As Waging War against thine own Mistake What pitty 't is to see thou art so fair And well-appointed when no Fear is near 177. And You my Fellow-subjects all whom I Have often heard our gratious Soveraign praise For humble Duty and Fidelity O why must groundless Rashness now erase Your noble Character and print upon Your Heads the foule Blot of Rebellion 178. By your Allegiance and ingenerate Worth By your own dearest Lives and Safety By Psyche's royall head by Heav'n and Earth By every thing I you conjure to be True to your Selves The Queen desires but this Who by your peace wealth counts her own Bliss 179. She is as ready to forget as you Can be your hasty Error to lay down She on your Necks by Me her arms doth throw And by my Tongue she calls you still her own Behold the Seal of her Embraces here A Generall Pardon all your Doubts to clear 180. As when upon a raging Fire you throw Soft oile the fretfull Flames incensed by Its gentlenesse more fierce and rampant grow So here the unrelenting Mutinous Frie Storm'd at persuasive Logos and to new Impatience at his sweet Oration grew 181. He 's an Enchanter Anger cri'd and by These Blandishments hath oft bewitched Us But now our just and ripe Conspiracy Scorns to be Fooled and confuted thus 'T is time to act our Resolutions now That Reasons may no longer Us undoe 182. Then clapping her right Paw upon his Throat And stopping with her left his Mouth she drew Him to Agenor And now we have got Our subtlest Foe Sir let him have his due Cri'd she We never shall our businesse doe If to the Tyrant back in peace He goe 183. The other Passions all rebounded that Rebellious Word whose Generall glad to see Their Madness compass what his Pride could not Gave Order Logos should close Pris'ner be They hallow'd first then in tumultuous haste Two Chains upon his Mouth and Neck they cast 184. And here I challenge any Heart to read This woe full Story and forbear to sigh Seeing the Feet thus trample on the Head And common Slaves with insolent licence Flie Upon their Lord O who secure can be When Reason must be bound and Passion free 185. Psyche whom all this while Suspition had Held at the window of her lofty Tower When she descri'd from thence how fiercely mad And confident of their outrageous power The Rebells were and that in foule disdain Her Messenger they did in Bonds detain 186. She fetch'd a mighty sigh and though with Him Her selfe and all her honour Pris'ners were Between Dispairs and Hopes she long did swim Waiting if any Harbour would appear But her own Fancies to such tumults rose As almost copied out her mutinous Foes 187. Thus by that Noise without and this within She summon'd was unto the Top of feares Charis was stepp'd aside and lay unseen And now her trusty Phylax disappears No Friend was left but Thelema and she Was thought but wavering in fidelity 188. But as the shipwrack'd Man toss'd up and down Between high and low Deaths amongst the Waves Clapps fast on any glimpse of help and grown Bold by Dispaire nor hold nor comfort leaves As long 's his plank doth float So Psyche now On Thelema her sinking Arms doth throw 189. And O cri'd she my onely Refuge I Conjure thee well to mark thy Hap and mine The Tempest of my Woes is swoll'n so high That now all Bridles it doth scorn but thine And 't is thy Priviledge that I to thee Must owe my Life for thy sake dear to Me. 190. At what a price would'st thou this Day have bought Which can so deep engage thy Queen to thee Yet it had been thy sin if thou had'st sought This sad unnaturall opportunitie But now their Disobedience opes the way For thy Desert if thou wilt Me obey 191. Logos had prov'd himselfe both wise and strong Had obstinate Madnesse not damm'd up their Ears But all his Powers fighting from his Tongue Their deaf Rebellion his strength out-dares His Arguments confuted are with Chains And I in Fear in Prison he remains 192. But thy brave Valour in thine Hand doth dwell And reign incomparable Amazon Thine Acts are Conquests all which who would tell Must call the World to count Thy Nodd alone Points out thy Victories Fresh groves of Bays And Palms thy Footsteps every where doe raise 193. By softnesse fain I would have conquered them No Blast of whose Rebellion could blow out My royall Loue which toward them did flame But now Necessity calls for a stout And corsive Cure thy Hand must doe the deed And in their Wounds teach this my heart to bleed 194. Goe then my faithfull Champion and may Blessed Successe goe in thy company I from this Window will waite on thy way By my observing and well-wishing Eye Which shall the Witnesse of thy Valour be And what reward it shall deserve from Me. 195. But fail not to revenge the proud intrusion Of yon' ignoble stranger who may be Perhaps the Firebrand of all this Confusion Which threatens to burn up both thee and mee If his blood will suffice to quench his Fire Spare all the rest they will no more conspire 196. Stout Thelema with this Commission goes And with imperious Looks builds up her brow At her commanding Presence all her Foes Their Eyes and Arms and Courage down did throw Onely Agenor's stomack rose to see Himselfe out-look'd in high-swoll'n Majesty 197. But knowing his own Weaknesse and her Might And seeing all the Passions turn'd to Fear He thought it safest now to change the Fight Of Arms to that of Wit For in Love's eare He whisper'd his device and straight-way she At Thelema let flie this Fallacy 198. Illustrious Lady you to day might spare Those irefull lookes with which Mistake hath plowd Your awfull face How can you thinke We dare So farre forget what Might is as with proud Madnesse to whet our Sword and bend our Bow To make War with Omnipotence and You 199. But as your strength is great so is your love Whom we have always found our noble Friend But though with loyall Service we have strove To win our Soveraigns favour she will lend No pitty to our fainting Soules but still With lingering Death delighteth us to kill 200. Arms are our onely forced Refuge now For though your brawnie Might knows how to beat The Injuries she poureth upon You Our Shoulders of a weaker Temper are Nor can you judge it guilt in Us if We Shrink more than you under her Tyrannie 201. You know what constant Slavery she heap'd On our poor backs who yet were all free-born This noble Stranger when He saw Us wep'd And thought it Honours duty not to scorn Our sad condition How then can You Except a Friend should more than stranger grow 202. If We must perish Let our Miseries Beg but this wofull courtesie of You Return Us not to Psyche who denies Us brevity
shew you such a List Of Psyche's Powers as soon would coole our Haste 32. Alas how can wee force the Queen if she Deny to yeild when wee our battery make Is not the Palace and those Gates wee see All of immortall Metall We may break Our Engins and our Plots and Furie too And sooner than those Walls our selves undoe 33. A lingring Leaguer what can that effect Unlesse we hope at length to starve her out But she long since all Dainties did neglect With which the whole World had her Table fraught Her Prayers and her Heav'n her diet were And now she 's all alone she best doth fare 34. But as for Us who at the Siege must lie We fed with Hope of Victory must starve Before we get it For what will supply Us daily with Provision to serve So many Mouths which Psyche fill'd till now And if she be shut up so must they too 35. Besides who knows but some of her Allies Phylax or Charis or some such strong Friend May rush upon our backs and by surprise Both our Design and Us in pieces rend New is the Lesson in the Grove you read Can you forget how Aphrodisius sped 36. Nay you have heard of Heav'ns immortall Son In whose vast hand Omnipotence doth reign That Hand which when great Lucifer begun To let his Eyes but glimmer with disdain Tumbled him headlong into Death and Hell I tell you Friends this Christ loves Psyche well 37. We cannot be too carefull and for my Own part I judge the safest Way the best And this is by a present Embassie With humble Lies and Oaths and Glozings drest To cheat her from her strength So we may gain Our Ends and seem to scape Rebellions stain 38. But let a Vow of Perseverance first Seal Us all sure to our Conspiracy That by her selfe that Passion may be curst Afore-hand who shall false or fearfull be If one should chance to fail why may not two If two why may the Summe not higher goe 39. This said An eye of Doubt and Fear she cast Upon Agenor to observe how He Rellish'd her Words But soon she saw their Taste 〈◊〉 welcome in his palate Instantly I like her Counsell best He cries and You Shall strengthen your Adventure by this Vow 40. Thus shall my Might escape what I did Fear The vile Encounter with a Woman and My Pittie unto You no lesse declare Whil'st in your Front my Majesty doth stand And strike such Terror without any Blow Into your Queen that she shall yeild to you 41. Then calling for a Baçin and a Pin He prick'd his annular Finger and let fall Three Drops of Blood And what He did begin As solemnly reacted was by All The Company Which done again He takes The Baçin and three Elevations makes 42. And may that Blood which still remains behinde Be forc'd to follow these Three Drops He cri'd If ever I unbend my resolute Minde Or from this Wars stout Prosecution slide May this my present Poyson be and here He dipped his Tongue if now I falsely swear 43. Then sprinkling on the back of his Right Hand Another Drop This Martiall Mark said He Shall for a Badge and Memorandum stand Of our now sure and sacred Unity You see our Covenants Rites Now every One Doe what your willing Generall has done 44. Never did Health more cheerly walk its Round When lusty Wine and Mirth the Boule had fill'd Than did this bloody barbarous Baçin crown'd With Rage and Madness Their Rebellion seal'd Thus by this desperate Ceremony They To Psyche speed their Messenger away 45. And this was Love upon whose Tongue although Perpetuall Sleights and Fallacies did dwell Yet with industrious Deceptions now And studied Flatteries she her Mouth did sill She knew the Queen was wise and strong and would With common known Delusions not be fool'd 46. Thus to the Gate demurely come She tri'd It with a modest Knock and paus'd a while Then strok again a timorous Stroke to hide In this soft Preface her meek-insolent Guile The gentle Knock bad Psyche courage take To come and see what it would further speak 47. No sooner had she op'd a Casement and Reach'd out her doubtfull Head the News to know But she beheld where Love did trembling stand With weeping Eyes and with dejected Brow She lik'd the Posture yet demanded why She thither came a false and fawning Spie 48. Love by that Word warn'd to skrew up her Art Fell on her knees and three times smote her breast And Woe is Me she cri'd whose loyall Heart Can finde no milder Language from my best And dearest Prince What strange Mischance doth throw This Wrong on Me and that Mistake on You 49. If to repair to You in humblest Guise Who here immured d'well in Desolation If to discover where the Error lies Whose secret Venome breeds this Perturbation Of your whole Realm deserve the Name of Spie I well can bear this glorious Infamy 50. But if Misprision so doth cheat your Eyes That looking with a jealous Glance on Me They in my Count'nance read an Enemies I must beg leave to tell your Majesty For it concerns my Essence you forget Your Creature and take Love it selfe for Hate 51. Yet your Mistake shall make no change in Me Use your vast Power in any thing but this I still am Love and so resolve to be Nor fear that false and envious Witnesses Can swear Me from my selfe Heav'n cannot frame What I had rather be than what I am 52. Sure I with that right genuine Love which You Hugg next your Soule have some Affinity Can that brave Passion adulterate grow And stain its spotlesse selfe with Treacherie Can Odours stinking Honey bitter bee Silke harsh Down hard that thus you think of Me 53. O no dear Soveraign I am hither sent The soft Ambassadour of Peace to you Nor of my Office does it me repent What wrath so e're stands bent in your stern brow And though I know not what will hence ensue I to my native sweetness must be true 54. I see you thought you ' Company had bent Some treacherous Plot against your royall Head And is 't nor likely they would all consent Their own Life and Heart blood in yours to shed Madame beleeve 't Selfe 's not a dearer Name To noble You than to the worst of them 55. 'T is true a peice of Discontent has put Them in that posture of Defence But by Your Majestie I swear they brew no Plot But what becomes a Subjects Modesty If Mischeife their intention were what Charms Could dead their hands damp their glitt'ring Arms 56. If strong-embattel'd injur'd Patience be A Signe of Treason they are Traytors all But sure this loyall kinde of Treacherie Doth more for Thanks and Praise than Anger call O never be it said that you alone Could in Arm'd Mecknesse read Rebellion 57. By me their homage they present to you Beseeching that with it you would embrace Their humble
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
streams let flow Which his tempestuous grief did thither blow 108. And now his Lips no more had power to speak In Zealous Kisses He does them imploy He kiss'd the Soile where once that Blood did reek Which all the Earths Redemption did pay And every Kisse did new Desire beget Of more affectionate Imbracing it 109. Psyche observing his sweet Passion swell With such Devotion soon forgot her own And with the Stranger in such love she fell That at his feet her self she bowed down She bowed down and little thought that then She stoop'd to enter the forbidden Gin. 110. But as the wary Seaman when He spies The amiable Mermaid floating nie Turns from the dangerous Bait his jealous Eyes Hoiseth his sail up and his Oars doth plie So this Devoto seeing Psyche there Confess'd and fortifi'd his holy fear 111. For starting at the unexpected sight Shield me my blessed Guardian said He Satan who doth with everlasting spight Disturb the Course of Zealous Piety Hath to facilitate my molestation In this fair Damosell sent me my Temptation 112. But whosoe'r thou art goe seek thy Prey Where rampant Lust in furious Bonfires reigns Thy Beauties Lustre must not thaw its way Thorow my tame and now long-cooled veins How know I but thou art some fair dress'd Feind To make Me foule and here Himself He sign'd 113. Ravish'd with this Religious Jealousie Sweet Sir said Psyche I was hither come Upon that errand which your Piety Hath here dispatched in that very room I purpos'd my devoted sighs to blow And make mine Eyes their liquid Dutie know 114. My bounteous Lord took my Intent I see For actual Deed and hath rewarded it He knew no blessing would more welcome be Unto my Heart then this which here I met And this art Thou in whom I plainly read The love of Him of whom my soul is Head 115. I heard thy holy Sighs and hearty Grones As towards Heav'n from thy Sweet Breast they flew I heard thy generous Lamentations And by those zealous Characters I knew That Jesus had by his Soule-conquering Dart Engrav'd Heav'ns best impression on thy Heart 116. I thank Thee that thou wert of Me afrayd For much I reverence that pious fear Yet be assured thou hast met a Maid In whom no Embers of black fervor are No no my Heart will no such Guests allow For it too well doth Aphrodisim know 117. Indeed I might have been what you suspected Foule Satans Agent and a feind of Hell Had our deer Lord the care of Me neglected And not seal'd sure on mine his blessed Will And so might'st Thou had He not spread above Thy helplesse head the Banner of his Love 118. That Love which wheresoe'r I finde it shine Doth humble Reverence from my heart command Wonder not at my Case but make it thine And think how thou could'st shun or how withstand Thy Charming Self If I immodest be Like Love will pardon Loves Immodestie 119. Yet 't is no Boldnes to admire the Sunn To love the starrs and what more lovely is Their Sovercign and ours what I have done To Thee great Jesus gave me leave to his Own Self to doe Wherefore no more admire That I grow warm now I come neer thy fire 120. My Warmth is pure as is its spring in thee I mix'd it not at all with other fires And onely on thy Zealous Pietie I feast the Hunger of my chaste Desires I am a stranger here and hither come On Loves deer businesse from my British Home 121. But in this Land of Holinesse I meet Such deer Remembrances of Heav'n that I Desire my native Albion to forget And where my Saviour did both live and die Me thinks I heer am neerest Him who is Whither I live or die mine onely Blisse 122. Yet some Acquaintance and Companion I Would gladly gain with whom my foul might live In holy freindships sweet society And mutual Heats of Zeal from Him receive Heav'n puts you in my way and if you be What you appear you will be kinde to Me. 123. This said sometimes to Him her pleading Eye Sometimes to Heav'n She turn'd and by that mute But most mysterious Importunity Sollicited her earnest bashfull suit Urging by this her yeelding silence more Strong Arguments than she had spoke before 124. Mov'd with her soft Expressions and her Tears For these flow'd out as thick and sweet as they The Man gives credit unto both and cheers His clowded Looks and cries O happy Day Which hast discover'd unto Me a Breast Of Heav'ns pure dove the chaste unspotted Nest. 125. Pardon dear Stranger pardon my Mistake And be no longer in that Name to me What recompence I can I vow to make To thy misprised slandered Pietie I at thy bounteous Offer catch and will Both thy Desire and mine own Joyes fulfill 126. Rare are those friends as Birds of Paradise In this unworthy world but seldome seen Whose Harts in one no other Cement ties But heav'nly Zeal and Love and had I been As good as I am vile thy Offer were Worthy to be unto my Soule most deer 127. If by the royall Law of our great Lord Pretious in our esteem our Foes must be O what Embraces must We then afford To them who Us out vie in Charitie Come gentle Soule and this chaste Token take That to thy Wish my heart I pliant make 128. Here by an Holy Kisse for that of old The Symbole was of Christian Consent He seal d his Words then reverently took hold Of her right Hand and down the Mountain went Leading Her to his Dwelling whither she Went cheerly on fearing no Treacherie 129. Into the Vulturs Nest thus slies the Dove Thus to the smiling Shelfs the Ship doth run The stranger thus to the enchanted Grove Goes for delight Thus to the fatal Den Of the fair tongu'd Hyoena skips the Lamb The Childe thus leaps into the playing flame 130. Come to his House Authades for his Name Was so pray's Psyche not to take it ill That since she in a busy season came His sacred Office He did first fulfill Before on her He waited But said He The work though great will soon dispatched be 131. In his eighth journey Phoebus now did run Since his first-born Authades did enjoy Who by the rule of his Religion Was bound to circumcise the Childe that Day Which with a consecrated knife of stone He did and gave his own name to his Son 132. The Infants Wound the softer heart did slay Of Psyche who strait wrep'd and knock'd her breast And then with indignation turn'd away But cunning He perceiving how his Guest Dis-rellished her welcome to her stepp'd And 〈◊〉 first demanded why shee weep'd 133. In sullen silence she made her Replie Compos'd of Frowns and of compleat disdain Till forc'd by his milde Importunitie She gave her angry Tongue a liberal Rein Shame on my credulous Love which thus said she Bewithc'd me to the Den of Heresie 134. Are you
