Plot against our common Foe We think it just to joyne and tell them so 151. Let them be sure to watch their ports without And leave the busines within for Us We are not now to learne how to be stout And stomackfull and rude and mutinous Fancie smil'd and returned glad to see Successe so quickly crown her Embassie 152. Whose Issue when she to the Senses told They all would in Devotion needs blaspheme Paying loud thanks to Heav'n which did behold Their Wrongs mov'd these frends to succour them And now with traiterous expectation swell'd They wait to see the Passions take the Field 153. But Hope Love Hatred Anger and the rest Of that impatient Crew had forthwith been In open Arms had cautious Feare not prest For some demurr He Jelousie did win To side with him and then 't is best said He That of some valiant Leader We agree 154. Psyche is strong and sober If we fight Without due Discipline that Rashness will Help her to put our foolish Pow'rs to flight But if we make some expert Generall 's skill Our owne by following it the Victorie Will be ambitious on our side to be 155. That Word a new confusion broach'd for All Reach'd at the Generall 's place excepting Feare And Jelousie yet these were loth to fall Under the absolute power of any there At length they vote to step abroad and trie Who skilled best Feats of Activity 156. When loe so well Hells plots were laid they met A goodly person taller by the Head Than any of themselves Disdaine did sit High on his Brows his awfull Limbs were spred To such extent of Gallantry that there Seem'd ample roome for every thing but Feare 157. His first glimpse all their wishes did concentre Upon himself Love forthwith is design'd To break unto the Knight their bold Adventure And with her wily Sweetness sift his Mind She hastens to her Task and bowing low Opes her Mouths fountain whence this Charm did flow 158. Mights goodly Mirrour whosoe'r you be Whom blessed Fortune shews Us heer alone Surely such fair and ample Majestie Deserves by thousands to be waited on And if such honor you this Troop will deign We shall have found a Lord and you a Traine 159. A brave Designe has fir'd Us now which may Your Might and Soveraign Command become Upon a War wee have resolv'd to day With Psyche but good Chance has kept Us from Choosing our Generall and we hope our stay Was but for You whom Heav'n puts in our way 160. Necessity made this Conspiracy To break that Yoak which else our Necks would break Would Psyche suffer Us our Selves to be No mutinie of ours her Throne should shake But wee though Passions calme and quiet must lie Whil'st she proves Passionate ev'n to Tyranny 161. We must not Hope nor Fear nor Love nor Hate Nor nothing else whil'st she does all these things If fouler Slavery e'r did violate Free-Subjects Birth-right scorn our sufferings If not O may the safetie be ours Great Sir by your stout Hand the Glory Yours 162. Agenor glad such punctuall successe Did on his own Designe it selfe obtrude Swelling his Looks to bigger statelinesse Three turns he stalk'd three times he proudly view'd The Company three times he snuff'd and then Opening his Mouth at leisure thus began 163. Now by my Might and Worth I know you all But silly Worms I see you know not Me Whom to so vile a piece of Work you call As brideling wretched Psyche's Tyrannie Must I whom Lyons Tigres Dragons fear Debase my strength and stoop to conquer Her 164. If of the great Kinde she a Monster were If she had made distressed Countries Flie To the next Oracle on wings of Fear To summon to their help a Dietie If she could prove a Thirteenth Task for Him Who Twelve perform'd the work would me beseem 165. And yet because I your Oppression see I 'le win so much of my high-practis'd Might To make it bowe to your delivery Yet never say Agenor came to fight I scorn the Match this Finger will be strong Enough to shew my Pittie of your Wrong 166. This said He march'd in more than warlike state Unto the House where thought-full Psyche lay And thundering imperiously at the Gate Unto the Rebells Rage burst ope the way Filling her outward Court with Noise and Fear Whose echo revell'd in her frighted Eare. 167. As when the Windes let loose upon the Sea Tear up the Deeps and fling them at the Stars Chasing away unarm'd Serenity At the first blast of those unlook'd for Wars Each startled Nymph her fearfull 〈◊〉 shrinks in And to the bottom of the World doth run 168. So Psyche trembling at the furious Crie Retreated to her inmost Fort a place High built and strong and yeilding to her Eye Full view of all the Rebells Time it was To call her Counseller whom to the Rout With these instructions she sendeth out 169. Run Logos run and know what mad mistake Has hurl'd my subjects into tumult Trie For well thou skill'st that gentle Might to break Their furies Torrent by the lenitie Of wise Persuasion Pardon of all Charms The best proclaim to them who lay down Arms. 170. The News made Logos shake his Head but yet With pleasant Gravity to them He goes And friends said He if you be in a fit Of fighting goe in God's name seek your Foes This is your peacefull Home ô be it farr From you to ruine your owne Rest by Warre 171. If you had any reason to rebell Sure I should guesse at it but I know none What boots it you our Empresse to expell Who needs must fall in her confusion What gains the Madman who through jealous fears Pulls his own house and death about his ears 172. What means sweet Love to rob her selfe of all Her selfe and unto Discord it impart Must th' universall Glue which bindes the Ball Of the whole World so close in pieces start Shall your dear Bands serve onely now to tie Confusion fast to your Conspiracy 173. Stern Hatred could the copious World afford No other food whereon to feast thy Spight But thou against thy selfe must draw thy Sword Whil'st with thine Empresse thou prepar'st to fight Hate whom thou wilt besides but hate not her Whose Love gives thee thy life and dwelling here 174. What strange Enchantments lured thee fond Hope To this Designe of Self-destruction Who Abus'd thy credulous Soul and puff'd thee up With this vain fancie that the Ladder to Climbe higher must be Ruine Thus art thou Of Hope become plain Desperation now 175. Unhappy Fear and what makes thee afraid Longer to dwell with thine own Safety What monstrous Witcherie hath here betray'd Thy trembling Heart to this bold mutinie What hardneth thee who quak'st at every frown Of other Princes to despise thine own 176. Brave Anger shall the scoffing World at last Have cause to mock thy Valour which doth make Such earnest haste unto so mad a Jest
Blemish Wrinckle Frown Mole Scar or Blot The inconsistent Stranger out she shut 144. Within rose Hills of Spice and Frankincense Which smil'd upon the flowrie Vales below Where living Chrystall roll'd its influence Whose musicall Impatience did flow With endlesse chiding the pure Gems beneath Because no smoother they had pav'd its Path. 145. The Nymphs which plaid about this Currents side Were milkie Thoughts tralucid fair Desires Soft Turtles Kisses Looks of Virgin-Brides Sweet Coolnesse which nor needs nor feareth Fires Snowie Imbraces cheerly-sober Eyes Gentilenesse Mildnesse Ingenuities 146. At full length on the Beds of floures did lie Smiling Content Ease Sweetness Softness Pleasure Whilst in the carpet-Walks there danced by Calmeness Long-days Security and Leisure Accomplish'd Growth brisk Firmitude and Health The onely Jewell which makes wealthy Wealth 147. Your Roses heer would onely spend their Blusn On their own Ougliness should they compare With those pure Eys with which the Rosie Bush Looks up and views its beauteous Neighbours there Nor are your Lilies white if those were by Whose leaves are all fair-writ with Purity 148. Liban and Carmell must submit their Heads To Paradise's foot the Balme Nard Myrrh And every Odour of Arabia's Beds Would begge to borrow richer Sweetness heer Nor would Adoni's Garden scorne to be Their fellow-suiter for true Suavitie 149. The early Gales knock'd gently at the doore Of every floure to bid the Odours wake Which taking in their softest Arms they bore About the Garden and return'd them back To their own Beds but doubled by the Blisses They sipp'd from their delicious Brethrens Kisses 150. Upon the Wings of those inamouring Breaths Refreshment Vigor and new Spirits attended And wheresoe'r they flew cheer'd up their Paths And with fresh Aires of Life all things befreinded For Heavn's all-sweetning Spirit its breath did joyn To make the Powers of these Blasts divine 151. The goodly Trees their fertile Arms did bend Under the nobler load of fruit they bore That Orchard which the Dragon did attend For all its Golden Boughs to this was poor As well the greater Serpent knew who crept Hither betimes and heer his curs'd Watch kept 152. Of Fortitude there stood a goodly Row Heer of Munificence a thick-set Grove Of Industry a Quick-set there did grow Heer flourished a dainty Copps of Love There sprung up pleasant Twiggs of ready Wit Heer a large Tree of Gravity was set 153. Heer Temperance grew and wide-spred Justice there Under whose moderate Shaddow Piety Devotion Mildness Friendship planted were Next stood Renowne with Head exalted high Then Peace with Plenty Fatnesse Happinesse O blessed Place where grew such things as these 154. Yet what are these ifby Death's envious Hand Or they or their fruition blasted be This to prevent at carefull Heav'ns Command Amidst the rest sprung up an helpfull Tree Which nobly prov'd it self a Branch to be Pluck'd from the grand stock of Eternity 155. Amidst them all it sprung for well it knew Its proper Seat and chose the Gardens Heart What place could more than that to Life be due Whence Vigor round might flow and reach each part Fresh Heat and Spirits hung about it thick The leav's did breath and all its fruit was quick 156. By this the mighty Tree of Knowledge stood For where should Wisdom dwell but next the Heart Its Leavs were written fair but writ with blood Holding forth Learning and capricious Art O fatall Tree how wise had Adam grown If He thy woefull knowledge had not known 157. High in the shady Galleries sate a Quire Well worthy such a Chappell Birds of Praise Whose most harmonious Throats did all conspire To pay for their sweet Home in sweeter Layes With whom soft Echo needs her skill would shew And though she kept slow time yet she sung true 158. This Mapp ofWonders this Epitomie Of all Heav'ns Pride this Court ofRarities This Confluence ofblessed Gallantry Was that so much renowned Paradise Renowned yet ô how much higher than The loftiest Praise it ever reap'd from Men 159. The great Creator hither Adam brings As to the Portall of Celestiall Blisse And See said He of these illustrious Things I give thee free choise bating onely this One Tree of Knowledge all the rest are thine Eate what thou wilt but let that still be mine 160. If thy presumptious Hand but touch that Tree Thy liquorish Crime must cost thy Life and thou By Deaths immediate Tallons seized be Death Adam Death hangs thick on every Bough Loe there the Tree of Life 's as neer as that Take heed thou di'st not for thou knowst not what 161. O Noble Master whose vast Love did give A world at once and yet require no more But that his Creature would have care to live And so in safetie possesse his Store Who ties Him to no homage but to shun Being by his own needlesse fault undone 162. After this easie Charge upon a Throne Built all of Power He his Lieutenant set To exercise his new Dominion Upon his Subjects for before his seat By Heav'ns Command the Beasts now marshell'd were In modest equipage all Pair by Pair 163. When Adam fix'd on them his awfull Eye The Lyon couch'd the Horse let fall his crest Behemoths Tail mounted before so high Melted down to the ground the Bull deprest His Horns the Boar suck'd in his foam the Bear The Wolfe the Tiger louted low for fear 164. Like reverence bowed down the other Crew Flat on the ground when from their Soveraigns Face Such full beams of imperiall Brightnesse flew As spake it plainly the Creators Glasse Fair the Reflection was which could command The rudest Beasts the truth to understand 165. As these their duty did the Eagle drew Up every rank and file of winged Things Thither the Estrich Vultur Falcon flew Thither a flock of every Bird that sings Thither the Peacock but with train full low For down fell all its Stars ecclipsed now 166. The most magnanimous Cock came strutting on Disdaining Heav'n and Earth till he drew neer His mighty Soveraigns all-awing Throne From whence upon his surly neck flew Fear His wings flagg'd low his fiery gullet grew Languid and pale his combe and forehead blue 167. Wise Adam mark'd them all and sent his Eye To scarch their bosoms Cabinets where He read Th' essentiall Lines and Characters which by Natures late Hand were 〈◊〉 fashioned Their Difference their Kinred and Relations Their Powers their Properties and Inclinations 168. Thus of their inward Selves inform'd He thought What Titles would most correspondent be To their own Bosoms sense and having wrought Up in one Word each Natures Mystery He took Acquaintance of them all by Name Then with a Princely Nod dismissed them 169. They went in loving Pairs Which as He saw He fetch'd a gentle Sigh to think that He His nobler Life in Solitude should draw Whil'st all things else enjoy'd Society What boots it him that He raigns Soveraign Lord If all his World can Him no Queen
Such genuine beams of Piety descrised As soon dispell'd all mists of Jealousie Which serupulous Fear had rais'd unknown untried She is receiv'd Besides the holy Priest By Heav'n was warn'd to entertain this Guest 180. Phylax withdrew his nimble Selfe into His Closet of Invisibility Yet still attended on his Psyche who Approached to the royall Mystery With such brave fervor that her hungry Haste Almost as boundlesse seemed as the Feast 181. O how her Soule into the Dish did leap And dive down to the Bottom of the Cup With what Inamorations did she weep What sighs of Joy did break her bosome ope How did Fear strive with Love How did she groan Between Humility and Ambition 182. O how She thinks her Lips and Heart impure And yet she cannot for a World refrain She knows not how this Life she should endure If from the Life of Life She must contain She knows not how her Iron should for beak To meet the Loadstone now it was so neer 183. Whilst in this dainty Agony she lay Into her Mouth the Priest gives her her Blisse Which to her Heart directly took its way And drown'd it in exuberant Sweetnesses She now no longer Psyche is for she Is all converted into Ecftafie 184. O most Miraculous Feast how fain my Song Would be Luxuriant in admiring Thee But neither mine nor Phylax's high Tongue Knows how to reach that lofty Harmonie Of all united Sweets and Joyes which lie In bounteous Loves protoundest Mystery 185. Yet may my pained Soule have leave to lay At this Songs foot its just and heavy Sighs Which never since mine Eyes first op'd on Day So deeply rellished Lifes miseries The more my shame whose mighty Sins for Me Have earned this Heart-knawing Agonie 186. Time was when Heav'n in this late happy 〈◊〉 Kept open house when this Celestiall Feast Did freely wooe all Hearts to come and fill Their holy Appetites with all the best Of antidated Blisse and grow Divine With this Spirituall mighty Bread and Wine 187. But now both Feast and Bord devoured are By a new Banquet as jejune and drie As barren Air for all this Pulpit Cheer Feeds but the itching Ears strange Boulimie Whilst still the Heart remains as lank and thin And nothing fatter grows but lusty Sin 188. Sin fatter grows so fat that now it dares Kick both at Earth and Heav'n and scorns to be Aw'd by those generous and ingenuous Fears Which are the Reins of Virtuous Modesty It mocketh Veng'ance and derideth Law Because their patient Sword they slowly draw 189. O how come Christian Soules so well content To want the choisest Viands Heav'n could give O how preposterously Abstinent Are they who with all riotous Dainties strive To fortisie the Belly but can finde No Time to Victuall and enforce the Minde 190. Surely those Hero's were more prudent far Upon whose nearer hearts the warmer Blood Of Jesus dropp'd not once a Moneth or year Ordivers Years they with this holy Food Cheer'd up their Soules but every Morning fed And made the Lord of Life their Daily Bread 191. With Heav'n this alway kept their bosomes warme This made Them Eagle-like their strength renew With death-despising Courage this did arme Their gentlest Spirits By this they Masters grew Of Earth and Hell which having trampled down Heav'n too by Violence They made their own 192. But ô my Heart why art Thou stealing thus From thine own Woes thy Neighbours to deplore Time was when whilst thine unsledged Wickednesse Flew not at Heav'ns long patient face nor tore This Judgment thence I once a Week at least Could at this Bord of Blessings be a Guest 193. Then with sweet Comfort could I turn mine Eye Back on the year which with Delight did run Then could I count what Gains I reaped by My constant Trading in Devotion Rejoycing in my satisfied Minde That every Sunday I in Heav'n had din'd 193. But now the flaming Coursers of the Sun Are drawing on the fourteenth Moneth since I Attended on the Celebration Of this sweet life-enlivening Mystery Which yet I then was fain to steal and so A Thief that Day to Paradise did goe 194. I went indeed But a Forbidden Tree Strait woo'd my liquorish Hand and foolish I Beleev'd the flattering Bait and would not see How treacherous an Hook beneath did lie Dear wonderous dear this heedlesse Fault did cost Me For all my heav'nly Joyes and Powers it lost Me 195. It lost Me all and no Recruit was nie But I am lest aPrey to this long Fast O how the Palate of my Soule is drie What burning Drought doth shrivell up and waste The Bowels of my Heart how is my Minde With most uncomfortable Squalor pin'd 196. O how my Understandings Pinions tire And flag below when I aloft would soar What leaden Numnesse damps those hopes of Fire With which my Fancie'gan to glow before What Languor cloggs my fainting Will whilst On dark unworthy Earth thus groveling lie 197. O how this drie and barren Verse attests The heavy Truth of these my Lamentations O pitty Me all you whose gentle Breasts E'r felt the Stings of Mysticall Vexations Pitty Me ô my candid Readers now What makes me tire your Patience you know 198. Had I my wonted Share in that dear Feast Which with celestiall Spirits embraves the Heart A fairer Banquet I for You had drest Who now can onely by my pined Smart Warn You to prize and to imbrace with 〈◊〉 Religious Tendernesse what I have lost 199. Lost hitherto But must that Losse run on And can my Life mean while make good its Name Can Day maintain her Self if once the Sun Deny to feed her with his vitall Flame Can Rivers keep their constant full-tide Course If once the living Spring doth them divorce 201. O tender King of Love whose sumptuous Care For hungry Hearts that high Provision made Behold my starved Soule lies gasping here For one dear Crumb of thy mysterious Bread And craves to cool its burning Tongue one Drop Of liquid Life from thy all-saving Cup. 202. I know my Worthlessenesse sweet Lord and how Unfit I am to look for any Share In those peculiar Delicates which Thou For thine own genuine Children didst prepare Yet to a Dogg once more thy leave afford To catch what falleth from thy Childrens Bord. PSYCHE OR LOVES MYSTERIE CANTO XIII The Death of Love ARGUMENT LOve having Liv'd for Man is pleas'd to Dy To make his purchase sure by Life and Death Through Earths profoundest Gulfe of Tyranny And the vast Ocean of Heav'ns mighty Wrath He nobly waded and upon the Shore Having first spent his Blood his Soule did poure 1. SOule of all Sweets ô Life how dear art Thou To all that ever had a Taste of Thee How much of Heav'n it selfe infus'd doth flow Into the region of thy Suavity Indeed Heav'n were not Heav'n did it not joyn To make it Selfe by Marrying Thee divine 2. Thou in the Center of Divinity Before the Birth of
and its sad Warrant bear Date upon this my joyous Birth-day How Shall Lun-snarle my Promise and contrive That both mine Honor and the Saint may live 161. Both cannot live I see O that I were Some private Man that so I might be free Of my repute but Princes Honors are The Peoples too and by Community I should make all the Body perjured If I my selfe prove so who am their Head 162. And must John die Bear witnesse All how loth This Word doth fall from my constrained Lip To recompence the too too hasty Oath Which from Imprudence not from Me did slip Then take his Head Yet never say that I Issu'd this Warrant but Necessitie 163. Thus strove the Tyrant by a comely Lie To veile the Visage of his hideous Hate For fear the Damsell by his privity Might seeme to have contriv'd the Baptists fate Whil'st dreading his unlawfull Vow to break Adultery He doth with Murder back 164. Was it not plain that his outragious Vow Did prostitute but halfe his Realm and why Must the blood thirstie Hypocrite bestow More than the Whole What Prodigalitie Is this mad Herod For Johns Head alone Is worth more than thy Kingdome or thine own 165. Loe there the last Dish of great Herods Feast The Martyrs Head in a faire Charger laid He smiles within though clouds his face o'r-cast And feeds his soul on it But the proud Maid Knowing her Mother by this Death would live In triumph takes the Dish and takes her leave 166. The Royall Beldame in suspence did wait To reape her spightfull Stratagems event But when she saw the bloody Present straight Grown young with Salvage Joy hir high Content She to her dancing Daughter does display In her own tripping and lascivious way 167. Then much like some she-Bear whose long-wish'd Prey Is faln at last into her hungry Paws She tears the sacred Lips and rends a Way Unto the reverend Tongue which our she draws And then with peevish Wounds and scornfull Jests Her Womanish Revenge on it she Feasts 168. But mark that Convoy of illustrious Light Which seems from this low World to make such haste The better part of John there takes its flight Unto a greater Kings than Herod's Feast That Goale his Body and this World were three Prisons to Him who now from all is free 169. The Patriarks and Prophets all gave way When they this greater Saint approaching saw Who now his blessed Harbour doth enjoy For those fierce Storms he grappled with below And sweetlier rests in Abrahams bosome then In the adulterous Kings the lustfull Queen 170. This is the Story which the Virgin Mother Hath round about thy Girdle made to live But mark this well my Psyche 't is that other Selected Jewell which thy Spouse did give To crown the rest and tie up all the story In one divine Epitomie of glory 171. Divided 'twixt amazement and delight The Virgin read the strange Embroyderie But when on that last Gem she fix'd her sight Immortall Joyes so swell'd her soul that she Runs over with delicious Teares and cries Come Phylax come gird me with Paradise 172. Content said He but then be sure to shrink And hugg your self alone within your selfe The Girdle's wonderous strait nor must you think That any supernumerary Pelf Can finde a room in this rich mansion where The outward Walls of solid Jewells are 173. This said before her self was well a ware He closely buckled it about her Heart Straight she complains Oh spare me Phylax spare My squeased soul least from her self she start O loose the Buckle if the time be come That I must die at least afford me roome 174. Must I be girt to death and not have space To fetch one parting sigh before I die O me whose sins have made my Spouse imbrace Me with imbroidered Tortures so that I The riddle of unhappy Maids must goe In travell with more than a Mothers Woe 175. And so shee did indeede Such matchlesse Throws And Pangs did sting her in her straitned Heart Till at the length she bringeth forth and shows Her wondering selfe the reason of her smart Whil'st from her labouring Breast she pressed sees A shapelesse Lump of foule Deformities 176. Imperfect Embryo's unformed Lust Pin-fethered Fancies and halfe-shap'd Desires Dim Dawns of Fondnesse doubtfull seeds of Rust Glimmering Embers of corruptive Fires Scarce something and yet more than Nothing was That mystick Chaos that dead-living Masse 177. O how tormenting is the Parturition Of tender souls when they unload themselves Of their blinde night-conceiv'd Bratts of perdition How doe the peevish and reluctant Elves Mad with their own birth viperously contend The labouring bowells of the Heart to rend 178. This makes Faint-hearted Mortalls oft preferre The sad Reversion of eternall Pain Before this Conflicts Pangs So they may hear A quiet Truce with all their sinnes maintain They are content though Hell must with their Grave Set ope its Mouth and Them as sure receive 179. Psyche deliver'd of that monstrous Birth Now findes her Girdle fit and easie grown Affording roome for all the Train of Mirth With which her Bosome now was over-flown She view'd the Newborn Thing and viewing smil'd Not out of love but hate unto the Childe 180. As one from blinde Cimmeria newly come Beyond his own ambition into Arabia's blessed Fields and finding room Both for his eyes and joyes doth wondering goe Over those spicely Paths and thinks that hee Doth now no lesse begin to live then see 181. So overjoyed she admired now The glorious Day new risen in her Breast Where carnall Clowds before would not allow A constant beam to dwell but over-cast Her so that labouring she had much adoe To spie her Heav'n and see which way to goe 182. For now her soul was clearer than the face Of faire Aurora wash'd in Eastern streams Unspotted Thoughts flock'd in to take their place In her pure Heart which now a Garden seemes Of Lilies planted on warm Bedds of Snow Through which Gods Spirit doth gales of Odours blow 183. All Sublunary Sweets she has forgot Nor thinks this bitter World can breed such things All Beauties to her Eye are but one Blot The Bees to her are nothing else but stings All Loves are Hate all Dalliance Vexation All Blandishments but Poyson in the Fashion 184. For by this Girdle she his Pris'ner is In whose alone she reads the Name of Love And in the Languishments of softest Blisse By dainty Torments doth her patience prove Crying at every sigh O Jesu when Shall I have liv'd this Death and Life begin 185. What further businesse have I here below With flesh and Blood whose joyes I relish not Who is the Conquerour of my Heart but thou And since thy love this Victory hath got Why must thy Captive not permitted be To wait on thy triumphant Coach and thee 186. Though for thy Royall Scorn I fitting be Yet why wilt thou thine own Choise disallow If I had still neglected been
her hardest travell come O who can tell the Pangs by which she was Tortur'd and torn when her unhappy Womb It self unloaded for the Curse was sure Nor could those Torments ever find a Cure 275. In sin conceiving she brought forth in pain And with Pollution dy'd her Progenie Through all Successions her anneiled stain Did propagate its own Deformitie And all her Heirs bind in an Obligation Of Death and what is deadlier Damnation 276. Besides the peevish and importunate 〈◊〉 Of restless Kicking at Heav'ns gentle Law It s fretfull Taint did in proud Triumph stretch Through the whole Current of her Blood which now In humane veins so madly boyls and flames That kindled at the fire of Hell it seems 277. Thus when black Venome has into the Spring Infused Death the Streams which from it runne How farre so e'r they travell still they bring Along with them that first Contagion The furthest Drop knows not how to escape The reach of that Originall Mishap 278. Your Souls I grant rise not from that foul Spring Nor did they ever swimme in Adams veins Yet is the Body so unclean a thing That strait it doth communicate its Stains Nor can the soul be pure which married is To so contagious a Spouse as this 279. Yet call not God unjust who doth commit So fair a Gemme unto so foul a Case Thereby infallibly engaging it To be as black and cursed as its Place O no He still is kind and knows a way Through Wrath and Judgement Mercy to display 280. No Plot of Satans spight shall undermine Or make a breach in the Creations frame Nature shall still proceed and Heav'ns Designe Of Mans felicitie persist the same God-like it is indeed Fates Scales to turne And make them Blest who to a Curse were born 281. Whilst God makes pure Souls dive into this stream Of Blackness gratious He contriveth how To wash and cleanse and re-imbellish them Till they unto such pow'rfull Beautie grow That sweetly on their Bodies they can be Reveng'd infecting them with Puritie 282. Such purging Might in Jesus Blood there flows That from the face of its least Drop doe flie This Stain which at the Root of Mankind grows And all those Blots which on the Branches lie And this dear Fountain in Decree was broach'd Long e'r the Soul by any Taint was touch'd 283. They who desire 't may here refined be Into a Claritude becomming that High Paradise of whose felicitie Edens was onely the faint Shaddow But They who scorn such Bliss would themselves have thrown To Hell though Eve had never help'd them down 284. And tell me Psyche what thou thinkest now Of thy Extraction which from wretched Dust The Scumm of Earth and game of Winds doth flow What of thy rotten Kindred since thou must Corruption for thy Mother own and call Each Worm thy Sister that in mire doth crawl 285. Yet Worms are ly'ble to one onely Death A Death which quickly will it selfe destroy But thy Composure in its bosome hath A Living Poyson that may finde a way To kill thee with surviving Death by which Thy torture to Eternity shall reach 286. Think well on this and if thou canst be proud Who by the Pride of thy first Parents art With this destructive Portion endow'd And from thy Birth betroth'd to endlesse Smart Think what vast distance lies 'twixt worthlesse thee And the Almighty King of Majesty PSYCHE OR LOVES MYSTERIE CANTO VII The Great Little One. ARGUMENT THe Angell convoys Psyche to the Sceen Of Mercies grand Exploits to shew Her what Dear Care Heav'n took to wash her bosome clean From the foule shame of every sinfull Blot Betimes he 'gins and from the morning Glory Of Loves bright Birth lights in the blessed Story 1. ILlustrious Spirits of Fire who e'r you be This Lesson will be no discredit to Your towring Flames nor must Heroick Yee To Schoole to Psyche's Legend scorn to goe Such Sparks as you for all your glittering be In your Originall as dim as she 2. As other Fires at length to Ashes grow So must brave Yee Yet they were lighted from Some generous bright Originall but you And your Extraction did from Ashes come Whether forward you or backward turn your eye Your Bounds are Vilenesse Shame and Miserie 3. Examine Alexanders Monument Or Helens Tombe and marke what there does lie Or if your Nostrills dread the banefull sent Of their in-vain-embalmed Majesty Trust that strong Proof which bidds you sadly think That you though great and fair must end in stink 4. But trust not Pride whose tumid Treachery Did to that Rottennesse all the World betray No Poyson yet did ever swell so high Or to such certain Death prepare the way Steep headlong Danger on the Mountains reigns Let them who safe would walk walk on the Plains 5. Plain are the Walks of mild Humility And know no Precipice but planted are With sweet Content with pious Privacie With cheerfull Hope and with securing Fear An Humble Soule which always dwells below Prevents that Ruine which on Hills doth grow 6. The Tempest's aim is at those lofty Things Which rise against it and its strength defie This to the Pines and Oaks Destruction brings Whilst modest Shrubbs beneath in peace doe lie Thus come proud Rocks to rue the angry Wind Which to the humble Vales is alway kinde 7. Humility is provident and acquaints Aforehand with her Ashes which she knowes Must be her End She in no flattering Paints Her sober Judgment and her self will loose She dies betimes how long so e'r she lives And Death but as a long known Freind receives 8. She huggs her Herse and does her Grave imbrace And pants and longs her finall Ev'n to see When in that cool and undisturbed Place Her weary Head to rest may setled be Assured of a Friend whose Care hath found For Her to Heav'n a passage under ground 9. She strongly woo's the Worms to crawle apace She prays not slow Corruption to make haste Toward Death for life she runs and thinks her Race Is long because she yet lives On as fast She speeds as Sighs of Love can blow Her or Fire of unquenchable Desire can spurr 10. O meek Ambition which correctest Pride Into a Virtue and mak'st Venome grow Plain Antidote An heart which thou dost guide Struggles and reaches still to be more low And prides it self in nothing but to be From Prides Dominion intirely free 11. The Seeds of this fair Grace deep planted were In Psyche's tender Heart by Charis hand Which as they sprouted up with heav'nly care To weed and dresse them Phylax by did stand And now to make them flourish higher she Will with her liberall Tears their Waterer be 12. For Phylax had no sooner made an end But She begins first by her showring Eys Then by her Tongue which with their Tears did blend Its Lamentations Woe is me she cries What now should Psyche doe who needs would be Proud of her shame and
