give And all in Arms their conquering Prince receive Dispos'd in glorious Ranks each Order shines And all the way the bright Militia Lines On 's Chariot Wheels the thronging Cherubs hang With whose loud Shouts the Heav'n's high Arches rang Thus did he to th' Eternal's Palace ride The Guards stood to their Arms on either Side Entring he took his Place and Brightly shone On the Right Hand of his great Father's Throne Where he shall our great Intercessor stay Till the last Summons to the Judgment Day He ceas'd and Hoel in his Arms embrac'd His God-like Friend and cry'd I 'm highly grac'd With this Divine Discourse what Thanks to you Illustrious Prince what Thanks to Heav'n are due Blest Peace came rolling on the raging Waves And your late Wreck me and my Kingdom saves Kind Heav'n for me hath call'd forth Joy and Light From those fierce Storms and that outrageous Night That forc'd your Vessels on th' Armoric Shore Your Loss I mourn but Heav'n's Designs adore Long have I stray'd in gloomy Darkness lost Deep Gulphs thick Woods and trackless Mountains crost In endless Mazes and in endless Night Without a Glimpse of Day or Ray of Light The Gates of Light thrown open you display The first reviving Beams of Heav'nly Day Which darts across the Shades in shining Streaks And on my Mind in tender Dawning breaks How much I wish to see this Light Divine Rise to its Noon and in full splendor shine You 've open'd Heav'n's Eternal Springs whence flow Those sacred Rivulets which you bestow On the parch'd Region of this barren Breast Now with pure Streams of living Waters blest I drink them in with Joy but thirst for more And for this thankful still more Aid implore He ceas'd the Prince who to oblige him strove Thus spake all Seasons offer'd I 'll with Joy improve To give more Light and kindle greater Love My Toil and Sufferings when review'd will please Caus'd by the stormy Winds and angry Seas If I can thus assist your Heav'nly Course Thro' gloomy Night thick Mists and Tempests force Thro' all the Snares of Hell till you attain Th' Eternal Haven where blest Spirits Reign Now to the Foot of Heav'n's steep Precipice Ready to plunge into the deep Abyss The Red-fac'd Sun had roll'd the sinking Day Shooting along the Plains a level Ray. The loving Turtle to his Airy Nest Flies with his moaning Mate to Coe and rest The timorous Hare steals from the Brakes to Feed And from the Yoke the lab'ring Ox is freed With strutting Teats the Herds come lowing home And Beasts of Prey o'er Hills and Forrests Roam And now the Princes that had pass'd the Day In various talk to Conda came to stay Till the appearance of the Morning Ray. Prince Arthur BOOK III. NOW the Victorious Sun the Night invades Chasing from Hill to Hill the flying Shades Up rose the Princes and were soon prepar'd To take their Way attended with their Guard In the same Chariot friendly they abide And feeding grateful Conversation ride The British Captains and th' Armorick Train On either Side their generous Coursers rein They past not far when Hoel thus addrest With pleasing Looks his Pious British Guest Your losty Subject now brave Prince resume How shall your Lord from Heav'n to Judgment come What follows what precedes the general Doom The Briton then began Before the Son of God appears on high Prodigious Signs are seen thro' all the Sky New lighted Comets shake their Fiery Hair Or trail their flaming Trains along the Air. Vast Circling Flakes of Fire the World amaze And intermixt prodigious Meteors blaze The Sky shines terrible with Lightning's Flame And Thunder shakes the universal Frame Th' impetuous roar o'erturns Heav'n's lofty Towers And starry Fragments fall in burning Showers Rent Clouds pour Seas of raging Sulphur down Whose livid Flames th' extinguish'd Sun-beams drown Cross the red Air the flaming Torrents fly Gushing from all the fiery Springs on high The melting Orbs and Firmaments conspire To make up one Tempestuous Sea of Fire The glowing Sphears dissolve with Heat and all In mighty Floods of liquid Crystal fall The lofty Digues gape wide that stood around And from the dark Abyss did Nature bound Chaos came pouring thro' the hideous Crack And Nature's Ruins and th' amazing Wreck Of burning Worlds by floating on his Waves Scarce its high Mounds th' Empyreal Region saves Heav'n's spacious Balls are on each other hurl'd Ruin with Ruin crush'd and World o'erturn'd with World Confusion Noise and Horrour fill the Air The Earth loud Cries Distraction and Despair Fierce Storms of raging Vapours that aspire Mixt with hot Steams from subterranean Fire That Lakes of Sulphur burning all beneath That kindled Naphtha and hot Metals Breath The Earth's grip'd Bowels with Convulsions rack And with loud Noise their trembling Prisons crack Imprison'd Thunder roars for wider room Proclaiming loud the World's approaching Doom The Globe distorted burst disjoynted rent Gives to the burning Exhalations Vent Thro' gaping Clefts the flaming Tempest flies And Hurricanes of Fire confound the Skies Great Cities Mountains Rocks and shatter'd Hills Vast abrupt Tracks of Land and sinking Isles Sap'd by the Flame that underneath destroys Fall down with mighty Cracks and dreadful Noise Prodigious Ruin filling all the Caves And dashing high the subterranean Waves Aetna Vesuvius and the fiery kind Their Flames within blown up with stormy Wind With dire Concussions and loud roar complain Of deadly Gripes and fierce consuming pain The lab'ring Mounts Belch drossy Vomit out And throw their melted Bowels round about Broad Sheets of Flame Pillars of Pitchy Smoak And glowing Stones the Airy Region choak Down their scorcht Sides metallic Torrents flow And form a dismal flaming Sea below The fiery Deluge rolls along the Ground Dreadful for Colour horrible for Sound Huge Stones and vast unmelted Cakes of Oar The thick unweildy Tyde encumber more Horrour in Triumph smear'd with Smoak and Blood Rides cross the Ridge of the Tremendous Flood It burns new Channels riding o'er the Plain And turns o'er Cities with its pond'rous Train Down to the Deep it rolls its massy Waves Outroars the Ocean and its Waters braves Plung'd in the Seas it unextinguish'd lies And o'er the Waves the glowing Wedges rise Th' affrighted Seas the burning Horrour fly And the bare Shores beneath the Deluge Fry Into the Air th' exhaling Ocean goes Where Waters slept a Lake of Sulphur glows All the hot Seeds and hidden Stores of Fire From subterranean Prisons freed conspire With their bright Arms to lay all Nature wast And to the general Conflagration hast A fiery Chaos Reigns with lawless Power And unresisted Flames the World devour These Signs first giv'n amidst the Starry Shears With all the Pomp of Heav'n the Judge appears Before his Chariot Wheels that roll on high Whirlwinds and Clouds discharging Thunder fly And curling Lightnings run along the Sky Immortal Thrones pour'd out from Heav'n's bright Gates Dominions Powers Seraphic
shall Strangers fetch And taught by her their own rude Countries teach Th' admiring World shall Albion then adore Revere her Armies but her Learning more As when the Wisdom of th' Eternal Mind Rude Chaos labour'd and the Mass refin'd The scatter'd Rays that wander'd in the Air Did to the Sun 's capacious Orb repair The shining Colonies pour'd thick around Here fixt and did a glorious Empire Found So here the broken Beams of glimmering Arts Assembling all their Light from distant parts To make bright Oxford's Luminary stay That o'er the World shall spread Celestial Day Remark Elfeda there a Martial Dame That by her Arms shall win Immortal Fame At last the Princes of the Saxon Line From Heav'nly Love and Purity decline Their Christian Virtues and pure Zeal abate And with them sickens their decaying State With Christian Names their Pagan Crimes they keep And deaf to Heav'n's loud Threats securely sleep Till the fierce Dane sent by supream Command A vengeful Scourge does on their Borders Land The Saxon's Guardian Angels call'd away Leave them to hostile Arms an easie Prey Thus Heav'n afflicts a Land when Impious grown And from their Throne pulls haughty Monarchs down This dreadful Curse shall by relenting Heav'n Be soon from sad Britannia's Empire driv'n The Cruel slothful Dane shall soon decline To make way for a nobler Norman Line That Prince observe that moves with so much Grace Is the great William of the Norman Race A mighty Prince a Leader Brave and Wise Whose towring Fame shall soar above the Skies Heav'n does for him Britannia's Crown design From which great Stock shall branch a numerous Line Of mighty Princes that shall Rule this Isle Enriching it with Conquer'd Nations Spoil The Valiant second Henry see him there What Majesty does in his Looks appear Through wild Hibernia he shall force his way And add four Kingdoms to the British Sway. Brave Richard see who from the sacred Coast Shall drive the Barb'rous Unbelieving Host. In Gaul this Monarch's Arms shall be renown'd Dreaded in Battel and with Conquest Crown'd Long time in Peace his Crown might be enjoy'd Could he the Arrow at Chaluz avoid Now Son your Eye to that brave Warriour turn Whose Beams so much the Norman Line adorn How great a Presence what a Port he bears How much a mighty Conq'rour he appears That Prince is Edward whose Victorious Arms Iudea save from Pagan Foes Alarms How he returns thro' the Trinacrian Isle Thro' high Parthenope's delicious Soil Thro' loud Applauses of admiring Rome Reeking in hostile Blood triumphant home The beauteous Person next that Monarch seen Is Eleonora his Illustrious Queen In Storms she 's with him on the Ocean tost To seek out horrid War on Asia's Coast. Midst barbarous Arms his Wife Adviser Friend She his prodigious Labours shall attend And when her Lord so Heav'n permits shall feel Within his Veins the Murd'rer's poison'd Steel She to the spreading Plague her Lips applies And gives that Ease which Asia's Balm denies Invading Death her healing Kisses charm And with new Life the sinking Monarch warm No other Prince that in this Age shall reign Shall equal Honour to brave Edward's Gain But great Adolphus of th' Illustrious Race Of Heros which the House of Nassau Grace This mighty Prince shall gain th' Imperial Sway And wide Germania shall his Laws obey The God-like Virtues and Heroick Fire That shall the brave Nassovian House inspire Shall make Adolphus shine in this high Sphear Preluding to the great Deliverer The pious William yonder he 's in Sight In whom Nassovian Blood and ours unite There war-like Edward stands that with his Host Shall cross the Ocean to the Gallick Coast. Where he his Conquering Ensigns shall display And make the haughty Franks his Laws obey There Queen Philippa shines th' Albanians Dread Worthy of Britain's Crown and Edward's Bed While Forraign Kingdoms Edward's Arms subdue Hers thro' the North the vanquish'd Seats pursue See the Black Prince in Armour by her side Proud Gallia's Terrour and fair Albion's Pride What Triumphs wait him in Pictavian Fields What never-fading Laurels Croissy yields That Henry mark the glorious Conquerour That Gallia shall reduce by Albion's Power Immortal Prince if Arms can make thee so For thee in Norman Fields what Laurels grow How great he 'll seem his Arms distain'd with Blood Chasing the Franks o'er Sein's affrighted Flood At Agencourt what Wonders shall be done What Towns of Force what Battels shall be won Before in Triumph he ascends their Throne Our Blood the Royal Channel now regains Deriv'd thro' Tudor our brave Offspring's Veins Which with the Norman joyn'd the Confluent Tide As long as that of Time shall downward glide From their Embrace to rule Britannia springs A glorious Race of Queens and potent Kings See the first Tudor that ascends the Throne After the glorious Field at Bosworth won The Scepter he shall sway with great Applause And Rule the Isle with Wise and Equal Laws Young Edward there Albion's Delight appears Learn'd Pious Manly Wise above his years Then Liberty in all her lovely Charms Shall sit secure from Tyranny's Alarms Religion purg'd from Rome's Adulterous Stain Shall in her pure and Native Splendor Reign No greater Mind to Albion's Crown succeeds Rever'd for Brave and lov'd for Pious Deeds Blest Albion if kind Heav'n would long permit So great a Monarch on thy Throne to sit But oh how short Delights attend him here Such Heav'nly Guests are shown and disappear Dear both to Earth and Heav'n he 'll soon remove His Throne from hence to Reign in Bliss above With what Complaints with what despairing Cries Shall sad Britannia Mourn his Obsequies There see the bright Elizabetha rise Inlightning with her Rays the British Skies Th' Indulgent Parent of her People she Loves Feeds and Guards Britannia's Family Heav'n's and her People's Rights she shall protect And for Britannia's Ease her own neglect Her Sons she shall embrace with pious Care And from her Coasts send back th' Iberian War Blest times when she that wears th' Imperial Crown Regards her Peoples Safety as her own Intently now on that great Monarch gaze So much distinguish'd by his brighter Rays This is the Man the brave Nassovian whom I nam'd the great Deliverer to come Succeeding Prophets under your great Name This our great Offspring shall aloud proclaim Rais'd from a noble Branch of Tudor's Line From Thamisis transplanted to the Rhine Amaz'd Posterity will scarce believe The wond'rous Deeds this Hero shall atchieve The European World by Rome and Gaul opprest By his long-wish'd-for Arms shall be releast He 'll far outshine his own Heroick Race Europe's Protectors who shall Tyrants chase And Monsters vanquish with Herculean Toil And rescue from their bloody Jaws their Spoil The beardless Hero's first victorious Arms Shall free his Country from the Gauls Alarms As he advances Seas of Gallick Blood Shall with red Streams swell Mosa's wondring Flood Their slaughter'd Ranks shall lie along the Rhine
fell Deserting Heav'n to serve the Cause of Hell This Fatal Conquest o'er fall'n Adam gain'd A mighty Empire Lucifer maintain'd Till the blest Prince of Peace Heav'n's Lord and Heir By Pity 's Tears and charming Mercy 's Prayer Drawn down from Heav'n freed lost Mankind and broke The Pow'r of Hell and Sin 's Tyrannick Yoke He makes Proud Lucifer his Host disband And wrests the Scepter from th' Usurper's Hand The Prince of Darkness owns the Conquerour And yields his Empire to a mightier Pow'r From Idols and their Priests the Nations freed Celestial Light and Truth Divine succeed Religion large Dominions soon obtain'd And daily Conquests and fresh Laurels gain'd To Albion's Shore she early pass'd the Main And brought along her bright Etherial Train From thence she chas'd Infernal Shades away And o'er the Isle diffus'd a Heav'nly Day The Prince of Hell at her Appearance flies Spoil'd of his Altars and his Votaries Confin'd to Barb'rous Northern Lands he staid Till the fierce Saxon Albion did invade Victorious Octa who his Shrines ador'd Rebuilt his Altars and his Groves restor'd Long abdicated Gods make Albion mourn At theirs and their devouring Priests Return Th' Arch-Traytor's Rage hence against Arthur rose And all th' Infernal Pow'rs his Arms oppose Conscious should he his glorious End acquire And force th' intruding Pagan to retire Theirs with the Saxon Empire must expire They must again forsake fair Albion's Land And leave Divine Religion to Command Scarce had they left the happy Neustrian Coast Born with a Prosperous Gale scarce had they lost The Tops of Spires and rising Points of Land When Lucifer that did observing stand On the high Southern Promontory's Head Of Vecta's Isle the Seas beneath him spread With sharp Angelick Ken views far and wide And soon Prince Arthur's hateful Fleet descry'd The Heav'ns serenely smil'd and every Sail Fill'd its wide Bosom with th' indulgent Gale Mercy Deliverance Pity Hope displaid Their Silver Wings and glad Attendance paid Sung on the Shrowds or with the Streamers plaid Rage flash'd like Lightning from th' Apostate's Eyes And Envy swell'd him to the vastest Size Then thus he to himself Was not to me in the fam'd Wars of Heav'n The chief Command of all the Forces giv'n Sent by Confederate Potentates to wage Unheard of War and all Heav'n's Pow'r engage When I to end with Honour the Campaign Drew my bright Troops out on th' Etherial Plain And push'd on that great last decisive Day With God-like Vigour for th' Imperial Sway. In Lustre chief in Danger and Command Did I Proud Michael's Veteran Troops withstand Michael than whom a Braver Combatant For Skill and Strength the Foe could never vaunt 'Gainst fresh Battalions still pour'd on I stood Smeer'd with Celestial Dust and Seraphs Blood Had not our Mould been Aether Pure and Fine Labour'd with Care anneel'd with Skill Divine The Blows of mighty Cherubs Death had cloy'd Unpeopled Heav'n and the Bright Race destroy'd With Michael pain'd with ghastly Wounds at length I clos'd and grasp'd him with Immortal Strength And down Heav'n's Precipice had headlong hurl'd The great Arch-Angel to th' Infernal World Had not swift Uriel trembling at the Sight That fill'd all Heav'n with Horrour and dire Fright Rush'd in to save him from unequal Fight Their stagg'ring Army shrunk and we had won The Throne we fought for but th' Almighty's Son Brought strong Recruits to reinforce their Host And win back what their General Michael lost ' Tho' overmatcht did I not firmly stand The chiefest Mark of his Revenging Hand Did I from Posts of greatest Danger run Or once his bright Triumphal Chariot shun Did I once shrink when Showers of poyson'd Darts Dipt in Eternal Wrath shot thro' our Hearts When massy Rocks of Heav'nly Chrystal flew Which the strong Arms of mighty Seraphs threw Did I not run and timely Help afford Where Storms of Fire and loudest Thunder roar'd T is true o'er-born with Force at last I fell But got Immortal Fame tho' with it Hell Scarce was I vanquish'd and o'erthrown but late By Power Almighty and Eternal Fate Since that chief Lord and Prince of Hell I 've reign'd And from the Foe his new-made World have gain'd And long maintain'd the Conquests I had won Now much lost back to his Almighty Son But faithful Octa has once more restor'd This happy Isle to me its ancient Lord. Have I been thus for great Atchievements fam'd My Deeds throughout all Heav'n and Hell proclaim'd And shall this British despicable Wight Me and my Priests force to a second Flight Rifle my Temples and in Triumph bear Thro' shouting Throngs the Spoils high in the Air Who then to me will Hymns of Praise return Who on my Altars Odorous Incense burn If I chastise not this vain Briton's Pride That does insulting on the Ocean ride If I secure not my new conquer'd Seat And all his wild ambitious Arms defeat This having said to Heav'n he mounts upright And to the Northern Pole directs his Flight All fir'd with Rage and full of anxious Care With his swift Wings he cuts the yielding Air. As when the Sun pours from his Orb of Light A glorious Deluge on the Face of Night His Golden Rays shot from the Rosy East Reach in a Moment the remotest West And smiling on the Mountains Heads are seen Th' immense Expansion past that lies between The Prince of Darkness now once Prince of Light With equal Swiftness takes his Airy Flight And the vast Interval of Seas and Isles Wild Desarts spacious Forrests snowy Hills Past in a Moment does on Fioel Light Of Lapland Alpes chief for amazing Height Where Thor resides who heretofore by Lot The Sovereign Rule o'er Winds and Tempests got Here in strong Prisons bound with heavy Chains His howling savage Subjects he restrains And in Eternal Din and Uproar reigns In close Apartments round his desart Court Fierce Pris'ners are confin'd of different Sort. Here Boundless Stores and Treasures Infinite Of Vapours Steams and Exhalations fit T' engender Winds or Snow or Hail or Rain In Subterranean Magazins remain Here new fledg'd Winds young yelping Monsters try Their Wings and sporting round their Prisons fly Here whistling East-winds prove their shriller Notes Here the hoarse South-winds strain their hollow Throats Boreas the fiercest and most turbulent Of the mad Race raves in his Dungeon pent At th' Adamantine Door vast Hills are thrown And abrupt Rocks of Ice pil'd sevenfold on Capricious Whirlwinds of more Force than Sound In everlasting Eddys turning round Grow Giddy Furious and Extravagant And strive to break from their close Den's restraint When Thor unlocks their Prisons out they fly A lawless Rout and with their Hellish Cry Out-howl the hideous Monsters of the Seas Or savage Roarings of the Wilderness Some range the Flats and Scour the Champain Land Or roll in tott'ring heaps the Desart Sand. Some to the lofty Woods direct their Course And with an uncontroul'd impetuous Force O'erturn opposing Structures in
