Milk their Hungers Honey 70. Thrift that most slander'd Thing pretended is By almost every Age and Tribe of Men Who all inamor'd of this glistering Blisse After the Call of Monies chincking run And tainted with th' immedicable itch Of heaping Riches ne'r think they are rich 71. Before the Image both the sick and well The Rich and Poor the Young and Aged lay Active and hot was their Devotions Zeal Disdaining any Respit Night or Day And mortifying with hard Penance what Soever Mammons Laws allowed not 72. About it s shaddowed feet grew a thick Crop Of every kinde of Sin which taints this Earth Fruits which those fond Devoto's gathered up As fast's the pois'ned Roots could bring them forth The Golden Crime this certain Priviledge wins That it is alwayes rich in other Sins 73. In other Sins and in the righteous Curse Which is by Veng'ance ti'd eternaly Unto the never-satisfied Purse For still those Cormorants are tortured by Vexatious Cares and Fears of Want the more They are incumbred with their growing Store 74. That Store which with such tyrannizing Awe In endlesse bondage holds their Soules that they With any of those golden Streams which flow Upon their Lips durst not their Thirst allay But rather antidate their Hell and learn Betimes in everlasting Drought to burn 75. The Priest which waits upon this Deity Is full as ougly as its selfe is fair The raving wallowing Maenades would be Spruce handsome Ladies if compar'd with Her So would the rankest Witch that ever yet Disfigured was in any Magick Fit 76. Age bends her looks towards that Earth in which Uncessantly to delve is her delight As are the backs of bunched Camels such Is Hers and full as well agrees with Weight All Load is light to Her if but one Grain Of intermixed Profit it contain 77. Her Face all over's plowed up with Care And long and deep the wretched furrows be Her hollow Eyes quite damp'd and dazell'd are By glaring on her glistering Deity Her sallow Looks and shrivell'd parched Skin Confesse what Pains she takes about her Sin 78. Her Nails she never cut but let them grow Up with her Wealth for Scraping was her Trade No greedy Vulture could such tallons show Such dreadfull Claws no Harpie ever had These were the Engins with which she did break Earths Bowells open and the Centre rake 79. A putrid Mantle ti'd about her Waste Was all the Roabs she would her selfe allow Which she had found upon a Dunghill cast A thousand years agoe and which was now Nine hundred Times new Patch'd yet would not She At the least cost of a new old one be 80. Nine stuffed Pouches on a leathern Thong Crowded about her miserable Loins With these of massie Keyes two Bunches hung The Memorandums of her treasured Mines Which Keyes she twenty times a day would tell And reckon what under their Locks did dwell 81. Patrocles was to Her a generous Knight And made his bord the Sceen of Lavishnesse When she with Dainties would her selfe delight Some old worm-eaten Root her Banquet was And when at most her Fare she did enlarge She would in Salt be at an whole Mites charge 82. But planted deep in her unhappy breast Is the black Root of all her monstrous Cares Foule Infidelity which bids her cast About how to with-stand what her vain fears Make terrible and build her Trust upon No Power or Providence but her own alone 83. Besides th' Idea's of her Gold which lay Pill'd there in cursed heaps did rusty grow This Rust its dwelling turn'd into its Prey And on her heart incessantly did knaw Yet was her Idoll unto her so dear That for more Money she more Rust would bear 84. This Hag was Avarice whom Satan held Almost as dear as He thy Spouse did hate Upon her Power He alone did build His finall hopes to bring about his great Designe of Malice for He knew that She Could doe much more with Men than Heav'n or He. 85. Unto her house himselfe in person came And with all condescent of Courtesie Wiping aside the Sulphure and the Flame In which his royall Lips did use to frie Saluted Her who never untill this Occasion from her King obtain'd a Kisse 86. This Favour ravish'd her so deep that She All his Injunctions did with Joy receive First taking her Commission on her knee Which thrice she kiss'd and then her hasty leave To earth she posts where she findes out a Cell Almost as helish as her native Hell 87. For to Iscariots breast she took her way Which foolish He left ope without a Guard With all her venome in she rush'd and lay Close in the bottome of his heart full hard It was e'r she intruded in but now No stone can such proofs of its Hardnesse show 88. Those Words of potent Sweetnesse which did drop From Jesu's blessed Lips could Windes and Seas And Sicknesses and Devills bridle up And every Storm but Judas his appeas O that Man should that onely Monster be Which is too hard for Mercies Suavity 89. As He who boiling Lead has swallow'd down Feels himself all on fire and thinks that though A thousand Seas into his Cup were thrown They could not quench his drought So Judas now Perceived his impois'ned bosome frie In covetous Thirsts impatient Ardencle 90. Millions of Thoughts are raging in his breast And every one of them is all on fire He scorns and hates the Povertie of Christ No other Blisse but Gold he does desire Talk not to Him of penniless Piety What e'r it cost hee must have Gold or die 91. But yet this onely Poison did not swell His heart Another joyned in the plot Deep in the very Sink of lowest Hell Is situate a dreadfull gloomy Grot A Grot which there in ambush seems to lie Hatching the Eggs of all Conspiracie 92. And yet within a goodly House is built Muchlike the Palace of some Virgin Queen With quaint Designs the Frontispice was gilt And the whole Fabrick look'd like Beauties Sceen White Marble were the rich Materials And yet the Workmanship out-shin'd the Walls 93. What full Balconies stately Terrasses 〈◊〉 Anticks fair Compartments handsome Cants 〈◊〉 Freezes and neat Cornishes Brisk and well-order d Turrets Nothing wants That Art could give to make the Out-side fine Yet still the House is gallanter within 94. The double Door with open lips invites All Strangers to come in The Porter there Well learned in all complementall Rites Bids
Traytorous-being Crew 121. That Crew whose severall Stalls were ready built Of burning Brass and all in order placed According to the merit of their Guilt About a Seat whose Canopie was graced With Flames of Soveraign Dreadfulnes a Seat Wide gaping for the Prince designd for it 122. For 't was the Throne that was designd for Him Whom Jesus would have crowned King above But Judas in an heav'nly Diademe Would nothing finde which might oblige his Love Hell had aforehand seiz'd his Heart and He Resolved was to 〈◊〉 his Misery 123. For Satan now unto this Palace came As to the Den of Avarice before When she beheld her Soveraign Lord the Dame Rose from her Throne and met him at the door Where falling on her face she asked what Brought his high Majesty to her low Grot. 124. His red hot 〈◊〉 Sceptre Satan here Reach'd fortn for her to kisse in signe of pe ace Then siniling on her answering face Most Dear Of all my Feinds said He my buis'nes is The greatest that I ever undertook Which if it fails this Sceptre must be broke 125. 'T is true time was when I and Thou did make A brave Adventure in the face of Heav'n When at our Courage all the Sphears did quake And God was to his utmost Thunder driven His Throne did tremble at our rivall Might And had our foot not slipp'd all had gone right 126. But that Misfortune is too poor to break The strength of our immortall Pride Forbid It all my Hell that Belzebub should make Truce with that Tyrant which disherited Him of his starry Kingdome No I may Perhaps be beaten but will ne'r Obey 127. I am resolv'd to finde Him work as long As He and his Eternitie can last My Spirit never must forget that Wrong Which Me into this Dungeon did cast He now has done his worst and I can be But still in Hell should He still conquer Me. 128. Full well I know his Spight Had any place Been worse then this He would have damnd Us thither Yet He forsooth must be the God of Grace Of Pittie and of Tendernesse the Father And silly Men beleeve Him too But We No reason have befooled so to be 129. Yet be He what He will to Men to Us He is a sworn and everlasting Foe And is 't not just He who maligns Us thus Should finde that Devills are 〈◊〉 too I would not wrong Him yet I must not by Respect to His clip mine own Majesty 130. No my brave Will He never yet subdued And I am now too old to learn to bowe Upon my youth his 〈◊〉 strengh He she wed Yet tender as I was himself doth know Ev'n then I yeilded not And shall this Arm Now grown all brawnie not revenge my Harm 131. It shall and must my Considence beats high For now our fight on evener ground shall be He from his slippery Heav'n is come and I Will as sure footing have on Earth as He Besides should We miscarrv We are there Neer to our Hell and no deep Fall can fear 132. And yet to make all sure I hold it best By secret Treason to unlock the way Unto our Conquest Doe but Thou assist My Plot and let Fate if it can say nay How oft when Ramms in vain have push'd the wall Have cunning Underminings made it fall 133. Come let 's away with hate to Christ I burn More than with all my Kingdomes Flames I swear By my bright Mother the unspotted Morn A fairer Virgin then his Mary farr By both my Horns my Sceptre and my Crown That I will win his Blood or loose mine own 134. The cursed Soules within all heard Him swear And clapp'd their flaming hands with damned Joy Hoping that now some fresh Companions were Designd for Them The Gates of Hell gave way Earth split into a mighty Gap and He Ascended with his Handmayd Treachery 135. Then having melted both Himself and her Into the lap of the next Wind he met He shely flew to Juda's Bosome where In with his breath he unperceived got Thus other Plagues infuled in the Aire Steale to the Heart and breath their Poison there 136. As when a Tyrant hath usurp'd a Crown The Arms and Ensignes of the rightfull Heir He blurs and tears and pulls his Statues down And doth their places for his own prepare Leaving no Signe to make the People dream Of any other Soveraign but Him 137. So Satan play'd his part in Juda's breast All characters which were engraven there Of his leige Lord and onely Soveraign Christ His mighty Miracles his loving Care His heav'nly life and Doctrine he defaces And every line of Pietie erases 138. Then by the help of those two Feinds which he Had there confederated Avarice The Mother of all Mischeifs Treachery The ready Midwife He erecteth his Black Standard in th' Apostates wretched Heart And thence his Conquests spreads to every Part 139. And Judas now breaths nothing else but Hell Whose fumes are tumbling all about his brain With plots of spight and rage his breast doth swell And with Contrivances of cursed Gain No Fury ever hatch'd such Thoughts as He Nor brought forth such portentous Villanie 140. O Avarice how flat Idolatrie Is thine who dost vile rusty Wealth prefer Before the King of heav'nly Majesty Whose beams then all thy Gold more golden are Who canst adore what Cankers feed on Who Canst hug base Silver and let Jesus goe 141. Judas the Slave of Gain resolves to sell His most inestimable Lord whom He Should rather keep his thirsty Soule to fill With all the Riches of Eternitie But Avarice his Heart doth so bewitch That He will sell Heav'n onely to be rich 142. His Chapmen are the Preists for They who had Betray'd the House of God to Merchandise Will make no scruple to extend their Trade And count God saleable But in the Price They thrifty are and beat their market low But Thirty silver Peices They 'l bestow 143. Fie sordid Caiaphas and Annas fie Your Law cties shame of this unworthy Rate Consult your Books and they will not denie But ev'n the meanest Man is valued at No lesse then fifty Shekells and will you For God and Man no more than thus allow 144. Does Jesu's God-head make Him of lesse worth Than is the vilest He that breaths your Air Bid but like Chapmen bring your Treasures forth And buy the pretious Wares your Offer square O could you purchase Him indeed the Prize Would make You rich in all Felicities 145. But thou improvident Judas since Thou art Resolv'd to sell a thing whose value is Beyond the power of Arithmetick Art To reckon up proportionate thy price In some more neer degree let thy Demand Make Buyers who this Christ is understand 146. Ask all the gold that rolls on Indu's shore Ask all the treasures of the Eastern Sea Ask all the Earths yet undiscovered ore Ask all the gemms and Perls which purest be Ask Herods Checker ask the
Highpriests Crown Ask Cesars mighty Scepter and his Throne 147. Ask all the Silver of the glistering Starrs Ask all the Gold that flames in Phebu's eyes Ask all the Jewells of Aurora's Tears Ask all the Smiles and Beauties of the Skies Ask all that can by any Thing be given Ask Blisse ask Life ask Paradise ask Heav'n 148. Trade not with these the worst of Chapmen who So fouly under-rate thy Merchandise To John to Peter or to Andrew goe Who better are acquainted with the price Of their unvaluable Lord and see What They will for their own Blisse offer Thee 149. Trie what the Virgin-Mother will bestow For Him whom She holds dearer than her Heart Proclaim thy Market unto Heav'n and know Whether the Angells will not gladly part With more than Thirty silver Peeces for Him whom with prostrate faces They adore 150. Alas though every Sin be Blindnesse yet Hell knows no Crime so full of Pitch as this Nor doth the Sun of humane Reason set In any Night so black as Avarice A thicker than Egyptian Darknesse now On Juda's intellectual Eyes did grow 151. Urge Him no more with Sense and Reason He Resolves to traffique with the Priests for now No other God but Money he can see He nothing sees at all and cares not how He makes his Bargain with them so he may Have but this wretched Summe in ready Pay 152. Thus Jesu's Wisdome did contrive to shew The mighty Patience of his Goodnesse who Though from Heav'ns Glory his bright Selfe he threw Into the Arms of Dust and Shame that so Mans cursed Seed He might Redeem to Blisse By false ungratefull Man betrayed is 153. And now the Chinck of his adored Coin Sounds in his Purse the Traytor hasts to be As good 's his wicked Word and is in pain Till He bring forth his hired Treachery He thinks it an unworthy odious Crime To cheat the Priests who thus had trusted Him 154. O aenigmatick Wickednesse That He To whom his Heav'nly Masters pretious Love Could seem no Bond of Faithfulnesse should be By this so vile obliedgment Bound and prove Faithfull unto his Foes This Psyche this Ev'n to thy Phylax a dark Riddle is 155. So strange a Thing is Mans mysterious Heart No Angells eyes can through its secrets run To sound this Bottome is the Soveraign Art And priviledge of God himselfe alone A certain proof that the Hearts hidden frame Onely from his immediate Fingers came 156. The Caytiff therefore least his Plot should fail And Hells long expectation be prevented Begg'd some Assistance that he might assail His Prey with surer Treason and indented For a full Band of Men The Priests were glad To see the Man so resolutely mad 157. A Troop they had all of Commanded Men Whose hearts were Iron and their foreheads Brasse No Boars or Tygers ever could out-run Their furie when their aime at Mischief was They might have pass'd for Soveraign Monsters but For their fell Masters and Iscariot 158. Some armed were with churlish Clubs and some With keen and thirsty Swords but all with Spight With these at 's heels did Captain Judas come Resolv'd to slay but yet afraid to fight Treason was evermore a Coward and By Number not by Valour doth contend 159. The Ensignes which before the Troop did goe Were wary Lanthorns or bold Torches which Their glaring and unnatural Beams did throw About the Midnight Aire whose shades by such Unlook'd for Apparitions frighted fled Behinde the Hills and Trees to hide their head 160. Thus having marched over Cedron They To yonder Garden came too sweet a place To be this Mischiefs Sceen but yet his Prey The Serpent as thou knowst of old did chase In sweetest Eden and Iscariot who Follow'd his Steps could none but this way goe 161. Thy blessed Lord with his Disciples there Retired was and set himselfe to Pray When loe a Spectacle of greater fear March'd full against his single Face than They Whose arm'd impatient Spight was drawing nigh To sacrifice Him to all Cruelty 162. A black and labouring Cloud hung o'r his head In which his Father veild his gratious Eyes Yet through that Blacknesse his great Arm He spred And reach'd it down to Earth From angry Skies The Lightning never with such terror broke Nor Thunders Trump the hills and valleyes shook 163. For in his Hand a mighty Cup He held In which all Monstrous Things did boile and flame Up to the brimms vast circle it was fill'd With all the Worlds excrementitious Stream Which Veng'ance kindling with her fiery breath Had turn'd into the Ocean of Death 164. That universal Poyson whose black flood From Adams veins through all his Race did run Met in this Sink and joyned with the Brood Of every singular Transgression All which to fit the Cup were blended in The several Pains due to each several Sin 165. Had 〈◊〉 had Phlegeton had all that Wit Has fain'd and all that Justice made in Hell Had all the Flames which Etna's mouth doth spit Had all the Stincks which in the Dead Sea dwell Had all the Poyson of each Serpents Tongue Which Lybia breeds into the Cup been wrung 166. T had been a Draught of Nectar unto this Yet loe the monstrous Mixture to the lip Of thy sweet Lord by Heav'ns Hand reached is O Psyche how shall He digest this Cup Which had all Adams Sons been forc'd to drink It would have drown'd them in its fatall Sink 167. But well He knew the Hand which lov'd his Cheek When in all Blisses Bosome He did lie And though so strange an Offer it did make 'T was still the same and how can he deny To entertain what that presents him though The Cup with Horror 's own heart-blood did flow 168. Were it as wide and deep and full again This Thought alone commands it to be sweet And till He drink its Pangs He is in pain So large is his Obedience and so great His Love to Man who otherwise must be Drunk from this Bowl with endlesse Miserie 169. But then this Thought was justled by another For He himselfe was passive Flesh and Blood His proper Natures Voice how shall He smother For She now pleads aloud for her own good And would not willingly choose to be hurl'd Into that Gulfe which would devoure the World 170. O how he strugled in this mighty strait Being Himselfe with his own Selfe to fight Had all the Centres most compacted Weight Been pitch'd upon his Heart it had been light And easie unto this which woefull He Endur'd in this heroick Agonie 171. The Contestation grew so hot within That all his Bosome fell on flaming fire And from melting Fornace through his Skin Thick Proofs of that strong Fervor did transpire For at the Mouth of every labouring Pore Not Watery Sweat but Blood broke ope its Door 172. O matchlesse Combat whose mysterious Power Without the edge of Sword or point of Dart Could cloth this Champion round about with Gore And wound
