's willing when the Flesh is weak 'T is true a strange but efficacious course By which the violent take Heaven by force Where those who Conquer are oblig'd to serve Where the Besiegers not Besieged starve Blind Scribes who did St. John for Fasting blame As if that Vertue from the Devil came Whereas that cursed Spirit ne're resorts To empty Stomachs but to empty Hearts Abstinence was our Saviour's potent Arms By which he quell'd the force of Satan's Charms While we each day with costly Dainties dine And please our Gust with Bowls of sparkling Wine Our craving Appetites we ne're controul Ne're pinch the Belly to relieve the Soul When from the Body any Pains arise 'T is from their pamp'ring not expelling Vice These are the Baits by which we taken are Our Tables often thus become a Snare Judas had scarce his Masters Traytor been Had not the Sop made Satan entâ—r in Thus Meat which should our humane Life sustain Proves oft the foretast of Eternal Pain While we like Damocles are richly fed Worse Judgments than his Sword hang o're our Head What Fury Israel once attended thee Falling from Murmuring to Gluttony When at thy great Deliverer's command Numberless Multitudes did crowd the Land Flesh as the Dust and Fishes as the Sand. Swift as the Quails Death's winged Arrows fall Theirs were the Feathers these were fledg'd withal But if God's Wrath a too light Motive prove Exchange the Scene contemplate on his Love His Dearest Son leaves Heavens sweet repose Forsakes his Father dwells among his Foes Behold him in the lonely Desarts where He worse than his Fore-runners Fate doth bear He eats no Locusts no wild-Honey there Here no Disciples bring him ought to eat To do his Father's Will is all his Meat Hence to a Garden he does now repair A second Paradise while he was there Where whilst God walk'd the Garden seem'd to be More like to Eden than Gethsemane Lo how he prays that Man's original Sin Might have its Exit where it enter'd in That there the second Adam might attone For what the first had in a Garden done Flat on the Ground besmear'd with Gore he lies And truly seems a Living Sacrifice Anticipating what his Side must shew His Tears and Sweat like Blood and Water flow Then Hell's bold Tyrant does his Charms employ This Adam like the former to destroy Audacious Fiend who would not yet forbear Nor God and Man together join'd would fear In Heaven Vanquish'd Eve he Conquer'd here Hoping he may his lost Estate regain Or else at least from hence lost Man retain He counsels him whose Aid he should implore And tempts the Deity he should adore If thou be Christ the Son of God said he Shew me some sign of thy Divinity He who made fiery Flints forth Water shed Can sure with ease transform these Stones to Bread But Christ his Miracles did then decline Such precious Jewels were not meet for Swine Did faithful Ab'ram begg him I believe From Stones themselves he would an Off-spring give And thence to propagate his Fathers Praise The Staff of Life as well as Life could raise But when the tempting Pharisees desire When Herod or the Devil a Sign require Who not the Doer but the Deed admire He will not then exert his force Divine At evil Sights the Sun desists to shine The greatest proof the God of Truth could give Was thus the great Deceiver to deceive Resistance was the only Prodigy Whereby he shew'd himself a Deity Great Potentate this Miracle alone Was more than wrought by being left undone But lo The Airy Prince with speedy care Hurries our Saviour through the yielding Air. But what did Satan then take Wings and fly His Fall so great made him rebound so high Straight at Jerusalem they both arriv'd For her One joy'd for her the Other griev'd When pitching on the highest Pinnacle Of that high House where the Most High doth dwell Christ more than mystically thither led There o're the Church his Body stood the Head There Satan does his subtile Arts peruse From one Repulse a bolder suit renews If thou art Christ cast thy self down from hence The Powers of Heaven will be thy Desence Spirits Divine will aid thee from Above Each will to thee a Guardian Angel prove But being Baulkt he now at last prepares To catch with gilded Baits and painted