sense and swords We are resolu'd to satisfie desire With all the comforts that it can require 81 Doth Loue quoth Logus with our selues begin It seemes not so for with your selues it ends Foes to your selues sith you are folde to sinne Yet will not see whereto that purchase tends To lose your Soules and all the world to win Is the worst fortune that fell Fortune sends O be indulgent to your Soules for whie Life died it selfe that so they might not die 82 I am that Logus which your Soueraigne Great sou'raigne Psyche gaue you for your guide Which you would ne'r vouchsafe to entertaine Though vnimploied I still with you abide I pray you then for your eternall gaine That now at last I may with you reside To doe you seruice which if you will vse I le make your life and death most glorious 83 Let not my plainenesse with you make yee plaine Of my sterne Course for sith I am the Sterne That rules the Mind I must her so restraine When Passions rise that she by me may learne The way to weale which she seekes to attaine Which she by my direction shall discerne Now if the Sterne resist repugnant windes The Bark to which she 's bound to her she bindes 84 Yee oft haue heard that Sores quite mortified If euer they be cured as they ought Must haue sharpe Corrasiues thereto appli'd Else one sore part may bring the whole to nought Then leaue your Gluttony your Lust and Pride Be sober chaste and meeke in deed and thought This must you doe and I must needes say this Except I should both say and doe amisse 85 Should I your Guide winke when ye go astray Or see you runne in by-paths of offence Else drawe ye further on out of the way And by all waies soothe vp your erring sense So should I like a traitor you betray Which would in time your Souls to hate incense O then let me haue leaue your Soules to loue Which least I do when least I you reproue 86 Repentance oft too oft comes too too late Though better late then neuer to repent But ne'r too soone can Grace it animate For Men beyond their birth are euill bent So yer they sinne they are in sinfull state For sinne in their conception's resident Then sith yer men Be whole it Is in part Repentance should take Being yer the Hart. 87 Time past is gone in it none can repent If in that Time they did the same neglect The Time to come although incontinent Is as vnsure as is that rare effect Therefore the present Time for it is lent Which strait is gone then doe it not reiect Sith so small time may all your time ingrosse The losse of it may be your vtter losse 88 But what auailes an Angells tongue to moue A fiend to goodnesse that by kind is ill From which he is resolu'd ne'r to remoue No more can Reason their desires fulfill Though with all reason he doth seeke their loue For they desire to liue corruptly still And thus with bitter taunts they do requite His loue that euer loues to guide them right 89 What ere thou art quoth they we know thee not Nor will we know thee sith we know thou art Repugnant to vs and thou seem'st a Sot To seeke to gaine loue by contentions Art Thou neuer knew'st or else thou hast forgot That manners like do still like loue impart Therefore farewell except thou worse wilt fare We are resolu'd in what resolu'd we are 90 So they to excesse fell excessiuely Sinning with griefe that they could sin no more Now they inlarge their Bounds of libertie Although it were but too too loose before Like Water they lappe vp iniquitie Which through thē ouerflows both Sea Shore A cauterized Conscience being checkt Becomes farre worse in Cause and in Effect 91 Logus thus cast from their societie Waxt passing pensiue as one desolate Because his Councell was no more set by And with their mother Phusis fell at bate As being assur'd in her the fault did ly That they from him so much did derogate Yet knew one Praxis Phusis follower Had made them worse then she them made by far 92 But by the way we should not do amisse To shew how Ladie Phusis was araid Sith shee the mother of each matter is Yer we do prosecute what Logus said For so her nature may be knowne by this As outward inward Things haue oft bewraid For though it seeme the Tale by force to part It s recompenced with Descriptions Art 93 Vpon her Head she ware a Crowne of Corne Like that of Ceres sauing that the same Was mixt like Achelous his plenteous Horne With fruits of eu'ry kinde which her became Her Haire by her was still disheuled worne Who naked was yet her hand hid her shame Or if a Vaile she ware it was but when She was to come among licentious men 94 About her Necke she ware a Carcanet Of eu'ry Iemme as it created was About her Wrists in Bracelet-wise were set The ores of Gold and Siluer Lead and Brasse Thus haue we made this Ladies Counterfet Who being bare as barely must it passe And now returne we eft to Logus speach Who thus to Phusis chidingly did preach 95 Phusis quoth he I speake with griefe of hart I needs must chide sith your fault it procures Because you haue not plaid a mothers part Touching the breeding of these Sonnes of yours I know you haue by nature so much Art As might make them obey their Gouernours And that you doe not it is your disgrace That kill your Children with a kinde embrace 96 You may perhaps suppose your selfe you cleere By saying Praxis hath abus'd you much In alt'ring of their natures which were deere For that from you they all receiued such Which could not be if you not faultie were For you might haue restrain'd them with a touch If then you had corrected Praxis lore They would haue bin farre better then before 97 Little do Mothers know what hurt they do By their indulgence to their saucie Sonnes They make them wanton and rebellious too For let loose Nature it to loosenesse runnes Till Soule and Body it doth quite vndoe For Custome ill good nature ouer-runnes But if the Mother be as Mothers ought She wil by Vse amend what Vse hath wrought 98 Phusis not being vs'd such checkes to take Beganne to kindle with disdainefull ire And like a doating mother she doth make A stiffe defence for her sonnes lewd desire Alas quoth she should they all ioyes forsake Which both their yeares and natures do require Or should they wear their days in wastful thought To bring themselues and me with them to nought 99 You are no friend of theirs if so you would And if not theirs then mine you cannot be For me and them in one