I such holy Sweets to sipp Hadst Thou vouchsaf'd Me but thy Feet to Kiss That favour I had hugged as my Bliss 188. Thus cheated She did her Mishap admire As doth the silly flie the beauteous Flame Little surmising what outragious Fire Reign'd in that Bait which look'd so mild and tame Ne'r did she stand on such a Brink as this And never feared less a Precipice 189. Pseudagius whose faire-faced Piety Compleat possession of her Heart had wonn Now exercised his full Tyranny Upon his tender yeilding Prey and soon Infus'd his Poisons with such holy Art That their Contagion rul'd in every Part. 190. Satan who lurk'd in Ambush to espie How his Designe would take rejoyc'd to see That Psyche by this moderate Heresie So easily charmed was for crafty He When but a little Leaven was cast in Had oft the tainting of the whole Lump seen 191. He knew a little Gap might quickly turn A mighty Chasm He knew one Spark might thrive Into a full-grown Flame and serve to burn The strongest Fort He knew one Wheel might drive A thousand more He knew a carelesse Slip Might cause a Fall as well's a desperate Skip 192. He knew that they who once a foot had set In Errors Labrynth would easily be Allured further to proceed in it By their own tickling 〈◊〉 He knew they soon might fall in love with Night Whose Eys once turn'd from Truths meridian Light 193. But yet to make all sure he Logos fill'd With foolish Pride and Confidence since He Saw Thelema and Psyche forc'd to yeild At last to what He did at first agree And They abashed with unhappy shame His domineering Carriage durst not blame 194. By this unbrideled Insolence he grew So vain and carelesse in his Work that he Presum'd far more than all the World be knew In Truths judicious Discovery Thus foolish Dreamers think they view the skies When duskie Sleep hath sealed up their Eyes 195. For as one Morning Psyche walked out Intending for her Saviours Sepulchre Full in her way the watchfull Tempter brought One who no common Mortal did appear Grave was his Garb but graver far his Look And him for some deep-learned Man she took 196. Capricious Logos could not rest content Till he had sounded what the Man could say Big with a spruce and eloquent Complement He brings it forth and layes it in his way Bo wing down to the ground with it which done Agyrtes stayd and Logos thus went on 197. Sir if your Head unto your Looks be true It is of Knowledge a vast Treasury And those Spiritual Riches never knew What Losse or Diminution meant when by A liberal Impartment they were thrown To others Breasts yet not pluck'd from their 〈◊〉 198. For though his radiant Largise on the Moon And every Star and all the World beside He poureth out yet still the copious Sun Doth in his undiminish'd Glory ride Although a thousand Chanels it doth fill The teeming Fountain lives in Fulnesse still 199. A portion of your Streams and of your Light Is that We beg not to impoverish you But to enrich our Selves Our ignorant Night To knowing Day may by your Influence grow Our arid barren Intellect may be By your Effusions taught Fertility 200. That natural Desire which did enflame Your Industry to reach at Knowledge is Common to Us nor will your Wisdome blame Our free and bold Obedience unto this Potent Instinct by following which you have Attain'd that Blessing which of you We crave 201. When by a grave and gracefull Pawse the Man More reverence had won with friendly Eye He first their Welcome look'd then thus began To speak it out Though Silence suits with my Devout Profession more than Words yet now To Courtesies strong Law my Tongue must bow 202. If I to strangers should not Kindnes show I should affront that Lord who owned Me A stranger unto Him Yet please to know That I professe not by my Industrie To have arived unto any pitch In that wherein you take Me to be rich 203. Alas Agyrtes had as sottish been As is the vilest he that sees the light Had Heav'ns sweet Rays not deignd to interveen Between my Heart and Ignorances Night But Jesus who is King of Love as well As Wisdome pleas'd with both my Breast to fill 204. Yet this no other Wisdome is then what Concerns Him and his Heav'n wherfore if you For any other look from me but that You must goe seek where Vanitie doth grow That that or none sweet Sir said Psyche We Would onely in Heav'ns Wisdome learned be 205. This yeilding Answer made Him smile within And promise to his proud Heart Victory Yet to make sure and grace his holy Sin To Heav'n he turn'd his hell-directed Eye And lifting up his Hands seem'd thence to take The Copie of what now he ment to speak 206. With that upon the ready Grasse which there Offer'd its gentle service they sate down Then thus Agyrtes Though you Strangers are Your holy Wish thus far has made you known That I perceive you are not yet to be Inform'd there is a Christ and Pietie 207. But as the noblest Things beseiged are With greatest Difficulties so is this Religion and Truth yet never were Enthron'd so high but saucie Wickednes Would muster Errors round about them and Before their face in flat Defiance stand 208. Yet if in great Cerinthu's Schole you were Ever a Candidate I need not strive To ope my Bottles to your Thirst who there All Fulnes from the Fountain did receive My Schole cri'd Psyche gentle Sir alas Onely in blinde and barbarous Albion was 209. Know then said He that when Heav'n planted had Its blessed Gospell in our World below Ten thousand Weeds a conjuration made To choke it when it first began to grow The Blade no sooner peeped forth but there These pois'nous Tyrants strait did domineer 210. And surely all the Harvest Hopes had been Slain in their Birth had Jesus tender Care Into his Feild not sent Cerinthus Sin The Crop ev'n in the Spring began to shear And Truth her infant Head sought where to hide So rampant Error was and spread so wide 211. But this brave Gardner with his prudent Hook Cut those Intruders down and cleerd the ground The Churches Soile strait like it selfe did look And reskew'd Truth full room to flourish found The mystick 〈◊〉 began to be From the insidious Serpents Dangers free 212. The reverend Law whose flaming Majesty Flashed from Sina now brake out again And chasing all licentious Mists which by Heretik Sloth had gain'd Religions Rein Mingled its Lustre with the Gospels Ray And doubled fair Truthes most unspotted Day 213. Blind Ignorance was grown so bold that she Sought to perswade the World it had no Eyes Making the Lazie Name of Mystery In stead of Demonstration suffice From this black Pit those monstrous Prodigies Of hood-wink'd and abused Faith did rise 214. Who can imagin Heav'n would e'r obtrude Upon
this sayes she so fair so bright He smiling cries My Dear for Chastity It was erected Look and thou shalt see What kinde of Princes here the Dwellers be 154. Loe there comes One Observe his royall Gate Majestick yet not proud about his brows A glittering Coronet wreaths his princely state As in his Hand a Palm his triumph shows Large is his Roabe and after him below A Train imperiall on the ground doth flow 155. This Pavement is lesse white lesse sweet are those Perfumed Lillies than that roab of His Th' Eternall Lamb from his owne fleece did choose The richest Wooll where with to cloath and dresse His spotlesse friends and fellow-lambs for the Goe all invested with this bright Array 156. Those gracefull Eyes in which Love's throne is set Are they which did Potiphera defie Thou know'st the story since I told thee it This is that Joseph though advanced high In Pharaohs Realm yet now more glorious grown And can a fairer Kingdome call his owne 157. The next's a Female in the same Array For Sexes here no outward difference show But all like Angells live since noble they Strove to forget their He and She below And though then earthly Pilgrims overtake That Purity which Us doth equall make 158. Susanna is her Name That radiant Face Which none but chaste and holy beams did shed Two lustfull Elders made their daily Glasse And with the Antidote invenomed Their shamelesse Hearts So bold is Lust that she Dares hope to finde a Blot in Purity 159. Cancer then scorch'd the World when tender she Into her Garden went there in a spring Almost as clear as her own Chastity To coole her selfe But they straight issuing Out of their ambush in their Clothes expresse More shame than did Susanna's Nakednesse 160. We too are hot cry they but none but thou Can quench the furie of our mighty Flames Thou art the Fountain where all Sweets do flow And We must bathe and coole Us in thy streams Yeild as thou lov'st thy Life else We will swear That in Adulterie We caught thee heer 161. Then welcome Death said she thy face will be Fairer than is the Count'nance of this sin Here she cri'd out aloud and instantly Her startled Hand-mayds all rush'd shreeking in Whom both the full-mouth'd Elders hastened To catch th' Adulterer who said they was sted 162. Then haling her unto the Barre their own Guilt upon her they throw and she must die But straight a Miracle crowds in to crown The truth of her unconquer'd Chastity And turn the Sentence on the Elders who Whil'st she to Triumph must to Stoning go 163. There comes the second Joseph but as farre Before in honour as in time behind Little thought Men what kinde of Carpenter Was this whose noble Art a way could finde To frame a life and raise the building high Both of Heroik Worth and Poverty 164. Mine and my Brethrens Office though it be Both sweet and glorious yet must stoope to His Who was the Guardian of Divinity And of the Mother of all sweetnesses And yet no Angell envy'd him his place Who ever look'd upon his wonderous face 165. What Gravity sits there and what Delight What Tendernesse and what Austerity How high and humble are his looks how bright And modest are his eyes how sweetly He Ev'n in this Glory seems not to forget That Cloud which upon Him in earth did sit 166. But look and see thou start not at the sight Those Rays though more than Sun-like lovely be Here comes of Heav'n and Earth the choise Delight The Queen of Softnesse and of Purity Millions of Loves come tripping in Her way Flown from her Eye in a fore-running Ray. 167. Behold Her face and read all Paradise And more in Flesh and Blood In vain we seek For flow'rs for Gemms for Starrs to equalize The gallantry of Her illustrious Cheek At whose sweet Composition every Grace Came running in for fear to loose its place 168. All Cherubs and all Seraphs have I seen In their high beauties on Heav'ns Holy-dayes But yet the gratious Glories of this Queen Sweetly out-glitters their best tire of Rayes What studied scorn would Pagan wits have thrown Upon their Venus if they this had known 169. This Mother of Divinest Love as pure As is that other putid Noblest Tongues When they triumphant are and would be sure With life and blisse and joy to grace their Songs First chant the Son and then the Mother He Begins and she makes up the Harmony 170. Her Crown is full Imperiall yet not deckt With orientall Diamonds but thick set With purer Jewells for the most select Virtues because her own doe garnish it And yet all those but the faint Copies be Of her rich Hearts Originall Treasurie 171. I need not tell thee Mary is her Name Who teacheth Majesty to be so milde This cold dead Pavement lively doth proclaim Whose feet with new-born Lillies it have fill'd Whose but the Virgin-Mothers steps could blesse A Soil so barren with such Fertilnesse 172. Turn Psyche and behold Here comes the King The King himselfe of Royall Chastitie She turn'd But as He forth was issuing Intolerable Beams from His did fly Upon her face she started at the stroke And rubb'd her dazeled eyes and so awoke PSYCHE OR LOVES MYSTERIE CANTO III. The Girdle or Love-Token ARGUMENT HEr Spouse in Token of His royall Love A Girdle unto Psyche sends wherein The accurate works Historik Beauty strove The radiant Materialls to out-shine The Rich Embroiderie Phylax doth expound And with the Token then the Mayd surround 1. SHort Taste of Pleasures how dost thou torment A liquorish Soul when once inflam'd by Thee The edge of all Desire would soon be spent Did'st Thou not whett it to that keen degree That nothing but compleat Fruition will The longing of its wakened stomack fill 2. The pined Man on whom a thinner She Insatiable Famine long hath fed Desires no Heav'n or Paradise to see But onely what lies moulded up in Bread One glimpse of this bids Hope return and light Life in those Eyes which were bequeath'd to Night 3. But if that Morn of Comfort damped be And his young Joys snatch'd from his Eyes again The fugitive Blessing mocks his Miserie And by rebound exalts it to a strain Of higher Punishment his Fancie more Does gnaw him now than Hunger did before 4. So Psyche famished with strong Desire Of her dear Spouse no sooner fed her eyes On his first Lustre but that mystick Fire Turn'd all her Heart into Joyes Sacrifice She 'gan to scorn all other Dayes but this Whose Dawn had broach'd such golden Floods of Blisse 5. But when immensitie of Beams had cast That cloud of Weaknesse on her Mortall Eye And she the long'd-for light it selfe had lost In too much light her Longing swell'd so high That did not sighs unload her Heart and it Th' impatient Tumor would her bosome split 6. She sighs and thinks and then she sighs again For
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
uterine Brother The Modell of all Blots and Spots together 2. Should so inamour Heav'n as to obtain The Dignity of highest Favorite And in his Makers grace so freely raign That They should service doe to Him whose bright Extraction no acquaintance knows with Earth Nor did Pollution e'r defloure their Birth 3. Had not Almighty Love vouchsaf'd to take This lump of Clay and mould Himselfe in it By which intire Conjunction He did make The totall Masse of worthlesse Vilenesse fit To sit on Honors Throne and there receive The Service Angells blush not now to give 4. For now the Heav'ns are well content to spare Part of their Quire to wait on Us below Knowing their Masters Brethren sojourne here Who by their very Dust that Kindred show Thus is our Badge of shame advanc'd to be The stamp of our sublime Nobility 5. In love and reverence to Jesus who Upon the loftiest Crest of all Creation Has fix'd for ever our poor Nature so That under her high feet full Adoration Has room to kneel their ready Service they Ev'n to the meanest of his Kins-folks pay 6. How little think vain Kings who build their Pride On th' arm'd Protection of their numerous Guard The simplest of their Slaves are dignifi'd With Heav'ns illustrious Hoste who watch and ward Their severall Charges which though scorned things Below are yet above design'd for Kings 7. With Arms displayed and with open Breast They stand to catch Us when we falling are Into this hard and dangerous Life and least The Fall should hurt Us with their softest Care They stir their Fethers up that in that Bed Of Sweetnesse we may rest our infant Head 8. Alas our other Nurses help were vain So were our Mothers tenderest Care did These Dear Fosterers not help them to maintain Their proper Parts And though those chance to cease These still persue Loves Task Hard Mothers may Forget their Sons but that will never they 9. O no These blessed Guardians are Things Of tri'd and never-failing Tendernesse Such as their everlasting Snowie Wings Such as the living Smiles and Joyes which dresse The Court of Heav'n Such as the dainty Aire Which makes deer Paradise both soft and fair 10. Yet when just Cause awakes their noble Might No Scythian Rock stands halfe so stiffe as they No Libian Lyon marcheth to the fight With higher Courage nor afflicts his Prey With deeper Terror then these Champions who Into the Lists in certain Triumph goe 11. Nor needlesse is this potent Aid since We Are by spirituall Foes impugned and The Powers of Darknesse and Artillery Of Hell against Us in pitch'd Battell stand Whom Belzebub their Generall with Spight And ever slaming Rage fires to the Fight 12. What can poor Lambs against the Tygre doe How shall the Partridge with the Griffen fight How shall a Cockboat to the Indies goe When Tempests Rise and make Seas stand upright By Dust how shall the Serpent be withstood When he gapes to devour his usuall Food 13. Alas the feeble Dust is helplesse but These Friends long since have with the Dragon fought And at the first so clear a Conquest got That ever since that heav'n-renowned Rout Wilde Lucifer is in their presence tame And trembles like the burnt Childe at the flame 14. He trembles if the Boldnesse of our Sin Adds not fresh courage to his failing heart For then on Us He by our selves doth win Nor can our Guardians perform their part With due Successe when by self-treason we Our forces joyn with Hells conspiracy 15. When to mad Fancy Sleep doth give the rein Unto polluted Dreams these stop the way That no high-fed and tickling Thoughts may stain The clouded Soule For who alas can say I always am my Self and though asleep The constant Watch of Chastity can keep 16. These lend Us Aid when any Danger neer Our strait-beseiged Soule or Body draws These intercept all Hell These by that cleer Lustre which flows from their own blessed Brows Shew us the Way to Peace and lend Us too Their Wings when we are faint and cannot goe 17. These fire a Soule and make her towre above These grosse yet empty things which flag below These steer Us through the Miracles of Love And teach Us in Heav'ns Ocean how to row These all are Brethren unto Phylax who What he for Psyche did for Us will doe 18. Their way his Steeds had now recovered And Palestine regain'd When he aside Sloped his Bridle and his Journey sped Into another Desert wilde and wide By whose intemperate Drought old Jordan was Affrighted so that he far off did passe 19. As Psyche wonder'd at the ruefull Place Amongst whose desolate Nothings strait she lost Her questioning Eye with a divine Imbrace Phylax encourag'd Her and though thou dost Not yet behold said He the Price of thy Long voyage thou shalt finde it by and by 20. With that He stai'd his Coach and thus went on With his Discourse O my thrice dearest Dear Because most pretious to my Makers Son Who is my Maker too this Desert here Is but another Sceen where thy sweet Lord More fuell for thy wonder did afford 21. It was repriev'd from bearing other fruit That it in Miracles might fertile be In Miracles whose high and glorious bruit Shall fill the ears of Time as long as He Hath leggs to run and when He dropps into His grave in triumph o'r his Tombe shall goe 22. When thirty times thy Spouse had seen the Sun Change all his Inns whose golden Signs are hung Upon the Zodiaks Girdle reverend John Unto the World unlock'd his holy Tongue And drew by heav'nly Summons mighty Store Of wondering People unto Jordans shore 23. Thy Spouse hid in his own Humility Mix'd with the Crow'd and to the Baptisme came Thus in the Margin of the swelling Sea Oft times there roules in a tumultuous stream Of Sand and Gravell some rich Gem or other Which in that presse doth its own luster smother 24. How there He was Baptized how a Crown Of Heav'ns best beams perch'd on his fairer head How his coaequall Spirit hovered down And what Applause his Father thundered I would relate but that it hugs thy heart For with this Story now thou Girded art 25. But by that nimble Doves eternall Wings He 's hither hastned from that Rivers shore And purity unto the Drie Land brings As to the Water He had done before Yet nothing else hee brought nor Drink nor Meat He hither came to Fight and not to Eate 26. He came to Fight and bravely to revenge The whole Worlds Quarrell which subdued lay E'r since through Mans unwary Heart the strange Bullet burst ope its death-deriving way Which as it smiling hung upon the Tree Fond hee an harmlesse Apple took to be 27. He came to Fight and soon his Foes He met All-arm'd with Power but much more with Rage Had hee been lesse than what he was those great Antagonists had made this Place the Stage Of his
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