Snares He does the World as his last Stake propose Straight all its Glory to his View disclose Thinking to Captivate the Deity With so much Fruit so pleasant to the Eye Before me Kneel and Worship be thou Mine And all the Glories of the world are thine But how canst thou bold Villain e're deserve Worship from him whom thou thy self should'st serve How stain'd would those his Milk-white Robes appear Which on the holy Mount he once did wear Had he and thou been thus Transfigur'd here This blacker than th' Aegyptian part would shroud That brighter far than Israel's fiery Cloud But here resisted too away he goes Adds this as Fuel to his former Woes Whose smooth Assaults prevail'd on Earth no more Than his more rough Ones did in Heaven before This Innocence unspotted he must leave Not so the Son of Man as Man deceive Reflect vain Man Reflect on this and see If God be Tempted what awaits on Thee Happy were bare Temptation all thy Doom Thou scarce art oftner Tempted than o're-come Man is become the great Devourer's Prey The best of Men too oft are drawn away This Roaring Lyon will a Prophet slay Man is the Food to which the Serpent's Curst Dust he must Eat and what is Man but Dust Rouze sluggish Wretch Examine every part Pierce through the close Recesses of thy Heart And when thou dost the lurking Monster find The surest way to drive him from thy Mind Is to debar thy self of costly Fare Let him have no kind Entertainment there Plenty of Vice with Victual plenty shares 'T was a fat Soil which Satan sow'd with Tares If thou art Wicked 't is no more than Just To mortify those Members prone to Lust And mingle Water with thy Saviour's Blood To purge the greatest Guilt there needs a greater Flood If thou art Righteous be not too Remiss Praise God the more not Fast or Pray the less When thou hast almost won the Blessed Race Thou mayst not then stand still but mend thy pace Since not Improvement is abuse of Grace Satan we find as Day springs up from Night Is chang'd from Devil to a Saint of Light The Terms are too Reciprocal and we Some Saints of Light may chang'd to Devils see But stay my Muse return from this Extream And through each Passage track thy sacred Theme Behold him at the Mount of Olives where Viewing the Deity that 's seated there You 'd think Mount Olivet Mount Horeb were O how agreeable a Sight it shows The harmless Dove among the Olive Boughs There he the Eight Beatitudes express'd Which being thus deliver'd were increas'd Here
guiltless Life to save Mine Eyes are opened but to see my Grave Yet I 'le be Dutiful tho' sure of Death And beg his Pardon with my Dying Breath Forgive what never was a Fault in me Nor in it self made such by your Decree Think me not Faulty but your self Severe Can Hands be Guilty when the Heart is clear Yet grant they could sure tears yâ— Heart might move A captiv'd Victor and a filial Love O more than Stoney If like Stones you were You 'd be dissolv'd as they by Water are When I the joyful Laurel should receive Can you in Justice mournful Cypress give You Swore you say but yet you rashly Swore Warn'd by one rash Act rashly Act no more Some hidden Impulse pushes on my Fate You with false Colours varnish o're your Hate Conscience will check you if my Life you spare But did not check you when you threw your Spear Why did my Guardian-Angel ward the Blow And save my Life to need a Second throw Ye Men of Gibeah our dear Gibeah say Will ye Relentless see me Die to day To save the Wicked once your Arms you lent Redeem that Crime and save the Innocent Shall Saul deal worse with me than with his Foe He would not serve his Conquer'd Agag so Admire the Miracle by Sampson done Extracting Honey from a Lion's bone Admire and grieve for Saul of whom 't is said Lo One whom Honey has a Lion made A DIALOGUE between DIVES and LAZARUS WHy do I in those gloomy Regions see Dives his Grandeur stoop to Slavery Div. The cause of this my Station would you know The weight of Riches press me down so low Laz. Thrice happy by my Poverty am I The want of these has made me soar so high D. But how came you so well to know me here Neither are you nor I what once we were L. Whether you are the same you best can tell I see you wear your Purple still in Hell D. 