Loues Band doth hold Whom factiously you seeke to disagree I take their part but as a Mother should That her deere Childrens good desires to see For it a tender Mother doth become As life to loue the Children of her wombe 100 And are they not of flesh and blood compos'd Then can such mixture be aught else but fraile Or would you haue them otherwise dispos'd Then Adams heires that hold but by the Taile And flesh and blood to strength are still oppos'd Yet strength in weaknes gainst it doth preuaile Sith so it is my Sonnes may be excus'd That haue in weakenes powrefull pleasures vs'd 101 Now well I see quoth Logus thy fond loue Makes thee vnapt to iudge what 's requisite But how if their loose liues the monster moue Monstrous Gehenna to deuoure them quite For he loues such to eate as such do proue May you not thanke your selfe for such despite If Babes do burne them in a Candles flame Are they or those that giue it them too blame 102 These heauy words suncke deepe in Phusis minde Who as astonied at the same did muse Breath'd short in passion as if wanting winde Yet at the last hi◠Spirite she vp did rowze And askt of Logus in the kindest kinde What practise she to saue her Sonnes might vse I hate as Hell that Monster and I would My Sons quoth she frō him by force with-hold 103 Now Logus glad her nature had such grace Said for mine owne part I will but aduise Not deale with them sith they did me disgrace Therefore I councell that in any wise You hie you to the Lady Aletheias Place And there inuoke her aide with carefull Cries Who is indu'd with power will and skill To tell them of their misse and mend their ill 104 Entreate her who will soone intreated bee For she doth loue to satisfie Good-will To go vnto thy Sonnes of each degree And tell them of this Monster made to spill All those that liue secure in Pleasures glee And greedily their hungry lusts fulfill I will said Phusis but where doth she dwell Thou know'st deare Logus but I cannot tell 105 She wonted was said he to neighbour mee But since that Fraus and Dolus wicked Twinnes The World produc'd I do her seldome see For she from my sights reach so slily rinnes As though to her I were an enemy Or made prodigious through my subiects sinnes Who prosecute her with extreame despight That now she euen loathes to see the light 106 Shall I quoth Phusis on the Earth her finde Hardly quoth Logus being chas'd from thence In th' Aire or Water then or in the Winde Or else within the Fires Circumference Is she quoth she said Logus these by kinde Are mutable and full of difference Which she cannot abide for she is one And rather will then with such liue alone 107 Is she to Heau'n return'd quoth she againe That 's like said Logus but th' art ne'r the neere For without her thou canst not Heau'n attaine For all by her must come that must come there Alas said she how shall I her obtaine Sith I must haue herselfe her selfe to cleere For as without the Sunne none sees the Sunne So without her none wots where she doth wonne 108 This once quoth Logus I will thee direct The best I can but cannot as I could I oft haue heard and finde true by effect That she is seene about the Mansion old Of father Chronus which he did erect For him and her his daughter deere to hold Or Thanatus his Man who riddes away That which his Master bringeth to decay 109 Which Man and Masters habites we might paint Though we but Chalke Coles and Ashes had For Chronus clad is like a mortall Saint In skinnes of Beasts to shew how life doth fade Which of their age did seem to make complaint Girt with an Halter or with Girth as bad Vpon whose Head in stead of Hat there stoode An Houre-glasse as an Embleme of his moode 110 His Haire was white as was the driuen Snow And from his Head it seem'd to hang by drifts Turn'd vp againe eu'n as the same doth show When it doth hang so driuen vpon Clifts His Beard beneath his girdle-stead did grow Which platted in his bosome oft he shifts Whose right hand did a Sithe still mouing weld And in his left an Horologe he held 111 His Man hight Thanatus bare to the bones Was more then naked from the toppe to toe All hairelesse toothlesse eielesse stocks or stones Are all as quicke though he much more can doe And all he said I was as you are once Which was in sullen silence spoken to Vpon a Spade he leanes as if he did By his day-labour liue call'd Wincke all hid 112 To these did Logus Phusis wish to wend Which were to her the loathsom'st wights aliue And hardly thought that Logus was her frend Although she could not otherwise beleeue Sith her and hers she sought still to defend That would to her such wofull councell giue And with the water swelling in her eies She thus to Logus mournefully replies 113 Alas quoth she and to them must I goe To their most hatefull houses must I hie That are the greatest workers of my woe And faine would haue me vtterly to die What words can please a prowd insulting foe That holds in scorne his foes humilitie Then what hope haue I with them ro preuaile Who though I kneele to them will me assaile 114 What shall I say alas what shall I do To winne their fauour that will not be wonne To go to them I shall my selfe vndo For though I kisse their feete they 'l me ore-runne If not they 'l paine me and compell me to Both which if I do go I cannot shunne I am amaz'd I know not what to say If go I die if no my Sonnes decay 115 What shall I do deere Logus tell me what O happy were I if this feare were past There is no cause quoth Logus to feare that That no wight liuing can auoide at last The Stag the Rauen and the nine-liu'd Cat Must know those houses then be not agast But go on boldly with erected Front Where you shall see her liue in high account 116 If at the first you cannot see her face Their Porter Nosus will you soone direct Vnto her priuy chamber where her grace Will talke with you in secret in effect But see you bribe the Porter of the place With Calor naturalis most select So may you passe securely through each Gate That leades to this obscured Ladies State 117 This Nosus was a true Anatomie Though Thanatus be truely call'd the same Of mortall griefe or curelesse maladie Whose Head was hāp'red which him ill became With homely clowts tide as vnhansomly And with a staffe he went as he were lame