Serenity To which the Ocean is but poor in Treasures His own dear Breast to Thee hee opened wide And let Thee in unto its fullest Tide 138. There did'st Thou lie and learn thy Soule to glow By the dear Copy of thy Pillows Heat A Pillow in whose soft Protection Thou Put'st all thy Cares and Fears to rest And yet Slep'st not thy Selfe for how could any Eye Indure to close when Jesus was so nigh 139. There did'st Thou lie next to the Heart of Love Whose ravishing Imbraces kept thee warm With all the best of Heav'n no more above But folded up in his incircling Arm Which forc'd all wise Spectators to conclude Thou wert aforehand with Beatitude 140. The loftiest Stories where pure Seraphs dwell Exalted in Felicities bright Sphear Thy dainty Habitation did excell For at his Foot-stoole They lie prostrate there Amidst the Sweets of whose all-balmey Breast Thine onely Head makes its delicious Nest. 141. What potent Joyes what mysticall Delight Woo'd and besieg'd thy Soule on every side Whil'st thy inamoured Spouse spent all the Might Of heav'nly Tendernesse on his dear Bride How many healing Wounds gave his Loves Dart How many living Deaths to thy soft Heart 142. How did hee study to epitomize His Incarnation's amorous Designe And trie the best of Mercie 's Mysteries Upon thy single Soule in which divine Experiment it was thine onely Grace To fill his universall Churches place 143. Thus while he liv'd he sweetly liv'd in Thee And when hee di'd Thou saw'st him nayled fast Unto his Death Yet no Mortality Could seize upon His love for by his last And tenderest Words whil'st hee Himselfe did die To Thee he gave Loves living Legacie 144. Into his dearest Mothers Bosome hee Commended Thee and bid her own her Son What Nature could not Love contriv'd to be And Mary must be Mother unto John Jesus and John Love had so closely ti'd That in their Mother they must not divide 145. Mary no other Glass could findè where she So fair an Image of her Sonne might read Nor John so pure a Mirrour wherein He His ever looking-longing Eyes might feed On his dear Lord Thus Love though dead and gone Sweetly leaves John his Spouse Mary her Sonne 146. No wonder gentlest Saint that on thy Tongue Love built his Hive and dropp'd his Hony thence Whilst thy Soul-charming Words rellish so strong Of Heav'ns best Sweets and choycest influence That Love from his own Wing lent Thee the Quill Which all thy Lines with Charity doth fill 147. No wonder Thou brave Eagle soar'dst so high And div'dst so deep into the Suns bright face Where Thou didst read the Words great Mystery By which thine Eye refin'd not dazeled was No wonder that Thou didst thy Gospeli fashion And Calculate by God's own Elevation 148. No wonder that Port Latin saw the Oile Scalding in vain Thou who didst live by Fire And in whose breast such amorous streams did boile Could'st feel no other Flames O no! some higher Fervor of Love must melt thine own and send It to the flaming Bosome of thy Friend 149. The Languishments of never-faint Desire Must crown thy Life with correspondent Death Though by sharp Pains thy Brethren did expire This dainty Martyrdom must end thy Breath So Heav'n has privileg'd thy Piety Thou who did'st Live by Love of Love must Die 150. Pardon me Psyche I could not forbear This deare Apostrophe John was the Man Whose virgin flaming Worth made Him be neer Of kin to our Angelick Tribe and can We mention him and not salute him too Whom Honors Soveraign Lord has honor'd so 151. And pardon Me that I have dwelt so long On his Apostolick Bretheren the Glory Of whose death-scorning Valour does no wrong Nor interrupts their Masters royall Story He and his heav'nly Might in them appear'd And o'r the vanquish'd Earth his Banner rear'd 152. Mark now that Mount which lifts its lofty Head Neer to Bethsaida whence it takes a view Of all the Countries round about it spread Nor Zebulon nor Nephthali out-flew Its Prospect which through Trachonitis too And Ituraea did sublimely goe 153. Yea though far distant it acquaintance took With other Mountains unto Hermon 〈◊〉 And stately Libanus it reach'd a Look This was that noble Oratory where Thy Lord so oft retired that the Place Thenceforth the Mount of Christ 〈◊〉 was 154. A Mount where liberall Nature did her best Witnesse the flowrie Beauties smiling there But Grace far more 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Than that bright Pomp which and of old prepare For the Lawgivers feet the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Of Sina mix'd with Thunder Smoak and Dread 155. For here no Trumpet spake the Frightfull Minde Of stern Imperiousnesse no rigid Law Back'd with an everlasting Curse injoyn d The World to its hard Yoak their Necks to bow But Love himselfe upon his gentle Throne Gave the soft Lawes of Benediction 156. Eight Springs of Blessednesse abroach hee set And woo'd the weary World to bathe in Them Their Cares and Fears hee taught Them to transmit And bury all Solicitude in Him He pass'd his Word Heav'n should their Purveyor be Who served in the Warrs of Pietie 157. His Evangelicall Oeconomie He instituted here and so improved The highest Pitch of Legall Sanctitie That though incumbering Burdens hee removed Yet more Bonds of Perfection on hee laid And wonderous strict his Mercies Candor made 158. His Reins were Silk but yet hee held them strait And drove amain providing by that Art That in their Passage no enchanting Bait Might his Disciples lure and tempt to start Out of the King of Heav'ns high Way but to His Kingdome safely and directly goe 159. His blessed Rules and none but His are They Which past the Puritie of Gold refine Gross Mortall Hearts and sublimate poor Clay Into a State Angelick and Divine Whilst by his Spirit He scours off sinfull Rust And into Heav'n blows up the purged Dust. 160. But turn and view those Desert Fields which lie Next Neighbours to the Galilean Sea Into that hopefull quiet Privacie Devotion had withdrawn thy Spouse but He Had given the People too much tast of his Sweetness to think He long could scape their Press 161. For as the busie Bees who once have found 〈◊〉 Garden haunt it day by day 〈◊〉 out every flower and humming round About the Tops of their delicious Prey So to that Garden for thy Lord had by His presence made it so did People flie 162. Jesus who bow'd from Heav'n poor Man to meet Could not refraine to entertaine the Throng With gracious ready Welcome He did greet Each Troop and Party as they came along Dealing his Courtesie to great and small Who came to be the Saviour of All. 163. Then as the wise Physitian first takes care That all the Vitall Parts be sound within Before He spend his pains on any Soare Which sinks into the Flesh or on theSkin Doth swimme So did his Tenderness to those His numerous Patients his art dispose 164. Their Hearts
Ages hadst thy Spring Where thou didst sweetly Smile amidst the Three Most undivided One and traversing Those Heights Depths of Blessedness didst through Eternities immense Expansion flow 3. Thence when the World burst out from Nothing thou Didst spare some Streams Created Hearts to cheer No Bosomes with that Influence did glow But of thy Sweets they straight enamor'd were Which as their richest dearest Jewells they Close in the heart of their own Hearts did lay 4. Their Goods their Parents or their Children were Not halfe so pretious to Them as Thou Their Joynts their Limbs their Skin they well could spare Their tender Name and Fame they could allow A Prey to Injury so they by them Might Thee and thy Security 〈◊〉 5. The vilest Worme whom Thou dost please to grace Forgetteth not that worth he gains by Thee He shoots his warey Self from place to place And when oppressed feeble though he be He turns again and with the strongest Foe Tries what for thy deer Rescue He can doe 6. The wretched Serpent is content to feed On basest Dust rather than part with Thee Though Curses poure their Streams upon his head He makes his Body all one Helmet be To sheltre it and roules himself about Himself to keep all mortall violence out 7. Nay when the Sword or Wand its way has cut Quite through his Circles till his Body be An heap of fragments He himself doth knit Ev'n by the Cement of his Wounds till He Grows One again So lothe he is to die Though his damn'd life be but his Miserie 8. What Voyages will silly Swallows take Warme Seasons round about the World to chase What hard shift will the hunted Partridge make To shun the greedy Griffens deadly face What Wings of Speed what Tricks and Sleights will fear Of Death soon teach the close-pursued Hare 6. In how great Sweat and Pains doe Pismires spend Their warmer Moneths to reap and carry home Their Cropp which in the Cold may them befreind With Sustentation and defend Them from The fear of loosing that poor Life which They In love of it to endlesse Toile betray 10. The most industrious never-tired Bee Flies through all Summer knocking at the door Of every likely Flower where thoughtfull she Can borrow ought towards her Winter Store And thus for love of Life her honey trade A bitter course of Painfulnes is made 11. Yea ev'n the simplest Weed whose Life doth but Preserve that Stink with which She taints the air When Winter gins its chains of Frost to put Upon the Earth makes all her Spirits repair Down to the Root for rather than be dead Alive She chooseth to be buried 12. But yet no Creature with such painfull Pains Doth purchase Lifes Security as Man What Plots and Projects tumble in his brains What Cares and Labours make Him faint and wan Earth open house to all things else doth keep But He must sowe before he looks to reap 13. A tedious Prentisehood He spends to learn How he may toile himself another Day And by his still-returning Labours ern What will support his Strength that still He may Be grapling with his Work for his own S weat Must be the constant Sauce unto his Meat 14. To get a Living 's a sufficient Charm T' allure him through the most portentous Sea To make him scorn the most out ragious Storm Though Death within three Inches of Him be To fire him unto all impieties Defying Veng'ance and the Thundering Skies 15. A Charm sufficient to make him List Himself an Enemie to the life of Man Whilst he fears not to make his stoney breast Harder by martiall Steel and Brasse and can Without all blushing take his bloody Pay For his Endeavours daily to Destroy 16. O wonderous Riddle though eternall Death Invitably be entaild upon His monstrous Crimes Yet He his present Breath Esteems so deer that still he dares run on In any Deadly Wickednes which may Maintain that life which must 〈◊〉 long 〈◊〉 17. Indeed the Man whose swelling Coffers bring Him forth free choise of all the dainty Store Which Land or Sea can yeild to cheer a King May finde some feeling reason to adore His Jollse Life But what convincing Plea Can Beggers move to this 〈◊〉 18. Yet They who are so destitute within And poor without that equally they want Both Food wherewith to fill their wretened Skin And Clothes to cover it are well content On these hard tenns to live nor 〈◊〉 They be By any Death quit of this 〈◊〉 19. The woefull Captive whose dark Dungeon is No other but his antidated Grave Though neither Light nor open air be his Yet huggs his Life as deerely as the brave And lustie Gallant who himself can please With all the Fat of pleasure and of case 20. The Leper clothed in his winding sheet By his disease abhorrs the thought of death Life still is ev'n in his dead Body sweet And full as pretious He esteems his Breath As doth the Virgin whose fair Bodies dresse Of native Lilies and of Roses is 21. He who doth in a Fevers fornace frie Would yet not Cool himself within his Grave But hires Physicians costly Industrie To study out some way how He may save His torturing Life Notfor 〈◊〉 World would He By Death's most 〈◊〉 Physick eased be 22. The lamentable Gally-slave who is Fast chained to perpetuall Miserie Still toiles and rows through the tempestuous Seas Without all Hopes that any Port can be An Haven of Rest to Him and yet full deat He holds that Life which holds him Pris'ner there 23. She whom a Seige begins so close that she Is crowded up to nought but Bones and Skin Flies from the thought of gaining Libertie By Deaths Assistance and will rather win Upon her Bowels to devour her childe Than be by Famine of her Life 〈◊〉 24. The cursed Traitour who is chain'd alive Unto his Chaire of Death though he be sure It needs must be in vain for Life to strive Yet in strong Love of it he will endure To feed on his own Arms that so He may What e'r it cost Him Live one other day 25. He who disjoynted on the Rack doth lie Although his Body now no more be his After a thousand 〈◊〉 is to the to die And any Crime is willing to Confesse He doth Confesse what needs must be his Death Onely to gaine a little longer breath 26. Thus all the Gall that sharpest Miserie Into the heart of Mortall Life can poure Meets there such Powers of vitall suavitie As conquer all its Bitternesse Suct store Of pretious Delicates as dare despise The keepest force of all Calamities 27. Snatch what you will from Man besides and He Will stoutly set his shoulders to sustein His Losse but if his Life required be In vain all Comforts fawn on Him in vain Are Crowns and Sceptres proffer'd Him a price Too poor to hire Him to his Obsequies 28. Since then the Life ev'n of the meanest Wight
Scorns to be balanc'd with the richest Treasure O then what mighty Depth of Worth or Height Of purest Pretiousnesse can serve to measure The value of the Life of Jesus which Doth earth with all the best of Heav'n enrich 29. A Life more worth than all the Breath which 〈◊〉 The panting Hearts of the whole World beside More worth than all the Tract of Ages and Old 〈◊〉 himself A Life which nobly vie'd With vast 〈◊〉 so sweet immense And pure was its Miraculous Excellence 30. For whilst all Humane Life was by the Breath Of the contagious Serpent tainted So That by the rankling Principles of Death It from its Cradie was condemn'd unto Its Herse He 's kept unsteind and scorned all The gaping Graves Pleas for his Funerall 31. Yet this dear Life of his he held lesse dear Than worthlesse men so generous was his Love That He his own Hearts Blood could freely spare To ransome theirs desiring so to prove Ev'n by their own Souls Rule that they to Him More dear than his all pretious Self did seem 32. They and the worst of them for he did not Pick out some worthy Freinds for whose sweet sake His Life 〈◊〉 was content to offer but Ev'n for his 〈◊〉 that dear Oblation make 〈◊〉 was Leves highest Gallantrie and fit For Him who was the Mighty King of it 33. This was the brave Exploit which Phylax now To ravish Psyche's Heart meant to display For though the bus'nesse she before did know Yet t was at Distance Circumstances may Make deep Impression and the present Sceen Of Miracles more Admiration win 34. Besides he knew her Soule was fired now With noble vigour from the Heav'nly Bord And would delight to towre and travell through The 〈◊〉 wonders of her loving Lord. This made him bring her from the sacred Cave When by the holy Kisse Sh 'had took her leave 35. Then up he leads her unto Calvarie The Hill of Marveils that that Prospect might Yeild her with uncontrolled Libertie Of Loves chief stations an open sight And there arriv'd Mark now my Deer said He What further Wonders Jesus did for thee 36. Wert Thou enthroned on the proudest Hill Which on the glorious Back of Heav'n doth rise Thou couldst not with a nobler spectacle Feast the brave Hunger of thy wondering Eyes Than from this Mountains most renowned Head Thou by my Finger and my Tongue shalt read 37. In yonder street of Ruines once there stood The High-preist Anna's House but Caiaphas Who was his Sonne by Marriage not by Blood Unlesse joynt thirst of guiltlesse Blood may passe For 〈◊〉 His Dwelling had Where now thou see'st that Heap of rubbish made 38. Those Caytiffs who had in the Garden seiz'd Upon thy Lord to Annas hull'd him first To see what Censure his grave spight was pleas'd To passe on Him for whom it long did thirst But He with cruel Favour Him dismist Unto his Sonne the bolder bloodier Priest 39. Thus through the 〈◊〉 and Scorn to 〈◊〉 Is Jesus sed He smil'd within to see With what successe his Bargain crowned was And thought his Money well bestow'd which He To 〈◊〉 gave Yet in his Face and Eye He still maintain'd his Priestly 〈◊〉 40. So hast thou seen a Lyon cast his Eye Upon his harmlesse Prey with grave Disdaine As if he could afford to passe it by Whilst He his greedy Paws can scarce contein Or with his Teeth bite in their own Des Of Blood so certain is his salvage Ire 41. Like one who jealous was of Peace and Law He calls Him to account and asks Him why He strove Disciples after Him to draw And with his new-found Doctrine multiplie Sects in the Church and 〈◊〉 in the State Both which religious Loyaltie must hate 42. Such Impudence upon Sinnes face doth reign That whilst the Laws of Heav'n and Earth she breaks She dares on Innocence throw her own stein And in high Zealloud exclamations make Against all Innovations which on Them Shee chargeth for whose blood her Thirst doth flame 43. Thy Lord well understood his vain Demand And why said He requir'st Thou this of me Loe my Accusers crowd on either hand Who in their spight against Me all agree My Doctrine publick was Hear then what 〈◊〉 Against Me now I challenge Them can say 44. Tin no Conventicles Cloysters did Shrowd any Lessons that I meant to preach The Synagogue and Temple witnessed And so did they Themselves what I did teach My Gospel it concern'd the World to know And from my Lips in publick it did flow 45. This said A 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 who 〈◊〉 by First bent his angrie Brow and 〈◊〉 his 〈◊〉 With which at Jesu's Face his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Crying Bold fellow can Goas 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 no 〈◊〉 Answer Now we see What 〈◊〉 of Manners grow 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 46. Wouldst 〈…〉 The 〈…〉 For how 〈…〉 〈…〉 who though He 〈◊〉 This 〈…〉 Can yet approve himself both 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 47. But hear what from the Lambs Mouth Meekness spok If in my Answer any Crime there be Accuse Me Thou and let the High-priest look That legall Justice be perform'd on Me If not before the face of Justice Seat Why dost Thou mine injuriously beat 48. Soft was this Answer but their Breasts were Stone And beat it back The unrelenting Priest With all the Scribes and Elders joyn'd in one Conspiracy of Haste their Projects cast To hire False-witnesse as before they bought That Treason which Him Pris'ner thither brought 49. Is this the reverend Sanhedrim which here Hunts for a Lie that Truth may not escape Must grosse Injustice poyson Mose's Chair Must bloody Spight put on Religions shape No wonder if the People forward be To tread their Leaders Stepps to Injury 50. Whole Troops of Witnesses came thronging in With thicker Articles When Rulers dare Once egg the Vulgar on to act that sin In which Themselves cannot for shame appear Bold Calumnie thinks Law is on her side And with all furious Impudence doth ride 51. But this rude Rout were younglins yet and raw Knights of the Post and had not conn'd their Lie With wary Art As yet They did not know What need they had of perfect Memory This made each one of Them accuse his Brother Whilst all their Stories jarr'd on One another 52. Yet They must not be chidden whose Intent Aim'd onely at the Publike Good least this Should unto others prove Discouragement Who might urge Articles with more Successe Alas those Men were well-affected but Quite out of Count'nance by the Court were put 53. Their honest Meaning by the Sanbedrim Is kindely constru'd and with Thanks requited That others might with subtler Art to trim Their fairer Accusations be invited For still the patient Court expects to see Who will the next Calumniators be 54. But when the first Miscarriage did dismay All other Lyars Satan who stood by Quick as his Thought snatch'd unto Hell his way To fetch some help leasts the Priests Villany And his great Hopes should intercepted
did flie Unto the bottome of Nights nideous Sea That now Sins Blacknesse chased was away Earth might behold a double glorious Day 421. But will no Pitty on the Body look Which now has born the utmost spight of spight Yes Arimathean Joseph undertook To pay unto it its Sepulchral Right And now with loving Loyaltie doth mean To prove that he had a Disciple been 422. A true Disciple though a Secret one Witnesse his Fear to generous Courage grown For though his Master now were dead and gone His Faith revives nor shall the High-priests Frown Or Peoples Fury fright his Duty from Yeilding his Saviour his own costly Tombe 423. A Man of honorable Place was he And Pilate easily grants him his Request The Corps resigned is unto his free Disposall which he straight-way doth invest With daintiest Linen that the Winding Sheet Might Delicacie learn by Kissing it 424. Right well he Knew this solemn Paschal Feast For bad him all Pollution by the Dead And yet his pious Love durst not desist Till he this votive Task had finished Being assur'd he could not stained be By handling the dead Corps of Purity 425. But is Ho busie was another Freind Came in good Nicodemus who by Night On Iesus whilst He lived did attend To gain for his obscured Judgment Light And in his blacker Night of Death doth now His gratefull Pietie upon Him bestow 426. Of pretious aromatick Mixtures He An hundred Weight doth bring to sacrifice Unto this Bodies service so to be Enobled and enhanced in its price The O dours smiled as they kiss'd the Skin For by that Touch more Sweetnes they did win 427. Mean while the Instruments of Death for this The manner was were younder buried Where they shall sleep untill a Queen shall rise Out of thy Albion from whose blessed Bed A Prince shall spring who shall exalt above His Roman Eagles the meek Christian Dove 428. Their deer Discovery is reserv'd for none But venerable Helen who when here Hot in her passionate Devotion Her Saviours Sufferings She her selfe shall bear Transfiguring her Miditating Heart Into each severall Torture Wound and Smart 429. Those noble Relicts shall revealed be In recompence of her brave Love and Zeal There for the Jewells She shall Dig and see At length the rude but glorious Spectacle The Crosse and Nail She there shall finde Which her Lords Body pain'd and her own Minde 430. Inestimable shall their Worth be held One of those Nailes to Constantine shall seem Illustrious enough his Head to gild And sit enthron'd upon his Diademe Two in his Bridle shall triumph when He Rides through the World like King of Victory 431. The Fourth shall tame the Adriatik Man And naile it fast unto its bottome so That on its equall pacisied Plain The unmolested Ships may safely goe Then by this Gem shall that enriched Sea More wealthy than the eastern Ocean be 432. But for the noble Crosse no Toung can tell The Wonders that shall spring from that drie Tree Which hew'd out by Devotions Edge shall fill The zealous World and quit that Injury Which from the fatall Bough in Eden spread Through all the 〈◊〉 sown with humane Seed 433. Persia shall take it Captive yet not dare To look upon its Pris'ner Pietie Shall thence redeem it by a 〈◊〉 War And then return it to its Calvarie When great Heraclius his own royall Back A willing Chariot for it shall make 434. But come my Dear here on the Western side Of this now holy Mountain Thou mayst see The pretious Sepulchre of Him who di'd And who was also Buried for Thee This Rock is it Come lets 's into the Cave No Temple is more holy than this Grave 435. Loe here good Joseph did the Body lay Here lay the blessed Head and here the Feet Hard was the Couche and yet no Princes may Compare their Beds with it which was more sweet Than Solomons although Arabia did With all her sweetest Sweets goe there to bed 436. The Phaeni'x balmie grave could never show Such soveraign Riches of perfumes as here Did from thy blessed Saviours Body flow Who soon the truer Phoenix did appear O pretious Place No Mau 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Into comparison with this must come 437. What are the Monuments of Kings but 〈◊〉 Memorials of their putid Rottennesse Whilst odious Worms and Dust inshrined are Iu specious Gold and Marble But in this Plain Sepulchre bold 〈◊〉 found Her Hands were more than the dead 〈◊〉 bound 438. This is that Oratorie Psyche now Whither the 〈◊〉 Soules 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 Themselves and their best 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they Here all their Zealous 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 With their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And in this Air their warmest 〈◊〉 they 〈◊〉 439. Yet time 's at hand when bold Idolatrie Will venture to prophane this sacred Place To turn this Paradise into a stie And holinesses beauty to deface To build Hels soveraign Monster odious Jove Upon this monument of divinest love 440. But all in vain for Christian Eagles still Will to the place of the dear carcase fly And their impatient devotions fill By feasting on its pretious memory Jove though the most impure of things is not So foule as this Toombs puritie to blot 441. And here may'st thou for I thy heats discover Sweet Psyche stay and ease thy burning heart Thy Uows and Prayers here thou may'st run over And with the pious world take thy free part Doe riot in thy zeal I will attend And keep the door till thou hast made an end 442. Psyche who scarcely for this cue could wait Fell on her face and kiss'd the reveren'd floor Where her brave flames so melted her that strait Her armorous sighs and soule she forth did pour And by the strong embrace of Faith and Love Seem'd there to hug Him who was high above 443. Through all his pains and all his wounds she went And on her own heart printed every one Her bowels with his wofull cry she rent And wish'd not 〈◊〉 seeing he found none By bitter thoughts his nails his throns his spear She copied out by tears his Vinagre 444. But comming to his death she fetch'd a sigh Up from the bottome of her soule in hope Her life would have flown in its company And made her passion too compleatly up Striving in meek ambitious love to have The ready honor of her Saviours Grave 445. Desire lay boyling in her ardent breast With secret groans her Aspirations beat With restlesse panting she reach'd at that rest To which her Lord was flown and in the heat Of this contention she was towr'd so high That scarce her Body upon earth did lye 446. But when life held her on this dainty Rack In a full Ocean of Inamorations And mighty Ecstasies she strove to wrack Her labouring heart And yet these perturabtions And strong assaults of loves intestine war She by diviner loves assistance bare PSYCHE OR LOVES MYSTERIE CANTO XIV The Triumph of Love ARGUMENT LOve bindes in his own
Blush who would not hear That Altars holyer then Dressers were 98. Bold Sacrilegde sate pertly on a Kite And though her Claws were burn'd and sing'd her Wings E'r since she from the Altar took her flight For vengefull Coals stuck to the Sacred Things Branding the saucy Theif yet shamelesse she A robbing Heav'n and God again would be 99. Upon a Serpent bred in Hell beneath Which belched fire at every Step he took Which reached Heav'n with his pestiferous breath Which fought with holy Incense by the Smoke Of his foule Throat rode fouler Blasphemie And dared all the way Divinity 100. But on an Heifer of AEgyptian Race Right proud of his Extraction for he The Heir of Apis and of Isis was Sate full as grosse a Brute Idolatrie And yet Devote's grosser than her Beast Or she about her with their Offrings prest 101. And this was 〈◊〉 royal Train Which all the way she went stroke mortal fright Into the Countries travelling in Pain As she in Triumph till her speedy flight Had born her past them and gave them release From their dark Dens and hollow Privacies 102. Poor Albion thrice started as she drew Neer to her shore and would have further run Into the Sea but now the Tyrant flew With cursed joy into possession Of the unhappy Isle where dreadfull She Took up her quarters in a Colonie 103. From thence she issued out her Proclamations Of Pardon unto all that would come in But back'd it with severest Denuntiations To those who still continued in their Sin Who still would waste their Piety upon The Carpenters poor Crucified Son 104. She summond all the Isle to Reformation That mighty Jove by whose high blessing she Reign'd Queen of all the World in worthy fashion And like his supream Self might Worshipp'd be That pleased He might rain his favours down And Albion with Peace and Plenty crown 105. For by her royal Declaration She All blastings mildews droughts plagues earthquakes wars Laid to the sole charge of Christianitie Which impious Sect said she so boldly dares The Wrath of all the Gods that righteous They Upon the Earth must needs this veng'ance lay 106. Forthwith all those whose bosomes tainted were With the rank Venome of Idolatry Luxuriously joy'd the news to heare And with immediate Consluence did fly To doe their homage and their thanks prefer Ev'n in the Name of succoured Jove to Her 107. Then They who could have loved Prety Yet none but faint and timorous Virtue knew They in whose Hearts the World and Self did ly As well as Jesus They who would have drew In th' Euangelick yoke with patience so Mean while their secular Plough might also go 108. They who conceiv'd for Wives and Childrens sake Who were depending upon their sole Care So dream 's the faithlesse fondlings they might make A little bold with God And they who were In hopes Heav'n to their Prayers would courteous be And wink at what flow'd from 〈◊〉 109. Came in the Reare like Men who Scarcely came For not so much as half their Mindes were there Under the Evenings guilty veil their shame They sheltered for they Days Eys did fear Unhappy Men what aile you thus to go Your selves condemn your selves for what you doe 110. But they whose loyalty was firm and sound They who to Love intirely had resign'd Themselves such sweetnes in his service found As left the Baits of all the World behinde Such sweetnes as enforced to be sweet That Gall which flow d in Persecutions Threat 111. Sooner will They be charmed by the Hisse Of a fell Dragon to his Den to goe Than be perswaded to accept of this So treacherous and destructive Pardon no What e'r They loose they from their Losse will 〈◊〉 This noble Gain that they Themselves will keep 112. Their Life their Fame Estate and Liberty They can more easily than their Conscience spare They nothing count their Own which cannot be Without Impiety possest and are Content with any Thing but God to part Who onely can secure Them their own Heart 113. Psyche was one and not the meanest One Of these brave Champions who since Phylax had Heav'n having so dispos'd left her alone Her meek Addresses to Uranius made An holy Priest was He and unto Her An Oracle in any Doubt or fear 114. To you said She my reverend Father Now Persecutions furious Storm doth 〈◊〉 As to my wise and faithfull Pilot fly Not to be steered where Calamities May never reach my Uessel but to know The neerest way how I to them may row 115. Forbid it genuine Love that I should fly The noblest Testimony I can give Of my ô how deserved Loyalty Unto my Spouse for whom alone I live For him I live and must that Truth deny If in his Quarrell I refuse to dy 116. Was not His Life ten thousand times more dear And pretious than Mine yet generous He The utmost drop of his Heart-blood could spare Ev'n for the worst of Worms vile sinfull Me Loud cries the merit of this Blood and I Could I dy oft for Him in debt should dy 117. And should I shrink from one poor Death what Eye Would not shoot Wrath at such Unthankfulnesse How should I hate my Selfe and strive to dy For shame of Fearing Death yet I confesse This Life so wretched is and poor that we By Martyrdome do Heav'n no Courtesie 118. Mine all the Gains will be nor know I how To scape this Profit which if I could shun My Death more Solace would to me allow And to the Stake I cheerlier should run But since that may not be since Blisse is still Ti'd to these Suffrings let Love have his Will 119. Let Love assert his own Magnificence And make Us for our very Service be Deeper in Debt to him yet I will hence Revenge me of His Liberality And doe my best to run upon the Score With this great Creditor forevermore 120. But sage Uranius who was better read In the cool Gospel Discipline repli'd The fire by which those flames of thine are bred Is pure and genuine but they blaze too wide Dear Daughter be content and think that I Can wish and dare as well as you to Dy. 121. Yet I am not so hasty to prevent My Spouse's pleasure who for ought I know Desires Vranius should rest content To wrestle still with Sorrows here below Still 〈◊〉 be exil'd from the blessed Sight Of his dear Eyes and grovell here in Night 122. Besides if I before His Call should run This hot Impatience might out-strip his Grace And how should feeble I thus left alone Finde courage to out-look the dreadfull Face Of Death when dress'd in martial Array He gives the Onset to my Dust and Clay 123. What General will thank that Captain who Without Commission has presum'd to fight Into the Lists of any Prisner goe With Tigres or with Bears to trie his Might E r He be call'd what Eye will grieve to see His torn Limbs pay for