'T is true indeed but not more true than strange I would my Purple for thy Rags exchange Thus Pharaoh Gorgeously array'd like me Drunk his last deadly Potion in that Sea Whose red-curl'd Waves that were a Wall before Fresh dy'd his Garments with their Crimson gore While he and his Retinue downward pass Unknown Companions to the Finny race Hard-hearted both both Rich we both expire In Blushing Tides but mine are Tides of Fire Where Doom'd to wretched Immortality I 'me ever Dying yet must never Dye Joy as Immortal do's thy Grief repay Each putrid Scar becomes a golden Ray. Thy Visage like the new-born Sun appears Rising more Glorious from a Sea of Tears But like the Setting-sun in Flames I shine To Tears a Sea of Tears I must decline L. Your Usage answers your too cruel Mind Those who are Pitiless no Pity find D. One Drop of Water pray One drop bestow One minutes Pleasure in an endless Woe I can't obtain ev'n common Nature's due What Beggars scorn to crave I beg from you Tho' I deserve Reward not ill with ill One Crystal Drop will make me Dives still L. I cannot would not quit this Blessed State A Gulf divides us the sure Hem of Fate Left unconfin'd I scarce should thither go Sure Hell 's a grievous Place since Earth was so Then in like Terms I answer you I fear I shall be Lazarus if I 'me not here ORPHEUS 's Complaint AM I not Orpheus If I be Where is my dear Euridice Poor Soul return'd from Styx in vain No sooner Found but Lost again Is this the Prize my Musick won Thus to be Twice bereav'd of One Scarce had my Lyre its last words spoke My String unloos'd her Thread was broke But why do I of Fate complain 'T is I am Fate 't is I have slain 'T is I my dear Euridice A Second Adder am to thee Fond Love alas Too fond to bless Thy Joys are more when Thou art less My Eyes no longer could forbear Tho' they view'd Death in viewing her Eyes which as Basilisks are said T' have done with theirs have look'd her Dead At the first Glance she backward fell When I my Heaven she saw her Hell Thrice welcome now ye Thracian Crew Poets ye know are Prophets too When by your cruel Kindness I Shall glad as you to have me Die When I to Hell shall Piece-meal go Proud to enjoy my Love ev'n so While Pain from every other part Is Balm to heal my broken Heart The Day of PENTECOST GO too ye Pegaseian Streams and thou Once Sacred Mountain with thy cloven Brow My vestal Muse attends the Fiery Tongue This double-top'd Parnassus guides her Song No sooner was the grateful Season come When Jews Devoutly sing their Harvest home While for their Plenty Solemn Praise they yield And load the Altar for the Store-bouse fill'd But Gifts Divine in greater Measure given By their kind Influence tipen Men for Heaven Lo Distant Nations crowd the narrow Room Both Jews and Proselytes together come Persians and Medes and Elamites appear As many Languages as Men are there Then the Fire kindling Peter Silence broke And Man himself speaks as ne're Man yet spoke But e're Elisha heard what pleas'd his Ear A Fire and Earth-quake he must see and hear Here mighty Winds rush in with whistling Noise Here lambent Flames precede the Heavenly Voice A Voice as strange as easy to be known Differing from each yet to each Tongue its own A Glorious Voice which if at Babel heard Amidst Confusion had the Building rear'd Since for this purpose to the Church 't was given To make that Fabrick reach its Top to Heaven Behold and Wonder ye promiscuous Throng While Truth it self assumes a Double-Tongue Athens must now give Place to Galilee The Seat of Learning to Stupidity While Inspiration natural Learning more Excels than that did Ignorance before Words hover round th'Apostles Lips unsought Brought forth without the labour of a Thought Revealing they become a Mystery Making to spake with Tongues to Prophesy See how the Flame which round their Temples plays Different Effects from the same Cause betrays For that which is a Mitre sent to some To others is a Crown of Martyrdome Yet neither Javelin Cross or Club not all Those liquid Flames Rivers of burning Oyl Shall ever quench the Holy Spirit 's Zeal Whose Light the Prince of Darkness can't expel For as the Body moulders into Earth Buried in that First Womb that gave it Birth So do's the Heaven-born Soul to Heaven repair Which Fan'd by as it passeth through the Air Renews its Flame and grows a radiant Star Till large infusions of the Spirit show 'T was but his Earnest it receiv'd Below A Copy of Verses Entituled In Libellum Clarissimi Viri THOMAE HOBBII De Natura Hominis And Compos'd by Rad. Bathurst M. D. Made English THat which o're Wonder 's Riddles had prevail'd Fathom'd the Ocean and the Heaven scal'd That which both Indies had together brought Justling each other at a