wroght Was borne by Iudgement her chiefe Officer Then Contemplation held her as she ought By the right Arme so that she could not steere Frō those right waies whereon before she thoght And double-Diligence before did cleere The outward Senses her Purueiours were To whom the Common-sense was Treasorer 63 Thus were these two attended and araid Which I haue thus described by the way And now to prosecute what Logus said From thence where I before did make him stay Quoth hee what meane ye thus to be betraid By sinfull Sense which seekes but your decay You are to seeke to know her Fallacies But know them not by seeking in this wise 64 How neere to temporall and eternall death You are God wot ye wot not ne yet care Not weying how worlds weale wastes with your breath And that your breaths within your nostrills are Which to the Aire you must of force bequeath Perhaps forthwith at least ere ye beware If temp'rall death attach ye in this plight Your temp'rall daies will turne t'eternall night 65 To yong and old Death is indifferent The Court and Cottage he frequents alike Yet of the twaine he Courts doth more frequent And loues those that do mind him least to strike He wounds the lustfull vaine and insolent With their owne weapons quickly to the quicke For euer he doth enuy lifes delight And makes the same most subiect to his might 66 How can vaine pleasures please men hauing sense To feele the sweete and sowre of sinne and grace For if they feele the sting of Conscience All pleasures of the flesh will giue it place That grieues the Will that grieues th' Intelligence Which take no pleasure in their owne disgrace But still the lusts offraile flesh to fulfill Is to disgrace Intelligence and Will 67 The obiect of the Will is perfect Good Which the Intelligence to her presents That neuer yet was found in roiall food In dainty Dames or regall gouernments By Vnderstanding these are vnderstood To yeeld but short and counterfet Contents If so they do how madde are they the while That giue their pretious Soules for things so vile 68 The wisest yet that euer breath'd this Aire Of sinfull race who in his wisedomes might Made proofe of all that was sweet great or faire Yea of all pleasures which the sense delight Said of them all like Wisedoms truest Heire They were than skumme of Vanitie more light If such great Wisedome found them to be such They are much more thē fools that loue thē much 69 Aske eu'ry sense what pleasure they doe proue In all their obiects they must needes replie Sith consciēce knows it nought to gaine our loue For we loue nought but what we good do trie But Proofe these pleasures doe in fine reproue Sith they no sooner liue but sooner die For Triall knowing them to be but vaine Kills their delight ere we it entertaine 70 And Crownes are Hiues where stinging cares do swarme Pomp's but the White whereat fell Enuy shoots which are as trees whēce groes their owners harm Harms are the fruit crowns flours kīgdōs roots The Arme of flesh is but a feeble Arme And in such strong Extreames it little bootes He knowes not yet the nature of a Crowne That knows not none may call the same his owne 71 What bootes a purple Robe when purple blood Doth issue from the wofull wearers hart And of such issue there 's more likelihood Then issue of his loines to take his part For oft such issue doth him little good Who conquer Nature by the aide of Arte They learne by Arte weake Nature to command When Crowns betwixt the Sire Son doe stand 72 Sou'raignes are subiect to extreame despight For lo a Dog sometimes supplide their place A King of Norway conquering in fight The King of Swethland for the more disgrace Did make a Dog their King to shew his spight And made thē neere him that were neere as bace Then are they worse then dogges that damne their soules To catch a kingdom that a dog cōtroules 73 What ioy can be accompanied with feare Sith that companion doth all ioy confound But terrene ioyes about with them do beare An hell of feare wherein true Hell is found For where 's vnsuretie feare must needs be there And all 's vnsure that surgeth from the ground Of this vast Sea of extreame miserie True Antitype of true felicitie 74 Besides no pompe how euer glorious No ioy or pleasure if sublunarie But brings sacietie soone with their vse As they best know that haue best meanes to trie And none haue right ioy but the righteous For ne'r doth saciate their felicitie Which doth content Desire and Feare exclude Which is the summe of true Beatitude 75 Then if my power ore your Soueraigne If my words rules of Reason can perswade Vaine pleasures fly throgh which ye fly to paine Which still haue marr'd but neuer any made Containe your selues and you shall ioy containe If you be good then glorious is your trade For nought is great on Earth but that great hart That scornes all ioyes by Nature bred or Art 76 Rouze vp your selues shake off this sloth of sprite Put on the mind that men of mind becomes Away with all effeminate delight That none but worse then women ouercomes Shew your selues men of strength in Frailties spite For graceles ioyes possesse but graceles groomes O t is Dominion in the high'st degree When men to Reasons rules obedient bee 77 Hereat their Conscience touched to the quicke Beganne halfe fainting inwardly to bleede No pricke more mortal then the consciēce pricke It makes our faith to faint and kills our Creede Yet frozen in their dregges therein they sticke Without all feeling that which must succeede And with hard harts thogh said for their behoofs They Logus thus reprooue for his reproofes 78 What wight art thou presumptuous that thou art That com'st to Councell yer thou called bee By what pow'r dost thou this by what desart Think'st thou we all should be controld by thee We know no pow'r thou hast nor wit nor Art To take the guidance of our actions free Being a meere stranger to vs and our state Yet dost from either more then derogate 79 Thou would'st bee taught that thus presum'st to teach To know good maners persons time and place These circūstances they should know that preach Or else they may disgrace their Sermons grace And those that liue by preaching do beseech Not sharply checke which tendeth to disgrace Then think we o're our passions haue great powre That giue thee sweet aduice for cheeke so sowre 80 You may be gon we need no councellors That breathe out worse thē wormwood with their words We are twice seau'n and our owne gouernors Your proffred seruice no good sent affords We are the highest Powres Compettitors And fight for pleasure with our