she ended Began her Praises and Congratulation Joy joy deer Pupill of this Morn said he Which hath dispell'd thy Night of Misery 51. I see what reason thou hadst to be sad Beyond my Comforts reach because I see The sweet Occasion which hath made thee glad Such mighty Greif could onely chased be By that Meridian Almighty Ray Which drives the Life of Woe ev'n Death away 52. The high Excesse of his 〈◊〉 Joy Would let him speak no more but spuir'd him on With Kisses and Embraces to allay The dainty Wrath of his strong Passion Full close he chain'd her in the tender Bands Of zealous Love his blessed Arms and Hands 53. 〈◊〉 Mayd who would not to this 〈◊〉 Belong in debt thus in a snnle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 begging of my 〈◊〉 you 〈◊〉 But for my Thanks they must 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hence to be full and 〈…〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 best he 〈…〉 54. Surely the other Day you were the same Which you are now in every Ornament Of gratious Sweetnesse when you hither came And your best Cordials did to Me present But clownish Senselesse I could not embrace You 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 landy r offred Grace 55. Had this Behaviour quench'd your Love to Me. To none but my rude Selfe had Blame been due Yet you with faithfull patient fervencie More carefull still and still more render grew My Greif you to your Selfe assum'd as you Were able 〈◊〉 for Me with Tears did slow 56. Though Thy Heav'n and Earth abandon was And psung'd into the Cull of Desolation To own Me in 〈◊〉 despicable Case You blushed not but by your high Narration Of what Love 〈◊〉 to releive my mart Endeavored to cheer my drooping Heart 57. Well I remember how I then forgot My selfe and you how dead and cold I lay Before that flaming News which might have shot Life into any Soule but mine away I turn'd my foolish head from that which through A thousand Deaths would run after now 58. For ô my indefatigable Friend I feel your sweetnesse thrilling in my Heart Which there with Charis Intluence doth blend And a new Soule unto my Soule impart Forbid it Heav n my Mind should e'r forget Thee who hast help'd to raise and double it 59. When Earth denies her Vapours to repay To Heav'n whose Bounty sent her down the 〈◊〉 When Fountains bid their posting Curronts stay Whose Thanks were slowing to their mother 〈◊〉 When Building scorn their freindly 〈◊〉 Will then neglect thy 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 In this 〈…〉 Then Words and Killes sweetly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Till the 〈…〉 Which common Mortals 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 61. And now her high and holy busines she Perform'd no more with cold and fruitlesse pains But mounting up with cheerly Fervencie Reap'd in the middle of her Work its Gains For now she knew her Prayers welcom'd were Into her Spouse's ready open Ear. 62. Phylax mean while by Heav'ns appointment flew To learn her Parents fortunes out which He No sooner full sow but fir'd with new Excess of Joy he back return'd when she From her Devotions rose and thus display'd His blessed Message to the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 63. News Psyche happy News for now I come From holy Valours Sceen that signal Place Where thy Uranius his brave Martyrdome Of late atcheiv'd and finished his Race That Race thou fear'dst had been too hard for thy 〈◊〉 Parents limping 〈◊〉 64. But at the Stake I found them Bothe where they Before the face of Heav'n and Earth to thy Sole charge that Resolution did lay Which fir'd them to contemn those Flames for by Our Daughters Zeal said they this sacred heat In our old froazen fearfull Veins doth beat 65. That heav'nly Answer from the Dungeon she Gave to our cruel kindenes though with shame It sent Us weeping home yet instantlie Those causeless tears it dried by this flame Of Christian courage whil'st admonish'd by Our second thoughts our first we did defie 66. And Heav'n require her wheresoe'r she be Who whil'st we tempted her idolize Did nobley fright Us from Idolatrie And reach Us how We safelier might 〈◊〉 Both Life and Death than Jesus who alone Holds over both supream Dominion 67. Then let Him shew it now the Solaiers 〈◊〉 Kindling the Pile and shouting loud that they In spight or Darknesse thus could turn the Tide Of Night by Christian Bonfires into Day O Blessed pair said I who in a new Marriage thus joyned are and hither 〈◊〉 68. So Phylax spake When Psyche ravish'd by This unexpected Bliss could not contain The pious Fountain of her joyfull Eye Nor her Tongues sweeter stronger streams restrain Abundant Tears she shed yet larger far Her thanks to Jesus and her Praises were 69. But as she oft had wearied been before With heavinesses mighty Burden so Surcharged now with joys exuberant store She laid her down in sweet submission to This pleasing load and sunk into the deep But soft untroubled Gulfe of do why sleep 70. When Charis upon whose eternal Eye No Slumber ever creeps begun a new And heav'nly work for with Activity About Imaginations Orb she flew And cull'd and cropp'd those Fancies here and there Which for her purpose serviceable were 71. Thus furnished with all Materials she In the fair Theatre of Psyche's Breast By orderly Degrees the Gallantrie Of her incomparable Pageant drest She first reard up a goodly Throne which might Out-vie the Hyperborean Snow in White 72. Forthwith she placed on this royal Seat A Prince who gave more Beauty unto it No Monark ever in more awfull State On his imperial Chair of Gold did sit Indeed all Potentates but shaddows be To this authentick Soveraigns Majestie 73. His copious Robe down from his Shoulders flow'd Unto his Feet with streams of gracefulnesse A Girdle of illustrious Gold which ow'd Its birth not unto Earth but Heav'n did kiss And closely hug his blessed Paps which yet In goodly Richnes far outshined it 74. No 〈◊〉 labour ever made so white The finest Wool as was his daintier Hair Which poured down the 〈◊〉 of its bright And Silken Curles with curious careless Care About his Alabaster Neck which stood Like a white Pillar in that Snowie 〈◊〉 75. As in their venerable Sockets on The sacred Altar glorious Tapers flame So look'd his Eys whose reverend Beams alone About the Temple of his Face did stream And made his Countnance like the Suns when he Is a wfull in his High-noon Claritie 76. The most resin'd Corinthian Brass which in The bosome of the slaming Furnace lies Doth not with more illustrious l error shine Than from his burning Feet of Glorie sties Thus was this radiant King from Foot to Head With supream Majestie embellished 77. Innumerable Angels then she brought To furnish out his Court and fill his Train These all their Stations took as quick as Thought And with their golden Trumpets in a strein Which through the roused Universe rebounded The glory of their mighty Soveraign founded 78. But his bright Standard to the open Air She poured out in
PSYCHE OR LOVES MYSTERIE In XX. CANTO'S Displaying the Intercourse Betwixt CHRIST and the SOULE 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 S. Greg. Naz. in de Carminib suis. By JOSEPH BEAUMONT Mr. in Arts and Ejected Fellow of S. Peters College in Cambridge LONDON Printed by John Dawson for George Boddington and are to be sold at his Shop in Chancery-lain neer Serjants-lnn M. D. C. XL. VIII INTO THE MOST SACRED TREASURIE OF THE Praise and Glorie OF Incarnate GOD The Worlds most Mercifull REDEEMER THE Vnworthiest of His Majesties CREATURES in all possible Prostrate VENERATION Beggs Leave to Cast This His DEDICATED MITE The AUTHOR to the READER THE Turbulence of these Times having deprived mee of my wonted Accommodations of Study I deliberated For the avoyding of meer Idlenesse what Task I might safelyest presume upon without the Society of Books And concluded upon Composing this Poem In which I endeavour to represent a Soule led by divine Grace and her Guardian Angel in fervent Devotion through the difficult Temptations and Assaults of Lust of Pride of Heresie of Persecution and of Spiritual Dereliction to a holy and happy Departure from temporal Life to heavenly Felicitie Displaying by the way the Magnalia Christi his Incarnation and Nativitie his Flight into AEgypt his Fasting and Temptation his chief Miracles his being Sold and Betrayed his Institution of the Holy Eucharist his Passion his Resurrection and Ascension Which were his mighty Testimonies of his Love to the Soule I am not ignorant that very few Men are competent Readers of Poems the true Genius of Poetrie being little regarded or rather not subject at all to common Capacities so that a discourse upon this Theam would bee to smal purpose I know also how little Prefacing Apologies use to be credited Wherefore though I had much very much to say and justly in this kinde I will venture to cast my self upon thy Ingenuitie with this onely Protestation that If any thing throughout this whol Poem happen against my intention to prove Discord to the Concent of Christs Catholicke Church I here Recant it aforehand My Defire is That this Book may prompt better Wits to believe that a Divine Theam is as capable and happy a Subject of Poetical Ornament as any Pagan or Humane Device whatsoever Which if I can obtain and into the Bargain Charm my Readers into any true degree of Devotion I shall be bold to hope that I have partly reached my proposed Mark and not continued meerly Idle J. B. A Syllable of the CANTO'S 1. The Preparative 2. Lust Conquered 3. The Girdle or Love-token 4. The Rebellion 5. The Pacification 6. The Humiliation 7. The Great Little one 8. The Pilgrimage 9. The Temptation 10. The Marveils 11. The Traytor 12. The Banquet 13. The Death of Love 14. The Triumph of Love 15. The Poyson 16. The Antidote 17. The Mortification 18. The Persecution 19. The Dereliction 20. The Consummation PSYCHE OR LOVES MYSTERIE In XX. Canto's CANTO 1. The Preparative ARGUMENT INrag'd at Heav'n and Psyche Satan lay's His plots how to beguile the tender Mayd Phylax mean while a contrework doth raise And mustereth Joseph's Legend to her ayde That strengthned by this chaste example shee To lusts Assaults impregnable might bee 1. ETernal Love of sweetest Poetrie The sweeter King before thy gentle throne Deign to behold prostrate Vow and mee No Muse no Gods but thy sweet power alone I invocate for both his heads full low Parnassus to thy Paradise doth bow 2. Thy Paradise amongst whose Hils of Joy Those Springs of everlasting Vigour run Which makes souls drunk with heav'n clensing away All earth from Dust and angelizing men Great David and his Son drench'd in these streams With Poets wreaths did crown their Diadems 3. Defiance other Helicons O may These pretious founts my Vow and heart refine Deare Love thou art my task If ever bay Hereafter court my Muse it shall be thine My soule untun'd unstrung doth waite on thee To teach her how to sing thy MYSTERIE 4. A MYSTERIE wrapp'd in so close a cloud That Psyches young and well-acquainted eye Staggers about it yet more shades do croud And heap their night upon its secrisie Feirce Belzebub who doth in blacknesse dwell Would fain have all things else as dark as Hell 5. For He th' immortall Prince of equall spight Abhorr's all Love in every name and kinde But chiefely that which burn's with flames as bright As his are dark and which as long shall finde Their living fuell These enrage Him so That all Hel's Furies must to councell go 6. For as the wounded Lyon in his Den Roar's out his griefe so from his boyling heart A hideous groan broke forth which thundering in His hollow Realm bellow'd to every Part The frightfull summons All the Peers below Their Kings voice by its soveraign stink did know 7. Nor dar'd they stay by kembing to make neat Their snarled Snakes or draw their Tails huge trains Into a knot or trim their cloven feet With iron shoes or gather up their Chains Onely their hands they fill with Rage and bring That common Subsidie unto their King 8. Hel's Court is built deep in a gloomie Vale High wall'd with strong Damnation moated round With flaming Brimstone right against the Hall Burn's a black bridge of brasse the yards abound With all invenom'd Herbs and Trees more rank And fruitlesse than on Asphaltite's bank 9. The Gate where fire and smoak the Porters be Stands alwayes ope to them that be without Hither flock'd all the states of miserie As younger Snakes though crawling far about When the old Serpent's hisses summon them Into her patent mouth of poyson stream 10. The Hall was roof'd with everlasting Pride Deep paved with Dispaire checker'd with spight The Hangings were of Torments fair and wide The upper end presented to their sight Great Satans Arms drawn in an iron sheild A Crowned Dragon Gules in sable field 11. On his immortall throne of Death they see Their mounted Lord who in one hand did bear His Globe for all the world He take's to bee By right his own and in the other wear His Mace on which ten thousand Serpents knit With restlesse madnesse gnaw'd themselves and it 12. His awfull Horns above his Crown did rise And made them shrink in theirs his Forehead Was Plated with triple Impudence his Eyes Were Hell reflected in a double Glasse Two Comets stareing in their bloody stream Two Beacons boyling with their pitch and flame 13. His Mouth well-neer as wide's his Palace Door But much more black his Cheeks which never could Blush in their own had rak'd the world for store And deeply dy'd their guilt in humane Blood His griezly Beard all singed did confesse What kinde of Breath us'd through his lips to presse 14. Which as he op'd the Centre on whose back His Chair of ever-fretting Pain was set Frighted beside it self began to
each busie blast Become's a stiff stout man whose face to store With beauties purest charm's unto the East The spirit flyes and in Aurora's cheeks The best of orientall sweetnesse seek's 40. But knowing that his breath was rank and spoke The place from whence he came he turn's his flight Into Arabia's gardens whence he took The flower of every flower and spice which might Perfume his words that from that double bed Of his soft lips hee vocall Balm might shed 41. The silk worm's wealth the dainty ermin's skin And every thing that makes young Princes fine Into one gorgeous suit hee crouds and in Each seam and jag doth gold and pearl in twine For in his passage as through earth he broke Great store of these hee from her bowels took 42. But for the fashion he was fain to run To Court and see how gallants there were drest Men of more various transformations than In Proteus wit and fiction e'r exprest Thus at the last accoutred to his minde He plots where Psyche hee may safest sinde 43. Sheeall the morning was retir'd at home Close in the sweets of his dear companie Who from her Lord the King of Soules was come His restlesse but delicious suit to plye And with exact attendance see the maid Might to no sudden danger be betray'd 44. In his al-ravishing looks you might descry More reall sweets than Lust in his had fain'd Heav'n clearly looked out at either ey And in his cheeks ten thousand graces reign'd As many little loves their nests had made In the curl'd amber of his daintie head 45. He from the Rainbow as he came that way Borrow'd the best of all that gorgeous store Which after gloominesse doth make heav'n gay And it about his mantles border wore A mantle spun of milkie down which from The Birds of his own Paradise did come 46. Upon his lovely shoulders dwel't a pair Of correspondent wings the driven snow On Scythian mountains doth in vain compare Its virgin plum's with these which feare no thaw Lesse white lesse soft are they and will at last In melting tears confesse they are surpast 47. High is his great extraction full as high As is the loftiest and the purest sphear There dwels his father Prince of Majesty And millions of his Bretheren are there Who all are Princes too that land alone Numberlesse Kingdoms doth contain in one 48. When Psyche first was born his wing he spred With ready tendernes her to imbrace That she might rest in that delicious Bed To which all other Feathers must give place Great was the Mother's care and love but yet The Infant was to Phylax more in debt 49. That was his Name and sure he made it good No tutor ever spent more learned care The stoutest Champion never bravelier stood For those who under his protection were Than Phylax did for Psyche being able To prove himself as strong as she was feeble 50. No Danger ever drew its forces neer But he was neerer still and did withstand All plots of mischeif that incounter'd her Arming her feebler Arm with his strong hand While she was weak and knew not how to goe He flew about her businesse to doe 51. As she grew greater so his care did grow Her weaning time being come he spends his art To make her quite disrellish things below Which likelier were to cheat and choak the heart Then make it live its proper life for she Was born to live unto eternitie 52. When she had learn'd to build a word aright He taught her heav'ns high language and the song Which lately in the quire of soveraign light Incessantly dwelt upon his own tongue Desiring virtue might be her first growth And Halalujah broach her holy mouth 53. But when she well could goe and well discern The way she went he spred before her eye Ten goodly Paths and these you needs must learn Say's he to trace as leading to the high Gate of beatitude God's own hand did Draw all these tracts upon mount Sina's head 54. Lo here is room enough the King's high-way Lesse kingly is then this All Hero's who Have climb'd above the world wish'd not to stray Beyond these bounds Be but content to go Where Saints and where thy Lord before hath gone That thou mayest overtake him at his throne 55. Thus did he gently grave upon her heart The Characters of blisse thus every day He reads some lecture least the tempters art Her young and pliant Soule should make his prey But they this morning being all alone She beg'd a story and he told her one 56. My Dear said hee there was a youth of old Almost as young and no lesse faire then thou Upon his head smil'd a soft grove of gold Two small half-heav'ns were bent in either Brow Nor were those Hemisphears sham'd by his eys Which the best stars above dar'd not despise 57. All Roses blush'd when neer his lips they came Whose purer crimson and whose sweeter breath They thought and well they might their double shame No Lily ever met him in his path But if his hand did touch it straight in spight 'T was pale to see it self out-vi'd in white 58. Faire was his stock his sire great Jacob was Not by the wife whose blear and waterie eye Did its dim self bewaile and was the glasse In which the world read her deformitie But by that Queen of Sweets whose price seven 〈◊〉 Doubled in service was yet seem'd not dear 59. He Rachel's son and her best beauties heire For her dear sake and no lesse for his own Sate pretious next his Fathers soule whose Care Was bent his own Delights in Him to crown He lov'd his children all yet far above The rest his Joseph he did love to love 60. He hunts about the proudest world to buy The choise of purest and of brightest cloth Brisk in the Tyrian and Sidonian die With which he cloth 's his darling being loth That fewer colours should adorn his coat Than all the world in him did beauties note 61. As when the gallant Peacock doth display His starry Train the winged People all In shame and discontent do sneak away Letting their plumes now all our-sparkled fall So Joseph's Roab by which himself did seem So fair his Brethren cloth's with wrath and shame 62. 'T is true said they our Father though hee were The puny Brother yet he ssiely did Incroach upon the Blessing which the Heir Was doubtlesse borne unto But yet He sped Onely by Craft had Jsaac had his eys As Jacob now hee would have been more wise 63. But though the old Man lov's his luckie Cheat So well that hee upon his younger Son Throw's all his Heart We hope no want of meat Shall force Us willingly to be undone Nor any Pottage that this Boy can make From the least He of Us our Birthright take 64. Thus they repin'd not knowing there was writ Upon Heav'ns adamantine leaves a Law By which this scorned Youth at length should
these sweets of my inchanting face Which have abus'd and tempted you so long These nailes of mine shall all those Charms erase And cut such ghastly wounds as soon shall cure Those which my beautie made your heart endure 141. I will transform my self into a State Which more your Pittie than your love shall crave Or if this love of mine must reap your hate Somewhere or other I shall finde a grave And there with greater comfort rest my head Than if I slept on your delicious bed 142. As when a mighty torrent hasting on Is by some sturdy bank forc'd back again The waters roar and foam and swell upon Themselves for spight to see their strength was vain So did Potiphera's heart whose lustfull course Unshaken Joseph back again did force 143. A thousand Passions boiling in her breast Raise up a tempest of impatient flames Still night which to all others sealeth rest Waken her cares Her bed with torments streams 'Cause Joseph is not there O where may we With heav'nly love a Soule thus wounded see 144. She has no rellish of the dà intiest meat But onely on distracted thoughts she feeds The spiced wine to other palates sweet Mocks hers alone and odious loathing breeds Thick sighs and tears from her own mouth and eys Echo the storm which in her heart did rise 145. Oft she renewed her suit but su'd in vain At last grown faint and sick she ask's him how He would her Murder answer Such a stain Will ill become said she thy dainty brow In the unnaturall furrows of whose frown The seeds of my unhappy death are sown 146. But when this mov'd him not who like a Rock Stood firm upon his solid Chastitie Her finall resolution she awoke And all her strength with it that she might be Provided to correct her loves mishap By valiant managing her plotted Rape 147. Watching her time she takes him all alone And harpy-like one Tallon clapping fast Upon his Clothes least hee away should run Her other Arm about his neck she cast Loose was her Coat and shewed her more full Then he desir d to see or I to tell 148. Thou art my prisoner now said she as I Have long bin thine though thou did'st scorn thy prize But I 'm resolv'd of thy Captivitie To make some use Thou shalt no more despise My prayers for I command thee now to be Whither thou wilt or no happy with Mee 149. Perhaps thy needles Maiden modesty Stay'd by thy Lover to be ravished Then be it so But if thou still deny My loyall Love I swear by thine own Head Which yet I onely worship that no blood But from thy Heart shall these my Wrongs make good 150. I will exclaim and tell the houshold how With lustfull force thou here surprised'st Me This monstrous Crime will cost thy life for know My Ly can soon out-face thy Veritie Had'st thou not better take thy pleasure here Than be for nothing thought a Ravisher 151. Whil'st thus Her lust foam'd Joseph makes all haste How to escape and loosning secretly His upper garment which she grasp'd so fast Leaves that to Her and out himself doth flye Wise Serpents thus their Ears against the Charm Do stop and cast their skins to scape the harm 152. Potiphera an hideous out-cry 〈◊〉 Her Handmaid first then the whole familie Scar'd with the noise into her Chamber breaks Where on her Bed hearing a wofull sigh Behold said she this garment Which of you Would think the Hebrew slave so bold should grow 153. He thought because his Master was from home My faith had been so too He thought that he Might as his Lords Vice-gerent freely come And challenge right unto my chastitie 'T was time to cry which I no sooner did But hee the guilty Hypocrite was fled 154. He fled but left for fearfull haste behinde That Pledge of his unfort'nate impudence For confident he me should willing finde He gun to doff his Cloths Come bear me hence From this curs'd place but bring the Cloak with me That Potiphar his Dailings Badge may see 155. When he came home she met him with this Lye And threw the garment to Him for her proof He took no time the businesse to try But judg'd that argument more than enough Joseph's to Prison sent a place lesse warm To him but sweeter than his Mistresse arm 156. He lay not long oppressed with his Chain But ev'n the Jaylor He his Prisoner takes Such pow'rfull sweetnes doth in Virtue reign That all Spectators she her subjects makes Heav'n would not suffer other Bonds to hold Him whom Lust's Chains and Charms could not infold 157. The Keeper now keeps nothing but his name The Keys at Joseph's girdle hang and He Is in this closer Stewardship the same He was in Potiphar's large familie Yet has no Mistresse which might make him be As ill in Prison as when He was free 158. At length the guerdon of his worth drew neer And dreams which had occasion'd his low state Help him to climbe up into glories sphear The great designs which uncontrolled Fate Was into Egypt ready now to bring Are in a mystick vision shew'd the King 159. Their curious brains the old Magitians beat About the Riddle but were all too weak To peirce that mighty cloud wherein the great Secret inshrined lay The King must seek Some wiser Head and whod'yee think was hee But this young Hebrew this the Man must be 160. He teacheth Pharaoh what the Kine did mean Heav'n shew'd him feeding upon Nilu's shore Why sev'n were wonderous fat and sev'n as Lean Which did portend the famine Which the store What both the kindes of Corn foretold what cares Were requisite against the following years 161. First thanks to Heav'n cryes Pharaoh then to thee In whom its Spirit I so plain descrie And who can better my assistant be Then he who holds all wisdom's Monarchy The throne and scepter shall continue mine But all the rest of Egypt shall be thine 162. Then his own Ring his royall Love to seale On Joseph's hand he puts and him invest's With purest Linnen on his neck which steel Had lately gall'd a golden chain he cast's And his own second Chariot to him gave Who lately into Egypt trudg'd a slave 163. Thus what hee was to Potiphar before What to the Taylor now hee 's to the King The soveraign Steward and the Governour Set but his Prince aside of every thing And here at length to justifie his dream His Father and his Bretheren reverenc'd him 164. Thus Chastitie's pure King his Champion sees Amply repaid who having got Command Of his own flesh and blood can rule with ease A Kingdoms reins in his unspotted Hand Take notice Psyche and remember this The Case may once be thine which here was His. PSYCHE OR LOVES MYSTERIE CANTO II. Lust Conquered ARGUMENT Lust who in ambush lay the On-set gives To carelesse Psyche as she gad's abroad Charis the over-powred Maid reliev's Phvlax unmask's the Feind
the place where she before had been Thither they go and thither Phylax flyes Perching upon a neighbour tree unseen The gallant wash'd his hands and she her eyes But in her own soft tears of joy to think How she had com from death's to that brook's brink 27. Then on the flowry Couch by her he sits And ushers in his talk with cunning sighs His feigned cheeks with lying tears he wets Three times he strikes his breast three times his eyes He casts up to wards heav'n three times he smiles And sigh's again and her as oft beguiles 28. At length I am said he a man who by My birth as deep ingag'd to fortune stand As any hee that lives if Majestie Crown not his head and Scepter load his hand My stock 's the noblest in this land but one Nor bears it any branch but me alone 29. This made my loving Lord and Father spare No pains or cost which might his Son adorn From learned Athens tutors hired were Whom first the wings of fame had hither born Athens they left but brought with them to me From thence the truer Universitie 30. Thus did the curious wit of Greece become A member of our private family And I with all the world convers'd at home Yea in their dialects too as fast as I Could my young breath transform nor was it long E'r many sate upon my single tongue 31. A quick survey of all those steps I took By which Philosophers have Nature traced Then Mathematicks were my busie books A thousand lines I placed and displaced To Heav'n upon the Artists Staff I went And studied round about the firmament 32. Of Optick lines and rays the powers I saw In Musicks mystick sweets unwearied Pains I spent long nights and dayes and strove to know What reason married concording strains What divorc'd discords never I confesse Did any knot so pose my brains as this 33. The treasures of Antiquity laid up In old Historick leav's I opened How Kingdoms sprung and how they made their stop I well observ'd with what brave Spirits did How they their honours managed and what The beams of their nobility did blot 34. My recreations were those which some Made their whole work and it was noble too When weary from my 〈◊〉 I was come To practise martiall feats I went and so In both her brave professions I strove To follow Pallas whom I most did love 35. Oft have I been abroad and seen the field With streaming ensigns goodly terror spred Where how much more I lov'd to die than yeild Upon my breast good witnesse you may read Ev'n these sev'n wounds whose mouths once open wide In mine own blood my virtue testifi'd 36. Oft have I rode alone into the Wood To finde some wilde Antagonist some Bear Some Boar some Lyon the accustomed foode Wherewith I diet this my hungry speare You well may gather by the certain Blow I gave yon' Beast I am no Learner now 37. And will you think Pride speaks the word if here I tell you that my Fame swell'd great and high In 〈◊〉 in City Country every where Reports of Aphrodisiu's Worth did flie No high strain'd Parallel was made but thus As good or brave as Aphrodisius 38. To Court I never went but fewer eyes Paid homage to the King 's than unto Mine Devoutly did the Ladies sacrifice Their Looks and Sighs and Languors at my shrine Oft has the Queen gone out alone whilst they Forgot to follow Her if I did stay 39. How many a prettie Embasie have I Receiv'd from them which put me to my Wit How not to understand but by and by Some Comment would come smiling after it But I had other thoughts to fill my head Books call'd Me up and Books put Me to bed 40. This my Disease being known a Lady sped To me an handfull of conceit cloth'd in So quaint a Cover that on it I read Full half an houre before I could begin To ope the book and what did that contain But a discourse to prove all Learning vain 41. Bold Title then said I if thou can'st make Thy Promise good by learning thou must do it With that I threw 't aside but could not slake My curious fond desire to look into it I look'd and read and saw how finely wit Had whip'd it self and then grew freinds with it 42. Then summon'd by Civility I went To court the Giver and my thanks repay Look not said I for polish'd complement I came not hither Madame to gain-say But thank you for your book if learning be So vain a thing Wit would prove foolerie 43. Between a blush and smile she welcome gave To her new Convert But sweet sir said she I sent another book in which you have More of my minde than in those leaves can be A faire-writ book if you it please to prove In rubrick lines and characters of love 44. I gave not that O no it was a Debt Which I did to all sweetnes pay in you How could I choose for had I more than it They would be more than due but having now But onely one poore heart your praise must be Not to disdain my helplesse povertie 45. I would not for a thousand Worlds receive It back again How delicate a Nest In your all-lovely bosome shall it have If by that favour you will make it blest If thence you cast it take 't who will for Me Ine'r shall love what hated is by thee 46. Yet give Me leave to ask what Lady 't is Thou wilt exalt to sit Queen in thy Heart Whether her face more gracefull be than this Which blusheth heer in pleading its own part Whether her Stock or her Estate afford More arguments than mine to wooe my Lord. 47. If not then by these loyall Tears I shed Before thy feet this my bold Truth forgive Thy love is due to me Heav'n never did Make such a Man for nothing but to Live Thou ow'st an Off-spring to the World which may With Hero's furnish it another day 48. As when the Pris'ner at the Barre has done His 〈◊〉 storie he does fix his eye Upon the Judge and from his mouth alone In hopes and fears expects his Destiny So look'd the Lady with prepared eyes To see her Joys or weep her Obsequies 49. Full loth was I to speak but lother by Inhumane lingring Silence to torment Her most suspended soul and make her dy Without her Sentence Many a sigh I sent Before to tell what Words were comming out At last this labouring Answer forth I brought 50. How wretched is his Blisse upon whose Heart Whil'st divers Ladies of choise Worth attend With Loyall passion He must either part And so destroy his own or empty send Them all away but One and thus be fain By many a losse to make one single Gain 51. Had I as many bosomes as I owe To such sweet Creditors as Thou with speed I would discharge my scores but first I vow To thee dear