his own Ear or Eye From Beauty or from Harmony For comely Features as we view Pierce deeper than his Arrows do And Musick-strings as fatal grow As those wherewith he bends his Bow The Fowls perceive his Tyranny Who shoots more swift than they can fly The little Flocks become his Prize By Love a Burning Sacrifice All undergo the Victims doom Who tho' they die not they consume And in short Pantings pine away Less greivous are Death's Pangs than they The vaster Herd have this desire Living like Brazen-Bulls breath Fire No Infect from this Plague is free Love naught 's too great too small for Thee Nor dost to Land confine thy stay Thou too dost Neptune's Trident sway For thy Amphibious Deity Plungeth it self into the Sea Through frothy Waves its Power it shows The Son dives where the Mother rose There Sea-Nymphs Fishes there in scorn Of all the mighty Ocean burn No longer watry Tides admire Feeling within them Tides of Fire Nor does he only Reign below The Gods to him Obeisance owe. Vulcan and 's Servant Polypheme Proof against Aetna's hottest Flame Can't sustain his by which they prove That Fire it self Burns less than Love Ev'n Mars his Armour is not found Secure enough against this Wound Who bound by Mulciber remains A Captive Lover fit for Chains Phoebus whose glorious Rays bestow Both Light and Warmth to all below Altho' he burns not with the same He burns with Love's much fiercer Flame Ev'n Jove such Feats can Cupid do Submits his Thunder to his Bow And bowing towards Acrisiu's Tower Pays him a Tributary Shower Nay that he may his Duty shew He leaves his Heaven his God-head too He 's Bull or Swan what not to prove Jove rules the World and Cupid Jove Thus all things are within his Sphere His Royal-seat is every where While all Below and all Above Become one Empire Rul'd by Love On the Barbarous Execution of Dr. WILLIAM LAUD sometime Lord Arch-Bishop of Canterbury IT was the time when Days pass'd dimnly on Not to be measur'd by the gazing Sun Who drew a Cloudy Curtain o're his Head While Crown and Mitre were to Scaffold led Heaven cleft with Lightning cast a ghastly Look And claps of Thunder our Distractions spoke Clouds gush'd out drops for those our Martyrs shed More numerous less precious than the Red When the best Argument for being Good Was to seek Canaan through Red Sea of Blood Lambeth perhaps had never spent a Tear Had no Arch-Bishop built his Pallace there The Pious LAVD must impious Rage appease Because Vnblemish'd He 's a Sacrifice For Crimes unknown he was by those Arraign'd Who merited the Death for him design'd And were their inward dark Recesses seen Bradshaw the Pris'ner LAVD the Judge had been Undaunted LAVD knew no Assaults of Fear Those are the Fearful who the Guilty are His quiet Conscience still possesses Rest As being still with Innocence possest The Waves may roar the threatning Billows swell Wild Rage may fathom the Abyss of Hell Yet he whom present Death removes to Bliss Laughs at their Frowns whose wish conspires with his His stedfast Soul was resolutely Good Then most Couragious when by most withstood And after all that Malice could afford The Arm of Flesh was weaker than the Spirit 's Sword For 't is to him true Valour does belong Who Dies sustaining not redressing Wrong Down on the Block his sacred Head he lay Praying for those who scarce would let him pray And kneeling there perhaps was Curs'd by them Who had crav'd Blessings on their Knees from him The factious Rout that wicked Hand applaud Which with one stroke Beheads the Church and Laud. But Angels look and tremble at his Doom Tremble and Look yet