foure-fold wreath'd about A shallow Cambricke Ruffe with Sets precise Clos'd with a button'd string that still hung out Wherewith he plai'd while he did Plottes deuise To gull the Multitude and rule the Rout His Sute was Satten pinckt and laced thicke As fit as faire without each peeuish tricke 14 His Cloke cloth-rash with veluet throughly lin'd As plaine as Plainenesse without welt or garde To seeme thereby to be as plaine in Mind For he to seeme good still had good regarde His rapier hilts wer blackt which brightly shin'd A veluet Scobbard did that weapon warde The Hangers and the Girdle richly wrought With Silke of poorest colour deerely bought 15 His Stockings sutable vnto the same Were of blacke silke and crosse-wise gartered The Knot whereof a Roses forme did frame Which neare the ham the sable leaues did spred His Shooes were veluet which his foote became Thus was he clad from foote vnto the Head Who still was still as one of iudgement staid Before he heard and poiz'd what others saide 16 While first puft-panch Poliphagus bespake But panted as he spake for want of winde And at each word his fat for feare did quake Lest that winds want that fat should melt or bind O that quoth he then reached to perbrake Mans Necke were like a Cranes then should we find More pleasure in our meat drink because T' would longer passe with pleasure to our mawes 17 Eating and Drinking sweetly eates vp Time That eates vp all then feeding most of all We ought to loue for we are made of Slime Then should we feed lest we to slime should fall That so our flesh by fat to fat should climbe Fat Capons Turkies Fezants we may call The Ladders to Perfection and t' ascend By such Degrees is mans perfections end 18 Deere Taste quoth he the life of all my ioy Can they be blest that say thou bredst our curse When thou dost sweeten all our liues annoy That else were Hell it selfe or rather worse For my part I esteeme that Tale a Toy And thinke that Taste alone doth Nature nurse If thou be Natures Nurse then say I dare Thou nursest That that makes vs what we are 19 Who are by nature Demi-gods at least Gramercies Taste that mak'st vs so to be Man but for thee were farre worse then a beast And beasts were worse then nothing but for thee For man and beasts do toile but for the taste Then if our taste should faile vs curst were we Sith both are borne to labor but for foode That rather would offend then doe vs good 20 The mouth Maw are Pleasures blisfull Bowres Where she lies dallying with her loue Delight The Maw Charibdis which Delight deuoures Takes frō the mouth what giu's the mēbers might Is That an Idol which such good procures Or should it not be seru'd by Natures right That keepes fraile Nature in her vitall heate That else would pine for want of tasting meate 21 O! taste and see how sweete the Lord but whie Do I enforce what forcelesse I esteeme Yet sith it 's held for written-Veritie I le sucke sweete from that weede and holy seeme The sou'raign'st sense enthron'd is in the Eie Yet Taste this Truth if truth doth better deeme For taste and see first taste and after see Implies that Taste of Sight hath sou'raigntie 22 O t is the Well from whence the Senses drawe Their summum bonum sweet'st thogh short delite The right hie-way to Mirth lies to the Mawe The way to mirth that cheares the flesh sprite That warms the blood frozen harts doth thaw In spight of Nature foiling Natures spight Then who distasts these sweet Lauds of the Taste His Taste is senslesse and his Wittes are waste 23 Aske Proofe how all the Veines do flow with ioy When as the Mouth takes in confected Sweetes Or when the Pallate doth her Powres imploy To meet sweet Wines which she with smacks regreets What hart so faint that thē can feare anoy Though Hell itselfe with all the Senses meets Giue strong drink to the damn'd they 'l sustaine In Paines despight with ease the spight of Paine 24 What Care can once but touch a merry hart That 's merry made with precious blood of grapes And who can choose but play a frolicke part That by strong Sacke frō Sorrows sacke escapes Smart them annoyes that feele or thinke on smart But not those that with Wine are Pleasures rapes For while they gape to let in out to run They feele think on nought but Healths begun 25 Thus did this gormandizing Epicure Insist in praise of That which Taste commends And for winde lab'ring labour'd past his powre To make Mans gorge his god for godlesse ends When loe Epithymus to make it sure In part approu'd his reasons yet he bends His pow'r to proue the wenching practicke part To yeeld the ioy which most affects the hart 26 These Girles quoth he so they be faire and yong Are they alone that most do rauish Sense For which no lesse then for our foode we long The Touch being furthest from th' Intelligence With much more libertie and ioy among Doth play her part to proue her excellence It tickles all our veins with lustful pleasure Which the mean while hath neither mean nor mesure 27 What Heart 's so cold that is not set on fire With a trans-lucent beaming sunne-brightface But of that face to haue the hearts desire The Heart cannot desire a greater grace Who couets not bright Beauties golden wire His Sprite is abiect and his thoughts are base Sith those wires winde about the turning thought And tie it to rich pleasures dearely bought 28 Who meets with flesh that melts with tendernesse And melts not in Desires ay-burning flames Whose kisses steept in Sucket Heau'n do presse From lips diuine too worthy for such names Can any Eies looke into Beauties Presse And with her trimmest trinckets make no games No humane Eies I weene if christaline But ioy to see themselues in Eies diuine 29 To see a Body more then Lilly-white With azur'd veines imbrodred here and there To see this blisfull Body naked quite And to behold Loues Hold some other where What Thing with ioy can more intrāce the sight Sith to the sight Loues Heauen doth appeare Then adde to this a Looke that saith approch It wil the Vessell of all Sweetnesse broch 30 O! to embrace her that embraceth all That Beauty can embrace is to infold In mortall Armes Armes supernaturall Of pow'r both Gods and Men insnar'd to hold And make them as they please to rise or fall Seruing Loues Soueraigne as Vassals should For Gods and men do most obsequiously By nature serue diuine Formositie 31 He that orethrew what ere his strength withstood And vnderpropt the weight of Heauens frame Loue made to spinne in weake vnmanly moode