Race The Father straight assented Mercy smil'd To see the Serpent of his Prey beguil'd Justice well pleas'd accepts the offer'd Price And Heav'n's aton'd by its own Sacrifice The Heav'n's with loud rebounding Shouts did ring And the glad Angels in new Anthems sing The Intercessor and mysterious King The rolling Years their Circles fill apace And well-breath'd Time runs its appointed Race Till it brought on the Hour when all should see The Son make good to Man his blest Decree That our expected Hope might be enjoy'd Divinity appears with Man alloy'd His Native Glory darts destructive Light And bright Oppression pours on Mortal's Sight He therefore draws a humane Veil between That temper'd Lustre might not Kill when seen Here two Extreams of distance infinite In one ineffable mysterious Knot unite God lives conceal'd within a Mould of Clay And does in Dust himself and 's Glory lay He that in all th' expanded Skies wants room Lies now encompass'd with a Virgins Womb. Immensity is wrapt in Swadling Bands The Prince by whom the World 's wide Fabrick stands Supported in his Mother's Arms we see And vast Eternity begins to be He leaves his Starry Seat and glitt'ring Crown And lays his dazling Robes of Glory down Then in an humble travelling Dress is seen Seeking as unknown Strangers do an Inn. Lord of the World to whom proud Monarchs owe Their Crowns and Scepters he that does bestow Honours and Wealth profusely on the Great Can't for his own Repose find out a Seat But must from Men to kinder Beasts Retreat No other Court receives the new-born King That to debase himself did choose to bring No other Pomp but naked Innocence Nothing for Ornament or for Defence He that the Wants of all the World supplies Himself oppress'd with Pain and Hunger Cries He Man's Assistance asks in vain to whom For Aid and Comfort all th' afflicted come Angels that did the Royal Stranger know The greatest Signs of Joy and Triumph show The Out-guards of their Camp saw marching round Celestial Splendor rising from the Ground And gave th' alarm the shining Squadrons fly To th' Out-lines and the Frontiers of the Sky To see the wond'rous Mediator Born Whom they Adore though stupid Hebrews Scorn Some with spread Wings shoot swiftly thro' the Air And to the Shepherds first the Tydings bear That a great Shepherd was at Beth'lem Born Whose Deeds and Triumphs should that Name Adorn Tho' Angels Sing obdurate Men are mute Nor will their Saviour and their King Salute Yet some few famous Sages come from far Conducted by a brigter Morning Star Left all the Wealth and Wonders of the East To see a greater Sun rise in the West To find the Prince to Herod they resort For where should Kings be found but in a Court But the directing Star that led their Way Stands still and points down with a streaming Ray To a mean Stable where the Stranger lay Where they with humble Adoration View The Infant Intercessor known to few Whom they present with Odoriferous Gums Choice Spices and Arabia's rich Perfumes The Sun of Righteousness begins to rise And Streaks with radiant Lines the Purple Skies Here did he from his healing Wings display The tender dawn of Everlasting Day Pale Terror through the Courts of Darkness flew And Hell 's sad Regions doubled Sorrow shew Th' Infernal Spirits wandring in the Air As Thunder-struck in Anger and Despair With Shreeks and hideous Yellings fly the Sight And the keen Horrour of the Heav'nly Light Like obscene Birds of Night they hast away And shun in Clefts and Caves the Rising Day The Prince of Darkness now begins to fear The Dissolution of his Empire 's near Th' ambiguous Oracles with Fear struck Dumb Proclaim'd by Silence the Messiah come Troubled and Sad th' Infernal Counsel sate Thoughful how best t' avert th' impending Fate Various Projections deep Designs were laid How best the dreaded Foe they might invade They first the Fury Jealousie dispatch To Herod's Court that might Occasion watch To kindle strong Suspicions in his Breast That th' Infant from him should his Scepter wrest She did so well perform her Hellish Part Herod soon yielded to her subtle Art For while the Sages leave their Eastern home And to admire the wondrous Infant come Herod afraid his ravish'd Crown to loose The Royal Infant 's hated Life pursues What to pale Tyrants dreadful won't appear When Love and Innocence can move their Fear 'T is true A King he is whose Empire 's vast Extent Shall pass all Bounds and last when Time is spent Submissive Monarchs shall their Scepters lay Before his Feet and his Just Laws Obey Kingdoms opprest shall his strong Aids invoke And thrust their Necks beneath his gentle Yoke The Roman Eagles shall the Conqueror own And Caesar Court him to Ascend his Throne Admir'd by all he shall in Triumph go Where fruitful Nile or fam'd Hydaspes flow Uncheckt by Africk Heats or Scythian Snow Nations invited by his Fame shall come More than e'er made their Court to Conquering Rome In splendid Embassies to sue for Peace And Worlds unknown his Empire shall increase The Earth shall banish'd Justice now regain And Love and Truth attend the happy Reign Soft Peace and Joy the chearful Earth shall Crown And Savage Beasts shall lay their Fierceness down The Lyon Wolf and Lamb no more their Prey And little Infants shall Promiscuous play The years in Golden Harness smiling pass And keeping beauteous Order run their Race Nor shall his Kingdom cease or Subjects dye For when Time finds its empty Channel dry And all its disappearing Streams shall Sleep Lost and engulph'd in vast Duration's Deep Then shall this King his full Dominion gain And in Eternal Peace and Triumph Reign But 't is not Worldly Empire he design'd His Scepter is his Grace his Throne the Mind Kings unmolested may their Scepters sway And Peaceful Subjects without Strife obey They may unrivall'd and unenvy'd reign And all their Pomp and Regal State maintain The great Redeemer has his Court unseen And reigns in Light and Heavenly Love within But from the false Usurper's Cruelty Officious Angels warn their Prince to fly He and his happy Parents leave their Home And all to Egypt's safer Border's come Egypt tho' for its Monsters famous grown Is now by trech'rous Palestine out-done For here they find a more secure Abode Egypt once Iacob sav'd and now his God The wandring God returns the Tyrant dead To rich Iudea's Soil from whence he fled Where he begins his Kingdom to assert And his mirac'lous Virtue to exert The Blind receiv'd their Sight their Feet the Lame And the Dumb spake to celebrate his Fame Loud Storms and Winds were husht at his Command And fierce wild Beasts did tame and harmless stand The wondring Dead arise and hasty come Obsequious to his Call from out their Tomb. VVith fresh-created Fish and Loaves he fed Th' admiring Crowd that lay around him spread To the Decrepit he new
in the Sinner's Arms. It now no more can please awaken'd Eyes Stript of stoln Beauties and the fair Disguise Of promis'd Good it does it's self disclose Its hideous Shape and ghastly Visage shows Th' affrighted sinner seeing faign would fly Th' Embraces of such foul Deformity He would forget their past Endearments now And from the Monster strives in hast to go But 't will not be those Friends on Earth must dwell For ever sad Companions too in Hell This fiery Gulph was as their just reward For Lucifer and his black Host prepar'd Where now the Fiends once fairest Sons of Light Lye plung'd in Flame chain'd in Eternal Night These wretched Minds once pure and free from Stain In the brightest Palaces of Heav'n did Reign Array'd with dazling Brightness there they dwelt Blest with their great Creator's sight and felt The beaming Influx breaking from his Face And shar'd the Pleasures of that Blissful Place Till with the task of blest Obedience tir'd They to th' Eternal's Sacred Throne aspir'd Incens'd with such ambitious Aims their Lord Strikes thro' the Rebels with his flaming Sword Headlong he casts them from the Seats above No longer now the Creatures of his Love Flaming and Thunder-struck the Traytors fell And sunk down to the fiery Jaws of Hell As when strong rising Flames Resistance find Beat downwards by a fierce impetuous Wind. The liquid Pyramids with labour bend Their tops and sink still struggling to ascend So did these Beings of a Heav'nly Race Fall from the Regions of their Native Place Still working up they sunk in Pain and Toil For downwards thrown their Natures still recoil So difficult's an Angel's Fall and thus Sinking's to them what rising is to us But who has Strength t' oppose th' Almighty's Hand Who can against his deadly Terrours stand He with a single Word an angry Frown Subdu'd this Host and cast them headlong down Confounded and amaz'd they sink and all Heav'n's Plagues and Wrath pursu'd them in their Fall Here they must lie far from the Coasts of Bliss Chain'd in the Dungeons of the dark Abyss Where now they feel what Guilt 's Demerits are Weltring in Fire and tortur'd with Despair How much they curse the sad Exchange black Night And endless Death for Heav'nly Ioy and Light Sunk deep in liquid Fire they list their Eyes Red both with Heat and Anguish to the Skies Then rave aloud to think what Joys they 've lost To think how dear their bold Rebellion cost Nor is the Change of these two Dwellings such So great but they themselves are chang'd as much See how deform'd they are to what before Stript of the Glory that in Heav'n they wore How much they look too like their guilty State How foul and how unlike themselves of late Such fatal Changes one bold Crime can make Heav'n's lost nay more left for a burning Lake Man's Crime th' Infernal Gates did open lay And rais'd and pav'd a broad and easie Way Leading a-cross the Gulph from Earth to Hell Where now lost Men with impious Spirits dwell A Way that 's throng'd with mighty Crowds of those That for Delight and Ease this Passage chose In Sports and Mirth they journey on and find All the Delights that please a Vicious Mind The Way 's so wondrous smooth so prone and broad They rather fall than travel down this Road. But how surprizing is their Journey 's End To what dire Seats does this smooth Passage tend Down to th' Infernal Gulph they sporting glide Born on enchanting Pleasures wanton Tyde A sad Exchange they meet outrageous Seas Of Sulphurous Fire for Luxury and Ease In Darkness chain'd on flaming Billows tost Too late they find themselves for ever lost Hopeless they rave and Curse the easie Way That did their Feet to these sad Realms betray Hither the damn'd the final Sentence past With Cherubs bright revenging Swords are chas'd Pursu'd with everlasting Wrath they take Their woful Refuge in the burning Lake Transfixt on unextinguish'd Fire they ly Burn without Wast without expiring dy Those Agonies those Terrours here they know That from a self-revenging Conscience flow Grip'd with the sad Remembrance of their Sin They feel the Stygian Viper gnaw within With deadly Stings th' Almighty wounds their Hearts And in their Breasts sticks deep his Fiery Darts Along their Veins tempestuous Vengeance rolls Pouring Despair and Horrour on their Souls Who can with everlasting Burnings dwell And bear the Guilt and Punishment of Hell What Strength or Courage can support the Load Of Wrath inflicted by th' Almighty God Hear how the Damn'd devour'd with Plagues begin To Curse aloud their Judge Themselves their Sin Transported with their Anguish Grief and Shame They gnash their Teeth and bite the raging Flame Then sunk in deep Despair such Sighs they breath Such dismal Groans that but to hear is Death A secret Fire their Breasts like Aetna feed And like that too do their own Thunder breed Their Hellish Nature it s own punishment Is a worse Plague than Furies can invent Their Lusts like Vultures tear their inward parts And never-ceasing Torments rend their Hearts Their vicious Appetites not yet destroy'd Still crave the Pleasures they on Earth enjoy'd Though those are gone the fierce untam'd Desire Remains and burns worse than their Lake of Fire But what 's the most afflicting Plague of Hell With all these Woes they must for ever dwell For Ever fatal State for Ever who Can bear the Doom of Everlasting Wo What deadly Pangs what fierce Convulsions rend Their Breasts who know their Pains shall never end How the despairing Damn'd cry out is this The place we chose instead of Heav'nly Bliss Is this black Prison these tormenting Chains This Lake of Fire and these Eternal Pains The dismal Recompence our Crimes afford And must we thus curst tortur'd and abhor'd In these consuming Flames these Torments ly To all the Ages of Eternity Curst be the fatal Crimes that we obey'd That stole our Hearts and have our Lives betray'd Curst be the transient false Delights that shew'd The Charms that we so greedily pursu'd Till down the steepy Precipice we fell Into this deep Abyss of Death and Hell Curst be the treacherous Joys that leave us now Doom'd to Despair lost in Eternal Wo. He ended Hoel highly pleas'd exprest The grateful Sense that fill'd his joyful Breast Methinks he cry'd I view th' Infernal Caves And see the damn'd float on the raging Waves In the dire Lake where flaming Brimstone rolls And hear the dismal Groans of tortur'd Souls Then looking up I see the Blest above Dissolv'd in Raptures of Eternal Love I seem to view their bright triumphant Throngs And hear their Harps and sweet Harmonious Songs Then he the Briton various questions asks Who with great Joy performs the pious Tasks He teaches sacred Myst'ries yet behind And stamps the Christian Image on his Mind Prince Arthur BOOK IV. IN such divine Discourse on things sublime The Royal Pair with Pleasure
light On their curst Heads that should again invite Victorious Kings with Forreign Arms to bless Their Native Country and their Wrongs redress They 'll readily assist your Cause and fight To do to injur'd States and Princes Right But still they keep what by their Arms is won Great Monarchs conquer for themselves alone They want a fair Pretente to seize the Prey They come as Friends but will as Masters stay Thus Albion far'd may Heav'n her Sons restrain From splitting on this fatal Rock again In vain we strove to break the servile Yoke Our impotent Attempts new Wrongs provoke At last no greater Evils left to fear We took fresh Hope and Courage from Despair Fury from Ruin sprung rag'd in our Veins And Death 's seem'd lighter than the Saxon Chains Each free-born Briton thought the Choice more brave To die their Victim than to live their Slave We that could ne'er the Tyrant's Yoke endure Boyl with Revenge now Slaves to Forreign Power King Uter's Breast swells with distracting Rage Whose wounded Soul no Language could asswage Asham'd his Country's Freedom to out-live He takes the Councils Grief and Fury give His Knights together call'd attentive wait While Uter sits on his high Chair of State His troubled Looks reveal'd his inward Wound And Storms of Fury on his Forehead frown'd Who thus began you see what Tides of wo What angry Seas o'er all your Country flow Th' insulting Saxon claims our Land and draws From greater power the Justice of his Cause Thro' all our Towns our Foes triumphant ride Wearing their awful Title by their side They shed your Blood and helpless Maids deflower Exhaust your Treasure and your Land devour A faithless Nation that no Rule of Right Reveres as Sacred but superiour Might We oft our Fate in bloody Fields have try'd But Heav'n has Vict'ry to our Arms deny'd Egyptian Plagues lay wast our ruin'd Land No Moses here holds his controlling Wand Humbly invok'd Heav'n will perhaps relent And of its fierce accustom'd wrath repent Perhaps the Saxons Crimes with louder Cries For greater Vengeance importune the Skies Let us howe'er make one strong Effort more Our Country's Peace and Freedom to restore We 'll take the Field 't will gain us greater Fame To perish there then here with Grief and Shame My British Heart can't brook th' Inglorious Chain I 'll fall with Honour or with Honour reign Tumultuous Passions Wrath Revenge and Shame Invade our Breasts and our gall'd Souls inflame Strait with one Voice we all for Arms declare And every Breast already feels the War Resolv'd to make the vanquish'd Saxons fly Or in the just and brave Attempt to dy With Fury urg'd we part from Uter's sight Resolv'd for Freedom and our Native Right Thro' all the Towns we spread the loud Alarm And animated all our Men to Arm To vindicate their ravish'd Country's cause To banish Forraign Gods and Forraign Laws 'T is strange how soon the Britons Blood was fir'd What Life and Hope their drooping Hearts inspir'd They saw fair Liberty extended ly The Saxon Whips and Torments lying by They view her squallid Face exhausted Veins And beauteous Limbs eat in with rusty Chains They heard her mournful Groans and piercing Cries Her interrupted Sobs and dying Sighs They saw from gaping Wounds the gushing Blood Enrich the Pavement with a noble Flood While Pity Mercy Hope in Sorrow drown'd To finish the sad Scene stood weeping round The Britons rave resolving her defence And vow her Rescue at their Blood 's expence In Albion this fair Emp'ress still obey'd An uncontested Scepter ever sway'd As Universal Soul she Life diffus'd And Warmth to all the heaving Mass infus'd She ever gave to all true Britons Hearts More Vigour than their own warm Blood imparts 'T is quick'ning Liberty that gives us Breath Her Absence more than that of Life is Death Such love to Liberty the Britons show Such were her Charms and may they still be so May never Briton ceasing to be Brave Submit his Neck content to be a Slave May those be doubly curst that would betray Their Country's Freedom to a Forraign Sway. Our Men enrag'd in numerous Bodies meet Arm Arm was heard the Cry in every Street The Ploughman hastens to a nobler Toil Unyokes his Ox and leaves untill'd the Soil Abandons all his Hopes and rustick Care Lays down his Goad and shakes the warlike Spear The Tradesman quits his Shop and takes the Field And makes his thirst of Gain to thirst of Honour yield Arm'd Tenants crowd about their Valiant Lords And full of Courage wave their threat'ning Swords Near Sorbiodunum's stately Walls a Town For Strength and Beauty of the first Renown Whose spacious Plains rich Seas of waving Corn And lowing Herds and woolly Flocks adorn Our Universal Rendezvous was set Where all our Squadrons and Battalions met Mean time the Cautious Saxon was alarm'd And to dispel the gathering Tempest arm'd Octa the famous Hengist's Son a bold And warlike Prince did then the Scepter hold Hengist that did the first our Land invade And brought to Albion his destructive Aid The Fifth from mighty Odin whose great Name Had tir'd the flaggy Wings of weary Fame The Stock from which a Race Illustrious springs Of numerous Hero's and Victorious Kings That founded Empires and that living led Their Conquering Armies and their God when dead They soon the Hills by their long Marches gain And with their Troops o'erspread the spacious Plain We with their hasty March alarm'd prepare To guard our Camp and wait th' approaching War Our Parties now in rude Rencounters try'd Their Courage still th' advantage on our side Th' advancing Host at last appear'd in sight But Toil and wearing Day defer'd the Fight Now Night advancing draws her Sable Train Along the Air and Shades th' Etherial Plain King Uter with his Lords in Council sate Things of th' important Juncture to debate Where Measures were concerted to oppose With warlike Arts and Force th' impending Foes Their Provinces the great Commanders share And from the Council to their Posts repair Where they their Troops dispose and Orders give How the Invading Saxon to receive Encampt we lay on advantageous Ground With strong Entrenchments and high Works around Our chearful Troops great Joy and Courage show And from the Works defy the powerful Foe All things dispos'd with Military Care We wait in Arms th' approach of Day and War Now did the Morn disclose her smiling Ray And from the East let forth th' important Day To bloody Labour all things did invite And sounding Trumpets Martial Heat excite Heav'n's starry Roof resounds with warlike Noise With Horses Thunder and their Riders Voice The Saxons and the Britons stand prepar'd Those to Attack and these their Posts to Guard King Octa leads his numerous Army on And at their Head in dazling Armour shone Drawn on the Right our rang'd Battalions stood Our Left a River Guards the Rear a Wood. Octa here makes his warlike Columns halt