Him from within whilst every Part Rack'd and transfixed with intestine Streins In streams of purple Tears bewail'd its Pains 173. Down to the Ground this sweating Torrent flows To wash away the Curse which on it grew Whilst moated in his melted Selfe thy Spouse The noble fight doth with fresh Strength renew His Mortall Nature three stout Onsets gave To his immortal Piety and Love 174. Father He cri'd by that thy tender Name Commiserate thy most afflicted Son If thy Omnipotence a way can frame How to exempt Me from my Passion O let thine Hand which brings this Cup to Me Far hence remove it and my Misery 175. But straight by most athletick Braverie Above himselfe He gets and nobly cries Although all Bitternesse triumphant be In this sad Cup it amply does suffice That from thy Hand it comes Thy Will shall be And not mine own the Rule and Rein to me 176. Thus reverend Abraham when by Gods Command He was to bath his Sword in Isaac's blood Divided was in his own bowells and With his brave Selfe in competition stood Till valourous Piety her Powers strain'd And the hard Laurell of Selfe-conquest gain'd 177. But when thy mighty Lord atchieved had This triple Conquest Judas and his Rout Like furious Boars into the Garden made And for their Prey all rang'd and rov'd about Not knowing He as ready was to be Betray'd as they to work their Treachery 178. For like a most victorious Champion who Before his other Foes has conquer'd Fear He meets their Furie asking Whom with so Eager and strong a Chase they hunted there Their traytorous Spight and whom it sought He knew Yet this brave Challenge in their face he threw 179. Jesus of Nazareth We seek said they Alas Blinde Soules He came to seek out you And lead you safely in the Kings high way Unto his Throne above that on your brow Heav'ns Crowns for ever might have shin'd but ye In nothing would be Found but Treachery 180. Nor they nor Judas Psyche now did know Thy Spouses face which flamed heretofore With gracious Beauty but was clouded now With his strong Agonies all bloody Gore Thus like some duskie Meteor Phebus shows When an Eclipse upon his Count'nance grows 181. But He who would not be unknown to those Who came to suck what Blood was left behinde Which burned in his Veins till it got loose And flow'd as largely as his liberall Minde Revests his Look with gracefull Majesty And makes this brave Profession I am He. 182. If ever Thou hast seen what killing Dread Doth on base-hearted Traytors seize when They Are by their awfull Prince discovered Whose Voice and Looks their spurious Courage slay Treble this Fright and then conceive what Fear Shot through the Soules of these vile Caytiffs here 183. A stream of Horror drove them trembling back And over whelm'd Them flat upon the Ground And in the depth of this dismaying Wrack Their shivering Spirits had been surely drown'd Had He not spred his Pitty over Them Whose Swords and Staves and Spight all made at Him 184. O how will they endure his Dreadfull Eyes Which all this World on flaming fire shall set When He in triumph sweeping through the skies Shall hither come and mounted on his great Tribunall once again crie I am He No more the Prey but Judge of Treachery 185. When they no Lanthorns nor no Torches Light Nor Juda's Conduct any more shall need But by our Trumpets death-awakning fright Be summon'd up and by our hands be led Into the presence of Heav'ns glorious Son Whom then they would not finde but cannot 〈◊〉 186. But now He brideled in his awfull Raies And on condition his Disciples may Without disturbance goe their severall 〈◊〉 Offers himselfe unto his Foes who lay Quaking before Him but took courage now Perceiving They again might 〈◊〉 grow 187. As when a serpent bruis'd and beaten back Spies any way to reinforce her fight Her head she raises and deep care doth take Her Wrath and Poyson how to spit aright So did these Elves start up and cheer their Head And this Iscariot was to doe the Deed. 188. Iscariot that Prince of Treason now Forgetfull of his royall Masters Love And of the Dint of that majestick Blow Which strook Him and his Armie down to prove His cursed Selfe Earths Lucifer led up Against the Lord of Hosts his desperate Troop 189. And then none but a golden Arrow shot Burnish'd with faire and complementall grace Yet in as mortall Venome dipp'd as that Which Eve's Heart felt when she saluted was By faire-tongu'd Hell and by the Tempter driven With courteous Treason from her earthly Heaven 190. Hail Master was the Word What Ear could now Disrellish such a suger'd Noise as this Or once suspect Discording Jarrs should grow In such soul-plying Accents Master is The Phrase of Service Hail of Love Yet He Could make these honest Words insidious be 191. And when his faithlesse Tongue her part had done His Lips succeeded in the Treachery With matchlesse Impudence He ventured on Against the very face of Majesty And to make sure his Project should not misse Seal'd it upon his Master with a Kisse 192. O Wit of Treason could no Signe but this The gentlest Token of soft Courtesie Be made the Marke of deepest Barbarousnesse Monstrous Iscariot how dost thou by thy Inhumane Kindnesse both a Traytor prove Of Loves great Master and the Badge of Love 193. Is not a Kisse the soft and yeilding Signe Which clapps the Bargain of Affection up The sweet and joyous Marriage between The tenderest Pair of Lovers Lip and Lip The closing Harmony which when the Tongue Has done its best compleats the pleasing Song 194. Is not a Kisse the most delicious Seal By which Friends Cement their concording Hearts Must this Betrayed be Must faithlesse Hell Poyson this dainty Truth Must Hatreds Arts Be clothed in the softest sweetest Dresse Of courteous Peace and amorous Tendernesse 195. Must sweet Arabia's Beds breath out a Stinck And harbour all the Bane of Thessaly Must milkie Lilies stain their Leaves with Ink Must Roses Buds with Thorns all prickly be Must Silk and Down be harsh Must Honey flow With Gall Must Summer Gales bring Ice Snow 196. O what will Treason not presume to doe Which more than all those strange Mutations makes In this own venturous Fact of Judas who Ev'n in this Tie of Love all Friendship breaks Who biteth with his Lips not with his Teeth And strives to Kisse his dearest Lord to death 197. But though Iscariot his own Love betrayes His Lord triumphs beyond all Treachery And doth against the Traytors Hatred raise A Counterwork of heav'nly Lenitie O Mystery of Love though Jesus may Betrayed be no Plots his Grace betray 198. Who teacheth all Succeeding Traytors how To burnish over that foule rankling Brasse Of impudence which arms their sullen Brow To tip Rebellion with meek Lies to grace Their arrogant Treaties with submissive Words Whilst
frown on Thee who betray'st its Son The Lord of Life to Death thy Saviour to Most sure most undeserv'd Destruction Into one Bolt let all Gods Thunders goe And on thy cursed Heart his Justice throw Which scorned all the Mercie He could show 226. That Stroke will send Thee down into thy Place Of Death but yet of never-dying Pain Where melted with the flames of this my face Thy thirty silver Peeces I will drain Into thy Heart that Thou mayst shreik and roat Whilst there they burn and boile for evermore 227. This said th' infulting Prince of Tyranny In scornfull Spight with-drew being confident Maturity would get her Wings and flie To overtake his Plot yet e'r he went Seav'n times he thresh'd the Conscience with the flaile Of his enormous poyson-pointed Taile 228. As when the Deluge in great Noahs time Broke out upon the World and with a Sea Of universal Woe surpriz'd the Crime Of that impenitent Age their Misery To those unhappy Mortals op'd their graves In Desperation first then in the Waves 229. So Judas taken in this mighty flood Of deepest Anguish had no power to think How to escape or that his Saviours blood Might drown that sea in which he fear'd to sink O no! the thought of that dear blood alone Pour'd on his face Guilts blushing Ocean 230. Since long ago his Trust He rather built On Money than on God he durst not hope That Mercie now could reach his heightned guilt And thus by fear to impudence set ope The way for by this dread of goodnesse he Gives flat defiance to its Lenitie 231. And now sees vengance aiming at his head And his foule Treason flying in his face He sees the whole Worlds anger marshalled Against his odious crime He sees the place Deep in the heart of Hell where damned He Designed is for evermore to be 232. With that his Cloths his Hair his Flesh he tore He roar'd he rav'd and thus to cursing fell May that unhappy day be read no more In any Calendar but that of Hell Which to this balefull Life did me betray A Life to living Death the dying way 233. Curs'd be my Father who did me beget Curs'd be my Mother who did me conceive Curs'd be my Nurse because in every Bit She mix'd not Poison which might Me repreive From this most damned Night And cursed be All sicknesses which would not murder me 234. Curs'd be this Hand of mine which oft has had A Knife and yet forbore my throat to cut Curs'd be these Feet which oft their way have made Over the brows of Precipices yet Would never stumble that I might have fell Then but to Earth who tumble now to Hell 235. Curs'd be that Day which me acquainted brought With Jesus and enroll'd my ominous Name Amongst his Chaplanes Cursed be that thought Which spur'd me to the Priests to trade with them Curs'd be the project which hath curs'd me so Curs'd be the Bargain and the Chapmen too 236. Curs'd be this Garden upon every bed May fatall Hemlock Woolfbane Poppy grow May Vipers Adders Basilisks be spred In every corner on each Tree and Bough May Ravens and Scritchowls dwell that something may Resemble Judas here another day 237. Another day ô no! may thickest Night Upon this Sceen of Treason ever dwell That neither Sun nor Star may reach their light More unto this than to the other Hell The bloody beams of Ghosts and Furies will With fittest lustre this black garden fill 238. But may the deepest of all Execrations On you my thirty silver torments fall How shall I be reveng'd on your temptations Which thus have drown'd me in a Sea of Gall Is there no way base pale and paltry Clay How I may you as you did me betray 239. Shall I take you along with me to Hell And hold you fast amidst my endlesse flames Or send you back unto your former Cell The High-Priests wicked Bag surely this seems The blacker and the deeper Pit and I Thither again will damn you instantly 240. This said Like that tormented Man in whose Possessed heart a Legion of Feinds Did tyrannize He to the Citie goes Where in the Temple he his Chapmen findes Unhappy Temple which was now Possest With them as was with Satan Juda's Breast 241. With hideous yelling he amongst them ran Flinging about his hands his head his eyes And having strein'd his ejulation Wide as his throat could reach O Me he cries My sin burns in my breast and domineers Too high to hope for quenching from my tears 242. No Expiation does that Altar know Which for my deep di'd guilt can satisfie The stream of Jesu's blood so full doth flow On my unpardonable Soule that I Am drown'd for ever in my deep offence Being Condemned by his Innocence 243. Take your vile Money and my Curse with it May all Heav'ns wrath your bloody Bargain crown Here with indignant furie having spit On Them first on his Silver next and thrown It at their hated Heads away He flung Raving and Cursing as he ran along 244. For all the way he thought he struggled through An Army of reviling Detestations Over his head he both his Arms did throw To sh heild it from his own Imaginations Through which from heav'n and earth such arrows flew As wounded Him at every stop a new 245. For Melancholy dark as is the Pitch Which on the throat of Hell so thick doth grow Chok'd every glimpse of Sense and Reason which Offer'd to dawn in his Soules sphear and show Him by what torturing Mistakes he had Himselfe unto Himselfe a Tyrant made 246. Thus came He to a secret silent Place Without the Town yet could not think it so For still he fancied all the City was Hot in the chase of Him 〈◊〉 Saviours Foe Each Bird or Flie that moved made him start Each Winde that puffed blew quite through his heart 247. His Eyes distracted were first looking up For fear least Heav'n should fall upon his head Then down least Earth her dread full Mouth should ope And snatch him to his grave e'r he were dead Till tired with this fear his breast he stroke And into right down Desperation broke 248. Adieu all hopes he cries and fears adieu Come Veng ance come my heart is ready here I see how vainly I my Money threw Back to the Priests whose burden still I bear The Rust sticks close and heavy still upon My knawed Soule and I must be undone 249. If Heav'n be just why does it yet delay To poure its Wrath on my deserving head Am I not Judas He who did betray Its onely Son Is not my Conscience red With his most innocent Blood and yet must I Be still endur'd to live when He must die 250. At least great Satan doe not thou deny Thy Servant Pay for this grand Work which He Hath compass'd with unparalleld Treachery In high obedience to thy Hell and Thee No Soule did ever more than I have done Nor ernd
be Such care to murder thy dear Spouse had He 55. Deep in the bowels of eternal Night And neighbour to the black Court of Damnation A Den there is where Stinks with Stinks doe fight And Ejulation roar at Ejulation Where Horrors Horrors fright and where Dispair The face of Desperation doth tear 56. Hither came He When loe the Iron Door Gap'd like the thirsty Earth to drink him in Whilst from its joyfull Mouth the Cave did poure A Stream of flaming Sulphure to begin Its Soveraigns Welcome whom that Complement Such was his princely Grace did well content 57. For in He went and there his Daughter saw Busie in pouring ever-flaming Lead Upon her Captive Soules whom Lies did throw Into that boiling Curse Upon her Bed Of red-hot Iron not yet cooled lay Lusts Holocaust Madame Potiphera 58. She lay and bit and roar'd and bit again Her slanderous Tongue whence deadly Shafts she shot At holy Joseph when She had in vain Spent all her eyes Artillery and what Soft Blandishments her Wit could muster up To bring about her hot and lustfull Hope 59. There lay that foule-mouth'd Ten whose envious 〈◊〉 Blasted the florid Sweets of Canaan Spreading a Dearth upon Fertility And spewing Gall where Milk and Honey ran They curs'd amain and still their Lie maintain'd In spight of Death which in their Bosomes reign'd 60. There lay that Pair of Venal Soules who by Their hired Lie effected Naboths death Acting themselves that foule Impiety With which They slander'd Him With flaming breath God and the King they curse and wish all Hell Melted into the Heart of Jezebell 61. Th' Assyrian Railer there his Throat did rend With 〈◊〉 assertion of his Blasphemy Avouching still that God himselfe did send Him to extirpate all the Jews And why Fond Rabsheka does He thus deep torment Thee For that bold Errand if on it he sent Thee 62. There lay that slanderous Pair of Elders who Susanna did so reverently belie At her their Accusations still they throw And swear they found her in Adultery Yet with more fury they on Daniel raile Crying See how Injustice may prevail 63. These and ten thousand more lay roaring there Whilst the remorselesse Mistresse of the Den Triumphed in their Tortures Never Bear With such intemperate Fiercenesse raged when Her hungry Teeth were flinging ope their way Through the Bowells of her helplesse Prey 64. Fell Calumnie it was a monstrous She Her Forehead was compos'd of seav'n-fold Brasse An obstinate Swarthinesse which scorn'd to be Pierced by any Blush grew on her face Her hollow Eyes with peevish Spight were fill'd Her powting Lips with deadly Venome swell'd 65. Her dreadfull Jaws replenish'd Quivers were Where Darts and Spears and Pikes and Arrows stood Prepar'd and sharpned all for mortal War Her mouth no Moisture knew but blended Blood Of Asps and Basilisks which she suck'd in To spit sure Mischief upon guiltlesse Men. 66. The Stings of Ten choise Dragons joyn'd in one Was all the Tongue wherewith She had to speak This made her language pure Destruction For certain Death at every Word did break Forth from her Lips if not at their first Sound Yet most infallibly at their Rebound 67. Her Brain is that mischievous Shop in which As every other Slander forged was So that which did all Parallels out-stretch And dar'd Omnipotence's soveraign Face Proclaiming that thy Lord not by his own But Belzebubs Power did tread the Devills down 68. When ever any rankling Canker breeds Kingdomes or Countries ruinous Overthrow Her viperous Trade it is the fatal Seeds Of restlesse Fears and Jealousies to sow In Peoples Hearts whilst She ten thousand Lies To blast their Rulers Credit doth devise 69. She spying now her royall Father there His Benediction begg'd upon her Knee Blesse Me dear Sire said She and give Me here Some new found Engine of fresh Cruelty These Soules are us'd too kindly all their Pains Grow stale and cold familiar their Chains 70. Fear not it shall be so cri'd Satan but Sweet Childe another Work first craves our Care Him whom I deepliest hate my Art has got With Juda's help fast in a fatal Snare I mean that Galilean Beggar who Has Me and all my Fiends abused so 71. But now the Priests forsooth are so demure And I 'le remember 't when I get them here That though they in the Project did conjure And bought that Christ ev'n at a Rate too dear Their Holinesses some pretence must have How in Destroying Him their Fame to save 72. Confusion on their Fame who though they dread Not what the Thundering Wrath of Heav'n can doe In vindication of a guiltlesse Head Stand in base awe of the vile Vulgar so That they confesse most Infamous Impiety Whilst They the People make their onely Deity 73. Base-hearted Hypocrites Can they not be Brave venturous Sinners like to Me their Prince Yet since they needs will sneak to Hell sure We For once will help the Fools to their Pretence They want False-witnesse for a Cloak and Thou This Livery canst best on Them bestow 74. But see Thou mould'st up some Athletick Lie Whose burly Bulk all Truth may over-bear Some petty sucking Knaves their best did trie But straight their ill-shod Tales did enter-fér On Thee the Work depends Come let 's away The High-priests Court or rather Mine doth stay 75. This said his Daughter by the hand He took And with more sprightfull speed then Indian Arrow Cuts through the tender whineing Aire he broke Earths sturdie obstacles and posted thorough The sullen clogging Masse untill He came Back to his other Home Jerusalem 76. There when he saw the Council at a stand Gaping and staring one upon another He spi'd withall two itching Rogues at hand Scratching their heads and beating them together He knew their meaning and through both their harts Unfeen unheard his Daughter strait he darts 77. As when the Bosome of the Delphick Priest Began to boile with his desired Hell His Rapture by his Gestures he confest Hastening to vent his belking Oracle So this accursed Pair now kindled by The Furie speeded to belch out their Lie 78. For straight each flung his hand above his head And cri'd I have it sure let 's to the barre And when their Projects they examined They found that both in one Mould fashion'd were At which they kiss'd and shaked hands and prest With full-mouth'd Accusation to the Priest 79. Great Caiaphas and ye the 〈◊〉 The holy Guardians of Heav'ns reverend Law Hear Us said They who will object to Him No hearsay stories but what we both saw And beard and may henceforth nor Eye nor Ear If we speak what is false or see or Hear 80. We saw him strutting in the Temple where His most blasphemous Pride he broach'd and cri'd I will destroy this house which Hands did rear And build another full as fair and wide Without the Help of Hands as if bold He No Mortall were but some great Deitie 81. Nay