A Gowne with Potions stain'd he girded ware Who panted as he went and went with care 118 Foure paire of Stockings did his Legs comprize And yet his Shancks God wot but little were Although the vpper Stockings were of Frize Thicke Frize or Rugge or else of warmer geare Whose Slippers were with Cotton lin'd likewise And yet of taking cold he still did feare Who lookt as he had not an houre to liue And eu'ry steppe he trode his Soule did grieue 119 His Face was of the colour of that clowt That did his head inuolue saue that his Face Did looke more white his Eies both seemed out For they were sunck shrunke out of their place His Nose was sharper then an Adders snowt His Tong Teeth were furr'd in lothsome case His Lips were chapp'd his Beard was driueld ore And euer breath'd as he should breathe no more 120 And therewithall he was so waiward still That none might please him but he fault wold find With the best words deeds of meere good-will His bodies paines so peruerse made his mind His wozen whez'd when his breath it did fill As through the straitest passage doth the wind And when he spake his tong was furr'd so thicke That oft his words within the same did sticke 121 Yet ne'rthelesse to these must Phusis hie For Logus held her to 't by strong perswasion Which thus she prest Go or thy Sonnes must die Thou needes must do it there is no euasion Herein their life or death alone doth lie Then of their perill if thou haue compassion Thou must to These that they may be secure Then liuely go for Loue can Hell endure 122 Phusis though while-ere somewhat weakned By reason of these vncouth Accidents Yet thus by Logus being comforted To his direction and aduice assents And now all heart she holdeth high the Head Scorning her wonted dread and dririments And in her loue to her Sonnes thither goes Their case to Aletheia to disclose 123 A wearie iorney had she and a foule But what paine is 't a mothers loue will shunne Who almost will forsake her deerest Soule Yer once forsake her deere-bought deerer Sonne By Logus helpe she doth her feares controule And to these houses goes not but doth runne And as she hies she more and more doth learne This Ladies Lodging rightly to discerne 124 When to the House of Chronus neere she drew Which was a Caue in Rocke of Flint cut out It to the sense more horride was in shew For it with Mosse was inlaid all about And ore the Gate Harts-tongue BraÌ„bles grew As on the top did Okes old stiffe and stout Which rocks rogh sides huge mossie Beeches bare As if the Flint the weathers threats did feare 125 This antique Top where these trees did not shade A kind of Mosse ore-sprad as hard as hore Which ne'rthelesse did softly seeme to vade And grew farre shorter then it was before Ore which strange vermin prety Paths had made Which there did still increase in needlesse store For in those Places where men least frequent There vilest vermine are most resident 126 About the groundsills of this hideous house Without grew Nettles Hemlocks and the like Mongst whoÌ„ were Snakes and vermin venomous Which vnawares th'vnwarie foote do strike Within the Caue was nought for Natures vse Saue water which ther leakt throgh many a creek Where nought was seene but Darknes nought was heard But holow Ecchoes making Noise afeard 127 Neere to this vncouth Caue is scituate As t' were a vault digg'd vnderneath the same The House of Thanatus which all do hate For none came euer thence that thither came Then Chronus house it s much more desolate More deadly too in nature and in name For flesh doth faint when but b'imagination She sees this fearefull vgly Habitation 128 The Roofe whereof with Sculles is seeled quite Whereon in frets hang shin-bones here there The walls are hung with Mantles of the night Which all with vermine vile imbrod'red were If it through any Chinke receiued light T was soone stopt vp with feet which it did beare It paued was with Ioynts and Knuckle-bones Set in no order but like scatt'red stones 129 The Gate whereof is made of mans iust size Which yet receiues all men that euer were Vpon whose Pauement all flesh rotting lies And to the sense most odious doth appeare For here lie Armes and there lie Legs and Thies Hete rotten Teeth and ragged Iaw-bones there Within whose pores the worms do keep their hold Vntill they all conuert to perfect mould 130 No one here keepes this grim Lord company But sullen Silence dust and nastie mud And yet he seekes all mens societie For still he feedeth on their flesh and bloud Hard at the Gate do mournefull mourners crie And teare their haire too like the Fury-brood Which yet is neuer heard that house within For Thanatus is deafe and heares no din. 131 Rotten Corruption here doth reuell keepe Where Worms her Minions out of mesure dance For all about they trace they turne and creepe And merry make with Fleshes fowle mischance Who all the while lies drown'd in puddle deepe As full of Soile as full of Sufferance Where Irksomnesse sits on a dustie Throne As if he were Lord of that Earth alone 132 For Beauty comes no sooner to the Gate Of this true earthly Hell but she doth looke As if she were in worse then damned state And all her Graces had her quite forsooke The Lures of Loue here turne to Hoods of Hate Hate that no Loue thogh Loue it selfe can brook For Loue itselfe which once three days lay there Fled from the same as if it hatefull were 133 Here Zijm and Iim do loue alone to be Grimme Desolaâ—ions sterne Consociates The vale of Visions this doth seeme to me Where Sense may see what Sense quite ruinates Whose Organs here lie in varietie Of transformation which Sense deadly hates Where lie all Obiects which the sight annoy Yet t is the entrance to all griefe or ioy 134 Here Sense saith Sense lies in a Lethargie Whose powres are quite supprest with Earth and Stones Here Rest of Labour hath the victorie And Sorrows here surcease their sighs and grones Where lasting sleepe beguiles Calamitie For Flesh feeles not if rotten to the bones This is the Lake which Men most loathe and yet It is the Lethe where they griefe forget 136 Downe a darke staire the passage to this house On eu'ry step sits all the impes of Feare Confronted with Chymaeraes hideous Which maks all men to hate their comming there Saue such as daily do that passage vse And with feete-mortifide those steps do weare To them it seemes not strange how euer strange Those Monsters do their vgly fashions change 137 The Elements whereof all Flesh is made Do with their Children the foure Humors lie Confused there