Fields Chariots of War in Clouds of Dust advance And tossing up their Foam the thundring Coursers Prance Their Army's Wings stretcht out they to the Foes A long extended Ridge of War oppose The British Squadrons tho outnumber'd far Run boldly on the horrid Edge of War To make their Front the thin Battalions ran But stretcht not equal to the Saxon Van. Both Armies thus rang'd in Battalia stood And Death prepar'd her thirsty Jaws for Blood From the Celestial Host a glorious Band Of Seraphs was detach'd by high Command Hither the shining Warriours did repair And drawn in long Array stood in the Air. Their Blades divinely temper'd flam'd on high And blazing Shields inlighten all the Sky Impenetrable Shields drawn from the Towers Of Heav'n's high Ars'nal fill'd with warlike Stores Th' Angelick Cuirassiers in Armour shone Of Adamant from Rocks Empyreal hewn High milk white Plumes like Snowy Clouds arise From their bright Crests and Nod against the Skies Rich Helmets of Immortal beaten Gold Adorn their Heads Brass of Etherial mould Refin'd above their joynted Gauntlets made Brass that the Teeth of Time can ne'er invade Broad silver Belts richly embroider'd o'er Rare Seraphs work their shining Shoulders bore And round them Sky-dy'd Purple Scarfs they wore Michael a Prince in Heav'n of first renown Who like a Sun high in his Chariot shone This bright Detachment did in Chief Command Charg'd to maintain strict Guard and to withstand Th' Attempts that might by Hellish Fiends be made Sent by their Prince the Christian to invade While Lucifer on the white Mountain's Head His black Infernal Crew about him spread With Malice Rage and Pride extended sate High on his dusky Throne resolv'd to wait And see if this important ' Day 's Event Would answer with success his curst intent In glitt'ring Arms the dazling Prince appears Before his Troops the Saxon sees and fears His Helm of polish'd Steel brac'd round his Head Did o'er the Field a glorious Terrour spread Bright Stones and high rais'd Needle Work adorn The shining Belt across his Shoulders worn His fatal Sword the Bane of Gothick Pride With fearful Grace hung by his warlike Side Odar the Neustrian of this famous Blade Inur'd to Victory a Present made To Arthur when from Albion first he came To Odar's Camp to win Heroick Fame Lodar did with this Gift King Odar grace A valiant Hero of the Neustrian Race His radiant Shield of Brass its outmost Fold Th' inmost temper'd Steel the midst of Gold Was the rare Work of Lycon's skilful Toil From which unpeirc'd the sharpest Darts recoil Bright like a Sun it did fierce Glory dart Where might be seen pourtray'd with wondrous Art Strong Towns besieg'd and famous Battels won And great Exploits by ancient Heros done Who to defend their Country bravely fought By Men inspir'd in sacred Volumes wrote Here th' Israelites kind Heav'n's peculiar Care Their famous Gen'ral Ioshua leads to War The Rocky Desart past with wondrous Toil With Marches worn and heavy with the Spoil From vanquish'd Baashan and King Sihon won Where their illustrious Triumphs first begun Advance their Ensigns Canaan to invade Ripe by their full grown Sins for Conquest made To Iordan's Streams they come straight to his Head His Waves roll'd back obsequious Iordan fled The naked Channel shews his sandy Face And gives the Fav'rite Nation leave to pass Th' astonish'd Canaanites like Iordan fly And weep to see their Guardian River dry Here valiant Gideon with his Troop by Night March'd out t' attack the haughty Midianite The Foe like Locusts numberless was pour'd Around the Vale and all its Fruits devour'd But dreading Gideon's Arms the Spoilers fly And by his Sword and by their own they die King Zeba and Zalmunna with a throng Of Captive Princes draw their Chains along Here in the plain stretcht like some spacious Wood In long Array the throng'd Philistines stood Goliah issuing from their opening Files Of Bulk stupendous hideous with the Spoils Of yellow Lyons slain and shaggy Bears Towring before their shouting Host appears With haughty Air the wondrous Figure strode His Sword his Trust and his right Hand his God Beneath his Weight the Vally seem'd to shake But his pale Foes did more than seem to quake Gnashing his Teeth the grinning Monster stood Himself an Army and his Spear a Wood. Sufficient Stores whole Mines could scarcely yield For his wide Cuirass and prodigious Shield Where Figures pourtray'd of fierce Monsters shone But none so fierce and monstrous as his own High in the Clouds his brazen Helm did show Like some vast Temple 's gilded Cupilo His mighty Legs that brazen Boots embrac'd Tall Pillars seem'd with Corinth Mettal cas'd Thus arm'd he stood and by his Mein did seem To curse aloud to threaten and blaspheme His beck'ning Hand held proudly up invites To combate all the trembling Hebrew Knights Tho vast of Bulk he bigger swells with Pride He curst their Army and their Gods defy'd Here God-like David in the flowry Bloom Of Youth and Beauty brings the Monster 's Doom To kindle Love or Pity fitter far Then the rough Passions that attend on War And likelier by his Youth 's engaging Charms To wound the Anakite then with his Arms. Yet bravely he embrac'd th' unequal War And scorn'd his Rage that curst him from afar The fatal Stone by the young Hero flung Cut thro' the Air and sure of Triumph sung It pierc'd the Cyclops Head his Carcass fell Swift to the Ground his Soul as swift to Hell Faln on his Face he bites the trembling Ground And Brains and Gore break thro' the gaping Wound Wallowing he lay a vast extended Load Like a great Island in a Sea of Blood His gastly Eye-balls strive with parting Light And swim and roll into eternal Night Here Saul receiv'd the charming conquering Boy The Captains blush'd for Shame and wept for Joy His Brothers griev'd to see the glorious Day Prompted with Pride and Envy shrunk away Here Iudah's Daughter flowry Garlands bring They crown young David and presage him King In Songs and Dances they his Deeds proclaim And Saul's is lessen'd to advance his Fame Here mighty Sampson hot with Martial Rage A numerous Army does alone engage His Sword high wav'd reeking in Sweat and Blood O'er slaughter'd Heaps th' invading Conquerour strode His fatal Arms his Foes no longer bear But their whole Host flies from his single Spear Confus'dly o'er the Field lay spread about Wide Ruin Spoils and ignominious Rout. Here valiant David's Troops victorious come From their Assyrian Expedition home Vast were the Spoils that from the glorious Day Won on Damascus's Plains they bore away King Hadadezer's Arms in Triumph born And Purple Robes by their soft Princes worn And sparkling Gems that did their Ears adorn Rich Collars Chains and blazing Shields of Gold Vast Silver Bowls that richer Metal hold High gilded Dishes graven or emboss'd Treasure immense that Syria had engross'd Purple Pavilions once in lofty Rows And
their hast Tear up tall Pines and lay the Forrest wast Some to the Ocean with like Speed resort And in loud Tempests on the Billows sport Embroil the Coasts and in wild Outrages Turn up to Heav'n the Bottom of the Seas But husht at Thor's Command they all obey And to their ancient Prisons haste away To him thus Lucifer great Prince on thee Fate has bestow'd the Empire of the Sea All there concern'd invoke thy Deity The Merchants pray to thee to fill their Sails Enrich thy Priests and purchase Prosperous Gales I too thy Suppliant ask thy Powerful Aid A Haughty Prince designing to invade My Faithful Subject Octa and beguile Me of my Hopes of fair Britannia's Isle Sails with a Numerous Fleet with Men and Arms And Octa trembles at his Proud Alarms Let him in Furious Hurricanes be tost Be sunk or wreckt or on the Ocean lost Beat him at least from his intended Coast. Make him thy Vengeance feel thy Power regard And be what e're thou askest thy Reward Great Prince then Thor reply'd Who rul'st the Realms of Hell with Soveraign Sway Whom all th' Infernal Thrones and Pow'rs obey I own Obedience to thy high Command Who putt'st this Scepter first into my Hand Thou led'st in Heav'n our bright Battalions on And bravely did'st attempt th' Almighty's Throne I saw thy mighty Deeds and kept my Post Close by thee till that Glorious Day was lost Thy faded Splendor and illustrious Scars From Ghasty Wounds receiv'd in those just Wars I view with Reverence 't is true subdu'd Headlong we fell from Heav'n's high Tow'r's pursu'd With Whirlwinds and loud Thunder down to Hell And Storms of Fire beat on us as we fell Yet after that thou led'st us to invade This Globous World which we our Conquest made And my Election Patroniz'd by thee This great Command and Province fell to me That said by him their heavy Gates unbar'd That loud on mighty Iron Hinges jarr'd Out ratling Eurus and loud Boreas fly And with Outrageous Tempests fill the Sky They bend their Course strait to the British Coast And on those Seas lay out their Anger most Their Furious Wings the swelling Surges beat And rouse Old Ocean from his Peaceful Seat The raging Seas in high ridg'd Mountains rise And cast their angry Foam against the Skies Then gape so deep that Day Light Hell invades And shoots grey Dawning thro' th' affrighted Shades Low bellying Clouds soon intercept the Light And o'er the Britons spread a Noon Day Night Exploded Thunder tears th' Embowel'd Sky And Sulphurous Flames a dismal Day supply The Dire Convulsions for a certain Space Distorted Nature wresting from its Place This Globe set to the Sun 's more oblique View And wrench'd the Poles some Leagues yet more askew Horrour Confusion Uproar Strife and Fear In all their wild amazing Shapes appear Mean time old Chaos joyful at the Sight Look'd and smil'd horrible on older Night Hoping that Nature their grand Foe would crack With universal Ruin and her Wreck Would give them all their lost Dominions back The Sailor's Clamour and enormous Cries The Crack of Masts mix'd with the outrageous Noise Of Storms and Thunder rending all the Air Form the last Scene of Horror and Despair When the Just Arthur fill'd with Grief and Dread And Pale Confusion deeply sigh'd and said O righteous Heaven why hast thou rang'd this Day Against me all thy Terrors in Array Arm'd in thy Cause thy Temples to restore And give that Aid thy sacred Priests implore If thou such fierce Destruction dost dispence To punish some unpardon'd old Offence On me let all thy Fiery Darts be spent Let not my Crime involve the innocent Whelm o'er my guilty Head these raging Seas And let this Sacrifice thy Wrath appease But let the British Youth return in Peace That said his Ship unmasted without Guide Driv'n by the Winds and Seas impetuous Tyde The Sight of all the scatter'd Navy lost Strikes on the Quicksand of an unknown Coast. Mean time bright Uriel Heav'n's high Favourite Left the Celestial Palaces of Light Sent by supream Command and down he flies Let by a Golden Sun-beam thro' the Skies Meekness divine serene and Heav'nly Grace And fresh immortal Youth shone on his Face Godlike his Form his Looks so charming mild That where he came all ravish'd Nature smil'd He strait alights on lofty Gobeum's Head That wonder'd at the Heav'n about it shed From the bright Cherubim who touch'd his Lyre Fam'd for his Sweetness in the Heav'nly Quire Th' enchanted Winds straightway their Fury laid Grew wondrous still and strict Attention paid Aerial Demons that by Twilight stray Sport in loud Thunder and in Tempest play Spread their brown Wings and fly in Clouds away The Day returns the Heav'ns no longer scowl And fierce Sea-Monsters charm'd forget to howl The Winds retreat and leave the peaceful Waves To rest their Wings and sleep in Lapland Caves Soft Zephirs only stay to fan the Woods And play in gentle Gales along the Floods The Ocean smiles to see the Tempest fled New lays his Waves and smooths his ruffl'd Bed All things thus husht great Arthur gave Command To quit their Ship stuck in the barren Sand And in their Boats to make the Neighb'ring Land They spy a Creek not far a Peaceful Seat Where flying Waves by furious Tempest beat Find from the fierce Pursuit a safe Retreat Free from th' outrageous Clamours of the Deep They rest secure and unmolested sleep Stretcht smooth beneath the shady Trees and Rocks That guard them from the VVinds impetuous Shocks Here smaller Vessels may securely ride And all th' Assaults of angry Sorms deride Here they arriv'd and Heav'n they first ador'd That gave the Aid their earnest Cries implor'd That sav'd them from the Winds VVaves Rocks and Storms Deaths of so many and such hideous Forms Then for their parted Friends with humble Prayer They ask Heav'n's Pity and indulgent Care Now Arthur from the Rock views far and wide The Seas beneath if thence might be descry'd The Friends he lately lost but views in vain No Friend appears on all the Desart Main Return'd he thus began Too dark th' Eternal's ways are too profound For the most sharp created Wit to sound Clouds black as those that rise the sacred Fence Of his high Throne surround his Providence Whose walks are trackless and on every hand About her paths shades and thick Darkness stand Her ways are so perplext so wide her steps Such turns and windings and such frightful leaps Such Gulphs and interposing Rocks appear There such Ascents such dreadful Downfalls here That Reason strait affrighted stops her pace Is soon thrown off and quits th' unequal Chase. Th' Almighty's Councils are so high and steep Immense unbounded without bottom deep Angels amaz'd from their high Thrones of Bliss Trembling look down on this profound Abyss Sometimes he seems to thwart his own intent Stop and defeat his long design'd event Yet which way e're he
steers his end 's attain'd By uncouth means with greater wonder gain'd Sometimes his high permission leaves opprest The Men most like him and that serve him best But still their Sufferings and severer Fate Prepare them for some glorious future state Invited by sad Britain's Prayers and Tears To save her State and ease her deadly Fears VVe arm'd depos'd Religion to enthrone T' enlarge the Christian Empire not our own VVe arm'd thus to restore in Hell's despight To Heav'n its VVorship and to Men their Right Resume your Courage then it can't be true That Heav'ns Revenge should Heav'n's own Cause pursue These Evils are not in displeasure meant Heav'n is too Just and you too Innocent Success and Triumph will our Arms attend And these rough ways lead to a glorious End VVith Pleasure we hereafter shall relate These suff'rings that will greater Joys create He said and all his anxious Cares supprest And kept conceal'd his trouble in his Breast VVith looks compos'd 'twixt pleasure and despair Grave but serene he bids them all repair Their strength exhausted with much toil and care Of Meats and Fruits part of their Naval Store That with them from their Ship they brought ashore Their weary Limbs repos'd beneath the shade Of well spread Trees a grateful Meal they made Rich VVine of Burgundy and choice Champaigne Relieve the toil they suffer'd on the Main But what more chear'd them than their Meats and VVine VVas wise Instruction and Discourse Divine From God-like Arthur's Mouth by Heav'n inspir'd That all their Breasts with sacred Passions fir'd Great were his Thoughts strong and sublime his Sense Of Heav'n's Decrees Foreknowledge Providence He reason'd deep of Heav'n's mysterious Ends And made stern Justice and fair Mercy Friends How high he soar'd how Noble was his flight Speaking of Truth divine and VVisdom infinite He opens all the Magazins above Of boundless Goodness and Eternal Love From these rich Stores of Heav'n these sacred Springs Of everlasting Joy and Peace he brings Ambrosial Food and rich Nectarean VVine That chear pure Souls and nourish Life Divine He then compar'd this transient mortal state To the fierce Tempest they escap'd so late That here is every great and good Mans Fate If God-like Men for Heav'n embark and stand Their Course direct to make the blissful Land Strait Hell the bloody signal gives to Arm Cain's cruel offspring takes the dire alarm And potent Fiends by Sea their Forces joyn T' obstruct their way and break their brave design All with consummate Malice furious Rage Against th' adventurous Voyagers engage Through all the Sky they raise outrageous Storms And Death stands threat'ning in a thousand Forms Clouds charg'd with loud Destruction drown the day And airy Daemons in wild VVhirlwinds play Thick Thunderclaps and Lightning's livid glare Disturb the Sky and trouble all the Air. Outrage Distraction Clamour Tumult Reign Through the Dominions of the unquiet Main The labouring Bark with Heav'nly Treasure fraught Now almost sunk now up in Tempests caught Near Sands and Rocks rides on the dark Abyss Long beaten off from the bright Coasts of Bliss At last calm Day succeeds this stormy Night And the glad Voyagers find in their sight The Realms of Peace and the blest Shores of Light Here they arrive and find a safe Retreat And all their pain and labours past forget There was a Cave hard by that Nature made In the hard Rock and cover'd with the shade Of spreading Trees that Day could not invade Hither the Pious British Prince retires To offer Praises up and pure desires Here rapt'rous Converse he with Heav'n maintains And aided by Devotion 's purest strains Combates Almighty Power and Conquest gains Devotion that oft binds th' Almighty's Arms And with her Prayers and Tears her powerful charms Of all its Thunder his right hand disarms She passes quick Heav'n's lofty Crystal Walls And the high Gates fly open when she calls The charming Goddess of Divine Address Has to th' Almighty's Presence free Access Her Power can sentenc'd Criminals Reprieve Judgment Arrest and bid the Rebel live Her Charms did once the Sun 's swift Chariot stay And on the Verge of Heav'n held back the falling Day She makes contentious Winds forget their Strife And calls back to the Dead departed Life Charm'd by her Voice Rivers have stop'd their Course And the chill'd Fire laid down its burning Force Such is Devotion 's Power which Arthur knew And when distress'd still to this Refuge flew Much to his Conduct he much to his Arms But more he trusted to Devotion 's Charms Of Triumph and Success he rarely fail'd For those on Earth and these in Heav'n prevail'd Now in the silent shady Cave retir'd He with her sacred Fury lay inspir'd The Prince being thus entranc'd a Heav'nly Light Shoots smiling through the Wood with silent flight The Trees admire the Glory on them shed And seem'd to start and humbly bow their Head When fresh arriv'd on Earth with Heav'n's Commands Great Raphael's glorious Form by Arthur stands Celestial Sweetness Mild and God-like Grace Ineffable sat on his blooming Face His Cheeks such Beauty shew'd such Light and Joy his Eyes As from full Bliss fresh Youth and Strength immortal rise The purest piece of Heav'n's Etherial Blue In a rich Mantle from his Shoulders flew Celestial Linnen finely Spun and Wove On Looms Divine by all the Skill above Bleach'd on th' Empyreal Plains till White as Snow Made the long Robe that to his Feet did flow Immortal Gold Illustrious as the Morn And dazling Gemms by high Arch Angels worn With pond'rous Pearl from Heav'n's bright Eastern Shore Adorn the shining Garments that he wore A Purple Girdle from the Morning Sky New rent does round his Starry Vesture tye Thus he appear'd and with the Light he gave And unknown Fragrancy fill'd all the Cave Then thus he spake Hail mine and Heav'n's kind Care Hither I come drawn by thy powerful Prayer Know Righteous Prince th' Almighty does approve Your firm Adhesion and unshaken Love Ends Great and Wise lodg'd in his secret Breast Obstruct your Wishes and your Course molest Yet still pursue your great and just Intent No Force or Arts shall your Design prevent Propitious Heav'n Decrees your wish'd Event You on these Coasts for happy Ends are thrown And after this expect the British Crown Your Friends and Navy on the Ocean lost Are all arriv'd safe on th' Armorie Coast By the impetuous Tempest beaten back But Men and Ships sav'd from the threaten'd Wreck You 're cast on Hoel's Lands amidst your Foes That hate your Cause and your just Arms Oppose But fear not Hoel's Power though now your Foe By Hell incens'd he will not long be so Go then directly to his Court for there A Glorious Work demands your Pious Care That said with outstretcht Wings he soars upright And through the Winds vast Empire takes his flight He cuts the Clouds and by the Planets flies Up the steep Crystal Mountains of the
grew so terrible She strait contracts her vast dilated Size And through Hell's dusky Void she upward flies As when rich Towns great Cost and Art employ In Fire-works to express their publick Joy For some great Vict'ry won by Land or Sea Or on some Prince's Coronation Day The flaming Rockets hizzing fly by Night And fill the Sky with unknown Noise and Light The Sphears amaz'd stand or move slowly on And wonder how the Day returns so soon And what new Stars rise brighter than their own So does the Fiend her Snakes all hissing rise Through the thick haggair'd Air and as she flies Leaves tracks of Light cast from her fiery Eyes And now arriv'd on the grey Coasts of Day Direct to Hoel's Court she takes her way Where she alighted when the Sun had hurl'd His glorious Orb hence to the other World 'T was then when all things look'd as if old Night Had Nature crush'd and seiz'd her ancient Right Whilst Silence Shades and Lights around create Sad solemn Pomp t' express her Death-like state Winds and wild Beasts lye in their Dens at rest Nor these the Woods nor those the Seas molest The sleeping Vultures drop their prey the Dove Ceases her Cooing and forgets to love The Jocond Fairies Dance their silent round And with dark Circles mark the trampled ground Tartarean Forms Skim o're the Mountains Heads Or lightly sweep along the dewy Meads Ghosts leave their Tombs hid Murders to reveal Or Treasures which themselves did once conceal Visions through th' Air and careless Phantoms stray Or round Mens troubled Heads while sleeping play The Fury Alman's Reverend Shape assumes Odin's High Priest and so to Hoel comes For the Priest's Form is fittest to engage Princes in Blood and move destructive Rage Thus chang'd the Fiend such is her Craft appears And thus began just Hoel all those years I liv'd I did with studious Care employ How best I might the Christian Crew destroy I thy great Soul in this blest Cause engag'd Inspir'd with Heats Divine not yet asswag'd I quit Elysian Pleasures to impart What does with greater Joy extend my Heart And will do thine Arthur Curst be that Name Designing Empire and Illustrious Fame Embark'd with Arms fair Albion to invade But by just Heav'n is thy cheap Captive made Pursu'd with Thunder and in Tempests tost At last he 's Shipwreckt on this happy Coast. With his sad Friends he wanders up and down Naked perplext deserted and undone But yet just Heav'n Decrees him greater Harm But saves that Glory for your Zealous Arm. To take his Life must be your Pious Care And with the Gods divided Honour share Thus you their En'my and your own remove Secure your Peace and please the Pow'rs above To Christians this can be no Injury That call for Torments and are pleas'd to Dye They all seem fond to wear the Martyr's Crown And meet the Flames with greater of their own No Rights no Rules of Justice you invade For Ruin's their Profession Death their Trade Go then and grace the Briton that comes on To meet you and receive the Martyr's Crown Remove this Pillar of their Church and all The unsupported Roof will crack and fall Take this Defender of their Faith away The passive Rabble tamely will Obey Their Lives in Sport you may at leisure take They quickly fall that no Resistance make The Gods into your Hands have cast your Foe To take his Life will please Heav'n him and you That said she breath'd her Soul into his Breast And her wild Fury all his Veins possest Infernal Flames Rage in his poison'd Blood And his swoln Heart Boils with th' impetuous Flood The Fiend her Shape of thicken'd Air dissolves And disappears Hoel surpriz'd revolves The welcome message in his Mind and strait Commands his Lords and Guards should on him wait On the first Shooting of the tender Day So eager did he seem to seise the Prey Now was the Eastern Sky-dy'd Purple spread For fair Aurora's Radiant Feet to tread She mounts serene and with mild dawning Light Smiles on the lowring dusky Face of Night That to Victorious Day yields up her Seat Whilst her black Forces silently Retreat As when a Lyon at the dawn of Day Rous'd with fierce Hunger up to Hunt his Prey Stretches his Limbs out Yawns and tries his Paws And for sure Death prepares his cruel Jaws He stands and rolls about his Angry Eyes Lashing his Sides to make his Fury rise Then Scowrs the Hills Ranges the Forrests o're And Thunders thro the Desart with his hideous Roar The Winds all husht sit trembling on the Trees And scarcely Whisper out a gentle Breeze Wolves dare not Howl but grinning softly creep And Leopards stretcht out feign themselves asleep Th' affrighted Herds close in their Covert lye And to escape his Rage with Terrour dye Thus Hoel with infernal Rage possest With fierce desire speeds to the bloody Feast A deadly Storm does on his Forehead lowr Himself his Rage Arthur his Hopes devour Breathing out Death he march'd but at mid-day He stands by Heav'n arrested in his way The Air serene a black thick Cloud appear'd And as it hover'd o're their Heads were heard Celestial Flutes and Harps divinely Strung With Hymns and Hallelujahs Set and Sung By the best Masters of the Quire above With Bliss transported and inspir'd with Love Whilst Hoel and his Friends pleas'd and amaz'd Listen'd and on the Scene descending gaz'd The broken Cloud pours out pure Floods of Light Show'rs of Celestial Rays transcendent bright And Storms of Splendor dazling Mortal Sight Th' illustrious Tempest does on Hoel beat Who falls astonish'd headlong from his Seat Confounded with unsufferable Day Groveling in Glory on the shining Way And with bright Ruin overwhelm'd he lay 'T was then a soft still Heav'nly Voice that broke From out the Cloud to trembling Hoel spoke 'Gainst me what Fury did thy Arms Engage What mov'd thee with inexorable Rage Vain Man to persecute my Saints and Me In vain thou seek'st to baffle Heav'n's Decree Vain is thy Force and impotent thy Hate Too weak thy Arms to stem the Tyde of Fate The Torrent bears thy saint Resistance down Retire or in Eternal Ruin Drown Then Hoel thus O tell me who thou art Great Spirit and thy Will to me impart Tell me if Errour has my Feet misled What safer Paths I may hereafter tread The Voice reply'd I am the Christians God whom you pursue Go meet my Servant Arthur he shall shew At large what thou hast to believe what do The Scene here disappear'd his Lords come round And rais'd reviving Hoel from the Ground Who marches on the British Prince to find And Act not what himself but Heav'n design'd With anxious Thoughts the Vision he revolves And to Obey Heav'n's high Command resolves Whilst to his Lords the Vision he relates They find themselves advanc'd to Conda's Gates Arthur mean time to whom great Raphael's word Unshaken Hopes and Courage did afford Proceeded