jeer 212. May Heav'ns propitious eye for ever dwell On him who best deserves its care may all The clouds which with the fattest blessings swell Upon his Head let their best riches fall As freely as these drops rain down on it And at this Word they all upon Him spit 213. On the brave Romane Birds imperial wing May thy illustrious Name and Glory ride And may Tiberius to this nobler King Thus yeeld his mighty Throne this said a wide And massie Chair full at his head they throw Which grav'd its foot-steps deep upon his brow 214. Then after three low bowings on his knee One a Petition brings and having pray'd Him to accept his suit He instantly Hings it upon his face Another play'd 〈◊〉 and told Him what strange things He had in charge to Him from 〈◊〉 Kings 215. Most excellent Sir my Bus'nesse is said He Of such immediate consequence that it Can no delay digest which urgeth Me To this unwonted and uncivill Fit Of craving present Audience and here He boxed both his ears to make Him hear 216. A third came with a golden Goblet in Crying My Liege the Queen to you hath sent This Mornings Draught and prayes You to begin That She may pledge your Highnesse Here he bent His cursed brows at Jesus and threw out Upon his face the Urine He had brought 217. A fourth his Reed did from him snatch and cri'd Your Scepter Sir to heavy is I fear Let not your Majecty your Servant chide If he offend in too much loyal Care Your Selfe shall judge how grievous is its Weight Which said Him with the sturdy Cane he beat 218. A fift with ernest supplication su'd But for the honor to support his Train Then snatching up his Robe behinde with rude Unseemly Peevishnesse he kick'd amain Bruising thy Spouses naked Body till His weary Toe stay'd his unwearied Will 219. A sixt came crying Treason Treason Sir Treason against your sacred Majesty The Iewes your Subjects all Conspiring are Against your Honor and your Life O fly And save your Royal Selfe This made Them all Seeing Him bound so fast a laughing fall 220. O Psyche I cannot describe how they Did mock and grin and gurn and sneer and pout How they did wring their Mounthes what antick play They us'd their gentle Saviour to flout Imagine all the worst thou canst conceive And infinitely worse than that beleeve 221. This Sceen thus acted Pilate brings him out In this strange habit to the Peoples view Telling them He had sifted Him but nought He could discover which did bear the shew Of capital Demerit Yet said He Behold how his light faults revenged be 222. If this ridiculous Garb be not enough With Shame to clothe Him yet consider well In what exuberunt Streams his Blood doth flow And guesse what favour I have shew'd Him Tell Me if you think a new room may be found In all his Body but for one more Wound 223. Behold the Man this torn and worried Thing Is He however Comely heretofore Sure he has for his foolish Name of King Paid dear enough and had not I had more Regard unto your Credits than mine own Such proofs of Cruelty I had not shown 224. O Spectacle of most Commanding Sorrows How would all Hearts but Jewish melt to see These ghastly Torrents and these gasping Furrows Upon the harmlesse Back of Purity How would a Tygers thirsty Wrath relent How would the Soules of hungry Bears repent 225. Had these unhappy Jews had any Eyes But those of rancorous Malice they might here Have seen how their own Griefs and Miseries To patient Jesus all transferred were And scor'd upon his Back They might have found A salve for all their Sores in every Wound 226. They might have seen his innocent Temples wear That Malediction which to them was due The stinging Briars he was pleas'd to bear And leave the fragrant Flowers to them which grew Both in their mortal Gardens here and which With endlesse Sweets did Paradise enrich 227. At least that Lesson of Compassion They As well as Pilate might have plainly read Which in red capital Letters written lay And to the Eyes of all Spectators spread So fair a Challenge that no generous Breast Could their strange Importunity resist 228. But loe the barbarous Priests unsatisfied With all that Blood which was already shed Because some more behinde remained Cried O ease the Earth of that blasphemous Head Before Heav'n vindicate it selfe and We Involved in the Flood of 〈◊〉 be 229. It is no Boyes Fault his that you should deem A 〈◊〉 is sufficient Punishment O rather square your own by Heav'ns Esteem And joyn with ours your righteous Consent A Crosse a Crosse Heav n cannot pleased be Untill this Monster Crucifi d it see 230. This most unreasonable Madnes made The Judge as loude as They In vain said He You hope by Roaring to make Me afrayd The Man is guiltlesse 〈◊〉 Eyes if yee Resolved are that Innocence must Die Goe Murder Him your Selves and cease your Crie 231. Harsh was this Word and on their Plot did grate So hard that they enforced were to flie Unto the Refuge which They most did hate As knowing it was an old-answered Lie That Law They now pretend to which long since The Pris'ner justified his Innocence 232. Nay They repli'd it is not We but Law Our Law more dear to Us than are our lives Calls loude for Him to Death Be pleas'd to know That our great God no grace nor pardon gives Unto the least Blaspheemers and shall He Who makes himself the Son of God goe free 233. If Thou Protector of our Laws wilt be Break not our greatest for this Varlets sake Should He intrude into the Familie Of Caesar and his Sons great Title take Sure Thou wouldst think a Crosse his due and is Wrong to Heav'ns Emperour a less Crime than this 234. Blood-thirsty Hypocrites For well they knew How they their Law in urging it denyed For though this Accusation had been true 〈◊〉 must not Jesus by the Crosse have dyed The Law an heap of Stones ordein'd to be The Death and Monument of Blasphemie 235. 〈◊〉 this new Plea did startle Pilate so 〈◊〉 again retires and tries again 〈◊〉 Examination might doe 〈◊〉 he many Queries put and fain some Pretence have found with them to joyne 〈◊〉 all Slander did out-shine 236. But when He tels the Multitude his Minde Onely new Oile upon their Flames He threw For in their loudest Fury all combin'd Upon Him with this bold replie they flew If Jesus you dismisse We must have leave Great Caesar to acquaint with this Repreive 237. Did not the Traytors Head contrive to wear A Crown of Gold where now those Thorns are set And Who We pray more dangerous Enemies are To Caesars right than They which thirst for it He says his Realm is not on Earth And what Should Traytors being Taken plead but that 238. But were He free again and had proud He New
own did ever wet 290. These Hands and Feet with cruell Nailes they make Sure to the Crosse and fasten Him unto His Pains and Death What heart-strings would not crack To see these tender Veins broke open so What Tears could keep at home and not gush out With those dear Streams which now flowd all about 291. Sure none who dare the Name of Christian wear Can with such stony Hearts this story read As not to feel these Nails their Bosomes tear And 〈◊〉 their tender Contemplations bleed For how can living genuine Members be Not wounded with their Heads calamity 292. But these inhumane Torturers shouting loud In desperate applause of their own Sin Rear up the Crucifix and then grow proud To see this Trophe of their Rage So when Harpies on heaps have heap'd their butcher'd Prey They smile and clap their Wings with cursed Joy 293. Then on each hand a Theife they 〈◊〉 For when they on his Person no more shame Could heap they labour by this Companie To make the World suppose Him one of Them Alas He knew no other Theft but this To steal his Torturers to heav'nly Blisse 294. For whilst between these Bryars like the Rose Or like fair Virtue twixt her foule Extreems He fastned is He plots against his Foes And projects how to pay Them Diademes For these his Tortures unto Heav'n he flies On Loves stout wings and to his Father cries 295. Father By all the Sweets of that dear Name Regard the Prayer of thy Dying Son By this my Crosse and all its noble Shame By these four Wounds which with full Current run By all these Thorns which grow upon my Head And those which in my Heart are fastened 296. Remember not the Sin of these poor Men Who through blinde Zeal perceive not what they doe Though foolish yet they are my Bretheren O spare Them then Let not their Error who Occasion all the Worlds most Soveraign Blisse Make their own Soules their proper Portion misse 297. Thus for the rav'ning Wolves the Lamb doth pray The Partridge for the Hawks O mighty Love Which all the Injuries of this cruel Day Cannot supprefle The more the Torturers strove To wreak upon Him their elaborate Spight The more his Mercy tries on Them it s Might 298. Thus when Arabian Odours 〈◊〉 be Their sweet revenge they on their 〈◊〉 take By pouring out to them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Of pure Perfumes whole 〈◊〉 doth 〈◊〉 speak Of Griefe or Anger but is 〈◊〉 In the kinde language of 〈◊〉 Sent 299. Thus when the tender Vine is nailed fast Unto the Propp and by the Pruning Knife Robb'd of her Branches She takes no distaste At all those deep entrenchments on her life But with a bounteous Vintage strives to cheer The Heart of Him who thus had wounded Her 300. But what care salvage They who scorn to be Softned by Kindenesse Wax indeed may run At the warm Touch of High-noon's Charity But for did Mud and Clay although the Sun Doth with his kindest Rayes about them flow Instead of Melting onely harder grow 301. They think that Jesus has more need to pray For his own Selfe than them and with disdain 〈◊〉 at his unask'd-for Kindenesse They 〈◊〉 themselves how to divide their Gam This was his Clothes the Lambs poor plunder'd Fleece The simple prize of their high Villanies 302. His other Garments they divide and share But finding that his seamlesse Vesture was All of one Texture they contented are To offer the decision of the Case To Fortunes Sentence and conclude by Lot To give that whole they thought too good to Cut. 303. Too good they thought this Common Web to be Mangled and torn yet with the self-same heart Abhorred not his pretious Flesh to see All gash'd and rent by Hatreds utmost Art The Butcher thus thinks fit the Skin to keep Intire although He quarter out the Sheep 304. Mean while arrayed in his naked Gore Sweet Jesus hangs betwixt the Heav'n and Earth Like one of Both rejected and does poure The Worlds red Price at four wide Flood-gates forth An Object of more Pitty never yet Was seen nor one which reaped lesse of it 305. All Passengers without Regard went on And turn'd their unkinde backs upon his Woes Yet well it were if this Neglect alone Made Warr against his Patience but from those Who to this pitch of Sorrows rais'd him He Feets new assaults of positive Misery 306. For not contented with their Nails and Thorns To digg his pretious Body now they strive To pierce his Soule with ignominious Scorns To wound his Meeknesse and his Sufferings grieve As if his Pains and Crosse would not suffice Unlesse he mocked and reviled dies 307. They point their fingers and their heads they shake And then their crueller Tongues and thus they crie Remember what your Pride once pleas'd to speak You in three Dayes yon' Fabrick could destroy And rear it up again yet mighty Sir The Temple stands and You are hanged here 308. For shame make good your boasted Power and now Command those Nails to leave your Hands and Feet Command your Crosse before your face to bow Command your lost Blood to return and meet Your gaping Wounds Is 't not high time to save Your Selfe if you resolve to scape your Grave 309. O no the Elders Scribes and Priests replie Though many Seeming Wonders He has done Though he has cured many a Maladie Though he has conjur'd up Salvation For others yet We know for certain He Cannot unto himselfe a Saviour be 310. No lying Prophet ever yet was known Who once into the hands of Justice brought Could by his power of Witchcraft reach his own Deliverance and work his Carcase out Of Chains or Tortures for if this might be How could we know Heav'ns Truth from Forgery 311. Now it appears by Whose Assistance He Mix'd with his bare Word that miraculous Strength Which charm d the Peoples fond Credulity But Belzebub is wise enough at length To leave his Instrument to Iustice when His utmost Mischiefe He has done to Men. 312. Now it appears what small cause Pilate had To shake his Head at our importunate Crie Had not our Zeal that 〈◊〉 Onset made On his abused Lordships Lenity This rank Impostor then repreeved might Have still pass d for a Wonder-working Wight 313. Yet if the potent King of Israel now Will but vouchsafe to Step down from this Tree And to his Subjects doubtfull Hearts allow This Proof of his divine Supremacy For our parts We are ready here and will Beleeve his Pow'r and his Commands fulfill 314. What can he more expect of Us who here Attend upon him in his deepest shame Waiting till He will please Clouds to clear Which damp the lustre of his glorious Name So fain would We unto our King to day Would He assert Himselfe our homage pay 315. But silly King he cannot stir you see No though his Kingdome lieth at the Stake He talk'd as if the Clouds his Coach should be
About them hither made a journey and Full in thy Spouse's face took up her Stand. 368. Lesse Terror from the Vulturs count'nance breaks When she her Tallons claps upon her Prey Lesse from the irefull High-priest when he takes His Cursing Aime at Jesus than to day Flash'd from this cruel Mayd in whose fell look Her dismal throne accomplish'd Veng'ance took 369. Immortal Dread star'd wide in either Eye Her forehead was plow'd up with furrows deep Sown with the Seeds of all Severity Which now for Jesus were grown fit to reap Her Lips were Fire her Cheeks were burning red And for a Tongue a flaming Sword she had 370. She never in such horrible Array Appear d till now on Earth not when she came With Water arm'd to wash the World away Or unto Sodome with a Flood of Flame Or when her fiery Serpents she did bring The Israelites Rebellion to sting 371. A Veil so hideously black that Night Is a 〈◊〉 beauteous thing to it Over her head was spred which though Day-light Were now at Liberty would not permit The stoutest Mortals sin-condemned Eyes Ever to reach the Comfortable Skies 372. On either side ten thousand Furies were With Millions of Pangs and Ejulations Woefull Eternity was also there Hugging each Horror Troops of Desperations Raving and riotting in their own Blood In the vast Armies Rear behinde Her stood 373. But in her Hand a sable Book she held Which now She opened unto Jesu's eyes When loe each dreadfull Page appeared fill'd With more intolerable Prodigies Than those transcendent Monstrous Shapes which were Marshall'd in her Hell-representing Rear 374. There that Rebellion painted was which grew In Paradise so huge and rank a Weed That it none but the World 's own Limits knew For through all Generations its Seed It scattered and made each poisnous Birth Bring full Assurance of its own Death forth 375. The Serpent which in Eden planted it Wears not such fatal Horror in his Face Nor stings so deep nor doth his Venome spit So far and wide nor e'r attended was With such a numerous Frie of Devills as this Old Beldame Sin by young Ones followed is 376. This was the fearfull Frontispice But now The cursed Leaves She opened one by one Pride had usurp'd the first and there did show Her swolln and blister'd Count'nance which did run With banefull Matter being bruised by A Fall she caught as she was climbing high 377. The next was Spight broad War close Calumnie Then Avarice besmeard with knawing Rust And putid Lying and foule Treachery With sneaking Theft and everstinging Lust Intemperance wallowing in a nastie Flood Of Vomit Murder in a Sea of Blood 378. That selfe-relying heav'n-distrusting Thing Foolish base-hearted Infidelity Grinding Extortion and self-torturing Because for ever jealous Tyranny Enchanting Error venomous Heresie Idolatry and right-down Blasphemy 379. But for their number it exceeds the skill Of Computation and all Figures reach Not all the Sparks whose glistering Armies fill The field of Heav'n not all the Atomes which Traffick about the Summer Air can tell Their mighty Total how to parallel 380. For each dwarf Fault and Gyant Crime did stand In martiall rank and file arrayed there Which any Humane Tongue or Heart or Hand Was ever stained with since Eve gave Eare Unto the charming Tempter and let in The fatal Torrent of contagious Sin 381. Nay more than so for every Stain and Blot Which through all Ages to the end of Time Shall taint the World Justice had thither got And in a black Appendix marshall'd them Thy proud Revolt and every Fault beside Psyche were there displayed full and wide 382. And if the least of Crimes as sure it is Be infinitely foule imagine then How strange a Masse of horridnesse was this Whose bulk did swell with all the Sins of Men What store of black 〈◊〉 were here For bleeding Jesus wounded Back to beat 383. For Justice heap'd them all upon his back That hee who did no sin might suffer all How would the Worlds establish d Pillars crack Should such a Load upon their shoulders fall How would the al-supporting centre faint And strive to shrink into a smaller point 384. How would the joynts of noblest Seraphs quake How would the Cherubs sinnews tremble at This Burden which all Natures Bones would break And lay Heav'ns highest stoutest Powers flat This Burden which all humane Soules would press Down to that bottom which is bottomlesse 385. Now Jesus groans and feels his heart-strings stretch For black upon his Soule the burden lies Those other torments hee forgetteth which The whips and nails and Jewish blasphemies Had multipli'd on him Thus rivers be Quite lost when swallow'd by the bitter Sea 386. Should all the tortures that did ever yet The Veins and Joints and Hearts of Martyrs tear In one fell Composition bee knit And then enraged to their full carrieer Lesse furious would their fury be than that Which now on Jesu's Soule in triumph sate 387. Some comfort it would be if Heav'n would now Vouchsafe a gentle looke upon its Son Who spies no consolations glimpse below But ô the sphears are not eclips'd alone By Phoebus absence no another Night Has thrown its Veil upon Heav'ns dearer Light 388. The Light which from his Fathers pleased eyes His whole Soule us'd to drink its streams did hide With earnest labouring looks he pleads and pries But is by sad obscuritie deny'd O blacknesse which no Parallel canst know To thee all Ink as Milk all Pitch is Snow 389. Long did he grapple which this mighty grief In patient silence But his Soule at length Snatching at least the desolate reliefe Of free complayning with the wofull strength Of his sad tongue this out-cry He did make My God my God why dost thou me forsake 390. Am I not still that Son in whom alone Thou wert wel-pleas'd Is not thy bosome still The same where once my habitation I did enjoy Why dost thou me expell Who am the image of thy blessed face From the least sight of its all-sweetning grace 391. Had every outcry every groan and shreik With which the air of Bethlehem was rent When Rachel saw how all the street did reek With an unheard of flood of innocent And infant blood met in one ejulation It s fragor had not match'd this exclamation 392. Never was such a Lamentable cry Wrung from the mouth of Griefe nor ever was Complaint more unregarded Clemencie Was deaf and Heav'n as well as Earth did pass By without any Bowels Never day Did such a Sceen of heavines display 393. Sorrow her self amazed at the sight Would have repented of her Tyranny But Jesus meant not to decline the fight Who could not conquer'd be though He could die O no He hugs his horrors and although His nature shrinks his courage loves his woe 394. Thus gallant Souldiers ' in the dreadfull wars With generous Pride their gushing blood behold Counting their glories onely by their scars And judging all their