but stricken there With awfull reverence onely sent his Eye Into the bottome of the Cavern where The Resurrections Relicts He did spie The linen Clothes which had the grace to kisse The sacred Body of all Sweetnesses 132. But panting Peter there arrived ' in The wonted boldnesse of his fervid Zeal Entred the Cave Which pattern straight did win So much on John that to the Spectacle He follow'd Him and with joint Wonder there Gaz'd and examined the Sepulchre 133. He gaz'd and cleerly found his Eye told true This rous'd his Faith and made Her likewise ope Her Eyes the blessed Mystery to view She look'd and plainly saw Her Lord was up And needed now no Angels Tongue to seal To Her the Truth of that grand Miracle 134. These two Disciples having seen their fill To feed upon the Wonder home return'd But Magdalene who had thither follow'd still Stay'd by the Tomb to quench her Heart which burn'd With Griefs impatient Love The Springs which kept In both her Eys she Bravely broach'd wept 135. She weep'd and pitted her prevented Spice Which now breath'd short and panting lay to see It came too late to be a Sacrifice Unto the Lord of Sweets She weep'd that she Her Tears Drink-offring could present no more On his Feets blessed Altar as before 136. Had she the plenitude of whatsoe'r Th' idolatrous World ' adores she still would be Poorer than Poverty it selfe whilst here She nothing findeth but Vacuity The empty Tombe with open Mouth alas Tells her her onely Gem removed was 137. Removed and quite lost for ought she knew And how can Mary live without her Life Such lamentable Mourning never slew The Turtles Joies in her disconsolate strife Of Love and Grief when her dear Mate is lost As this sad Storme of Weeping Mary tost 138. Thus having Weep'd for what she saw again She look'd to read fresh cause of further Tears But in the Tombe she spi'd new Splendor reign Two Angells ready to out-shine her Fears And drie her Cheeks with Comfort there did sit One at the Monuments Head one at the Feet 139. In festival Array they gorgeous were Being clothed in Joies Colour milkie White Woman said They what reason finde you here To cloud your brows in this fair Sceen of Light Alas cri'd she what Light mine Eyes can cheer Seeing my Lord is laid I know not where 140. Her Eyes here gush'd a fresh and back she turn'd To give their crowding Streams full Liberty But Jesus Heart which melted as she mourn'd And answered ever Tear by Sympathy Could not endure her gentle Soule to see Suspended longer in this Agonie 141. For back unto his Sepulchre he stepp'd That his dear Weepens loyal Eyes might see Their earned Spectacle And Why she wept Was his soft Question but blubber'd she Blinded with Grief could not discover Who It was examin'd her about her Woe 142. She took Him for the Gardner of the place And meekly pray'd him if he had Removed The Body thence to tell her where it was That she might goe and wait on her Beloved And 't was the Gardner who did plant and dresse The World in goodly Braveries excesse 143. The Gardner who betimes a Weeding fell Ev'n in the virgin Spring of his Creation Those rank encroaching Weeds which on Heav'ns 〈◊〉 Aspir'd to over-grow the new Plantation Up by the roots he pluck'd in righteous ite And threw them thence into eternal Fire 144. The Gardner who at length deign'd to come down Unto his Nurserie in Earths Valley where All Tares and Poisnous 〈◊〉 that 〈◊〉 had sown He rooted up and out of matchlesse care To make the Soil be fertile every Bed With his own pretious Blood he watered 145. The Gardner who contented was to let The Thorns upon his Temples rather stand Than they should vex the Grafts which he had set In his own Body by his tender hand The Gardner who indeed had born away What in the Tombe untill this morning lay 146. But pittying Magdalens gloomy sorrow He Whose single potent Word all Clouds can clear In Loves milde tone the onely musick she Could be delighted with saluted her Yet his salute was neere as short as sweet For onely by her name He Her did greet 147. Mary in Maries ear no sooner sounded From Jesu's lips but to her breast it flew And with incomparable joy rebounded Upon her wakened heart She straitway knew The blessed voice in her own Name for this With sweet significance did echo his 148. She knew 't was Jesus and her heart must now Have split with swelling triumph had not she Unlock'd it strait and let it freely flow In a full torrent of high Pietie Her Life her Love her Heav'n when least shee thought Were all at once to her fruition brought 149. Surely a Breast so soft as hers had by This sudden onset of all joyes been broke Had not her Lord with his own Potency Assisted Her to beare the mighty stroak Master she cry'd but then could not go on Her ecstafie her other words out-ran 150. Down flat she fell and aimed at those feet Which pious she before did oint and kiss No Haste dear Mary Jesus cry'd for yet At ample distance my Ascention is But go and tell my Brethren I intend Unto our common Father to ascend 151. At this injunction Marie needs must goe Who on the Angels errand went before And yet her loyall Heart could not doe so But still behinde did linger to adore Her lost-found Lord whom that she ne're again Might loose Her Soule she to his feet did chain 152. This Message startled the Disciples but The hubbub of the City mov'd them more For by the Watch-men now the news had got Into the Town and knock'd at every door The High-priests wakened at the summons call A Common Council and to Plotting fall 153. Their Heads they beat and boulted every way How they their now endanger'd fame might save How they might damp the Resurrections day And stop the open mouth of Jesu's Grave Long did they think but could no trick contrive How he who lived might not seem to live 154. For Belzebub who us'd to have his Place In all their Councils tardy came that day His new-received wound and deep disgrace Upon his vanquish'd heart with terror lay Yet seeing them so forwards lothe he was The Priests in his own trade should him surpass 155. He rais'd his head and wiped off the gore Three times he sighed and three times he shook His broken horns and at the last he swore By his own might and realus that though the stroak Took him at unawars yet Jesus had How e'r he brav'd it out no Conquest made 156. And had he been said he a generous foe He would have pitch'd the day and pitch'd the field With trumpets sound he would have march'd unto The fight and not his slie designe conceal'd He would have called Heav'n and Earth to be Spectators of his noble Chevalrie 157. But
Frand uncase 241. But as away he sneaked Psyches ' Friend More swift than flies the Eagle to her Prey The whining Aire with sprightfull Wings did rend And shot himselfe through the directest way To his dear Charge for whom his Heart did quake As knowing well what Tempests hers did shake 242. For by Loves faithfull Sympathie though he About his other work far distant were He still preserv'd a soft Vicinitie With Psyche's Soule and felt each wound which there Sophistick Darts had made though foolish she Perceived not her sugered Miserie 243. At his approach for joy the Virgin wept Not thinking that those tears to shame were due Syneidesis still in her bosome slept And her unto her self forbore to shew She to her own Breast was more stranger than The Tartar to the AEthiopian 244. But Phylax almost out of breath for hast Suck'd in fresh spirits and then demanded who It was that gather'd up his heels so fast And fled from his approach If he had no Cause of his flight but me 't is meet that I Said he suspect him for you Enemy 245. No sure replyed Psyche for nor I Nor Logos could discover ought but love He freely taught Us many a veritie And what he undertook did cleerly prove Some sudden busines snatch'd him hence not fear Of you whom doubtles He doth hold most dear 246. Phylax who knew Him and Authades too The total matter gently sifted out And wrought upon his Pupils softnes so That his design He subtly brought about For full confession from her charmed tongue Of both her Doctors Principles he wrung 247. But then He groand and smote his pittying Breast And fixed upon Hers his speaking eye By which the mixed language He exprest Of Love and Wrath of Hope and Jealousy And by this Prologue setting ope the door He from his Lips his troubled Minde did poure 248. Left I my charge ô Psyche to the Winde When hence I took my journey or to thee If in my dearest Cabinet thy Minde I my advice depos'd why must it be That the weak breath of any Charmer Thou Dost meet that holy Pawn away may blow 249. My heart mis-gave me when away I went Or rather when with thine I left it here Full well thou knowst what earnest pains I spent To arm thy tender Soule with sacred fear O why with foolish confidence would'st thou Disarm thy self and make room for the blow 250. That blow which struck so deep into thy breast That if some soveraign Balsame makes not speed If strait thy wounded Bosome be not drest If Heav'n be not as quick new life to shed Into thy Soule as Hell was to betray It unto Death this is thy fatal Day 251. Alas those Doctrines onely Poisons were Squeez'd from the dregs of the infernal Pit Less Pestilential those Venoms are Which desperate Basilisks and Vipers spit Nor Aphrodisiu's nor Agenor's tongue With such sure bane thy careless Bosome stung 252. Canst thou ô Psyche thus thy Lord repay For all the Treasures of his Love which He Into thy poor heart poured day by day Canst thou rob Jesus of his Deitie And tear Him from his Throne whil'st royall He His heav'nly Kingdome doth prepare for thee 253. Pert Logos here no longer Patience had But setting up his insolent crest he cri'd Good sir and take you me for one so mad That in my proper road I cannot ride But both my Self and Way I needs must loose And willingly deep Precipies choose 254. If Eyes of Colours sober Judges be If Tongues can censure what is soure and sweet If Ears can Discords know from Harmonie If Touching may decide in Cold and Heat Why may not I presume that I am set In Reasons Chair and know the Powers of it 255. Unless I to my Essence give the Lie These Doctrines sure are built on Demonstration But if you onely must be Psyche's eye Ev'n pull me out that I no perturbation Thus in the way of your designes may throw So in your Conquest you compleat shall grow 256. Psyche was glad to heare this Challenge beat So high and hop'd that Phylax would relent And were Angelick Loves Heroick Heat Less resolute than it is just discontent Had quenched Phyla'x flames which now by this Bold opposition did more stoutly rise 257. With secret instance he did Charis draw Down from her Heav'n to joyn her Powers with his She when the Virgins wounded Heart she saw Melted with Pitty at her deep Distresse And by victorious Sweetnesse op'd a way Into her Breast and Thelema made her Prey 258. Which Phylax seeing Logos strives in vain Said He to countermine my care of Thee Greater Affronts than these I can sustain Rather than Psyche should destroyed be All this and more I will forget so Thou Wilt goe and see a Sight I have to show 259. Logos look'd bigg and struggled might and main But Thelema was tractable and tame And the bold Rebell quickly did constrain Unto her pliant Minde his own to frame Poor Psyche sigh'd and wept and halfe afraid Phylax with her to doe his pleasure pray'd 260. He well considering her Disease had need Of nothing more than Haste in her Physition Staid not to parle but made all loving speed To snatch her from these Jaws of deep Perdition Whilst yet with Chari's soule-subduing Heat Her melted and convicted Heart did beat 261. Ready at hand his well-known Chariot was In which he takes her up and guides the Rein Forth with the sprightfull Steeds flung on apace Through the fair Road of the aereal Plain Till they to Gitton in Samaria came Their journeyes Butt where Phylax checked Them 262. Then lighting down Come Psyche come said he This is thy newfound Doctors native Town Here thou their true Original shalt see And from what kinde of Nest they all are flown This House their Fathers was Come we will in And view the Birth-place of Heretick Sin 263. Thus entred They When loe the House they finde So full of Doors and Rooms and Galleries Which by quaint Turnings to and fro did winde That Psyche quickly lost her rouling Eyes As she had done her Se fe had Phylax not Of all the Labyrinth full knowledge got 264. Thorough a thousand strange Meanders He Into a private Room conducted her Where she a far more private Door did see But little thought what kinde of Den was there Lurking behinde it so alluring was The holy Beauty of its cheating Face 265. A goodly Crucifix was there displayd Altars were rear'd and many Bibles ope By which majestick Liturgies were laid With lofty-tuned Anthems on the Top Art plac'd a Quire of Angels hovering And made the gorgeous Roof all seem to sing 266. There might you see Faith with her Eagles Eye Hope with both Hands her Anchor holding fast And with her open Bosome Charity Whose Looks such seeming current Beams did cast That those who were not well aware might deem She at Heav'ns genuine Fires had kindled
with fullen froward Spight All other Twigs will freely bend but Thou Alone though young hadst rather Break than Bow 7. The Rod drives Thee to Schole and keeps thee there Where thou good Institution dost Imbrace Not out of Love but most ignoble Fear So the wilde stubborn Coit is taught to pace When dreadfull A we does force Him to submit Not to the Rider but his Whip and Bit. 8. But as the Tinder never fails to catch The smallest Spark although it certain be To burn with it So doth thy Madnes snatch At every glistering Sin and Vanitie And hug it close although the treacherous Guest Be sure to kindle Hell-fire in thy Breast 9. When riper years to manly Acts invite Thy well-grown Soule I hou dost its Strength imploy In the soft trade of amorous Delight Of bitter Sweets of delicate Annoy Of fawning Rhymes of witty Fooleries Of dainty Perjuries of smiling Lies 10. To Sheers and Needle Thou thy Selfe enslavest And at the mercy art of each new Cut And upstart Garb Yet when thou in thy bravest Some most belaced Servitude dost strut Some newer Fashion doth usurp and thou Unto its antick Yoke durst not but bow 11. Thus through a thousand Shapes thou art content To crowd thy Selfe Her favour to obtain Who is as Various as the Complement Of thine uncertain Fashions every plain And right-down 〈◊〉 thou shunst and so doth she Thy Body and Her Mind still changing be 12. Yet thou inshrin'st in thy devoted Breast Her idoliz'd Idea Night and Day Thou mak'st thy thoughtfull Self her Zealous Preist And dost thy foolish Sacrifices pay For every Lineament and every Part Of her thou mak'st divine in thy fond Heart 13. A Curle of silly feeble Hair which is The Sport and Scorn of every idle Winde Like to some adamantine Chain can seize And captivate thy most unmanly Minde Which vain Captivity of thine alone Makes Hair wear Locks denomination 14. Her Motions and her Gestures travers'd are By thy admiring Thoughts and Thou dar'st vow That silver Venus through hir limpid Sphear Swimms with lesse gagliardise and knows not how So well to justifie her Stile and prove Her Self the Queen of soft leggiadrous Love 15. Thy Soule Thou pour'st out as a free Oblation On her smooth lip thy Altar of delight Whence thou receiv'st with joyous adoration The Blessings ef her Kisse Her calmy Sight Thou think'st thy Heav'n and in her smiling Eye Readst all the Sweets of thy Fools Paradise 16. But if a coy Frown or denying Glance Becloud that Hemisphear of thy fond Blisse How are thy Comforts cast into a Trance Of knawing Dread and anxious Distresse Happy in earnest happy Thou mightst prove Couldst thou so much thy God or Fear or Love 17. When thou in Matrimonial Bands art ti'd Bands which will onely by Deaths Sythe be cut Although they seem as soft as did thy Bride From thine own Freedome thou dost freely shut Thy self not knowing but that yoke to thee May prove more heavy than Virginitie 18. Thou saw'st but half thy Mistresse all those years Thou drov'st so hot the Wooers blinded trade And hadst full power to Take or Leave but Fears And Doubts are now too late since Thou hast made The bargain up not all the World can ease thee Content thou must be though she doth not please thee 19. If she proves Barren who is thus thy Spouse Alas Such are thy Hopes and Joyes If she With numerous issue fill thine eyes and house What warrant halt that these will Blessings be They 〈◊〉 may be Bad nor canst thou tell But thou hast helped to impeople Hell 20. No Bed so thick with Thorns did ever grow As does the Nuptial what large Crops of Cares In every time and season doth it show How fertile is it in perpetuall Fears In Winter and in Summer it doth bear And spreads it Harvest over all the year 21. But if Thou art content to be a drie And Fruitlesse Tree and dost thy self contain In the severe Bounds of Virginitie Intestine War will in thy bosome reigh And Legions of Temptations alwaies be In Arms against thy single Chastitie 22. Thy faire Estate will call loud for an Heire So will thy Name and natural Philauty So will the thought of crazie Age and Fear Of wanting an unfeigned Friends supply When years shall downward bow thee to thy grave And Cormorants gape for that which thou shalt leave 23. The World will heap on thy Severitie Bold Imputations and judge that thou Deal st underhand for what should purchas'd be In open legal manner Or will grow Into 〈◊〉 Pertinacitie Doth scorn all Females or all Females thee 24. Wouldst thou be Rich through the tempestuous Seas Within three Inches of thy Death must thou Saile from thy quiet Home and ever be At the disposal of all Windes that blow Then must thou delue and unto Hell draw neer Before to thee thy Pluins will appear 25. Where though thou dost thy largest Coffers fill Thy Heart 's as poor and empty as before The cursed thirst of Gold grows hotter still Although all Indus thou on it dost poure The peevish Itch thus proves more fruitfull when Thou rubb'st and strivest with the tainted skin 26. And now thou who before couldst safely sleep For fear of Robbers break'st thy nightly rest About thy Bags thy thoughtfull heart doth keep Perpetuall watch Unhappy fool at least Consider though thy Gold thou holdst so fast Thy self thou canst not who must die at last 27. Die die thou must and an account give up Of all the store which thou hast hoarded here Those Bags on which thy heart did build its Hope But rich and heavy Torments will appear And thou shalt blesse their Poverty who had No Reckonings to make up when they were Dead 28. Is Poverty thy Lot Then look to be The helplesse Butt of Wrong and of Disgrace Thy joints must buckle to hard Industrie Continuall Sweat must reak upon thy face Yet wanting what should fill and hide thy skin Thou shalt without be naked and within 29. If thou to thy assistance Vice dost call And by thy sins thy Fortunes hop'st to mend Thou digg st a Pit wherein thy Selfe must fall And to thy hellish Foes dost Succour lend Thou spendst thine onely stock and hast'st to be A wofull Bankrupt to Eternitie 30. If thou a rich-descended Heir art born 'T is ods but that thy Birth doth thee 〈◊〉 Such wealth its dutie thinketh it to scorn In Industries laborious Paths to goe 'T is Worth enough if a young Gallant can Look big Luxuriate and write Gentleman 31. In Learnings Lists dost thou Desire to trie Thy Strength this makes all Ignorants thy Foes And they well-neer are All. yet couldst Thou flie Their reach and Envy still intestine Woes Will drown thy learned Joyes which needs must be Witnesse great Solomon stinging Vanity 32. Dar'st Thou Scorn Arts then dar'st Thou be a Beast Or rather more than so Beasts Scorn them not Thy Scorn's Prides
sit In Reuben's senioritie and grow Like an Imperiall Branch whose teeming Root Set's in a living Fount it s blessed Foot 65. Yet in the sweetnesse of Simplicity Ingenuous hee relates to them his Dream From of my bed light Fancy carried mee Into the field where I with you did seem To fall a reaping and our sheaves binde up When loe says he to mine all yours did stoop 66. Proud Brat cry they know'st thou what stooping is How dares thy upstart Insolence but dream That wee thy Elders must bow down and kisse Thy boyish foot and tremble at thy Name Beleeve it Childe t is not thy gewgaw Coat Though too too princely for thy back can doe 't 67. But hee not knowing what their Anger ment Whose Breast was calme as is the upper Air His second Vision thus doth represent Last night when all the face of heav'n was fair And trimm'd with every Star on his soft wings A softer Dream mee thither gently brings 68. Quite through the storehouse of the Air I past Where choise of every kinde of Weather lies Here Rains are bottled up there Hail is cast In mighty Heaps here Banks of Snow do rise There furnaces of Lightning burn and those Long-bearded Stars which light Us to our Woes 69. Hence came I to a dainty World the Air Was sweet and calme much like my Mothers Ey Whom if I might I would have sought for there No more of Chanaan now could I descry The Earth was shrunk so small me thought I read By that due prospect what it was indeed 70. But then approaching to an Orb whose flames Like to a boundlesse Ocean flow'd about Foole as I was I quak'd untill its beams Gave me an harmlesse kisse I little thought Fire could have been so milde but surely heer It rageth cause wee keep it from its sphear 71. It flamed reverend Sire but with as sweet An ardency as in your noble Heart That heav'nly Zeale doth burn whose sacred heat Make 's you Heav'ns living Holocaust no part Of my Dream's tender Wing felt any harme Our journey not the fire did keep Us warm 72. But here my Guide before I was aware On the Moon 's lower Horne clapp'd her right hand And pull'd me up into a place as fair Above this World in Worth as it doth stand In situation liquid Christall here Is the tralucid matter of of each spheare 73. The Moon was kinde and as wee passed by Shew'd Us the Deed whereby the great Creator Instated her in that large Monarchie Shee holdeth over all the Ocean's Water To which a schedule was annex'd which all Moist Bodies too under her power doth call 74. Now complementall Mercurie was come As far as to the margin of his spheare And bid Us eloquent welcome to his Home Scarce could We passe so great a crowd was there Of Points and Lines and nimble Wit beside Upon the backs of thousand shapes did ride 75. Next matchlesse Venus her sweet face did shew Bringing again my Mother to my minde Which Us into her Region quickly drew This strew'd with youth and smiles and love we find And those all chast 't is this foule world below Adulterates what from thence doth spotlesse flow 76. Then into Phebu's Orb all pav'd with gold The rich reflection of his own fair Eye I was advanc'd and faine I would have told How many Crowns and scepters there did lie What Life what Verdure what Heroik Might What perly Spirits what sonnes of active Light 77. But I was hurried into Mars his spheare Where Envy ô how cursed was its face And Jealousie and Feare and Wrath and War Could scarcely well agree about their place Yea Engins there to vomit Fire I saw Whose flame thunder Earth at length must know 78. Welcome was Jupiter's Dominion where Illustrious Mildnesse round about did flow Religion had built her Temple there And Sacred Honours on its Walks did grow No Dignity Priests Heads shall ever crown Which in those mysuck Gardens was not sown 79. At length wee found old Saturn in his Bed 〈◊〉 much I wonder'd how an He so dull Could 〈◊〉 thus high His house was built of Lead Of dark and solitarie corners full Where Discontent and Sicknesse dwellers be Grim Melancholie and dead Lethargie 80. Passing from hence into a boundlesse field Innumerable starrs wee Marshall'd found In faire at ray This earth did never yeild Such choice of flowrie Pride when she had crown'd The Plains of Shechem though the gaudy Spring Did all its smiling Beauties thither bring 81. A knot of Lights constellated into A radiant Throne on which my selfe was set When loe the Sun and Moon themselves did throw Into submiss obeisance at my feet And then eleven great Starrs thought it no shame To come before me and to do like them 82. But sure I thought it shame for mee to take Homage of them who was but Dust and Clay Big with excuse I grew and 'gan to speak But then my Dream took wing and fled away And fly thou after it bold Dreamer cri'd His Brethren who in Dreams do'st mask thy Pride 83. Old Jacob though he ponder'd every word In 's own prophetick Heart and judg'd the Dream Was not by Joseph fram'd but by his Lord Thought it expedient something wroth to seem Having no other way that Rage to smother He saw smoke from his Sons against their Brother 84. But Childe said hee where is that Blush of thine Which us'd to paint meek Virtue on thy face How dar'st thou tell a Dream which doth designe Unto thy punie selfe such Soveraign place Think'st thou thy Brethren and thy Parents too Unto the younger son must homage do 85. Or dream no more or else thy dream conceale If any fancy rise which may offend On this condition I thy pardon seal And these thy Brethren shall their quarrell end Goe you my sons be carefull of my sheep This Boy at home as meek as them I 'le keep 86. And so hee did though with as bad successe As his intention was sincere and good Take heed how thou thy Brethrens wrath do'st presse Said he least it do squeaze out thine own blood I know their furies and from whence they move O that their ground of Hate should be my Love 87. Hast thou not mark'd how if a Flint we lay Soft on a downie Bed and gently smite Forth with its conquer'd stubbornesse gives away But if wee use it harshly it will fight Again and spit its rage in fire nor shall The stoutest Hammer cool its Wrath at all 88. Surely thy Brethrens bosoms cannot be More hard then Hardnesse and the Flints stiff heart Or if my Charity deceiveth mee Thy Mildnesse must be temper'd with such art As may the softnesse of that Down exceed Which on the Cygnet's daintie neck doth breed 89. When they begin to bluster give them way 'T has often cost the boldest Cedar dear To grapple with a storm whilst Flowrs which lay Themselves full low in trembling and