and cast my love away Upon impostur'd Lusts foule Mystery O Me was ever Heart so mad as mine Which would be divelish rather than divine 103. Surely I will revenge my self on Her I will a Tempest raise of Sighs and Groans To scourge that Gale which blew so soft and fair To steal a shipwrack on Me With rude stones $$Work$$ make this harder Breast without appear As black as 't was within when Hell dwelt there 104. I with my Howlings will these Ears torment Which were intentive to the Cheaters Charms These Lipps which lov'd his Kisses shall be spent In courting nasty Dust these lustfull Arms Which hugg'd His Body shall mine own chastise Which now I hate more than I loved His. 105. O all ye Griefs which ever fix'd your sting Upon a guilty treacherous Bosome hear Unhappie Psyche's earnest Prayers and bring Your stoutest Powers my Heart has room to spare For your full Train Adieu all Loves I now Must onely study to wooe Hate and You. 106. Why was I born may Darknesse choke that Day Which lighted Me into the World Or why When in the Boars my Death its mouth did lay Upon my throat had I not leave to dy Why did I scape that Monster to be thrown To fouler ones Hells Treason and mine own 107. Why dwelt such flaming Beauties in mine Eye As might allure and shew to Lust its way Why smil'd my face with such sweet Majesty As bade false Love be bold Me to betray Why rather was I not so vile that in Safe scorn I might have scap'd the Gallant 's sin 108. The universall Worlds Contempt could not Have wrong'd or wounded Me so deep nor thrown Upon my Beauties such a fatall Blot As they upon themselves and Me have drawn I 〈◊〉 not now been Heir to all Heav'ns scorn If in Earths Eye I Had but been forlorn 109. O righteous Profit of unrighteous Pleasure Whos 's Totall summ's made up of desperate Losse How justly when We trade away our Treasure Requit'st thou Us with rusty fretfull Drosse For all the Gains that Wantonnesfe brings in Prove but a Bank of Veng'ance on the sin 110. Still still I burn my Fire but changed is And though my Lust be cool'd my Guilt is hot And belks and boils for wroth Syneidesis Blows up its more incensed Coals O what Can help my enigmatick sorrows who Thus on my selfe my execution do 111. As thus she lay lamenting on the floor Which with her Tears was slubber'd Charis who Had all this while but stepp'd behinde the door Comes cheerly in and cries Break off thy Woe Dear Psyche t is enough thy hearty cry Has pterc'd already and appeas'd the skie 112. The Copies of thy Tears which there ly shed Upon the ground reflected high and are Already in Heav'ns Casket botteled Thy griefes now smile above and have made clear Gods lowring face look up and see how Day Shines friendly on thee and does bid thee Joy 113. With that she breath'd into her Breast the Powers Of unconceived Sweets the thirsty ground Ne'r look'd so cheerfully when Summer showers The deep Pains of its gasping Drought had drown'd As over-joyed Psyche now she feeles Warm in her bosome Grace's gentle Gales 114. Gales on whose dainty Wings Heav'ns Influence rides An Influence of such speedy Operation That though all Opposition's highest Tides Roar in its way through their proud Conjuration With instant Might it flies and every where Findes Victory attending its Carrieer 115. To Heav'n to Charis to Syneidesis Her thanks she mustereth but all array'd In scarlet from her cheeks For still she is Asham'd to have been lately so betray'd When Phylax flutters in and Come said He You to the Grove must back again with Me. 116. As when the place of Robberie you name The Thiefe in White or Red betrays his fear So conscious Psyche's Heart shot through with shame At that unlook'd for Word makes it appear In her apalled looks Alas said she And com'st Thou to renue my Miserie 117. Bid Me goe finde some desperate Rock from whence I may plunge down into the deepest Maine Bid me post headlong to th' Infernall Prince And covenant with him for eternall Paine Nay bid me do 't Or bid me not do this Which is to goe where my far worse Hell is 118. I like thine Anger well says Phylax but The Grove is not the same 't was yesterday Another Visage I on it have put Both chaste and safe and so thy selfe wilt say No Boar no Lover's there come let Us goe Both Charis and thy Maid will with Us too 119. This high Assurance cheer'd her timorous Heart Which stood in reverentiall awe of Him Besides her faithfull Consorts bore their Part In this incouragement Yet did there swim About her brest some tender trembling Doubts Which spred like Mist upon her cleerer Thoughts 120. Along they went but comming neer the Grove Psyche began to quake and closer cling To Phylax who reach'd out his shield of love The downie shelter of his heav'nly Wing Under whose cheerly shaddow her He led Into the gloomy shades the Wood had spred 121. For now those flattering Beauties which of late Had made that Place a Temple to Delight Were all unmask'd and Melancholy sate Shrowding her 〈◊〉 selfe in mid-day night The heavy nodding Trees all languished And every sleepy Bough hung down its Head 122. There Aphrodisius his best Teeth had tri'd And foure of them lay broken on the ground With spightfull restlesse gnawing to divide The Withe by which He to his shame was bound More than unto the Tree which He so shook That all its frighted Leaves their Boughs forsook 123. But seeing that new Company He bit His Lipps and Tongue and spit them in their face See Psyche Phylax cries the Gallant 's Wit Who hopes to scape confessing his Disgrace But by and by I 'le make him finde a tongue To speak out his imposture and thy wrong 124. With that he snatch'd from Him all He had stoln From Earth from Water or from Aire before The beauteous Veil'no sooner off was faln But Aphrodisius appears no more It proves an hideous Fiend and Psyche cries Running behinde the Tree God blesse mine Eyes 125. Forthwith a poysnous stink seiz'd on the Aire But Phylax quickly blew it down to Hell And Come says He come Psyche ther 's no fear Behold the Monster and observe him well There hung his cursed Periwig but now Two coal-black Horns is all his Head can show 126. The rest is Bald or with soars over-grown With which his Forehead too rough-casted is Though over it He polish'd Flesh had drawn Too fair a Plaster for such Ouglinesse See how the Boils run down into his eye To finde him fitting Tears when He would crie 127. Like to some Ovens black Arch so hang his Brows Over the furnace of his Eyes wherein Delitious Flames did lately take up house But now the Fire 's as dark as his own sin And being fed with
she the Reins Almost as soft's the Hand which them contains 58. As through the whirling Orbs she faster flies The new Imbroyderie to the Starrs she shows They twinckled all asham'd of their own Eyes So was the splendid Zodiak which throws His spangled Girdle round about the Sphears To keep in order and gird up the years 59. Orions Blush confess'd how much this sight Outvied all the glories hee could show His yeilding Count'nance fell and to the bright Triumphant Apparition did bow Three times hee tri'd and faine hee would have 〈◊〉 How to unbuckle his out-shined Belt 60. But comming to the Soveraign Palace she Hasts in to her expecting Lord and layes Her Face and Work upon his Footstool He Her dainty pains with high Approofe repayes Yet On this Ground had thine own Storie grown The Girdle would said hee have fairer shown 61. With that unto his Cabinet hee goes Where Spirits of purest Gemms extracted lie Out of which Heart of Richnesse hee did choose The softest Dropps and in one Jewell tie Such Rarities as my Tongue cannot tell But thy dear Soul their ravishments shall feel 62. For to the Girdle having linked it He deign'd to grace Me who stood wondering by Take this said he and see how it will fit Thy Psyche but more mine Be sure to tie It close and straight that by this Token she May understand how neer she is to Me. 63. The second Houre's scarce entring since I took It and my leave and heer the Present is Come wipe thine Eyes a purified Look Is 〈◊〉 due 〈◊〉 where the sight is Blisse 〈◊〉 Phylax op'd the Girdle whence such beams Broke loose as drowned Psyche in their streams 64. For as the rurall Swain whose courser Eyes Ne'r star'd on other beauteous things than what Begay the simple Fields when first hee spies A Princes Wardrobe open straight is shot Quite through with Wonder and in fear doth deem The sight is too too glorious for Him 65. So mortall Psyche was at first dismayd At the immortall Spectacle When hee Cries out What Error makes thee thus afraid This Zon's not torrid though it flaming be Nor sent thy Spouse this Token to destroy Thine Eyes but diet them with sparkling Joy 66. See'st thou that Building there which lifteth high Its shining Head and scorns to pay the Sun Homage for any beams for sanctity Glitters about it and 'twixt every stone Lies thicker than the Cement know that this Illustrious Pile the Jewish Temple is 67. Many long years had run their Round and spent Their own upon Heav'ns lasting Orbs before This Fabrick first grew to its Complement But here a moment raisd it and to more Magnificence than it at first could shew Such potent Art from Maries fingers flew 68. That reverend Senior whose high-mitered Head Points out his princely Office is the Priest You in his awfull Count'nance might have read What his Attire proclaims Were he undrest He still with Virtues would arrayed be Who now clothes holy Robes with Sanctity 69. His left Hand on his Sealed Mouth he lays Back to the Altar hee his right doth stretch His Eyes are full of talke and trie alwayes How they without a Tongue his Minde may preach At length that Throng of People there began To guesse the Sense and what befell the Man 70. Whil'st hee did on the Incense Altar place It s aromatick Fuell and supply What Heat or sweetnesse there deficient was By many a fervent Vow and pretious Sigh His Clowd flew highest for the Incense smoke Soon fainted but his sighs through all Heav'n broke 71. And being there upon their odorous Back An Angell gets whence posting down to Earth Unto the Temple hee his way doth take Where standing by the Altar hee breaths forth A sweet repayment unto Zachary Of what his Soul had panted out so high 72. Behold sayes he thy Vows and Prayers are Come back to fill thy bosome with Successe I am no Messenger great Saint of Fear Trust Me and trust thy priviledged Blisse Thine Heart so fruitfull in sublime Affection Hath for thy Body earn'd an high production 73. Thy dear Eliza whom thy Piety As neer in Virtue as in Wedlock ties Shall have a son in whom thine Eyes shall see The fruit of both those Knots whom Heav'n doth prize So high that I aforehand must with thee Bargain about his Name John it must be 74. A Son of Smiles and Gladnesse hee shall prove And make thine aged Heart young with Delight The Morning he is born shall Joy and Love Together spring and take their blessed flight To thousand Soules where they shall sit and tell What Hopes what Wonders in thy John do dwell 75. Never did friendly Starrs conspire to frame So Fortunate a Birth for Noblest Kings In Gods own Eye wherein the World doth seem Lesse than these Atoms on the Airs light wings Great shall thy Sonne appear Let Doubting go Immensitie resolves to make him so 76. For whil'st hee nestls in the narrow Cell Of thine Eliza's Womb the Spirit of Heav'n O how much vaster than all it shall fill His breeding Heart which when it once is thriven Unto a pitch mature shall nobly prove To Earth how it by Heav'n alone doth move 77. No boist'rous roaring Wine or rampant Drink Shall his sweet Lipp defloure His cup must be Fill'd at some Virgin-Fountains Chrystall brink And teach his Palate too Virginitie For in his sacred Veins no fire must flow But what Heav'ns Spirit pleaseth there to blow 78. And with that fire He Israel must refine Israel o'r-grown with rust and filth that so He may make clean the Way where his divine Redeemer means close after Him to go For braver Flames ne'r warm'd Elia's breast Than in thy Sons shall make their gallant Nest. 79. Alas the Priest replies decayed I Want Blood enough to paint a Blush at this Too worthy News Can fifty Summers fly Back and with Youth my withered Spirits blesse Frost in my Veins and Snow upon my Head Bid me already write More than halfe dead 80. Nor in Eliza doth less deadnesse Live How then in two such Winters can there grow A Spring whose sudden Vigorousnesse may give New Lives to Us and make them over-flow Into a third Sweet Angell thy strange Word May well some sign unto my Faith afford 81. Sure then thou know'st me not the Angell cries For had'st thou known that Gabriel I am Who in the Presence-Chamber of the skies Give high attendance to God and the Lamb Thou might'st have well presum'd no fraud could come From purest Verities eternall Home 82. Yet shalt thou have a sign and I will fast Seal 't on thy faithlesse Tongue which asked it Henceforth thou shalt be Mute untill thou hast Seen what thou would'st not credit Then I 'le let Thy Tongue be loose again that it may sing A Benedictus to thy gratious King 83. The Angells Word full in the Priests face flew And fastned mystick Chains upon his Tongue He soon
as she 20. But irefull Haphe less could rule her pride Imperious Dame cri'd she how darest thou Who in two little tender Cells are ti'd Such saucie scorn on all thy Sisters throw Dost thou not plainly see my Empire spred Through all the Body ev'n from Foot to Head 21. Doe I not domineer in and about Thy totall selfe would not this single Naile Sufficient be to tear your Queenship out From both your Thrones Alas should I assaile Thee with two wretched Motes they would suffice To damp that Day in which thou prid'st thine Eyes 22. Thus is Rebellion alwaies Quarrelsome Ev'n with it selfe Had not their Judge made haste To stifle their Contention in the womb Flat Warre had been brought forth But in hee cast His peremptory Sentence Hold said He I in my House must have you all agree 23. This is the Main how small so e'r it seems Whether all your severall winding Courses tend Here doe you poure in your concurrent streams And in this Sea of Sense your Rivers blend A Sea where never storm arose as yet Farre be it then I now should suffer it 24. I love you All and if it could but be Would wish that every One might be supream 'T is true what noble Haphe sayes and she Most like my selfe doth Universall seem Yet she is of a courser mixture and As well as highest does the lowest stand 25. But gallant Opsis sprightfull is and bright The glass or Heav'n above and Heav'n below Her seat's compleatly highest and the Right Of her Precedency her Beams do show She 's all your Candle and before must goe Ev'n your own Interest requires it so 26. Condemned Haphe to this Sentence paid Scornfull obedience vowing not to speak At all or be the last But straight array'd In joyous Aspect Opsis did awak Her richest sweets to let her sisters see What cause she had to scorn their Poverty 27. Yet what means Joy to smile in these mine Eyes Said she so long as Psyche Domineers And makes them worse than Blinde Could it suffice Her now and then to set abroach my Teares 'T were tolerable but alas poor I Must in my sorrows alway steeping lie 28. The Ocean with lesse Constancie doth throw Its Tide of Salt upon the troubled shore Than from my Springs the streames are forc'd to flow And down my scalded Cheeks their Billows poure O why must here be everlasting Brine Whil'st all Tides else doe know an Ebb but mine 29. Yet were these Floods found needfull to make clean Mine Eyes and mee I would not think them dear But what Crime stains Us Is 't that we have seene All Beauties round about the Hemispheer What were We made for else Alas that we For our Creations End must guilty be 30. More justly Psyche Articles might draw Against that God on whom she fawneth so Is 't not by His irrefragable Law That through all Visibility wee goe Bold Hypocrite who her own faults doth thus Reveng upon her God by torturing Us. 31. Are not the Eyes those universall Glasses In which the World doth fairly copied lie Man for a Microcosme by favour passes But in a blinde and duskie Mystery I am the onely faithfull Mirrour where All things in their true colours painted are 32. Nay Psyche too although her mixture be Pure and spirituall knows not how to hide Her subtile self from my Discovery She by these Windows eas'ly is descri'd Whether she wakes or sleeps or rests or moves Whether she sighs or smiles or hates or loves 33. Sure would proud she deign to observe how I Am fram'd and seated she could not despise The manifest and secret Majesty Which doth both compasse and compose mine Eyes But she is angry and doth plainly prove That Hate is also blind as well as Love 34. Were it not so she might discern this Brow The princely Arch which roofs my Habitation In which as resolute Disdain doth grow As she can dart at it This is the fashion Of the fair world above whose radiant Eye The upper Orbs have arch'd with Majesty 35. Those double Doors whose hinges are my Will Both shut and open without pain and noise Else could they not catch tender Sleep which still Is coy and shie and flies from every Voice These are my East and West My Day by these Doth rise and set as often as I please 36. At either Gate a double Guard of Pikes With prest attendance stands both night and day Which gives admission unto those it likes But to injurious Guests shuts up the way Right trusty Hairs whose faithfull Fear to Me Breeds no Dishonour but Security 37. Full is my House of nimble Servants who Their diligent selves in all my Businesse stretch Which way soever I desire to goe With sweet activity they thither reach No Princes steeds with greater speed or ease Devoure their way than I am roll'd by these 38. Six pretious Curtains close imbrace my Bed Where I in dainty state inshrined lie The Adnate Tunicle is outmost spred Which doth protection to the rest supply And in her bosome shrowd both them and mee From hasty Motions importunity 39. The next a Corneous Veil both firm and bright My naturall Lanthorne whose diaphanous side As it transmits so it preserves the Light By which the Body and my selfe I guide No Time can spend this Lamp no boistrous storm Can puff it out or breath it any harm 40. The third of Grapes soft polish'd Coat is made Yet with a gentle Roughnesse lin'd within Through which all kindes and tribes of Colours trade And traffick with the inner Chrystalline The doubtfull skin of Polypus did ne'r Slide through such various Looks as sport it here 41. This opes a Casement to the Pupil which My gaudy Iris round about doth dresse With perfect beauties shaming all those rich Streaks of the Heav'n above which can expresse Onely the semi-glories of a Bow Mine doth a faire and totall Circle show 42. The fourth 's that tender Membran which doth kisse And hugg the tenderer Pupil when the Light Looks with full court'sie on the Eye then this Opes wide to meet and drink it in when Night Doth draw her sable Curtains over Heav'n This doth the Pupill shrink into its Ev'n 43. The fift of Chrystall is soft warm and thin Found no where but in my rich Treasury This is that noblest Glasse of Life wherein Things living live again and things which lie Dead every where beside enlivened be And trip about with brisk activity 44. The sixt's a Texture of so fine a threed That neat Arachne did the Spinster seem Whose matchlesse Artifice so clear is read In every Line that thence it takes its name We call 't Aranea a Net whereby I catch the purest-winged Beams that flie 45. Besides such pretious Humors I contain As mee adorn with richer puritie Than does the boundlesse jewell-paved Main Its Empresse Thetis She in all her Sea Is but of one salt-roy'led liquor Queen But I of
Mother-Perl and thus dwells Acoe 72. The outward Room 's oblique that violent Sounds May manners learn and not rush in too fast And narrow too so to protect my Bounds Which by no stealing Uermin must be pass't Yet if they venture I have lime-twiggs there To make them sure tenacious Wax and Haire 73. And at this Chambers end doth stand my Drumm Made of a Parchment soft and thin and dry And ready corded But the second Room Is of my active Tools the Treasury My Hammers and my Anvils place is there By which I Forge all sounds I please to hear 74. By them three little busie Bones do lie Which when my Drumm is beat articulate Each breeding Noise and Voice which that way flie Just as the Teeth at prattling Lingua's Gate Indeed she onely would be thought to make The shapes of Words but Acoe too can speak 75. Behind these two a Third is built whose frame So busie is and dubious and full Of Labyrinths that thence it takes its Name Six Semicircles there hook in and pull The Sound to every corner that it may Grow well acquainted e're it pass away 76. Next unto that my most reserved Cell Wreaths up its pliant selfe in privacy Have you not seen the Periwinkle shell Roll'd up about it selfe Such folds has my Dark Closet whence I by a private slit To thee grave Censor all my News transmit 77. If Psyche would but well consider this Sure she would deign me some respect Yet I Want not an ample Troop of Witnesses To prove my Worth With that she turn'd her Eye When strait-way in a decent equipage Her train Anamnesis brought on the stage 78. A sudden Grove sprung up and every Tree Impeopled was with Birds of softest throats With Boughs Qaires multipli'd and Melody As various was as were the singers Notes Till Philomel's diviner Anthems sound The rest in a full sea of Musick drown'd 79. Beneath a silver River stole and by Its gentle murmur did all Eares allure Amid'st whose streams a swan content to dy And at that price their further Joyes procure Tun'd her long Pipe to such an height that she Sung out her soule in her own Elegie 80. Then came two golden Orators the One From Greece from Rome the other to lament Her dainty Death Demosthenes began And rap'd the Hearers with such full content That had not Tullie stretch'd his Tongue that day With Rhetoricks honor Greece had gone away 81. But Tubal rushed in and Room said He For my prerogative who first did teach Schollars both deaf and dumb such Harmony As overtopp'd short-winded Natures reach Rude things the Hammer and the Anvil I Learn'd how to Forge soul-charming Melody 82. Behinde Him slowed in delicious throngs Of learned Instruments the Harp the Lute The Organ moderator of all Songs The Violl Cymball Sackbut Cornet Flute The Harpsichon Theorboe and Bandore The galiant Trumpet and a thousand more 83. As they at this mute show stood wondering In came a goodly Man with gracefull pace His Robe and Crown did plainly speak him King But his sweet Art betray'd what Prince he was Who snatching up the Harp did it awake And made it for its silent Brethren speak 84. As to the Strings hee whisper'd with his Finger They all told tales and with conspiring Noise Professed freely This is Israels Singer Discovered thus He join'd with them his voice And as he sung again the heav'nly Bowle Which Opsis thither brought began to roll 85. But he leap'd into it and in the Sphears Withdrew himselfe When loe an angry Sea Comes foaming in and on its proud waves bears In dreadfull triumph a wrack'd Man but hee Caught up the Harp a slender Bark indeed Could Musicks powers not the storm 's exceed 86. No sooner borrow'd He the strings soft Crie But at the gentle Call a Dolphin came Which took him on his back and bore him high Above the Wrath of the deluded stream Arion straight with all his fingers strove To pay his fare and quit the Fishes love 87. The Waves grew calm and smiled in his face The cheerly Nymphs look'd up and joy'd to hear Such charming Accents in that churlish place Where onely Tempests us'd to beat their Ear The Windes came stealing close about Him and Catch'd every Note that dropped from his Hand 88. The courteous Dolphin who did all this while Deeper in Pleasure swim than in the Sea And all the labour of his way beguile By the Harp's sweet Discourse was griev'd to see The period of his journey now at hand And wish'd that hee might with Arion land 89. But on the shore a singing Troop appear'd Where Pindar first took up a Lute and plaid All Ears were ravish't which his Numbers heard And had not Flaccus though at first afraid Fir'd by a furious bravery stretch'd his skill Pindar had been sole Lord of Lyricks still 90. Above upon a Mountain Homer sate And to a Trumpet tun'd his nobler Lays Which Fame who thither flutter'd having got Through all the wondering World she them displaies Till princely Maro with an equall strain Embrav'd his voice and echoed them again 91. Which at the second Bound reflected be By Tasso's Muse but in an holier Tune The Muse which taught her sober Tuscanie The Greek and Roman Poetry to prune And rescu'd Godfree from Oblivion As hee from Pagan Hands had Salem done 92. Not farre from whom though in a lower clime Yet with a goodly Train doth Colin sweep Though manacled in thick and peevish Rhyme A decent pace his painfull Verse doth keepe Well limm'd and featur'd is his mystick Queen Yet being mask'd her beauties less are seen 93. But ô how low all these do bow before Nazianzum's and the Worlds immortall Glory Him whose Heav'n-tuned soul did sweetly soar Unto the top of every stage and story Of Poetry through which as hee did pass He all the Muses made Urania's 94. And by this soul-attracting Pattern Thou My onely worthy self thy Songs didst frame Witnesse those polish'd Temple-Steps which now Whether thou wilt or no this Truth proclaim And spight of all thy Travels make 't appear Th' art more in England than when thou wert here 95. More unto Others but not so to Me Of old acquainted with thy secret worth What half-lost I endure for want of Thee The World will read in this mis-shapen Birth Fair had my Psyche been had she at first By thy kinde-censuring hand been dress'd and nurst 96. Some distance thence in floury wanton Groves Luxurious Amoroso's sate who by The gentle key of Sports and Smiles and Loves Did regulate their thrilling Melody Nimble Theocritus and Naso were The cheif but thousands more beside were there 97. Whose Consort to compleat afore-hand came Marino's Genius with a voice so high That straight the world rung with Adonis name Unhappie man and Choise ô what would thy Brave Muse have done in such a Theme as mine Which makes Profanenesse almost seem Divine 98. These apparitions sweetly
they wore your gentle Name 110. Some woefull Comfort it had been if We Had to one single Tyranny been damn'd But We at Home in forrein slavery Were held A Grievance we would not have nam'd In reverence to your Credit could the thing Have easie grown by our long suffering 111. What is that Charis unto Us that she In our Free State such arrogant sway must bear Or what made you so weak a Prince that We Must be Commanded by a Forreiner We grant She 's brave and Princely Yet wee know We owe Allegiance to no Queen but You. 112. She came from Heav'n if wee her Word may take But what woo'd Her from such a place as that To dwell in this ignoble World and make Her high Selfe stoop unto she knew not what I would be loth to wrong Her Yet I fear There 's something in 't why Heav'n gatrid of Her 113. And being here what-was the Trade she drove But how to barbarize your gentle Breast With strange Austerity and to remove Us from your love with which We once were blest Your smiles she all monopoliz'd and left Us quit of all things but your Hate bereft 114. If this Devotion be and heav'nly Zeal What is Unnaturalnesse Alas that We None but destructive Piety must feel And by Religion consumed be Alas that Heav'n and Godliness must thus Be forc'd to suffer injury with Us 115. Nor is proud Phylax one who with less Art Hath conzen'd you into this Tyrannie Soft are his Wings but cruell is his Heart Sweets in his Looks Gall in his Thoughts doth lie Fair does He speak you but the bait is cheap His streams run smoothest where the chanell's deep 116. Were you a Youngling and devoid of Friends Whose riper Arms might help your tender Hand To sway the Scepter then what he pretends With tolerable Sense perhaps might stand But must your Nonage still goe on and He For evermore the Lord Protector be 117. Now by your honour mighty queen 't is time For you no more to think your self a Childe Know your own power and loose it not in Him Who has your credulous Love too long beguil'd 'T is no discredite for a Prince to throw Away an Error and with it a Foe 118. Your Confidence in Him which flames so high Was kindled by his service in the Grove Yet what if that were but a Mysterie Of deep deceir and no exploit of Love If Phylax and not Aphrodisius were In all that Sceen of Charms the Conjurer 119. Who but the noble Aphrodisius there Bravely forgetfull of his own life from Immediate Death wide-gaping in the Boar Your helpless soul did reskew And from whom Did Phylax 〈◊〉 you but from his Imbrace Who your deliverer and your Lover was 120. And then enrag'd With shameless spight to see You to another your protection owe Upon the courteous strasngers Piety The powers of magick Malice He did throw How much more Monster was you Phylax there Who made the goodly Knight so foule appeare 121. Yet well it were if he would onely trie His Charms on Aphrodisius and for bear To exercise on Us his Witcherie But We alas so Metamorphoz'd are With that Rough-cast of shapes He on Us cleaves That you in your owne Subjects He deceives 122. We seem like Fiends for Rebells sure are so And monstrous things in your abused Eye Although ev'n Phylax in his Heart doth know Our Lives are not so deare as Loyaltie To honest-meaning Us And whose was this Desperate Enchantment if it were not his 123. 'T is true He talks of Love and needs will be The Paranymphus of the heav'nly spouse But surely I should ken as well as He All Mysteries of Love The whole world knows That my Creation onely aims at this And is my naturall Art less mine than His 124. That the Etheriall Prince makes love to you As to the dearest she that treads his Earth I easily grant because so well I know Your Majesties incomparable Worth But Heav'n forbid that I should Him esteeme So strange a Spouse as Phylax maketh Him 125. Sure He is King of sweetnesse and Delight And with more zeal abhorrs all Tyrannie Than Phylax loves it Sure his gentle Might Strives for a correspondent Victorie Not all the world shall make Me think that He Will ever wooe his Spuose by Crueltie 126. Lents Embers Vigils Groans Humi-cubations Tears Pensiveness disconsolate Privacie Severest Arts of all Mortifications Are not conditions required by An earthlie Suiter and can Heavn'ly He Imbitter thus his deare Suits Suavitie 127. Can He expect his tender spouse should prove Her Loyaltie pants with intire affection By nothing but self-hatred can his Love Finde no Security but your Destruction Pardon my fear great Queen you love not Him Whom such a spightfull Lover you can deeme 128. But farr be all such Omens hence Had I Or Nature any Glass which could present Your totall self to your considering Eye The gallant sight would make your heart repent This dangerous Heresie that Heav'ns gentle King Would use so harshly such a lovely thing 129. What is there of Delight of Love of Joy Of Grace of Beautie in this World below Or that above which did escape a way From the Creator's fingers when on you Himself he wrote and bade your Bosome be The Vniverse's rich Epitomie 130. But Phylax brews this cruell-flattering Plot Because it is his Rack and Hell to see That Fate or Fortune Psyche should allot To any Spouse but Him This makes Him be So subtly active in his secret Art How he may you and your great Suiter part 131. O then first for your own illustrious sake And next for Us wrapp'd up in you beware Of his Designs in time Just courage 〈◊〉 In what deserves your speediest stoutest Care Nor you nor We can be secure winle He Both from your Court and Favour 〈◊〉 be 132. Nor can your Palace be a dwelling Place For safety so long as Logos or Charis thus revell in your Princely Grace One Edict may 〈◊〉 them all and farr From this their 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 Treachery Pack them to that foule place where Trayters lie 133. So shall your royall self securely dwell And your 〈◊〉 undeceived Hand Sway its own Scepter So shall We dispell By prest obedience unto your Command That caus lesse Error which upon our Head The foule Blot or Rebellion hath spred 134. So shall our reskew'd Liberries appear In their own Looks So We by Love shall doe More of your Will than disingenuous Fear And lawlesse 〈◊〉 e'r hal'd Us to So you no more shall mark'd and dreaded be For Rigor but reign Queen of Clemencie 135. So shall your sweetned Countenance proclaim That you Lov 's dear Adventure doe profess So shall you court with your Eys answering Flame Your Spouse's beams So shall His Tendernesse A soft capacity find in your Heart Of his destroying yet enlivening Dart. 136. Here bowing low Love sealed up her Lip With a Kisse on the
ground But all together A thousand Doubts did rosse poore Psyche up From one side of her thoughts unto another Three times she op'd her mouth but jealous Feares Would suffer Her to speak by nought but Teares 137. Which when Arenor 〈◊〉 he with his Eye Gave 〈◊〉 Commission to speak She marching forth with port and majesty Loves 〈◊〉 Deceit did somerhing greater make And Well I know great Queen said she that You Much wonder I should come a Treater now 138. T is true you sent me with expresse Command To force the head-strong Rebells back againe And make them feel that your illustrious Hand Is moderatrix of the 〈◊〉 Rein. And I indeed took them for Rehells too So much your Error upon me could doe 139. But when I found their Lovalty as clear As Slander fain'd it blotted I who was Dispatch'd by You but as the Officer Of Right and Justice had no power to passe My strict Commission and what need I prove What was so solidly confirm'd by Love 140. I must confesse when I had mark'd that Store Of honest Bravery of which poor they Were with the Senses robb'd I could no more To their provok'd Impatience Treason lay Than unto Tellus if in chinks she ope Her Mouth at Sirius who her flowres burns up 141. Yet they were generous and unto Me The choise of all their choisest Wealth did profer That by my hand it might commended be To wait on you And here their Gift I offer If it and them you scorn yet must not I Be guilty of such Inhumanity 142. Forth with she op'd the Scene whence streamed out The confluence of that gorgeous Fallacy Which on her heedlesse Selfe before had wrought Straight as the sweetly-rolling Tide grew high The Stream bore Psyche down as sudden Light Instead of day seizeth the Eyes with night 143. Agenor seeing she was dazeled by The flash of those Varieties arose And while she rubb'd and questioned her Eye To the Imposture adds this specious Close Wonder not Madame but repent that you Your Subjects goodly homage scorn'd till now 144. I am content the weaknesse of your Sex Be your excuse if now you can relent To ease the yoak which gaulls your Subjects Necks And crown their just Demands with your Consent That Pitty I unto their Wrongs did lend To your repented Error I 'le extend 145. The love which to mine own Queen feals my heart Makes it unto all other Ladies kinde For her dear sake I will to you impart Rich testimonies of my tender Minde I know she 'l thank me when I come at home That in my Mercy I have made you room 146. Behold my Mine of wealth From hence will I This Peace with pretious Tokens consecrate And will hereafter owne your Majesty As my Confederate Though prevailing Fate Makes me a Martiall Prince I 'd rather win By sweetnesse than by churlish force a Queen 147. Then ope your Gates Or if my Kindnesse be A Price room an to buy our Acceptation Tell me but so I can more easily Force than Intreat This warlike Preparation Did with more pains win on it self to make This Pause than it will cost your Fort to take 148. What help for Psyche now whom Power drives And Charms allure to her Destruction With heart-misgiving Thoughts a while she strives And struggles how she may not fear the One Nor love the other But away at last Her Resolution and her selfe she cast 149. Vain Son of Dust pull down thy foolish Crest And in this Glasse thy feeble Wormship see Who will commit unto thy wavering trust Another thing when by Self-treachery Thou yeildest up thy wretched Heart a Prize To them whose Power in thy Concession lies 150. I like the Terms right noble Sir she cries And must for ever in my high esteem Inshrine and reverence these Courtesies Which from your sweet Magnificence doe stream Then to the Gate she hasts and to begin Her thanks flings it wide ope and calls them in 151. Agenor sheath'd his mighty Sword and bid The Passions all perform what He had done 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Order they first entered 〈◊〉 with his swelling Train Himselfe drew on And seem'd to cast a sirly Look aside 〈◊〉 the Castle Gate was not more wide 152. With Princely slownesse thus march'd in at last Her royall Seal He Her desires to set To those Conditions which before had past And in a gilded Scroll were ready writ She ran it over with a smiling Eye And straight set seal to her own Miserie 153. Then unto Thelema the Instrument She gave with full Commission to shut Her Ports when Charis or when Phylax bent Their courses or their projects thither But For Logos she consented He should still Remain a Pris'ner at the Passions Will. 154. With that My seal to this Pacification Agenor cries this Friendly Kisse shall be Mean while the Passions with joynt Acclamation Salute their Soveraigns Eare as courtly He Her Lip And fond she joy'd their Noise to hear Which all her freedome did in pieces tear 155. By name she bad them welcome all but on Agenor dwelt her Thanks and Complement And sure said she what you to day have done Proves you to be of that sublime Descent From which my Spouse was said alone to spring Who would not swear that you were Peace's King 156. Power reigns in both His Hands the Armory Of Heav'n where Thundering Ammunition lies In dreadfull Store is His yet gentle He By sweetnesse loves to gain his Victories And so doe you who for His sake to Me The noblest Prince and dearest are but He. 157. Agenor smil'd And Whosoe'r I be Repli'd sweet Queen I have no time to show More than by this blest peace 〈◊〉 what you see This 〈◊〉 of my royall Love to You. The World may need Me some where else and I Must not by loytering here my help deny 158. Yet if my Aid you should hereafter want Send and enquire at any Prince's Court And think not that Agenor now 〈◊〉 vaunt Unto such Inns I make my chiefe resort Nor fail I of due welcome for the best And Noblest Place is proud of Me its Guest 159. His Present was two Cabinets which when His Pages had set down He took his leave From her soft lipp through which He breathed in What her unwary Heart did not perceive Slie Spirits of Self-love and Foolish Pride And many mystick swelling things beside 160. With earnest Courtesie she woo'd his Stay But now his deep Defign was compass'd He With all his gorgeous Train made haste away And leaves her more a Pris'ner than when she Was in her Castle close barr'd up by Fear Of them who now all play'd the Tyrants there 161. Each Passion takes her swindge and does appeal To Thelema when any Doubts arise Boldly provoking to the Scroll and Seal Which did this publike Freedome authorize Thus Noise and Tumult every corner fills Of Psyche's court which all with Revells swells 162. So when fond Phebus doting