in Deaths confused Shade That no Eie can the one from the other spie But His that saw them ere they Being had On whom alone they all do still rely This is the Picture of Not-beings Pit Where it doth seeme but doth but seeme to sit 138 Sometimes for pride or praise or both some do Bestow a stately Couer on this house For worldly pompe doth presse them thereunto To make the glorified more glorious But Chronus spite that Couer doth vndoe Which cannot brooke the pompe of Thanatus It is but vaine the dead to honour then With other honour then with Tongue or Pen. 139 Hard at the doore of this confused den Sit rau'nous Rauens watching for their pray Which doore if Chronus opes they enter then And with the Relickes there they prey or play This Roomes description no Pen well can pen But such as markes the measure of Decay O! t is a Heau'n to heare Hell well set forth And Heau'n if ill describ'd seemes nothing worth 140 The Rowme is little this description great And yet too little for so great a Rowme Where all mankinde haue and doe finde a Seate Vntill they haue receiu'd their later doome Let Aletheia then make it compleate Sith all descriptions true come from her wombe Suffizeth me to shew but eu'n a glaunce Of Thanatus his Houses countenaunce 141 The Porter of this Place as erst was sed Is hundred-headed Nosus much more sterne Then Hells grim Porter with his threefold head The sight of whom made Phusis hart to yerne But Logus said she by him should be led The Lady Aletheia to discerne In hope whereof she did the better brooke The horror of his most detested looke 142 Now by this time she was within his touch Who to him trembling came submissiuely And gaue him of her Calor though not much That she might be the better vs'd thereby Nosus whom though diseases made to grutch Yet through that Calor lookt more cheerefully And gently with familiar aspect He opes the Gate and strait did her direct 143 For he denieth passage vnto none That makes much of him or doth loue him well But had he well the Ladie Phusis knowne Perhaps he would haue bin to her more fell For when she gaue him Calor she did grone To thinke how soone he would the same expell And Phusis by no meanes can well endure That Nosus should her any good procure 144 But he to her is most officious He tenders her his guidance and what not But yet the oddes twixt her and Thanatus Although by Him t' was more then quite forgot Made Her entreate this Porter curteous To call that Ladie forth whom Chronus got And gaue him some more Calor in a Box Which gaue him strēgth to ope the Ladies Locks 145 Herewith he went to Aletheias Bed Who ouer head and eares lay couer'd quite And being naked yet thus couered He could not haue of her an open sight But he aloofe his errand vttered Wherewith she rose yet came within the night For she being naked Darkenes seeks to hide her For men without a Mist haue seld espide her 146 But out she masked comes to Phusis late Who knew her not because she came conceal'd But asked who she was who did relate Both who and what and strait her selfe reueal'd It me behoues quoth she to hide my State For most men haue with me like Monsters deal'd Who like to deuills authors of vntruth Would force erroneous sense into my mouth 147 I goe thus mask'd quoth she sith men like fiends Of my destruction make no conscience Statesmen seeke for me but for subtill ends Some Churchmen would haue me Non residence But where their pleasure or their profit tends And fond Philosophers peruert my sense Strong thieues Lawyers wound my tender hart The one by force the other by their art 148 The Merchant and the slie Artificer Will for a penny profit stifle me With Falshoods cloake The biting Vsurer Doth vse me better though but cruelly And hath a will to vse mee worse by farre So he a farthing might the better bee But of all men that seeme me most to paine Vpon poore Poets I can least complaine 149 For though they hide me from the vulgar view With robes as they suppose that sumptuous be Yet giue they me my right with more then due As they best know that haue best eies to see They are my friendly foes false-louers true Which hate in shew but do indeed loue me Whom I wil one day feed with more then praise Which Manna makes thē look leane now adays 150 All those that Offices by coine come by To come by coine by buying Offices In Church or Common-weale do me defie For interrupting their by-passages No not so much as Somners but can spie The way to wound me on aduantages In summe all sorts are resolute herein To loose me quite so they thereby may winne 151 Haue I not reason then conceal'd to go To shunne these Helhounds hauing me in chase Who study by all meanes to worke my woe And with their craft transforme my constant face I were vnlike my selfe and mine owne foe If I went like my selfe in such a case By nature I the Ignorant do hate Then should I loathe if I knew not my State 152 But wherefore Phusis art thou come to me Who told thee where I lay who found'st me out Thine eies are dimme too dimme me well to see Then thogh thou see me thou therof maist doubt Quoth Phusis that full well I did foresee By Logus therefore brought I this about Who told me truly who and where thou wart Whose sayings touching thee I kon'd by hart 153 And I am come to thee for thine aduice Touching my children who as I am told By my friend Logus are in loue with Vice Or rather to that strumpet they are sold Who with faire words doth sweetly them intice To thinke and say and do but as she would Who as it s knowne to all that knoweth ought In fine doth bring her Louers all to nought 154 They being bound to Thanatus his house Are bound likewise ah woe is me from thence On the left hand to the land tenebrous Whereas Gehenna holdes his residence Which Monster being more then rauenous Will quite deuoure their Bodies Soules Sense The manner of whose house no tongue can tell But such as can describe the lowest Hell 155 Heere by the way we will awhile digresse And prosecute the rest of Phusis plaint When as wee haue describ'd this little lesse Then more then hell which colours cannot paint For what so blacke as depth of all distresse Where vtter darkenesse raignes without restraint Then sith we colours want as all do see Our too light shadowes must excused bee 156 There lie two waies from Thanatus his house That still are two sith they still disagree One