Lady in whose Worth I read Such sweet Attraction that were I to choose My Heav'n for Thee I would all other loose 52. But now my choise is made and long agoe Unto another I affianc'd was But who 's that Lady is a secret so Divine that from these Lipps it ne'r did passe My reverend Mother oft with tears hath sought But never could prevail to wring it out 53. Yet I thy noble Bosome honour so That I dare trust it there onely be sure To keep this Jewell close as thou would'st doe My Heart a thing lesse pretious and lesse pure Yet give me leave to cast this Charm about For fear thou lett'st it and my Life slip out 54. So may thy Heart-strings hold thy Heart as Thou This Mysterie of mine so may thy Love Be true to Thee and to thy Wishes bow As to my secret Thou shalt trusty prove So may thine Angell hugg thy soul and keep It close as in thy Breast this Thing shall sleep 55. A Thing which mine own Guardian Angell did Acquaint and blesse Me with When through mine Eys Love first began his amorous beams to shed And with his soft Desires my Heart surprise This winged Friend of mine look'd through a frown And told me that my Heart was not mine own 56. It is said he thy priviledge and see Thou thank Heav'n for it not to run and spend Thy Youth upon this wanton Mysterie Let Others study how to Walk to Bend To Vault to Dance to Kisse to Wooe For thee More sweet and generous Arts reserved be 57. Goe court thy Books and gaine such Treasure there As may inhance thy worth and make thee be A fitting Match for Her whom Heav'ns prepare To be thy Spouse whose face when thou shalt see The reading on that fair-writ Book of Love For all thy studies ample Pay will prove 58. Yet to yon' southern Grove thou every Day Must Pilgrim goe where thou thy Saint shalt meet And of a Monsters make her thine own Prey That with no other Word she thee may greet But plain Confession that thine is her Life Thus Heav'n contriv's that thou shalt win thy Wife 59. These are my Fortunes Madam yet unknown Ev'n by the sweeter Half unto my Self And sure your hand would help to thrust me down Into the bottom of all torments gulph Should Wantonnesse invite Me to despise A Blessing higher than my Pride could rise 60. Then happy She the Lady crie's who e'r She be that must hugg Happines in you And yet permit mine Eye one other Teare 'T is not of Envy No Deare Sir Adieu It pittied me to see this gentle fashion Of her sincere but unsuccesfull Passion 61. We parting thus I hasted to this Grove Amongst whose spicy trees I knew would grow My sweeter Hopes But Heav'n it seems would prove The valour of my Patience and throw Procrastinations in my way that I Might earne its favour by my Constancy 62. How often came I and with bended knee On every flowrie Cushion of the Grove Implor'd the speed of my Felicity How oft in this sweet Temple has great Love Receiv'd mine Heart an Off'ring all on Fire With flames of soft but vehement desire 63. At length my Prayers were heard and this deare day Did in that blessed Moment send mee hither Which shew'd mee that my long expected Joy Was now full grown and ripe enough to gather Had I not pluck'd it streight the Monster had Of all its Sweetnes his foule Booty made 64. First then to Heav'n my full-tide thanks I pay And next to Thee my noble Guardian who Before my hopes no forged Bait did'st lay Each smallest Circumstance agreeth so That this the Lady is and none but She Design'd by Heav'n to crown my joys and Me. 65. All Blessings on thy head my Psyche that I know for certain needs must be thy Name That Angell told me it whose counsell put Me on this bless'd adventure when I came To save thy life both for thy self and mee And make of thine my joynt Felicity 66. Heer then my Heart I give thee and I seal The Deed with this true Kisse May Curses rain Thick on my head if ever I repeal What I have done or challenge back again This gift of mine whose fault is onely this Of thy Desert it to unworthy is 67. The Seaman by some furious Tempest thrown Into the seeming Depth of roaring Death If he by suddaine Fortune back be blowne Into the gentle Harbour wondereth At his strange safety and scarce trusts his eys But doubts a long time whither he live's or die's 68. So Psyche snatch'd from Dangers desperate jaws Into the Arms of this illustrious Lover The truth of her condition hardly knows But in suspensive thoughts a while doth hover Deceive me not saith she a frighted Mayd To poore great Sir by you to be betray'd 69. If still I live and all this be no Dream For sure your story 's such an heavn'ly thing That simple I alas unworthy seeme To be concern'd in it Be pleas'd to bring Some further proof Where Miracles are done Faith must have open Helps to bring her on 70. Then be the first proof Aphrodisius cries This Diamond Ring in which thy self mayst see The radiant Copy of thine owne fair eys The next this Jewell what thou art to Me Let that attest yet pardon me that I Gave it that pretious Name now thou art by 71. The third that delicate Imbrace shall be For which all Loves are kindled that which will The sweetest of Assurance give to thee And my great Guardians Prophesie fulfill Come I can give thee leave to blush a Maid Of what she loves most must be most afraid 72. Were not our Case Divine awhile I 'd stay And by our Humane Ceremonies marry But we did Wed above and what can they Add to Heavn's Rites O no 't is sinne to tarrie My Angell would have told me never feare Had it been otherwise Come then my Deare 73. Forgetfull Psyche now enchanted quite By these his glorious Wiles set ope her Breast Unto the Fancies of unclean Delight Forthwith a Knot of unseen Serpents prest Into her heart and set it so on fire That straight it flamed out with foul Desire 74. But Phylax instantly descry'd the flame And wakeing up Syneidesis He cries Run run and help to save your dying Dame Look how her funerall flames already rise Up gets the Mayd and instantly thrusts in Between the Lovers and their ready sin 75. Psyche starts back whil st shame so heavy sate Upon her Eyes that down it pressed them 〈◊〉 Wretch cries Aphrodifius what Has made thy Life so vile that thou dost come To forfeit it to me I prithee goe Die somewhere else I 'd be no Womans Foe 76. O then says she Forbear to stain my pure And spotlesse Mistris Fie cries Psyche fie I know her not My Lord will you indure I should such saucie Servants own as she Be it another proof of your strong Love
by thee This Body had not seem'd my Dungeon now But why 's this taste of Heav'n unto me deign'd If still to this dull Earth I must be chain'd 187. O that some courteous Dove to me would lend Its fethered oars that I my soul might row Unto the Port of my Desires and blend It with the Tide of Blisse which there doth flow I never thought that Earth so low did lie Or that the Heav'ns till now were halfe so high 188. O why art thou so lovely if poore I Must still live Exile from thy dearest sight This Token Jesu makes me lowder crie For thee thy selfe who art more sweet and bright O what will thy Supream Imbraces be If this small Cincture thus has ravish'd me 189. I yeild I yeild great Lord Why must thy Dart Be alwayes killing Me yet never slay My ever-dying still-surviving Heart Why must thy Flames which on my Bosome prey Still burn but not consume O why must I Too be no Mortall here but with them vie 190. O Absence never was there Present Hell So true as thou unto its dismall Name O cruell Hope which onely do'st reveal A tempting glimpse of light but hid'st the Fame That so the sweetly-mocked Eye may be Assur'd by that short sight she does not see 191. Intolerable Joys why smart you so Pricking on my impatient Desires O Sighs what means your Breath my Flames to blow O Tears why must your Waters quench my Fires Dear Girdle help Me If thou should'st be slack Soon would my over-burdned Heart-strings crack PSYCHE OR LOVES MYSTERIE CANTO IV. The Rebellion ARGUMENT GAll'd with severe Devotions constant Yoak The Senses and the Passions rebell Having the Spirit of Pride for Generall took By fair-tongu'd Treason they with Psyche deal Reason's surpris'd and into Prison thrown The Will revolts and Psyche's left alone 1. PRosperity how false art thou unto Thy blessed Name who with a comely Cheat Unwary Hearts so potently do'st wooe That thine all-rotten Bottome they forget And thinke thy Foot sure on a Rock doth stand Whil'st thy Foundation is the fruitlesse sand 2. The Day which smil'd so briskly in the Morn And left no frown in all the face of Heav'n E'r night hath oft been made the Prey and Scorn 〈◊〉 swarthy Clouds so furiously driven That Phebu's stoutest help was all in vain When he the gaudie skie strove to maintain 3. The Sea in looks demure and pleasant dress Hath often bid the Mariner been bold When straight an unsuspected storm doth press Through the lamenting Aire till having roll'd Into a foaming Mount the monstrous Deep In brine it buries the presumptious ship 4. Eternall Change doth wheel all Heav'n about What Patent then can seal Security To things below How doth proud Fortune flout The gayest Confidence which foolish We Are not afraid to build but vainly trust Our Hopes are firm whil'st we our selves are Dust. 5. Weak Dust on which the least Winde domineers Which through this Clime of mortall Life doth blow A life which if not fortifi'd by Fears And wise suspitions to all storms doth bowe A life so treacherous in its friendliest Hue That Saints themselves have found its falsensse true 6. Whil'st Psyche feasteth her luxuriant Heart With amorous Tortures and does day by day Riot and surfet in delicious smart Which rellish sweeter to her soule than they Who both their late and early studies spent To cherrish Her with Naturall Content 7. A knot of Friends with Her together born And under one soft Roof of the same skin Tenderly nourish'd stomack'd much the scorn She heap'd on them who thought their onely sin Was too much love to her a Crime which might More pardon challenge than Revenge invite 8. 'T is true said they that we her servants be And yet as truely are her sisters too Had our originall Seniorite It s native priviledge We all should go Before and she the Youngling come behinde Sure she should not have found Us so unkinde 9. But now sh' has chanc'd to get the upper Hand She makes Us feele it in her Tyrannie So Upstarts use to doe where they command Being to weak to weild their Royaltie Like paltrie Currents which swoll'n high do poure More Rage than sober streams about the shore 10. We must not eat nor drink nor sleep nor play But when she lists and ô how seldom 's that Great bus'nesse she pretends both night and day Imploy'd about nor We nor She knows what It tickles Her but hard on Us doth grate She calls it Love but wee all finde it Hate 11. Yet be it what it will what 's that to Us Who are not bound Her humors to fulfill With our own Ruine Since Her stomack thus Is wild and rampant why should wee sit still With desperate Patience till wee be undone What need wee fear Her We are Five to One. 12. As when th' imprison'd Fire in earth below Vex'd with those straits begins to move and swell Its dungeon first it shakes then forth doth blow Its full-mouth'd indignation and fill The World with Tumult tearing down the Trees Dismounting Mountains plowing up the Seas 13. So did their sullen murmur gather strength Still day by day by mutinous degrees Boyling to such impatience that at length By flat Rebellion they resolve to ease Their over-charged stomacks and one day All met at Councell thus their Griefs display 14. 'T was in an upper Chamber dark and close Arch'd with thin Ivorie For their common seat A white and soft and living Counch they chose And there the Master of the House intreat To hear their publike Case Content said he 'T is just I to my Friends should friendly be 15. The large Supplies of all my store I owe To your unwearied Care and Pains which bring Plenty of all Varieties that grow In Heav'n or Earth or Sea the welthiest King Could not out-vie that furniture which You To crown my Table daily did allow 16. But now alas I see my Tribut's thin Some Lazie sullen melancholick things Doe now and then come hither sneaking in But all your brisk and cheerly Offerings Are intercepted and 't is well that you Begin else I had been the Plantiff now 17. They all were glad to hear their Censor speak In their own discontented Dialect But straight their fond Ambitions did awake A strife who should begin In high neglect Of all her Sisters Opsis knits her brows And darts of indignation on them throws 18. Who is your Queen but I who sit said she Exalted high upon my double Throne Whilst all your Motions regulated be By my Imperiall Direction Blinde Fools what could you do wer 't not for Me In setting on our brave Conspiracie 19. That proud Word from her Mouth no sooner flew But Osphresis in scorn did snuff it up Inraged Geusis bit her lips which grew So big with boiling wrath she scarce could stop Her Tongue from railing Vengance Acoe Prick'd up her ears and look'd as big
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
three all thrice-refin'd and clean 46. That which does outmost smile is Waterie The spotlesse Cover of a purer thing For under it doth liquid Chrystall lie Couch'd on a Bed almost as ravishing As its illustrious Selfe a molten Bed Of gentle Glasse upon the bottome spred 47. And in the Mirrour of this triple Spring All sorts of sprightfull formes delight to play The mystick shapes of every kind of Thing Close moulded in a soft and unseen Ray On Instant's posting wings doe hither flie And dive into these Deeps of Purity 48. Who knows not that great Love tak's from the Eye His Ammunition Qaiver Bow and Darts And winns by that soft-fierce Artillery His mighty Principalitie of Hearts Had He himselfe had Eys what might He not Have done who has such power by others got 49. These my domestike Beauties are But see My outward equal Store With that she bid Her Princely Traine march forth When instantlie A silver Globe roll'd in embellished With gilded starrs which round about did turne And wheel from Ev'n through all the Night to Morn 50. This done a dusky Veil she threw aside And through a roseall East let ope the Day The Sun gat up and as the Globe did glide Speeded into the West his Golden way Where red and hot with his long journey He Entred the coole Bath of th' Atlantick Sea 51. Then came the blustring Winds on their back Brought labouring Clouds some pour'd out Haile and Snow Some spit forth Lightning through a thundering Crack Some with more peacefull showres of Rain did flow Some dropp'd down monstrous Vermin some a stood Of not-desired Corn some squeas'd out blood 52. But then the Spring came blooming in array'd With fragrant Green whose sweet Embroidery Were Budds of Virgin smiles which there display'd A sceen of living Joys all echoed by Ten thousand Birds which perch'd on every Tree Tun'd their soft Pipes to Natures harmonie 53. Yet underneath with higher gallantry The Peacock strutted whose expanded Train Enammelled with gorgeous Majesty Did Heav'ns bright Modell represent again Yet that Bowles wincking Eyes could not express So full a Proof of Heav'n as flam'd in these 54. Summer came next with her own Riches crown'd A wreath of Flowers upon her goodly Head Full sheaves of golden store did her surround And all her way with wholesome Plenty spread Where as she went no Tree but reach'd his At For it was hot to shade her Head from harm 55. Then follow'd Autumn with her Bosome full Of every Fruit which either tempts the Eye Or charms the Taste Here Wantonnesse might cull And weary grow Here wide-mouth'd Luxury Might gormandize her fill and with farre more Ease her own Lust devour than spend this store 56. At last came drooping Winter slowly on For Frost hung heavy on his heels the Year Look'd old and pale in him and almost gone He quak'd and shiver'd through his triple Furr For still what way soever He did creep He 's to the knees in Snow at every step 57. For snow was all things now and in this White The wanton World which all this while made sport In Autumus Summers and in Springs delight Must girded up by Ice doe penance for 't This cold chaste strait-lac'd Garb will best repell The Faults which those hot Seasons taught to swell 58. This Pageant being past up leap'd upon The stage a City whose high-lifted Head Threatned the Clouds with interruption What Art was here to Riches married How thick the Marble Spires and Towers stood Shading the Houses with a stoney Wood 59. But like an awfull Crown to all the rest The Princes Palace mounted fair and high Proclaimed by its double gilded Crest It s own and its great Owners Majestie Yet was this outward Pomp but a course skin To those rare Wonders which did shine within 60. Heere was the Jewell-house where naked lay Such store of Gemms as might enrich the Sea There in the Wardrobe in well-wrought array Their sparkling Bretheren were taught to be The clothing of those Cloths Embroyderers had To pride the backe of scornfull Courtship made 61. Here stood the Chequer that great Temple where The World 's dear Idoll in huge heaps did lie There was a Store-house of the choise and rare Productions found by Opticks Industry The schoole of Admiration and the shop Of Miracles in Glasses treasured up 62. Heer Men and Beasts and Birds were all of kin Being extracted from one common Womb Of the brave Proconnesian Marble Mine And where the Statuary wanted roome The Painters livelier Lies did wooe the Sight To sport in his lesse cumbersome Delight 63. But in the Presence-chambers Ocean mett The Confluence of every royall thing A golden Throne on silver floore was sett Which took new lustre from the gorgeous King Who with his glittering Court surrounded was As Phebus with the rays of his owne face 64. The Queen both of his Kingdome and his Heart Beauties bright Triumph show'd at his right Hand And did her sweet exuberance impart Unto that mayden Circle which did stand To wait and gaze on her whose goodly Face Was Wonders fairer Heav'n and Pleasures Glasse 65. When Opsis by this pompous sight had drawn Admiring smiles from her Spectators I A thousand such said she could soone have shown Had I ripp'd up my totall Treasurie And these those Offrings are my scorned Eyes To Psyche gave who them and me defies 66. Unto some blurred Prayer-book she ties My spotlesse sight with endlesse slavery Or makes me stare so long upon the skies That with dull seeing I forget to see She some pretence or other still doth finde In meere devotion to make me blinde 67. The other Sunn when He has look'd his Day Can goe to bed and rest himself in Night But I forsooth at Ev'n must goe to Pray And watch her Candle till the Morning light Some comfort 't were if I might but obtaine By all those Prayers reliefe for my owne pain 68. But since nor She nor Heav'n will Pitty take What could oppressed dying Opsis doe But force her finall gasping Sighs to break Into these just Complaints great Sir to you To which may you be deaf if I appeare A Rebell still and not Defendant heer 69. She ending thus impatient Acoe Who thought her Sisters speech was much to long Stepp'd back unto their common Treasurie Kep't by Anamnesis where lay the Throng Of all their wealth and bad her ready make Her richest Train whil'st She its Prologe spake 70. Hear Me said She and be this my reward For hearing all things else though many a Sound Upon mine Eares hath most unkindly jarr'd Yet courteous entertainment still it found The like I crave and doe not you repine The first was Opsi's place the next is mine 71. My House is secret cautious winding ways And privy Galleries lead into it By which abstruse state I my fame doe raise Higher than if my palace ope were set Thus Jewells dwell within the Cavitie Of