in these Herbs doth any Serpent sneak Them to enyenome or my Safety check 215. My serious Labours and my ridgid Fear Fright hence the tender Sons of Luxury Distempers and Diseases Guests which are Fed at the Bord of Superfluity In health and vigour I can night and day Trade with my Maker and my Prayers say 216. He though no wanton Bathes have softened My carelesse Skin which tann'd and rough you see Though all my weeds be of a rurall Thred Spun by Neglect and by Simplicity Esteems nor Me nor my Condition poor Because I build my Hopes upon his Store 217. His royall Store which since this World below So narrow was fills Heav'ns vast Treasury And till the Sons of Dust and Ashes grow As high as that in vain they look to be Enrich'd by it But there 's a Way by which We Dwarfs to that Sublimity may reach 218. A strange Way which does by Desentions Wings Teach Us to soar These Contrarieties Into the field not onely Nature brings But Grace with opposite Cures meets Maladies Pride threw Us down when we were perched high Our ladder to get up's Humility 219. Humility that Art enobled by His own Profession whom all Heav'ns adore Himselfe He Lowest made who was most High And of the Richest King became most Poor By his Example teaching Us that We Must onely by Rebound exalted be 220. Psyche with great contention deign'd to hear Him hitherto but could endure no more What Pitty'tis said she that now thy Beer Hath long stood waiting for thee at thy Door Thou art no Wiser yet this signe doth shew Thy Dotage is past Help Poor wretch adeiu 221. Then with relaxed Rein admonishing Her smoaking Steeds They snatch'd her Coach away With sparkling foaming fervor copying Her hasty indignation untill they Drew neer the Citty where their pace they bate Marching in statelier slownesse to the Gate 222. The People gaz'd upon her as she past And fill'd the Street with Wonder Every Eye It s foolish homage in her way did cast And by that Admiration raise more high Her tumid Looks who had the more to scorn The more Spectators did her way adorn 223. For whilst some prais'd the Coach and some the Steeds And all her Person who rode Queen of them With carelesse Looks Contempt about she spreads Both on their Admiration and on them She lov'd the Honor yet lov'd to despise What in her own esteem was her best prize 224. So when a burly Tempest rolls his Pride About the World though mighty Cedars bow Though Seas give way unto his greater Tide Though Mountains lay their proudest heads full low Before his feet yet still He roars amain And rusheth on in blustering Disdain 225. On many Pallaces her Eye she cast But yet could not vouchsafe to view them long At last contemning all she saw she prest With insolent fiercenesse through the gazing Throng Crying These Cottages can afford no room For Psyche's Entertainment I must Home PSYCHE OR LOVES MYSTERIE CANTO VI. The Humiliation ARGUMENT HEr heav'nly Friends by soule-subduing Art Recover Psyche from her shamefull Glory And sure to seal upon her softned Heart Religious Meeknesse Phylax tells the Story Of her immortall all-producing Spouse And then her own originall Vilenesse shows 1. BUt what is Home unto unhappy Her Whose onely Castle is surrender'd to A Pack of Rebells who resolved were To use the licence of their Conquest so That she should in her own Dominion Have no power left her but to be undone 2. She might have safelier call'd all Tempests in And to the loudest Windes fet ope her Gate Or giv'n her Key to Bears and Tigers then To those more dangerous Beasts whose fair-tongu'd hate Does work by this Prerogative that they By Honey poyson by Imbraces slay 3. Flat Enemies are honest harmlesse Things Because they tell Us what We have to fear But double-hearted Friends whose Blandishings Tickle our Ears but sting our bosomes are Those dangerous Syrens whose sweet mayden face Is onely mortall Treasons burnish'd Glasse 4. These are the Pits whose mouths with flowers spred Sweetly invite our Feet unto a Fall The golden Cups whose Lips are sugeted To the dissembled Poyson ours to call The crafty Hooks which in a dainty Bait To catch the Liquorish Palate lie in wait 5. These are those flattering Pipes whose wily Tune Enchants the silly Birds into the Net These are those fragrant Bedds of fair-look'd June With smileing Roses and with Lilies set Where th' unsuspecting Gardner to surprise By fatall sleight perdu the Serpent lies 6. These are those Delilahs whose weeping Eye Whose sighs whose Kisses whose Imbraces be The truer Wit hs and Ropes and Web where-by They binde the stoutest Sampsons on their knee Where while they hope to rest they polled are At once both of their Liberty and Hair 7. These are the politick Hyena's who Make bloody Thirst in humane Accents speak And with such sweet Hypocrisie can wooe The heedlesse Swain compassion to take That to his Foe his door he openeth And in fond Pitty letteth in his Death 8. These are those Judas's whose Lips can drop The honey of a friendly Salutation And with a Kisse seal the soft bargain up Though in their Hearts a trayterous Conjuration Lies rankilin and they study how they may In Looks and Words of Love their God betray 9. And surely Psyche by this Treason had Been cheated of her life and selfe if He Who in his Judas tryall of it made Had lent no Pitty to her Misery Had Jesu's tender Goodnesse not out-rid His faithless Spouse who now from Him was fled 10. Charis and Phylax He a while with-drew That being left unto her selfe she might Of her own Weaknesse take convincing view When she occasion had and cause to fight But now He sends them back to help Her down From the high Ruine where He saw her thrown 11. Make haste said He my Love and Her Distresse Call for your speed 〈◊〉 To you full power I give To ease Her of that wretched Mightiness Before it split her Heart to undeceive Her cheated Soule and shrink it till it be Little enougn to fit my Heav'n and Me. 12. They having thrice ador'd his Foot-stool flew Upon the wings of Thought through every Sphear No Lightning ever made more haste to view The East and West at once than this swift Pair Of earnest Messengers or with more Light Did all Spectators startled Eyes afright 13. For when the Passrons saw them darting neer Immediate Terror upon them did seize Down fell their changed Looks and Necks though Fear Was left at home she present seem'd in these The suddennesle made Psyche too afraid And both her Courage and her Chariot stay'd 14. But though the first Assault of Lightning be Pointed with Dread and Awe the second does Break forth with more abated Majesty And in our Eyes at least some Brightnesse loose Custome though young and breeding yet can make The dint and edge of any strangness
with every Lock Which when th' inamor'd winds did kiss you might Have seen a ruffling Tempest of Delight 196. Two princely Arches of most equall measures Held up the Canopy above her Eyes And open'd to the Heav'ns farre richer Treasures Than with their Stars or with their Sunne did rise Their Beams can ravish but the Bodies sight These dazell stoutest Soules with mystick light 197. These were two Garrisons of all conquering Love Two Founts of life of Spirit of Joy of Grace Two Easts of one faire Heav'n no more above But in the Hemisphear of her own face Two Thrones of Gallantry two shops of Miracles Two shrines of Dieties two silent Oracles 198. For here could Silence eloquently plead Here could th' invisible Soule be clearly read Though Humors their mild composition made They were two Burning Glasses wherce were shed Those living Flames which with enlivening Darts Shoot Deaths of Love into Spectators Hearts 199. 'Twixt these an Alabaster Promontory Slop'd gently down parting each Cheek from other Where White Red strove which should get the glory Blending in sweet confusion together The Rose and Lilie never joyned were In a diviner Marriage than there 200. Upon these pretious Cushionets did lie Ten thousand Beauties and as many Smiles Chaste Blandishments and genuine Courtesie Harmlesse Temptations and honest Guiles For Heav'n though up betimes the mayd to deck Ne'r made Aurora's cheeks so fair and sleek 201. Neatnesse and Pleasure and inamoring Grace About her Mouth in full Retinue stood For next the Eyes bright Glass this is the place In which the Soul delights to walk abroad But at her lips two scarlet Threds there lay Or two warm Coralls to adorn the way 202. The pretious Way where by her Breath and Tongue Her Odours and her Honey out did flow Which thou 'dst have judg'd to have been bred among Arabian and Hyblean Hills and so They were indeed the richer Arabie And sweeter Hybla in her Mouth did lie 203. As crowned with a golden Chapiter A Column of white Marble you have seen So her round polish'd Neck her Head did bear Nor did the shining Pillar bend or lean Yet neither would this Marble hardnesse know Nor suffer Cold to dwell amongst its Snow 204. Her blessed Bosom moderately rose With two soft Mounts of Lilies whose fair Top Two Cherrie Branches for their Station chose And there their living Crimson lifted up The milkie Count'nance of the Hills confest What kinde of Springs within had made their Nest. 205. Fair Politure walk'd all her Body over And Symmetrie flew through every Part Soft and white Sweetnesse round about did hover From every Member Beautie shot its dart From Heav'n to Earth from head to foot I mean No sign of Blemish or of Spot was seen 206. This was the first born Queen of Gallantry All Gems compounded into one rich Stone All Sweets knit into one Conspiracy A Constellation of all Stars in one Who when she was presented to the view Of Paradise the Place all dazeled grew 207. Proud Phebus who in glorious Scorn did flie About the World no sooner spi'd her face But fain he would have lingred from his skie Upon this lesse but sweeter Heav'n to gaze Till shame enforc'd him to lash on again And clearer wash him in the Western Main 208. The Aire smil'd round about for joy that he Had the prerogative of the Virgin kiss And did imbrace with blessed Liberty A Body soft and sweet and chaste as His. All gentle Gales that had but strength to stir Did thither flock to beg perfumes of Her 209. The Marigold forgot her garish Love And turn'd her duty to these fairer Eyes All Flowres look'd up and as they could did move Towards those ocular Sphears from whence did rise Milde and unparching Beams Beams which in stead Of fire soft joyes irradiations spred 210. The sturdiest rudest Trees affected were With her delightfull Presence and did melt At their hard Pith Whil'st all the Birds which there Were tossing Mirth about the Branches felt The influence of her Looks For having let Their Song fall down their Eyes on Her they set 211. And ô how soon their proudest plumes and wings Follow'd their song For in Her Person they With fix'd intention read more glorious things Than all their feathers Bravery could display And were content no more the Name to wear Of Birds of Paradise while she was there 212. But when she mov'd her Feet the joyfull Earth A wak'd her uttermost Fertility And by a brisk extemporary Birth Of Myrrh of Flowres of Spice did testifie What Carpets Pomp was requisite to make The Passage fit where Beauty was to walk 213. She walk'd by that milde importunity To break the Chains of sleep which bound her Spouse But he wakes more by pow'rfull Sympathie Which on the sudden in his Bosome glows At first he thought his Dream had still possest him And with a fairer apparition blest him 214. But by his wise and most discerning Eyes Examining the gracefull Object He Pries into all the Truth and smiling cries This nothing but my other Selfe can be From Me she sprung a Woman from a Man And is but Adam in reflection 215. How sweet a Confluence of Loves and Joyes Met heer in their first Marriage Imbrace Which was as pure and chaste as when one Voice In Musick 's wedded to anothers Grace Where with concentrick Delicacies they Hug and conspire in one soul-plying Lay. 216. Adam beholds himselfe more sweet in Eve In Him She reads her selfe more high and grave Either from other does Themselves receive As fast returning what they taking gave Thus when two Currents meet they loose each other In the pellucid bosome of his brother 217. They naked were if onely skinnes and haires And excrements of Beasts Apparrell be But who will taxe the Sunne the Moone the Starres The Diamond Chrystall Corall Ivorie Of Nakednesse because the Clothes they weare None but their native Beams and Beauties are 218. A Robe of Innocence and Puritie Down from their Head unto their foot did flow Transmitting their faire feature to the Eye But letting no unseemely shame peepe through They Naked were of every borrow'd Dresse And Naked of what you count Nakednesse 219. In this Condition did they live and love And each with other enterchange their Heart Fairly transcribing our sweet Life above Where every Angels Eye his soule doth dart Into his Fellows breast that all may be In common blest by one Felicitie 220. How great a Feast and earnest Invitation Was this for Envie whose ambitious Tooth Disdains all fare but in the noblest fashion Who arm'd with Jaws of greedy Iron doth Dread no encounter but with restlesse spight Against the most confirmed Champions fight 221. Built is her Pallace in the Heart of Hell Whose foule Materials Rust and Poyson be Her cursed Throne is mounted on the fell Bosome of Belzebub whom furious She Stings with eternall Rage and makes Him runne About the wilde Worke of
sweet Sir will have it so content Said she and meekly blushing in she went 39. Up flew Devotion and Chastitie The gallant Steeds which did the Chariot draw Her native Albion soon began to be Lost in a Sea of Air and now she saw The wealthy Fields of Gallia which as fast Behinde her fled as she did forward post 40. Then climbing higher in her yeilding Way Eternall Banks of obstinate Frost and Snow Which Winter on the Alps high back did lay Spight of the nearer Sun she leaves below And through the tumult of the justling Clouds Down into the Italian Heav'n she crouds 41. From thence she launch'd into that Region Which by the Adriatick Storms doth frown And sped her course above that Ocean About whose sides the Mid-land shores are thrown So well did Phylax steer that to a Port So far off ne'r was made a Cut so short 42. For having reach'd blest Palestine she flew Over the groveling Towns of Galile Untill the Steeds as if the place they knew At Nazareth brake off their Course where she Viewing the simple Village wondered why Her Convoy thither took such pains to flie 43. But Phylax having led her by the Hand To the unlikliest House Behold said hee This pretious Monument which still doth stand To chide their Arrogance who needs will be Immur'd in Cedar and roof'd o'r with Gold O who would think poor Dust should be so bold 44. This silly Mansion though it scarce would win Ev'n Poverty it selfe in it to dwell Was once the House Home where the bright Queen Of Glories kept her Court in this mean Cell Dwelt She in whose illustrious Family All Heav'n desir'd a Sojourner to be 45. She the transcendent Crown of Females She Great Jacobs Ladder Aarons budding Rod The Chrystall Princess of Virginity Davids fair Tower the Mother of her God Mary her selfe O may that lovely Name Be Blessings Nest and the dear Theam of Fame 46. There her plain Cates she eat or rather kept Her healthfull Rules of sober Abstinence There did she plie her Prayers and there she slept When midnight Zeal had tir'd her mortall Sense No Corner was in all this House but she Did dedicate it unto Piety 47. How many Temples in this narrow Room Erected were by her Devotion Who taught all Virtues here to take their Home But if Sin knock'd She bid it straight be gone For at her Door Humility she set A Potter which would no such Guests admit 48. Here on her pious knees she wept one day In wondring Meditation of that She Whom God would chuse to make the noble Way Unto his own fore-told Humanity O how she blest that Soule who ever was To be advanced to that matchlesse Grace 49. Not for a thousand Worlds would she have thought Her Selfe the long-designed She but rather Would with a thousand thousand more have bought An Hand-mayds place to wait upon that Mother To kisse her blessed feet or bear her Train In whom all Excellence rejoyc'd to reign 50. But whil'st her meek admiring Fancie flies Through this high Contemplation which drew Applauding joyous Christall from her Eyes A bright and gallant Stranger hither flew One who from Heav'n her sweet reflection brings Looking almost like Her but for his Wings 51. Youth bloomed in his Face the blessed Throne Where purest Beauties in fair Triumph sate Their brisk and sparkling Combination All ravishing Joyes into his Eyes had put His Looks commanded Love but did withall By potent Purity all Lust fore-stall 52. His Head was crown'd with its own golden Hair Which down his back its dainty Wealth did shed The Alabaster of his Neck was bare Sweetly betraying what below was hid In the green ambush of his Robe of Silk The Curtain drawn upon his Fleshie Milk 53. That Robe was guarded with the orient Lace Which on Aurora's Virgin Coat you see Neglect seem'd to have put it on yet Grace And Comelinesse would not prevented be But did in every carelesse fold and pleit To catch Spectators Wonder lie in wait 54. A silver Girdle did his Loins imbrace With the prest fashion of Travellers Like Loves sweet Bow his left Arm bended was Upon his Side whil'st high his Right Hand bears A Lillie which from thence received more Sweetnesse and Whitenesse than it had before 55. The Candor of his Wings was no such kinde Of glaring thing as in the Alpine Snow Or on the purest Cygnets neck we finde Or on the soft face of new Milk doth flow But a celestiall Tincture pure and bright Made not by scorching but by whitening Light 56. He was an heav'nly Citizen and one Whose place is in an higher form than mine In neer attendance on his Makers Throne He with his Archangelick beams doth shine Whence he when Heav'n has greatest businesse here Dispatched is the choise Ambassadour 57. But though his Eyes their education had Amongst those Claritudes which gild the skies They never yet at Home did seem to read So much of Heav'n at large as here he spies Epitomized in the lovely Glass Of Maryes modestly-illustrious face 58. And Hail said He Thou dearest Favorite Of our great King in whose selected Breast His Majesty with singular delight Doth take his private and mysterious rest Hail thou the Crown of Females on whose Head Their best exuberance all Blessings shed 59. The humble Virgin started at the sight But much more at the Salutation The complementall Youth did her affright Who us'd such charming Companie to shun Untill his Wings admonish'd her that he One of her wonted heav'nly Guests might be 60. But yet her lowly Soul could not digest The tumor of that strange Hyperbole Which still she boulted in her thought-full Breast Being suspitious least some Flattery Had borrow'd an Angelike shape by which A Woman it more easily might bewitch 61. O strange but nobly-pretious Jealonsie Which onely dost in holy Bosoms rest Thou art the Bar which dost accesse deny To whatsoever might an Heart molest Pride Usher to all Sins comes not neer thee So low thou liest so high strutteth hee 62. When Gabriel observ'd her doubtfull Look Where Blushes and where Palenesse mutually Their fearfull and their modest Stations took Mary said He thy meek Anxiety May spare its pains No Danger dares draw neer Her whom the Prince of Power doth hold so dear 63. He who is Lord of Love hath seal'd on thee His amorous Heart the choisest of his Graces The flowre of all his Sweets th' Immensitie Of his best Favours and his Joyes he places On thee alone whom he exalts as high As thou art sunk in thy Humility 64. Witnesse this Message I have now to tell How much too glorious for Me to bring The onely Message which could parallel The boundlesse Love of Heav'ns inamored King A Message which the World hath long expected But fit to thee alone to be directed 65. Behold thy blessed Womb shall Fertile be With a more blessed Son whom at the due And wonted Season
how our pretty Lambs did leap and dance What Troops of merrie Wolves came tripping in How were the Bears seiz'd with a gentle Trance How did this Harmony the Lyons win All Salvagnesse was quickly charm'd asleep And every Beast was now a gentle Sheep 198. The Stones look'd up and seem'd to wish for feet The Trees were angry that they stuck so fast All Things desir'd the Melody to meet And as they could unto the Dance made haste With that our silly oaten Pipes wee broke And then our Parts with cheerly Nature took 199. And though our Feet never more nimbly flew Than in their Answer to this Musicks Pleasure Doing their best indeavour to trip true To every Turn and Point and Aire and Measure Yet in our joyous Breasts we felt our Hearts With more Activity dancing their Parts 200. The Anthem finished That glorious Fire About the Company its Arms did spread And homeward convoy'd the illustrious Quire We saw how wide a Gate Heav'n opened To let them in We saw it shut and yeild Back to the Stars their free etheriall Field 201. Thence came We hither and the Promise found As true and noble as our Expectation Which from this Cave shall by our Tongues rebound To every Ear we meet By this Narration Our Hearts shall eased be least by the Wonder Of this Heav'n-crowned Morn they split in sunder 202. But when the Yeares fresh youth returns to deck The Bed of Aprill in its vernall Hue The choysest sweets and Beauties We will pick And wreath a Chaplet for the fairer Brow Of this our blooming Lord. Till when We place Our Hopes of safety in his onely Grace 203. Here with three Adorations to the Sonne They of the Mother and good Joseph take Their humble leave But she when they were gone Deep in her Bosome prints what they had spake The News the Quire the Song the glorious Light Which duely she reads over Morn and Night 204. And well she div'd into the Reason why That glorious Hoste kept distance from the Cave And to these Creatures of Humility These simple honest Swains the honour gave Of being his first Visiters who came To be at once a Sheepheard and a Lamb. 205. But when the Sunne seav'n times himself had shown To all the World and bid it idolize His Beams no more but fall down to its own Almighty Rising Phebus at whose eys His Flames were kindled Janus op'd the door And in her Armes Aurora New-year bore 206. And this was Circumcisions sacred Day Nor would the royall Infant spared be 〈◊〉 under this sad bloody Yoke did lay His tender Neck that exemplary he Who was through all Obedience to runne His Race of Patience might betimes begin 207. There sate He on his yerning Mothers Knee Who with all tendernesse the Work dispatch'd O how much 〈◊〉 in her Heart did she Receive the Knife when it the Infant touch'd But yet she knew her Wound would greater prove If she had broke the Law by too much love 208. Down fell the pretious purple Dew and gave The World sure earnest of what was behinde For 't was resolved it at length should have The utmost Drop his deepest Vein could finde Mean while these few will serve to write the Bonds By which he for the rest engaged stands 209. O liquid Jewells happily have You Be-sprinkled all the Fore-head of the Year The Year which now on his be-decked brow More beauties then the face of Heav'n doth wear The Year which sealed is by You to be From Sins and Mischeifs Impositions free 210. Thus when the Paschal Lambs lesse worthy Blood Bedew'd th' Egyptian Doors of Israels Sonnes Peace and Security for Porters stood And stav'd Destruction from their Mansions Had but this Blush on other Gates been seen Both Grace and Safety had dwelt within 211. Now Januaries Calends washed be By these dear Droppes from all that guilty Gore Which Heath'nish most unholy Sanctity In lavish Floods upon their face did poure Fair shines the Day thus reskew'd and releast From Pagan stains to Pieties pure Feast 212. And now is printed on the Childe that Name Which sweetly sate upon bright Gabriels Tongue When to his Mother with the News he came That Name which sweetens every Cherubs song That Name of Bowells of omnipotent Love Of all the Ioyes that make Heav'n be above 213. JESUS ô what vast Treasures couched lie In the rich bosome of this little Word A Word which spreads its mighty Majesty Through Heav'n Earth and Hell all which are stor'd With reverend Awe when e'r it sounds and on Their bended Knees adore the Virgins Sonne 214. JESUS ô Name of glorious Dainties how Unwilling are my Lipps with thee to part Yet shall thy Musick never cease to flow In pretious Echo's all about my Heart JESUS ô sweeter Name of Life ô Name Which makest famous ev'n eternall Fame 215. These matchlesse Things my Psyche hapned here This simple Place with noble worth to crown But yet these were not all Has not thine ear Been fill'd with Balaams infamous Renown Whose innocent Asse was fain to use her Tongue And check her sillier Master for her wrong 216. This Son of Avarice and Heir of Hell By frighted Balak hired to enchant And heap his Curses upon Israel Was by thy Spouse enforced to recant His dire intentions and change his Tone Against his Nature as his Ass had done 217. Thy Spouse did thrust reverend Prophesie Into his Mouth of Jacobs rising Star Which he himfelf left as a Legacie To all his Heirs and charg'd them to have care That no forgetfulness did blind their Eys From watching when that promis'd Light should rise 218. Amongst their mystick Notes these Words they laid From Age to Age and often read them o'r With dread Devotion being still afraid The Star might chance to deep from Heav'n before They were a ware and spie their souls asleep Whom Balaam had fore-warn'd their Watch to keep 219. No Comet on the World did ever look But strait into their studies them it sent Where after Counsell had with many a Book Through all its flaming Lineaments they went Examining the length of every Hair By its own light which Head or Beard did wear 220. But when Eternities sweet Day began To rise not from the East but this poor Cave A gallant Star into Arabia ran And notice of the glorious Bus'nes gave To Everie Eye which was instructed how To read the Characters of Heav'ns bright Brow 221. Three Venerable Men dwelt there all Grey As well within as they appear'd without Kings of the Villages and Fields where they Reign'd by their secret Wisdoms high Repute No Star but they knew well for from the East They had been long acquainted to the West 222. They looking out that Night their friends to view Espi'd Stranger dress'd in bright Attire To which their wondering Contemplations flew And busie were about the radiant Fire The more they look'd the fairer room they found Where on
daring Men Affronted God with to wring Villanie Forgot its ever-polish'd Smiles and in Tempestuous Violence breaking through the shore Of heav'n a flood of Death on Earth did poure 237. So now thy noble Spouse who never yet Had suffer'd frowns to gather on his Brow An angry Look against the Tempter set And with disdainfull Answer made him know That all his Pageantry did not conceal Nor Him nor what he sought to hide his Hell 238. Proud Satan 't is enough that I said He Thus long have seen and born thine Insolence Loe I defie thy Promises and Thee Vainer than them I charge thee get thee hence Behinde my back and there thy shamelesse Pride If any thing may hide it learn to hide 239. Does not the sacred Scripture plainly say Thine Adoration Thou to God shalt give And unto Him alone thy Service pay All Heav'n forbid that We should Him bereave Of his due Homage and embezill it Upon the Prince of the infernall Pit 240. As when on Sodoms Impudence of old Heav'n pour'd its Fire to purge those lustfull flames The wretched Town repented not yet howl'd And mix'd its tears amongst the Brimstone streams But all in vain for straight the Houses burn'd And with their Dwellers into Ashes turn'd 241. So now at Jesu's Answer which did flie Like Lightning from his Lips the Globe did melt And nothing of that Universall Lie Remain'd but Ashes which so strongly smelt That other Stincks compar'd with this might seem Perfumes and Arabies breath in Sodoms steam 242. Confounded Satan backward from his Throne Fell down the Mount and tumbled into Hell Whil'st the loud Trumpet of his bellowing Groan His dreadfull Comming to the Deeps did tell But as he fell his Horns and Taile and Claws Brake out so did the Sulphure from his Jaws 243. His yelling Peers and lamentable Crew Of Pages tumbled headlong after Him Presenting to thy Lords victorious View A Copie of that Sight when from the brim Of highest Heav'n them and their King He beat Down to the bottome of their damned Seat 244. And now the Sceen is chang'd and Satan to The Lord his God his Adoration paid Which to himselfe he woo'd that God to doe So Jesu may all Treasons be betray'd So may all Rebells finde their cursed feet Snarled for evermore in their own Net 245. Whil'st these three Conflicts pass'd Heav'n set its Eye On its divinest Champion but forbore All Helpe or Comfort till the Victory Was cleerly gain'd When loe triumphant Store Of Angells hovering down with high-straind Lays Back to the sphears return'd the Victors praise 246. O Psyche hadst thou heard that royall Song Thou would'st have learn'd how We above imploy Our blessed Time wher on each high-tun'd Tongue Sit endlesse Raptures of excessive Joy Whil'st every hearty Angell as he sings Clapps his Applause with his exultant 〈◊〉 247. Their Gratulation ended on their Knees A sumptuous Banquet They to Him present Wherein was choise of all Varieties With which Heav'ns King could his dear Son content And He in whom all princely grace doth reign Was pleas'd their ministry not to disdain 248. But when He thus had broke his mighty Fast The Fury which so long lay in his breast Impatient gnawing Famine out hee cast Returning her unto her odious Nest And bid an Angell tie her in that Chain When hee had drove her to her Den again 249. There must she dwell and never be let loose But when his royall Pleasure thinks it fit To poure his Wrath on his relentlesse Foes Whom lusty Fatnesse makes too bold and great To be his Subjects in whose Laws they hear Of Abssinence a yoak they will not bear 250. And now by that Eternall Spirit who Brought Him into the lists of this great Fight He to the Coasts of Galilee doth goe Whither He could have flown by his own Might But Heav'n was studious to attend Him and In his great Businesse joy'd to have an hand 251. Another World of Wonders will appear When thither I shall carry Thee but now Thou shalt repose thee here a while and cheer Thy Spirits to run that ravishing Race I know That thou so dear are thy Lords wayes to Thee Would'st longer Fast but now it must not be 252. This said He spred his wing as he before Had often done and on that Table set Out of his own unseen but copious store Chaste and delicious Cates for her to eate She blest her gratious Lord who fasted so Long time before he eate and then fell to 253. But whil'st on those externall Meats she fed Her soule sate at a secret feast for she Her Hearts fair Table fully furnished With the rich Dainties of this Historie Knowing her Lord and this advanc'd the Cheer Did Fast and fight not for himselfe but Her 254. And now because the Sun made haste to rest And smok'd already in the Western Deep Phylax his chariot curtains drew and prest The Virgins Eyes to doe as much by Sleep One Wing beneath and one above her head He layd and turn'd her Bord into her Bed PSYCHE OR LOVES MYSTERIE CANTO X. The Marveils ARGUMENT LOve to convince the World in whom alone It ought to treasure all its Confidence Affords a fair and full Probation What undeniable Omnipotence Dwelt in his Hand which alway sheltered Those who unto its Sanctuary fled 1. IT is not Beauty which its Blush doth owe Unto the Pixe and Pencill 'T is no King Who on the Stage doth make a rusling show And thunder big imperious Words which ring With awfull Noise about the Sceen when He By the next Exit must some Begger be 2. All is not Gold that in a glistering Ray Fairly conceals its foule hypocrisie The gareish Meteors though they display Good store of shining Proofs will never be Own d by the Stars for Bretneren nor can The Ape with all his Tricks be genuine Man 3. The heady Rebell though all Texts he skrews To force Truth to confession of a Lie Though at the Barr of Natures Laws he sues To justifie unnaturall Liberty Though Conscience and Religion the thigs He overthrows he for his ground-work brings 4. Though from Successe a firmer Argument For the Odrysian Christian-hating Race He pleads the Sanctity of his Intent And blasphemously makes Heav'n own his Cause In vain strives to transforme his hell-bred Sin Which still makes Him to Lucifer a kin 5. The staring Wizzard never yet could by His mumbling Charms his Herbs his Lines his Wand His hideous Sacrifices form a Lie Able against the face of Truthe to stand Nor can his Master Satan though all Hell He rends or blends effect a Miracle 6. Oft has he ventured and strove to tread In those Almighty Steps of Heav'n but still The Paces were so wide that all He did Was but the proving of his feeble Will His Wonders never reach'd above Deceits With which imprudent Eyes and Hearts he cheats 7. No God alone is King of Nature and She hir own Soveraign