seems It self a Heav'n with dazling Lustre bright Pours out pure Floods of overflowing Light Here as in Furnaces of boiling Gold Stars dipt come back full as their Orbs can hold Of glitt'ring Light here too the Moon all drown'd Does with the Golden Metal fill her Round Sometimes half dipt it but in part adorns Her Face and shines with Blunt Refulgent Horns Th' Etherial Plain now cultivated bears A shining Harvest of Illustrious Stars That at a distance seem small Lights but near Capacious Realms and glorious VVorlds appear The Sphears spread forth their Bosoms now refin'd And Belly out like Sails swoln big with Wind. The Air beat out and purify'd does lye A Crystal deep between the Earth and Sky Through this thin Void the Sun 's indulgent Beams Flow gently on the Earth in Golden Streams That kindly steal away the Watry Store And rob the Earth but to enrich it more The Earth with its own Burden tir'd and prest Down with its weight lies in the midst at rest A Deep broke up God calls the Waters they Feel the Command and with quick flight Obey In mighty Heaps the foaming Deluge flows High liquid Walls and curling Ridges shows Some Waters with a smooth and gentle Tyde On the Earth's plain and level Surface glide Others that meet a Steep abrupt Descent Roll down in Floods more loud and turbulent At last they fall from the high Precipice In noisy Floods into the dark Abyss Till the vast Deluge with its liquid Stone Fills up the Deep and Crowns the Ambient Shore Now their tall Heads the rising Mountains show And wide mouth'd Vallies sink themselves as low The Earth as yet all bare and naked lay For Heav'n's Command th' imprison'd Spirits stay God spake and straight a lovely Spring appears And every Field fresh verdant Cloathing wears Green Herbs adorn the Hills aspiring Heads And smiling Flowers paint the Enamell'd Meads Trees starting up lifted their Heads so high They met the Clouds descending from the Sky Some rang'd in beauteous Order Stately stood Others press'd close and throng'd into a Wood. Some where the Sun gives more indulgent Heat Transparent Gums and Od'rous Juices Sweat The fragrant Balsom-Tree distills around Her healing Riches on the neighbouring Ground The humble Jess ' mine breaths Perfumes abroad And wanton Zephyrs bear the balmy Load Pure Crystal Rivers through the Meadows flow Their flowry Banks smile on them as they go Their watry Train in Snaky Windings slides And in their Streams the scaly Nation glides Birds glad to try their Wings rise from the Earth And with their Songs they Celebrate their Birth Beasts in their various Kinds all Mild and Tame Stood gazing round and wonder'd whence they came The Bleating Flocks wander on every Hill And lowing Herds the Ecchoing Vallies fill The sporting Lyon Paws the wanton Bear Wolves seek the Woods the Lawns the timorous Deer The Crested Snake rolls on the flowry Plain The shining Volumes of his Spiral Train Leviathan in th' Ocean takes his place Prince of the Waters and the Finny Race Rolling amidst the Waves he takes his Sport As a great Sea-God in his watry Court. Swimming to Land he drives high Seas before Like a great Island floating near the Shore In wanton pastime he sucks in with Ease Then spouts against the Skies th' exhausted Seas Like some prodigious Water-Engine made To play on Heav'n if Fires should Heav'n invade So fair so rich a Paradise as this Almighty Power call'd from the dark Abyss To keep the Birth-day of the World the Spring Does all her Joys and fragrant Riches bring Nature appearing in her brightest Dress Does all her Sweets and Heav'nly Charms express The Sphears in tuneful Measures Roll above And Heav'n's bright Orbs in beauteous Order move The smiling Earth discovers perfect Joy Where nothing noxious can its Peace annoy The Air 's so soft such balmy Odours fly So sweet the Fruits so pure and mild the Sky The Blissful States too great to be exprest By all the Pleasures of the wanton East By th' Arab's Sweets from Zephirs tender VVings Gently shook off or what the Merchant brings Of Forreign Luxury with tedious Toil From Asia's Coast or soft Campania's Soil Thus after five days Labour Nature stood God view'd his Creatures and pronounc'd them Good But still there wanted one that might adore Divine Perfections and Heav'n's Gifts implore That might himself and his great Author know Obey his God and rule as God below Then Man was made the Author fram'd and wrought The purer Mould with more Concern and Thought His Mind made up of pure Etherial Air Came from the Hands Divine all Bright and Fair. And lodg'd in Clay did at its Entrance give So quick a touch as made that Clay to live And both united with such wondrous Art In part he 's Angel Animal in part In whom the Bounds of both the Worlds are seen Where Earth does terminate and Heav'n begin One part like sprightly Flames will upward move Kin to the blest unbody'd Minds above The other only shap'd and quicken'd Earth From moulded Dust receives its humble Birth Yet Life divine and high Perfection gains Ennobled by the Guest it entertains His Form erect and Cherub-like his Face Where Sweetness temper'd Stern and Manly Grace Mil'd to be lov'd and awful to be fear'd He like some new discover'd God appear'd Then did th' Almighty to his Bosom give To bless him perfectly his Consort Eve Of a more soft and nicely temper'd Mould Her strokes were tender his more strong and bold Sweetness that ravish'd milder than the Morn And perfect Beauty did her Looks adorn She like a Goddess with the Heav'nly Charms Of blushing Innocence comes to his Arms. What Joys Divine did on the Fav'rite wait These happy Hours that knew his Native State His Work thus finish'd and Creation done Th' Almighty rests on his Eternal Throne Straight the loud Shouts and Acclamations giv'n Shook the high Towers and jarring Gates of Heav'n There stood an Alabaster Mount that shone In th' Air sublime from the Imperial Throne Remov'd at distance and between them lay All pav'd with Stars a broad frequented way Hither for great Assemblies they repair From all the Regions of the Etherial Air. Here they in perfect Love and Peace debate Th' Affairs that most affect their sacred State Hither the Princes of the Heav'nly Court Follow'd with Throngs unnumber'd now resort There met a solemn Jubilee they Vote In Honour of the Wonders lately wrought Straight a Procession publick was enjoyn'd And thus perform'd t' adore th' Eternal Mind Trumpets march'd first and chiefly that whose Sound Shall strike Convulsions through the trembling ground Break their dark Prisons down and call away Th' awaken'd Dead on the great Judgment Day Next Heav'nly Viols soft harmonious Flutes Resounding Dulcimers and tuneful Lutes And Harps like that which hangs the glitt'ring Pride As Poets feign of young Apollo's side With perfect Skill here chosen Cherubs play And Celebrate th'
Almighty's Resting Day Then the blest Voices came with Hymns of Praise Angelick Musick sweet Melodious Lays Such as bright Spirits in high Raptures sing Around the Throne of their Eternal King Now the first Rank of Potentates and Peers Mighty Arch-Angels and high Thrones appears Crowns of substantial massy Glory made Adorn'd with Gems and Flow'rs that never Fade And Greens of Heav'nly growth all wreath'd between Are on the Heads of this bright Order seen Fresh Greens and Flow'rs such as their Gardens bring Blest with mild Rays and Everlasting Spring Vials of Incense in their Hands they bare And the sweet Clouds in Wheels roll up the Air. Odours not to be told fann'd from them fly And wondrous Fragrancy Perfumes the Sky Each had his Lyre that from his Shoulders hung With Golden VVire like radiant Sun-beams strung Such was their Splendour with such grace they trod In Looks and Motion each appear'd a God Hither thick Crowds of vulgar Angels made And to admire this glorious Order staid And as they pass'd humble Obeisance paid Then lower Ranks in long Procession pass'd VVith Crowns and Badges of Distinction grac'd And all so Splendid all so Rich and Gay That Heav'n before ne'er saw so bright a Day Unfading Roses of a Heav'nly Red On the bright Pavement were profusely spread Elysian Jess'mine and blest Am'rant lay In od'rous heaps along the Milky way The Fountains all such Cost was then bestow'd VVith unexhausted Springs of Nectar flow'd And now advanc'd before th' Imperial Throne That losty with excessive Brightness shone They from th' uneasie Lustre of the Light Protected with spread Wings their dazled sight In prostrate Adoration down they fell Opprest with Glory unsupportable Entranc'd Transported Ravish'd there they ly And with blest Hallelujahs fill the Sky In Songs Sublime they praise th' Eternal Mind His Works from all the Ages past design'd His Greatness Wisdom Empire unconfin'd His Justice that no Force or Prayer can move His spotless Truth and Everlasting Love They Sing th' Eternal Son 's Immortal Praise And to an equal height the sacred Spirit raise Then all arising from the sacred Quire O'erflowing with unbounded Joys retire To the blest Shades of the Celestial Bowers Where oft they choose to pass their happy Hours Their Hunger here delicious Banquets met With vast Profusion on rich Tables set Banquets Divine not such as Mortals Eat High Dishes in long Pomp and Order stood Fill'd with choice Fruits rare Meats all Angels Food Ambrosial Juices sweet Nectarean Wine Ravish'd their Taft and made their Faces Shine The Sons of God thus chear'd dissolve in Joy Whilst his high Praises their blest Tongues employ In Joys and Triumphs so the Day they spend Such Mirth and Show the Festival attend Then when the Ev'ning came or what instead Of Evening there does in its turn succeed Glorious illuminations made on high By all the Constellations of the Sky In bright Degrees and shining Orders plac'd Spectators charm'd and the blest Dwellings grac'd Through all th' inlight'n'd Air rare Fireworks flew Which the Celestial Youth with Shouting threw Comets fly up with their red sweeping Train Then fall in Starry Showers and glitt'ring Rain In th' Air ten Thousand Meteors blazing hung That from Heav'n's gilded Battlements were slung Here furious flying Dragons hissing came Here harmless Fires play in a lambent Flame Such Universal Joy in Heav'n they shew'd And in such hallow'd Mirth the day conclude In such Delights they pass their time above And so shall we if like them we Obey and Love In all the Joys that happy Minds attain Blest Adam first began to live and reign He to fair Eden's Paradise resorts Where every Sense its proper Pleasure courts The joyful Spring by soft Favonius fan'd Diffus'd her Riches with a wanton Hand From new-blown Flowers luxurious Odours fly And Heav'nly Landskips meet his ravish'd Eye The twining Branches weave him shady Bowers And Hony-Dews fall in delicious Showers Birds with their Songs their Soveraign salute From Boughs that bend beneath their Golden Fruit. Pure Streams to him their Crystal Waters bring And the glad Fish leap up to see their King The harmless Beasts their humble Homage paid And the sole Monarch of the World obey'd Uninterrupted Peace his Mind possest And Joys unutterable fill'd his Breast He view'd his great Creator's glorious Face Clearly reflected from fair Nature's Glass On her bright Form he saw th' Impressions shine Of Wisdom Infinite and Pow'r Divine Whence all things as free Examinations flow As Streams their Being to their Fountain owe. Which binds fast Nature's vast unshaken Frame Lest it dissolve to Nothing whence it came Whilst in his Thoughts the pleasing Objects Roll Fresh Pleasures Feed his still transported Soul His Eyes thus fixt the great Seducer's Skill Could not engage his Thoughts or move his Will A Day Serene smil'd on his Heav'nly Mind Dark with no Cloud and undisturb'd with Wind. No Guilt no Frown from Heav'n disturbs his Soul Calm as deep Rivers in still Evenings roll No Storms of Passion such as us molest Annoys the Peaceful Region of his Breast No boiling Lust swell'd the o'erflowing Blood To bear down Reason with th' impetuous Flood His spotless Mind knew yet no other Fire Then those pure Flames that Heav'nly Minds inspire O happy Man above description blest Had he maintain'd the Station he possest Upon the Crystal River's flowry side That winding did in slow Meanders glide As loath to leave the Blissful Place there stood A Tree that rose above th' Hesperian Wood Its Fruit seem'd pleasant but forbidden Food For he that with enormous Bounty pours On Man fresh Pleasures in incessant Showers That nothing can disturb his flowing Joys Unless Variety suspends his Choice Bids him not Eat the fatal Fruit to prove His due Obedience and his constant Love The grand Apostate for high Crimes displac'd From Heav'n by fierce Almighty Vengeance chas'd Till down th' unfathom'd Precipice he fell Confounded to the fiery Gulph of Hell With Rage and Envy sees Man's happy State Whence he for ever lost had fall'n so late Himself undone urg'd with infernal Spight And dire Revenge makes Ruin his delight That he from Heav'n might this fair Province gain That Sin and Death might wider Sway attain And he his baleful Empire might extend Conceal'd beneath the specious Air of Friend Does to Man's Choice the fatal Tree commend As such whose Worth transcends the greatest price The Flower and Beauty of his Paradise Pleasing to Tast but much more to the Mind Which those that Eat should boundless Knowledg find Then points up to the fair forbidden Meat Bids him be Wise and boldly take and Eat He tempts him with the flatt'ring Hopes of Bliss Great as his God's and lasting too as his This gaudy Scene of Glory charm'd his Eye And his proud thoughts at God-like Greatness fly The bright Illusion turn'd his giddy Head And with vast Hopes his vain Ambition fed Thus gazing at the Glory of a
God The Precipice was hid on which he trod The splendid Phantome now advances nigh And in his reach appears Divinity Which straight he grasps at and to hold the more Empties his Hand of what it held before But sooner might he grasp unbody'd Minds And with clos'd Arms clasp in the raging Winds The glorious Shadow from his Hands does slide Mocks his Embraces and defeats his Pride He Eat but did no other Pleasures find Than the sad Terrors of a guilty Mind His cheated Hopes can no new Knowledge boast But of the Ill he feels and Good he lost Thus fell lost Man straight troubled Nature moan'd And shaking with a strong Convulsion groan'd Ev'n Paradise look'd Sad the Herds repin'd And lofty Cedars shook without a Wind. The Roses fade the Golden Apples turn'd Pallid and all the Sick Creation mourn'd To the thick Trees in vain fall'n Adam made To hide his blacker Guilt beneath their Shade Close Trees may so their well mixt Branches spread That Sun-beams cannot pierce their shady Head But God's clear Eye needs not so gross a Ray His Glory sheds a more Illustrious Day But had he been from his bright Eye conceal'd The crying Guilt had to his Ear reveal'd Apostate Man that Voice to Heav'n does rise Loud as the Thunder-claps for which it cries What a black Train of VVoes and hideous Fears Headed by one bold Crime to Man appears The Serpent's Venom spreads through all his Veins And Sin 's Contagion unresisted Reigns A Death-like Damp shoots through his poison'd Blood And fears cold Chains Arrest the beating Flood A dreadful Face of Things confounds his Eye He cannot stay secure nor can he fly Black thoughts of Vengeance seize his guilty Heart And Conscience wounds him with her poison'd Dart. Amidst the Trees he starts at every Noise Grows pale and thinks he hears th' Almighty's Voice The trembling Branches make him tremble more Now feebler than the Fig-leaves which he wore Man's Soul by this rude Shock from 's Center driv'n Stands so a-skaunt and so remote from Heav'n 'T is scarcely warm'd by its weak Oblique Ray And has at best but a cold darksome Day Fall'n from its bright Etherial Seat on high Down to the lowest Regions of the Sky It feels th' attractive Earth's Magnetick Force And round this low-hung Ball directs its Course As when a Planet once all fair and bright Sickens and shines with pale and faded Light By some fierce Storm bred in its Bowels rent As Clouds are by the Thunder in 'em pent The mighty Orb disjoynted cracks and all The broken Parts in Noisy Ruin fall The hideous Burning Hull does floating lie And with the wondrous Wreck affrights the Sky Sometimes it blazes with a dismal Light And then grown dim seems lost and drown'd in Night Then sinking does the Starry Sky forsake Contented some inferior Seat to take Where Heav'n new moulds the Heap and from th' Abyss Calls forth perhaps a Moon or Earth like this So Man seduc'd by the Impostor fell From Heav'n's bright Coasts to the black Verge of Hell There he his Lustre lost and God-like Grace Shews the sad Ruins of a Heav'nly Face Where Peace dwelt undisturb'd and smiling Light Confusion now Chaos and horrid Night Black frowning Clouds and murmuring Thunder rose O'er the vext Region of his guilty Soul Fierce driving Storms and bleak Tempestuous Wind Beat on the wasteful Desart of his Mind Revenge Despair Grief Jealousie and Fear Have in their Turns supreme Dominion here Reason dethron'd must the Commands obey Of this wild Rout that holds the Sovereign Sway. Mean Time th' Almighty does his Summons send Thro' Heav'n for all his Angels to attend High in the Midst of the Etherial Skies A Mount of rocky Diamond did rise Insuperably steep and too sublime For the tir'd Wings of Cherubims to climb O'er-looking Heav'n's wide Vales and spacious Plains It stands and unmolested Peace maintains Here the Almighty's bright Tribunal stands Whence his Decrees are sent and high Commands Hence he gives Laws to all the Worlds below And hence eternal Right and Justice flow Hence Punishments proceed and just Rewards Hence Orders come to all th' Angelick Guards To keep the Peace of Heav'n and next secure On Earth th' afflicted from th' Oppressor's Power And now the Thrones and Pow'rs the Vally fill And stand adoring round the sacred Hill Adam's Rebellion they had newly heard And God's fierce Wrath in dreadful Signs appear'd Lightnings and Thunders issue from his Throne Lightnings scarce heard of Thunder seldom known Tremendous Murmurs and a mighty Sound Of wondrous Ruine from the Hill rebound T' express incens'd Omnipotence conspire Whirlwinds thick Darkness and consuming Fire United Terrors that with Fury broke From the blest Mount whence thus th' Almighty spoke The Man I made and with my Image grac'd And next to your Angelick Order plac'd Revolting to th' Apostate Prince of Hell Against my Throne has yielded to Rebel The Death I threaten'd now I must inflict So Justice bids nor is its Rule too strict You 're here from all the Regions of the Sky To hear the Rebel doom'd and see him Dye He spake and thro' all Heav'n a Terror strook The Sphears and all the Frame of Nature shook The Moon grew Pale the Sun all Dim appear'd And all the Sons of God stood Mute and fear'd Th' Almighty his Vindictive Arm makes bare Stretch'd out his Hand and did for Death prepare Mercy Shreek'd out and trembling on her Face Fell down and did with Tears his Feet Embrace Offspring Divine in Heav'n the most belov'd By whom ev'n Fate unchangeable is mov'd Her Looks so moving such Celestial Grace So mild and sweet an Air dwell on her Face So tender and engaging all her Charms That oft th' Almighty's Fury she disarms Her Language melts Omnipotence arrests His Hand and thence his Vengeful Lightning wrests Then thus she spake Shall the successful sly Impostor boast That by his Power the new Creation's lost Shall he thus Triumph in his impious Deed And all our Hopes defeat from Adam's Seed Must this fair Race be lost so lately made And Hell made Bold your Empire to invade Adam has sinn'd and Heav'n's high Grace abus'd But sinn'd betray'd and by Hell's Fraud seduc'd Can't Wisdom Infinite Expedients find To punish Guilt and yet preserve Mankind Compassion with stern Justice mixt will draw Honour to Heav'n's just Government and Awe All from offending the Establish'd Law At this the Eternal Son rose from his Place The bright Effulgence of his Father's Face His fair and express Image full of Grace In whom Divine Substantial Glory dwelt And who Almighty Life and Vigour felt Th' Essential Wisdom th' Everlasting Word The Universal Heir and Soveraign Lord. And thus he Silence broke mine be the Task To do what Justice and Compassion ask To rescue Man my self will Man become Assuming Substance from a Virgin 's Womb. A willing Sacrifice I 'll Death Embrace Justice t' attone and Ransom Adam's