their Plots and Counsells be But onely wise conspiracies to make The Resurrections glorious Mystery With more unanswerable Lustre break Forth in their Faces since their Guard and Seal Shall now bear witnesse to the Miracle 27. So when the envie-blinded Median Peers Had got great Daniel in the sealed Den Of hungry Death their Jealousies and Fears They confidently laid asleep but when The Day awak'd they found their fell Designe Prov'd his Deliverance the more Divine 28. Mean while the sacred Corps lay sleeping here And jolly Death triumphed in the Grave Presuming that no Man her force could bear Since she the deadly Wound to Jesus gave He was her only feared Champion and Loe now she saw him conquer'd by her Hand 29. Long had she vex'd and pin'd remembring how Brave Enoch and Elias rescued were From her Monarchik Cruelty but now That feebler Pair she is content to spare And gluts her bloody Heart with Joy to see This Trophe of most matchlesse Victory 30. She never took such proud Delight to set Her foot on Alexanders Toomb or see The Sons of Anak all in Ashes meet Or Josua's Dust with his own Grave agree Or steely Samson turn to rotten Clay Or vast Goliah mouldering away 31. She kiss'd her bloody Dart and vow'd to build An Arc of triumph to its Victory With high Disdain she all the World beheld Which now had no pretence but it must Die Since Life 's own Champion became her prey And tame and cold and dead before her lay 32. There lay his Body but his Soule mean time Triumphed more than she for down into The Kingdome of the hidden World the Chime Of unsuspecting Darknesse it did goe And took the Powers of Hell all napping in The secret Cloysters of their gloomy Den. 33. Hells Gates of sturdy Brasse He flung in sunder Shaking the bottome of the monstrous Deep The Porter frighted at the Ruines thunder Into the Gulfe to hide his Head did leap But equal Horror there he met for all The Pit was startled when the Gates did fall 34. So when the mighty Son of Manoah who Presumed was the Cities Prisner tore The Gates of Gaza to make way unto His conquering March the Peoples dreadfull Roar Answer'd the Pillars boistrous Crack whilst all Thought their own Roofs about their Ears did fall 35. Imperial Lustre streaming from the face Of Jesue in the eyes of hideous Night Upon the swarthy Flames of that foule 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 such an Ocean of immortal 〈◊〉 That into every hole they crept aside Seeking their 〈◊〉 Shame to hide 36. About the hollow Bowells of the Cave An universal Groan it selfe did spread Whose Echo such an hideous Answer gave That all Hell gasping seem'd on its Deaths-hed Straight followed such Yellings Shreiks and 〈◊〉 As truly spake Damnations Miseries 37. Imagine what the blear-ey'd Sons of Night Ravens Scritchowls Bats and such foule things would doe If they surprised were by High-noon Light In their black Nests ô whether should they goe When their illustrious Enemy doth reach The very entrails of their closest Pitch 38. Incomparably more the Horror was Which shot it selfe quite through the Heart of Hek For these commanding Rayes did freely passe Through the black Masse of every Obstacle With such stout Brightnesse that amidst the store Of never-dying Fires it kindled more 39. The Lakes of Sulphure boiled with new Heat And every Pang and Torment hotter grew Dispair afreshat every Bosome beat Upon the next Fiends race each Fury fiew And every Devill scratch'd and tore his Brother Wreaking their Mannesse upon one another 40. The Snakes their Hisses and their Poyson spit And in a thousand Knots ti'd and unti'd Their woefull selves again The Gorgons split Their monstrous Throats with raving and the wide And fiery-mouthed Dragons howling loud Whole torrents of their flaming venome spewd 41. The Peers of Hell curs'd their unhappy King Whose Pride did to this Torment them betray They hop'd the Light of Heav'n would never spring In their black Clime to poure on them Dismay But now they saw 't in Jesu's Eyes it more 〈◊〉 them than when they fell from it before 42. Their belking bosomes heaved high and fain They would have belched out that working Loaa 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 my which held their Soules in pain But mighty Terror stopp'd the sulphury road Of their foule Throats and forc'd their ready Sin Onely to split their hearts and rage within 43. Black Avarice with foule-mouth'd Calumnie And desperate Treachery who their Heads had laid Together in that fell Conspiracy By which Lifes King was unto Death betray'd With self-condemning Horror quak'd to finde Their Mischiefs all against Themselves 〈◊〉 44. Although Confusion alwayes reigned here It never sate so high upon its Throne As now nor such Monarchik sway did bear In all the Deep whose strange Distraction Outvi'd the Discords of that monstrous Masse Which the rude hideous Wombe of All Things was 45. But the Red Dragon red in innocent Blood Great Belzebub was more confounded than All Hell besides for well he understood That now he deeplier conquer'd was than when Down from the Pinnacie of Heav'n he fell Into the Center and the sink of Hell 46. That Jesus for whose Blood so long agoe A hunting unto Bethlehem he went with Herods pack of Hounds that Jesus 〈◊〉 When in the Desert all his Craft he bent To cheat Him into Sin did contremine With nobler Wisdome his profound Designe 47. That Iesus whom He by the Wit of Scorn Through Iews blasphemous Mouths had vilified Whom He by Treacherie had Pris'ner born Unto his Mortall Enemies Barr and tried By the impetuous lawlesse Law of Cries Of Threats broad Tumults 〈◊〉 Calumnies 48. Whom by the service of his Hell-bounds He Had spit upon had scourg'd had busseted Whom through all Infamies Extremitie He to this Mountain of his ' Death had led Whom on the Trec of Shame and Pain He 〈◊〉 And then with further Blasphensies assail'd 49. Whom of his blood he plundered and at last Of his dear life Whom having murder'd thus He in his Sepulchre gat sealed fast And cleerly then was thought victorius This very Jesu's Soule He seeth now Marching with triumph in his Realm below 50. He sees his deep-lai'd Plots and Projects prove But engines of their Masters overthrow He sees against himself he onely strove When unto Christ he gave the mortall blow That death by which he hop'd to have supprest The Lord of Life now lives in his own breast 51. He sees the Cross in a full Banner spred And shining with imperiall gallantrie That pretious blood with which he made it red Gilds and adorns it now with Majestie He sees it streaming in the swarthy aire And at its awfull motion melts for fear 52. He sees the dreadfull thorns and feels them prick His guilty Soule He sees the nails and thinks That deep in his rebellious Heart they stick He winds about his wofull taile He shrinks He starts he findes that something
five hundred did at once appear 210. Yet not transfigur'd as before for now His proper Shape was radiant Majesty For from all Mortal Drosse refin'd you know Out of his Tombe he sprang no more to be By any Cloud bedimm'd nor had he need That Heav'n should ope its Mouth his Worth to spread 211. This was that solemn Apparition he On Easter Morn by Mary promised That the appointed Sceen might ready be With plenty of Spectators furnished And so it was for his Disciples thither Had gather'd all their trusty Friends together 212. When loe their Hopes they met upon the Mount And more than their Ambition too for now Jesus set ope his Lips and let the Fount The blessed Fount of potent Sweetnesse flow Which in the Chanel of these Words upon The Heads and Hearts of his Disciples ran 213. The Nerves and Sinews of all Power and Might Which spread through Heav'n and Earth so far and wide Here in this single Hand of mine unite And to my royal Will alone are ti'd By virtue of which Soveraignty I Commit to you compleat Authority 214. Goe take your Charge whose Limits here I make Coequall with the Worlds My Gospel preach To every living Soule for whose dear sake I on the bitter Crosse my self did stretch That in as large a Circle as the Sun The more illustrious Beams of Grace may run 215. He who despiseth your great News and You Shall doe it at his own Soules price for he Shall finde his slaming Punishment below In Desperations Eternity But he who to your faith his own doth give As long 's that other Dying is shall live 216. Nor shall his Glory onely future be Miraculous Power shall on him attend Upon the stoutest boldest Devills he Shall invocate my Name and make them bend From mortal Bosomes he shall them expell And sorce them howling home unto their Hell 217. Babels Confusion shall not him confound But every Language on his Tongue shall dwell That He my Gospel freely may resound And every Ear with its Salvation fill I who did it create as easily can With Words as Meat supply the Mouth of Man 218. In vain shall Scorpions bite him and in vain Shall Adders sting him by my power he Over all Serpents shall as surely gain As over Hells foule Dragon victory For those mysterious stings I did endure Shall from their dint and danger Him secure 219. In vain shall Poyson steal into his Cup And thence into his Bowells slide for he Although he should drink all Thessalia up Or Sodoms Lake shall not invenomed be That Cup which on my Crosse I drank shall make Wholsome to him all Draughts that he can take 220. More Virtue than in Trees and Plants doth grow Much more than Balsame in his hand shall dwell Those whom incurable Diseases throw Upon their desperate Bedds shall straight grow well If touch'd by Him whose faith on Me relies The grand Physitian of all Maladies 221. But his Initiation must be By being washed in the potent Name Of Father Son and Holy Ghost that he May know at whose sole Honor he must 〈◊〉 Remembring he by Baptism unto 〈◊〉 Was consecrated but the Triple On. 222. So spake the mighty Lord and then again With-drew himselfe that they might feed upon These heav'nly Priviledges he did deign To earth by faithfull Meditation He knew his Presence was right dear and yet He by Withdrawing more endeared it 223. But now the signal Time was come when He Who cheer'd the Earth for forty dayes with his Bright Apparitions meant that Heav'n should be Embellish'd with his glorious Accesse That he might as Himselfe he raised hither So also reach his Resurrection thither 224. His dear Companions now again he met So dear that loth he seem'd with them to part And walking Them along to Olivet Spun out the Time by Loves discursive art But on the Mountains Top arrived he Began in Tone and Aspect chang'd 〈◊〉 be 225. Stir not said he from Salem but attend The Fathers Promise you have heard of Me It was a Baptism which doth far transcend Johns poor and frigid institution He Baptiz'd with Water but your Baptism shall In Heav'ns sweet Spirit of Fire immerge you all 226. Erected at this solemn Item they No lesse than Crowns and Sceptres fancied Yet still their Thoughts below the Promise lay Hankring in Earths dull sphear for nothing did They reach but what too worthlesse was for Him Their great Ascendent Lord to leave to them 227. We know said they that 〈◊〉 Crown is 〈◊〉 Unto thine onely Head most fit for it Is this the Time dear Lord that thou wilt shew And make thy Title good Shall we now 〈◊〉 On our inferior Thrones before thy Feet And to the Tribes of 〈◊〉 Judgement 〈◊〉 228. Thus when wise 〈◊〉 along 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 They to 〈…〉 And for their Maint nance 〈…〉 But the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 tall to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 silly 〈…〉 〈◊〉 delight and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 229. Jesus who at his Parting could not Chide This secular Grossenes of their Thoughts pass'd by And with all delicate Gentlenes repli'd Those Times and Seasons which enshrined lie In Gods own Cabinet too mystick be For you to dive into their privacie 230. Yet though this Mystery you may not know Ten thousand others you shall cleerly see When the eternall Spirits Power shall flew Down on your Heads Your Glory then shall be To goe as Heralds and my royall Name Through every Quarter of my World proclaim 231. Hast Thou not seen the glittering Spark Ascend With natural Lightnes to its proper Sphear So glorious Jesus having made an end Of all his sweet and blessed Bus'nes here Upon the Wings of his own Puritie Lifted himselfe up to his Native Skie 232. They started at the sight and with their Eyes And Heads and Hands all elevated high Labour'd to trace his Path and to arise After their to wring Master who did flie A way with all their Hearts when loe a Cloud Between their Ecstasie and Him did crowd 233. It crowded on apace for fear to misse That honour which would make it fairer be And dress'd with more celestial Statelinesse Than the brisk Forehead of Serenitie So fast it crowded that the tired Winde Which would have born it puffing came behinde 234. All other Clouds which its Prerogative saw Grew black with Greif and melted into Tears When loe the Welkin clears her dainty brow And smiling Duy with open eyes prepares Her Admiration to gaze upon The Motion of a fairer sweeter Sun 235. This happy Cloud her delicate shoulders bent And meekly stooped to her Makers Feet Her pliant Volumes gather'd close and went Into the fashion of a Princely Seat That in a seemly Chariot Jesus might Unto his Throne take his Triumphant Flight 236. The golden Coach studded with eastern Gemms And burnished with living Fire wherein Great Phoebus in his brightest glory swimms Through heavens high Chanell never yet could winne Such credit as this noble Chariot which
263. But yet these beauteous stages onely were The fairely paved way and 〈◊〉 which see Unto that rairer larger Palace where Dwels light and life and bliss and Heav'n indeed And therefore Jesus through these made hast And only bless'd and gilt them as he 〈◊〉 264. When to the 〈◊〉 of the 〈◊〉 He Was now arriv'd and saw the world below The gate of Soveraign 〈◊〉 Before its King it self did open throw Of 〈◊〉 glories straight appear'd a 〈◊〉 〈…〉 but pure 〈◊〉 265. What joys what smiles what ravishments were here What delicate extremities of pleasures Injurious the unworthy Parallel were By 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 if we should measure These 〈◊〉 sweets of whose 〈◊〉 All 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not the 〈◊〉 is 266. For never did the sharpest-pointed eye Or of the body or the Soule of Man Such 〈◊〉 of pure delight desery As all about these splendid Regions ran Chanting those 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 no mortall 〈◊〉 Hath 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to heat 267. Into these vast Expansions as He went Loe his Almightie Father came to meet him O Psyche hadst thou seen that Complement Of supream joy with which he there did greet him The Spectacle for ever Thee had blest And with 〈◊〉 heav'n replenished thy breast 268. Unfathomable streams of 〈◊〉 Attended on him and bare up his train A flood of most excessive gratulation Before him roll'd But o how soveraign Was that infinitude of complacence Which brake from his own eys exuberance 269. On his Sons neck his radiant arms He threw And seal'd his lips with an inamor'd kiss His noble Bosome then wide open flew That home and Centre of eternall bliss To bid him welcome to that dearest bed In which or old he us 〈◊〉 to rest his head 270. Come Come said he no more to part from hence My hignest will thou hast compleatly done And by perfection of obedience Bravely approv'd thy self mine onely 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 shall entertain thee and For thy ocat sake those who about this 〈◊〉 271. Hence forth I can look on my world below With comfort which till now displeas'd mine eye For all its blots and stains and horrors thou Hast nobly turned into purity It shineth now wash'd by the liberal slood Of thine illustrinus all-cleansing blood 272. I see thy wounds and I beheld the shame With which they were engrav'don thee but now With never-dying lustre they shall flame 〈◊〉 on their gravers one day terror throw When guiltie they again shall see these scars 〈◊〉 purchased'st in Loves and Mercies wars 273. So spake the Father when the holy-Ghost Who hand in hand along with him was come Renued his applauding joy by most Mysterious emanations which from The string of living bliss his dainty breast In 〈◊〉 Plenitude of sweetnes prest 274. Thus in the face of Heav'ns returned Son He breath'd a pretious aromatick stream The surplusage of which effusion Fill'd and enobled all the hearts of them Whom he in triumph thither brought to be For ever Captives to felicitie 275. This salutation done Heav'ns trumpets sounded Whose gallant noise with equal Majestie That Hill of all sublimitie rebounded To which in goodly equipage did flie This reyal Companie straite gat up Unto Beatitudes and Glories Top. 276. Three radiant Chairs of awfull beautie there Stand founded fast upon Eternitie Which with such mystick art united are That 't is intirely one as well as three Three equal and distinguish'd seats yet one Essential and everlasting throne 277. Down in the midst the Father sate and on His left-hand his all-quickning Spirit but He at his right enthron'd his mighty Son And an eternal wreath of glories put Upon his Temples to requite those Scorns And Pains they here bore with their Crown of 〈◊〉 278. The ignominie of his feeble