Yet that made worse then Ill how ill is All 193 There raignes what not that is not to be told With tong nor pen that sense afflicts with griefe There is Perditions home Damnations Hold Which giues death life death giues life reliefe It is the vtmost reach of Hot and Cold And of Dispaire the habitation chiefe In summe it is the summe of all distresse Which subdiuided makes it nothing lesse 194 These are Gehennaes Consorts these are they That still associate those that thither go This is the Place of that fell Monsters stay The Place where paine is infinite in woe The way thereto is plaine broad greene and gay All strew'd with floures to tice men thither so All which to Phusis erst by Logus told On Aletheia made her fasten hold 195 Now to returne to Phusis and her plaint Quoth she and her embraced all the while Deere Aletheia help me for I faint To thinke my Sonnes are neere this monster vile Who with his Tuske will teare and all to taint Their tender flesh which filthy Lusts defile Which to preuent I faine would learne of thee For thou best know'st what 's best for them mee 196 And for I know thou canst aright perswade For all thy words are held in reuerence I thee beseech from Vice them to disswade And from this Land sith none returns frō thence O bid them leaue their idle wandring Trade And tell them of this inconuenience Go Lady go the way thou canst not misse To all their homes and tel them home of this 197 I would quoth Aletheia gladly goe But that I feare they will entreate me ill For Logus sake neare kin to me they know But thy desire I will herein fulfill For I will go though I my selfe forgoe To bar their course and breake them of their will For life is wonne though lost in those Assaies Wherein the loser gaines immortall praise 198 Go gracious Ladie glory be thy guide Quoth Lady Phusis to this hardy Dame And I meane while will at this Gate abide With my friend Nosus Porter to the same So on this iourney Aletheia hi'd For she though wounded oft was neuer lame In all her Actions shee 's most vpright still For she will neuer halt how euer ill 199 This while sate Phusis at this narrow dore Talking with Logus who came to her there Because she did as he her will'd before Who told him all her hope and all her feare How Aletheia did her case deplore And went to schoole her Children eu'ry where For Hearts are eas'd when Tongs vnfold at large The griefes or ioyes which do them ouercharge 200 Logus her course herein did much commend And cheer'd her as she could with heu'nly words Praid her with patience to expect the end And comfort eu'ry way to her affords Strengthning her hope that now her sons would mend Sith Aletheias sayings would like swords Subdue all rancke rebellion of the sense For powrefull words winne more then violence 201 They had not thus sate reas'ning there awhile But Aletheia they farre off might see Flying to them-wards ouer stoppe and Stile Oft looking backe as those that chased bee Thē wel they knew hope did their hopes beguile Which they till they had tri'd could not foresee For that which is contingent who doth kno Are onely wise and none but ONE is so 202 But comming neere thē almost breathlesse quite She panting told them windlesse as she could How she had bin by vertue of her might About the whole world and with courage bold For which she said she was in painefull plight All Phusis children of their errors told To whom quoth she in diuerse formes I came Yet kept my nature though I chang'd my name 203 Some tooke me for grosse Error some for mad Some superstitious some hereticall Some for Deceipt and some for Vice as bad Presumptuous some some hipocriticall But the most part most malice to me had For they at first sight draue me to the wall Some seem'd to take my part with Tooth Naile That did indeed me most of all assaile 204 The Curious rent my Maske to see my face The Prowd ore lookt nay troade me vnderfeete The Learned grac'd themselues with my disgrace Th'vnlerned graueld filld my mouth with Greet Which made me faine and speake as one in chase So all I met withall with me did meete Truth gets but hate but Adulation loue That this is truth vnto my paine I proue 205 So when I saw the perill I was in Away I fled thus wounded as you see I held it base to keepe vnscar'd my skin Sith mine aduenture might bring ease to thee But Phusis this I did thy loue to win Whom I do loue how ere thou louest me No dearer loue can Loue bewray then this To venture that for Loue that dearest is 206 Ah woe is me quoth Phusis that thou shouldst For my poore Loue which thou dost well deserue Venture that Iewell which thou dearest holdst Yet that rare hazard not my turne to serue Thy will I see in that I see thou wouldst Venture thy life my sonnes liues to preserue And that thou shouldst for that be wounded so And they the worse for that the worse my woe 207 Can neither Caueats of Mortalitie Which flow frō thy mouth with almighty force Nor my perswasions more then motherly Giue them some feeling of their senslesse course Are their Soules seared with impiety That they for it therein feele no remorce Then what shall I a woefull mother do But wish I Were not and my children too 208 But what I pray did Princes say to thee When thou did'st mind them that they once must die They said therewith stabb'd at me quoth she I like a deuill in my Throate did lie These of all others most I sought to flee And yet I honor roiall Maiestie Without my hand sustaine Thrones reeling stand For all staid Thrones are staied by my hand 209 And how quoth Phusis doe the Iudges liue Many of them replied she doom'd me death Because I would not as did others giue Them goldē Scabberds Iustice Sword to sheath How Lawyers They by others losses thriue And oft quoth she on all sides sell their breath Physitions how They reason doubtfully Till Fees they finger past recouery 210 Poore Poets how while they quoth she do fill The world with Fables feed thēselues with hopes More fabulous so hold they but at will Their tearme of life of some great Lord that opes His Mouth more then his Purse their Eares to fill More then their Mawes which greedie Famine grops Whose biting stomacks stil do stomack it The while they starue for want of wealth and wit 211 Ah these deere Harts I pitty in my hart Who liue by sweet Lines which do end their life For to liue long they hang themselues by Arte