Force appoints And with strong Nerves new-brac'd their wither'd Joynts His Breath oft cool'd fierce Feavers raging Flames And his sole VVord the deadly Poyson tames Round him in Crowds the sick and feeble throng The sick grow easie and the feeble strong Fresh healing Vertue he diffus'd around And dying Men rose leaping from the ground The Languishing reviv'd th' Afflicted cheer'd Took healthful Looks and smil'd when he appear'd Demons at his Command vext Men forsake And to th' Infernal Caves and burning Lake Their hasty Flight with piercing Screeches take Such Miracles did his high Office prove And Universal Admiration move Of all the chiefest was his wondrous Love He whom rebellious Men might justly fear In all his chosen Terrors would appear With Military Pomp and Trumpets Sound His shining Host of Cherubs pour'd around Arm'd with keen Lightning and the sharpest Sword That all his Magazins of Wrath afford To lay all Wast before him and Efface All Footsteps of Apostate Adam's Race He unexampl'd Love Attempts to win Man from the Curse of Death and Curse of Sin With Pity more than that of Mothers Hearts With Mercy 's Charms and Love's perswasive Arts. His high design was with his Heav'nly Light To chase away th' Impenetrable Night That cover'd this lost World and re-inspire Man's Frozen Breast with fresh Celestial Fire Th' Almighty's faded Image to repair That its bright Lines might shine distinct and fair To raise laps'd Minds to that high State of Love Of Light and Bliss the Blest enjoy above To pull all bold Usurping Passions down And settle Reason in its ancient Throne To break Sins heavy Chains its Slaves release And fix 'twixt Earth and Heav'n a lasting Peace The Jews amus'd with Worldly Empire's Charms Hoping some Monarch with Victorious Arms With Roman Pomp and Grandeur would arise The great Redeemer's humble State despise Inspir'd from Hell his Message they refuse Deride his Person and his Deeds accuse He that Supplies on all in want bestow'd Feasting with Miracles the hungry Crowd Finds from th' obdurate Hebrew no relief But with the Twelve Companions of his Grief He walk'd on his Eternal Purpose bent Scatt'ring his Heav'nly Gifts where'er he went Yet did unwelcom through their Regions stray From those ungrateful Cities thrust away Whence he had Devils and Diseases cast Him and his proffer'd Heav'n they from them chas'd At last his spotless Innocence traduc'd He stands before the Roman Throne accus'd On Caesar's King Pilate in Judgment sits Condemns him yet his Innocence acquits To please th' inexorable Jews he sheds Blood and Heav'n's dreadful Curses on their Heads That done he wash'd his guilty Hands in vain The Blood he spilt alone could Purge that Stain No Form of Cruelty his Foes omit They give sharp Stripes and on his Face they Spit Which now adoring Angels blush to see Not for its Splendor but Deformity To please united Cruelty and Scorn On 's wounded Head they fix a Crown of Thorn They dress him in a Purple Robe that gone His Blood with richer Purple dyes his own A Reed his Hand must for a Scepter sway Which with a Rod of Ir'n shall that Contempt repay They bow in Scorn before him whilst he sate A Pageant Prince the mockery of State What various Shapes of Cruelty are shewn Under and on his Cross he 's made to groan And yet he bears a heavier Load within The pressure of the World 's united Sin Stretcht on the cursed Tree his Body hangs Groaning its Life away in dying Pangs Forsaken both of Earth and Heav'n his Breath He wasted in the pains of lingring Death Whilst on his Soul the blackest Horrors dwell That feels the Pains without the Guilt of Hell The Barb'rous Hebrews for whose sake he dy'd Stand by and see their Sov'raign Crucify'd Without the slight Compassion of a Tear Scarce in the Crowd does one sad Face appear Their Insolence dares mock his dying Moans Sport with his Torments and deride his Groans Though solid Rocks touch'd with Compassion rent The more obdurate Jew does not relent For Man he Dies that Heav'n may be aton'd He dies the Universe afflicted groan'd Heav'n's Everlasting Frame shook with the Fright And the scar'd Sun shrunk back and hid his Light Thro' th' Earth's dark Vaults a shiv'ring Horror fled That whilst Convuls'd threw up th' awaken'd Dead Thin pallid Ghosts come sweeping o'er the Grass And howling Wolves Glare on them as they pass Hoarse Thunder Rolls in Subterranean Caves Chaos to hearken stills his Raging Waves Ev'n Hell gap'd horribly such was the fright And thro' the Chasm let thro' prodigious Night Night that extinguish'd the Meridian Ray And with its gloomy Deluge choak'd the Day Sad Moans were heard Shreeks Howlings Midnight Cries And Globes of Fire hung Blazing in the Skies A fierce Convulsion thro' the Temple went The Pillars trembled and the Veil was Rent The Heav'n's and Earth both suffer'd when he dy'd As Nature's Self were with him Crucify'd Down by their Sides the silent Angels laid Their Golden Harps and neither Sung nor play'd Their drooping Wings and Looks dejected show Sadness as much as those blest Realms can know Thrice the swift Sun his radiant Chariot drove O'er the blue Hills and out-stretch'd Plains above As oft the Moon had shot her paler Light In silver Threads thro' the brown Vest of Night When the Reviving Saviour leaves his Tomb And as new-born breaks from the Earth's dark Womb The Chains of Death shook off he from the Ground Do's with new Force Anteus like rebound He comes in Triumph from the Conquer'd Grave And this blest proof of Resurrection gave Oft to his mournful Friends their Lord appear'd And their sad Minds with Heav'nly Pleasures cheer'd He then the Plan of his wise Kingdom laid Who should submit and who should be obey'd To these he gave a Power to loose and bind And with fixt Bounds that Sacred Power confin'd He set the Rights his Subjects should enjoy Which Princes must Protect but not Annoy And by wise Laws fix all things that relate To the Support of his new founded State That done pursu'd by their admiring Eyes Born on a shining Cloud he did arise In Heav'nly Pomp Triumphant thro' the Skys The Clouds dividing in Obsequious Haste Smil'd yielded by his Glory as he had pass'd Great Michael Raphael and the rest that boast The chief Commands in the Celestial Host Great Princes Thrones and high Seraphick States With splendid Equipage pour'd from the Gates Sublime in high Celestial Chariots rode Far out of Heav'n to meet th' ascending God The Pow'rs and high Dominions with their Train Shone glorious bright on all th' Etherial Plain On a fair Hill that the wide Vale commands The numberless angelick Army stands Drawn up in shining Lines and Warlike Bands The Trumpets all salute him passing by And in the Air display'd the Banners fly And now arriv'd at Heav'n's Eternal Gate Attended with his long Triumphal State The blest Inhabitants due Honours
Potentates Crown'd Saints and Martyrs rang'd in glorious Rows Attend his Chariot and his State compose The dazling Pomp stretches across the Sky From utmost East to West and passing by The Heav'nly Orbs comes on descending flow Into the Airy Region here below O'er all the Sky Heav'n's mighty Army shines And here it halts in deep embartel'd Lines In bright Celestial Armour Clad they stand Their Swords of temper'd Flame drawn in their hand They mark a Camp of spacious Circuit out And cast up Crystal Ramparts round about On some fit Eminence they raise on high Their Lord 's August Pavilion in the Sky His bright sublime Tribunal here they place On which he sits with awful God-like Grace Such Flames of Fire wheeling in Clouds of Smoak Issue from thence as from Mount Sinai broke Array'd with Majesty and cloath'd with Light He Glory darts too fierce for Angels Sight In Hallelujahs they his Greatness sing And the shook Sphears with loud Hosannahs Ring Thus on the Throne the Saviour sits prepar'd To Judge the World to punish and reward And now th' unnumber'd Armies ready stand Grasping revenging Firebrands in their Hand And only wait their Leader's high Command The Signal giv'n a general Shout shall shake The Heav'n's around greater than Armies make Rushing to Battel or was heard in Rome When Conquering Caesar came in Triumph home Their furious Arms devouring Tempests throw On all the guilty trembling VVorld below They pour down mighty fiery Cataracts Flaming Bitumen and Sulphureous Lakes Red showers of fiery Arrows hissing fly And flashing Lightning flames around the Sky Fires from above combin'd with Fires below O'er all the Earth in ruddy Torrents flow Vengeance Divine wasts Nature's burning Store And drowns the Earth in Fire all drown'd in Guilt before The Heat dissolves the Fabrick of the World The broken parts fall down confusedly hurl'd Chaos restor'd does in wild Triumph reign And ruin'd Worlds his hideous Throne sustain Some great Archangel now springs forth on high And with the loudest Trumpet of the Sky Summons th' astonish'd gazing World to come To Judgment and the Universal Doom The dreadful Noise shakes Heav'n's Etherial Mounds And in loud Ecchoes from the Sphears rebounds In Ecchoes terrible and piercing Shrill That the low World with dire Amazement fill The guilty Fiends shreek out at these Alarms That in the Air fly thick in murmuring Swarms Their Prince himself trembles and dares not stay But spreads his broad dun Wings and shoots away They sink confounded to th' Infernal Deep Or into Clefts and hollow Mountains creep They find the fatal Hour's arriv'd at last That shall revenge their bold Rebellions past When to their Torments they shall be Restrain'd And lye beneath on flaming Billows chain'd VVhen Hell no more its Pris'ners shall release And Sin 's black Empire must for ever cease No less the dreadful Sound and awful Sight Confound proud Tyrants and their Guards affright What Horrour now distracts each guilty Soul In their sad Breasts what Storms of Vengeance roll How will they bear this dismal Scene of Wo Where will they stay secure or whither go Terrour Distraction Anguish fierce Despair Drink up their Vitals and their Heart-strings tear Ten Thousand poison'd Darts strike thro' their Reins And wound them with unsufferable Pains The Vulture bred within their Bowels gnaws And Conscience gripes them with her Harpys Claws Such Wounds such Stings such Pangs must now be born Of everlasting Death the sad Forlorn What strange Confusion in their Looks appears What wild Amazement Guilt and deadly Fears What howling Lamentation what dire Cries What doleful Shreeks and Yellings fill the Skies Besides the Trumpet shakes the trembling ground The startled Dead awaken at the Sound The Grave resigns its ancient Spoils and all Death 's Adamantine Prisons burst and fall The Souls that did their forc'd Departure mourn To the same Bodies with swift Flight return VVhose scatter'd Parts God calls together they To their appointed Meeting hast away The crowding Atoms re-unite apace All without tumult know and take their place Th' assembled Bones leap quick into their Frame And the warm Blood renews a brighter Flame The quicken'd Dust feels fresh and youthful Heats While its old Task the beating Heart repeats The Eyes enliven'd with new Vital Light Open admiting whence they had their sight The Veins too twine their bloody Arms around The Limbs and with red leaping Life abound Hard twisted Nerves new brace and faster bind The close knit Joynts no more to be disjoyn'd Strong new-spun Threds Immortal Muscles make That justly fixt their ancient Figure take Brisk Spirits take their upper Seats and dart Thro' their known Channels thence to every part The Men now draw their long forgotten Breath And striving break th' unweildy Chains of Death Victorious Life to every Grave resorts And rifles Death's unhospitable Courts It s Vigour thro' those dark Dominions spread From all their gloomy Mansions frees the Dead Now ripe Conceptions thro' the Earth abound And new sprung Men stand thick on all the ground The Sepulchers are quick and every Tomb Labours with Life and grows a fruitful Womb. But how the Dead are chang'd their Bodies more Unlike each other than their Souls before How monstrous foul the guilty Dead arise Each struck with Horrour from his Neighbour flies How much deform'd they look all stain'd with Sin Black and mis-shap'd without but more within Ugly and Fiend-like from their Graves they Crawl And on the ground like bloated Vermin sprawl And like them too their Bodies have their Birth From putred Damps and Vapours in the Earth So Serpents that entangled lay asleep From out their Beds disturb'd and waken'd creep They hiss and cast their fiery Eyes around And with their loathsom Bellies mark the ground For flight their poisonous Volumes they display And urg'd with Fear and Anguish hast away So this foul Brood are forc'd their Graves to leave And to the Ground their grov'ling Bellies cleave Earthy and Black confin'd so long to Night They dread the Horrours of the chearful Light Amazing change see some of these were they Whose Heads were Crown'd whose Hands did Scepters sway These did rich Purple and fine Linnen wear And every Meal fed on delicious Fare That hideous Thing that for a Covert seeks With hollow Eyes fal'n Jaws and ghastly Cheeks That monstrous Thing was once when kept with Care Proud of its Beauty and look'd wondrous Fair. Set off with all the Ornaments that please The Eye and pamper'd with Luxurious Ease But how the guilty Crowd wreckt with Despair With dismal Cries fill all the Ecchoing Air When they the Trumpet 's dreadful Summons hear And find the Universal Judgment near Back to their Graves the ugly Monsters fly And in those Coverts would for ever ly They call aloud for Death and wish they might Melt to thin Air be drown'd and lost in Night But when Blest Minds their Bodies meet no Pair Can look more Beautiful and charming Fair. The
Grace Thick Beams of Light stream out from every Head Each Saint does his own Heav'n about him spread His radiant Feet on pointed Glory tread Safe on the Shore with Pleasure they behold How the thick Waves are on each other rowl'd What Dangers of a strange amazing Shape What fatal Rocks they scarcely did escape They hear the Winds grow loud and turbulent See Clouds swoln big with Thunder in 'em pent With which the lowring Sky is over-cast Hang down upon the Seas that they have past Viewing these Woes themselves did once endure They stand surpriz'd as if not yet secure Amaz'd at all the Glory they possess Wonder almost suspends their Happiness They on so sweet and rich a Climate thrown Forget their Dangers now for ever gone Th' Almighty they enjoy at whose Right Hand Fulness of Joy and Life Eternal stand Down from his Throne as Light does from the Sun Rivers of fresh Delight for ever run With ravish'd Eyes they drink in Heav'nly Beams That from his Face flow down in Glorious Streams They gaze so on the Beatifick Sight Till they become all Intellectual Light So long they his substantial Brightness view Till they all grow Divine and God-like too So quick they feel the mighty Influx come The most Capacious thirsty Souls want room They widen and extend themselves to hold Those Floods of Joys that to their Breasts are roll'd Till they a vast unmeasur'd Bliss possess And strive beneath th' unweildy Happiness If but a Glimpse of Heav'n whose Glory streams Thro' the thick Clouds in weak refracted Beams Can please so much what Joys have those above Where perfect Knowledge kindles perfect Love Transports Ineffable their Minds employ Delug'd in Glory lost in Tides of Joy Here Innocence will all its Lustre show The mournful Looks thrown off it wore below Sorrows for ever banish'd hence repair To the low Guilty Regions of the Air. There no black Clouds of Discontent appear That spread themselves o'er these dark Vallies here No Groans are heard no Tears fall down the Face To interrupt the Joy of this blest Place No crossing Arms or sad dejected Eyes Seek out the secret Corners of the Skies If Course Terrestrial Pleasures court the Sense With such strong Charms that few can make Defence When backward Nature 's forc'd by Wit and Art All her delicious Treasures to impart When the short Days in all Delights are spent That soft Luxurious Asia can invent What are the Nobler Pleasures that transport The blest that reign in this Celestial Court That no Decay or Intermission know Debas'd when liken'd to the best below The Clouds all broke the Tempest chas'd away The Smiling Skies disclose a chearful Day They 've changed the Defart's dry and barren Sand For all the Riches of a fruitful Land Where with Immortal Food they ever fed And drink pure Pleasures at the Fountain's Head Hatred Distress and Grief are banish'd hence The sad Companions once of Innocence No dying Martyrs Flames or private Cries Of Innocents opprest disturb the Skies Here our Delights are mixt with base Allay We have at best but a Tempestuous Day Our Sweets are still attended with a Sting And great Enjoyments greater Sorrows bring Delights those Beautiful Illustrious play Around us and when grasp'd they glide away Here tempting Joys our fond Embraces fly Choice Forraign Flowers they only Blow and Die They shew themselves but will not with us dwell But like hot Gleams approaching Storms foretel Pure unmixt Pleasures on us never flow'd But Stream like watry Sun-beams thro' a Cloud But those above see no unlovely day Their Joys no mixture know nor fear Decay In those blest Realms they know no thoughtful Care Ever to Triumph is th' Employment there There no Vicissitude of Day and Night No Years or Ages measure Heav'n's Delight Time has quite finish'd and gone thro' its Round It did their Grief but can't their Pleasure Bound Its Streams here disembogued for ever ly Lost in th' Abyss of Immortality They no sad fears of future Sorrows know Compleatly Happy and for ever so For Ever We strive in vain to hold this Boundless Space Too wide and vast for Mortals to Embrace Our Arms may clasp the Earth with greater Ease And spread themselves ashore round all the Seas When Ages have their widest Circle run Heav'n wears not still its Joys are but begun The Heros here forget their toil and pain And in Eternal Peace and Triumph reign No more the Scoffer mocks their pious Care As Native Dulness and ungrounded Fear How different Fate he and the Impious Kind Chain'd in the dark Infernal Prisons find Near the wild Deep where restless Atoms fight And th' unfrequented Coasts of ancient Night Where Nature ne'er on Pregnant Matter fate To hatch warm Life and its straight Bounds dilate There stands the vast unbottom'd Gulph of Hell Where Sin and Death in all their Terrors dwell Beyond the Verge of Day these Regions ly As low and black as Heav'n is bright and high Horror and Night hang dismal o'er the place And grisly Forms fill all the gloomy space Dead Seas of pond'rous Darkness lie around And the sad Realms from Light 's grey Frontiers bound Darkness that blunts the sharpest pointed Ray And unannoy'd repels th' Invading Day The sluggish Air is choak'd with soultry Gleams With poisonous Damps and suffocating Steams That from wide Lakes of boiling Sulphur rise Laden with Groans and Everlasting Cries No such malignant Breaths such deadly Reeks The delving Miner that hid Treasure seeks E'er let out from a Subterranean Cell As those that break from the black mouth of Hell A fiery Sea burns fiercely all beneath Blown up and kindled by th' Almighty's Breath In flaming Heaps the livid Ocean rolls And scalding Waves involve despairing Souls The boiling Floods terrific Colours shew Some deeply Red and others faintly Blue These with the Shades contend but can't dispel The Darkness that surrounds the burning Cell Or if they do they dart pale dismal Light Worse than the Horrors of the blackest Night The troubled Whirlpool belches Burnings out And throws red Seas of Sulphur round about Columns of Smoke with spiral Flames of Fire Inwreatch'd from wide-mouth'd Furnaces aspire Hence the black Region is annoy'd with Fumes Stench Reeks and Flame that kills but not consumes So when a Mount hot with metallic Seeds In its rich Sides a secret Burning feeds Soultring within it casts up Pitchy Smoke And the dead Air ascending Vapours choak In mighty Floods the wide Volcano's throw Their melted Treasures out and overflow With glowing Torrents all the Neighbouring ground That lies beneath a burning Deluge drown'd Thro' all the Air the liquid Riches fly And Floods of Fire dash thick against the Sky All Hope for ever banish'd flies this place And fixt Despair sits Pale on every Face Grief Anguish Terrour Shame Confusion here In Forms more terrible than Death appear Here hateful Sin throws off its flatt'ring Charms And shews a Monster