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
Suit and to their long night show Their onely Day which riseth from your race That you would deign to goe and see how they Their panting Soules before your Feet would lay 58. Here breaking off in a deceitfull Sigh With cunning Tears she all her face bedew'd Toss'd too and fro in ambiguitie Ten thousand severall thoughts poor Psyche chew'd Weeping at length O that those Tears of thine She cri'd were as sinceer and true as mine 59. If those my Subjects now would Suiters be What mean proud Arms and warlike Preparation Petitions should from the bended knee Not from the Bow be shot This sullen fashion Stout Rogues brought up who begging with one Hand A stone bear in the other to command 60. In front why is that burly Stranger set As Generall against your Soveraign One whose heav'n-daring Looks bespeak Him fit Not to Petition but to disdain If I were longer to be trusted why Chose you His Banner for Security 61. Yet that the Progresse of your Treason may Want all Pretence as its Beginning did I 'le condescend to hear what you can say Provided you your selves in quiet spread Before my Window I must parley here You know how you have us'd my Messenger 62. Love stung by that last Word and with fresh tears Dissembling their true cause took humble leave The News to her Confederates she bears Who it with doubtfull Countenance receive And boulting every Circumstance conclude That still the same Device must be persu'd 63. Agenor straight resolv'd himselfe to shew Inall his Pomp and more than was his own 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 might those brave Temptations view Which swell'd so high onely to throw her down But none of all the Passions knew from whence He beckned in his strange Magnificence 64. The pompous Furniture in a full stream Follow'd his Nod with like Facility As in a dreaming Brain light Figures swim Into a sudden Masque of Majesty Which Train He towards Psyche's Castle drew And there prepared for the Interview 65. At length six golden Trumpets did proclaim Their Masters Highnesse was at hand to treat To her balconey startled Psyche came And soon perceiv'd the sound was not so great As the strange sight She never though a Queen Such prodigality of State had seen 66. In open Tent appear'd whose Covering was Sumptuously rugged with Embroydery Of Perls and Jewels in which orient Glasse The Sun who needs would peepe had lost his Eye But yet ten thousand He receiv'd for one For every Perl did beat him back a Sun 67. A fearfull Texture of strange Tapestrie Pav'd the rich Floor with an historick Pride Where slaughter'd Lyons Boars and Bears did lie Confessing by whose 〈◊〉 Hand they di'd For every one had great Agenors dart Deep sticking in his head or in his heart 68. The wall hung thick with War the noblest Stories Whose valiant Actors e're did honour Bays Were glistering there not in unworthy Glories For all that Gold and Gems could do to raise Them to their life again was freely tried And Art as liberally her wealth supplied 69. Th' obedient Sun rein'd in his posting Houres By Heav'ns steep side at Joshua's Command Where to attend and to admire his Powers This glorious Witnesse with fix'd Eye did stand The Moon keep'd in her Horns and dared not Push out the Night till he the Day had got 70. Close by five prostrate Kings the ground did gnaw Feeling upon their Necks his Captains Feet And in a stately-miserable Row Were six and twenty other Princes set Whose Crowns before his Helmet broken lay Whose lopped Scepters to his sword gave way 71. There boistrous Sampson with his Asse's Jaw A wretched Weapon could his sinews not Amend his weak Toole by its potent Blow A thousand Enemies devoureth But With statlier Might his brawnie shoulders here Did Gaza's Gates up Hebron Mountain wear 72. But yet his last Exploit crownd all the rest When to the Princes fatall Sport he shew'd Turning their Banquet to their funerall Feast Where with their Wine all their own Blood he brew'd As at the Pillars He did stand and pull The Hangings were with their own Ruines full 73. Next him a young and ruddy Champion flings Into Goliahs Brow a shamefull Death There Isbibenob dread and terror brings Upon the Sceen shaking with monstrous Wrath His barbarous Spear till Abishai's brave Sword Hew'd down this Mount whose fall made Gath afeard 74. There Sibbechai on Saph's enormous Pride Due vengance takes There mighty Elbanan Drowns stroming Lahmi in his own Bloods 〈◊〉 There the undaunted Blade of Jonathan Prunes the six-finger'd Gyant and requites The bold defiance He on Israel spits 75. An Army to himself Adino there Musters his Powers against eight hundred Foes Glad this brave Harvest He alone may shear About 〈◊〉 daring Work the Champion goes Nor stops his Conquest untill He has mown This totall field of matchless Honor down 76. There Dodo's Son there Shammah keep their ground Nor yeild one inch to all Philistia's Host Shame spurr'd the Armies on but still they found They ventur'd onely to their fatall cost For obstinate Victorie attended heer On Shammah's sword on Eleazr's there 77. Benajab from th' Egyptian Heroe heer Tears both his Speare and Life There He divides Destruction 'twixt a Lyon-faced Pair Of Moabites His Fauchion heer he guides Into a reall Lyons Heart whose Cave In which He found him soone He made his Grave 78. To Bethleem there the danger-scorning Three Through the Philistian Guards slash ope their way Fir'd with a stronger thirst of Victory Than was their Kings of Water And their Prey They fail not to obtaine though through a flood Going and comming they must wade of blood 79. The other Work did onely speak what He Himselfe was pleas'd about himselfe to Lie How many gasping Gyants might you see Yeilding Agenor strange-form'd Victory How many Palms and Bays about Him throw Themselves ambitious of his Hand and Brow 80. Above his Scutcheon hangs In Azure field A Lyon Or with Lightning in his Paw The Crest was Fame with Cheeks 〈◊〉 swel'd And wings display'd His Throne was built below Of Perle whose Lustre yet was conqaered By those six steps which up to it did lead 81. The first was Plutus of substantiall Price The next Eugenia in fancy high Callos the third the ravisher of Eyes The fourth Andria full of Majesty The fift Pedia fairer than the rest Ensebia the sixt of all the best 82. There sate ' the Gallant One whole Diamond made His radiant Helmet and in wanton pride A knot of gorgeous Plumes about it playd Scorning all Winds that kiss'd them Still afide They wav'd their Heads when any Blast came neer And coyly seem'd to aske what make you heer 83. A Mantle of Estate flow'd round about Down from his wide-spred shoulders to his feet And cloth'd Him with all splendors that are brought From Easterne shores the Westerne Perles to meet And by a rich Conspiracy of
Beams Epitomize the Worlds estate of Gems 84. His sword look'd Lightning through its chrystall sheath Whose round Hiltits Victorious blade did crown But yet his Scepter did more terrout breath Such Majestie about it he had thrown The Ball in 's hand was swell'd to that Degree As if it meant indeed the World to be 85. At his right Hand stood Scorn turn'd was her Head Over her shoulder with contemptuous Eye Through a thick frowne her fullen mind she spred And seeing scorn'd to see the Company Nor did she mend or mollifie her Brow But when Agenor's growing rough she saw 86. At his left hand stood gaudie Philautie But dwelt more on a Chrystall Glass she held Eternally neer her admiring Eye In which her foolish self she read and smil'd On her faire lession though the brittle Glass Admonish'd her how vain her Beautie was 87. Before him on a golden Pillar at Whose foot a Laurell and a Palme did grow Upon the back of triumph glory sate Whose dazeling Robes did with more lustre flow Than breaks from Phebu's furniture when He Through Cancer rides in all June's gallantry 88. About Him round his whole Retinue was Dispos'd in royall equipage His owne Attendants had the credite of the place Which glittered neerest his illustrious Throne Then stood the Passions all admiring how This Sceen of Wonders could so quickly grow 89. Crafty Agenor having paus'd a while To give respect to his own State and let Psyche both bite and swallow down the Guile About which He so fair a Bait had put By soft and proud degrees vouchsaf'd to stirre And being risen thus accosted Her 90. Did Pitties generous and Soveraign Law All points of Ceremony not forbid Agenor must not have descended now To stand at Psyche's Gate But I am led Below my selfe by Virtue that my Might May help these wronged Passions to their right 91. 'T is Fortunes pleasure that casts me upon These mercifull Designs and I 'm content The Honor's Gain enough this Pay alone My Pains expect Indeed the common Rent By which my most renowned Self I keepe Are the Revenues I from Glory reap 92. And for these sillie Creatures sake who thought I had been but some single Errant Knight I let this glimpse of what I am break out To teach their Error my authentick Might Needs no supplies from them This Part of my Ne'r-conquer'd Train dares Heav'n and Earth defie 93. I was resolved by this Swords dread Flame To sacrifice you to my Wrath But now You are a Female thing I hold it shame To make my Conquests honor stoop so low I 'm loth the World should say Agenor drew His Sword and like a Man a Woman slew 94. In Womans blood my Weapon never yet Blush'd for its base Exploit nor will it now Begin its shame and a vile Victory get Unlesse enforc'd by Fortune Fate and You. But I forget my selfe through Courtesie Pretious are Princes Words and few should be 95. Love knew her Cue and stepping gently forth Great Queen said she I chosen am to be My suppliant Sisters Mouth And may this Earth Ope hers to close up mine if Falsitie Break from my lipps or any Fraud conceal What They and Truth and Justice bid me tell 96. What Heav'n has made Us 't is our Blisse to be And that 's your Subjects Though cross Error now A confident Blot throws on our Loyalty The lest of treacherous Thoughts We disavow Alas what would the Members gain if they Combine their Wit and Strength their Head to slay 97. Yet your wise Majesty full well doth know That as your Self a Free Prince are so We Are Free-born Subjects Nature does allow In our sweet Common-weal no Tyranny She knew this mutuall Freedome best would bless Both Prince and People with joint Happiness 98. But what broad Innovations rush'd of late Into our State justling out Liberty O that wee could not feel Had it been 〈◊〉 Which thrust on Us this boistrous Misery We had been silent But wee know what Hand Hath stoll n our Freedome and by whose Command 99. Nor I nor any of my Sisters were Suffer'd our Selves in quiet to possesse We could not Love nor Hate nor Hope nor Fear We could not Sorrow know nor Joyfulnesse Nor any thing that pleas'd not Them who had A Prey of all our Priviledges made 100. Surely wee had a legall Title to What ours by reverend Natures bounty was Yet snatch'd from thence wee must be press'd to goe And serve abroad we knew not where alas Nor e'r shall know for how should wee comprise Mysterious things and Matters of the Skies 101. Nor is this sad Case onely ours who are Inlanders here Your Subjects too abroad Who at your Cinque-ports with perpetuall care In gathering your royall Customes stood Are loaded with like Grievances and they Pray'd Us with our Complaints theirs to display 102. They have not leave poor leave to Hear or See Or Smell or Taste or Feele what is their own But chain'd up in unnaturall Slavery Of their starv d Lives and Selves are weary grown Yet this Griefe more than all their hearts doth break That their Religion too lies at the Stake 103. They must a new Devotion learn and be Tortur'd with Watchings Prayers and Prostrations With Ceremonies of pale Piety With Fastings and severe Mortifications And if this Superstition they refuse Some Mulct on the poor Confessors ensues 104. And by what Law must either They or We Under this Arbitrary Power lie Where is the Free-born Subjects Liberty Who have no power at all unlesse to Die And surely Death a greater Blessing were Than such a Life as We doe groan in here 105. Mistake not gracious Soveraign what I speak As if I charg'd the guilt of these our Woes Upon your Soule My heart-strings first should crack With their own Torments loud e'r I would loose My Tongue in such a slaunder you alas May with your Subjects for a Sufferer passe 106. A Sufferer in that which nearest lies And dearest unto every Princes Heart Your royall Honor in our Miseries Is rack'd and tortur'd and torn part from part Ask not by Whom but recollect who were They whose bold Charms in Court did domineer 107. Logos that wiley Fox Was never well But when on you and Us he made a prey Some hansome Tale or other He would tell Whereby to your Mistake He might betray Your unheard Subjects From your Highness thus He stole your Eare onr Liberty from Us. 108. His Majors Minors Maxims Demonstrations With most profound Deceit He gravely drest And by these sage and reverend Conjurations Pour'd Cruelty into your Gentle Breast And made you count his Plots good sober Reason Which in the Passions must have gone for Treason 109. Hence issued those Commands which day by day Illegall Burdens on our Backs did heap And to this sad Necessity betray Our loth Soules that they could no longer sleep In patient Silence Though all Warrants came From his fell Hand
they wore your gentle Name 110. Some woefull Comfort it had been if We Had to one single Tyranny been damn'd But We at Home in forrein slavery Were held A Grievance we would not have nam'd In reverence to your Credit could the thing Have easie grown by our long suffering 111. What is that Charis unto Us that she In our Free State such arrogant sway must bear Or what made you so weak a Prince that We Must be Commanded by a Forreiner We grant She 's brave and Princely Yet wee know We owe Allegiance to no Queen but You. 112. She came from Heav'n if wee her Word may take But what woo'd Her from such a place as that To dwell in this ignoble World and make Her high Selfe stoop unto she knew not what I would be loth to wrong Her Yet I fear There 's something in 't why Heav'n gatrid of Her 113. And being here what-was the Trade she drove But how to barbarize your gentle Breast With strange Austerity and to remove Us from your love with which We once were blest Your smiles she all monopoliz'd and left Us quit of all things but your Hate bereft 114. If this Devotion be and heav'nly Zeal What is Unnaturalnesse Alas that We None but destructive Piety must feel And by Religion consumed be Alas that Heav'n and Godliness must thus Be forc'd to suffer injury with Us 115. Nor is proud Phylax one who with less Art Hath conzen'd you into this Tyrannie Soft are his Wings but cruell is his Heart Sweets in his Looks Gall in his Thoughts doth lie Fair does He speak you but the bait is cheap His streams run smoothest where the chanell's deep 116. Were you a Youngling and devoid of Friends Whose riper Arms might help your tender Hand To sway the Scepter then what he pretends With tolerable Sense perhaps might stand But must your Nonage still goe on and He For evermore the Lord Protector be 117. Now by your honour mighty queen 't is time For you no more to think your self a Childe Know your own power and loose it not in Him Who has your credulous Love too long beguil'd 'T is no discredite for a Prince to throw Away an Error and with it a Foe 118. Your Confidence in Him which flames so high Was kindled by his service in the Grove Yet what if that were but a Mysterie Of deep deceir and no exploit of Love If Phylax and not Aphrodisius were In all that Sceen of Charms the Conjurer 119. Who but the noble Aphrodisius there Bravely forgetfull of his own life from Immediate Death wide-gaping in the Boar Your helpless soul did reskew And from whom Did Phylax 〈◊〉 you but from his Imbrace Who your deliverer and your Lover was 120. And then enrag'd With shameless spight to see You to another your protection owe Upon the courteous strasngers Piety The powers of magick Malice He did throw How much more Monster was you Phylax there Who made the goodly Knight so foule appeare 121. Yet well it were if he would onely trie His Charms on Aphrodisius and for bear To exercise on Us his Witcherie But We alas so Metamorphoz'd are With that Rough-cast of shapes He on Us cleaves That you in your owne Subjects He deceives 122. We seem like Fiends for Rebells sure are so And monstrous things in your abused Eye Although ev'n Phylax in his Heart doth know Our Lives are not so deare as Loyaltie To honest-meaning Us And whose was this Desperate Enchantment if it were not his 123. 'T is true He talks of Love and needs will be The Paranymphus of the heav'nly spouse But surely I should ken as well as He All Mysteries of Love The whole world knows That my Creation onely aims at this And is my naturall Art less mine than His 124. That the Etheriall Prince makes love to you As to the dearest she that treads his Earth I easily grant because so well I know Your Majesties incomparable Worth But Heav'n forbid that I should Him esteeme So strange a Spouse as Phylax maketh Him 125. Sure He is King of sweetnesse and Delight And with more zeal abhorrs all Tyrannie Than Phylax loves it Sure his gentle Might Strives for a correspondent Victorie Not all the world shall make Me think that He Will ever wooe his Spuose by Crueltie 126. Lents Embers Vigils Groans Humi-cubations Tears Pensiveness disconsolate Privacie Severest Arts of all Mortifications Are not conditions required by An earthlie Suiter and can Heavn'ly He Imbitter thus his deare Suits Suavitie 127. Can He expect his tender spouse should prove Her Loyaltie pants with intire affection By nothing but self-hatred can his Love Finde no Security but your Destruction Pardon my fear great Queen you love not Him Whom such a spightfull Lover you can deeme 128. But farr be all such Omens hence Had I Or Nature any Glass which could present Your totall self to your considering Eye The gallant sight would make your heart repent This dangerous Heresie that Heav'ns gentle King Would use so harshly such a lovely thing 129. What is there of Delight of Love of Joy Of Grace of Beautie in this World below Or that above which did escape a way From the Creator's fingers when on you Himself he wrote and bade your Bosome be The Vniverse's rich Epitomie 130. But Phylax brews this cruell-flattering Plot Because it is his Rack and Hell to see That Fate or Fortune Psyche should allot To any Spouse but Him This makes Him be So subtly active in his secret Art How he may you and your great Suiter part 131. O then first for your own illustrious sake And next for Us wrapp'd up in you beware Of his Designs in time Just courage 〈◊〉 In what deserves your speediest stoutest Care Nor you nor We can be secure winle He Both from your Court and Favour 〈◊〉 be 132. Nor can your Palace be a dwelling Place For safety so long as Logos or Charis thus revell in your Princely Grace One Edict may 〈◊〉 them all and farr From this their 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 Treachery Pack them to that foule place where Trayters lie 133. So shall your royall self securely dwell And your 〈◊〉 undeceived Hand Sway its own Scepter So shall We dispell By prest obedience unto your Command That caus lesse Error which upon our Head The foule Blot or Rebellion hath spred 134. So shall our reskew'd Liberries appear In their own Looks So We by Love shall doe More of your Will than disingenuous Fear And lawlesse 〈◊〉 e'r hal'd Us to So you no more shall mark'd and dreaded be For Rigor but reign Queen of Clemencie 135. So shall your sweetned Countenance proclaim That you Lov 's dear Adventure doe profess So shall you court with your Eys answering Flame Your Spouse's beams So shall His Tendernesse A soft capacity find in your Heart Of his destroying yet enlivening Dart. 136. Here bowing low Love sealed up her Lip With a Kisse on the