wish his Soul were come As they descend the welcome Prize to bear They stay themselves upon more solid Air And while Just Men the Pride of England Mourn Increase their Company as they Return Thus Dy'd the Pious the Couragious Saint Chief of the Church the Church that 's Militant Why does his Day his fatal Day appear As undistinguish'd from the vulgar Year Let Heaven regard what Time has made unknown And when we lost our Glory hide its own Let gloomy Shades our base Neglect betray And by Concealing thus Reveal the Day A day as Black as was his Judges Crime Black as the Crime they falsly laid on him On the Power of Musick WHat Muse tho' Songstress can reveal The Charms that in blest Musick dwell First to Great WILLIAM's Camp repair And view its Magick Power there Trumpets the Souldier's strength renew These are the Arms that most subdue These animate the Meek the Tame These blow the Dead Coals into Flame These cure a Wound these heal a Scar These breath the very Soul of War Let Joshua speak in Trumpets sound The Walls obey and Tumble down Go to a Feast or Funeral Musick adapts it self to all This does the drooping Spirit chear This is the Language of Despair This raises Laughter draws a Tear Are you in peril on the Main Let but Arion's Harp complain The Dolphins to your Rescue hast And by their Aid you are Releast What Man need dread the Shades below Did he with this Companion go Theseus for want of this remains And there heholds his Friend in Chains Assistance brought from Harmony Had made Pritithous as free As once it made Euridice The place no Groans no Howling fills This Noise all other Noises stills The wretched Ghosts attentive are And Snakes unfold themselves to hear Fiends to Good Nature it beguiles Cerberus fawns each Fury smiles Credit Pythagoras his Ear Soft Musick tunes the Studded Sphere Ravish'd with which the Planets rove And fix'd Stars falsly call'd so move Such is its Vertue so sublime They dance while Sun and Moon keep Time Thus things Inanimate obey And shall Man less be mov'd than they Shall Wood upbraid us or shall Stone Both by Harmonious Artists drawn Sure that which could a Passion make Should Passions Lull'd asleep awake Our very Heart-strings ought to sute And tremble with the stringed Lute Those whom Broad ways to Heaven lead While they through stately Temples tread By the sweet Symphony that 's there Do make of One an Hymn and Pray'r Such Solemn Pleasure is confer'd That Duty seems its own Reward But Musick tho' a present Bliss Of future an Idea is When we at Things above us guess And what 's unspeakable Express We say the Heav'ns with Anthems Ring And Angels Hallelujahs sing Tho' Golden Cherubims were made Like Solomon's with Wings display'd Tho' Objects pleasing most the sight Were all improv'd to th' utmost height This would more clearly Heav'n descry This sets the Ear above the Eye But Verse alone can never shew The praise to Musick 's Power due Joyn'd in Apollo both we see The God of It and Poetry You that can imitate the God And tread the Path that he has trod Add merry Harp and mournful Flute Take well-strung Violin and
love Here Satyrs when they could not Walk by chance Stagger'd and Reel'd themselves into a Dance Here Hercules Here Venus chose to dwell Their Heaven in respect of this was Hell Now all to Flames from Flames to Ashes turn And poor Alcides once again must Burn. While the too late repenting Gods confess They wish this Ruine and their Power less Epigram LXXVIII On Varus Derided for his Poor Entertainment VVHen Varus made me his Unhappy Guest Rich Preparations sham'd the scanty Feast The Table so incumber'd was with Gold As if he meant it should no Victuals hold While all things thus in ample Order lye They starve the Belly only glutt the Eye Kind Varus I design'd with thee to Night To gratifie my Palate not my Sight Prithee or Feed me with substantial Meat Or Feed me not with Hopes of any Treat Book V. Epigram VII To Vulcan that he would Spare Rome having already suffer'd by Fire THe Aged Phoenix finds in Death relief Destroy'd by Fire that kindles into Life So Rome in Flames refin'd her ancient Rust So found prolifick Vertue in her Dust Her New-born looks all Glorious