Reed With Dignities excess to recompence Into his right hand He delivered A Sceptre made all of Omnipotence And then erected just before his face His fairer Cross upon a diamond Base 279. As Jesus thus sate upon Triumphs Crown The Peers of that illustrious Kingdome came And at his feet their Coronets threw down In loyall homage and themselves with them Begging his leave that their unworthy tongues Might with his royall name enrich their Songs 280. Forthwith an Anthem of ecstatick praise Broke from their lips and on Heav'ns Roof did beat This brave example mov'd the Saints to raise Their highest tunes and mingle in that sweet Deluge of triumphs their applauses which Must flow as far 's Eternitie can reach 281. But the Disciples Psyche all this while Follow'd Him with their eyes and grieved were To see the interposing Cloud beguile Them of their Bliss yet could they not forbear Their Gazing still in hopes their Sun might break This Veil at length and they free prospect take 282. When loe two Angels all in snow array'd A courteous Check unto their error gave Yee Galileans why is it they said Your ignorant hopes stand gazing thus to have A sight of him now mounted higher far Above the cloud than you beneath it are 283. He on his Heav'nly throne is see and you Must wait till He is pleased thence to rise For time will come when he again will show To yours and all the worlds his blessed eyes And as from hence He did his journey take So on the Shoulders of a cloud ride back 284. This said the 〈◊〉 posted home to share In the new Festival above And they Convineed by that Item ready were Back to Jerusalem to take their way But as their eys returned to the ground The final Footsteps of their Lord they found 285. And so mayst Thou my Psyche still for loe The precious Characters doe heer remain The trustie Earth would never let them goe Nor did desire to smooth her face again Which by these Prints was so embellish'd that Her self to be the Worlds Base she forgat 286. These dear Impressions the Disciples kiss'd And took their leave and so to Salem went Full little thinking that the simple Dust In keeping them would prove so Diligent That neither Windes nor Storms could them deface Nor pious Pilgrims bear them from this place 287. A Thousand zealous Hands themselves have fill'd With this most priviledg'd Earth and held it more Pretious than all the golden Sand which swell'd The fame of Gange's or of Indu's shore Yet still the faithfull Dust with nimble Care Suppli'd and kept intire each Character 288. Nay when the Time shall come as come it will When Christian Piety shall courage take And build a Temple on this sacred Hill These footsteps of their Worth full proof shall make Refusing to let goe the Honour they Were sealed with upon Ascension Day 289. They back into the Workmens face will throw All his intrenthing stones as oft as He A Pavement labours over them to draw And injure with his Earthly decency Their heav'nly Beautie which He would disgrace Though He with Pearls and Gems should court the place 290. Nor shall He with his Roofe hope to forbid Their Prospect up
Pupills eye Rakes up the nastie sink of Heresie 1. ANd sits the Holy-land so dear and high In pious Soules esteem What tongue can then Thunder sufficient Veng'ance out and cry Against the lazie Basenes of those Men With equal Indignation who have let Vile Pagan Powers from Christians ravish it 2. Could this prodigious shame endured be By Romane hearts when on their Empires thront No other Prince was culminant but He Whom all the best of Bayes attended on Who like a bank against the torrent stood And turn'd the Gyant into Saru's flood 3. Who with his own Hand sent Razates down To his eternal Night who from the brow Of stern Cosrhoes shaked off his Crown Before Syrhoes cancell'd ' Natures law That He with vengeance might concur and by Dire Parricide make the Tyrant double die 4. Who wip'd the Romans ignominie out When He three hundred Eagles which had long Been mewed up in Persian Cages brought In triumph back and bad them flie among Their fellow-ensignes and as freely gaze As any of the brood on Phoebu's face 5. Who not these Banners onely did redeem But the great Standard of Religion too Which was so pretious in his esteem That he himselfe its Porter turn'd and so Made all his Empire stoop to that which he Upon his Shoulders bore to Calvarie 6. Alas Heraclius how has Heresie Attcheived what all Persia could not doe How has it made thine Eagles Pinions be Onely of use to flie before thy Foe Whilst one of Christs great Wills Thou tak'st away How canst Thou hope thine own Thou shalt enjoy 7. Loe the new Monster Mahomets bold Frie Like numerous Locusts from the Pit of Night Crawle into Palestine and there defie The blasted Powers of the Monothelite Loe they are to the Holy Citty come And Haumar robbs him of his Saviours Tombe 8. This rais'd in reverend Sophroniu's Breast A mighty Storm of Agonies to see His venerable Salem now possest By Saracenical Impiety And James his sacred Seat become the Throne For curs'd Apostasie to reign upon 9. He sigh'd and weep'd and finding no Reliefe From Heav'n or Earth for his loud Lamentation Resign'd himself unto victorious Grief And drown'd in his own Tears fulfill'd his Passion For why should I live longer here said he Still to be slain by what mine Eyes must see 10. And now the Land of Milk and Honey lay For more than foure full Ages over-flown With Mahumetick Poyson till a Ray Of vigorous Christian Gallantry shot down From Heav'n and by the Ermite Peters breath Blown to a Bonfire slam'd with holy Wrath. 11. With holy Wrath it slam'd in many a Breast But most in brave Bolonion Godfreys who In Steel and stronger Resolution drest Burnt with Desire to meet his Pagan Foe His Lorain can no longer hold him he Resolves another kinde of Duke to be 12. His Consecrated Legions he leads And in their Eyes their Quarrel doth display Above their Heads the bloody Crosse he spreads Which streamed in his awfull Standard They Smil'd at its goodly Look and cryed We Though in thy tincture ne'r will shrink from Thee 13. The Turkish Moon grew paler than before And in a cowardly Eclipse shrunk back When this bright Banner did its Terror poure Upon her face and open passage make To Victory for she was alwaies there And failed not to bring up Godfreys Rear 14. Thus lesser Asia from the Turkish Lore To Christs more gentle Yoak reduced is And there is nothing now but Salem more For Godfreyes Sword to free from its Distress Thither he march'd and soon Redeem'd the Place Where the whole Worlds Redemption acted was 15. Right Christian Hero ô how due to thee Was sacred Salems Crown and more than that How justly hath thy pious Victory Both Martial and Poetick Laurel got Whilst thy illustrious Name and Glory reigns In the Worlds Wonder and great Tasso's streins 16. But when by Death Heav'n sent for Godfrey home Baldwin his Brother both in Piety And Christian Valour took his royal Room Sidon and Ptolemais felt what he And his brave Troops in a just Cause could doe And so did Egypts mighty Caliph too 17. He to his Cosen Baldwin left his Throne And his entailed Gallantry with it Witnesse the routed Turks Confusion And Antioch which did to his Might submit And though a while he to the Persian bow'd Upon Damascu's King his strength he show'd 18. Then from his Turine Earldome Fulco role To sway this Sceptre who transmitted it Unto his Son young Baldwin over whose Surprised Powers stern Noradine did set His insolent foot but soon it ssipp'd and he Perforce restor'd his stollen Victory 19. His Death his Brother Almerik did raise Unto his Throne a Prince of active Might Whose Sword was fertile in triumphant Bays And glittered with Glories awfull Light All Ascalon beheld its noble flame When He from conquer'd Alexandria came 20. Baldwin his Sonn took up his Sceptre and Long sturdie Warr with Saladine maintain'd Till Leprosie seis'd on his Martial Hand And unto Resignation it constrain'd And Guy of Joppa was the Friend whom He Alone would trust to be his Deputie 21. Next Him his Nephew Baldwin stepp'd into The 〈◊〉 in which He scarcely settled was But 〈◊〉 undermined Him and so At 〈◊〉 Guy crowded into his Place 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Earl of Tripolis so deep That 〈◊〉 in desperate Plotts his Wrath did steep 22. With Suladine He deals and winns so fart On his proud Hopes that He perswades Him to Conjure against the Christians in a Warr Which soon attcheiv'd their fatal Overthrow For Arms and Treason so prevail'd that Guy And Salem with him did Subdued lie 23. Thus Barbarisme afresh did domineer In the Metropolis of Pietie Which roused up the Western Emperous On Pagani me the Power of Zeal to trie Surprised Syria at his Looks did quake And from his Conquests all the Turks flew back 24. But as this generous Frederik in his Might Rode bravely on his Horses fatal Fall Threw down the Conqueror into his Night Of Death When loe his noble Sonn by all The Army chose for General pursued His Fathers Stepps and where he went subdued 25. But what can Virtue doe when Fate withstands Upon this hopefull Sonn of Valour who Had no capacitie to fear the Hands Of Death from any Turk or Pagan Foe The Plague did seize and in his warlik Heart Fix'd its envenomed untimely Dart 26. Then English Richard and French Philip came And with new Western Bravery made good That mighty Loss the Lightning of their Fame Flashed before their Swords and like a Flood Incourag'd by two Torrents meeting They Swallow'd up all that dar'd oppose their Way 27. But cursed Discord the eternal Foe Of high Designs sent Philip back again Yet Richard on to Salem meant to goe Where He with Cyprus bought his right to reign And would had Englands Jarrs not call'd him home Have forced Saladine to make him room 28. Yet Martial Germanie her Nobles sent By
I seal Keep the Impression safe and so Farewell 82. Away this Word and He together flew For now the King of Soules thought fit to teach Psyche how little of her Heart she knew Who thought it raised past Delusions reach To her own Strength she now was left that she How little it deserv'd that Name might see 83. But when her Guardian now out-flew her View At his most unexpected Parting she At first amazed and aflicted grew But straight revolving that her Heart was free With all Jerusalem to satisfie Its curious fervor she left off to Sigh 84. Then in a modest Veil her face she hid Leaving her Eyes but room her way to see Zeal ti'd unto her feet the Wings of Speed And on she hasted toward Calvarie Her Saviours Pains afresh there to lament Not thinking that to her own Crosse she went 85. Mean while all pious Hearts eternal Foe Who to entrap them keeps perpetual Watch Observing her without her Guardian goe Judg'd this his onely time his Prey to catch He posted to a special Fuâ—ies Den Who started all her Snakes as he came in 86. But as she in ten thousand Hisses spoke Her Soveraigns Welcome Peace my Childe said He Part of my Errand's Haste and cannot brook These Complements Delay I have for Thee A piece of Service which will better prove How much thy Father Satan thou dost love 87. Psyche a Thing to Jesus wonderous dear And therefore full as odious to Me Who by his Love am alwaies pointed where I am to shoot my Spight is that coy she Whom though I sundry Times have baited yet Back in my face the Poyson still she spit 88. I Aphrodisius and Agenor sent And genuine Fiends they prov'd themselves to be About their hellish Work they wisely went And bravely acted all the Treachery And yet good Devills their far-driven Plot. So crafty was that Wench they finish'd not 89. Not that this Craft in her poor mortall Brain Was bred and nurs'd ô no abus'd We are And Heav'n though alwaies We to it give plain Defiance underhand maintains this Warr. There drown'd in Sulphure Thou hadst Psyche seen Had it not for unlukie Phylax been 90. He base unworthy Spirit as He is Not onely stoops to Christ which gallant We Of old disdained and still doe no lesse But with intolerable Flatterie Turns Page to dust and Ashes and doth bow From Heav'n to wait on this vile Worme below 91. Had He not better nobly Faln with Us And never have debas'd his High-born Mind Then crouch and sneak and currie favour thus Of the proud Tyrant Can an Angell finde It worth Christs Favour to be humbled down Far more below himselfe than We are thrown 92. For my part if I freely were to choose I would accept the bottome of my Hell And hug Damnation e'r I would with those Ignoble Sons of Earth a Servant d well Those Guardian Angels think We Cursed be Fools who perceive not their own Misery 93. They boast Heav'ns King 's their Soveraign and I Take the confessing Vassals at their Word But I 'l maintain it greater Dignity To have Him for my Foe than for my Lord They brag that Heav'ns their own Blisse's Hill Why I have more than so I have my Will 94. But now my Daughter Phylax is away His servile Diligence thou needst not fear Psyche is left unto her Selfe to day And therefore unto Us if thou tak'st Care To lay thy Plots aright for thine they be On which I build my Hopes of Victory 95. She now is on her way to Calvary The Hill which more than Heav'n it selfe I hate And have no minde in person to come nie That cursed Place It stands not with the State And honour of Imperiall Lucifer To smell the 〈◊〉 of Jesus Sepulchre 96. But for thy Fathers sake and service Thou Shalt stop thy Nose and venture to goe thither Where Thou a subtile Chain of Snakes shalt throw About that peevish Wench to hale her hither So at her and her cheated Spouse both I And thou will laugh unto Eternity 97. His foaming Lips He closed here and beat The flood of flaming Sulphure back into His monstrous Throat Straitat his burning Feet His damned Daughter took her leave to goe And with stout Fury rushed through the Earth And mingled with the Aire as she brake forth 98. In this she flew above Suspitions Eye And undiscerned shot into the Breasts Of divers Mortals where she formerly Had entertainment found But now her Nests She fethered anew with greater Store Of viperous Pow'rs than she left there before 99. Such was her dangerous Policie that she For Psyche layd her Net in others Hearts Which she made lovely by the bravery Of most refined sublimated Arts No fowler e'r us'd such allureing Ways To charm poor Birds by treacherous 〈◊〉 100. For though she were the very Centre where The Lines of all Deformities did meet The Looks of Beauty she knew how to wear And make her Horridnesse appear so sweet That she the wisest and most peircing Eyes Had often blinded by her Fallacies 101. But now the Virgin at the dolefull Mount Arrived was where in the reverend place Of the deer Crosses Foot she made account To poure her Vowes But there before Her was A youthfull Man who prepossess'd her room And thither of her errand seem'd to come 102. His Looks though guilty of few years were yet Grown pale and old with pious Gravity His sober Garb was such as best might fit Those who not spruce and brave but cloth'd would be His Body thin but thick his 〈◊〉 which grown To its full length did at his back flow down 103. Upon the ground He lay and beat his Breast Which echoed back the Blows with Sighs groans At length with iterated Knocking 's prest It yeelded forth these Ejulations O Geief and Pains had you no other Heart But His to make the Sink of all your Smart 104. That Heart which all of Sweetnesse moulded was That Heart where Heav'n found its Epitomie That Heart the fountain of all softest Grace That heart where all the Worlds best Life did lie The heart of Jesus here a boistrous Sigh Came blusting out and breaking off his Crie 105. But then recovering his Tongue again Alas said He and why are you unjust Why from this Breast of mine doe you abstein Which all your utmost stings doth merit Must He who deserv's the best of Joys alone Inherit all the depth of Passion 106. Are there no Whipps no Thorns no Nailes for Me May these my youthfull shoulders bear no Crosse Is there no Portion of Misery Left for my high Desert did He engrosse What sinfull I had better Title to Sure this at least shall be my Grief and Woe 107. As when the hollow Windes have drove together Black lagging Clowds the gravid vapors break With their own weight and poure the rainey Wether Down through the gloomy Air So on his Cheek His labouring Eys their fertile