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
on his Son Resign'd his Reins into his childish Hand Th' impatient 〈◊〉 cross the road did run And neither kept the way nor his Command But in unbrideled Madness with their wheels Drew on the Worlds Confusion at their heels 163. The Senses too first sticklers in the Treason Their share of its licentious fruit did reap Perceiving quickly that imprison'd Reason No more his rigid Discipline could keep And proudly smiling what tame Fools were wee They cri'd who did no sooner mutinie 164. How strange a Monster doth a Kingdome grow Where Laws and Soveraignty the life and health Of every heav'n-descended State must bow Unto 〈◊〉 Wills What Common-wealth Can justifie its Name where Subjects may Command and Princes dare not but obey 165. No Hydra's shape so shapeless is as this Which throws the World back to its breeding Heap The hideous Chaos of Preposterousnesse That tumbles All things in one monstrous Deep And in despight of the well-form'd Creation Disjoynts and scatters it quite out of Fashion 166. Yet wretchlesse Psyche is content to see This monstrous Soloecisme in her own Breast And thinks her Scepter and her Selfe more free Than when Obedience did her Subjects cast Low at the Feet of her Commands where they With reverence and ready Service lay 167. The silly Rose delighteth thus to be Drest in her fairest Looks and best Attire When round about a churlish Companie Of Thorns against her Tenderness conspire Upon that Seige of Pikes She smiles doth cast Not dreaming They will murder her at last 168. Psyche's as jolly as the Passions wilde And means her Joys with those Delights to feed With which Agenor's Cabinets were fill'd Proud Expectation prompts Her there to read The Lines of Fate against her selfe For she In opening them broach'd her own Misery 169. With such unfortunate Curiosity The fatall Box rash Epimetheus op'd The trembling Lid for-warn'd his Hand to be Better advis'd yet still the Fondling hop'd For mighty Matters But the Prize he found Himselfe and all the World in Sorrows drown'd 170. The first was full of Bracelets Net-works Tires Rings Earings Tablets Wimples Hoods Veils Laces Lawns Crisping-pins Chains Bonnets golden Wires Vermilion Pencills Smiles Youth blooming Faces Gloves Sandalls Girdles Busks Suffumigations Powders Perls Coronets High-looks New-fashions 171. Silks Sattens Purples Sables Ermyns Gold And Silver by the Loom and Needle taught To wed and dwell with Silk which feels no cold Besides all that lay in the bottome fraught In ready Coin to pave and make the floor Fit for the Feet of that ambitious Store 172. The next was nothing but th'inammeld Case Of a large Mirror Never Chrystall did Smile with such pureness Never Ladies Glasse Its Owners face so sweetly flattered Narcissu's Fountain did with less Delight Unto his fair Destruction Him invite 173. For He in that and in self-love being drownd Agenor from him took his doting Eys Proud Jezabells he also scatter'd found Amongst her fragments and made them his prize Goliahs stareing Bagins too he got Which He with Pharaoh's all together put 174. But these being not enough from Phacton From 〈◊〉 Joab Nebuchadnezzer From Philip and his World-devouring Son From Scylla Cataline Cicero Pompey Cesar From Herod Cleopatra and Sejanus From Agrippina and Domitianus 175. And many Stoiks their high Eyes he pull'd Whose proudest Chrystall having drained out He blended it in a fair polish'd Mould Which He fill'd up with what from Heav'n he brought An Extract of those Looks of Lucifer In which against his God he breathed Warre 176. Then to the North that glassie Kingdome where Establish'd Frost and Ice for ever reign He sped his course and meeting Boreas there Pray'd Him this liquid Mixture to restrain When loe as Boreas op'd his Mouth and blew Forth his Command the Humor solid grew 177. Thus was the Mirrour made and did contain The vigor of those selfe-admiring Eyes Agenors witchcraft into it did straign A dangeroud Juncture of proud Fallacies Which did so highly please its Authors Eye That Kissing it he nam'd it Philautie 178. Unhappy Psyche ravish'd was to see The Glass her selfe upon her selfe reflect With trebled Majestie The Sun when He As by Aurora's roseal Fingers deckt Sees not his repercussed Selfe more fair Upon the Eastern Main then she did here 179. New Flames were kindled in her sprightfull Eye New Roses on her smiling Cheeks were spred New Graces and new Loves did gently fly Down with her golden Tresses from her Head New Lilies beautifi'd her dainty Hand New Goodliness her Person did commend 180. Her cheated Soul sprang through her Eye and dwelt So long upon the Glass that it grew New Such mighty Thoughts till now she never felt As up and down her high-swoll'n Fancie flew Which breaking from her Mouth at length she cries How long have I been strange to mine own Eyes 181. Am I that Worm whom Phylax put in minde So oft of Dust and Vileness Could this face These Eyes these Locks these Hands this Person finde No better credit Surely now the Case Is plain how Aphrodisius came to be So hideous Phylax makes the like of Me. 182. Foole that I was to dream it could be true Which proud He daily preach'd to my Disgrace Who could beleeve that I should never veiw Till now the Wonders of mine own bright face That this ingenuous Glass should tell me more Then Phylax or then Charis did before 183. No marvell now if Heav'ns Apparent Heir Disdains all Beauties that He findes above And doing right to her that is most fair By stooping down to me exalts his Love I little thought I could so much have shown Why this my Head should fit an heav'nly Crown 184. Pardon me ô my Eyes that ignorant I With brieney Tears so oft have soiled you Had not your Flames by their Divinity Secured been they had been quench'd e'r now And pardon Me sweet Cheeks I will no more Blubber and scall'd your roses as before 185. And you all-lovely Lips no more shall kisse The Dust which foolish I took for your Mother The Tribe of Orientall Rubies is Your pretious Kindred nor must any other Sip the soft Nectar which in you doth live But that dear Kisse my Spouse to me shall give 186. Nor shall rude Usage rob thee of thy due My gentle Body All Hair-cloths fare-well My liberall Tresses Hair enough can shew And by this Girdle Heav'n did plainly tell What other Furniture would suit me best When with this Seige of Gems it girt my Waste 187. And since thy Cabinets Wardrobe Challenges My proudest choise I wish thy selfe were here Royall Agenor to behold how these Fair Limbs of mine would quit themselves and wear In worthy Triumph thy best Jewells which Shall by my purer beams themselves enrich 188. This said Love who stood fawning by her side Her delicate Service offered to dress Her high-conceited Queen in equall Pride A purple Mantle fring'd with Statelinesse Embroider'd with Ambition laced round With Vanity
slake 15. Both Psyche and her Steeds did soon recover Some sense and spirits of their boiling Pride When the first glimpse of those new Beams was over But chiefly she swell'd to so high a Tide Of Confidence as to presume Her Streams Would now repulse the Torrent of their Beams 16. To both her reverend Friends she doth dispense Her frowns and lowring-loathing Looks and by That silent Language of Impatience Her changed Minde and sullen Thoughts descrie But when she saw them full resolv'd she cries I thought you would have understood mine Eyes 17. Loe here my Tongue interprets them You are As much mistaken now in Psyche as She heretofore in You I must and dare Tell you your own Your treacherous Counsell has Too long bewitch'd my tender credulous Heart Henceforth you may for evermore depart 18. The saucy Coursers with ears prick'd up high Caught that proud Answer as from her it flew And neighing in tumultuous jollity With aggravation of Defiance threw It in the faces of the heav'nly Pair And then they kick'd and flung and snuff'd the Air. 19. But Phylax standing in Her Coache's way Lift up his Hand and Wing and kep't her back Crying much louder than her Steeds could neigh Yet e'r you goe vouchsafe to hear me speak Though I your Enemie be you need not fear Now you have learned that my Words to hear 20. This netled Thelema who Postillion was And had inflam'd the Coursers all the way She bent her scornfull Brow and cri'd Alas Can Phylax think I will his Rub obey Who ride where e'r I list and never meet With Mount or World which stops my Horses feet 21. With that she check'd her Fierie courser and This Anger was the most outrageous Steed Who with curvets strait answered her Hand And aim'd to snatch her way o'r Phylax's head Three times she leap'd as often falling back Till with her Bones she heard the Chariot Crack 22. For Phylax having thither reach'd a Ray Of mystick power seiz'd on the Axel-tree Which with a splitting groan at length gave way And by the voice of its fragility Admonish d all the Coach that Ruine now Meant to ride there and Psyche out would throw 23. And true the warning was for either Wheel The Barrs the Pillars Seat Side Back and Head Shatter'd forth with into confusion feel How 〈◊〉 the Axels Fatall preface led Them to their Tragedy which now no more Can own their severall Names as heretofore 24. 'T is all but one rude Heap upon whose back Lies Psyche something bruised with the Fall But wounded more to see who made that Crack And rais'd that Pile as for her funerall She scorns to take Him for an equall Foe But swells and puffs and knows not what to doe 25. He in her sullen Eye observing well The troubled Motions of 〈◊〉 smoking Heart And more than her own Tongue knew how to tell Pitti'd the sadnesse of her wilfull Smart And for compliance her own course he took Speaking not by his Mouth but by his Look 26. This is the Dialect of strongest Love Which when the fruitlesse Tongue had said her Say With soule-commanding Power doth plead and prove That Eloquence doth reign in Eyes that they Who to the bottom of the Heart would speak In Looking Lines must their Orations make 27. His serious Aspect upon Her was bent Compos'd of angry love and milde disdain Expressive were the Glances which He sent And every Word that darted forth was plain Some Rayes grew hot and stoutly chid but others With melting Pittie mollifi'd their Brothers 28. O what a long long Story ran He over In this short ocular Discourse how fast Did He her bosome and his own discover And what of old and what of late had past And what was dawning if she still went on With obstinate confidence to be undone 29. But she would not this language understand Because the Speaker she before despis'd She proudly look'd and coyly wav'd her hand Telling him by those signes she was advis'd So well of what she did that He might goe And somewhere else his scorned Pains bestow 30. Mean while as Thelema and her bruis'd Steed Biteing their own lips and the ground did lie Charis her sweetest Powers had mustered To force the Damsell from her Miserie And See said she when it was grown so tall How suddenly your Pride hath caught a Fall 31. Yet this is not the Bottome but a Step Unto that Ruine whither you did ride O did you know how black and vast a Deep Gapes in your Journeyes End you would have di'd A thousand other Deaths much rather than Have posted thus to plunge into that one 32. Here with her Wand she stroke upon the Earth Straight Tellus heard the Knock and op'd her Door When loe a Night of Smoke came stinking forth And then a duskie Day of Fire the Roar Of that great Crack made surly Thelema start And summon'd Psyche too to see her part 33. For though Dread shook their Soules They deemed it Scorn to confesse their fear and run away Their adamantine stomack will not let Their lives be longer pretious still they stay Not out of curious Desire to see But to out-face the hideous Prodigie 34. The monstrous Jaws of the wide-gaping Pit With banefull soot were lined thick Beneath Incensed Sulphure flashing Wrath did spit From whence a Cloud of heavie Groans did breath Forth sad confession Who below did dwell These Proofs authentik were to speak it Hell 35. Plung'd in the gloomie Caverns Centre were A woefull Rout mingled with smoke and Fire Abiram Corah Dathan fried there With Peleths venturous Sonn who did conspire To raise that old Combustion which now Concluded is in their own Flames below 36. Their howling Wives and shreiking Children lay Broiling about them and desir'd in vain One drop of Water after dying They Had burn'd so long in their still-living Pain Their Tears drop'd thick but mock'd them by their store And onely scal'd their Cheeks which flam'd before 37. As The lema stood doubting at the sight Behold this last Preferment Charis cri'd To which Ambition doth fond men invite Is it not petty that thou didst not ride Thy Journey out and am not I thy Foe Who down this fair Hill would not let thee goe 38 Thou seest that arrogant Brood of Rebells there Who were too high to stoop to heavenly law Yet to their wretchlesse Passions lent their Ear And rather then to God to them would bow Moses and Aaron whom they kick'd at there Nothing but Phylax are and Charis here 39. Moses and Aaron did usurp too much And bare their tyrannizing Heads too high And was not our Inditement onely such When Love drew up our Charge We were not by I grant but yet He was whose Vengance now Feeds on your proud Agenors heart below 40. Observe that Feind who holds fell Chorah's chain Himselfe bound in a greater He knows why He gathers up his Tails ashamed Train And steals it
rebuk'd her so That straight she stagger'd back again and cri'd Remembring how she them disdain'd which now Fairer then all Agenors Pomp did show 93. At length she came and with a dolefull Voice Give leave she said my genuine Furniture That once again I make my prudent choice Which henceforth shall for ever more endure Or if again I scorn your Poverty From Hells soule Wardrobe may I clothed be 94. Come trusty Hair-cloths you did never yet Foole me out of my selfe by garish Pride Come honest Rope thou never yet didst let Ambition blister me but gird'st my side Close to my heart and left'st no Room between For puffing strutting Thoughts to harbour in 95. So now I 'm drest indeed How shamelesly Have I all naked wander'd up and down No Nakednesse to that in Heav'ns pure Eye With which Sin clotheth Us Thus over-grown With Leprosie the Man more naked is Then when bare Nothing but his Skin was His. 96. Yet can it be that jealous Heav'n and You O my provoked Friends should not be just What priviledge have Rebellious I that now Vengance should sheath it s dared Lightning Must Your Patience from my Crime its copie write That both may equally be Infinite 97. It must said Charis and be sure to pay Thy Spouse due thanks for this Necessity Yet if henceforth thou needs wilt run astray Know that his Soul is not so seal'd to thee But he can finde out some more faithfull Breast Which will his Loves dear Violence not resist 98. She thus reform'd into her lowly Tire Charis and Phylax gently her imbrace Kissing into her Soul fresh Joyes of Fire And Printing gratious Looks upon her Face Then sitting down together Listen well Said Phylax unto what I now shall tell 99. The Story Psyche bends its aime at thee But I will fetch it from its bottom that Thou may'st a long and totall Prospect see Of thy Extraction and originall State That Sight will teach thee that these simple Weeds Are full as fine and gorgeous as needs 100. Especially when I withall have shown Thee by the boundlesse Powers which flourish in Thy Spouse's Hand and Word how far thine own Condition flaggs below his Worth how mean A Match thou art for Him who nothing hast In dowry but vile Vanity and Dust. 101. All things at first was God who dwelt alone Within his boundless Selfe But bounteous He Conceiv'd the form of the Creation That other things by Him might Happie be A way to ease its Streams his Goodnesse sought And at the last into a World burst out 102. This World at first ' was but one single step From simple Nothing yet that step was wide No power but His or could or yet can leap Over from Nothing 's Bank to Something 's Side The East and West are one the Poles doe kisse If you their Distances compare with this 103. This Something Son of Nothing wallowing lay In the vast Womb of its own Darksome Deep The foulest Monster never frighted Day With such wilde Shapes as struggled in this Heap Nor Hydra's Heads so snarl'd at one another As every Parcell quarrell'd with its Brother 104. The Deep climb'd up and tumbled down the Height And then fell headlong after it again Lightnesse was busie and forc'd lazie Weight To change his Quarters and above remain The rude Tempestuous Windes blew all together And fill'd the World at once with every Weather 105. Heat about place could not with Cold agree This strove to frieze its Foe and that to frie. The Centre in the Bottom scorn'd to be And forced Earth full in Heav'ns face to flie Winter took heat and breaking ope its way December flung into the heart of May. 106. The Ocean storm'd and would no Shore allow But swallow'd up the Sands and rushing out Whil'st all things else were quarrelling did throw Her billowie Arms the Universe about Which in this civill Deluge drown'd had been Had not the kinde Creators Help come in 107. Forth flew th' Eternall Dove and tenderly Over the Floods blinde Tumult hovering Did secret Seeds of vitall Warmth supply By the sweet Virtue of his Soveraign Wing Much like the loving Hen whose brooding Care Doth hatch her Eggs and them for life prepare 108. When loe a Voice this was that supream Word Which you and wee and all the World adore Broke from the Fathers Mouth with joint Accord Of th' undivided Three and down did poure It selfe upon the Deep commanding Light To cheer that universall face of Night 109. As when the gloomy Cloud in sunder parts The nimble Lightning through the World doth haste So from this Masse of Darknesse thousand Darts Of orient Beams themselves about did cast With ready splendor answering that Call Which summon'd them to gild this groping Ball. 110. The Shade's affrighted at the Looks of Light Sneak'd to blinde holes their shamed heads to hide God pitti'd them and hastning on their flight Gave them safe Lodging in the Worlds back-side There slept dull Night but Day was brave and bold And in the face of God displaid its Gold 111. The next Command call'd for the Firmament To part the Waters which unruly grew Straight in the midst of them a Bow was bent Of solid Substance and of Chrystall Hue Pure are the Streams which on Heav'ns Back do flow Those gross dull whose Weight sinks them below 112. And they the third Day all collected were Into the spatious Bosom of the Sea The Earth rejoic'd it had leave to appear And looked up with brisk Aridity Lifting her Mountains high with comely Pride Which now contemn'd the Water's proudest 〈◊〉 113. But being naked and not knowing whence To cloth her selfe God her Apparrell made He spake and straight a flowrie Confluence Her plains and Valleys with fragrant Robes array'd And trimm'd the Heads of all her Hills with Trees Earth's native Plumes and stateliest Braveries 114. The next Day on the Heav'n was spent which yet Was like a Virgin-Scroll spread fair and wide But with no Characters of Beauty writ Till God's great Word engrav'd its radiant Pride But then the royall Sun came smiling forth Inamouring the whole World at his Birth 115. Light which till now had flitted here and there On the weak back of an ignoble Cloud No sooner saw his gallant Face appear But in his bosome she desir'd to shrowd He courteous was and to her wished Throne Receiv'd her glorious Ambition 116. But being bounteous too as He espi'd The bashfull Spangles peeping every where He freely dealt his Lustre far and wide The Moon reach'd forth her Horns and caught her share So did the Starrs and now all Heav'n grew fine When He alone or when all they did shine 117. The Houres before his foot came louting low Begging a Room in his bright Family And so did cheerly Day devoted now With him to wake and sleep to live and dy But shame-fac'd conscious Night durst not draw neer And so she fell to spotted Luna's share 118.