and Severe Proud and Imperious as Domitian's are Vulcan forgive forgive our Founder's wrong Tho' we from Mars we too from Venus sprung Then may thy Wife so Chast and Gentle prove As to forget all Bonds but those of Love Epigram LXXV On Pompey and his Sons BOth Asia Europe and the Libyan Coast Declare how Pompey and his Sons are lost Learn to admire their Greatness by their Doom Whose very Ashes made the World their Tomb. Book VI. Epigram XXVIII An Epitaph HEre underneath this Marble Tomb Lies once the Pride now Grief of Rome His Morals Chast Severe his Meen For Vertues Ripe for Vices Green Beauty was on his Body writ His Soul the Image bore of Wit Which like the God of it Deceas'd After Twelve Years its Twelve Signs pass'd May he whose Tears lament this Boy Or never Weep or weep for Joy Book VII Epigram IV. To Caesar desiring his speedy Return to Rome having Overthrown his Enemies IF you regard the joint Request of Rome Answer their Pray'rs excite their Joy and come We envy our more happy Conquer'd Foe And think it Conquest to be Vanquish'd so None sure can their Captivity deplore Who see the God whom we unseen Adore For while they with delight your awful Presence view Your Arms their Hands and You their Hearts subdue Epigram XXI A Petition to the Morning-Star that by an Early Appearance it would hasten Domitian in his Journey towards Rome NO longer Phosphorus our Joys delay Caesar expects when you will lead the way And Usher in One Brighter than the Day So expects Rome I fear the Northern Bear Has suck'd you up into its Vortex there You move as Heavily as that as Slow And in so doing seem as Savage too If you are Tir'd that you may make more Speed Castor for Caesar's sake will lend his Fiery Steed Officious Phoebus does your Leisure wait His Horses wonder they set out so late Aurora lies awake and fain would rise Yet still the Stars refuse to close their Eyes The chequer'd Sky with its fix'd Eyes does view Too many to be told to look too few The Moon which hitherto had seen but One Stays longing to behold another Sun Well since 't is so come Caesar come in spight Of Moon and Stars of Nature's Skreen the Night Command your Coach-man to drive swiftly on Yours is to us the Chariot of the Sun Epigram XXXVI On Domitian 's Stately Building CEase Egypt cease thy Wonders to declare Thy Pyramids must yield to Larger here Memphis struck Dumb with shame in silence dwell Nor proudly with thy artificial Mountains swell How mean were these were Caesar's House in view That greatest Miracle the World can shew Sev'n Turrets high as Rome's Seven Hills appear Pelion would seem a Valley were it near The Bank the Giants cast against the Skies Beneath the Nod of Caesar's Palace lies Whose Spires serene as Heav'n they enter show And look with Scorn on Thunder-Clouds below The Sun Domitian takes it as his due To see his Daughter Circe after you Yet tho' these Buildings may with Heav'n compare For Bulk and Beauty they like Heaven appear Too mean too little for the God that 's there Epigram LIV. To CAESAR THo' large and frequent Blessings you bestow Conquering your self with Kindness as with Arms your Foe 'T is not your Gifts your Person make approv'd But 't is the Love of This makes those Belov'd Epigram LIX On a Thief who had lost One of His Eyes A Bold Face'd Thief had One Eye left alone Nor wept that One Eye for the other gone Venture him not bereav'd of half his Light A Polypheme for Rapine as in Sight Eye him at Dinner He 'll at Dinner steal At once his Belly and his Pockets fill He ne're a Spoon or Plate behind him leaves Close as his Shirt his Napkin to him cleaves He scruples not to take a Cloak or so And tho' he brought but One departs with Two If Sleep a Servant at his Labour seize His Candle's Light secures it not from Thieves But least he should when Forreign Thefts are done Be soon for want of Practice useless grown To steal his Neighbour's Goods he steals his Own MARTIAL Lib. Spec. Epig. XIII KInd Cruel Dart that pierc'd a Teeming Sow Giving a Fertile tho' a Fatal Blow Was it Diana's Hand miss-led thee right Diana Kills Lucina brings to Light The Huntress does the Midwife's Office do Poor Brute she saw her One she felt