I such holy Sweets to sipp Hadst Thou vouchsaf'd Me but thy Feet to Kiss That favour I had hugged as my Bliss 188. Thus cheated She did her Mishap admire As doth the silly flie the beauteous Flame Little surmising what outragious Fire Reign'd in that Bait which look'd so mild and tame Ne'r did she stand on such a Brink as this And never feared less a Precipice 189. Pseudagius whose faire-faced Piety Compleat possession of her Heart had wonn Now exercised his full Tyranny Upon his tender yeilding Prey and soon Infus'd his Poisons with such holy Art That their Contagion rul'd in every Part. 190. Satan who lurk'd in Ambush to espie How his Designe would take rejoyc'd to see That Psyche by this moderate Heresie So easily charmed was for crafty He When but a little Leaven was cast in Had oft the tainting of the whole Lump seen 191. He knew a little Gap might quickly turn A mighty Chasm He knew one Spark might thrive Into a full-grown Flame and serve to burn The strongest Fort He knew one Wheel might drive A thousand more He knew a carelesse Slip Might cause a Fall as well's a desperate Skip 192. He knew that they who once a foot had set In Errors Labrynth would easily be Allured further to proceed in it By their own tickling 〈◊〉 He knew they soon might fall in love with Night Whose Eys once turn'd from Truths meridian Light 193. But yet to make all sure he Logos fill'd With foolish Pride and Confidence since He Saw Thelema and Psyche forc'd to yeild At last to what He did at first agree And They abashed with unhappy shame His domineering Carriage durst not blame 194. By this unbrideled Insolence he grew So vain and carelesse in his Work that he Presum'd far more than all the World be knew In Truths judicious Discovery Thus foolish Dreamers think they view the skies When duskie Sleep hath sealed up their Eyes 195. For as one Morning Psyche walked out Intending for her Saviours Sepulchre Full in her way the watchfull Tempter brought One who no common Mortal did appear Grave was his Garb but graver far his Look And him for some deep-learned Man she took 196. Capricious Logos could not rest content Till he had sounded what the Man could say Big with a spruce and eloquent Complement He brings it forth and layes it in his way Bo wing down to the ground with it which done Agyrtes stayd and Logos thus went on 197. Sir if your Head unto your Looks be true It is of Knowledge a vast Treasury And those Spiritual Riches never knew What Losse or Diminution meant when by A liberal Impartment they were thrown To others Breasts yet not pluck'd from their 〈◊〉 198. For though his radiant Largise on the Moon And every Star and all the World beside He poureth out yet still the copious Sun Doth in his undiminish'd Glory ride Although a thousand Chanels it doth fill The teeming Fountain lives in Fulnesse still 199. A portion of your Streams and of your Light Is that We beg not to impoverish you But to enrich our Selves Our ignorant Night To knowing Day may by your Influence grow Our arid barren Intellect may be By your Effusions taught Fertility 200. That natural Desire which did enflame Your Industry to reach at Knowledge is Common to Us nor will your Wisdome blame Our free and bold Obedience unto this Potent Instinct by following which you have Attain'd that Blessing which of you We crave 201. When by a grave and gracefull Pawse the Man More reverence had won with friendly Eye He first their Welcome look'd then thus began To speak it out Though Silence suits with my Devout Profession more than Words yet now To Courtesies strong Law my Tongue must bow 202. If I to strangers should not Kindnes show I should affront that Lord who owned Me A stranger unto Him Yet please to know That I professe not by my Industrie To have arived unto any pitch In that wherein you take Me to be rich 203. Alas Agyrtes had as sottish been As is the vilest he that sees the light Had Heav'ns sweet Rays not deignd to interveen Between my Heart and Ignorances Night But Jesus who is King of Love as well As Wisdome pleas'd with both my Breast to fill 204. Yet this no other Wisdome is then what Concerns Him and his Heav'n wherfore if you For any other look from me but that You must goe seek where Vanitie doth grow That that or none sweet Sir said Psyche We Would onely in Heav'ns Wisdome learned be 205. This yeilding Answer made Him smile within And promise to his proud Heart Victory Yet to make sure and grace his holy Sin To Heav'n he turn'd his hell-directed Eye And lifting up his Hands seem'd thence to take The Copie of what now he ment to speak 206. With that upon the ready Grasse which there Offer'd its gentle service they sate down Then thus Agyrtes Though you Strangers are Your holy Wish thus far has made you known That I perceive you are not yet to be Inform'd there is a Christ and Pietie 207. But as the noblest Things beseiged are With greatest Difficulties so is this Religion and Truth yet never were Enthron'd so high but saucie Wickednes Would muster Errors round about them and Before their face in flat Defiance stand 208. Yet if in great Cerinthu's Schole you were Ever a Candidate I need not strive To ope my Bottles to your Thirst who there All Fulnes from the Fountain did receive My Schole cri'd Psyche gentle Sir alas Onely in blinde and barbarous Albion was 209. Know then said He that when Heav'n planted had Its blessed Gospell in our World below Ten thousand Weeds a conjuration made To choke it when it first began to grow The Blade no sooner peeped forth but there These pois'nous Tyrants strait did domineer 210. And surely all the Harvest Hopes had been Slain in their Birth had Jesus tender Care Into his Feild not sent Cerinthus Sin The Crop ev'n in the Spring began to shear And Truth her infant Head sought where to hide So rampant Error was and spread so wide 211. But this brave Gardner with his prudent Hook Cut those Intruders down and cleerd the ground The Churches Soile strait like it selfe did look And reskew'd Truth full room to flourish found The mystick 〈◊〉 began to be From the insidious Serpents Dangers free 212. The reverend Law whose flaming Majesty Flashed from Sina now brake out again And chasing all licentious Mists which by Heretik Sloth had gain'd Religions Rein Mingled its Lustre with the Gospels Ray And doubled fair Truthes most unspotted Day 213. Blind Ignorance was grown so bold that she Sought to perswade the World it had no Eyes Making the Lazie Name of Mystery In stead of Demonstration suffice From this black Pit those monstrous Prodigies Of hood-wink'd and abused Faith did rise 214. Who can imagin Heav'n would e'r obtrude Upon
ne're have kindled their own flames So all the Rays of Goodnes which make fine Created Eyes are Sparks of the Divine 328. Meer Sparks indeed who of their weaknes by Their twinckling tremor plain Confession make But Gods supream original Bonity From its own Home doth its Dimensions take It lives and flames in his unbounded Breast And fils with sweetest fulnes all its nest 329. Heer The lema leap'd in who now had found That God alone was absolutely good And fain she would her ravish'd self have drown'd In this delicious Attribute's deer flood But Psyche reind her in whose life she meant Should in another sacrifice be spent 330. Her fourth days Task was wonderous hard and high For now her thoughts adventured to look On the vast Volumes of Immensitie Which were the sacred admirable Book Of her great Makers face a Book which made All Heav'n and Earth to lesse than Nothing fade 331. But as her Contemplations wander'd here The further they went on the further they Were from their end and in their boundlesse Spheat Lost both themselves and their increasing way Yet Psyche found her Heart fill'd with Delight Thus to be lost from Morning unto Night 332. Oft did she cry What though by Loosing I Am fain to finde and by being Blinde to See What though I cannot Comprehend but by Granting mine own want of Capacitie I am content dear Lord since I by this Negation thy Greatnes doe Confesse 333. I see thou art Immense and Infinite Therefore I see thee not yet see thee more By this unable and denying sight Than they whose saucy Eyes dare by the poor Comparison of whatsoe'r it be Expresse the Measure of the Deitie 334. But since thou art so great ô mighty Lord. Whence is it that Mans narrow Heart to thee An acceptable dwelling can afford How is it that thy Eave's Immensitie Shrinks up thy Nature's which is yet as great As 't was before ev'n in this litle seat 335. The fifth day summond all her Might to view The matchlesse Power of the Deitie Strait in her face the whole Creation flew With witnes of its Author's strength which she Read from the fairest Heav'ns sublimest Crest Down to the gloomy Centre 's lowest Nest. 336. And though the universal Fabrick were The full Expansion of Magnificence Yet oft she chose the smallest Character Of close short-writ Epitomies and thence Observ'd Gods finger-worke in little flies As great as was his Arms in widest skies 337. But Man took up her deepest Admiration Man the rich extract of all things beside The wondrous Juncture of the whole Creation By which the Heav'n unto the Earth is ty'd Yea more than Heav'n for God unto the Creature Is married by none but Humane Nature 338. Yet not content thus at the second Hand To feed her hungry Meditations she Gallantly made a further venture and Gaz'd on her Makers naked Potencie Where she discover'd strength enough to build More Worlds than Atoms she in this beheld 339. No Bounds nor Bars she saw which could forbid The pleasure of his Hand but onely those Which Contradiction had established Yet they were not his Power to enclose But to demonstrate that his noble Might Could nothing doe but what was True and Right 340. O how she pittied those Princes who Upon exterior helps misplace the Name Of strength and dread not what all foes can doe If they have once prevail'd with vaunting Fame To publish to the World their numerous Force Of Castles Ships Arms Money Men and Horse 341. For what are those swoll'n Names unto a King Whose Arms as short whose Sinews are as weak As are his meanest Servants who can bring No Legions into the field nor wreak His challeng'd furie on his ready foe Unless His be his Subjects Pleasure too 342. Can his sole Word the Battell fight and wrest The Laurell from his strugling Enemies O no his Power doth in Others rest More than himself and if by Mutinies Unhappy Spark Rebellions flame breaks out By his own Strength his Overthrow is wrought 343. But Psyche saw how her Creators Might Fast unto his own Will alone was cham'd Omnipotence when e'r he pleas'd to fight 〈◊〉 all his Marches for it reignd In 〈◊〉 vast Hand which doth support and stay All other Arms from mouldering away 344. Yet though thus Potent He is also 〈◊〉 And She as such the sixt Day Him admired Deeply she weighed how all Ages held One Principle of Boldness and conspired Against their Patient God as if his strong Right-hand were bound because He held his Tongue 345. Amaz'd she was to see how He kept under Incensed Justice who would fain have thrown His ready Veng'ance dress'd in dreadfull Thunder In Warrs in Plagues in Drought in Famine down Upon the wretched Heads and Hearts of those Who durst in spight of Mercy be his Foes 346. Indeed she saw that Mercy fix her Eye Upon the Rainbow where she seem'd to read An Obligation of her Lenitie Though Heav'n-defying Sin bore up its Head Never so high Yet by her own Consent Yea and Desire that Signall Bow was bent 347. The Bow was bent yet not to shoot but show How Mercy bound her self to doe her best The World to shelter from a second Blow Which from the first her onely Love releast Else had the Deluge not repented and To Earth made restitution of drie Land 348. This Speculation inform'd her how Much more heroick is the Victory When Sweetness wreaths the Bay about the Brow Than when plain force doth snatch it thither He In whom both are supreme takes more delight In conquering by his Mercy than his Might 349. And ô may I said when Night at length Warn'd this her Meditation to conclude Not by the Dint of thy all-conquering Strength Dear Lord but by thy Mercy be subdu'd If on a Worme thy Power thou wilt trie O let it be the Might of Lenity 350. But then the seavnth Day gave her Thoughts their cue To trace the Wonders of his Glory which Did from the antecedent Week accrew And with transcendent Brightnes Him enrich Brightness which gave Heav'ns Quire their task to sing Eternal Hallelujahs to their King 351. And ravish'd heer with mighty Joy and Love She needs would take with Them her Part of Praise With utmost Zeals intension she strove Her Acclamations to their Key to raise And though she could not sing so high nor clear Yet did her Musick please Heavn's candid ear 352. She Thought and Sung and then she Thought again For still new floods came rouling in upon Her God's other Attributes illustrious Train Themselves in Homage pay unto his Honour In whose incomparable Vastness they Can all their owne Infinitudes display 353. What ever breaths or lives or has the least Share of Existence constant Tribute brings Unto this Treasurie as well's the best And brightest Cherub yea ev'n empty Things Defects and Sinns though not by Doing yet By Suffring what they merit render it 354. And shall
The silliest Flocks who would themselves commit To Him who leaves them free to any Wrong And tels them plainly they must suffer it For his dear sake Right dear indeed if they Their lives unto His Memory must pay 72. Mad were the Sheep which would attendant be Upon a Sheepheard who did them assure That for that onely Cause the Tyrannie Of thousand Wolves and Bears they must endure Nay Sheep would never be so sheepish yet Men to this Paradox themselves submit 73. Grant Heav'n be in reversion their own What shall the fondlings get by being there Who must eternaly be crouching down And paying Praise's tribute to His Ear Who will requite them with a Chain which shall Keep ev'n their Wils in everlasting Thrall 74. Were not their Soules more generous if they The gallant freedome of our Hell would choose Which knows not what it meaneth to Obey But le ts full Blasphemy for ever loose Faint-hearted fools who needs will Vassals be For fear least I should make them truely free 75. Thou see'st this sin is crying and for high Revenge beats loud upon my royal Ear And should my Fury wake and instantly Those mad 〈◊〉 all in peeces tear Surely my Justice I could well acquit However envious Heav'n would raile at it 76. But I for this doth best become a King A better rellish finde in Lenity I know the Galileans Tongues doe ring With restlesse Clamours on my Tyranny Forgetting that their Lord did banish Me From Heav'n against all Law and Equitie 77. Yet shall not they Me so ignoble make As to requite their Basenesse in its kinde No let them henceforth Demonstration take In what a pack of Forgeries combin'd Unto my Charge they lay all Cruelties Judge all the World who Father is of lyes 78. For I resolved am at first to try Them by my royall Mercy to reclaim Far rather would I win them thus than by Stern Vengeance utterly extirpate them The Peoples fault alas is not so great As His whose Gospel Pipe charm'd them to it 79. My pleasure therefore is that thou mak'st speed To Britain and divulge my Proclamation Of Grace and Pardon unto every Head Which strait abjures that dangerous Innovation And penitent for his Christian Heresie With orthodox Devotion Bows to Me. 80. But if my princely favour be despised Both Heav'n and Earth must needs my Rage approve Denounce all Vengance that can be devised By scorn'd and therefore most indignant Love Make all the stupid stubborn Rebels feel That Maries Son cannot my Wrath repell 81. This said The Furie who had all this while Smiled in hopes of her new Task made haste To take her Coach and thought each step a Mile As through the spatious House to it she past Then mounting at the Gate they parted He Home to his Hell and to wards Britain She. 82. Forth with in terrible Magnificence An hundred Trumpets sent their Voice before To tell the People that their awfull Prince Her Progress now began That stately Roar Through every street imperiously flew And warned 〈◊〉 this mightie sight to view 83. When lo the sweating throngs bespred her way With admirations of her Pomp and Train Before the Chariot two road single they Suspition were and Envy both did rein Their fitting Steeds the one a Fox the other A Wolfe and forced them to march together 84. Next follow'd Pride upon a sirly Horse Whose stomack neer as high as hers did swell Fire sparkled in his eyes and martial force In the bent Bow of his large neck did dwell About he flung his Foam and champ'd his Bit For both his Rider he disdain'd and it 85. But she an Ensigne in her right Hand held Whose bosome she displayed to the Winde Forth with the Flag with stately fulnes swell'd Wherein the Tyrants golden Scutcheon shin'd A wide-spred Eagle whose faire Pinions seem'd To bear her up still as the Colours stream'd 86. Then came the Coach which two strange Monsters drew For one a dreadfull Lybian Dragon was Who from his Mouth did flaming Sulphure spew And poisned all the Way which he did passe The other an enormous Crocodile The most accursed Son of happy Nile 87. On them two feirce Postillions mounted were Intolerable head-strong Anger who To lash her Dragon never did forbear Though he with Furie's violent Feet did goe And Cruelty whose Heart was harder than Her knotty 〈◊〉 black iron Skin 88. Upon the Coachbox sate a Driver hight Selfe-will a mad-braind most outrageous He Who in impatient Speed doth still delight Though thousand Perils in his Passage be Never could Hils or Dales or Sea or Land Or desperate Precipices make Him stand 89. The Metall of the Chariot all was Brasse Bright burning Brasse which upon either side With sharp and cruel Hooks thick platted was To mow down All it met In this did ride The dreadfull Queen a Queen of mighty Fame Who hath not heard of Persecutions Name 90. Whatever makes the Tigres Faces be Of ravenous Crueltie the hideous Book With indefatigable Industry She had transcrib'd into her monstrous Look Heav'n sheild all pious Soules and turn their Fears To generous Faith when ever She appears 91. Her Coat is Steell besmeared all with blood And in her Hand she holds a Twist of Snakes With which though still her Coachman never stood Eternaly she threshes Him and makes His furious Speedmore speedy grow that she Might at her Prey as soons her Wishes be 92. Thus whirl'd she through the Popular Rout and flew To her desired Isle the straitest way Behinde the Coach her cursed Train she drew All glad to tread her cruel Steps for they No other were but her own hellish Brood Whom she had nurs'd and fatned up with Blood 93. Upon a Goat more stinking far than he Rode Ravishment who threw his licorish Eyes And they black fire on every Company Of Females of what everage or guise The Chariots haste he curs'd a thousand times Which snatch'd Him from the fuel of his Crimes 94. Perch'd on a Vultures back was 〈◊〉 who In length of 〈◊〉 did that Bird exceed Starv'd with 〈◊〉 though fat in Spoils she so 〈◊〉 was that still she wish'd more speed Had hurried on the Coach that ravenous she Might sooner at her British Banquet be 95. Upon an Ostrich more unnatural Than was her barbarous Bird rode Astorgie Vowing aloud to tear in sunder all Those cords of love which did together tie The Soules of Parents and of Children and Break the sweet Links of every Nuptial Band. 96. Mounted upon an Hydra Heresie With more and stranger heads than had her Steed Rejoyc'd in hope that now contagious she Her Poison to another World should spread And Albions Sands which brideled in the Sea Should by her stouter Tide o'r-flowed be 97. On a black grizlie Dog rode Profanation She who ne'r learn'd distinction of Place Or Time or Things who never yet could fashion A modest Look or paint upon her face The least glimpse of a