have plotted it Nor need'st thou lend us any Wings to flie Who can make hast enough when Hast is fit The Wheels of Time with speed enough doe runne But yet mine Houre they have not rolled on 34. Know Psyche that his Houre is Mercies Cue And when Extremitie of Need doth call Then Mercie loves her gracious Power to shew The want of wine was yet not knowne to all The Company whose Souls it did concerne By that thy Lords wise Potencie to learn 35. But yet no sooner did that Want appear 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with ready Goodness gives Command 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He spied standing there 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 owne Liquor should be filled and 〈◊〉 for the Convives When loe at the Spout The Miracle into the Boule gush'd out 36. He who had Water taught by passing through The Conduit of the Uine and of the Grape To turne to brisk and joyfull Wine did now Teach it as much by running through the Tap. The cool and Virgin Nymph drawn from the Pot All over blushed and grew sparkling hot 37. The Master of the Feast amazed at Her sprightfull Sweetness wonderd whence she came Never had his judicious Palate yet Discover'd such a brisk and sprightfull Dame Alas He knew not that His gift She was From whom no Thing but what is Best can pass 38. Look yonder flows the Sea of Galile Upon whose sandy shore which He had set To curb and bridle in its Waves as He Uouchsas d to walk his Eyes an object met Which mov'd their pitty and that moved Him In a new Sea to bid the Fishers swimme 39. Peter and Andrew in the tiresome Maine Catching their Living with their Fish he spi'd In whom he read the vainer Life of vain And mudling Man who in the briney Tide Of this unstable World his Days doth wast And with his Net himself into it Cast. 40. So certainly Uncertainty upon This Lifes unfaithfull Stage doth domineer Proud Change in such confounding Sport doth runne Heer sometimes flowing sometimes ebbing there That Earth it self may seem no less than Sea At never setled Luna's beck to be 41. This made Him crie aloud Come Follow Me And I will you imbark upon the Shore In a more safe and profitable Sea Than you have ever fished in before Let those mute things alone and I will make You henceforth catch such Fishes as can speaks 42. The Shoale of Men which in this Ages Deep Doe scudd about unto your Netts shall flow Those feeble tatterd Things you need not keep I upon You will nobler Netts bestow Immortall Nets which know not how to break Netts which the Universall World shall take 43. As needless is your crazie Bark for I Intend to build a royall Ship in which You round about the Globe being steered by My watchfull Providence shall safely reach When Heav'n fears being shipwrackt then shall this Uessell which nothing but Heav'ns Kingdome is 44. Hast Thou not heard how Sirens notes have drawn The Fishers from their Boats into the Sea In whose sharp Brine their silley Preys they drown Drowned before in their soft Harmonie Well then might this strong Charm those Men invite To plunge into the Sea of safe Delight 45. Once more their Netts they Cast but Cast away Meekly ambitious to be Fishes now And yeild Themselves to Him a willing Prey Who thus his Nett of Love about them rhrew Never Adventure did they make like this Where being caught Themselves they Catch'd their Bliss 46. But yonder taken was an harder Prize There once erected stood Exactions Throne Where Levi sate Lord of a strange Excise The heavie Mark of Romes Dominion A Knight he was for none but such might be Intrusted with that Cruell Dignitie 47. That at the gracious Calling of thy Lord Fishers were well content their own to leave Lesse ground to sober Wonder doth afford Their cold and wet and dirtie Trade might drive Them to an easy faith their old Degree Of life by any new advanc'd would be 48. A Faith which in the Dregs of Time so far Abus'd will be that bold Mechanicks who In poor and painfull Trades ingaged were When Sloth and Pride make them too worthy to Buckle to work their Tools away will throw And by this Call inspir'd Men-fishers grow 49. But what Charms can out-vie the power of Gold An heavy strong and pretious Chain which now In deer imprisonment did Levi hold And fast upon his Soule and Body grow Can a Poor Master such a Man perswade To leave great Cesar and his thriving Trade 50. A sturdy Mountain may more easily be Commanded to resigne his native place And heave his mouldering bulk into the Sea The Sun may sooner from his princely face Tear all his golden Tire and damp his light In the vile pitch of an unnaturall night 51. Yet as thy Lord alas how mean and poor Pass'd by the Office He this Word let flie Come follow Me which forth-with over-bore By most unconquerable Potencie The startled Seat the Profit and the Man And turn'd into a Saint the Publican 52. The Worlds Opinion Levi ponder'd not Nor how Tibereus this Affront might take He counted not what He should loose or what He should not gain whilst he this Change did make He asks no Freinds advice how he might keep His fame nor stays to Look before he leap 53. But as forth from its horrible Abysse The World did at thy Spouses Call appear So from the blacker deeper Masse of his Confused Mammon Levi mounteth here And bravely Follows Him without delay Who was Himself his Leader and his Way 54. For Love like Lightning from the blessed Eyes Of Jesus shot it self quite through his Heart Where into its own instant Sacrifice What e'r it light upon it did convert So sublimate and so refining was The Fire that all the Gold it turn'd to Drosse 55. Doubts Fears and Cares and secular Relations It quite burnt up and in his flaming breast Left nothing but the noble Exultations Of valiant Zeal which should the World resist Its course with all this Masse of Earth and Sea Would rend its way through all and victor be 56. O Psyche Love Love is that potent Thing To which all other Strength its head bowes down The Universe's most Almighty King Ne'r chose to use Pow'rs Title as his own But in this sweeter Name of higher might For God is Love he takes his deer delight 57. Thy Lord his ordinary Chaplanes thus Did chuse and twelve their mystick Number was For in this Zodiak He all-gloryous Resolved through his Grace's Orb to passe About his World Nor does the other Sun Through fewer Signes in his great voyage run 58. But I must tell Thee for himself descri'd The Secret first One of the Twelve He chose An Hell-hound was and the false-hearted Guide Unto his deerest Masters mortall Foes One who did prove in matchlesse height of evill Against Incarnate God Incarnate Divell 59. Yet such was Jesu's most unbounded Love That He resolv'd to doe his best
with infinite carrieer Still further everlastingly doth ride Being loose at God himselfe in whom Immensity affords her boundlesse room 360. Now Psyche thou mayst eas'ly judge how dear Was this Seraphick Woman to thy Lord. She had one onely Brother who for her Sake and his own was to his Love preferr'd He falling sick she sent the News unto Her Master waiting what hee pleas'd to doe 361. He who had never yet his help delay'd When loving Mary did his Mercy woe Till Phebus twise the World had compass'd stay d He stay'd indeed but 't was that hee might goe With advantageous Glory and his stay Might prove but ripened Love and not Delay 362. Mean while his Sicknesse so prevail'd upon Good Lazarus that his Soule it chased out Jesus whose eyes through all things cleerly ran Beheld it as it went and saw it brought On Angells Wings into the blessed Nest Of naked Peace and Quiet Abraham's breast 363. Where when it was reposed Lazarus Our Friend is fallen fast asleep said He But I intend to wake Him Come let Us Delay no longer but to Bethany And Lord what needs it his Disciples cri'd If Lazarus sleep what harm can Him betide 364. 'T is true their Lord repli'd for now he lies Safe in the bosome of Serenity Yet what his Rest is little you surmise Not knowing that in Death true sleep can be Alas all other Rest compar'd with this Scarcely the shaddow of true Quiet is 365. Death is that onely sleep which puts an end Unto this weary Worlds tempestuous Cares And pious Soules unto that Shore doth send Which knows no Dangers Labours Griefs or Fears Our friend is dead and glad I am that I Was not at Bethany when He did die 366. Glad for your sakes whose faith now dead shall by His Death revive This said He forward went And they with Him But e'r at Bethany He did arrive two other dayes were spent He could have taken coach upon the back Of any Winde but now chose to be slack 367. First busie Martha met Him as He drew Neer to the Town for when hee coming was The fame of his Approach before Him flew Which her sollicitous ears soon caught and as She threw her selfe upon her knees she cried Had'st thou been here my Brother had not died 368. Dear Lord of Life if thou had'st but been here Death would have his due distance kept if not For love of Thee or Us at least for fear Of his own life And yet thy Power is but Deferred not precluded God will still Each syllable of thy Requests fulfill 369. Nor weep nor doubt dear Martha Jesus cried Thy Brother shall again to life return I doubt it not sweet Master she replied But in the universall worlds new morn When all Things spring into fresh life that He Shall with his Body reinvested be 370. I am said He the Resurrection and The life Whoever doth beleeve in Me Although he be a Pris'ner in the land Of Death shall unto life released be Nay he shall never taste of Death who is Living by Faith in Me Beleev'st thou this 371. Heer dazeled by his high Discourse Great Lord She cri'd my Faith doth take Thee for no lesse Then Gods Almighty Son who by his Word Wert promised this cursed World to bless This said three times she kiss'd the ground and home Made hast to bid her pensive Sister come 372. As when the powerfull Loadstone's placed neer Th' inamored Iron leaps its love to kisse So Mary when she heard how Christ was there Speeded to meet her dearest Hapiness And falling at her highest Throne His Feet Martha's Complaint She did again repeat 373. Short were her Words but copious were her Tears Love-ravish'd Pleaders strongest Eloquence For in her Eyes those fertile springs she bears Which by their ever-ready Influence Confirm Her Queen of Weepers Ne'r was seen A more bedewed Thing then Magdalene 374. For Love though valiant as the Lyons Heart Is yet as soft as the milde Turtles Soule And mourns as much knowing no other Art By which to slake the mighty Flames which roule About her Bosome and would burn her up Did not her streams of Tears that Torrent stop 375. If when the Clouds lament the hardest stone Under their frequent Tears relenteth How Will Maries thicker Showers prevail upon The Heart of Jesus which did never know What Hardnesse ment He straitway melts and by His Groanes does his Compassion testifie 376. Then turning to the Grave he broach'd his Eyes And vi'd with Maries streams whither it were In Pitty of Mans fatall Miseries Who did his own Destruction prepare For neither Gods nor Natures Hand but he Digg'd his own Grave by his Impietie 377. Or in deep greif his dearest Freinds to see Of his Omnipotence distrustfull still Or in soft Sympathie with those whom He Of Tears and Lamentations saw so full What e'r the reason were He showred down Those streams for Mans sake and not for his own 378. O Tears you now are Perls indeed since He Who is the Gem of Heav'n hath brought you Forth Now you may worthy of Gods Bottles be Who from Gods radiant Eyes derive your Worth All holy Drops which are of kin to you By that Affinitie must glorious grow 379. Let flintie Bosomes build their foolish Pride On their own Hardnesse and the Weeping Eye As an effeminate childish Thing deride And inconsistent with the Braverie Of Masculine Spirits Yet truely-noble Hearts With Jesus will not scorn to Weep their parts 380. But He now from the Tombe commands the stone To be remov'd which sealed Lazarus up Alas an harder Marble lay upon Poor Martha's Heart which Faiths access did stop Corrupted was her Minde which made Her think And talk so much of Foure Days and the Stink 381. What are Foure Dayes that their poor intervention Should able be to raise a scruple here And intercept his soveraign Intention To whom Eternitie doth bow A Year An Age a World is no stop unto Him Upon whose Will depends the life of Time 382. Stinks and Corruptions no Retardments are To his productive Power who doth derive Through Putrifactions Pipes and there prepare The life which to all Creatures he doth give For by his Law which knows no violation Corruption Mother is to Generation 383. The Stone removed and the Cave laid ope Jesus the mighty King of Life and Death With awfull Majesty his hand lift up And then his Voice forming his royall breath Into these high imperious Words which Earth And Heav'n obeyed Lazarus come forth 384. A mighty Voice indeed which reach'd the Breast Of Abraham where the Soule in quiet lay But at these potent Summons made all haste Back to its own The Patriark they say Kiss'd the sweet Spirit and intreated it To bear that Token unto Jesu's feet 385. But when it came into the Cave it found What there the Thunder of this Voice had done Shatter'd and scatter d all about the ground Lay adamantine Chains which
Him from within whilst every Part Rack'd and transfixed with intestine Streins In streams of purple Tears bewail'd its Pains 173. Down to the Ground this sweating Torrent flows To wash away the Curse which on it grew Whilst moated in his melted Selfe thy Spouse The noble fight doth with fresh Strength renew His Mortall Nature three stout Onsets gave To his immortal Piety and Love 174. Father He cri'd by that thy tender Name Commiserate thy most afflicted Son If thy Omnipotence a way can frame How to exempt Me from my Passion O let thine Hand which brings this Cup to Me Far hence remove it and my Misery 175. But straight by most athletick Braverie Above himselfe He gets and nobly cries Although all Bitternesse triumphant be In this sad Cup it amply does suffice That from thy Hand it comes Thy Will shall be And not mine own the Rule and Rein to me 176. Thus reverend Abraham when by Gods Command He was to bath his Sword in Isaac's blood Divided was in his own bowells and With his brave Selfe in competition stood Till valourous Piety her Powers strain'd And the hard Laurell of Selfe-conquest gain'd 177. But when thy mighty Lord atchieved had This triple Conquest Judas and his Rout Like furious Boars into the Garden made And for their Prey all rang'd and rov'd about Not knowing He as ready was to be Betray'd as they to work their Treachery 178. For like a most victorious Champion who Before his other Foes has conquer'd Fear He meets their Furie asking Whom with so Eager and strong a Chase they hunted there Their traytorous Spight and whom it sought He knew Yet this brave Challenge in their face he threw 179. Jesus of Nazareth We seek said they Alas Blinde Soules He came to seek out you And lead you safely in the Kings high way Unto his Throne above that on your brow Heav'ns Crowns for ever might have shin'd but ye In nothing would be Found but Treachery 180. Nor they nor Judas Psyche now did know Thy Spouses face which flamed heretofore With gracious Beauty but was clouded now With his strong Agonies all bloody Gore Thus like some duskie Meteor Phebus shows When an Eclipse upon his Count'nance grows 181. But He who would not be unknown to those Who came to suck what Blood was left behinde Which burned in his Veins till it got loose And flow'd as largely as his liberall Minde Revests his Look with gracefull Majesty And makes this brave Profession I am He. 182. If ever Thou hast seen what killing Dread Doth on base-hearted Traytors seize when They Are by their awfull Prince discovered Whose Voice and Looks their spurious Courage slay Treble this Fright and then conceive what Fear Shot through the Soules of these vile Caytiffs here 183. A stream of Horror drove them trembling back And over whelm'd Them flat upon the Ground And in the depth of this dismaying Wrack Their shivering Spirits had been surely drown'd Had He not spred his Pitty over Them Whose Swords and Staves and Spight all made at Him 184. O how will they endure his Dreadfull Eyes Which all this World on flaming fire shall set When He in triumph sweeping through the skies Shall hither come and mounted on his great Tribunall once again crie I am He No more the Prey but Judge of Treachery 185. When they no Lanthorns nor no Torches Light Nor Juda's Conduct any more shall need But by our Trumpets death-awakning fright Be summon'd up and by our hands be led Into the presence of Heav'ns glorious Son Whom then they would not finde but cannot 〈◊〉 186. But now He brideled in his awfull Raies And on condition his Disciples may Without disturbance goe their severall 〈◊〉 Offers himselfe unto his Foes who lay Quaking before Him but took courage now Perceiving They again might 〈◊〉 grow 187. As when a serpent bruis'd and beaten back Spies any way to reinforce her fight Her head she raises and deep care doth take Her Wrath and Poyson how to spit aright So did these Elves start up and cheer their Head And this Iscariot was to doe the Deed. 188. Iscariot that Prince of Treason now Forgetfull of his royall Masters Love And of the Dint of that majestick Blow Which strook Him and his Armie down to prove His cursed Selfe Earths Lucifer led up Against the Lord of Hosts his desperate Troop 189. And then none but a golden Arrow shot Burnish'd with faire and complementall grace Yet in as mortall Venome dipp'd as that Which Eve's Heart felt when she saluted was By faire-tongu'd Hell and by the Tempter driven With courteous Treason from her earthly Heaven 190. Hail Master was the Word What Ear could now Disrellish such a suger'd Noise as this Or once suspect Discording Jarrs should grow In such soul-plying Accents Master is The Phrase of Service Hail of Love Yet He Could make these honest Words insidious be 191. And when his faithlesse Tongue her part had done His Lips succeeded in the Treachery With matchlesse Impudence He ventured on Against the very face of Majesty And to make sure his Project should not misse Seal'd it upon his Master with a Kisse 192. O Wit of Treason could no Signe but this The gentlest Token of soft Courtesie Be made the Marke of deepest Barbarousnesse Monstrous Iscariot how dost thou by thy Inhumane Kindnesse both a Traytor prove Of Loves great Master and the Badge of Love 193. Is not a Kisse the soft and yeilding Signe Which clapps the Bargain of Affection up The sweet and joyous Marriage between The tenderest Pair of Lovers Lip and Lip The closing Harmony which when the Tongue Has done its best compleats the pleasing Song 194. Is not a Kisse the most delicious Seal By which Friends Cement their concording Hearts Must this Betrayed be Must faithlesse Hell Poyson this dainty Truth Must Hatreds Arts Be clothed in the softest sweetest Dresse Of courteous Peace and amorous Tendernesse 195. Must sweet Arabia's Beds breath out a Stinck And harbour all the Bane of Thessaly Must milkie Lilies stain their Leaves with Ink Must Roses Buds with Thorns all prickly be Must Silk and Down be harsh Must Honey flow With Gall Must Summer Gales bring Ice Snow 196. O what will Treason not presume to doe Which more than all those strange Mutations makes In this own venturous Fact of Judas who Ev'n in this Tie of Love all Friendship breaks Who biteth with his Lips not with his Teeth And strives to Kisse his dearest Lord to death 197. But though Iscariot his own Love betrayes His Lord triumphs beyond all Treachery And doth against the Traytors Hatred raise A Counterwork of heav'nly Lenitie O Mystery of Love though Jesus may Betrayed be no Plots his Grace betray 198. Who teacheth all Succeeding Traytors how To burnish over that foule rankling Brasse Of impudence which arms their sullen Brow To tip Rebellion with meek Lies to grace Their arrogant Treaties with submissive Words Whilst
at their Soveraigns hearts they aime their Swords 199. He call'd no Lightning from the Clouds or from His potent Eyes to flash on Juda's face And throw on his bold Lips that flaming Doom Which due unto their odious Treason was He charg'd not Earth her dreadfull Mouth to ope And on the hellish Kisser close it up 200. O no With heav'nly Tendernesse He cries Friend wherefore art Thou come Strange Miracle Of gentle Patience Who can comprise Thy blessed depth Upon the face of Hell Shall the sweet Name of Friend be printed by Him who beholds and feels its Treachery 201. Is foul Ingratitude plain Apostacie Right down Rebellion now become a freind Or rather is not this Disciple by His curs'd Revolt transformd into a Feind And will his wronged Lord by none but this Deare Name revenge his most invenomed Kisse 202. O Psyche Jesus tortured was to see Judas himself into all Torments throw And by this Charme of noblest Lenitie Back into Heav'n indeavored him to draw He knew Loves Cords were strong and from his Crime By these he strives to hale rescue Him 203. Why art thou come thus to betray thy Freind Why art thou come with Arms against a Lamb Why art thou come all Bonds of Love to rend Why art thou come to fight for thine own shame Why art thou come with this strong Preparation For thy Lords death for thine own Damnation 204. Thy Kisse I in its naturall Language will Kindely interpret and make my Replie In the same Dialect if thou wilt still Imbrace my ever faithfull Courtesie And yeild that Blisse may in thy heart have room Say then my Friend say wherefore art Thou come 205. Thus did the Prince of sweetnesse plead and wooe But the deaf Serpent stopp'd his cursed ear In 's heart the Thirty Peeces chinked so That He no other Harmonie can hear When loe the Souldiers knowing now their Prey On Iesus fell and haled Him away 206. For love of Thee and all his other Brides Thus Psyche was thy Lord content to be Sold at so vile a Rate and Mock'd besides Ev'n by his own Disciples Treacherie Shrink not if thy neer Freinds abuse thy love Since Gods own Favorites so faithlesse prove 207. And let the World by this one Copie learn That hell-bred Boldnesse is not strange or new By which most Fostered Favoured Creatures turn Flat Enemies and lead an armed Crew Of Miscreanrs with bloody Impudence Against the Powers and Person of their Prince 208. But when no mercy could the Traytor winne To entertain his Pardon Vengeance made Haste to poure out her selfe upon his sinne For Satan who his heart possessed had His Treason in his proper Coin repayd And the Betrayer fatally betrayd 209. Into a Corner of the Garden where Thoughtfull disconsolate Night sate thick and black She crowded him alone and having there Prepar'd and fitted her infernall Rack With studied furie not his Body but His captivated Soule on it she put 210. For by the beames of their owne hellish Light Unto Iscariots intellectuall Eyes Herselfe She did display Excessive Fright The Traytors wretched Heart did strait surprise Each Joynt and Member quak'd and sweat and He Felt in this Garden too his Agonie 211. He saw feirce Beizebubs sulphureous face Flaming with swarthy fire His Horns he saw Mounted high on his head with dreadfull grace Which his erected snakie Hair did knaw He saw his adamantine Nails and Paws His steely Teeth his brazen gaping Jaws 212. He saw the Tempest of his flaming Breath Which swarthy Volumes spred of stinking smoke He saw the windows of eternal Death Flung open in his staring Eyes whose Look Slew him alive He saw his Iron Mace His burning feet and his enraged Pace 213. He saw his forked Tail in tryumph thrown Upon his shoulder and his irefull Brow With cruell scorn contracted in a frown Rampant Implacabilitie he saw In every Gesture and did plainly read The full Description of Immortal Dread 214. When loe stern Lucifer threw out his hand And by her Throat his woefull Conscience took And now he cries I 'l make thee understand What thou hast chose and what thou hast forsook Look on this dainty Pair of Damsells heer Who more than Heav'n and God to thee were dear 215. Just at the word He opened to his view The horrid Carkaise of foule Avarice And fouler Treachery not in her hue Of borrowed Smiles and outside Comelinesse But in her naked native Filth and then Shaking his Horns and Paws He thus went on 216. Maddest of Fools how many Hells dost Thou Deserve who with such Hags could'st fall in love When Jesus woo'd thy Heart Well take Them now Th' hast paid so dearly for Them They will prove Sweet Brides and pretiously adorn thy Bed Which in the Bottome of my Realm is spred 217. If any Part at all there be in Them Which is not horrid may my Scepter break And may my royall Tongue no more Blaspheam For once I tell Thee true and Thou mayst take The Devills Word There are few Furies who In monstrous Ouglinesse thy Wives out-goe 218. And was thy Lord so vile a Thing that He Might not with these in Competition stand Did those unthankfull Eyes of thine e'r see A face inrich'd with such pure Beauties and Majestick Graces as in his did shine Making Humanity appear Divine 219. Most stupid Sot How often hast Thou seen Divinity from His great Hand break out How oft might plain Omnipotence have been Read in the Miracles He daily wrought Casting forth all my stoutest Fiends Yet Thou And here He beat the Soule to Me wouldst bow 220. Nay never houle 't is but the Earnest this Of what 's to come Thou needs wouldst bow to Me To Me of whom that Christ the Conqueror is He threw Me down from Heav'ns Sublimity Into that Pit of Pangs where I am now The damned Soveraign of such as Thou 221. Had'st not as good have bowed unto Him Whose Yoak Thou would'st have lighter found than mine I tell thee Judas I am but a grim And rugged Lord what Prizes once I win Infallibly for evermore shall frie In Torments bottomlesse Extremity 222. And is my Hell my everlasting Spight My unrelenting Furie so much worth That Paradise and Heav'n and Jesus might Not finde acceptance Brings Damnation forth Such strong Temptations Can eternal Blisse Not wooe and win as potently as this 223. Sure Hell and Death are gallant Things and I Cannot allow Thee them untill Thou hast Through all Contempt and Hate and Infamie Which Salem or the World can yeild thee past That Preface shall for that eternall Smart Which gapes longs for Thee prepare thine Heart 224. Goe then the Ages Blot and Monster goe Let every Mouth spit on thine hated Head Let every Tongue thick Curses on Thee strow Let every Hand be arm'd to strike Thee dead Let every Eye abhorre thy balefull Sight Let all the World revenge thy Traytorous Spight 225. Let Heav'n
no power alone to stand upright Stoop now you see your Saviour on his Knee Who doth sustaine your Being by his might Stoop now you see Him to his Servants bow And the Most-high submit himself 〈◊〉 72. To stand on foolish Terms of 〈◊〉 now Is but to found your glorie on your shame Is it not more illustrious to bow With Jesus then with Lucifer to aime Above your reach O why will Dust forget The place originally due to it 73. But what 's Gods bus'nes at his Servants feet Even to Wash and Wipe them 〈◊〉 O now Stoop lower still lower and lower yet For at the lowest you are not so 〈◊〉 As He the 〈◊〉 King who here Hath made himself a 〈◊〉 Minister 74. When Jesus by his Water ciensed had Hir Servants seet and by his Grace their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 what Preparation must be made By all who ever mean to have their Parts In his pure 〈◊〉 down he sits again And them with 〈◊〉 doth entertain 75. The Ends of sumptuous Banquets use to be Crown'd with most soveraign Varieties Which may the Convives learned Luxurie With deep and new found Ravishment surprise And Jesus would not have this Supper want That costly Point of Princely Complement 76. Indeed the Supper which They now had eat Into the Belly its direct way took Where in the Kitchin of poor Mortall Meat It was committed unto Heat to Cook And Heats best skill could onely dresse it 〈◊〉 To feed the Body which contained it 77. But Christs 〈◊〉 Designe was now With such a royall Feast to blesse the Bord As might make Spirits fat and healthfull grow And thriving Nutriment to Soules afford Such Nutriment as might full power give Unto his Guests eternally to live 78. In his Almighty Hand he took the Bread And pour'd his plenall Blessing upon it Never on any but his own dear Head Such potent Benediction did sit Indeed it was that Blessings Echo and Bounded upon his Body in his Hand 79. For having broke that Bread He reached it To his Disciples saying Take and eat This is my Body broke for You and let My dear Remembrance live in this your Meat But Jesu's Feast must not be drie for Wine Equall to this high Dainties He doth joyne 80. He takes the Cup and Drink Yee all of this It is my Blood of the new Testument Says He which shed and freely given is To wash the Sins of all that will repent As often as you of this Chalice drink Of Me your liberall Redeemer think 81. Sweet Jesu ô how can thy World forget Their royall 〈◊〉 and his 〈◊〉 who Upon their Tables his own Self hath 〈◊〉 Who in their holy Cups fails not to flow And in their Dishes lie Did ever Friend So 〈◊〉 a Token of his Love 〈◊〉 82. Infallibly there dost Thou flow and lie Though Mortall Eyes discover no such thing Quick sighted Faith reads all the Mystery And humble pious Soules doth easily bring Into the Wonders 〈◊〉 and there Makes all the 〈◊〉 of this Truth 〈◊〉 83. She generously dares on God relie And trust his Word how strange soe'r it 〈◊〉 If Jesus once pronounces This is my Body and Blood Far far be it cries She That I should think my dying Lord would 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in his 〈◊〉 of Drink and 〈◊〉 84. His Word is most Omnipotent and He Can doe what e'r He says and more than I Can or would understand What is 't to me If He 〈◊〉 Humane Capacitie Surely it well becomes Him so to doe Nor were He God if He could not doe so 85. Let Him say what He will I must denie Him to be God or else Beleeve his Word Me it concerneth not to verifie What He proclaims I onely must afford Meek Credit and let Him alone to make Good whatsoever He is 〈◊〉 to speak 86. Grosse and unworthy Spirits sure They be Who of their Lord such mean Conceptions 〈◊〉 That parting from his dearest Consorts He No Token of his Love did leave with Them But simple Bread and Wine a likely thing And well-becoming Heav'ns magnificent King 87. A likely Thing that when the susty blood Of Bulls and Goars cannot wash Sin away The Blood of Grapes should with a stronger Flood 〈◊〉 over whelm and drown the Worlds 〈◊〉 O no such Virtue in no Blood can dwell But that which through the Veins of God did thrill 88. Ask me not then How can the thing be done 〈◊〉 power of Sense or Reason can 〈◊〉 it 〈◊〉 is 〈◊〉 are what Demonstration 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as this My God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 if you once can prove that He can lie 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 too I 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 89. What thank is it that you can credit that Which your own sense and Reasons eye reads plain Heavn's much to them beholden who will not Beleeve it higher is than they can strein Who jealous are of God and will not be Induce'd to trust him further than they see 90. And yet had you these modest eyes of mine You in this gloomie Cloud would see the Sun That Sun who wisely doth disdain to shine On Those who with bold Prying presse upon His secret Majestie which plainly I Because I make no anxious search descrie 91. This is the valorous Resolution Of Gallant Faith and this will serve to be The blessed Rule by which all those will run Who are the Scholars of Humilitie Yet I must tell thee Psyche itching Pride Will not hereafter thus be satisfied 92. A thousand waspish Syllogismes will Be buzzing from the Mouthes of those who build Their ground works of Religion on the skill Which they for granted take their brains has fild Till Quaeries Doubts Distinctions Niceties First grow to Schismes and then to Heresies 93. Needs will they prie into the Manner how This mystick Miracle to passe was brought And madly being not content to know What Christ thought fit to teach them study out They know not what and make this banquet prove A Sacrament of war and not of love 94. Some peep too neer and spie what is not there Some carelesly take what is there away Some will confesse no Miracle for fear That should prove Consequential which they Would not have so and that themselves should be Forc'd to acknowledge more than they can see 95. Some sift Existence Substance Accidents And make the Laws of Aristotle be The Umpiers in Religion Thus the Rents Which Art strives to sew up in Pietie By that unworthy clownish Needle are Onely made wider than before they were 96. O happy world if all would once agree In that which Jesus hath so plainly taught If those short Words might but sincerely be Imbraced and no more in question brought If for the Manner they would trust their Lord And for the Substance take Him at his Word 97. For Heav'n its faithfull wheel shall sooner turn And backward hale the Sun into the East The Northern Polar Bear shall sooner burn And Siriu's mouth be sealed up with Frost The Earth into the