her Two While gaping Wounds that speak her parting Breath At once let out her Young and let in Death MARTIAL Lib. Spec. Epig. XXV THE Reason why these Waters don't destroy The Mimick as those did the * Leander real Boy Is plain they 're Caesar's and the Streams that flow Can't but be gentle when the Spring is so When bold Leander sought his lovely Dame And Waves oppos'd but could not quench his Flame Thus trembling he bespoke the boist'rous Sea May I my Hero first e're you have me As I return Rage Swell and Foam again What now Obstructs me will Oblige me then DAVID 's Unreasonable Grief for the Death of Absalom A Youth of sweet Deportment lovely Meen All Beautiful without all Foul within His Body being thus by Nature Drest To shame that Pare which She Created best A Youth too Delicate you 'd think for War Careless of David David's chiefest Care Conspir'd against the Peace of Israel's Crown Against that Life to which he ow'd his Own His Sword made Drunken in his Brother's Gore Grows Thirsty now again and seeks for more A nobler Potion and a richer Floud Than was the Second-run of Amnon's Bloud Villany not by slow Degrees increas'd From the mix'd Stream the purer Fountain trac'd A tender Kid at first the Lyon gnaws The stronger Beast is for Experienc'd Paws And now bold Isr'el follows Absalon Resolv'd
to loose his Life or win a Throne But David scorning to be thus Withstood Yet without Mercy to subdue too Good Thus speaks to Joab and in him to All Pray spare my Son but let his Army fall You may discern nor have I slightly shown The ardent Love I bear to Absalon At Amnon's Death with less Regret I bore His than the Absence of his Murderer Whom then against my Will I made Retire And with just Anger quell'd unjust Desire 'T was you our Reconcilement first begun The Favour you have sought may still be won You my good Nature to Compliance wrought You to Jerusalem the Exile brought When Two long Years within my City spent He had endur'd a Second Banishment As being still debar'd from seeing Me Me who thereby was punish'd worse than He How was I pleas'd to see thy Harvest burn And heaps of Ashes stand for Cocks of Corn Fit Emblem as I thought at once to prove To thee the Heat of Rage to Me of Love Conquer then succour the afflicted Prince Preserve his Life suppress his Insolence And when in him my Youthful Self you see Think him my Son and not mine Enemy He spoke and Joab with a flatt'ring Bow Seem'd ready to Obey but meant not so While Absalom among the Thickets rod And in the Woods appear'd a Sylvan God Subduing Men with glitt'ring Sword and Spear Nymphs with the Tresses of his flowing Hair Ev'n Oaks which stubborn against Thunder stood Paid their Respects and as he pass'd they Bow'Ã But One that was more Humble than the rest Stooping too low its Duty o're-express'd For now the Prince its rising Branches held A mark for Joab's Dart but David's Shield Had soon prevented it had he been there As King he 'd punish as a Father spare Witness his Tears which at the News appear'd And looks more Pale than his whose Death he heard Witness his trembling Limbs the words he spoke When thus at last his troubled Silence broke O Absalom my Son my Dearest Son My Son my Son O Dearest Absalon Why was thy blooming Age like Flowers made To Spring so Beautiful so soon to Fade As scar'd by Death thy Lilly-white is fled Thy Rosy Crimson turns to Fading-Red Thy Hair which so beguil'd the Female Kind Has Thee deceiv'd The Curled Fetters bind My Living Image to the Royal Oak Unable to Resist or ward the Stroke The Shafts that pierce thy Body wound my Soul My Grief begins where thine has reach'd the Goal If Joab would a real Kindness shew He 'd slay the Father as the Son he slew What is my Kingdom Life and Victory 'T is all but Loss when gain'd by loosing Thee For thee I wish thy Destiny my Own For thee my worst my best beloved Son Oh might I but Capitulate with Death Might I but reinfuse thy absent Breath I 'de think no Ransome for thy Life too dear I 'de be thy Slave if thou could'st Domineer Let Fate henceforth the Edge of Battle turn Let Israel rejoyce let Judah mourn I would resign my Laurel to thy Brow Wishing thou wert the same that I am