And He for wisedome that had greatest fame Loue so with Lust inflam'd his coldest blood That He a thousand had to quench the same For no Age Wisedome Pow'r or Policie Haue pow'r t' impugne diuine Formositie 32 Aske Mars the sterne and stubberne god of warre How much frail Beuty made him crouchiÌ„g bow Nay aske if men may aske the Thunderer The high'st of gods by lordly Loue brought low Why he did make his mansion in a Starre Yet fell from heau'n an earthly Dame to know But that both Gods and Men most lowlily By nature serue diuine Formositie 33 Giue me a Wench that hath the skill and wit To let me loue-sicke bloud in Lustes right vaine And can with pleasure ease me in the fit Yet ease me so that Loue may still complaine Of heate that is for Lusts life onely fit Which to the life of Loue yeelds pleasant paine That can so humour me and what I feele That she may hurt me still my hurt to heale 34 Such a Crafts-mistris in the Arte of Loue Doth crowne the Touch with an imperiall kisse For she makes Touching tast ioy farre aboue The reach of Arte to tell men what it is For feelinglie she can both staie and moue About the Center of Loues boundlesse blisse Then boundlesse is the Touches excellence That by a Lasse can so beheau'n the sense 35 Thus did this Orator of Lechery Dilate the shortsweete of his liues delight Which Hyselophronus did not deny As though quite opposit but bent his might To proue high'st blisse was borne of Maiesty Begot by Potency right or vnright The greatest ioy to Greatnesse appertaines For ioy doth raign quoth he in that which raigns 36 A roiall Robe a Scepter Mound and Crowne Are the true Signals of the truest ioy They neede not feare the threat of Sorrows frown That can confound all causers of anoy The hand of Maiesty puts vp and downe The meanes of mirth and those that mirth destroy Hee 's a rare Clarke that Râ—gnum can declyne And Meus Mea Meum ad in fine 37 What Hart is not enlarg'd with ioy as much As it can hold when pow'r is more enlarg'd Then Earth can hold or on the same none such When all by him and he by none is charg'd No not so much as with the smallest touch Touching his life lest such be life-discharg'd It is the greatest glorie of Mans state When man like God doth raigne in spite of Hate 38 To eate and drinke and do the acts of lust Is common vnto Beasts as well as Men What praise get they that do what needs they must But such as shames the praised now and then For so may men be praisd for deedes vniust Sith Men by nature wrong their Bretheren But to correct Men with directing Rods Is proper vnto none but Demi-gods 39 The Spheare of Greatnes like the highest sphere That turnes the neather with resistlessesway Is the high'st step to his Throne without Peere And to the Sunne that makes eternall day Where Blisse abounds an euerlasting yeare For which the most deuout doe inly pray Then Greatnes is the great'st good vnder heau'n Which vnto none but Gods on Earth is giu'n 40 O! how it rapts the Eie of Maiestie To see all downe-cast vnderneath her feete That may if please her march vpon the Hie Till she with none but with the Lowly meete Then Wisedomes reach doth tend to Emperie And none but fooles neglect it as vnmeete It is the highest Note that Arte can reach To rule the voice when Sou'raigntie doth preach 41 And what a glorie is 't to mortall Man That when he bends his high-erected front Death in the foldes doth play the Artezan And kill but with alooke the highest Count Yet with a word like Him that all things can To create others making them to mount Then who hath pow'r all men to marre or make Must be a God that life doth giue and take 42 A Seepter's Circes Rod which Men and Beasts Doth easlie tame how wilde so ere they bee For Birds that in the Stars doe build their neasts Farre farre aboue all Birds of prey doe flee To which pitch if they mount they scorch their crests For heat so high is in extreame degree Highnesse is sacred and the sacred Hie With their pow'rs wing aboue all perills flie 43 O! t is a blisfull glitt'ring glorious state Able to make Mortalitie diuine Which with inspection binds the hands of Fate And like the Sunne among the Stars doth shine Till Nature doth the Flesh inanimate And in the mouthes of Men mens fames enshrine Then if in Earth be any diuine thing It 's more then God if it be not a King 44 Poliphagus though he his Intralls seru'd As if they were his Fancies Soueraignes Or rather Gods by which he was preseru'd Yet hee allowance to their fancie faines That so fraternitie might be conseru'd Which concord in conceit together chaines And thus immod'rately doth moderate The diffrence of the doubtfull Questions state 57 But now as wak'ned from a tedious sleepe * Logus chiefe guide of * Psyche their chiefe guide While they were plunged in all pleasures deepe Thus gan their sensuall-senslesse Soules to chide Whither O whither runne ye ye lost sheepe Not weying in what danger ye abide The Blinde eates many a flie and so doe you That chew sweet poyson which ye should eschue 58 But ere wee further prosecute her speach We will describe their Garments as we may For as we said the Coate and Cut do teach Sight to discerne what mood the mind doth sway Logus was clad as could no State impeach Sith she was cloth'd with mean thogh cleane aray For she with Garments farre more fit then faire But sauegard sought from Passions of the Aire 59 But Psyche whom she guided like a Quâ—â—ne Was richly deckt with ornaments diuine Who liu'd so closely that she scarce was seene Yet through her Pallace did her glory shine As if at least she had a Goddesse beene Whose virtues were apparant to the Eine Her Ornaments were Wit Will Memory Which richly roab'd her with Regality 60 Vpon her sacred Head she ware a Crowne Like that of Ariadnes all of Starres To light her feete in darke waies and vnknowne And keepe the safest way in Passions warres Those Starres were royall vertues of her owne Which some call Cardinall her gard in Iarres Who was deckt inly with Pow'r Grace and Arte Being wholy in the whole and in each Part. 61 Her Vnderstandings Pow'r that Pow'r did line Which Heau'n and Earth religiously adore And in her Will she ware Grace most diuine But in her Memory she Artes did store That made the Whole most gloriously to shine But most diuinely did those three decore Affects and Fantasies her Seruants were Which were all cloakt with Good how ill so ere 62 Hir priÌ„cely train which was of works wel