Venus and unto its Cupps As to the Bottles of her bosome goe Whence onely furious uncleannesse drops This is the purest Juice that can be prest From Chastities own most unspotted breast 126. Of this milde Doves may drink and never fear An inflammation which might entrench On their chaste Spirits Devoted Virgins heer Their 〈◊〉 and bashfull Hearts may safely drench This Liquor breeds no flames but soft and cool Which though they burn cannot infect the soul. 127. Should Greek Canarie or Pannonian Wine Should Spanish French Italian and the rest Which crown the Bowles of Princes all combine In one Extraction and be richly drest With Aromatick Helps they would be all If paralleld with this but costly Gall. 128. Ambitious Cleopatra's sumptuous Bowle Where her Luxuriant Jewell learn'd to swimme And its inestimable Riches roule Melted and mixed with the gallant stream Compared with this Cup was full as vile As any Bottle filled at her Nile 129. This makes those wines all blush for their own shame Which in proud Belteshazzers Goblets smil'd Which Holofernes to the beauteous Dame And yet more Masculine then Beauteous fild That Dame who in her Nations quarrell durst Lesse for his Wine than for his heart-blood thirst 130. Sardanapalus with his Coste and Care Such precious liquor never could obtaine No Epicurean wishes ever were Advanced unto so sublime a strain As to desire so rich a Draught as this Whose worthabove all Fancies Compasse is 131. For where the Juice of other Grapes doth reign Both Sense and Reason feel its Tyranny Which being drownd together with their Brain Forth with each Member and each faculty To beastly Madnesse is enslav'd and flies On Murders Rapines Rapes and Villanies 132. But where this Wine of Angels domineers The Heart with noble Drunkennesse it fills For all its Powers and Spirits it overbears With a sweet stream of mystick Miracles Untill intoxicated by this Flood Of Love and Heav'n the Man is Drunk with God 133. Strange Psyche are this Drunkennesses Fits Oft have I seen and them as oft admired The World has thought these Men besides their Wits When with this Liquors flame it saw them fired But We know what ecstatick Raptures mean And Zeals exploits when it hath got the Rein. 134. Oft have I seen brave Spirits when they rose From this great Banquet fill'd with generous Rage Flie in the face of Sin and nobly choose The stoutest Foes whereon they might engage Their heav'nly Confidence nor has their high Adventure faild to reach down Victory 135. Oft have I seen Them scorn the Frown of Death Oft have I seen them hug the Crosse and Spear Oft have I heard them spend their finall breath In wooing greater Torments to come neer Oft have I seen them enter single fight Both with the Peers and with the Prince of Night 136. For well they know what Strength they have within And by tenacious Faith they hold it fast How can those Champions ever fail to win Amidst whose Armour Heav'n it selfe is plac'd What Battery can prevail against that Breast Which is infallibly with God possest 137. For to augment the Wonder Psyche this Great Feast of Feasts can never all be spent When Millions are filled still it is Intirely whole and knows no detriment So though the whole World drinks in Air yet still The undiminish'd Region is full 138. And yet not so For here each One doth eate The totall Feast yet each One leaves it whole These antecedent Ages cannot cheat Those which lagg on behinde whilst Heav'n doth roll And Earth stand still this ever-teeming Bord. The same Delights will unto All afford 139. No Fount lives on such living Springs as dwell In this pure Cup of Life to which though all The World doe daily flock to drink yet still It keeps its equal Plenitude nor shall The busie School with all its Company Of Doubts and Queries hope to draw it drie 140. Though all Heav'ns starry Tapers lighted be At Phebu's eyes his Raies are still intire Though in each River Fountain Lake or Sea His Image shines yet his original Fire Is onely one which doth it selfe so wide In its compleat Similitude divide 141. Thus and more really than thus this Feast Most absolutely One it selfe doth spread Into the Mouth and Heart of every Guest And there far more celestial Splendor shed Than when the Sun by his meridian Ray Triumphs upon the highest Throne of Day 142. The Blessed Lord not many years agoe Had borrow'd of the World Humanity And dress'd Himselfe in Maries bowells so That He became compleatly Man yet He Though by this Condescent new Raies He set In Natures Crown still thought Himselfe in debt 143. Right Generous as He was He ment to pay All back again which He receiv'd from Her His Body and his Blood He ment to lay Upon the Crosse and make Requitall there To all his Creditors and freely by That Payment ransome Them from Misery 144. And yet because his Humane Nature He So dearly lov'd that He resolv'd to bear It home in Triumph and eternalie Those Robes of boundlesse Love and Mercie Wear E'r He his journey took He plotted how It might Ascend and yet Remain below 145. Remain below and be as oft Restored As Man would please to take it And the way He Instituted was by this adored Mysterious Banquet which doth day by day Repay his Flesh and Blood that Man may eat And drink and with his God incorporate 146. For to compleat his most excessive Love Beyond the reach of any Parauel This 〈◊〉 Pay He doth so far improve That his 〈◊〉 Godhead joyns to swell The royall Feast for this can never be Dissevered from his Humanity 147. O Banquet fit for His Magnificence Who is the Universes Soveraign By this dear Project Psyche Mercies Prince Collecteth in his more than golden Chain His World unto Himself and ties 〈◊〉 close That no Disunion can interpose 148. The glorious Incarnation began To tie this Knot which now redoubled is There God vouchsas d to joyne Himselfe with Man Here Man has leave to make the Juncture His And knit himself to his 〈◊〉 O What God stoop'd ever to his Creature so 149. By this sweet Combination Men doe grow 〈◊〉 of their Singularities Their 〈◊〉 Interests their I and Thou Their Mine and 〈◊〉 their grounds of Avarice Of Envie of 〈◊〉 any comply In holy Peaces common Unitie 150. This is the Cement which together ties The Stones which in the Churches Fabrik lie The common Ligature which doth comprise Each Joynt and Member in the Mysterie Of Christs spirituall Body untill He The Shepheard and his Sheep in one agree 151. For as the Reasonable Soule doth swimm Intirely one through all the Body yet In every Member and in every Limm In its Totality doth single sit So by this Sacramentall Union Jesus is One to All and All to One 152. Beleeve it Psyche though thy Mortal Eye Sees no such brave Attendance on this Bord Yet
Tell Him I thank Him for his Courtesie It made Me merry as You all have seen I will not rob his Lordships Pleasures by Keeping this Idiot from Him When I mean To play with Fools I hope my Galile With one such Sheeps-head more may furnish Me. 160. Thus Jesus in a gorgious Robe is clad That more conspicuous his shame might be And so through fresh Disdains and Scoffings led To be the Game of further Tyranny Pilate admir'd to see his splendid Hue Knowing what Garb was to Delinquents due 161. For Pris'ners when their Lives presumed were Forfeit to Law and Death were wont to be In funeral Black array'd which might prepare Them to the thoughts of their Catastrophe And intimate the Colour of that Sin Whose horrid Darknesse cloth'd their Soules within 162. But so did Providence correct their Spight That He whose Breast was purer than the Day Did in his Vesture wear no guilty Night But by his Foes own Hands in an Array Of Glory was attir'd and quitted when They hal'd Him to his Condemnation 163. So oftentimes when a Conspiracy Of Windes their puffing labouring Wrath doe blow About the World in hopes to damp the Skie With swarthie Clouds and Storms they onely throw All Vapors out and with a full and fair Serenity array the purged Aire 164. But Pilate pondering what had hapned now And feeling Moral Honesty beat high Ev'n in his Pagan Heart could not allow His Conscience to be Slave unto the Crie Of the importunate Jews who roaring stood And set their Mouths wide ope for guiltlesse Blood 165. My duty I have fully done said He Him and your Accusations have I Unto the bottome sifted As for Me I hope I never gave you reason why You should presume that any Clamors may Fright Pilate out from Justice's High-way 166. Neither your Temple nor your Altars be More venerable unto you than is My most unspotted Judgement Seat to Me For all Hells yellings and impatient Cries I trust Mine shall as valiantly resist As Mino's or as Rhadamanthu's Breast 167. What I to Caesar owe and what to Right I long have known and must not now forget My Heart is Romane and the dearest Light Of Heav'n is not so pretious to it As spotlesse Honor which can never be Cohabitant with Wrong and Tyranny 168. Mine own Heart-blood I rather would let flow And let your Thirst carouse in it then I From any guiltlesse Veins their Streams will draw To quench the loudest Importunity Mine is mine own but what have I to doe To give Anothers Life when Law sayes No. 169. Law takes no hold of Jesus nor must I Nor did the Tetrarch and why then will you He that he is a King doth not deny But adds withall His Kingdomes not below No harm to Cesar by this Man is done Who doth his Kingdome fancy in the Moon 170. There let his Fancy rule and reign But yet 'T is pitty for his Follie He should Die. It never yet was heard that Want of Wit Pass'd for a Capital Offence Nay I Have been inform'd that in the Tribute He Has witnessed sufficient Loyalty 171. For by his Doctrine He did it maintain And by his Practise too though Calumnie Hath your Beliefe abus'd and cast a Stain Upon his Innocence Come therefore I Will for your Credits Him Chastise and so Give Him Dismission without more adoe 172. And this the rather since by Custome I Ingaged am to honor this your Feast In granting some Offendors Liberty Who in your Judgement shall deserve it best And who can you think lesse deserveth Death Then He whose Innocence him acquitted hath 173. Thus strove the Judge that He might not condemn Both Jesus and himself When loe the Priests His gracious offer shamelesly contemn And spur the People in whose furie rests Their finall Hope to beg with all the Strise Of stoutest throats none but Barabba's life 174. Prodigious Priests is not Barabbas He Whom all the Town knows guilty of the fact You fain would fasten upon Iesus yee Your selves beheld what tumults he did act And how his desperate riot he pursued Untill in Murder he his hands imbrued 175. And is the Murderers life so dear that He Must live with you whilst Innocence does die Does foule Barabbas his curs'd Company Suit better with your reverend Sanctitie Or can you think both God and Man so blinde As not to see and hate your bloody minde 176. Strange Psyche strange it was with what loud cryes The mad-brain'd vulgar heav'n and earth did tear Barabba's Name through all their clamour flies And they for none but for Barabbas care He is their Darling and they cannot live If Pilate will not grant them his Reprieve 177. Thus hellish Hate op'd Providences door To heav'nly Love and made Barabba's be The whole Worlds type which from the fatal Pow'r Of endlesse Death and equall Miserie Was to be snatch'd to day whil'st in its place A Lamb all white and guiltlesse sentenc'd was 178. Mean while the Judges Lady sent her Page In posting speed to pray her troubled Lord Not to be mad because that Rout did rage Nor venture to prophane the Roman sword With innocent blood for certainly said she Jesus is just and they seditious be 179. For my good genius as I lay asleep Appear'd unto me hand in hand with thine Thine beat his Breast and bitterly did weep And toll'd the reason of his griefe to mine He said and deeply sighed as he said Pilate with Jesus now will be betrai'd 180. Pilate will be betrai'd to take away The Life of Jesus and his own withall For Jesus blood will crie another day And unto Pilats veins and heart will call His veins and heart must answer that strong cry I started here and out the Dream did flie 181. Thus heav'n admonish'd Claudia strove to drive Her husband from his Precipices brow And did withall miraculous witnes give What wrongs the Jews at Jesu's life did throw For Heav'n was pleas'd that his integritie By either sex should now asserted be 182. No sooner had the trembling Page delivered His ominous Message but the Judges heart With fatall jealousie and horror shivered His joints unbuckled and his eyes did start His hair stood staring up his blood flew back And left his lips and all his visage black 183. But when the Scribes and Priests had learn'd this news Behold they cry how He by Magick art Hath sent some 〈◊〉 Spirit to abuse The honest thoughts of noble Claudia's heart That by this trick the Judge might frighted be Our Truthes made slanders and himself set free 184. Then all the People with fresh clamors roard Thundring Barabbas in the Judges ear That violent storm quite blew away the Word His Lady sent Him and through sudden fear Of insurrection He returns to treat About the Busines which himself did hate 185. Friends ask your second thoughts said He and see If they upon Barabbas needs will dote I would not that your too much
may know 〈◊〉 he has not in some passi nate haste Without sufficient grounds his Sentence Past. 264. The Priests had mony that commanding Spurr Which fires all Soldiers with impatient Speed And Pilate now can cast in no Demurr The Jews assure him that he has no need But need or not his thoughts in vain doe beat The Soldiers now were bought to doe the Feat 265. But being Martiall generous Spirits they Must not debase their armed Backs to bear The servile ignominious Cross nor may The Jews who now all purified were To celebrate their Paschall Supper be Stain'd by the Touch of that accursed Tree 266. On JESU'S Wounds his Death the Soldiers lay And He must ern his Crosses Service by Bearing its tedious Weight before he may Be born by it Thus with a barbarous Crie Of Tongues and Trumpets which the Welkin rent Through the cheifstreets this sad Procession went 267. But He whose Springs so drained were before Both of their Blood and Spirits now grew faint In vain they kick'd him and in vain they tore Him forward by his Hair for no Constraint Can make weak Nature her own Power exceed Nor finde out Firmnesse in a broken Reed 268. What Heart but seared by the fire of Hell Could now Compassions courteous Tears forbear But yet the Soldiers bosomes by the fell Contagion of the Iewish Malice are So deeply tainted that what might invite Tigres to Pittie does but whet their Spight 269. For meerely in prevention of the Loss Of that choise Sport they hoped for when He Was once set fair and sure upon his Cross As the full Mark at which all Scoffs might be Directly aim'd Him from this Load they spare And force Cyrenian Simon it to bear 270. Nay Live you shall say they till you may Die As you deserve mean while this Ernest take Of that full Summe which We will by and by On Golgotha without abatement make With this they beat Him and so much the more As with his Blood he no Complaints would poure 271. Indeed the softer Sex who upon Him And on his Woes did wait with tenderer Eyes In his own Blood could not behold Him swim But with their Sympathetick Tears and Cries Confess'd that they had Bowells still although Remorseless Stone Mens hearts did overgrow 272. But Jesus who did all this grevious while Encourage by his patient Silence those Most insolent Jeers and Blasphemies the vile And spightfull Jews could frame doth now oppose These Womens loving Tears and upon them With nobler Pitty turn their pittying Stream 273. For 't was his brave Ambition to engross All Greifs and Sorrows to Himself to day Esteeming every Groan of theirs his Loss And all his Woes discredited that they Should seem to need Assistants when stout He To his own Shoulders woo'd all Miserie 274. Weep not ye Daughters of Jerusalem Weep not for Me who have set ope my Breast To every Greif which into it can stream And thither mean to welcome every Guest Weep not for Me said He whose Sorrows are Not to be quenched by a mortall Tear 275. If you will broach your Bottles let them run For your own selves and your unhappy Seed For loe those fatall Days are posting on Which all your Brine and more than all will need The Days when Blessing shall no longer spred Its joyous Complement on Mothers Head 276. For then the Barren Womb shall praised be As fertile in the choisest Happiness Then everie Tongue those Papps ariditie Which never brought up Babe to Woe shall bless Then shall the dearest pledges of your Love Your Sonns and Daughters living Torments prove 277. Then in impatient longing for a Grave Despairing Men shall to the Mountains call And everie neighbour Hills Compassion crave Beseeching them upon their Heads to fall And hide them though in Death from seeing how Calamitie about the World doth flow 278. For if in me a young and verdant Tres The flames of Veng'ance thus prevailing are What shall the Refuge or Condition be Of Stumps and Trunks all withered and sear Which are already dri'd and fit alone For feuell for their own Combustion 279. In a fresh Cursing and Blaspheming fitt This set the mad-braind Rout who ask'd Him why When they of late so humbly begged it He would not condescend to Prophesie And why He who could others Woes so well Discern could nothing of his own foretell 280. And see good Prophet yonder Hill said they Take your own Counsell now before it prove Too late Come let Us heare what you can say Both it and its Compassion to move Set out your Throat if hard and loud you plead Perhaps 't will bow its own to hide your Head 281. Then having star'd a while upon Him all Whose Fists or Toes or Spittle him could reach With thick and peevish indignation fall Upon his bruised bloody Body Which Triumphant scorns He meekly vanquish'd by His Silence and march'd up to Calvarie 282. Ev'n to this Calvarie We stand on heer This Mount which from a Scull hath gain'd its Name For in this solemn Place the Sepulchre Of reverend Adam stood which carefull Fame Told to Posteritie and so the Hill Wears in its Title that old Story still 283. With such Decorum did thy prudent Lord Order his meritorious Passion that The second Adam might his help afford Unto the First where He lay chain d and shut Up in Deaths Prison the remorseless Grave Which to Corruption did Him enslave 284. Iesus on that drie Dust resolv'd to shed His most enlivening purifying Blood That He might wash and cure the tainted Head Of Mortalls Miserie by the soveraign Flood Of his own Life that Life which onely can Restore true vitall vigor unto Man 285. Here 〈◊〉 here the Crosse its foot did set When it sustaind the Worlds Redeemer here Is that renouned Soile which once was wet With richer Drops than ever shoured were From kindest Heav'n for by that fertile Dew Salvations Harvest to perfection grew 286. But yet this Hill wears not that onely Name Of Calvarie 't was call'd Moriah too Of old when zealous Abraham hither came His most renouned Sacrifice to doe And by unparalleld Obedience prove The valourous Bravery of faithfull Love 287. Brave Abraham hither came his Altar heer He built and prepossess'd the Crosses place So Isaac did thy Lords a while But there An hamperd Ram strait substituted was Thus Isaac scap'd but now there was no Ram Which might supply the place of heav'ns dear Lamb. 288. Jesus himselfe must sacrificed be Not by but to his Father Psyche now That fatal Houre was come when Tyrannie Held the free Reins and did its freedome know When purest Innocence was abandond quite Unto the Luxurie of proudest Spight 289. For loe the Souldiers thy torn Saviour stretch And fit Him unto his tormenting Tree His blessed Hands unto the Topp they reach Those Hands whose workmanship all creatures be His Feet unto the bottom those pure Feet Which no Bloud but their
Company 223. With these sweet Plaints she measur'd her Return Till back unto the Chariot she came And well was Phylax pleass'd to hear her Mourn Judging by this how serious was the Flame Of her Affection to that Holy Place In which her Virgin Bosom fired was 224. Then mounting up and gently seating her At his right Hand his mighty Reins he shook And these could scarce before his Coursers stir For straight their leap into the Air they took Spreading their Wings wide Oars by which They through The Waves of that soft Ocean did row 225. For she remembring well what sad Event Plagu'd her affected Stay in Palestine By dear-bought Wisdome learn'd to be content To leave this reverend Place though more divine Temptations here invited her to stay Since wiser Phylax summon'd her away 226. So when a Childe woo'd by the sporting Flame Is once but scorch'd into a feeling Sense Of the fair-faced Danger Fear and Shame Bow him down to his Nurses ' Providence And make Him any 〈◊〉 Lustre shun If but her Nodd commandeth Him to run 227. But he to entertain her by the way With advantageous Discourse begun To reckon through what worthy Wonders They In their 〈◊〉 Pilgrimages Tract had run For Repetitions trusty hand doth grave A new Impression and the old one save 228. This rouz'd her Soule to recollect how she Had by the Conduct of Heav'ns special Grace Through thousand Dangers pass'd untouch'd and free Though Hell and all its Wit engaged was In open field to crosse or undermine By secret Wilinesse her brave Designe 229. A fresh her Minde did feast on every Sweet And Wonderous Thing which all the way she went With rich Varieties her Eyes did meet So clear the Angels Tongue did them present Drawing All out in ample Statelinesse By the fair Help of Eloquence's Dresse 230. Thus in a double Chariot did she ride But yet in this of his Discourse she fiew With swifter speed out-running ev'n the tide Of Time it Selfe for still her Joies were new Cheating her Wearinesse as he along Through all her Journeys travell'd with his Tongue 231. This tun'd her Tongue by her Hearts dainty String To honest Gratitudes ingenuous Layes High was her Key and delicate the Song Composed to the sweetest Aire of Praise For ever may these Lips be seal'd said she When they suppresse the Thanks I owe to Thee 232. To Thee dear Pilot of my tender Bark Which many Rocks e'r this had dash'd in sunder Which oft had wander'd in the Deep and Dark Which many Storms proud feet had troden under Which many Sands into its Grave long since Had swallow'd up but for thy stout Defence 233. To Thee whom no Contempt of mine could drive To just Disdam of a vile Worme to Thee By whose dear Care my better Life I live If yet I live at all and rather be Not dead and buried in those Sins which I Prefert'd before the Life of Piety 234. Yet more I owe to Him and more must pay By whose Appointment I enjoyed Thee My faithfull Guide in this long perilous Way But thou must teach Me what those Thanks must be If they must be my Selfe I ready am This Sacrifice to offer to his Name 235. His Name in whose dear Syllables alone I read my Selfe intirely such For there Lives the sweet Soule of that Redemption Which snatch'd me from that 〈◊〉 Bondage where 〈◊〉 lay abandon'd to the tyrannous Will Of Error Madnesse wickednesse and Hell 236. His Name in which the Praise and Adoration Of the Seraphick and Cherubick Quire Rejoyce to meet His Name of every Nation The dearest Joy and soveraign Desire His Name which o'r the whole Worlds vanquish'd Pride Doth in sublime but gratious Triumph ride 237. His Name the onely Musick which mine Eare Can of no Jarrs accuse that lovely Name Which when Heav'ns most melodious Orbs doe heat They throw aside their other Songs and frame Their Tunes by Jesu's Sweets Here off she broke Lovingly ravish'd by the Name she spoke 238. And here the Steeds who all this while had flew With stout but silent fervor neigh'd aloud For now their Journey to its period drew And Albion her chalkie Forehead show'd Which with erected Ears and shaked Mains They doubled strait and scoured o'r the Plains 239. Forthwith all clouded in their smoaking Foam The Chariot they hurld to Psyche's door Where Phylax bid his Pupill welcome home Which She did on her Knee to Him restore And stroaking then her Steeds upon the Crest She for their faithfull Pains her Thanks profest PSYCHE OR LOVES MYSTERIE CANTO XVII The Mortification ARGUMENT PSyche embrav'd by Chari's generous Flames Strives in Devotions Furnace to refine Her pious self till with Perfections Beams Her pure Spiritualized Life might shine Then Satan she defies though crafly He Came clothed in Angelick Claritie 1. PEace gentle Queen of every Thing which makes Sweets acceptable Bliss delightfull be What satal Conjuration of Mistakes Inchanteth Mortal Hearts that they will see Thy Beauties not by their own Light but by The hideous Glass of Wars Deformity 2. They see the Sun is fair by his own Beams Gems by their proper Lustre them allure They taste the Fountains sweetnes by the streams The Roses 〈◊〉 Cheek does them assure The Floure is beautifull yet they will not Thy Graces read but by a Stain and 〈◊〉 3. Dear is this Learning and sometimes too late O how much sooner and much cheaper might They all Wars tedious costly studie bare If they to Thee would come to Schole and write From the Original of thy fair Eyes That Book which dims the Volums of the 〈◊〉 4. Thy Temper is all Musick never did The least of Jars thy sweet 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 From thine all Concords 〈◊〉 were copied Nor would the Centre on his 〈◊〉 8 back Agree to bear the World did it Thou noc by Thy 〈◊〉 Chains the Burden 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 5. For at the first when in th' untuned Deep Each Thing was wroth and snarled with his Brother When Heav'n and Earth tumbled in one blinde Heap Struggled and strove to stifle one Another When All Things with their peevish selves fell out And in their own Hearts for their Enemies sought 6. Then Thou with seasonable Love didst come And those wilde Tumults sweetly chase away These boistrous Pangs of the Worlds travelling Womb With happy Quietnesse thou didst allay Makeing those Embroy's Freinds who never since Have to that Knot of love done violence 7. All rest contented with the Stations Thou Appointedst Them and Earth is pleas'd as well With her poor Habitation here below As any Stars which in Heav'ns Roof doe dwell Nor will the Windes though big they be and proud Desire above the middle Aire to crowd 8. The sirly Sea who in his boiling Wrath Against the shore with mountainous Waves doth make Dreads the poor List of feeble Sand which hath No power that desperate Carreer to slake Because He reads in it thy potent Law Which back into
thing which here Earth useth as a Bait to Luxurie Pride Avarice or any Crime which bear Cheif Rule in Mortal Hearts whil'st heedlesse they Mark not the Hook ev'n when they are its Prey 221. A general Proclamation then she made That none who unto her did homage owe In any Case presume abroad to gad Unlesse Necessitie along did goe As their Companion who might limits set Both to their Walk and what they did in it 222. As when an head-strong Torrent wont to throw His lawlesse Arms or every Mead where He Listed to riot is enjoyn'd to slow In a strait Chanels Regularitie The Stream with belking indignation beats And foams agamst the Banks with murmuring threats 223. So with vexatious and yet fearfull Wrath Her Subjects pent up in these narrow bounds In sighs and groans rebell against their Path And every one his fretfull greif expounds In a long commentary of Complaint The onely freedome of their new restraint 224. Were other Subjects yok'd so close as We Their Company would lighter make our yoke For Misery spred in Communitie Abates the terror of her cruel look But how said they shall we endure alone The total weight of her Dominion 225. Were it the Fashion any where beside For Sence and Passion thus in Chains to lye Our Soules it would not torture to be ty'd At home in endlesse slavery but why Must all the World laugh at our woes whil'st we The sole examples of this Bondage be 226. Psyche who all their struggling Murmurs heard With awfull Majesty enflam'd her Eye And Come said she if I must needs be Fear'd Who would much rather have been Loved by All you my Subjects be it so for still Keep you intirely such I must and will 227. Yet since the Fashion 's all your plea and you Of singularitie tax this your state As far as Reason leads I will allow You your own Wish But see you kick not at My royal Love not force me to the Fashion Which Princes use in Rebels Insultation 228. Know then the Fashion I have put you in Is that which made the Saints of old so sine That they the Eyes of Heav'n it self could win And ravish all but those to whom divine And earth-despising Bravery doth seem Dimmer than is pale Gold and Silvers beam 229. Yea that illustrious Realm whose situation Lies higher than the Stars does not disdain To own what you repute a servile Fashion But every Angel his own Will doth chain Close to his Soveraigns Law and never flies Abroad but when great Bus'nesse him imployes 230. Tell Me not then what Garbs and Humors are By the blinde foolish World ador'd but take Your copie from those Patterns which out-dare The Worth of any Parallel and make Those Men your Pitty who make you their Scorn Your Fashion gorgeous is but theirs forlorne 231. These Words with such convincing Horror flew Upon the faces of the mutinous Rout That all their Murmurs Blasts away they blew And still'd the thoughts which in their bosoms wrought And since their Stomacks nothing had to Say They nothing had to Doe but to Obey 232. Thus from exterior Troubles sequestred Psyche at home close to her Bus'nesse fell She long before the Sun was out of Bed And call'd it Morning e'r the East could tell Aurora rising was for I said she Have fiercer Steeds to rule than Phoebu's be 233. Then higher into Heav'n than He doth ride She took her leap so stout and sinewie were Her early Mattens which her Soul did guide Unto the Pinnacle of Glory where Her Praises and her Prayers she before The foot-stool of her mighty Spouse did poure 234. Her Hands then letting down she set them to Their early Task and this was to prepare Clothes for the Orphans and the Widdows who Now all by Charities Adoption were Become her Children thus did prudent she Bravely make fruitfull her Virginity 235. And in this voluntary Off-spring she Took high delight for those who Parents are By Natures Work too oft engaged be In an unnatural Broods vexatious care But she from hers no Discontent could finde Being the chosen Children of her Minde 236. Yet with her Work her Prayers she mingled so That she of both a goodly Checker made In whatsoever Bus'nesse she did goe Heav'n interwoven was for all her Trade Was but a faithfull Prentise-hood to Him Whose royal Temples wear Heav'ns Diademe 237. So though the Mariner with busie care Attends his Card yet oft he lifts his Eye To take direction from that trustie Star Which darteth on his Voyage Certainty And by this mixed study safely rides Over the proudest and the furthest Tides 238. No idle Visits her abroad could draw Yet whensoever the despised Poor Were sick she by the royal Gospel Law Thought her selfe thither summon'd to restore Unto her needy Lord the help which she Had oft receiv'd from his Benignity 239. For Him on all those fickly Beds she saw His pained broken Limbs His parched Skin His burning Tumors His black stripes His raw And gaping Wounds which did so strongly win On her Compassion that her own they proved Whilst her soft Bowells them both felt and loved 240. The odious Sores which would have loathing bred Ev'n in the Surgions eyes she gently view'd Her choisest Plaisters tenderly she spred And all her Powders with delight she strew'd Her Selfe of her own Clothes she robb'd to winde About the Naked and the Maimed binde 241. By the Diseases greatnesse she did measure The worth of her distressed Company The foulest Lepers yeilded choisest Pleasure To her Attendance who aspir'd to be A Servant unto those whose Noisomeness Both Parents Love and Childrens did suppress 242. In vain her Senses turned back their head Since She what they abhorr'd resolv'd to love In vain her daintier Passions murmured And to recall her from that Office strove Her Resolution she the more profest And ever Kiss'd the Sores which she had drest 243. The coy-ey'd Ladies with a squeamish Look Admir'd and loath'd her lowly Complement Not for a World would their fine Fingers brook The Touch of what her Kisses did resent As soft and sweet yet could not their Disdain Her Zeal discourage or her Lips restrain 244. Still She her Mercifull Designe persues And by divine Insinuation tries How in her Potions she may Heav'n infuse And reach the Soules mysterious Maladies Heart-startling Hints she sprinkles here and there And poures in heav'nly Cordials every where 245. Nor by this paradoxick Zeal alone Did she run counter to the Worlds carreer But valiant in her high Devotion Adventur'd further yet to domineer Over her Flesh and Blood whose lustie Heat By rigid Abstinence she down did beat 246. She ne'r by set and customary Time Was summon'd to unneceslary Meat But earnest Hunger alway told the Chime By which she was admonished to Eate And then her Meal she measured not by Her Stomackfull but bare Sufficiency 247. And thus her food she did her Servant make Whilst others