Warnings tir'd his Ears in vain Persidious Councils only could obtain Rough Truth and loyal Bluntness gall'd his Ear That only soft melodious Sounds could bear His firm and loyal Friends though hardly us'd Look'd on enrag'd to see their Prince abus'd Though some grown cold ceas'd to lament his Fate For Will and Choice Compassion still abate Pity a Prince whose Virtues shone so bright Should let so dark a Cloud obscure their Light To him and us this Weakness fatal prov'd That Men suspected were imploy'd and lov'd So Carvil was Who labour'd after Octa's late Retreat To more than balance his with our Defeat The Traytor during all the bloody Day Found not the Means our Army to betray But when the Sun drew off his radiant Train And left the Empress of the Night to reign Then Carvil open'd his black Scene of Guilt Wherein such Seas of British Blood were spilt He by confiding Hands to Octa sent To let the Saxon know his dire Intent To give him Entrance to our Camp by Night Whither his Arms he did with speed invite Octa whose Arts and purchas'd Treasons won More Towns and Battles then his Sword had done So fair a Season offer'd not delay'd But straightway march'd our Army to invade Carvil mean time his Creatures had prepar'd To yield the Posts their Duty was to guard Revolving Cynthia with her doubtful Light Had now o'erpass'd the Noon of wearing Night When Octa's chosen Troops approach'd the Gate Where to admit their Arms the Traytors wait The furious Saxon straight our Camp invades Beneath the Covert of the silent Shades Their unexpected Arms our Men assail Dissolv'd in Sleep and wearied with their Toil. What Carnage now the raging Saxons make Our Camp converted to a bloody Lake They first the brave Dunwallo resting found His Cuirass Helm and Iavelin lying round And with their Spears transfixt him on the ground His generous Soul flew upwards with Disdain To be massacred not in Battle slain Morisso next with clattering Swords alarm'd Wak'd with the Noise but naked and unarm'd His Side peirc'd thro' by Horsa's Javelin fell Enrag'd he should his Life so cheaply sell. Then Offa's Spear peirc'd Capor's Bosome through His Soul to Heav'n thro the wide Passage flew Leaving his Body drown'd in purple Gore None serv'd his Prince or lov'd his Country more Edwal a Leader of unblemish'd Fame Who from the Banks of fair Sabrina came Fell by Morino's Spear and by his Side Brave Adomar by Balda's Javelin dy'd Then Meirick in his Breast a fatal Wound Receiv'd and lay extended on the Ground Next Catel who excell'd in youthful Charms Was slain by great Romondo's conquering Arms The glitt'ring Steel did thro' his Bowels pass The Youth expir'd and with him Amel's Race And now what Slaughter reign'd what Heaps of dead What Ruin o'er the blood Camp was spread Thro' the brown Shades at last they found the way To the Pavilion where King Uter lay Who soon awaken'd with the Clamour rose And form'd his Troops th' Invaders to oppose Long their unequal Force he did repel Till peirc'd by Cerdick's fatal Spear he fell Urg'd to retire Arthur our Prayer withstood Tho' faint with Labour Wounds and Loss of Blood We prest him our remaining Hopes to spare And not of Albion's Fortune to despair He does at last to our entreaties yield And with Reluctant Steps forsakes the Field We thro' the Wood retreated where the shade With Cynthia's Rays uncertain Twilight made When the succeeding Day declin'd we came To Alda's Gates a Port of ancient Fame Where we the Night in various Sorrows spent Now Uter now our Country we Lament Just Catel's now now great Dunwallo's Fate And faithful Edwal's fall fresh Grief create While our sad Minds endur'd so rude a Storm Entring the Room great Gabriel's God-like Form Mild Glory and Celestial day diffus'd Advanc'd he these kind words to Arthur us'd Now Albion sinks beneath the Saxon weight So Heav'n Decrees 't is so ordain'd by Fate But after ten times the Revolving Sun His Crooked Race has thro' the Zodiack run The Clouds dispell'd propitious Heav'n shall smile On Uter's House and this reviving Isle Octa shall feel just Heav'n's revenging Stroke And Albion's Youth shall break the Saxon Yoke Mean time brave Prince whom universal Love Attends beneath and Grace Divine above To Odar's Court with speed repair Go Albion's Hopes and my great Trust and Care Go Albion's Hopes with Triumph to return And Rescue those that shall your absence mourn That said his Heav'nly Glory he withdrew And to th' Immortal Seats of Happy Spirits flew Now the fair Morn smiles with a Purple Ray Clearing before the Sun the Eastern Way Whose radiant Train pours from the Gates of Light And the new Day does to new Toil invite We the Celestial Message to obey On a stout Ship that in the Haven lay Ready to Sail embark and hast away The Sky serene a fresh and prosperous Gale Sprang from the Shore and swell'd out every Sail. Albion's white Cliffs and Towers we quickly lost Standing our Course strait to the Neustrian Coast. Where when the Sun twice starting from the East Had ran his Race and reach'd the falling West We safe arriv'd at fair Cartinia's Port And took our way from thence to Odar's Court. Odar a Prince indulgent valiant good Ally'd to Uter by the Mother's Blood The barbarous Goths Incursions then withstood His beauteous Queen with Joy the Prince receiv'd Her Words our Grief her Gifts our Wants reliev'd Here we to ease our troubled Minds remain'd Till Arthur perfect Strength and Vigour gain'd Then taking leave we straight direct our way Unto the Camp where Odar's Forces lay And as we pass'd to mitigate our Grief And to our Woes to give Divine Relief From his blest Tongue such Heav'nly Language flows As did the greatness of his Mind disclose We thought some God-like Cherub to us spoke When from his Lips these high Expressions broke Heav'n's Offspring with divine Contentment blest Enjoy the Empire of a guiltless Breast Tho' spoil'd by prosp'rous Robbers still they find The large Possessions of a peaceful Mind Content alone can all their wrongs redress Content that other name for Happiness Free from Desire they are as free from want And from the Cares that envied Greatness haunt 'T is equal if our Fortunes should augment And stretch themselves to the same vast Extent With our Desires or those Desires abate Shrink and Contract themselves to fit our State Pois'd on their own unshaken Base they view All the Vicissitudes that Time can shew They like tall Mountains are advanc'd so high That the low Clouds do all beneath them fly Hence while loud Storm 's inferiour Seats molest They undisturb'd enjoy soft Peace and Rest. These Men that suit their wishes to their State And pleas'd still with themselves enjoy their Fate Whose modest Passions Reason's Nod obey Are greater Kings than those who Scepters sway They can the Triumphs of a Court despise And the
grown And Arthur led an Army of his own Ten times the Sun had pass'd his oblique way By turns contracting and increasing Day Darting to either Pole a warmer Ray. And now the British Lords who though opprest The Western Region of their Isle possest Whither retreating they remain'd secure And from their Hills defy'd the Saxon Power Encourag'd by his war-like Fame invite The Valiant Arthur to assert his Right To make a bold Descent upon their Coast And win the Regions back that Uter lost Ten chosen Orators were straight dispatcht The chief whose charming Tongue was never matcht Was the great Tylon whose Immortal Worth Raises to Heav'n the Isle that gave him Birth A sacred Man a venerable Priest Who never spake and Admiration mist. Of Good and Kind he the just Standard seem'd Dear to the Best and by the worst esteem'd A generous Love diffus'd to Humane Kind Divine Compassion Mercy unconfin'd Still reign'd Triumphant in his God-like Mind Greatness and Modesty their Wars compose Between them here a perfect Friendship grows His Wit his Judgment Learning equal rise Divinely humble yet Divinely Wise. He seem'd Express on Heav'n's high Errand sent As Moses Meek as Aaron Eloquent Nectar Divine flows from his Heav'nly Tongue And on his Lips charming Perswasion hung When he the sacred Oracles reveal'd Our ravish'd Souls in blest Enchantments held Seem'd lost in Transports of Immortal Bliss No simple Man could ever speak like this Arm'd with Celestial Fire his sacred Darts Glide thro' our Breasts and melt our yielding Hearts So Southern Breezes and the Spring 's mild Ray Unbind the Glebe and thaw the Frozen Clay He triumph'd o'er our Souls and at his Will Bid this touch'd Passion rise and that be still Wolves Tygers grisly Lyons did admire As Poets feign Orpheus's melodious Lyre Charm'd with sweet Tylon's Voice a Kind more wild More fierce and savage grow divinely Mild. Lord of our Passions he with wondrous Art Can strike the secret movements of our Heart Release our Souls and make them soar above Wing'd with Divine Desires and Flames of Heav'nly Love He still convey'd sublime Seraphick Sense In unaffected Strains of Eloquence Easie and wonderful is all he says Does both Delight and Admiration raise His pious Soul did in sad Accents mourn Britannia's Chains and Pagan Gods return But hop'd kind Heav'n would free by Arthur's hand Of Barb'rous Laws and Gods th' afflicted Land With the great Tylon young Pollandor went Fam'd for his Valour and of high Descent With these wise Galbut and Mordennan joyn Whose Virtues vye with their Illustrious Line Valiant Giralden worn with War and Age Does in th' Important Embassy engage Gisan was added a Dobunian Knight Bold in the Senate and as Brave in Fight Hobar Mansellan Cadel Milo Skill'd In Arms and Eloquence the number fill'd Such Orators they chose fit to excite The Pious Arthur and his Arms invite Thus Tylon to the pious Prince addrest And found the passage open to his Breast Britannia crush'd beneath the Saxon Yoke Does with her mournful Prayer your Arms invoke Enslav'd by Forraign Power Distrest Undone She sues for Aid to you her Valiant Son And hopes for Succour from your Sword alone Octa all Right and ancient Law subverts And uncontroul'd Tyrannick Power asserts His Lawless Will grasps Arbitrary Sway And British Slaves without Reserve Obey The sacred Bounds and Lines which Right and Law Round all those just and happy Kingdoms draw Which from the Wast of Tyranny they gain Where Uproar Rage and wild Confusion reign These broken down Octa does open lay And throw the goodly Island up a Prey To Furies that in lawless Kingdoms stray Britannia by the Conquerour ravish'd first Then giv'n to Priests and Soldiers raging Lust Wretched Britannia sunk in deep Despair Beats her white Breasts and tears her golden Hair Dying with Anger Shame and Grief she lies And Floods of Tears gush from her beauteous Eyes Which swell the silver Tide of mournful Thames And grieve old Ocean with the troubled Srreams Hear pious Prince how to the Neustrian Shore Complaining Waves roll the sad Treasure o'er How murmuring Winds wast o'er Britannia's Sighs Can Arthur disregard his Countries Cries With words like these and such a moving Art As can't be told he touch'd the Prince's Heart With so much Life he spake sad Albion's Moans We thought we felt her smart and heard her Groans Nor did the pious Prince their Prayer oppose But soon resolv'd to ease Britannia's Woes To Odar he reveal'd his high Intent Who Ships and Men and Arms rejoycing lent Supplying all things our Descent requir'd And heaping Gifts more than our selves desir'd Our Ships prepared with chearful Zeal and Care We went on Board and soon embark'd the War Our Anchors weighed and Topsails loos'd a Gale Sprang up and swell'd the Womb of every Sail. Old Ocean pleas'd our bounding Vessels laves That with sharp Keels cut thro' the foaming Waves Th' astonish'd Saxons see and fear from far The long Succession of the Sailing War They spread thro' all the Isle the loud Alarm And trembling Octa hasts his Men to Arm. We Sail'd not long before the Sea ran high And gathering Clouds deform'd the lowring Sky The fearful Storm arose wherein we lost Th' extinguish'd Day and on the Billows tost We drove till forc'd upon th' Armoric Coast. He ceas'd and now the Shades of wearing Night Did the pleas'd Audience to their Rest invite Prince Arthur BOOK V. LOvely Aurora makes a mild Essay With glimm'ring Dawn to introduce the Day Her rosie Steps the Sun pursues and Spreads His smiling Glories on the Mountains Heads The Princes rose and Hoel thus exprest His friendly Passion to his Royal Guest Your Virtues shew you are by Heav'n design'd A great Deliv'rer of opprest Mankind You give to Realms with Wars molested Peace And from their Chains tormented Slaves release Fair Liberty's and blest Religion's Cause Reviving Hopes from your Protection draws Your prosp'rous Arms invading Plagues repel And monstrous Gods and monstrous Tyrants quell King Odar's Realm and mine you save in his You settle Peace and Truth divine in this And now compassion arms your valiant Hand To free from barbarous Rage your native Land To vanquish Pagan Darkness and display Immortal Light and pure Etherial Day My self will here abide and Succours lend O'er all the Realm Christ's Empire to extend Conan my Son shall on your Triumphs wait And when return'd your glorious Deeds relate I 'll now command that with incessant Care My Men assist your Losses to repair Then I 'll conduct you to the Druids Grove Which Men of heav'nly Contemplation love Where solemn Walks and awful shade invite Compos'd Devotion and Divine Delight Exclude the Sun's to let in purer Light There with your pious Conversation blest New Light will fill my Mind new Joy my Breast The Orders giv'n the Navy's Wants requir'd The Princes to the Druids Grove retired Where Arthur's Language did the King inspire With holy Transports
Masts bend more With Britons Breath than with the Winds before The joyful Britons and their Friends debark And near the Shore a spacious Camp they mark The pious Prince at a fair Castle staid That Malgo the Dimetian Lord obey'd Now her brown Wings the silent Night displays Light sprinkled o'er with Cynthia's silver Rays Silence and Darkness all to Rest invite And sleep's soft Chains make fast the Gates of Light Prince Arthur sleeps by Summons from on high From trembling Joynts his active Spirits fly To the round Palace of th' Immortal Soul And thro' the Rooms and dark Apartments roll The busie Crowd fills all the labouring Brain Bright Fancy's Work-house where close Cells contain Of Forms and Images an endless Train Which thither thro' the waking Senses glide And in fair Mem'ry's Magazine abide Compos'd of these light Scenes and Shows appear That still employ the restless Theater Divinely mov'd the Airy Figures take Their several Ranks and this bright Vision make Prince Arthur on a verdant Eminence Conversing with King Uter stood from whence He views with wondring Eyes great Lords and States Crown'd Heads Victorious Princes Potentates Heros and Heroines a glorious Train That in long Order fill'd the subject Plain Prince Arthur on the Royal Scene intent Demands what this August Assembly meant For what end thither come and who they were That at th' Illustrious Congress did appear King Uter then reply'd Know pious Son That after various bloody Battels won You Beauteous Ethelina shall espouse The fairest Branch of all King Octa's house A Christian Princess of a Pagan Line Whose Virtues equal with her Beauty shine You shall Triumphant mount the British Throne Which has not yet so great a Monarch known Swell not with Pride th' Imperial Seat you gain Brings envy'd Honour but unenvy'd Pain Your People rule with equal Laws and know You 're happy when you make your Subjects so Let them a Good Indulgent Father find Be mercifully Just severely Kind Let your bright Virtues Imitators draw Glorious Examples have more Force then Law Seek not an uncontroll'd and lawless Sway Subjects from Love but Slaves from Fear obey And whom the People fear they quickly hate Which Passions in their Prince the like Create Hence mutual Jealousies and deep Designs Hence strong Distrust the mould'ring State disjoyns Diffusing good on all Mankind you 'll show You imitate Heav'n's Government below The Benefactor will most Honour bring And the Deliverer's greater than the King Believe no Foreign hostile Power can move Your Throne supported by your Subjects Love The bright Assembly that surrounds the Hill And with their Numbers all the Vally fill Are Albion's Hero's who in future days Their own and Albion's Name to Heav'n shall raise The Regal Orders that the rest outshine With glittering Crowns are the Imperial Line That after you on Albion's Throne shall sit Their Names in Fate 's Eternal Volumes writ The Kings that in the foremost Rank appear Who frowning and unpleasant Aspects were Whose waning Crowns with faded Lustre shine Shall after you succeed first Constantine Conanus and the rest of British Line These look not with their Native Splendour bright But dimly shine with delegated Light Heroick Deeds by great Forefathers done Cast all their Glory on them not their own To narrow Bounds their scanty Empire shrinks And Britons Grandeur with their Virtue sinks At last their Crimes offended Heav'n provoke To Crush their Nation with the Saxon Yoke Here Arthur sigh'd that his degenerate Race Should with inglorious Deeds their Stock debase When Uter cry'd Observe the Saxon Line Where mighty Kings the British Rank outshine Crowns on their Heads and Scepters in their Hand All great in War and born for high Command Their Arms the British Empire shall Assail And aided by the Britons Crimes prevail This mighty Nation quickly shall believe The Christians God and Heav'nly Light receive That 's Ethelbert the first of Saxon Race That shall pure Faith and Truth Divine embrace He shall destroy in their own Temples Flames Their sensless Gods of barb'rous Northern Names In vain their Priests on helpless Idols call They and their Groves by the same Axes fall Fragments of broken Altars and the spoil Of ruin'd Gods fill all th' applauding Isle All shall adore the great mysterious King And of his Cross the glorious Triumphs sing The Spring of Life gilded with Heav'nly Beams Purge guilty Minds with pure Baptismal Streams From hence the Light shall break that shall dispell The Pagan Shades that on the Saxons dwell Proud Lucifer subdu'd flies in despair With all th' Infernal Powers about the Air That with their broad extended Wings retreat To seek a safe and unmolested Seat To fix on Scythian Hills their gloomy Throne Or on the Sands fry'd by the burning Zone As when the Storks prepare to change their Clime The long-neck'd Nation in the Air sublime Wheeling and towring up in Circles fly And with their cackling Cries disturb the Sky In lingring Clouds they hang and Leisure give For all their feather'd People to arrive To th' Airy Rendezvous all hast away And their known Leaders noisy Call obey Then thro' the Heav'ns their trackless Flight they take And for new Worlds their present Seats forsake So here the Fiends assembled in the Air Quit Albion's Soil and to wild Lands repair Remark that Prince that in the midst appears Seven bright imperial Diadems he wears That 's the great Egbert whose heroick Might Shall the dismember'd Island reunite His Arms shall give him universal Sway And all the Saxons shall his Power obey See there the great Northumberian Monarch stands Edwine his Name that all the Isle commands A happy Prince if his good Angel's Art Diverts the Mercian Ruffian 's bloody Dart. Saxons and Britons shall obey his Arms Himself the lovely Ethelburga Charms Her beauteous Eyes the mighty Monarch fire Her Words his Soul with Christian Flames inspire Blest Ethelburga of unrival'd Worth That plants Religion in the barren North. See Alfred there all shall his Praises sing A pious Souldier and an humble King Hero and Bard able in lofty Verse His own great Deeds and Triumphs to reherse Obey'd by all his unresisted Arms Shall to their Coasts repel the Danish Swarms Into the Seas swept by his potent Hand Those Northern Locusts leave th' afflicted Land The People his wife Laws shall cultivate Form their rude Minds and smooth th' unpolish'd State Upon the Verdant Plain where Isis Streams Hast to th' Embraces of her Sister Thames This mighty Prince shall a fam'd Empire Found Where Learning sits with branching Laurels Crown'd Where sacred Arts with all their Letter'd Train In lofty Schools shall unmolested Reign Banish'd from Greece and Rome no safe Retreat They 'll find till setled in this Peaceful Seat Ages to come this Seat will Oxford name Of which no Time or Place shall bound the Fame Remotest Nations shall her Wonders know Far as Great Britain's potent Navies go Learning her Native growth