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
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
Oaths and Cries Tumbled and toss'd themselves from place to place And sought Lots Door in one anothers face 324. As Jesus spi'd this helplesse Wight for He Warch'd to surprise all Objects of Compassion Speeded by his own heav'nly Charity He to his Succour flies Such is the fashion Of generous Love which never stayes to be Woo'd and importun'd to a Courtesie 325. The simple Man perceiving one draw nigh Fell to the Beggers covetous Dialect Craving for Money Friend that is not my Largise thy Lord repli'd which doth infect Those who desire it Surely Thou would'st finde What Bane thou begg'st wert thou not double Blind 326. Money is that unhappy Dust which flies Full in the face of undiscerning Man And heaps such Mists of Blindnesse on his eyes That Heav'n He cannot see If thou did'st skan Thy state aright Thou might'st thy Blindness blesse Who seest not how monstrous money is 327. I l'e make a thinner Clay than Money which Shall far exceed the Worth of Gold to Thee They are not moneys beams which doe inrich The World with Light and Glory but from Me Alone flow forth those clear and genuine Raies Which blesse the Age with sweet and golden Days 328. This said three times He spit upon the ground And temper'd with his Hand a Soveraign Clay No Salve by deepest Art was ever found Which could so sure all Maladies allay Should pretious Balsame now prove sick and die This Ointment could work its Recovery 329. With this the Blinde Mans Eyes He Oynted yet Was pleased not forthwith to give them sight First an experiment He meant to get Whether his inner Eyes of Faith were bright Then with his Favour to reward and grace The Pool which long before so pious was 330. Bethesda Waters swell'd with full-tide Fame Wherefore though apt Occasion Him invited Time was when He refus'd to honor Them But pour'd his royall love into this sleighted Though worthy Pool which as his Partner He In this his Miracle vouchsaf'd to be 341. To Siloam goe said He and wash thine Eyes And thou shalt see what I to thee have given The joyfull Man with holy Credence hies Him to the Place No Hart was ever driven By scalding Thirst more greedily unto The Rivers than He to this Spring did goe 342. He went to drink not with his Mouth but Eyes Which as He washed loe they 'gan to ope Out flew black Night and all those duskie Ties By which his Sense before was chained up Straight his released sparkling Pupills show'd Like sprightfull Lightning from the broken Cloud 343. And now he lives and sees that he does live And Heav'n and Earth more than by hear-say knows Now every Parcell of the World doth give Him a Remembrance unto whom He owes His power of seeing it O happy hee Who must in every Thing his Saviour see 344. Since from the Darknesse of the first Abysse The Universe was wakened unto light Ne'r was atcheiv'd so strange a Cure as this Which on condemned Eyes bestowed fight In spight of Nature who had put them out Before she gave them leave to look about 345. Now Psyche turn thine Eye to yonder Town Great Salems little Neighbour Bethany A place of dear Remembrance to thine own Beloved Lord from Salems tumults He Would oft retire into that calmy place And still as oft's He came He welcome was 346. For there two Sisters dwelt an holy Pair Industrious Martha who the World did love Yet not so much but Jesus was more dear Although the practick Trade of Life she drove The Cream of her Solicitude she spent To purchase more than secular Content 347. Pathetick Mary one whom Mercy made Her chosen triumph This was 〈◊〉 She Who in the hottest Troop of Sinners had A leading Place such stout Impiety Incouraged her Heart that Hell could not Put her on any Task but she would do 't 348. For seav'n foule Devills had themselves possest Of all her Soule and with imperious Port In the usurped Palace of her Breast Their throne erected and maintain'd their Court What Proclamations or Warrants They So ever issu'd she did straight obey 349. But Jesus who did square his Pitty by No Merit hee in Mortall Man could read But for his Rule took their Capacity Of Succour found how much this Heart did need His potent Help which He forthwith applied And made her Live who now seav'n times had died 350. For from the bottome of Her poys'ned Breast Seav'n hideous Deadly Sins she vomited And having thus disgorged Hell which prest Her down so low to Heav'n she rais d her head Flaming with purest fire of Love as she Before had smoak'd in Lusts Impurity 351. Her brave Devotion she did measure now By the Large Size of Mercy she had gained For as that Mercy did no limits know So to Infinitude her Love she strained She strained hard and would have reach'd the Top If Mortall Passion could so high climb up 352. O Psyche hadst Thou but been by when She Unto her Lord upon Loves Errand came Thou might'st have seen impatient Piety Mount in the boldnesse of its noble Flame First at his Feet it 'gan and then it spred With fair and liberall Fulnesse to his Head 353. That fragrant Ointment which she us'd before To her own lustfull Skin to sacrifice She now on Jesu's sweeter Feet doth poure And adds another showre from her own eyes Then wiping them with her late crisped Tresses She offers there her consecrated Kisses 354. She mindes not what Spectators think or say Love is secnre and carelesse She does mean E'r from her Lovers Feet she goe away To oint or weep or wipe or kisse them clean And by this generous Zeal she Sanctifies Her Locks her Lips her Ointment and her Eyes 355. But as the sprightfull Flame disdains to stay Below and with undaunted Ardor strives To reach its lofty Sphear So she one Day The Reins unto her gallant Passion gives And takes aime at the Top of Heav'n for this I 'm sure said she on Jesu's Temples is 356. She had a Box of Ointment of high price Yet not so pretious as her loving Lord Could the Worlds wealth meet in one Sacrifice All this She freely could to him afford And now unbrideled Love such haste did make That straight the Box or her own Heart must break 357. Indeed both brake and both she poured on His Head who is of Sweets and Hearts the King Straight through both Heav'n Earth the Odours ran Which shall for ever with their Praises ring For now't has lost its Alabaster Cell The glorious Nard in all the World doth dwell 358. Thrift grumbled at the Cost but Jesus who Excessive in his Love to Mary was Vouchsaf'd her generous Soule free leave to goe In the same princely and licentious pace He knows the heats of this unweildy Passion And will allow it brave Immoderation 359. All other Passions eas'ly bounded are Because their Objects are in limits ti'd But Love alone
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
thick the Waiters stand whose Dignity Shines next the Glories of their royall Lord No Prince was on his Coronation Day E'r honored by such Servitors as They. 153. The gallant Cherubs and the Seraphs here With legions of fairest Angels meet And in all awfull Reverence draw neer Ravish'd at what you Mortals Drink and Eat Here royall Principalities attend Here Thrones bowe down heer Dominions bend 154. For when they are above in their bright sphear The glorious Ocean of eternal Sweets Their blessed Eyes behold no richer Cheer Than Mercy on this noble Table sets Nor did the Cherubs which kept Paradise Finde there such glorious Varieties 155. Pure are their Eyes and they can easily passe Through the thick Veil which on the Feast doth lie A Veil which in profound Compassion was Thrown on the Count'nance of this Mystery Which darts more glories from its naked face Than ever did great Mose's Temples grace 156. So long as mortall Grossenesse sticks upon The Brows of Man and cloggs his feeble Sight One glimpse of heav'nly Majesty alone Would seal his eyes up with eternall Night For what exceedeth doth corrupt their reach Transcendent Lustre prov's as dark as Pitch 157. When Batts may venture to the Eagles Nest And full against the Suns their own eyes set When blear-ey'd Owles may leave their gloomie Roost And with safe Looks the Face of High-noon met When Midnight dares throw off her sable Cloke And into bright Aurora's Wardrobe look 158. Then may dim-sighted Men with safety gaze Upon their Lords unveiled Brightnesse then May they directly to his royall Face Without a Perspectives Assistance run Then may they boldly scorn their Eyes to shrowd Under the moderate Shaddow of a Cloud 159. But Jesus who full well their Weaknesse knew Did in the Shelter of plain Wine and Bread Accommodate his Goodnesse to their View That in Familiar Elements they might read The hidden Mystery and happy be Above all that their Mortal eyes could see 160. The time shall come when the dull Dust shall be By the brisk Virtue of the Resurrection Resin'd and rais'd to a Capacity Of radiant and spiritual Perfection When faithfull Soules in their celestial Rest Shall at the Lambs unvciled Supper feast 161. Mean while it is their Priviledge that they May freely in the Shade enjoy the Sun That in the Darknesse they may meet the Day And in Hopes Region finde Fruition But who sweet Psyche would beleeve that hence Man should draw reason of Irreverence 162. Alas when Time shall old and doting grow And Christian Spirits sympathize with it 〈◊〉 will be bold to make this Banquet know That by its Out-side They doe square and fit Their estimation of it and that there Their Faith admits no more than doth appear 163. It must be Superstition if they Should think Gods Table holier than their own If of this Cup and Patin they bewray An higher thought than of those all the Town Use in the publick Inns when e'r they keep Their free Communion of Good-Fellow ship 164. Nor Jove nor Juno nor the silliest He Or She of all that Rabble who were made Gods by vain Man found such impiety In those their Makers as to be betray'd To slovenish Altars and to 〈◊〉 Rites By fained Zeal's irreverent Deceits 165. Must Rudenesse onely be permitted to Attend on Jesu's noblest 〈◊〉 And must it for most pure 〈◊〉 goe Because so grosse and 〈◊〉 Surely We Are much too blanie in Heav'n who never knew Such kinde of 〈◊〉 to our God was due 166. Is this the Thanks for keeping in his flames Of most intolefable Majesty Which once unveild by its immortal streams Would them devour and all their slovenrie Alas that Love should thus neglected be And for no cause but mighty Charity 167. But those brave Lovers of whose generous breast Jesus intire possession has took Are so inamored of this royal Feast That with all humble Reverence they look Upon it and in faithfull pure desire After Angelick Complements aspire 168. Their Hearts beat high with that illustrious Zeal Which fires our Breasts and fain would stoop as low As doe the Seraphs when this Miracle Of Love invites their reverent knees to bow Fain would they have their passionate Piety As infinite as is this Mystery 169. For infinite it is and gladly I Would its Infinitude to Thee display No Theem with such delight could sit on my Admiring Tongue But Angels must give way To ecstacies in such vast Deeps where Love Himselfe the utmost of his Power doth prove 170. Here Phylax ended and observed how The Bait would operate which He had cast To Psyches heart which being captiv'd now By his Discourses Charms and chained fast Unto the Tables foot which He set out This pious answer gently forth she brought 171. My Soules sweet Friend what thanks can I repay For all this honey which thy Tongue hath shed Into my ears and heart 〈◊〉 Phylax may He whom Thou praisedst poure upon thy head Thy full Requitall As for sunple Me What can the poor Worme Psyche give to Thee 172. She can give nothing but 〈◊〉 still A begger 〈◊〉 for further Favours sues Yet not for Cates my stomacks mouth to fill 〈◊〉 No Famins Power could make me chuse My other Diet if at this sweet 〈◊〉 Of Love and Heav'n my Soul may now be Guest 173. And if it be not so I am undone Such Hunger knaws such Thirst does burn my heart That by that Banquets Comfort I alone Can rescued be from this impatient Smart And 't is thy courteous fault dear Phylax who With its Description Me hast ravish'd so 174. The sickly what but Health can satisfie And what but Balsame can desired be To stop the Wounds wide Mouth and bloody Crie What does the hunted Deer so pant to see But some coole Fount or soveraign Ditany What can the Captive wish but Liberty 175. My Health my Balsame and my Liberty My Dear 〈◊〉 and my Fount of Blisse My onely Nectur and Ambrosia lie Treasur'd up in this Banquet If I misse Of this my Wish alas what shall I doe What hope what helpe for my encreasing Woe 176. She fainted here But Phylax reach'd his hand Unto her Arm and Comfort to her Heart I like said He thy noble Ardour and Its fuell 〈◊〉 unto 〈◊〉 Fire impart In yonder House there lives a reverend Priest 〈◊〉 for thy pious foule will dresse this Feast 177. This said He leads 〈◊〉 Virgin thither where In 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 room a 〈◊〉 of Faithfull Hearts 〈◊〉 that great Bus'nesse early did prepare For 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 forc'd them to all Arts Of 〈◊〉 and glad they were to choose Such Temples as were hidden from their Foes 178. There in a Chalice and a Dish of Wood The 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 Poverty The wonder of their Saviours Flesh and Blood With golden Hearts they waited on But We Alas in Patins and in Cups of Plate With Hearts of Wood this Banquet celebrate 179. They in the Strangers Zeal-inflamed eye
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
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
entertain'd to day Where as he brake the Bread in peeces he Tore from their clouded eyes the veil away And with like favour now he hastes to cheer His sad and thoughtfull Friends assembled here 184. This very Ev'n the Doors being made as fast As locks and barrs and fear could make them be He whose pure Body through his Tombe had pass'd Enter'd the House with like facility They slander'd were abroad for stealing Him But now he seem'd to steal at home on Them 185. Yet as excessive unexpected Blisse Doth swallow up Beliefe in Ravishment So the Disciples all amaz'd at this Strange Apparition mutualy bent Then frighted eyes and held their hands on high Confounded in a silent ecstasie 186. But he the King of Comfort op'd his sweet And gratious Lips and Peace be to you said Though I in love prevent my Promise yet You have no reason Friends to be afraid Loe It is I your Lord observe these wide Tokens both in my Hands and in my Side 187. Imagin not that you some Spirit see These Mouthes proclaim as much as I profess You know a Spirit cannot wounded be Nor wear such Marks of humane Passivenesse Come handle Me and be assured well If not of what you see of what you feel 188. This sweet Assurance was so full and cleer That it exceeded their Capacity Who by its Torrent over-whelmed were And thrown into admiring Joies soft Sea Thus those who gaze on Phoebus cannot see Him for his too much visibility 189. So strange a Thing is Joy if unawares It be surprised by Fruition that In fond amblguous Jealousie it barrs Out what it does possesse and aiming at Some proofs of what is absolutely clear Transfigureth it self from Joy to Fear 190. But Jesus their amazement to allay Grows more familiar and calls for Meat A Fish and Honey-combe before him they Present and friendly he vouchsafes to eat Though Paradise its Sweets for him prepar'd He this plain Diet with his Friends preferr'd 191. Then in kinde Anger he to Chiding fell That they so long their Faith suspended though He of his Resurrections Miracle Had by eye-witnesse sent them Proof enough He Chode but with such sweet and dainty Art That every Wound he made was with Loves Dart. 192. This done his Peace to them again he gave That Peace he purehas'd when he trampled down Hell into Hell and Death into the Grave When he appeas'd his mighty Fathers Frown When Heav'n and Earth at enmity before To blessed Amitie he did restore 193. Then breathing on them with that noble Breath Which first inspir'd Life into Humane Heart The dearest Gift said he that ever hath To Man been given I to you impart It is the holy Spirit of Heav'n which now With blessed heat shall in your Bosomes glow 194. Hencesorth whose Sins soever you remit By this great Patent I my Selfe Forgive And whom you Binde to the infernal Pit Shall from your Sentence purchase no Reprieve As Me my Father sent so send I you To by my potent Deputies below 195. This said into Invisibility Himselfe he shut and so from them withdrew When They who now no longer him could see On Joies and Loves and Faiths Wings after flew Pouring ten thousand Blessings on his Name Who with such Solace to their Sorrows came 196. But Thomas who this while had absent been Returning now They met him at the Door Shouting and telling him what they had seen Each Circumstance they shew'd him o'r and o'r Their Lords great Promises they did repeat And how he shew'd his Wounds and how he eat 197. Thomas amaz'd at their Relation stood Silent a while uncertain what to say Or how he should repulse that swelling Flood Of most unanimous Confidence which they Stream'd forth upon his Incredulity At last he stamp'd and cri'd It cannot be 198. I grant that Fancy may doe much and you Perhaps imagin all is true you say But there 's no reason my Belief should bow To your Imaginations You may By probabilities perswade Me far But no such thing can I discover here 199. I am not so much wiser now at night Than I was in the Morn as to admit What then to your own indgement seem'd so 〈◊〉 That you as well as I rejected it Why must it real prove in you which We In Magdalene so fantastick took to be 200. When with these Eyes those Wounds I have descri'd And put my 〈◊〉 where the 〈◊〉 we 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 When I have thrust my Hand into his 〈◊〉 And felt that no Imposture there does grow I of your minde may be But mean time give Me leave not at a venture to Beleeve 201. Thus Heav'n in Wisdome and in Love thought fit To let thick Clouds of Doubt objected be Before the Resurrections Truth that it Might fairer break from that Obscurity And pierce all faithlesse Hearts obdurate Stone As it the Marble of the Tembe had done 202. Resolv'd in this imprudent Prudence he Eight Dayes continued when their Lord again The doors being bolted close as formerly To his Disciples did his Presence deign Whose sprightfull Comming though it startled them Lesse strange and doubtfull than at first did seem 203. But Thomas unto whom the Sight was new Afflicted stood with quaking Joy and Fear His Masters blessed Looks he plainly knew And yet his Fancies something dubious were He blush'd and then grew pale and blush'd again And to crosse Passions gave at once the rein 204. When Jesus saw him tortur'd on this Rack With gratious gentlenesse Come neer he said And thine own Satisfaction freely take Loe here my Wounds before thine Eyes display'd Come pierce thou them again 't will be lesse grief Than to be wounded by thine Unbelief 205. This Condescent so conquer'd Thoma's heart That with compleat Assurance on his knees He falls and cries My God and Lord Thou art Not onely by these wide-mouth'd Witnesses I finde thee so to be but also by The heav'nly Sweetnesse of thy Lenity 206. I finde that thou eight dayes agoe wert here When foolish I so faithlesly was Wise Thou heardst how obstinately I did dare The pregnant Witnesse of my Fellows eyes Thou heardst what bold Conditions I set Before my Faith their Story would admit 207. O I beleeve dear Lord and ready am If need require such Wounds as those to bear In spreading forth the glories of thy Name To any Nations whether far or near Pardon my tardy Faith it doth suffice That I have felt those Tokens with mine eye 208. Jesus repli'd Thou build'st thy Faith upon Thine eyes and happy 't is that thou dost so But in how full a Stream shall Blessings run Into their soft and pliant Bosomes who Ne'r saw these deep-writ Characters and yet Unto the Credit of their Truth submit 209. Here Jesus stepp'd into his Secrisie And vanish'd from their wondering sight but yet He sundry times returned to their eye As his divinely-wisest selfe thought fit Famous his presence was on Tabor where He to