On desolate Psyche who at first was stroke For unexpectedly the Fiend appeared And with a sudden dint at her fell look And yet not so as to be beaten over For strait her strength and self she did recover 101. The Tower thus which at the furious Blast Of rushing Tempests yeilds a while to quake Forgetteth not withall to stand more fast Than those proud Buildings which disdain to shake And therefore by an instant Ruine down From their exalted Confidence are thrown 102. Dispair percerving that her looks were vain Drew her more dangerous Weapon out and this Was her be witching tongur which she did strain Unto the highest Key of Crastines And casting down her luggage thus assaid To doe as much upon the constant Maid 103. If I thy doubtfull Count'nance read aright Thou neither understandest who am I Nor who thy Selfe But this thy 〈◊〉 plight So charms my Pitty that I must descrie Both unto Thee and if thou wilt befriend Thy selfe thou maist thy 〈◊〉 state amend 104. I knew my 〈◊〉 speaketh nothing lesse Than 〈◊〉 But Things which fairest be Doe often veil in their enchanting Dresse The 〈◊〉 Stings of odious Treachery And soher Wisdome alway doth commend 〈…〉 Friend 105. Were it not so thy Selfe hadst never strove Against the 〈◊〉 Tide of Things below 〈◊〉 sull alwayes of the soothing Love With which the Worlds inviting Smiles did slow Were it not so what Price could be so high To 〈◊〉 Thee thus thy Selfe to Mortisic 106. Suspect not then my Looks which needs must show Like Terrors most abhorred Book to them Whose vain deluded Bosomes overflow With secular Pleasures frothy empty Stream These think each Winde though it would blow them to The Haven will prove a Storm and them undoe 107. But thy Condition if Thou weigh'st it right Will teach Thee better what concerns thy Blisse Remember then that since Thou saw'st the Light Thou ne'r had st reason to be friends with this Unhappy Life which from thy Cradle to This Houre hath swarm'd with Nothing but thy wo. 108. The dainty Budds of thy young Vigorous years Serv'd not trim a Gatland for Delight By Virtue 's rigid and untimely Cares They blasted were and Thou ev'n in despight Of blooming Tendernesse preventedst Time And provedst old and withered in thy Prime 109. Whilst other Maydons 〈◊〉 for 〈◊〉 joy Gather d the sweetest 〈◊〉 of cheerly 〈◊〉 Thou joyn'dst thy self in marriage to 〈◊〉 Living a 〈◊〉 and Single 〈◊〉 And thus of Griefs a numerous 〈◊〉 Thou springing from thy virgin 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 110. 〈◊〉 from this Isle of Blisse thy native Home Thy 〈◊〉 Zeal drove Thee into the East Where Thou about 〈◊〉 Palistine didst rome Both to the Place a 〈◊〉 and to Rest What found'st thou there but thine own Loss whilst Thou 〈…〉 which the 〈◊〉 did dow 111. Alas the dear 〈◊〉 of thy Lord Which with thine hankering Eys thou there didst read Did but Assurance to thy Soule afford That He its onely Joy to Heav n was 〈◊〉 And surely here at home Thou wert as neer The skies as thou wert in thine Exile there 112. Thus having wasted out thy Strength and Time And Credit too with those who lov'd Thee best Back wert thou hurried to thy British Clime Lake a 〈◊〉 wearied Bird to her poor Nest Where when thou countedst up thy Journeys Gains Thou onely foundst thy Labour for thy Pains 113. Then fired by unhappy Piety Upon thy Selfe thou didst the Tyrant play Thy lamentable Body she weth by Its ghastly Leanesse how thou strov'st to slay Thy guiltlesse Flesh and what Pains thou didst 〈◊〉 Languid and senselesse every Sense to make 114. And for no other End but to refine Thy Selfe from this dull clogging Earth unto A State which might thy backward Spouse 〈◊〉 To love thy loyal Heart which laboured so To trace his hardiest Steps and cheerly tosse Upon her Shoulders his most heavy Crosse. 115. Yet when thou justly didst thy Boon expect Lesse due unto Uranius than to Thee Unto a Dungeon He did thee reject A Place how far from 〈◊〉 Liberty Where thou who in the 〈◊〉 long'dst to expire Wert forc'd to lead a dying Life in 〈◊〉 116. Remember what intolerable Chains Into thy Soule their cruel 〈◊〉 prest What Heaps of boiling Sores and 〈◊〉 Pains Were pour'd upon Thee and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Whence when the Romane 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 prepared 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 thee free thy freedome 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 117. It was debarred by no other Hand But that which rather should have lent thee Aid What Phylax did was by thy Lords Command When from that Gaole he stole thee and betray'd Thy Hopes of Martyrdome which now was grown Mature and offered 〈◊〉 thine Head its Crown 118. I grant thy torturing Sores He healed but Deserv'd nor Pay nor Thanks for that his Cure Which did but thy repaired Body put In a fit able posture to endure This greater Load whose mercilesle Excesse Doth thy unpittied Shoulders 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 119. Shoulders unpittied by Him from whom Thou hadst most reason to expect Relief But in his cruel Ears there is no Room To lodge and entertain the Suit of Grief Had there been any surely He would not Thy mighty Supplications out have shut 120. How has the Stroke of thy impetuous Crie Taught this dumb Desert Mournings Dialect Whilst all its Rocks and Caverns shaken by Thy Groans and Lamentations them reflect To Heav'n with doubled fervor and agree Fellow-Petitioners to be with Thee 121. And yet thy grated Throat is not so drie As are thy now exhausted Eyes from whence Thy Spouse's cruel Heart to mollifie Thou freely pourdst thine utmost Influence But still the Stone which on his Breast doth grow Will not by all those Drops be pierced through 122. O no! unkindly He doth turn away His Face least any Glimpie should leap to Thee And thou long flatter'd by his Favours Day Art now betrayed to the Misery Of blackest Night O may all Soules beware How they Heav'ns wiley Prince doe trust too far 123. Alas thy desolate Heart too well doth know That thy Condition I doe not mistake And with secure Presumption Psyche Thou Maist from my Art this sound Conclusion make That I who can discover all thy Grief May tell what physick will yeild thee 〈◊〉 124. Thy Phylax once esteem'd thy trustiest Friend Well understands the depth of thy Disease Yet finding all his skill too weak to lend Thee any real Aid himselfe he frees From fruitlesse Trouble and is fled away Ashamed now his weaknesse to betray 125. I know not how but alwaies at a Pinch When great Extremities crave equal Aid Your common Comforters use still to flinch And crie Heav'ns Will be done But I afraid Of nothing am no not Heav'ns Destination 〈◊〉 along can feel no Desperation 126. I I the onely able Doctresse who In desperate Cases certain Physick give In pitty of thy unregarded Woe Am hither come prepared to relceve Thy helplesse Heart Nor doe I ask a Fee My 〈◊〉 Guerdon shall thy
hast in Darknesse grop'd so long 24. Henceforth take Courage for no more will I And here Thou hast in Pawn my royall Word Leave thee to wade in gloomy Misery But trustie Light to all thy waies afford Full broad-day Light for all this while I gave Thee secret Beams which thou didst not perceive 25. And had 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 done so had I not 〈◊〉 Close at the bottome of thine Heart to keep Thy Soules foundation firm and sure in 〈◊〉 Laborious Zeal had duely broke thy sleep In vain had all thy Signs and Tears been spent In vain thy Prayers had to Heav'n been sent 26. Unto its dismall Name too truely true Thy Dereliction had prov'd had I With never-sleeping Care not lain perdu To watch the Motions of thy Enemy That Enemy whose fatal Company Makes Desolation Desolation be 27. When that infernal Hag the damned Queen Of Hideousnesse advanced to the fight Armed both Hand and Tongue had I not been In thy main Fort however out of Sight Sure She had undermined it and thou Hadst by Dispair been quite blown up e'r now 28. Yet close I lurk'd thy Courage so to trie When thou no Second didst perceive at Hand This was the Plot of LOVE himselfe and I My Ambush placed but at his Command LOVE hid my face and so he did his own But all that while he weav'd for thee a Crown 29. The Crown which thy long loyal Patience In the bright Realm of humble Saints shall wear And till Thou thither art translated hence I in thy Breast my Tent at large will rear That till the greater Heav'n receiveth thee Thou mayst contain it in Epitomie 30. This said She gather'd up her Train of Light Which in an Orb was all about her spred And shrinking up her Selfe with heav'nly Sleight Within her sprightfull Selfe she entered The Virgins Breast again and there begun To exercise her full Dominion 31. Forth with a Tumult boild in Psyche's Heart But boild and foam'd in vain for instantly The Rout by Chari's most unconquer'd Art Was forc'd from that usurped Hold to flie Vain Dread was first which shrunk turned 〈◊〉 And so these Cowards flying Armie 〈◊〉 32. For She her Selfe no sooner 〈◊〉 out But at her heels Lamenting Sorrow came Tearing her hair and flinging it about Then leare-ey d 〈◊〉 unworthy Shame Pale-fac'd Disconsolation and 〈◊〉 With Indevotion's dead and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 33. But in the Rear rush'd out Forgetfulnes A dim and swarthy Thing and hand in hand Led her Compatriots and Associates These Were sluggish Mists dull Night thick Blacknesse and Whatever is of kin to them whatever Can block up heav'n and Soules from light dissever 34. Compar'd with these all Soot and Ink and Pitch Were Compositions of Milk and Snow So was the gross and triduan Darknesse which Did on the face of shameless Memphis grow Or that which lock'd up Sodom's Eylids more Close than Lot's utmost Care had done his Door 35. Psyche admiring stood to see her Breast So fertile in this hideous Progeny Which as she veiwed them directly prest Downward into the Wombe of Earth to be Conveyed back unto their native Home For from beneath this gloomy 〈◊〉 did come 36. And now she found her Bosome full as clear As when to Heav'n she Thelema presented Now all her Passions unhamper'd were And every Bond to Libertie relented All things were sweet and fair within and she Releas'd into compleat Serenitie 37. Love Anger Hatred Jelousie and Fear And all the rest of that swift-winged Crew With holy sprightfulnesse revived were And to their proper Objects nimbly flew They 〈◊〉 and clashed not their Wings together But kindely help'd and cheered one another 38. Hope which had grop'd and languished till now In deplorable Mists new courage took And challeng'd every Winde its worst to blow Since she perceiv'd her Cable was not broke But that her trusty Anchor held its hold Whilst Desolations Sea about her roll'd 39. And Logos too sad heretofore and drie Felt cneerly Vigor flaming in his Heart Which spurr'd him on to beg her leave to try Whether he could not now perform his part With more successefull strength and from the Treasures Of Heav'n fetch Contempletions solid Pleasure 40. His Motion she heard with joyus Ear And turn'd to Heav'n her gladsome Ey to see Whether the way to it Companion were In her brisk Bosomes new Serenity She turn'd her Ey and in Heav'ns volumes read More than her own desires had coveted 41. For lo the sullen Clouds which heretofore Had damm'd the way to her rejected sight Drown'd in repentant Tears themselves did poure And dash in sunder to lay ope a bright And undisturbed Passage to that Spheat Where Psyche's Jewels all ensh rined were 42. In bounteous Beams of royall Influence Her open Sun bestow'd himself upon her And this awak'd her long astonish'd sence To finde and feel the sweets of this dear Honor This swell'd her Bosom with such Ravishment That through her lips she hast's to give it vent 43. And now ô my delicious Lord said she I thank thee for that Famine I endured I little dream'd that this Felicitie Could by this torturing anguish be procured But in the Wisdome of thy Love didst thou Then make me Fast the more to Feast me now 44. Thou with that wholesome Tempest tossed'st me That I might throughly understand the blisse Of this sweet Calm by the Ariditie Of cold and tedious Death didst thou suppress My secular Spirits that revived I Might live to thee as to the World I die 45. Now now I taste this life indeed which I Though I enjoy'd it did not know before Alas We fools are best instructed by Absence and Losse to prize the richest store These thanks I to my Dereliction ow That I can rellish my Fruition now 46. So deep I rellish it dear Jesu that I would not for the Cream of Paradise But have been drowned in that desolate State Whence to the Blisse of mine own Blisse I rise For what were Paradise to me unless I feelingly perceiv'd its Pleasantnes 47. O that more Thelema's I had which I Might sacrifice in witnesse of this Debt Since thy revealed Countnance upon my Unworthy Head this mighty Score hath set Yet what doe our poor Wils by being thine But onely make Themselves not Thee divine 48. I now could covetous be and wish that all The Treasures both of Heav'n and Earth were mine That with this Offring I might prostrate fall And dedicate it at thy Favours shrine Yet what were all the World to that which I Ow to thy Soveraign Benignity 49. Had I ten thousand Lives to spend on thee That 〈◊〉 Expence would but my Gains augment How 〈◊〉 where Gratitude her Selfe must be 〈◊〉 can poor I due Thanks present Sweet Lord informaud help my Soule which fain Would tender something back to thee again 50. She ceased here And Phylax who attended The leisure of her fervent Exultation With equal Joy and Ardor where
at their Soveraigns hearts they aime their Swords 199. He call'd no Lightning from the Clouds or from His potent Eyes to flash on Juda's face And throw on his bold Lips that flaming Doom Which due unto their odious Treason was He charg'd not Earth her dreadfull Mouth to ope And on the hellish Kisser close it up 200. O no With heav'nly Tendernesse He cries Friend wherefore art Thou come Strange Miracle Of gentle Patience Who can comprise Thy blessed depth Upon the face of Hell Shall the sweet Name of Friend be printed by Him who beholds and feels its Treachery 201. Is foul Ingratitude plain Apostacie Right down Rebellion now become a freind Or rather is not this Disciple by His curs'd Revolt transformd into a Feind And will his wronged Lord by none but this Deare Name revenge his most invenomed Kisse 202. O Psyche Jesus tortured was to see Judas himself into all Torments throw And by this Charme of noblest Lenitie Back into Heav'n indeavored him to draw He knew Loves Cords were strong and from his Crime By these he strives to hale rescue Him 203. Why art thou come thus to betray thy Freind Why art thou come with Arms against a Lamb Why art thou come all Bonds of Love to rend Why art thou come to fight for thine own shame Why art thou come with this strong Preparation For thy Lords death for thine own Damnation 204. Thy Kisse I in its naturall Language will Kindely interpret and make my Replie In the same Dialect if thou wilt still Imbrace my ever faithfull Courtesie And yeild that Blisse may in thy heart have room Say then my Friend say wherefore art Thou come 205. Thus did the Prince of sweetnesse plead and wooe But the deaf Serpent stopp'd his cursed ear In 's heart the Thirty Peeces chinked so That He no other Harmonie can hear When loe the Souldiers knowing now their Prey On Iesus fell and haled Him away 206. For love of Thee and all his other Brides Thus Psyche was thy Lord content to be Sold at so vile a Rate and Mock'd besides Ev'n by his own Disciples Treacherie Shrink not if thy neer Freinds abuse thy love Since Gods own Favorites so faithlesse prove 207. And let the World by this one Copie learn That hell-bred Boldnesse is not strange or new By which most Fostered Favoured Creatures turn Flat Enemies and lead an armed Crew Of Miscreanrs with bloody Impudence Against the Powers and Person of their Prince 208. But when no mercy could the Traytor winne To entertain his Pardon Vengeance made Haste to poure out her selfe upon his sinne For Satan who his heart possessed had His Treason in his proper Coin repayd And the Betrayer fatally betrayd 209. Into a Corner of the Garden where Thoughtfull disconsolate Night sate thick and black She crowded him alone and having there Prepar'd and fitted her infernall Rack With studied furie not his Body but His captivated Soule on it she put 210. For by the beames of their owne hellish Light Unto Iscariots intellectuall Eyes Herselfe She did display Excessive Fright The Traytors wretched Heart did strait surprise Each Joynt and Member quak'd and sweat and He Felt in this Garden too his Agonie 211. He saw feirce Beizebubs sulphureous face Flaming with swarthy fire His Horns he saw Mounted high on his head with dreadfull grace Which his erected snakie Hair did knaw He saw his adamantine Nails and Paws His steely Teeth his brazen gaping Jaws 212. He saw the Tempest of his flaming Breath Which swarthy Volumes spred of stinking smoke He saw the windows of eternal Death Flung open in his staring Eyes whose Look Slew him alive He saw his Iron Mace His burning feet and his enraged Pace 213. He saw his forked Tail in tryumph thrown Upon his shoulder and his irefull Brow With cruell scorn contracted in a frown Rampant Implacabilitie he saw In every Gesture and did plainly read The full Description of Immortal Dread 214. When loe stern Lucifer threw out his hand And by her Throat his woefull Conscience took And now he cries I 'l make thee understand What thou hast chose and what thou hast forsook Look on this dainty Pair of Damsells heer Who more than Heav'n and God to thee were dear 215. Just at the word He opened to his view The horrid Carkaise of foule Avarice And fouler Treachery not in her hue Of borrowed Smiles and outside Comelinesse But in her naked native Filth and then Shaking his Horns and Paws He thus went on 216. Maddest of Fools how many Hells dost Thou Deserve who with such Hags could'st fall in love When Jesus woo'd thy Heart Well take Them now Th' hast paid so dearly for Them They will prove Sweet Brides and pretiously adorn thy Bed Which in the Bottome of my Realm is spred 217. If any Part at all there be in Them Which is not horrid may my Scepter break And may my royall Tongue no more Blaspheam For once I tell Thee true and Thou mayst take The Devills Word There are few Furies who In monstrous Ouglinesse thy Wives out-goe 218. And was thy Lord so vile a Thing that He Might not with these in Competition stand Did those unthankfull Eyes of thine e'r see A face inrich'd with such pure Beauties and Majestick Graces as in his did shine Making Humanity appear Divine 219. Most stupid Sot How often hast Thou seen Divinity from His great Hand break out How oft might plain Omnipotence have been Read in the Miracles He daily wrought Casting forth all my stoutest Fiends Yet Thou And here He beat the Soule to Me wouldst bow 220. Nay never houle 't is but the Earnest this Of what 's to come Thou needs wouldst bow to Me To Me of whom that Christ the Conqueror is He threw Me down from Heav'ns Sublimity Into that Pit of Pangs where I am now The damned Soveraign of such as Thou 221. Had'st not as good have bowed unto Him Whose Yoak Thou would'st have lighter found than mine I tell thee Judas I am but a grim And rugged Lord what Prizes once I win Infallibly for evermore shall frie In Torments bottomlesse Extremity 222. And is my Hell my everlasting Spight My unrelenting Furie so much worth That Paradise and Heav'n and Jesus might Not finde acceptance Brings Damnation forth Such strong Temptations Can eternal Blisse Not wooe and win as potently as this 223. Sure Hell and Death are gallant Things and I Cannot allow Thee them untill Thou hast Through all Contempt and Hate and Infamie Which Salem or the World can yeild thee past That Preface shall for that eternall Smart Which gapes longs for Thee prepare thine Heart 224. Goe then the Ages Blot and Monster goe Let every Mouth spit on thine hated Head Let every Tongue thick Curses on Thee strow Let every Hand be arm'd to strike Thee dead Let every Eye abhorre thy balefull Sight Let all the World revenge thy Traytorous Spight 225. Let Heav'n