And with strange Purple stain th' astonish'd Vine For in this Age Just Heav'n shall cause a haughty Prince to rise Cruel as Lucifer and like him wise Heav'n's Laws and Power the Tyrant shall deride Breaking in Sport the Oaths wherewith he 's tide Th' insatiate Monster pleas'd with humane Gore And urg'd with Hellish Rage shall first devour His Gallick Slaves and with a merc'less Hand Spread fearful Ruin o'er his fruitful Land Raging with Fire and Sword he shall invade His Neighbour's Cities to his Gold betray'd No Spoil no Carnage shall his Fury cloy But drunk with Blood he shall around destroy Like spreading Fires or Torrents roaring down From melting Snows that all the Vally drown Like Hell he shall derive his chiefest Joy From the divine Permission to destroy Mischief and Ruin he shall Conquest name And from Destruction raise a dismal Fame Regions laid wast Orphans and Widdows Cries Proclaim his Power and barb'rous Victories So dire a Plague shall Heav'n permit to reign To scourge the impious World but to restrain The savage Spoiler shall this Prince employ Monsters grow up for Heros to destroy The valiant Youth sinking Batavia saves Their surest Digue against the Gallick Waves After opprest Britannia shall invite The fam'd Deliverer to assert her Right His Arms the lowring Tempest shall dispel That threatning Albion rolls from Rome and Hell Fair Liberty her drooping Head shall rear And blest Religion on her Throne appear His Reign fresh Life to Albion shall impart And teach her Sons War 's long-forgotten Art Britons dissolv'd in soft inglorious Ease In courtly Vices and luxurious Peace He shall inspire with a new martial Flame And lead them on to gain their Ancient Fame Now Albion's Youth polish their rusty Arms And once more Gallia dreads their loud Alarms Victorious Britons as of old shall come Laden with Spoils and crown'd with Laurels home He ceas'd but near the great Nassovian stood A Heroine by mien of Royal Blood Her Form Divine and Seraph-like her Face Where Heav'nly Sweetness strove with Princely Grace But a black Cloud on her fair Temples lies And on the ground she fixt her beauteous Eyes Prince Arthur on th' Illustrious Form Intent Ask'd who she was and what the Sadness meant That her dejected Eyes did overspread What the thick Mist that hover'd round her Head King Uter with Reluctance thus replies While flowing Tears gush'd from his mournful Eyes Ah Son demand no more their Fates to know That must produce such universal Woe Telling that Offspring's Story I reveal A Scene of Grief I labour'd to conceal This Wonder to the World as soon as shown Is taken up to her Celestial Throne Ah! what sad Accents what a mournful Cry What lamentable Sounds will fill the Sky When her high Herse shall from her Palace go Thro' weeping Throngs in all the Pomp of Woe So sad a Cry did wondring Nile affright When Egypt's first-born Youth were slain by Night What Strains of Sorrow will Augusta show What Floods of Tears sad Thamisis will flow Into thy Stream while gliding by the Dome Where fresh erected stands her lofty Tomb. Son mind her Presence what a God-like Air What Throngs of Graces in her Eyes appear No nobler Genius no well fashion'd Mind E'er took a Turn more happily design'd From an Etherial Mould more labour'd and refin'd Mild as the blest above without serene As Eden's Air and calm as Heav'n within No lovelyer Star adorns the British Sphear Ah! might she longer in her Orb appear That her Celestial Influence might Flow In chearing Streams on all the Isle below New warmth to Albion her kind Beams afford To Albion guarded as before restor'd By the Nassovian Angel's flaming Sword My fairest Offspring ah her rigid Doom She shall Maria be Come quickly come Bring me white Lillies Roses newly blown Lillies and Roses like Maria's own These on her Herse I 'll scatter and perfume With od'rous Herbs and Flowers the precious Tomb. Let me my Sorrow thus express 't is true A fruitless Deed but all that Love can do The Tides of Grief that here swell'd Arthur's Breast Broke Sleeps soft Fetters and dissolv'd his Rest. The Airy Objects that without did wait Now rush in by the Senses open Gate His waking Thought the wondrous Scene reviews And various Passions in his Mind renews Prince Arthur BOOK VI. NOw in the East the Saffron Morn arose And call'd the Lab'rer from his soft repose Thro' all the Region flew Loquacious Fame And the glad tydings spread where'er she came Prince Arthur's Landed is the general Cry Straight to their Arms the chearful Britons fly The great Restorer all prepare to meet And warlike Noise resounds in every Street His eager Friends impatient of delay Had long expected this Auspicious Day They knew he was Embark'd to bring them Aid And for his quick and safe Arrival pray'd Oft on the Rocks and highest Hills they stood And all around the Subject Ocean view'd With longing Eyes hoping the sight to gain Of Arthur's Conquering Navy on the Main And when no Fleet no Arthur they descry'd They chid the Winds and interposing Tyde With less impatience staid th' Ithacian Dame Till to her Arms her wish'd Ulysses came The Sestian Maid not with such Passion stood To spy her Lover cutting thro' the Flood The Zealous Men while adverse Boreas reign'd And from the Coasts Prince Arthur's Fleet detain'd When mild Aurora with her rosy Light Began to streak the dusky Face of Night Oft from their Beds up to the Windows flew And thence the Fanes and flying Clouds would view To see if yet more favourable Gales Rose from the South to swell Prince Arthur's Sails Anxious they look around but when they find Their hopes retarded by an adverse Wind Their Sorrow in repeated Sighs exprest They to their Beds return but not to Rest. Thus they expected Arthur's powerful Aid And such their Sorrow was their Hope 's delay'd But now at last the Prince's Fleet arriv'd Raises their Courage and their Hopes reviv'd The joyful Throngs Prince Arthur's Praise proclaim This every Tongue employs ev'n Children aim That scarce have learn'd to speak to lisp his Name Some praise his Stature and his God-like Face His awful Presence and Majestick Grace His Courage some and Conduct in the Field And think great Caesar's Fame to his must yield His Clemency and Pity some admire And all the Virtues that his Mind inspire The Actions of his Childhood some repeat In which they still discover'd something Great And now what they expected he appears The Hero promis'd in his tender years Others relate the ancient Prophecies Wherein was told a Monarch should arise Of mighty Power and Universal Fame That should to Heav'n advance the British Name Things weigh'd and well compar'd they all consent Arthur's the Conq'rour that the Prophets meant Some tell their Friends their Courage to support What mighty Guards surround the Prince's Court What Succours hir'd were from Germania brought Succours as
the Saxon and the British Fleet A dreadful day did on the Ocean meet By Arthur's side upon the Deck he stood Distain'd with scatter'd Brains and reeking Blood The Youth at danger unconcern'd appear'd And nothing but his Country's Suff'rings fear'd He leap'd out first on the Dimetian Strand And welcom'd Arthur to his Native Land Where taking leave he to his Country came To Head his Men and win yet greater Fame Devana sends brave Troops a noble Town For lofty Works and splendid Structures known Where once the Roman Conquerours did reside And envy'd not Italia's Wealth and Pride The bold Inhabitants on Deva's Bank And they who Danus and Merseia drank With those that had their Seats along the Soil Which Briny Riches gives with easie Toil Draw out and Muster on the Neighb'ring Plain Resolv'd the British Honour to regain Bothan their Captain was a Warlike Knight A brave Asserter of his Country's Right A noble but ungovernable Fire Such is the Hero's did his Breast inspire His honest Rage his Friends could scarcely Rule Hot for the Camp but not for Counsel Cool Fit to assist to pull a Tyrant down But not to please the Prince that mounts the Throne Impatient of Oppression still he stood His Country's Mounds against th' invading Flood Impetuous as a Tempest in its Course He not to Conduct trusted but to Force Unskill'd in Court Intreagues on which the wise And crafty Statesman as his strength relies He still expected that a loud Applause Should follow Brav'ry and a Righteous Cause His Country prais'd him no Britannick Lord Was as his People's Patron more ador'd And Now in Arms they throng about their Head None to the Prince such numerous Forces led The Coritanians that the Soil possest By fair Darventio's fruitful Waters blest And Repandunum where clear Trenta's Tide Do's into Dovo's silver Bosome glide Those near high Peak in heavenly Waters drown'd And in the Dale which craggy Rocks surround Their Zeal and Courage rais'd by loud Alarms Forsook their Seats and Fields and flew to Arms. These valiant Men that Fame and Freedom sought To join the Prince's Arms Canvallo brought Noble Canvallo who did with him bring The Majesty and Presence of a King Of lofty Stature and a graceful Air By 's own Sex fear'd and favour'd by the Fair. Th' Inglorious Pleasures of the wanton Court That drain'd his Wealth did not the Patriot hurt Fit for the Camp or Business of the State But soft Enjoyments Love to both abate Alarm'd with Publick Danger he arose Like a rous'd Lyon from his long Repose Arm'd and equip'd with gaeat Magnificence He mounts his fiery Turk bought at a vast Expence His princely Train and splendid Equipage Wher'ere he past the Eyes of all engag'd The Atrebatians From the happy Land Which then sublime Gallena did command Where winding Thamisis does bless the Soil The Wealth and Glory of the British Isle In War-like Bands advance to Arthur's Aid And rich Bertudor as their Head obey'd Who still against the Pagan Interest strove Rich in Possessions and his People's Love His happy Tenants and the Farmers round His Hospitable House still open found Each Week ten Oxen from the Stall he drew A hundred Sheep and forty Swine he slew Fat Venison Fowl and Fish an endless Store To feed his Guests his Servants and the Poor He to the Woods and Forrests was inclin'd To hunt the Fox and chase the flying Hind Pleas'd with his Friends and with his rural Sport He wisely shun'd the Dangers of the Court But for the Christian Cause and publick Peace He quits the Forrests and his Wealth and Ease His Helmet brac'd and on his Arm his Shield He march'd before his Troops into the Field And that my Verse may to his Name be just Of all the Lords Bertudor was the first That to the Camp his valiant Forces brought Tho' not inur'd to War and tho' remote The Durotriges from the western Coast Where the Britannick Ocean's Waves are tost Their Troops assembled for the Prince declare And march from all the Towns to meet the War From Dornavaria and the Seats that stand On Froma's Stream and wealthy Blackmoor Land From Vendogladia and the Tow'rs that rose On the fat Glebe where pleasant Stourus flows Sakil their Leader an Illustrious Peer Was to his Prince and to his Country dear He their Maecenas cheers the British Bards Learns them to Sing and then their Songs rewards So Heav'n to makes Men good does Grace bestow And then rewards them for their being so Him as their Head the Athenian Sons adore The Muses Fav'rite but the People's more To form great Men his Palace was the School His Life good Breeding's and good Nature's Rule To him the needy Men of Wit resort And find a Friend in an unletter'd Court The Poets Nation did Obsequious wait For the kind Dole divided at his Gate Laurus amidst the meagre Crowd appear'd An old revolted unbelieving Bard Who throng'd and shov'd and prest and would be heard Distinguish'd by his louder craving Tone So well to all the Muses Patrons known He did the Voice of modest Poets drown Sakil's high Roof the Muses Palace rung With endless Cries and endless Songs he sung To bless good Sakil Laurus would be first But Sakil's Prince and Sakil's God he curst Sakil without distinction threw his Bread Despis'd the Flatt'rer but the Poet fed His Sword the Muses great Defender draws T' assert Britannia's and Religion's Cause Orson their Head the bold Brigantes brings Subject of late to the North-Saxon Kings Now for their Liberty they boldly speak And thro' the Foe to joyn Prince Arthur break Osron's Example all the Region fir'd With noble Heats and Martial Thoughts inspir'd None in the Field did greater Courage show Whither he charg'd or else sustain'd the Foe Yet none more fit in Council to preside And in a Storm the lab'ring State to guide A mighty Genius of uncommon Mould As Caesar Eloquent as Caesar Bold He could th' unstable People's Tumults stop And a declining Kingdom underprop Matur'd by Age and business of the State The hoary Oracle in Council sate Where he the British Nestor was esteem'd And all his Language Inspiration seem'd This finish'd Statesman did the Prince perswade To pass the Seas the Saxon to invade And at his Landing quick Assistance brought And for his Country none more bravely fought The farthest Western Soil which with their Wave The British and Hibernian Oceans lave From Isca's Noble Stream far as the Shore Where round Bolerium's Head the Billows roar By the Danmonian Britons was possest And with King Cador's temperate Empire blest This war-like People at their King's Command Now take up Arms and muster thro' the Land The good King Cador worn with War and Age No longer does the Foe in Arms engage Macor his Son supply'd the Father's Place Whose Virtues equal'd his Illustrious Race To serve Prince Arthur and his righteous Cause His Sword the brave Danmonian Hero draws A beauteous
Throne Thus with a haughty troubled Look begun Thus far in vain all our Attempts are made To crush the Britons that our State invade At Sea they Triumph o'er King Octa's Fleet At Land Success above their Hopes they meet Octa defeated dreads Prince Arthur's Arms And sues for Peace by Ethelina's Charms If this should once prevail Britannia's lost We and our Priests must fly this impious Coast. Help'd by th' Almighty Enemy of Hell They yet our Arms escape our Power repel Then Monarch's War with vast advantage wage When Heav'n its Power does on their part Engage This sure Expedient's left us to annoy The Britons and their tow'ring Hopes destroy Let us provoke them to some dire Offence Which may against their Armies Heav'n incense Then the Seraphick Guards that round them ly Or else patroling thro' the Region fly Scowring the Hills and Vales with flaming Arms The Christians to protect from our Alarms These will displeas'd withdraw their powerful Aid And we with Safety may their Camp invade What subtile Spirit of seducing Art And skill in tempting will perform this part Then filthy Asmodai who Men inspires With wanton Passions and unclean Desires Whose leud Adorers stand before his Shrine Transform'd to lustful Goats and loathsome Swine Thus spake This grateful Province I embrace I from their Minds will virtuous Passions chase My stronger Force shall all chast Thoughts expel And Heav'n's weak Flames shall yield to those of Hell To solemn Groves and lonesom Hermits Cells Where boasted Chastity in Triumph dwells To Cloyster'd Monks Admission I command And can a Camp my powerful Charms withstand On me such chosen Spirits shall attend Whose Skill and Power will most promote my End The Gods of Riot Luxury and Wine In this Attempt shall all their Forces joyn Doubt not great Prince when we their Camp Assail Nature is on our side we shall prevail Th' Infernal Diet with his Language mov'd With loud Applause the wise Design approv'd Straight Asmodai attended with a Train Of soft Luxurious Spirits to the Plain Directs his Flight where the glad Britons lay With lab'ring Wings he mounts the steepy Way And quickly reach'd the tender Verge of Day In Companies distinct the Britons sate Pleas'd with their wish'd Success and prosp'rous Fate When to the Camp the Crew Infernal came Grasping in either hand Tartarean Flame About from Tent to Tent the Demons flew And midst the Troops their flaming Torches threw The wanton Fires about their Bosoms play And to their Hearts lascivious warmth convey The soft Contagion glides along their Veins And in their Breasts the pleasing Poison reigns Straight all in Riot and Debauches joyn Dissolve in Mirth and sit inflam'd with Wine The Captains Snore on Scarlet spread beneath And with their lab'ring Breasts contend for Breath Tables o'erturn'd and broken Swords betwixt And Dishes faln with Armour intermixt Helmets and Harness and bruis'd Goblets by A mad Confusion make of War and Luxury Acted with lustful Fires from Town to Town Commanders and their Men promiscuous run With Outrages and ravish'd Virgins Spoils The vicious Army all the Land defiles Whoredoms in Pagan Cities they commit And at their Sacrifices feasting sit Heated with leud Religion Lust and Wine They in the Worship of their Idols join Then to the Camp the hot Adulterers lead Their Pagan Women and avow the Deed. Th' Angelick Guards th' enormous vices saw And in Displeasure from their Camp withdraw All Hell with Shouts of Triumph did resound That Such Success had all their Wishes crown'd The Prince of Hell strait summons from beneath The chief supporter of the Throne of Death Vengeful Megaera she without Delay From Hell's Abyss ascends and in her Way Gathers raw Damps and Steams from noisome Graves And putrid Reeks from Subterranean Caves Where spotted Plagues first draw their poisonous Breath The Nurseries of Pain and Magazines of Death These Seeds of Torment and devouring Heats From whose Contagion vanquish'd Life retreats Megaera in compacted Hides dark Wombs For this infernal Purpose made entombs In their distinct Repositories laid Sad choice of Death she various Plagues convey'd Arm'd for Destruction thus the Fury Came And brought from Asmodai's a different Flame Then Wolves were heard in neighb'ring Hills to howl Th' illboding Raven and the screaching Owl Sung o'er the Camp by Night the Sun by Day Distain'd with Blood shone with a dismal Ray. The cruel Fury strait her Flight did take To find her Prince to whom th' Apostate spake Go glut thy Rage and let the Britons know Hell's Monarch is not yet a vanquish'd Foe Pass thro their Camp with thy accustom'd Hast And on them all thy deadly Treasures wast Strait did the vengeful Minister prepare T' infect the Camp and poison all the Air. Her Bottles turgid with imprison'd Death She open'd and releas'd the fatal Breath In livid Wheels the dire Contagion flies And putrid Exhalations taint the Skies The Region's choak'd with Pestilential Steams Malignant Reeks raw Damps and soultry Gleams Now with their Breath the hot Infection slides Into their Breasts and thro' their Vitals glides Their Lab'ring Hearts spout out the flowing Blood And fry the Limbs with an Aetnean Flood The raging Pest'lence chases thro' the Veins Retreating Life and drest in purple Reigns While other Plagues run colder to the Heart And thro' their Breast strike like a poison'd Dart. Rack'd with tormenting Pain some gasping lie Some only breath th' envenom'd Air and die Their Hearts with chill congealing Blood opprest Throb a few moments in their panting Breast Then yield and from their Vital Labour rest In vain for Help in vain for Drugs they cry Friends and Physicians come but with them dy Thro' all the Camp the fierce Destruction's spread Deforming every Tent with Heaps of Dead Mean time the pious Arthur prostrate laid Thus in a Flood of Tears dissolving pray'd Great King of Heav'n thy Arm thou makest bare T' invade the Britons with resistless War Thy glitt'ring Sword brandish'd with dreadful Sway Does thro our Camp with wide Destruction Slay Why did thy Aids the Shipwreckt Britons save From Rocks and Tempests and th' insulting Wave If we must only see our Native Isle And with our Dead th' encumber'd Land defile Th' insulting Heathen will Blaspheme thy Name And in their Songs advance their Idols Fame To their vain Gods loud Praises they 'll return And Hecatombs upon their Altars burn Spare yet thy Britons let some Reliques live That may due Honours to thy Temples give Let the Destroyer cease at thy Command And Death at thy Rebuke arrested stand And may the Crimes that Heav'n provoke be known That our deep Sorrows may its Wrath atone The pious Prince's humble Cries succeed And glorious Raphael with Angelick speed Descends his Sword of Flame drawn in his Hand To chase the fierce Destroyer from the Land A Crystal Vial full of Od'rous Fumes Ambrosial Balm and rich Etherial Gums His other hand pour'd out upon the Air To cure the Damps
and noxious Vapours there Megaera flies the bright Archangel's Sword The Plague was staid and Health and Life restor'd Then to the room swift Raphael Wings his way Where Arthur still devoutly prostrate lay To whom the Seraph thus Heav'n by the Britons daring Crimes incens'd Almighty Wrath severely has dispenc'd Your unprotected Camp it did expose To the dire Rage of your Infernal Foes Who by Divine Permission soon o'erspread Your guilty Camp with putrid Heaps of Dead Th' Angelick Guards return'd to Heaven complain'd That your flagitious Troops you n'er restrain'd Your Captains boldly VVhoredoms Riots Rapes Commit and yet each Criminal escapes Thus you avow the Ills by others done And their unpunish'd Guilt becomes your own Had your Vindictive Arm been first employ'd Heav'n's had not thus your guilty Troops destroy'd But now th' Eternal yielding to your Prayer Has sent me from his Throne with speedy Care To stay the Plague and make the Fiend retreat That spreads the Poison to her Stygian Seat Heav'n's now appeas'd may ne'er the Britons dare By their Revolting to renew the War The Seraph disappear'd and Arthur rais'd Upon his Feet th' Eternal Goodness prais'd Prince Arthur BOOK VII THE Prince of Hell that on the Mountain staid And with Infernal Joy around survey'd The Camp where Death did in sad Triumph reign With wide Destruction covering all the Plain Thus to himself At last I have prevail'd Against this Sect tho other Arts have fail'd Their Troops half ruin'd with the Plague afford An easie Conquest for King Octa's Sword I 'll break the Peace although advanc'd so far And finish their Destruction by new War Arthur prepare against the Saxon Arms 'T is time enough for Ethelina's Charms Heros delay'd and disappointed prize The Crown that got too cheaply they despise Pleasures the farther off the greater seem And Toil and Danger best preserve Esteem That service I will do by taking care To give fresh Fuel to th' expiring War That said he leaves the Crystal Plains of Light And to th' Infernal Regions takes his Flight There stands a Rock dash'd with the breaking Wave Of troubled Styx where was a gloomy Cave Flowing with Gore the fierce Bellona dwells And bound with Adamantine Fetters Yells Around stand Heaps of mosly Sculls and Bones Whence issue loud Laments and dreadful Groans Torn Limbs and mangled Bodies are her Food Her Drink whole Bowls of Wormwood Gall and Blood Long curling Snakes her Head with Horrour crown And on he rsquallid Back hang lolling down This gripes a bloody Dart the other Hand Grasps of Infernal Fire a flaming Brand. Treason and Usurpation near ally'd Haughty Ambition and elated Pride And Cruelty with bloody Garlands crown'd Rapine and Desolation stand around With these Injustice Violence Rage remain And ghastly Famine with her meagre Train This Savage Rout to Gallia now resort Drawn by the Fame of proud Versallia's Court. There these Attendants on their Master wait And with their odious Forms compose his horrid State To this wild Den now did th' Apostate fly Resolving all Bellona's Aid to try At his Approach the Monsters cease their Din And bow at distance with a dreadful Grin The Stygian Prince the Fury soon unchains Strait double Rage boils in her swelling Veins Then thus he spoke to Octa's Palace fly Attended with persidious Treachery And various Discord let thy Arts perswade That Prince the ruin'd Britons to invade Go raise new Tumults and dissolve the Peace For this high Task Bellona I release Charg'd with these dire Commands she flies away To the Superiour Regions blest with Day Near Peak's aspiring Mount and spacious Wood And the green Banks of Dovus Crystal Flood A wide-mouth'd Den th' admiring Traveller sees With thorny Shrubs o'er-spread and shady Trees That downward goes unfathomably deep Beneath the subterranean Vaults that keep Imprison'd Damps and Winds tumultuous Store And the low Caves where falling Waters roar It passes thro' the Bowels of the Earth And the rich Beds where Metals have their Birth Till it reveals the gloomy Mouth of Hell Bellona freed from her infernal Cell Thro' this dire Gulph ascends with hasty Flight And soon emerges in the Fields of Light The Air grew dark the Rocks and Mountains struck With Horrour at the Fury's Presence shook The Sphears disorder'd roll the starting Sun Springs from the Heav'nly Course he us'd to run The Moon all drown'd in Blood and blazing Stars Portended Tumults and destructive Wars Straight to King Octa's Court the Fury comes And Octa's Mother's Shape assumes Then thus she spoke From blest Elysian Gardens I descend To teach thee how to gain a glorious End Of all thy Labours and thy warlike Toil And fix thy Empire o'er the British Isle Heav'n has decreed that here thy Race shall reign And therefore has the hateful Britons slain With a destructive Plague and poison'd Darts Shot from above into their impious Hearts Not half their Troops survive make hast my Son Their Ruine to compleat by Heav'n begun Run then to Triumph hast to certain Spoil And chase the cursed Nation from the Isle You see how much your League the Gods offend Let not their Enemy be Octa's Friend They must not be to us by Blood ally'd Nor Ethelina be a Briton's Bride That said a spotted Viper from her Head She to his Bosom secretly convey'd The poisonous Vermin with infernal Art Glides thro' his Breast and twines about his Heart The secret Poison wanders thro' his Veins And warlike Fury o'er his Spirits reigns Hence straight-way to the Picts and Scottish Court The Fury and her hellish Train resort Where they to bloody Wars sound loud Alarms And make the barb'rous Nations fly to Arms. Mean time the Saxon Monarch raving flew About the Court and soon together drew The chiefest Lords and thus himself exprest It was resolv'd to give the Britons Rest The Land between the Nations to divide And that the Princess should be Arthur's Bride But Heav'n against his Treaty does declare And singly with the Britons wages War In vain we offer what they can't enjoy We spare the Men Heav'n labours to destroy Avenging Gods from their high Regions came Arm'd with bright Swords of keen Etherial Flame And fatal Darts of pointed Lightnings made And with sure Death the British Camp invade Their trembling Reliques fall our certain Prey Heav'n sounds th' Alarm and we must Heav'n obey Tho we by Sea their Power could not withstand Our Gods more potent are then theirs by Land Th' unfinish'd Conquest we may soon compleat Or from this Isle oblige them to retreat This fair occasion let our Arms improve To fix our Power and all our Fears remove He ceas'd and all his Captains War desir'd And sprang into the Field with Martial Heat inspir'd Straight Orders are dispacht for all to Arm And thro' the Cities sounds the loud Alarm The tremb'ling Husbandman his Toil forbears Fells his tall Ash and shapes long Staves for Spears Some sighing o'er their Anvils forge