I onely be a barren Tree When all the World besides so fruitfull is Forbid it mighty King of Souls said she Let not thy Psyches Heart the glory miss Of honouring Thee although my life it cost That life 's best saved which for Thee is lost 355. Much time in this Imployment having spent She chang'd her Task but not her Industry For next her Contemplations she sent To wait upon her Spouses Majesty The Marvells of his mighty Love to read Which over her and all the World was spread 356. And here with sympathetick Exultation And amorous fervor she her Soule did melt For in the tract of every Speculation His Acts and Passions in her Breast she felt Which alwayes Sad or Cheerly was as she His Sorrows or his Joyes in thought did see 357. A longer Pilgrimage she now did make And travell'd all the way with more Delight Than when by Phylax's Conduct she did take To holy Palestine her Zealous flight Longer she dwelt on every Monument Of what her Lord for her had done or spent 358. A thousand times she sigh'd and wonder'd why Brisk generous Spirits who hunt noble Stories Through all Books else should not be ravish'd by The Lustre of the Euangelick Glories But more exactly strave to know the List Of Casars Acts than what was done by Christ. 359. She sigh'd and wonder'd how a Christian Heart Which did not give its blessed Name the lie Could possibly forbear to snatch its part In its Redeemers noble History How Love could quit its loyal selfe and yet Not know whatever of its Spouse was writ 360. But all this while on Logo's Wings she flew Though sometimes Thelema did flutter by And these were much too short and weak she knew To towre and double that Sublimity Which makes Perfections third and highest Story The Crown of Saints and all the Angels Glory 361. She therefore taking Thelema apart With all the winning Art of Courtesie Devised first to charin her mighty Heart And make it plyant to the Plot which she Had laid to catch her into Blisle And then She gently grasp'd her hand and thus began 362. O Thou the dearest of my Servants who Dost wear the Keyes of all that I possesse Yea and of Me thy native Soveraign too Who have no power to stir abroad unlesse Thou op'st the Door How doe I wish that I Had more to trust with thy Fidelity 363. But since I neither am nor have no more Let this suffice to binde thine Heart to Me In gratitude thou canst no lesse restore Than prest Complyance though I ask of thee Some hard and costly Matter so to prove The rate and value of my Steward's Love 364. But I my proper Interest can bate And by my Subjects Gains account mine own What e'r advantage doth inhance their State I take it as Accrewment to my Crown They are my Riches nor can I be poor So long as they increase their teeming Store 365. All I desire shall onely be That thou Wouldst venture to imbrace thy highest Blisse And now dull Sense and Passion valiant grow Now Logos through all Heav'n so busie is Not Flinch alone nor be content to stay In any lower Region than They. 366. Remember that thy Wings of Strength are made And that no Flight's too high or long for thee That nothing ever made thy Courage fade Unlesse thy Selfe didst timorously agree To thy Defeat Henceforth be brave and bold Thou canst not fail if thou but holdst thine Hold. 367. Jesus the Soveraign Lord of Thee and Me Will give thee leave to make Himselfe thy Prey Reach then thine Arms of noble Love that he Imprisoned in thy Imbraces may Thorough thy happy Heart his Sweetnesse thrill And with the best of Heav'n thy bosome fill 368. If this Adventure thou esteem'st too high Throw down thy Selfe before His blessed Feet He cannot let thee there despised lie But with his ready favour thee will greet And for that Resignation of thing Hug and imbrace thee till thou prov'st divine 369. This gallant Challenge wrought so strong upon The generous Heart of Thelema that she The forwardnesse of her submission Forthwith profess'd upon her bended Knee And Heav'n forbid said she I should deny Your Pleasure or mine own Felicity 370. Though not at Jesu's royal Feet ô no I am too vile to aime my Pride so high Yet Madame here at yours my Selfe I throw To be accepted and disposed by Your Love and Wisdome Use Me as you please Loe I return you yours and mine own Keyes 371. Triumphant Joy straight flam'd in Psyche's Breast The Virgins ready Loyalty to see Whom she embraced thrice and thrice she kist And sweetly forced to rise from her Knee Then all her 〈◊〉 she took which to her side Weeping and Smiling in one Knot she ti'd 372. And now I feel my Selfe a Queen said she A Queen indeed Yet be assured thou O faithfull Mayd shalt finde thy Selfe more free By this Subjection than when thou didst bow To thine own Inclinations which have To Vanity full oft made Thee a Slave 373. Exalated thus unto her own Desire Into her pious Oratory She More cheerfully than ever did retire To celebrate a new Solemnity An Holocaust she hastes to sacrifice For which her own brave Zeal the Fire supplies 374. Did golden Mountains tempt her now to stay Did Millions of Worlds made up in one Inestimable Bait lie in her way And woo her but to let one Minute run Before She fell to work not all the force Of those strong Complements could stop her Course 375. No She of joyous Love in travell is And feels the dainty Pangs of Parturition Till she brings 〈◊〉 her mighty Sacrifice 'T is not all Heav'n can ease her smart condition Speed Speed alone would usefull be she knew Whose Wings she snatch'd and to her Bus'nes flew 376. A Preface then of thousand Sighs and Tears Before her brave Oblation she spred As many Groans unto her Soveraigns ears Like Harbengers of her Designe she sped Then prostrate on the ground her face she layd And of her humble Heart the Altar made 377. Upon this Altar bound both Hands and Feet Her Thelema she for the Offring threw And bend thy gracious Eye said Shee thou sweet And gentle Lamb of Heav'n to Me who sue For thy acceptance of this Sacrifice Which at the footstool of thy Mercy lies 378. Thy royal Bounty gave it unto Me But I alas perceive my Self too weak To manage such a great Estate To thee I therefore render it O gently take It home again and govern it for Me The feeble Handmayd of thy Majesty 379. Doe with it what Thou wilt so it be Thine I care not what betide it for I know Thy Pleasure like thy Self must be Divine O see how it pants and heav's if Thou Wilt not accept it let it lie for Me How can I love what is despis'd by Thee 380. As when the Lightning flasheth from the Skie Down to the ground it
flames without delay So did the fervor of this Prayer flie And snatch'd from earth to Heav'n its sudden way Nor made it there a stop at any Sphear But scour'd through all and reached Jesus ear 381. Propitious He straight yeilded his Consent And opening wide his blessed Arms embraced The dear Oblation with as high Content As if He more than Psyche had ben graced O King of Sweetest Love who would not bring To such a God as Thee his Offering 382. But now as zealous Psyche thought to send Her Altar up after her Sacrifice Behold a sudden Fulnesse did extend Her bosome with such ravishing Rarities That she perplex'd with unknown Sweets 〈◊〉 With what strange Paradise she was inspired 383. At length examining her encroaching Blisse Another Thelema in her Heart she spied But in so lovely and majestick Dresse That by her Looks she instantly descryed From whence she came and that she needs must be One of her heav'nly Spouse's familie 384. His Will it was indeed for Noble He Disdaineth not to give more than he takes No sooner Psyches Offring He did see But he this greater Present ready makes Then with innumerable Blessings drest Shoots it into her soft and pious Breast 385. This grasp'd her Soule so fast and knit it so Intirely to her Spouse's Heart that she Forthwith seem'd to have nothing more to doe With what she was her self since potent He Was seized of her and her Will being gone She to Loves Tyranny was left alone 386. Nor did Love loose his time but domineer'd In her subdued heart with full carreer And she as glad to be his Slave appear'd As he rejoyced to triumph on her For by his Conquests she did count her own Being by every fall far higher thrown 387. Thrown up into new stages of Delight And fresh Excesse of those immortal things Which never were debas'd to mortal sight Nor stoop'd to please the Ears of proudest Kings Things which the Heart of Man doth pant in vain When it doth stretch and struggle to contain 388. And now her Soule like a new weaned Childe Which wholly hangs upon its Nurses Will It self not by it self did move and weild But absolutely resting on the skill And care of her dear Lord who tutor'd it Was carried wheresoever he thought fit 389. This made all Sweets and Dainties here below For with these names our fond mistakes doe grace them Disrellish in her accurate Taste and grow Truly themselves which was enough to chase them From wise acceptance for their borrow'd shape Is that alone which doth our love entrap 390. On God and onely him her joyes did feast His royall Pleasure was her pretious Blisse So well did all his Laws and Statutes taste To her Hearts palate that the Pleasantnesse Both of the Honey and the Honey-combe Had in her approbation no room 391. What grated hard upon her Soule before Wrongs Slanders Pains Distresse Calamities Mishaps and Sicknesse tortur'd her no more For on her Spouses Will she fix'd her Eyes And still embraced as the best what he Did either order or permit to be 392. This kindled such a Bonfire of Delight Throughout her Breast that had she been invited Ev'n by all Paradise to yeild her right In this Possession she would have sleighted The mighty Bait and triumph'd still to be The Holocaust of Loves Extremitie 393. Yet was her Passions wonderous violence Sweetned with such divine serenitie That with lesse undisturbed influence The Suns full Beams through all the World doe flie To light the day then did these flames of Love Through all her calm hearts blessed Regions move 394. In dainty silence she her Soule possest With firm Adhaesion unto her Blisse Ev'n all her Motions mingled were with rest Because they did concentricate with his Whose Actions though all infinite they be Their number is ty'd up in Unitie 395. Indeed the World whom her Austeritie Seveerly chode and stung by peevish scorn Reveng'd themselves for lo said they how she By Melancholies blacknesse grown forlorn Esteems her self as fair as if the best Of heav'ns bright beauties had her count'nance 〈◊〉 396. She from her self by wilfull Robberie Plunders those honest Sweets which courteous heav'n To check Lifes tide of infelicitie Hath into Moderations Bosome given And taxeth Gods own bounty by refusing What we cannot approve but by our 〈◊〉 397. Should any paltry Begger serve Her so Sure she would not believe He did despise Her Almes alone but was contemptuous too Against her self Nor would his humble guise Perswade her that his stomacks inward Pride Was by Devotions fervor Mortifi'd 398. Thus did the Ravens against the Swan inveigh But now no seeds of Discontent remaind In Psyche's heart she let them say their say And from their Envie a new Laurel gaind Her silent Patience answerd all their scorn And to her Crown their Calumnies did turn 399. But as she rested in this mystick Peace Hers and all pious Soules eternal Foe Who counted his own trouble by her ease Tore his fell heart with studying what to doe Atlength resolved haste he makes to dress In a faire vizard his foule wickednesse 400. Time was when he Precentor of that quire Which all the Sphears with Hallelujahs fill Arrayed was in glorious attire Whose gallantry did then become him well But when a monstrous Rebell He became The Crime invested him with hideous shame 401. Yet He remembring his original guise And being well skil'd in Hypocrisie Patch'd up himself a coat of gorgeous Lies Wherein to shelter his Doformitie That though he were the King of blackest night He might an Angel seem of fairest light 402. His ragged Horns of steel He pulled in And on his rustie brazen looks he spred A soft a ruddy and well polish'd skin His front with envious wrinkles furrowed He planed over sweetning all his face With blooming youthfulnes and smiling grace 403. Into a Knot he gather'd up his Taile And ty'd it at his back of every Toe And Finger carefully he cut the Naile And then his Hands and Feet he painted so That what before was harsh and footie now Did cleanly delicate and beauteous grow 404. His bushie snarled Locks of fretfull Snakes He shaved off for which to shade his Head Into the new-erected Tombe he breaks Of an embalmed Virgin lately dead And stealing thence her fresh perfumed Tresses His Baldnes he with Curles of Amber dresses 405. An hundred Swans then having plundered Their fairest and their softest feathers he In two brave Combinations marshalled And measured and poised equalie Then to his shoulders them he fitted and A Pair of goodly Wings had at Command 406. A Roab he chose whose colour scorn'd the Milk And with his wings did correspondence hold Its texture was of light and pliant Silk Belac'd and fring'd with oriental Gold That both its Purenesse and its Splendor might Profess that down from Heav'n he took his flight 407. Accouter'd thus as Psyche wearied by Her holy Vigils yeelded unto Sleep The
The silliest Flocks who would themselves commit To Him who leaves them free to any Wrong And tels them plainly they must suffer it For his dear sake Right dear indeed if they Their lives unto His Memory must pay 72. Mad were the Sheep which would attendant be Upon a Sheepheard who did them assure That for that onely Cause the Tyrannie Of thousand Wolves and Bears they must endure Nay Sheep would never be so sheepish yet Men to this Paradox themselves submit 73. Grant Heav'n be in reversion their own What shall the fondlings get by being there Who must eternaly be crouching down And paying Praise's tribute to His Ear Who will requite them with a Chain which shall Keep ev'n their Wils in everlasting Thrall 74. Were not their Soules more generous if they The gallant freedome of our Hell would choose Which knows not what it meaneth to Obey But le ts full Blasphemy for ever loose Faint-hearted fools who needs will Vassals be For fear least I should make them truely free 75. Thou see'st this sin is crying and for high Revenge beats loud upon my royal Ear And should my Fury wake and instantly Those mad 〈◊〉 all in peeces tear Surely my Justice I could well acquit However envious Heav'n would raile at it 76. But I for this doth best become a King A better rellish finde in Lenity I know the Galileans Tongues doe ring With restlesse Clamours on my Tyranny Forgetting that their Lord did banish Me From Heav'n against all Law and Equitie 77. Yet shall not they Me so ignoble make As to requite their Basenesse in its kinde No let them henceforth Demonstration take In what a pack of Forgeries combin'd Unto my Charge they lay all Cruelties Judge all the World who Father is of lyes 78. For I resolved am at first to try Them by my royall Mercy to reclaim Far rather would I win them thus than by Stern Vengeance utterly extirpate them The Peoples fault alas is not so great As His whose Gospel Pipe charm'd them to it 79. My pleasure therefore is that thou mak'st speed To Britain and divulge my Proclamation Of Grace and Pardon unto every Head Which strait abjures that dangerous Innovation And penitent for his Christian Heresie With orthodox Devotion Bows to Me. 80. But if my princely favour be despised Both Heav'n and Earth must needs my Rage approve Denounce all Vengance that can be devised By scorn'd and therefore most indignant Love Make all the stupid stubborn Rebels feel That Maries Son cannot my Wrath repell 81. This said The Furie who had all this while Smiled in hopes of her new Task made haste To take her Coach and thought each step a Mile As through the spatious House to it she past Then mounting at the Gate they parted He Home to his Hell and to wards Britain She. 82. Forth with in terrible Magnificence An hundred Trumpets sent their Voice before To tell the People that their awfull Prince Her Progress now began That stately Roar Through every street imperiously flew And warned 〈◊〉 this mightie sight to view 83. When lo the sweating throngs bespred her way With admirations of her Pomp and Train Before the Chariot two road single they Suspition were and Envy both did rein Their fitting Steeds the one a Fox the other A Wolfe and forced them to march together 84. Next follow'd Pride upon a sirly Horse Whose stomack neer as high as hers did swell Fire sparkled in his eyes and martial force In the bent Bow of his large neck did dwell About he flung his Foam and champ'd his Bit For both his Rider he disdain'd and it 85. But she an Ensigne in her right Hand held Whose bosome she displayed to the Winde Forth with the Flag with stately fulnes swell'd Wherein the Tyrants golden Scutcheon shin'd A wide-spred Eagle whose faire Pinions seem'd To bear her up still as the Colours stream'd 86. Then came the Coach which two strange Monsters drew For one a dreadfull Lybian Dragon was Who from his Mouth did flaming Sulphure spew And poisned all the Way which he did passe The other an enormous Crocodile The most accursed Son of happy Nile 87. On them two feirce Postillions mounted were Intolerable head-strong Anger who To lash her Dragon never did forbear Though he with Furie's violent Feet did goe And Cruelty whose Heart was harder than Her knotty 〈◊〉 black iron Skin 88. Upon the Coachbox sate a Driver hight Selfe-will a mad-braind most outrageous He Who in impatient Speed doth still delight Though thousand Perils in his Passage be Never could Hils or Dales or Sea or Land Or desperate Precipices make Him stand 89. The Metall of the Chariot all was Brasse Bright burning Brasse which upon either side With sharp and cruel Hooks thick platted was To mow down All it met In this did ride The dreadfull Queen a Queen of mighty Fame Who hath not heard of Persecutions Name 90. Whatever makes the Tigres Faces be Of ravenous Crueltie the hideous Book With indefatigable Industry She had transcrib'd into her monstrous Look Heav'n sheild all pious Soules and turn their Fears To generous Faith when ever She appears 91. Her Coat is Steell besmeared all with blood And in her Hand she holds a Twist of Snakes With which though still her Coachman never stood Eternaly she threshes Him and makes His furious Speedmore speedy grow that she Might at her Prey as soons her Wishes be 92. Thus whirl'd she through the Popular Rout and flew To her desired Isle the straitest way Behinde the Coach her cursed Train she drew All glad to tread her cruel Steps for they No other were but her own hellish Brood Whom she had nurs'd and fatned up with Blood 93. Upon a Goat more stinking far than he Rode Ravishment who threw his licorish Eyes And they black fire on every Company Of Females of what everage or guise The Chariots haste he curs'd a thousand times Which snatch'd Him from the fuel of his Crimes 94. Perch'd on a Vultures back was 〈◊〉 who In length of 〈◊〉 did that Bird exceed Starv'd with 〈◊〉 though fat in Spoils she so 〈◊〉 was that still she wish'd more speed Had hurried on the Coach that ravenous she Might sooner at her British Banquet be 95. Upon an Ostrich more unnatural Than was her barbarous Bird rode Astorgie Vowing aloud to tear in sunder all Those cords of love which did together tie The Soules of Parents and of Children and Break the sweet Links of every Nuptial Band. 96. Mounted upon an Hydra Heresie With more and stranger heads than had her Steed Rejoyc'd in hope that now contagious she Her Poison to another World should spread And Albions Sands which brideled in the Sea Should by her stouter Tide o'r-flowed be 97. On a black grizlie Dog rode Profanation She who ne'r learn'd distinction of Place Or Time or Things who never yet could fashion A modest Look or paint upon her face The least glimpse of a
On desolate Psyche who at first was stroke For unexpectedly the Fiend appeared And with a sudden dint at her fell look And yet not so as to be beaten over For strait her strength and self she did recover 101. The Tower thus which at the furious Blast Of rushing Tempests yeilds a while to quake Forgetteth not withall to stand more fast Than those proud Buildings which disdain to shake And therefore by an instant Ruine down From their exalted Confidence are thrown 102. Dispair percerving that her looks were vain Drew her more dangerous Weapon out and this Was her be witching tongur which she did strain Unto the highest Key of Crastines And casting down her luggage thus assaid To doe as much upon the constant Maid 103. If I thy doubtfull Count'nance read aright Thou neither understandest who am I Nor who thy Selfe But this thy 〈◊〉 plight So charms my Pitty that I must descrie Both unto Thee and if thou wilt befriend Thy selfe thou maist thy 〈◊〉 state amend 104. I knew my 〈◊〉 speaketh nothing lesse Than 〈◊〉 But Things which fairest be Doe often veil in their enchanting Dresse The 〈◊〉 Stings of odious Treachery And soher Wisdome alway doth commend 〈…〉 Friend 105. Were it not so thy Selfe hadst never strove Against the 〈◊〉 Tide of Things below 〈◊〉 sull alwayes of the soothing Love With which the Worlds inviting Smiles did slow Were it not so what Price could be so high To 〈◊〉 Thee thus thy Selfe to Mortisic 106. Suspect not then my Looks which needs must show Like Terrors most abhorred Book to them Whose vain deluded Bosomes overflow With secular Pleasures frothy empty Stream These think each Winde though it would blow them to The Haven will prove a Storm and them undoe 107. But thy Condition if Thou weigh'st it right Will teach Thee better what concerns thy Blisse Remember then that since Thou saw'st the Light Thou ne'r had st reason to be friends with this Unhappy Life which from thy Cradle to This Houre hath swarm'd with Nothing but thy wo. 108. The dainty Budds of thy young Vigorous years Serv'd not trim a Gatland for Delight By Virtue 's rigid and untimely Cares They blasted were and Thou ev'n in despight Of blooming Tendernesse preventedst Time And provedst old and withered in thy Prime 109. Whilst other Maydons 〈◊〉 for 〈◊〉 joy Gather d the sweetest 〈◊〉 of cheerly 〈◊〉 Thou joyn'dst thy self in marriage to 〈◊〉 Living a 〈◊〉 and Single 〈◊〉 And thus of Griefs a numerous 〈◊〉 Thou springing from thy virgin 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 110. 〈◊〉 from this Isle of Blisse thy native Home Thy 〈◊〉 Zeal drove Thee into the East Where Thou about 〈◊〉 Palistine didst rome Both to the Place a 〈◊〉 and to Rest What found'st thou there but thine own Loss whilst Thou 〈…〉 which the 〈◊〉 did dow 111. Alas the dear 〈◊〉 of thy Lord Which with thine hankering Eys thou there didst read Did but Assurance to thy Soule afford That He its onely Joy to Heav n was 〈◊〉 And surely here at home Thou wert as neer The skies as thou wert in thine Exile there 112. Thus having wasted out thy Strength and Time And Credit too with those who lov'd Thee best Back wert thou hurried to thy British Clime Lake a 〈◊〉 wearied Bird to her poor Nest Where when thou countedst up thy Journeys Gains Thou onely foundst thy Labour for thy Pains 113. Then fired by unhappy Piety Upon thy Selfe thou didst the Tyrant play Thy lamentable Body she weth by Its ghastly Leanesse how thou strov'st to slay Thy guiltlesse Flesh and what Pains thou didst 〈◊〉 Languid and senselesse every Sense to make 114. And for no other End but to refine Thy Selfe from this dull clogging Earth unto A State which might thy backward Spouse 〈◊〉 To love thy loyal Heart which laboured so To trace his hardiest Steps and cheerly tosse Upon her Shoulders his most heavy Crosse. 115. Yet when thou justly didst thy Boon expect Lesse due unto Uranius than to Thee Unto a Dungeon He did thee reject A Place how far from 〈◊〉 Liberty Where thou who in the 〈◊〉 long'dst to expire Wert forc'd to lead a dying Life in 〈◊〉 116. Remember what intolerable Chains Into thy Soule their cruel 〈◊〉 prest What Heaps of boiling Sores and 〈◊〉 Pains Were pour'd upon Thee and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Whence when the Romane 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 prepared 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 thee free thy freedome 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 117. It was debarred by no other Hand But that which rather should have lent thee Aid What Phylax did was by thy Lords Command When from that Gaole he stole thee and betray'd Thy Hopes of Martyrdome which now was grown Mature and offered 〈◊〉 thine Head its Crown 118. I grant thy torturing Sores He healed but Deserv'd nor Pay nor Thanks for that his Cure Which did but thy repaired Body put In a fit able posture to endure This greater Load whose mercilesle Excesse Doth thy unpittied Shoulders 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 119. Shoulders unpittied by Him from whom Thou hadst most reason to expect Relief But in his cruel Ears there is no Room To lodge and entertain the Suit of Grief Had there been any surely He would not Thy mighty Supplications out have shut 120. How has the Stroke of thy impetuous Crie Taught this dumb Desert Mournings Dialect Whilst all its Rocks and Caverns shaken by Thy Groans and Lamentations them reflect To Heav'n with doubled fervor and agree Fellow-Petitioners to be with Thee 121. And yet thy grated Throat is not so drie As are thy now exhausted Eyes from whence Thy Spouse's cruel Heart to mollifie Thou freely pourdst thine utmost Influence But still the Stone which on his Breast doth grow Will not by all those Drops be pierced through 122. O no! unkindly He doth turn away His Face least any Glimpie should leap to Thee And thou long flatter'd by his Favours Day Art now betrayed to the Misery Of blackest Night O may all Soules beware How they Heav'ns wiley Prince doe trust too far 123. Alas thy desolate Heart too well doth know That thy Condition I doe not mistake And with secure Presumption Psyche Thou Maist from my Art this sound Conclusion make That I who can discover all thy Grief May tell what physick will yeild thee 〈◊〉 124. Thy Phylax once esteem'd thy trustiest Friend Well understands the depth of thy Disease Yet finding all his skill too weak to lend Thee any real Aid himselfe he frees From fruitlesse Trouble and is fled away Ashamed now his weaknesse to betray 125. I know not how but alwaies at a Pinch When great Extremities crave equal Aid Your common Comforters use still to flinch And crie Heav'ns Will be done But I afraid Of nothing am no not Heav'ns Destination 〈◊〉 along can feel no Desperation 126. I I the onely able Doctresse who In desperate Cases certain Physick give In pitty of thy unregarded Woe Am hither come prepared to relceve Thy helplesse Heart Nor doe I ask a Fee My 〈◊〉 Guerdon shall thy
thonghts took up When to the Fountain of her Drink the sweet 〈◊〉 of Heav'n her Course and Thirst did stop When to her sleep she was disturbed by The 〈◊〉 Rest of Fternity 190. The dear Remembrance of her Soverdign Lord Boild in her Soule and would not slaked be So that while tortured she could not afford Unto her Body what Necessitie Crav dat her Hands she faint and feeble grew And by Degrees her Mortal self she slew 191. She slew her Flesh which pin'd and sunk away She slew the Vigor of her Senses which Like unbent Bows all damp'd and uselesse lay But by these Slaughters she did but inrich The Life of her afflicted Heart which still With stouter and more active Fire did swell 192. So high it swell'd that what soe'r came neer The mighty Torrent strait became its Prey Yea ev n the Bridles too subdned were Which still she hop'd and strove on it to lay Her Meditations all to Passion turned And whatso'er she Did or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 193. In 〈◊〉 unto such a 〈◊〉 The Sceptie of his 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 194. 〈◊〉 be it of a Thing But weak and mortal and Dust's wretched Heir Doth with immortal Pains and Wishes sting And spur the Soule unto unwearied Care Discouragement in vain doth muster up All Troops of Obstacles 〈◊〉 way to stop 195. No no the generous Lovers Heart disdains Not to approve his Passion infinite With gallant Obstinacie he maintains Against the Will of Heav'n and Earth the fight 〈◊〉 win his Idol for whose sake had he Ten thousand 〈◊〉 they all should ventur'd be 196. For in her Image which He hath enshrin'd High in the 〈◊〉 of his loyal Breast Such Charms and strong Attractions He doth finde As rob Him of all Power to resist He runs and in such strange and furious wise That Love is slandered with want of Eys 197. The whole World knows how Hamors royal Son Scorn'd his Religion and his foreskin too When Dinah's Love had full possession Of his subdued Soule How David who Was Heav'ns choise Darling durst Heav'ns Law despise For what he read in Bathsheba's fair Eys 198. Who hath not heard what Power one Heart 〈◊〉 Upon two mighty Nations both content For love or her to run so strangely mad Upon a mortal War whose furie rent Up Ilium by the roots which to the 〈◊〉 Of Lust a wofull Holocaust became 199. No 〈◊〉 then 〈…〉 With such mtolerable 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Whose 〈…〉 〈◊〉 Charms whose royall 〈◊〉 Draw with 〈…〉 Outvi'd by 〈…〉 〈◊〉 201. For all those Wounds bleed nothing else but Fire Fire which remembring its original Flame With never-wearied struggling doth aspire Back to the radiant place from whence it came It s proper Element are Jesu's eyes And thither in heroick Zeal it flies 202. And what can tortured Psyche doe who by This most unruly Heat to Heav'n is haled And yet by Mortal Lifes repugnancy Fast to her Body and dull Earth is sealed What can she doe in this Extremity Of raging Life and Death at once but Crie 203. Hardy and bold she grows in her Complaint For lifting upward her enamored Eyes Although her sickly Voice were low and faint Yet full of sinews were her serious Cries Which thus she suiting them unto her Passion Tun'd by the stout Key of Expostulation 204. O Lord of Gentlenesse ô why dost Thou Make Love so cruel to tormented Me Why would thy bounteous Justice not allow Me any other Rack but Suavitie Why must my Gall be onely Honey why Of nothing else but Life must Psyche die 205. Why didst Thou not permit Me to decease When thou hadst left Me to my Selfe alone So had thine Handmaid been repriev'd from these Extremities of Pangs so had I gone Whole to my Grave who now must Melted be By thine unsufferable Sweets and Thee 206. And am I not a Worm or worse than so Why dost Thou build such Triumph then on Me Why dost thou not pick out some Seraph who With this sublime and blessed Misery Might bravely grapple or why might'st Thou not At Phylax's nobler Breast my Dart have shot 207. O be not angry 't is not I that speak But tortured Necessity my Heart A thousand times desir'd but cannot break Else had my Lips not dared thus to part And ope themselves into Complaints but now Excuse together with my Fault doth flow 208. Not for innumerable Worlds would I Have been without that Apparition but Should full as many Worlds their Tyranny Combine against my Soul they could not put Me unto any Torture so extream As the Remembrance of my blessed Dream 209. In Sweetnesse why art thou so Infinite Or why must that Infinitude appear Unto a Soule to fire it with Delight If to the Fountain it must not draw neer To quench its burning Thirst O Jesu be Still what thou art but then be so to Me. 210. Be so to Me and ô be so with Speed Death is not Death compared with Delay Alas one Moment now doth far exceed All those long years which I till this sad Day Have tediously measured and now I older by an Age each Minute grow 211. Fain fain would I Let thee alone and be Content to wait thy longest Leisure still But ô all-lovely Thou still urgest Me And violently dragg'st my Conquer'd Will Thou dragg'st me yet wilt not permit that I Should follow home to my Felicity 212. If thou wilt Kill Me loe I am Content But ô vouchsafe to let my Slaughter be By Death not by this breathing Banishment From my best Life most ameable Thee O pitty pitty thy poor Handmaids Crie Whose Tongue cleaves to her Mouth whose Throat is drie 213. Fain would she here have fainted but her Pain Whose load so heavy on her Shoulders lay With courteous Cruelty help'd to sustein Her parched Vigour that it still might prey Upon her Patience and consume her still O strange Disease which doth by Curing Kill 214. Phylax mean while unseen perceiv'd that she Unto Heav'ns Suburbs was arrived now And that the Springs of her Mortality By this high Stretch began to crack for though Her Selfe her Change's Dawn could not descry He saw her final Houre was drawing nigh 215. This rous'd his Love in due time to prepare For his dear Pupills neverending End About her funeral he took decent Care Because himselfe could not stay to attend Those Rites when she had once Expir'd for he Her noble Paranymphus was to be 216. He was to be her Convoy when she flew Unto her royal Spouses marriage Bed This made him dresse his Count nance with a new Festivity his Wings this made him spread With fresh and snowie Down that his Lords Bride In that soft Coach of triumph home might ride 217. And in this joyous Hue to her he came Yet his sweet Presence She regarded not For Burning in her more delicious flame She of all other Things the Sense forgot The Phaenix thus amidst her funeral fires See's nothing else and nothing else