now Depos'd I 'de Triumph in my low Degree And think my Chain a badge of Liberty Vain is my Wish I here am left alone My Life for ever and thy End to moan Some hidden Rancour lurkt in Joab's Breast The late Affront was not as yet supprest Thus being over-sway'd by some Disgust He mindful of Revenge forgets his Trust But I 'le forget Revenge Base Joab know I spare the Life which you to Vengeance owe. You Kill'd a Rebel yet at my Command You from a Rebel should withdraw your Hand The Guilt you punisht then return'd on you By Disobedience you a Rebel grew Think not they cannot Err who Conquest bring Conquest destroying the Victorious King A Traytor could but do as you have done You stab'd my Person when you slew my Son If other Sorrows Time allays the smart But this is too far rooted in my Heart The only Balm to heal this Malady Is the Dark entrance of Eternity Till then Farewel my Son my Dearest Son Farewel till then my Dearest Absalon Thus he continued till of Means bereft He left not speaking but of Speech was left Sighs for a time express'd his doleful Cares And then Ensu'd an Epilogue of Tears Unhappy David who Success Iaments And where Repentance is a Crime Repents Instead of Thanks to Heav'n for Ills remov'd He grieves that Prayers so effectual prov'd As to remove them Were it not too late He 'd seek his Own and not his Foes Defeat No Mimick Phrensy no disguised Wit Its Power shews to feign the want of it In seeing David now Men truly see What before Achish he but seem'd to be FINIS The TABLE A Dialogue between Apollo and Daphne pag. 1 Caphalus 's Lamentation for his Wife Procris being ignorantly slain by him as he was Hunting of Wild Beasts pag. 5 Amor Fugitivus or The fled Love Paraphras'd out of Moschus Idyllium the First pag. 7 Vpon a Bee Entomb'd in Amber pag. 9 On a Beggar Insulting over a Rich-Man's Grave pag. 18 On the Excellent translation of the First Book of Virgis's-Aeneis By Mr. Thomas Fletcher Fellow of New-College pag. 20 Lent 's Meditation pag. 22 The Resurrection of Christ pag. 38 To the late Bishop of Bath and Wells on his Departure from that See pag. 40 Vpon the Monthly Fast pag. 42 The Final Dissolution pag. 45 The New-Jerusalem pag. 48 A Lamentation for Moses pag. 52 Jonathan 's Complaint against Saul Occasion'd by his Enjoyning an Vnseasonable Fast pag. 54 A Dialogue between Dives and Lazarus pag. 56 Orpheus 's Complaint pag. 58 The Day of Pentecost pag. 59 A Copy of Verses Entituled In Libellum Clarissimi Viri Thomae Hobbii De Natura Hominis And Compos'd by Rad. Bathurst M. D. Made English pag. 62 The Seventh Elegy of the Second Book of Tibullus pag. 65 On the Death of the late Renown'd Learn'd and Honourable Mr. Robert Boyle pag. 69 On the Death of Almiral Carter pag. 72 Love Reigns Every-where pag. 76 On the Barbarous Execution of Dr. William Land sometime Lord Arch-Bishop of Canterbury pag. 80 On the Power of Musick pag. 83 Troas Act the First Where Hecuba complains of her Misfortunes pag. 87 Vpon the unseasonable Heat and Drought in April An. Dom. 1694. pag. 90 A Speech of Scaeva who Commanded under Caesar c. pag. 96 On the Death of a Skilful but Vnhappy Organist pag. 97 Martial Book I. Epig. 9. The Poet asserts That Honour to be truly Valuable which is Consistent with Life pag. 99 Epig. 14. The words of a Dying Wife to her Husband pag. 100 Epig. 22. On Porsenna and Mucius Scaevola Ib. Epig. 26. To Faustinus a Modest Writer pag. 101 Epig. 34. On a Deceitful Mourner Ib. Epig. 37. To Lucanus and Tullus c. 102 Book IV. Epig. 16. On a Boy Kill'd c. Ib. Epig. 44. A Description of the Mountain Vesuvius pag. 103 Epig. 68. On Varus derided for his Poor Entertainment pag. 104 Book V. Epig. 7. To Vulcan that he would spare Rome having already suffer'd by Fire Ib. Epig. 75. On Pompey and his Sons pag. 105 Book VI. Epig. 28. An Epitaph Ib. Book VII Epig 4. To Caesar c. pag. 106 Epig. 21. A Petition to the Morning Star c. pag. 107 Epig. 36. On Domitian 's stately Building pag. 108 Epig. 54. To Caesar pag. 109 Epig. 59. On a Thief who had lost one of his Eyes Ib. Martial Lib. Spec. Epig. 13. pag. 110 Martial Lib. Spec. Epig. 25. pag. 111 David 's unreasonable Grief for the Death of Absalom Ib.