Authum's Crest he dealt a furious Stroke The Saxon totter'd at th' amazing Shock And fell upon his Knee and while he pray'd And for his Life would many Things have said His sever'd Head off from his Shoulder flies And bounded on the Field his Body lies At a great Distance quivering on the Ground And Streams of Blood spring from his ghastly Wound As when the Summers Soultry Heats draw forth Th' exhaling Moisture from the thirsty Earth When scorching Rays the gaping Plains have fry'd And from their Banks contracted Streams subside If then a Fire invades a spaeious Wood Where Ancient Oaks have long securely stood The conquering Flames advance with lawless Power And with contagious Heat the Trees devour The spreading Burning lays the Forrest waste And sooty Spoils lie smoaking where it past So Arthur with resistless Rage around Destroys and loads with slaughter'd Heaps the Ground Next did the Prince at bold Edburga aim Who from the fertile Banks of Abum came Prince Unna's Son to vast Possessions born Broad Flowers of Gold his shining Coat adorn The piercing Steel deep in his Bosom sunk And Life's pure Stream at the warm Fountain drunk His Arms did next valiant Titullan meet Who fell and quiver'd at the Conquerour's Feet Osrick and beauteous Hengist next appear The first his Fauchion slew the last his Spear Next stout Eldanor did his Fate provoke And off his Head flew at a single Stroke And next he threw at Labert as he fled The Weapon struck him as he turn'd his Head In Gore and Brains the glitt'ring Javelin reeks And from his Veins a Purple Torrent breaks Mean time King Cerdic did around destroy And with thick Deaths his massy Fauchion cloy Him from afar the British Hero spies And wing'd with Fury to assault him flies Cerdic mean time undaunted did appear And forward step'd shaking his dreadful Spear Like one of Anak's mighty Sons he stalk'd Or some tall Oak that after Orpheus walk'd Fixt like a vast Colossus by his Weight He stood expecting his approaching Fate Lowring like rising Tempests from a far He rages and invites th' advanc'ing War Now the Britannic Hero did appear Within the Reach of his prodigious Spear King Cerdic curst and by his Gods defy'd The Briton and aloud to Odin cry'd The glitt'ring Arms by this gay Robber worn Great Odin soon thy Temple shall adorn Assist great Founder of our State the Dart I cast and guide it to his impious Heart Then from his vig'rous Arm his massy Spear Projected sung and hiss'd along the Air. Off from the temper'd Shield the Weapon flew Wounded Glendoran and Alantor flew Then his long Spear the pious Briton cast Th' impetuous Steel thro' all the Thickness past Of Brazen Plates rowl'd Linnen tough Bulls Hide And entring deep did in his Groin abide The fainting Saxon fell upon his Knees Pain'd with his ghastly Wound and trembling fees The Conquering Prince advancing to asswage By striking off his Head his veng'ful Rage Here the brave Lothar that had Wonders done And by his Arms Immortal Praises won For thro' the Host the loud Applauses rung Of mighty Deeds atchiev'd by one so young Transported with his pious Care to bring Assistance to his Uncle and his King Spur'd his hot Courser on and forwards prest Off'ring to Arthur's Arms his valiant Breast He bravely undertook th' unequal Foe To ward from Cerdic's Head the fatal Blow Then his long Spear he threw with Manly Force But Arthur's Buckler stop'd th' impetuous Course Th' applauding Saxons gave a Shout to see The Noble Youth 's excessive Bravery But to his Prince's Aid in vain he flies Who by his former Wound expiring lies And everlasting Sleep shuts up his Eyes But then the British Hero's Javelin fled At Lothar but it pierc'd his Courser's Head Rais'd in the Air upright the gen'rous Beast Gather'd his shiv'ring Feet up to his Breast Then springing strook them out and stagg'ring round Fell head-long with his Rider to the Ground A mighty Groan the dying Courser fetcht And on the Ground a breathless Carcass stretcht And here Immortal Elda shall my Verse Thy unexampled Deed of Love reherse Love which will universal Wonder raise And scarcely find Belief in future Days For whilst the British Hero step'd with Speed To take off with his Fauchion Lothar's Head Who with his Steed opprest and wounded lies Fair Elda rush'd between and thus she cries Before your fatal Sword takes Lothar's Life Victorious Prince hear his unhappy Wife Faln on her Knees she did her Helm unlace And shew'd the charming Beauties of her Face The blooming Looks of Spring and lovely Red Of opening Roses on her Cheeks were spread Her Eyes that sparkled like the Stars above Appear'd both th' Armory and Throne of Love Where thousands of alluring Graces wait And mingling Charms form Love's triumphal State Bright Ethelina her and all excell'd She the next Place in Beauty's Empire held Nor did her Looks less Admiration move While mild Confusion Sorrow Fear and Love With Beauteous Conflict for the Vict'ry strove A Shower of Tears flow'd down her lovely Face Which from her Grief receiv'd yet sweeter Grace At the great Conq'rour's feet she threw her Charms And lifting up to Heav'n her snowy Arms Aloud she spoke a wretched Woman's Prayer Great Briton here and my dear Lothar spare Since first his Bride within his Arms I lay Scarce two full Golden Months are stoln away Which in Love's Calendar scarce make a Day With Prayers and Tears and tender Words I strove And all th' ingaging Arts of mournful Love To keep him from the Dangers of the Field And when th' obdurate Man refus'd to yield About him my despairing Arms I flung And on his Neck o'erwhelm'd with Grief I hung I then conjur'd him to avoid with Care Your fatal Arms so much renown'd in War Away he goes and as he said adieu He touch'd my Life and my stretcht Heart-strings drew For still I fear'd that the heroic Fire And thirst of Fame that did his Soul inspire Would make him think no Dangers were too great Till rushing on your Arms he urg'd his Fate My conscious Fears this sad Event presag'd If e'er with you in Combate he engag'd Therefore in Arms I did my Limbs disguise And undertook this dang'rous Enterprize That if he rashly sought so great a Foe I might between him and your fatal Blow My Bosom interpose and in my Heart To save his dearer Life receive the Dart. Or if Occasion were to intercede As now I do and for his Safety plead I pray by all that is to Mortals dear By all the Gods that you and we revere Let this sad Object your Compassion move Regard his Valour and regard my Love Oh! Let his hapless Fate your Soul incline Pity his glooming Youth or pity mine Oh melt beneath divine Compassion's Charms Let not your Breast be harder then your Arms. Save his dear Life he of his Noble Line The only Branch remains as I of mine Christians
profess Compassion Mercy Love Sure such Distress should those kind Passions move Sheath in my Breast the Sword and take my Breath But Oh preserve this wondrous Youth from Death My self will to my Veins the Sword apply And to prolong his Life will gladly dy Hear pious Prince his aged Father hear Who thus entreats or would if he were here Oh spare the spring of all my Hopes and Fears The only Prop of my declining Years Your fatal Sword deep in my Bowels sheath And for the Son 's accepts the Father's Death If great Possessions or if Gold would buy His far more precious Life he shall not dy His Father will a mighty Ransome give And mine as much say but the Youth shall live Let us your Prisoners be in Chains confin'd The Chains of Love will make those softer bind There his dear presence I may still enjoy And for his Ease my thoughtful Cares employ Free from the Noise of War and anxious Fears I 'll kiss his Wounds and wash them with my Tears I 'll watch his midnight Slumbers and by Day My Love shall Solace to his Grief convey Let him be banish'd from the British Isle I 'll go and share the lovely Wand'rer's Toil. I 'll follow thro' the swarthy burning Zone No Flames can scorch me fiercer than my own Our tender Words the savage kind will move They 'll stand and gaze and wonder at our Love Th' inhospitable Desart will appear A flowry Paradise when he is there O'er Snows with him and Hills of Ice I 'll stray I know not how but Love will find the way If his sharp Keel shall cut the Foaming Tide In the same Bark I 'll on the Billows ride No stormy Winds my stable Soul shall move Or shake the strong Foundations of my Love But hurried with distracting Fears away And wild with Grief I know not where to stay And in a Maze of Thought I lose my Way Oh! let your generous Pity calm the strife In my tost Soul and save his precious Life Thus you 'll not only Triumph o'er your Foe But o'er your self and your own Vict'ry too Thus Elda pray'd nor did she pray in vain Her tender Accents did Admission gain To the relenting generous Prince's Breast Who thus the beauteous Supplicant addrest This unexampled Effort of your Love Does equal Wonder and Compassion move True Christian Captains are both brave and good Vict'ry pursue but not with Thirst of Blood Revenge and Cruelty we disavow And only just and generous Arms allow Go to your Tears your Lothar's Life I give Pleas'd with each others Love together live Then Cerdick slain on whom they trusted most A shivering Fear ran thro' the Saxon Host. The Britons now believ'd the Battel won And sure of Conquest on their Squadrons run Prince Arthur at their Head breaks thro' their Files And covers all the Plain with hostile Spoils The Saxon Troops dismay'd began to yield And to the raging Conquerour leave the Field Mean time the Prince of Hell who anxious stood And from his Hill the bloody Labour view'd Seeing the Saxon Troops at last give way Resolves the Britons Progress to delay That thro' the Angelick Guards he might escape His Form he chang'd to a fair Seraph's Shape A mild Celestial Youth he did appear Drest in pure Robes of white Empyreal Air. What once he was the Fiend seem'd charming bright Conceal'd in Beauty and disguis'd in Light Assuming meek and Heav'nly Looks he strove To imitate the loveliest Face above Then taking from the Mountain's Top his Flight Did straitway at th' Angelick Camp alight And thus transform'd thro' the bright Camp he went As an Express from Heav'n to Michael sent Along he march'd and slily looking round While unobserv'd a fair Occasion found Of passing thro' their Lines without Delay Swift as a Ray of Light he shot away He mingles with the fighting Armies where He moulds to various Shapes the thickn'd Air. In Sebert's warlike Form he did appear With Arthur's gasping Head upon his Spear Which newly sever'd from his Body seems So fresh the Wound so red the bloody Streams Britons he cry'd learn hence your wretched State See your Destruction in your Leader's Fate The towring Hopes you vainly once conceiv'd Are sunk nor can your Ruin be retreiv'd Whose Arms can guard your State now Arthur's dead His Life and with it all your Strength is fled Fly Britons hence and to your Hills repair Fly to your Woods and in your Caves despair Protected in your Fastnesses remain Stay not t' encrease the Number of the Slain Cold to their Hearts this Sight and Language went And thro their Veins a shivering Horrour sent Confusion and Despair their Souls opprest And their sad Looks their inward Wound confest Urg'd with their Fear their Troops began to fly And leave behind th' unfinish'd Victory Prince Arthur's Breast with Indignation burn'd Who from the fierce Pursuit reluctant turn'd To stop his Army's Flight stay Britons stay He cry'd and blemish not this glorious Day Whence this Distraction whence th' ungrounded Fear And wild Despair that in your Looks appear The Battel 's won the Saxons quit the Field And to your Arms a perfect Conquest yield Let not the vanquish'd Foe escape Pursuit Ths Vict'ry's yours stay but to reap the Fruit. While thus he spoke the Britons stood amaz'd And on their Prince with Joy and Wonder gaz'd Their Grief dispell'd their dying Hopes revive And joyfull Shouts proclaim the Prince alive Mean time the Sun declines and dusky Night Covers the Saxons and protects their Flight Prince Arthur BOOK IX NOw did the beauteous Morn begin to rise Streaking with Rosy Light the smiling Skies Prince Arthur rose and solemn Thanks addrest To Heav'n that had his Arms with Conquest blest Then rode amidst his Troops and one by one Their Bravery prais'd and Conduct lately shown Dispensing great Rewards thro' all the Host To those whose Courage was distinguish'd most The Britons in their turn express their Zeal And to the Prince the highest Love reveal The Heav'n's around with Acclamations rung And loud Applauses of the shouting Throng Then to the sacred Temples they repair In joyful Crowds to offer Praise and Prayer In low Prostration they the Soveraign Lord Of Hosts Exalt and future Aid implor'd Soon as their Hymns of Heav'nly Praise were sung High in the Temples they their Trophies hung Bruis'd Armour broken Shields and Standards torn From the fierce Foe the gilded Roofs adorn This Honour to th' Almighty Saviour done Prince Arthur to his Britons thus begun Thus far Success and Triumph on us wait And to our Arms presage a prosperous Fate Propitious Heav'n is to your Part inclin'd And still more glorious Vict'ries Crowd behind The vanquish'd Foe can't long maintain the Field But must your ravish'd Lands and Cities yield Chase anxious Thoughts far from your Valiant Breast And on your Cause and Heav'n's Protection rest A perfect Conquest shall your Labours Crown And your Victorious
shocks Charybdis shun'd she 's dash'd on Scylla's Rocks 'T is hard to give a Monarch Counsel where On either Hand such frightful shelves appear Statesmen in such a Case as this debate How best to save themselves and not the state But if my Judgment still I must declare I would at any Price compose the War And till a more effectual can be found This as a safe Expedient I propound Sore with their Wounds and sunk with ill success The Saxons strong Desires for Peace express This to obtain we must to Arthur sue And the first Treaty which we broke renew The Princess Ethelina's Heav'nly Charms Are only stronger than the Briton's Arms. She must be offer'd as the Prince's Bride This once prevail'd and must again be try'd But then you break the Promise that you made To Tollo who 'll complain he is betray'd Since hence to Peace our chief Obstructions spring I move that Arthur and th' Albanian King May by their single Arms the strife decide And let the Princess be the Conquerour's Bride If o'er the Britons we th' Advantage gain And Arthur by th' Albanian King is slain The Britons shall repass Sabrina's Tide And in their Rocks and Hilly Lands abide But all the Cities Castles and the Land That lie on this side Octa shall command But if King Tollo slain by Arthur's Sword New Triumphs to the Briton shall afford We 'll meet no more their Armies in the Field But all our Towns and conquer'd Places yield Those who shall ask it shall be wasted o'er To our old seats along the German shore The Cantian Kingdom still we will retain And in its Limits circumscrib'd remain This as the best Expedient I propose He said the Saxons murmur'd their Applause Then Tollo answer'd with a haughty Air Pleas'd with my Fate I undertake the War My Sword and Arthur's shall the Strife decide And let the Princess be the Victor's Bride This conquering Arm the Saxon Realm shall guard Repell the Foe and win the bright Reward For if the Foe does not my Sword decline The War is ended with his Fall or mine Th' Assembly rose and back the Captains went Praising King Tollo much but fear'd th' Event At the first opening of the tender Day Six Oratours King Octa sent away To Arthur's Camp who introduc'd declare The Measures taken to compose the War The Challenge Arthur heard with great Delight And readily accepts the single Fight Straight to the sacred Temples all repair Heav'n to solicite with united Prayer That Arthur in the Combate might succeed And vanquish'd Tollo by his Weapon bleed With warmer Zeal and with more earnest Cries The Britons never importun'd the Skies A deep Concern at Heart they all exprest And mighty Passions struggled in their Breast For if the Prince fell in the Combat all Well knew their unsupported State must fall Soon as the Sun had streak'd the Skies with Light Prince Arthur rose and Arm'd himself for fight Peices with silver Studs his Legs encas'd And Plates of Gold his warlike Thighs embrac'd And on his Head he lac'd his burnish'd Helm Whence flashing Brightness did the Sight o'erwhelm Like some Celestial Orb his blazing Shield Darted amazing Lustre thro' the Field And then he girded to his Martial Side His faithful Sword so oft in Battel try'd Thus arm'd the Hero mounts his thundring Steed Nor Thrace nor Greece can boast a nobler Breed With his strong Arm he grip'd his trembling Spear His very Friends tho pleas'd yet seem'd to fear And as he spur'd his Courser and advanc'd Unsufferable Splendour from his Armour glanc'd As glorious Michael when the Foe alarms The blissful Realms clad in Celestial Arms Bright as the Sun leads forth th' Angelick Host To chase th' Invaders from the Heav'nly Coast In such illustrious Arms the Prince was seen His warlike Grace was such and such his Godlike Mien Mean time King Octa from his Camp proceeds High in his Charriot drawn by milk white Steeds And by his Side Tollo appear'd in sight Compleatly arm'd and coveting the Fight His Coat of Mail was o'er his Shoulders flung And by his side his dreadful Fauchion hung Like a high Beacon lighted in the Air His Buckler flam'd denouncing horrid War In his right Hand he shakes his pondrous Launce And on his Steed did to the Lists advance The Marshals of the Field had markt our Ground Fit for the Fight and fixt high Pales around Which with arm'd Troops on either side were lin'd Their Spears stuck in the Ground their Shields reclin'd On either Side the Armies stood in sight Drawn up as they two were design'd for Fight Attended with his Heralds on the Place Prince Arthur first appear'd with Martial Grace When Octa and his Priests advancing near Raising his Voice that those around might hear His Hand devoutly on his Breast his Eyes Fixt in a solemn Manner on the Skies To ratifie the Treaty thus he swore Th ' Eternal Mind whom Christians do adore The God of Truth I here to witness call That if this Day by Tollo's Arms I fall We will no more Hostilities repeat But o'er Sabrina's Waters will retreat We will no more the Saxon State molest But in our Hills and snowy Mountains rest But if we find this an auspicious Day And by Heaven's Aid my Arms shall Tollo slay Then if the vanquish'd Saxons shall restore The Towns and Lands which we possest before They in the Cantian Kingdom shall reside And unmolested in those Bounds abide Then did King Octa by an Altar stand Rais'd with Green Turf and on it laid his Hand And thus his Idols he invok'd Irmansul God of Arms and mighty Iove Tuisco Odin all ye Powers above And you green Gods and blew-ey'd Goddesses Who rule the spacious Empire of the Seas And you tremendous Powers who all resort At Pluto's Summons to th' Infernal Court Ye rural Gods who rule the Hills and Woods Ye watry Powers who dive beneath the Floods By gloomy Styx I swear bear witness all That if King Tollo does in Combate fall The Treaty now agreed to shall be kept The Cantian Kingdom only we except All other Lands our once victorious Sword Won from the British Kings shall be restor'd He who shall Conquerour in the Field remain Shall for his Bride fair Ethelina gain He said and to confirm the Oath he swore He drew his Sword that by his Side he wore And with its Point did his full Veins divide And let out from his Arm the Crimson Tide A golden Bowl receiv'd the vital Flood Which Octa took and drank the flowing Blood Arthur and Tollo now themselves prepare By a brave Combate to decide the War The Martials Heralds and the Fecial Priests The Ceremonies finish'd clear the Lifts Then the loud Trumpet 's Clangour did invite The mighty Warriours to begin the Fight Both in their Hands grasping their pointed Launce Spur their hot Steeds and to the War advance And now the Combatants approach'd so near Their