haste should be Your prejudice 't was haste made you so hot Against your smother'd reason but free leave To choose again to all of you I give 186. For I would fain my 〈◊〉 should be True to its Name which sure cannot be so If none but foule Barabbas must be He Whom you will let me upon you bestow Consider well and you will finde it stand More with your 〈◊〉 Jesus to demand 187. Inraged at this Word they all renue Their former Clamor and Barabbas roar For none but for Barabbas We doe sue Grant now what thou hast granted heretofore Our wonted Boon We ask If you deny Barabbas to Us keep your Courtesie 188. Mov'd with their boistrous Madnesse Pilate cries If the seditious Murderer alone Can seem to you to be a worthy Prize Tell Me what must with Innocence be done Both cannot be Repreeved therefore speak What kinde of course with Jesus I shall take 189. Well-pleas'd were they that He had giv'n Them leave To name the Way of their own Cruelty A 〈◊〉 Exclamation they heave Crying the Case is plain Let Jesus die 〈◊〉 Him but unto the Crosse and We At charge of Executing Him will be 190. Then as an Army with impatient Shout Rends the wide Field when most intaged They Flie to their Work of Blood So the whole Rout 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Pilates Ear and all they say Up in this most 〈◊〉 Word is tied Away with Him let Him be Crucified 191. O more than hellish Impudence and Spight Is this the People whose high Estimation Of Jesus did the High-priests Plots affright And force them to a secret Conjuration The People who some Prophet at the least Forc'd by his mighty Miracles Him confest 192. The People who to pave his welcome Way Stripp'd the Trees Bodies and their own and spred That princely entertainment to display How ev'n his Asses feet they honored The People who did brave Hosanna crie A Word ô how unlike to Crucifie 193. How well sage Heads have fix'd the odious Brand Of Ficklenesse upon the Vulgars face For safeher may you on the Lybian Sand Or on the Adriatick Billows place A Palaces Foundation than relie Upon the Peoples best Fidelity 194. The horror of that Word made Pilate start Who stepping back and holding up his Hands Cri'd out O far far be it from my Heart To think of such Injustice I your Demands Should not be Trapps nor is it fit that I Should Tyrant prove your Wills to satisfie 195. Bears He the Stain of Murder or of Treason To mark Him out for Death Can any Eye Barabbas finde in Him Or is it reason That He because He has no Crime must Dye And can you choose no other Man but Me The Pander of your bloody Lust to be 196. Great Cesar thinks Me wise enough to hear And judge of Cases and why should not you Jesus I have examin'd whom as clear And pure I finde as is the Virgin Snow As clear of capital Crimes for these alone Come in the compasse of this Question 197. Wherefore no Tongue shall e'r have Cause to say To the confusion of my Honor that Pilate bow'd down his Conscience to obey A lawlesse Motion Henceforth urge Me not Some reasonable Castigation I Will. lay on Jesus but He must not die 198. As when a Knot of eager Hornets are Repulsed by a wary Hand they flie About with doubled Rage their Foe they dare With irefull Buzzings and more furiously Give a fresh Onset So in louder Cries The Peoples Spight at this Repulse did rise 199. The Cataracts of Nile or those which fall Down headlong from the steepest Alps make not Such an intolerable Noise as all Their yelling Mouthes resolv'd no more to shut Till they can conquer by impetuousnesse And Crucifie Him still their Clamor is 200. The Palace trembled at the hideous Noise Whose fragor thence unto the Temple flew Nor could the Temple hold it for the Voice It selfe through all the startled City threw It shak'd the Judge and almost turn'd him over Yet he his strength and spirits did recover 201. And wisely pondering that the Highpriest's spight The coals of this combustion did blow And that they on the mad-braind vulgars might Had built their Salvage hopes He studies how To frustrate their malitious designe By a severe yet tender Countremina 202. For in he takes thy Lord and yeilds Him to The cruell whip that by that crueltie Way to his Pitty he might make and so With blood the bloody people satisfie He hop'd if once they saw him all in gore Their thirstiest malice would not wish for more 203. The surly Beadles fetch'd their strongest Tew And having strip'd their patient prey of all His raiment with rude churlish twitches drew Him to the stoutest Pillar of the Hall To which they bound him fast for fear that He Should sink down under their strokes crueltie 204. With iron whips then to their Work they fall And plow the dainty Garden of his back The furrows neither shallow were nor small But long and wide and deep which they did make Yet all were quickly filled by the flood Of their own most inestimable blood 205. For to the bottome of each tender 〈◊〉 The cruel engines div'd and toare from thence The pretious purple springs which in disdain They toss'd about till their mad violence In too too pretious colours painted thick Upon the Pillar and the floor did stick 206. The Pillar and the Floor now blush'd to see How those remorselesse blood-heunds knew no shame For still they prosecute their Tyrannie Untill their wearinesse prevails with them As lately with the servants of the Priest In mercy to their own selves to desist 207. But then the Soldiers take their cruell cue And come to ven him with more witty spight A Crown of thorns the sharpest things they knew Yet things of delicacie and delight If with their Hearts compar'd they wreath and it On Jesu's tender Head with violence set 208. And thus the Curse which Heav'n injoyn'd to grow On sin-condemned Earth removed is And deep engrafted into Jesu's Brow Whose Temples well contented wefe with this Sharp Crown and envied not their dainty Pride Whose tresses were in roseal chaplets ty'd 209. Then on his back for alwayes with disdain Their Rage was swell'd a Purple robe they throw Alas how needlesse now in richer grain His native Scarlat doth about him flow Whilst all his Body is arrayed round In one expanded universall wound 210. And having put a Reed into his hand A silly Sceptre and which well comply'd With his vile Crown about him round they stand To act their Pageantrie and to deride This patient and miserable thing Whom of contempt they had created King 211. May the great Soveraign of the jews said they Ou-tlive the Harts the Ravens the Eagles years May his victorious Engines He display Throughout the World affrighted at his wars Thus may He thresh all nations and here They beat him and went to another
Heav'n and Jesu's Company now grown Things so indifferent that my longing Eyes Should spare their Tears when I am snatch'd away From them and fore'd on for did Earth to stay 283. O Phylax Thou hast not repreived Me From any of my Pains I 'm at the Stake I burn I burn nor will my Agonie But by my final Dissolution slake She fainted here But Phylax took her up And hasted thus her Sorrows Tide to stop 284. Courage my Dear and be assured I Have not deceiv'd thee of try Noble Aim Thy Spouse designs a Martyrdome whereby To draw thee to himselfe but not the same By which he snatch'd 〈◊〉 no for thee He treasured hath a braven 〈◊〉 285. 〈◊〉 long more strong and 〈◊〉 Pain 〈…〉 be than from the Spight Of this though 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈…〉 Thou 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for 〈◊〉 Fight Then 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 fought and this shall be The Theater of thy mighty 〈◊〉 286. Here in this very Place shalt thou maintain 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Combat whilst thy Spouse and all His 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 on his royal Train Will be Spectators O doe not forestall Thy greater Fame by hasty Zeal but stay With patience for thy Coronation Day 287. This ample Answer such Refreshment blew On Psyche s Heats that meek and pliant she Cool'd her importunate Desires and grew Content to wait the full Maturity Of her affected laurel though as yet She little knew how she must Gather 〈◊〉 PSYCHE OR LOVES MYSTERIE CANTO XIX The Dereliction ARGUMENT PSyche abandon'd to the Solitude Of Soule and Body by the resolute Might Of patient loyal Constancie subdu'd Hels Champion Dispair in single fight Yet in her Conquest no free Joy could have Because she still was Derelictions Slave 1. HOw grim how cold how comfortless soe'r Thou look st dear Solitude sure in thy breast Some worthy Sweets thou dost 〈◊〉 bear Witness that Vilenesse and that high Request By which betwixt the lazie earthly heart And Pious Soule thou so divided art 2. He who when e'r his Conscience him doth take Alone it 〈◊〉 full on his guilty face A large Inditement doth against thee make And on thee poures the bottome of Disgrace Calling thee Mother of vexatious Folly Of Horrors and dispaning Melancholy 3. He no where but among his roaring Boyes Can meet a quire whose Musick suits his Ear Whil'st in the tumult of that boistrous noise He drowns those thoughts which would his bosome tear And in the throng of Sinners cannot finde Free room to take a view of his own Minde 4. And thus unhappy Man he onely lives In his outside and therefore liveth not But when sure ' Death his wofull summons gives Strangely amazed and not knowing what To do or think in vain for help he cryes And to himself a wretched stranger dies 5. He dies and leaves that Body which would not Endure to be a little while alone In the Graves tedious Solitude to rot Whilst in the Tumult of Damnation His now uncloysterd Soule is forc'd to dwel Amongst the Roarers of eternal Hell 6. But he who dares his Bosome ransack and Take a survey of every thing within That he may always ready have at Hand An Inventary of himself and win Time upon Death by prudent Preparation To entertain and kisse his Consummation 7. He who both Leisure and Desire can finde To sequester Impertinences that His proper busnes he may onely minde And by industrious Thrift mend his Estate So that though naked he goes to his grave An endlesse stock of riches he may have 8. He He 's the Man whom all the Cities joyes And proud excess the Countries hearty sport The Licence endlesse Fashions glittering Toies And all the Pomp and Glories of the Court Cannot so far enchant but sober he Can of plain Solitude inamored be 9. He there more store of Company can meet And of more high and worthy quality Than in the thickest Theatre doth sweat Where Spectacles professe to court the Eye Such Presses justle out all Heav'n but He Reads it at large in this Vacuitie 10. An undisturbed view he here can take Of all its fairest and its loftiest stories His Contemplation here can freely break Through all the Treasures of its boundlesse glories And in the Court where Blisse and Pleasures reign With Saints and Angels brave Acquaintance gain 11. Here to the Universe's King can He His free attendance pay from Morn to Night Whil'st in the everlasting One and Three He learns both to Divide and to Unite His mystick Homage as the Spirits Gale Makes him through this Abysse of Wonders sail 12. Here he doth always stand upon his Watch That when the roaring Lyon who doth run About the World his carelesse Preys to catch Hunteth that way his On-set he may shun Or with awakened and prepared Might Confront his Foe and entertain the fight 13. Here from the saplesse Worlds enchanting Breast Where nothing but the froth of Milk doth spring Himself he weans and studies how to feast Upon some masculine substantial thing Which may not mock him with short false Content But to his Soul yeeld solid Nutriment 14. No Humor of the Times no Garbs or Fashions Can here take up his Care No boistrous News Of publike Woes or fatal Alterations The Calm of this his Harbour can abuse No storms can rage but in the open seas His private Bay the Cloister is of Ease 15. His righteous Soule is not afflicted here To See and Hear how wretched Worms defie Omnipotence's King and scorn to fear The Jaws of Hell to which their Villany Makes them apparent Heirs but take delight The Love and Blood of Jesus to despight 16. Here past the reach of those bewitching Darts Which flash with radiant Bane from wanton eyes And make both timorous and martial hearts Yeeld to fantastick self-made Wounds He lies Secure and safe and undisturbed may Prepare for his eternal Nuptial Day 17. Here leave and leisure he enjoys to weed And cultivate his Heart in which he plants Each Herb of Grace and sows the blessed Seed Of every Virtue which his bosome wants In certain hopes his labours will conclude In a full Harvest of Beatitude 18. With prudent foresight here he doth provide An ample stock that he may ready be To bear all Charges which may Him betide In managing a publike Life if he Be called from his private Nest and made Against the thronging stream of Sin to wade 19. More furnished with strength of Argument From learned Athens never Student came Though He his nimblest years and Spirits had spent The Engins of most active Wit to frame Then doth this sagely-sprightfull Champion from His private Schole of publick Virtue come 20. For having learned their due Scorn to throw Upon those Incerests and Baits which make The biass'd Hearts of Men unmanly grow And cowardly Sins sneaking By paths take In spight of all the World which dares say No He in the King of Heav'ns High-way will go 21. Thus in all Sorts of high Advantage this Life of
Retirement doth the Garland wear Which therefore onely dear and pretious is To Them who Sons of Heav'n and Wisdome are And which insipid timorous Soules as They Cannot beleeve so never can enjoy 22. Psyche who now conducted was into This solitary State though fervent She Did in Uraniu's Steps desire to goe Yet since it might not on the sudden be Appeas'd the flames of her Impatience by The streaming Comforts of her Privacy 23. If in the tumult of the World She still Had mingled been the Crowd had surely slain her For all Earths furniture and friendlyest Skill Could not with any Solace entertain her Her Heart already was in Heav'n and She Was best where She could least behinde it be 24. And that was here where by no secular Care Or Interruption She molested was But dwelling in a calmie Hemisphear Upon free Meditations Wings could Passe Above the Moon and Sun and Troops of fair Stars which upon Heav'ns Plains embatled are 25. But as at length She gan to pant again For that dear Day of final Conflict She By Phyla'x Promise hoped to obtein And that alone Loe on the sudden He Call d thence by other Buisnesse takes his leave Yet telling her He would not her deceive 26. As She made haste to ask the reason He Took Wing and instantly outfled her Eye A Sigh strait strove to follow Him but She Repulsed it with noble Constancy And cri'd It must not and it shall not grieve me Did Heav'n not call Him Phylax would not leave me 27. Then down upon her humble Knees She fell And casting up ward her most loyal Eyes So long as Thou as truely here dost dwell Sweet Lord said She as in the highest skies Though Phyla'x Wings now shelter not my head Yet thine are alwayes o'r thine Handmayd spred 28. Though pretious is His Company to Me Yet not so dear as is thy blessed Will Though here alone a feeble Thing I be I can and dare be more abandon'd still If mighty Thou who never wilt forsake Me With neerer Losses pleased art to rack Me. 29. Fain would I quit the Debt in which to Thee And mine own Vows I stand fain would I prove By combating with any Misery The Truth of my how deep-obliged love Thou bidd'st Us Follow with our Crosse and loe I in thy bloodyest Steps desire to goe 30. I would not to a Figures Courtesie Beholden be in my Affliction nor To such a tender Crosse condemned be As must be helped by a Metaphor To make its hard Name good for that I 'm sure Was true and real which Thou didst endure 31. No golden Plenty do I crave of Thee No soft Content or silken Peace Impart Those favours unto whome Thou wilt for Me Thy sharpest Blessings best will please my Heart My heart which burneth in profound desire Of some Heroick and consuming fire 32. O do not slay Me by denying Death To suffer want of Suffrings is to Me The onely Dregs which from thy deepest Wrath Can squeazed be from this one Misery Which is the Pith of all I beg repreive I dy in torment if in ease I live 33. Jesus whose Ear is alwayes ope to them Who speak Loves Dialect straight heard her Crie Which made such welcome Musick unto him That her Petition he could not deny His sweetned Bitternesse apace he sent And bless'd her with her begged Punishment 34. Charis accustom'd open House to keep In her free Heart he there shut up so close That now no nimble glimmering Ray could peep Forth from that Nest of Light Nor could she choose But be suspitious that the Spring was dri'd From whence no Emanations did glide 35. When loe the Welkin which before was clear And flowed with the Suns transparent Gold Started from its fair Looks with sudden fear And did in swarthy Beams it selfe enfold Day was abash'd to see how boldly Night Incroach'd upon her and despis'd her Light 36. The Aire presageing what outrageous Pain Would tear her tender weatherbeaten Sides With hollow Groans and Mournings did complain Aforehand of the Storm which as she 〈◊〉 She but awakes and so provokes to rage With louder furie on the whole Earths Stage 37. Forthwith the Clouds came tumbling one upon Anothers back for fear to loose their Place And Office in that blinde Confusion With which the Element now gravid was Close quaking in his Cave lay every Beast And every Bird lamenting in his Nest. 38. Strange Phantoms dressed in a spurious Light Fed by foule Sulphure flashed all about Fell griezly Ghosts arrayed all in Fright Both with themselves and one another fought Whole Troops of gastly Fiends and Furies rent Their Snakes as through the sable Aire they went 39. The labouring Clouds at length with open Crie Brought forth their Griefe and thunder'd their Complaint The most obdurate Rocks could not deny Their Pitty but straight trembled and grew faint So did the massie Earth which quak'd to hear The woefull Outcrie of its Neighbour Sphear 40. Psyche alone as yet refus'd to melt By any tremor onely in her Heart A kinde of Numnesse creeping on she felt 'Cause Charis there forbore her wonted Part When loe an heavy black condensed Cloud Down to the Ground before her face did crow'd 41. Where having op'd its hideous Curtains wide Forth at the Gap a Stream of Lightning broke Whose sudden dazeling though now harmlesse Tide The resolute Mayd with some amazement stroke But straight an Hand reach'd out it Selfe and held A mighty Cup with greater Terrors fill'd 42. It held it to her Lip and what before Was Thunder now prov'd an articulate Voice And bad her drink up all that dreadfull Store Since she had been so venturous in her choise She nothing more than Pleasures fear'd and here Was nothing lesse than what her Heart did fear 43. Thus challeng'd by the Voice whose Sound she knew And durst not disobey She sent her Eye Into the Cup to take a plenal View Of the black Liquor which in it did ly Wherein such boyling Horrors she descried That down she prostrate fell and thus she cried 44. Weak Woman as I was how has my Pride My silly Pride betrayed me to Woe On Confidence's Wings I needs would ride Although I towr'd but to my Overthrow Had I remembred that a Worm I am I ne'r had crawl'd so high to mine own Shame 45. How is it Jesu that Griefs mighty Cup Which thou didst once unto the Bottome drink Is to its woefull Brim now filled up What has renu'd this more than deadly Sink Whose Sorrows though to thine they shallow be Yet are too deep for poor unhappy Me. 46. Alas thy naked Anger here I see In which no glimpse of Favour mixed is What will become of weak abandon'd Me Who in thy Count'nance read mine onely Blisse If I be drowned in this Sea of Night And cover'd up from my dear Spouse's sight 47. Sweet was the Cup of which Uranius drunk For being swallow'd up in Streams of Fire