ward whether He is gone Who stamp'd them heer their Eys will know no Lid But make the Beams recoil the Rafters run Aside and suffer no Concameration To damm the way of Jesu's Exaltation 291. Thus Psyche have I made thee trace thy Lord To his last footsteps through a thousand ways All set with Mercie and made good my Word Thou seest how He a countermure doth raise Against Sinns Battery and thou needst not fear Hells Spight now Heav'n for thee doth take such care 392. Nor durst I doubt but thine owne Heart will say This thy long Pilgrimage is well requited Which hath presented thee a full Display Of that wherewith all Angells are delighted Whose Souls then with sublimest Joy do leap When on these Mysteries of Love they peep 293. Their Harness heer upon his Steeds he threw Who all this while were feeding on the Hill The meaning of that warning Psyche knew And on her knee prayd him to tarry till She gave the Reins to her Devotion As other Pilgrims unto theirs had done 294. He smil'd and stayd But She flat on her face Innumerable Kisses heap'd upon The venerable Stepps and long it was Before her amorous Sighs and Tears had done At length her Bosome with the Dust she fill'd And cri'd Go thou and my foul Body gild 295. Then casting up to Heav'n her zealous Eye After her Spouse a thousand Thoughts she sent To whom her panting Soul strove hard to flie Upon the Wings of her high Ravishment But when she felt her self stick still to Earth Fresh Tears at first and then these Words brake forth 296. Why may my Heart not be where most it is O Thou my dearest Life ô Jesu why Since Thou art mounted to the Topp of Bliss And leav'st Me Dead have I not leave to Die Never was any Ghost but I till now In its own Body bound and chaind below 297. I by thy Cross and Death was wholly slain And by thy Resurrections Life I grew Alive and safe and vigorous again But thy Ascension doth my Death renew Since nothing of my Life poor I can finde But these bare footsteps left Me heer behinde 298. Sweet Lord by these thy Psyche cannot live Though for thy Sake they pretious are to Me O no! their Worth doth but more reason give To long for most inestimable Thee If any footstepp Me can satisfie It must be that which next thy foot doth lie 299. Hast Thou not said that Earth thy Footstool is As well as Heav'n thy Throne O mighty Lord 'T will be thy Handmaydes most accomplish d Blisse If thou but unto Me make'st good that Word Loe I thy Dust the Footstool crave to be Of thy now Heav'n-enthroned Majesty 300. High my Petition is and bold I know And yet the worthlesse Dew must needs aspire To Heav'n it selfe when once it gins to glow With Phoebu's sweet and most attracting Fire Nor can the Spark in its dull Ashes lie But must have leave to venture at the Skie 301. Alas what is this weary World to Me What are the silver Sphears and golden Sun Could I reign Queen of every Thing I see At my sole Nod would all Earths Kindreds ran What were this Empire worth now Thou art gone Whom Psyche must esteem her Crown alone 302. 'T is not thy heav'nly Paradise that I Ambitious am to see 't is not thy Court Of Angels though by Phylax's company I guesse their Worth 't is not the Pomp and Port That flows about thy throne Nor doe I long To dance unto thy Quires eternal Song 303. My Heart doth pant for Thee and onely Thee And could'st Thou be in Hell I never more Would loose a Looking up to Heav'n but be Inamored of that Abysse and poure My Longings and my Labours downward till I at thy Feet my Vows and Soule could spill 304. O why art Thou so infinitely sweet Or rather Why must We that Sweetnesse know If Thou deer Jesu dost not think it meet Unto our Fires their 〈◊〉 to allow Away Thou flyest and Forsaken We Ev'n by thy sweets and Blisse tormented be 305. How can I help this my excessive Passion Or how can it deserve these Torments Since Thine own Love doth professe Immoderation And guilty is of boundlesse influence In which soft Sea of Fire whilst drown'd I am What can I doe but burn with answering Flame 306. Blame Me not blessed Lord it is not I But Thou thy Selfe rebounding from my Heart Who beat'st Heav'n with this Importunity And call'st for Ease for my mysterious Smart Had'st Thou by Love not stampd thy Selfe upon My Soule now Psyche had let Thee alone 307. Remembet Jesu what it is to be Forsaken ô remember thine own Crie When in thy Desolation on the Tree Thy Father Thou didst challenge May not I Use thine own Words My God my God why now Dost Thou thy desolate Psyche leave below 308. Upon this Olivet my Calvary I finde and to my Crosse am nailed here Ten thousand Torments in my Bosome lie And full as many Thorns as planted were Upon thy Tempels in my Heart doe stick Where all the Bowels of my Soule they prick 309. O Love why must thine onely Tyranny The Bounds of other Cruelties exceed Why will it not allow the Courtesie Of Death unto thy Vassals who are Dead By its reviving Slaughters and desire To be free Holocausts in thy sweet Fire 310. Her Passion here beyond expression grew Yet though She with her Tongue no more could speak With her resolved Eyes to Heav'n she flew And there a long Oration did make Both long and fluent in th' exuberance Of Tears the streams of strongest Eloquence 311. But Phylux having to Her tender Heart Thus far indulg'd thought fit to stop Her here Psyche said He imagin not Thou art Inamored more than the Disciples were Of thy Ascended Lord yet desolate They Warn'd by the 〈◊〉 meekly went away 312. I in their room that Warning give to Thee On Heav'n why dost Thou naile thine eyes in vain Thy Saviour is too high for Thee to see Till on a Cloud He posteth back again Then shalt Thou look thy Fill of Blisse and be To all thy Loves Extremities let free 313. Mean while thine Adorations and Imbraces On his dear Name and Memory thou mayst poure Come le ts away that by these signal places Of Mercies Triumphs thy soft Heart no more May tortured be Here on her hand he laid His own and raised up the heavie Maid 114. Then in his Chariot gently Her he set Who on the Footsteps kept her hankering eye But instantly he mov'd his reins to let His Coursers know he gave them liberty Forth with their goodly mains in answer They Shook in proud hast and gallopped away PSYCHE OR LOVES MYSTERIE CANTO XV. The Poyson ARGUMENT LEaving his Psyche carefull Phylax arms With whole some sage Advice her tender breast Yet shee the Venome of Heretick Charms And Spurious Reasons wiles could not resist Phylax returns and in his
the Man who crouched to the Place Of Jesu's Cross and him your Lord did call How come you now to wear a Jewish face And with your Circumcision tool cut all Your Christian Mask in peeces Blinde were I As was your zeal could I this crime not spie 135. Had you Beleev'd that Jesu's blood was shed To wash the stains of all the World away Your cruel Heresie had not made red Your Infant in his needles blood to day Who had been purer had you washed Him In a much gentler flood pure Baptisms stream 136. I see what reason my wise Guardian had To be so jealous of my staying here Why He so solemnly appeared sad When I was merry and refus'd to feare He knew black Satan would himself array In heav'nly puritie Me to betray 137. Here she was flinging out But fawning He By the great Cross of Christ and geater Name Pray'd and conjur'd her pious Charitie His unexpected action not to blame But to defer her Censure and to hear With patience how He could his cause declare 138. Such power had that reverend contestation On Psyche's tender heart that she relents When 〈◊〉 He after long Commendation Of her soft candor tels Her He repents That He his Declaration did not make E'r He that solemn work did undertake 139. Then to a private Chamber Her He brought That no Disturbance might his ends prevent And by all Ceremonious service sought To entertaine her thoughts with kinde content For on a silken Couch when she was set With softer language thus He gan the feat 140. Sure now dear stranger thou art quit with me And hast repay'd me in my proper Coin I for 〈◊〉 Instrument suspected thee Thou for an Heretick dost me define But I recanted and if thou doe so Quit on the other side We may be too 141. If head-long jealousye for proof should passe What thing so perilo us were as Innocence What must we think of our great Saviours Case Who for a Devil slander'd was and whence Shall We acquit his Wise Apostles who In the fond Worlds esteem for fools did go 142. Thou prov'dst not what my sudden fear did speak Nor am I such as thine did me present Truth can her selfe cleer and transparent make And never fail'd to yeeld compieat content To those whom Prejudicies poyson had Not first envenomed and partiall made 143. Know then that I am one of those whose breasts Are consecrated to that Lord whom thou Alone adorest and permit no Guests To thrust in thither who will not allow That gentle Soveraign to domineer And reign without all contradiction there 144. That poor comtemptuous place whence glorious He Vouchaf'd to take his sirname is the same Whence 〈◊〉 his humilitie Our Common Title We his followers frame Too high for Us the Stile of Chrastian is Plain Nazareen our Ambition doth suffice 145. Unto the Dictates of his royal Law With universal Meeknesse we submit Whilst others but by halfes will deign to bow As Makers they not Subjects were to it All hard and costly Precepts they refuse And leave that Burden for the slavish Jewes 146. They tell the World how they a Patent have Writ in the Stile of Christian Liberty By which Heav'ns King to Them Commission gave To break the Bonds of Legal Slavery And a wise King the while they make Him who Allowes them what his Law forbids to doe 147. And is not this a brave Religion where There is no room for any Charge or Pains Cunning and thrifty its Profeslors are Who in their own Hands moderate the Reins Which on their Necks should lie who as they please Dispose their Discipline to their own Ease 148. And yet 't were well would they their Charter show Which makes them Free States and vouchsafe but to Declare what in the new-deliver'd Law Doth crosse and disannull the old that so The World might Satisfaction gain and we Be made Partakers of their Liberty 149. For we know no such Thing But this we know That Jesus who is Author of the New Was Institutor of the ancient Law And upon Sina's Head his Trumpet blew To wake the World and warn it to give eare Unto the Precepts which he thunder'd there 150. And did he then Retract what he before Oreained had Was Circumcision then Commanded to be exercis'd no more Upon the tender Infant-Sons of Men O no such Changings inconsistent be With a wise Gods Immutability 151. Like his own Selfe his Laws eternal are And need no Reformation or Corrections Our inconsiderane Lawgivers here Infect their Laws with their own Imperfections And both may mended be But surely 't is Proud Blasphemy to say so of Him or His. 152. But his Example is full Explication Of his own Laws And what did righteous He When fitted by his blessed Incarnation He could like Us to them a Subject be Did not he set the Seal of his own Blood To Circumcision that this Law was good 153. His Presentation in the Temple shews His cleer submission to the Law which there Professed was Nor did he e'r refuse To solemnize the Festivals which were Legaly Sacred or when he drew neer His End forget to keep the Passover 154. Let others cast the blustering scare-crowe Name Of Heresie upon our genuine Zeal We trust we never shall repute it shame To tread His Steps to whom we all appeal As to our onely King and surely he Cannot but own those who his Followers be 155. The Gospel Laws Weequaly Imbrace And though my Son I Circumcised yet I cut him not off from Baptismal Grace For in that Laver we our Children wet That in this double Sacramental Stream Of Blood and Water they to Christ may swim 156. We grant that where the Circumcision 〈◊〉 Blusheth not to oppose and uselesse make That venerable World-redeeming Blood Which from the pretious Veins of Jesus brake The Sacrament's Heretical But we Teach it more meek and mannerly to be 157. If now we of too Much Obedience seem Guilty to thee Convince Us of our Sin 'T is plain thou hast an hopefull pleasant Theme And easily upon our Hearts may'st win If Truth fight with Thee for what Man is he Who by just Licence would not conquer'd be 158. He ceased here But as the loathing Vine Though in the Colewort she can plainly read No hostile Quality doth yet decline Her Touch and any 〈◊〉 Shrub or Weed Will rather hug with all her Arms then by The least Imbrace approve that Company 159. So Psyche though she could not easily show The venome of Authade's Sophistric Yet could her heart not possibly allow What she could not confute Much rather she Would with fell Adders hisses fall in love Than the intent of his discourse approve 160. For Discontent still gather'd up her Brow Still nauseous neglect stream'd from her eye Still on her Guardians Words she thought and now The Serpent had his Poisnous suauity Displayd and his enchantment finished She wav'd her Hand and turn'd aside her head
the Faith of Reasonable Men That which against all Reason doth conclude And founded is on Contradiction Sure God so strange a Law did never give That Men must not be Men if they Beleeve 215. No 't was not God but Man who made that Law And by enacting it usurped more Than God-like Power on those he won to bow Their Superstitious Necks to this new Lore By which to brutish Sottishnesse they are Enslav'd who free by Christian Title were 216. 'T is not enough forsooth that We beleeve Mary the Mother was to Jesus but Into the bargain too We must receive That she a Virgin still remain'd And what More ready Way her Sons Birth to deny Than by continuing her Virginity 217. If she a Mother be she must be so But if a Virgin she a Virgin is And he that can in One tie up these 〈◊〉 May reconcile the Poles into a Kisse May Midnight in the face of 〈◊〉 throw May cement in one Centre I and No 218. Yet well it were had Mary been alone The subject of this holy Nonsense But With greater impudence upon her Son It ventured and madly forging what All Rational Creatures cannot but Detest This as the sacred Rule of Faith profest 219. For though the Marvell-mongers grant that He Was moulded up but of a Mortal Metall And that his Substance was the same which we Finde in our Selves to be so weak and 〈◊〉 Yet an eternal God they make Him too And angry are that We will not doe 〈◊〉 220. Thus the quaint Madnesie of a dreaming Brain Holds the same Thing a Mountain and a Mite Fancies the Sun Lights royal Soveraign To look like swarthy and ignoble Night Imagines wretched Worms although it see Them crawl in Dirt illustrious Kings to be 221. But Heav'n forbid that we should so 〈◊〉 And think our God as poor a Thing as We How can Eternity be born in Time How can Infinitude a Baby be Or how can Heav'n and Earths almighty Lord To AEgypt flie for rear of Herod's Sword 222. Can He be hungry who doth All Things feed Can it become the King of Joy to weep Can He the God of Spirits refreshment need Can He who is all Eye e'r fall asleep Can Man the Prince of Power Crucifie Can He Lifes everlasting Fountain die 223. Such Gods as these indeed were Jupiter Mars Saturn Neptune Mercury Apollo And all that Rout to whom the Pagans rear Their cursed Altars And must we goe follow Such goodly Leaders and our Pleasure take Religion worse than Atheisme to make 224. Sure God is much beholden unto them Whose glorious Faith hath been so carefull to Heap all those vile Indignities on Him Which they Themselves abhorr to undergoe If God be such a wretched Thing no more Will I and 't is no proud Word Him adore 225. But He is as Impassible as They Would make him weak and poor He cannot bow To yeild his high almighty Selfe a Prey To our Infirmities who crawl below His super-glorious most refined Nature As far from Suffring is as from a Creature 226. I know they strive to mince the Matter by Distinguishing His Natures for their Art Being asham'd of no Absurdity Himselfe from his own Selfe presumes to part Yet we durst not admit a Deity Which must on a Distinction builded be 227. But how much more than mad their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And how transcending Pagan Blasphemy Who not content to make a God of this Both 〈◊〉 and mortal Jesus try To thrust him into one Substantial Knot With his eternal Sire who him begot 228. Two yet not Two but One these Two must be Nay and a Third into the Knot they bring The Spirit must come in to make up Three And yet tnese Three be but One single Thing Thus fast and loose they play or ev'n and oda And we a juggling Trick must have for God 229. If God be One then let him be so still Why jumble We We know not what together Did all the World not know their God untill This old Blinde Age discover'd Him Did neither The Patriarks Beleeve nor Prophets See Aright because they took not One for Three 230. I and my Brethren are full well content T' aspire unto no other Paradise Than that to which those Holy Hero's went Whose Faith knew no such curious Prodigies No Faith 's a grave and sober Mayd and she Loves neither Quirk nor Trick nor Forgerie 231. Let Love and Duty make of Christ as high And glorious a Thing as Wit can reach Provided that against the Deity No injury nor Sacriledge they preach If onely on such Terms He lov'd may be Him to neglect is Pietie say We. 232. But We neglect him not who merits more Of Us than all our Reverence can pay Our Necks we bow unto his gentle Lore And his Commands ambitiously obey Love is his blessed Law and hated be Those who contemn so sweet a Lord as He. 233. You see how freely our Profession We Impart to Strangers being confident That honest Truth can never shamed be Yet whether you will bow downe your consent Unto our Doctrines I uncertain am And therefore will no further lavish them 234. For if your Faith relies on Men who are Themselves but founded and built up of Dust If you by Reasons Rule disdain to square Your Pietie and take your God on Trust Which Heav'n forbid you onely are a Prize Unto Imposters fair-tongu'd Fallacies 235. He ceased here When Logos louting low His fawning head to Psyche gave her Joy That she had met so grave a Doctor now Whose radiant Knowledge might light her the way To genaine Truth through those thick Foggs which here Make dim and black Religions Hemisphear 236. And take good heed said He sweet Madame that You serve Him not as you Authades did O what substantial Arguments and what Religious Motives hath he mustered In this concise Discourse whose depth might well Be owned by the holiest Oracle 237. Psyche whose tender Heart not long agoe Would have abhorr ' d this venomous Language more Than doth the Lamb the Wolfe or Lyon who Nothing but barbarous Death to it doth roar Had now forgot her pious jealous fear And knew not what it meant to be aware 238. Haeretick Poyson she already had Suck'd from Authades which no sooner wun Her fond Hearts Approbation but it made An open Chanel for more streams to run Into Her Bosome Thus an Army by One little Breach poures in its Victory 239. She yeilds to swallow the Cerinthian Bait And thanks unto her Murderer strives to pay Dear Sir said she your solid Reasons Weight Doth on my Heart such sound Persuasion lay That needs it must submit and study how To be for ever gratefull unto you 240. Scarce had she spoke but loe her Doctor who Espyed Phylax flying thither took His hasty leave but pass'd his Promise to Meet her again and bad her for him look The next day there Alas the Cheater was Afraid the Angel might his
ne're have kindled their own flames So all the Rays of Goodnes which make fine Created Eyes are Sparks of the Divine 328. Meer Sparks indeed who of their weaknes by Their twinckling tremor plain Confession make But Gods supream original Bonity From its own Home doth its Dimensions take It lives and flames in his unbounded Breast And fils with sweetest fulnes all its nest 329. Heer The lema leap'd in who now had found That God alone was absolutely good And fain she would her ravish'd self have drown'd In this delicious Attribute's deer flood But Psyche reind her in whose life she meant Should in another sacrifice be spent 330. Her fourth days Task was wonderous hard and high For now her thoughts adventured to look On the vast Volumes of Immensitie Which were the sacred admirable Book Of her great Makers face a Book which made All Heav'n and Earth to lesse than Nothing fade 331. But as her Contemplations wander'd here The further they went on the further they Were from their end and in their boundlesse Spheat Lost both themselves and their increasing way Yet Psyche found her Heart fill'd with Delight Thus to be lost from Morning unto Night 332. Oft did she cry What though by Loosing I Am fain to finde and by being Blinde to See What though I cannot Comprehend but by Granting mine own want of Capacitie I am content dear Lord since I by this Negation thy Greatnes doe Confesse 333. I see thou art Immense and Infinite Therefore I see thee not yet see thee more By this unable and denying sight Than they whose saucy Eyes dare by the poor Comparison of whatsoe'r it be Expresse the Measure of the Deitie 334. But since thou art so great ô mighty Lord. Whence is it that Mans narrow Heart to thee An acceptable dwelling can afford How is it that thy Eave's Immensitie Shrinks up thy Nature's which is yet as great As 't was before ev'n in this litle seat 335. The fifth day summond all her Might to view The matchlesse Power of the Deitie Strait in her face the whole Creation flew With witnes of its Author's strength which she Read from the fairest Heav'ns sublimest Crest Down to the gloomy Centre 's lowest Nest. 336. And though the universal Fabrick were The full Expansion of Magnificence Yet oft she chose the smallest Character Of close short-writ Epitomies and thence Observ'd Gods finger-worke in little flies As great as was his Arms in widest skies 337. But Man took up her deepest Admiration Man the rich extract of all things beside The wondrous Juncture of the whole Creation By which the Heav'n unto the Earth is ty'd Yea more than Heav'n for God unto the Creature Is married by none but Humane Nature 338. Yet not content thus at the second Hand To feed her hungry Meditations she Gallantly made a further venture and Gaz'd on her Makers naked Potencie Where she discover'd strength enough to build More Worlds than Atoms she in this beheld 339. No Bounds nor Bars she saw which could forbid The pleasure of his Hand but onely those Which Contradiction had established Yet they were not his Power to enclose But to demonstrate that his noble Might Could nothing doe but what was True and Right 340. O how she pittied those Princes who Upon exterior helps misplace the Name Of strength and dread not what all foes can doe If they have once prevail'd with vaunting Fame To publish to the World their numerous Force Of Castles Ships Arms Money Men and Horse 341. For what are those swoll'n Names unto a King Whose Arms as short whose Sinews are as weak As are his meanest Servants who can bring No Legions into the field nor wreak His challeng'd furie on his ready foe Unless His be his Subjects Pleasure too 342. Can his sole Word the Battell fight and wrest The Laurell from his strugling Enemies O no his Power doth in Others rest More than himself and if by Mutinies Unhappy Spark Rebellions flame breaks out By his own Strength his Overthrow is wrought 343. But Psyche saw how her Creators Might Fast unto his own Will alone was cham'd Omnipotence when e'r he pleas'd to fight 〈◊〉 all his Marches for it reignd In 〈◊〉 vast Hand which doth support and stay All other Arms from mouldering away 344. Yet though thus Potent He is also 〈◊〉 And She as such the sixt Day Him admired Deeply she weighed how all Ages held One Principle of Boldness and conspired Against their Patient God as if his strong Right-hand were bound because He held his Tongue 345. Amaz'd she was to see how He kept under Incensed Justice who would fain have thrown His ready Veng'ance dress'd in dreadfull Thunder In Warrs in Plagues in Drought in Famine down Upon the wretched Heads and Hearts of those Who durst in spight of Mercy be his Foes 346. Indeed she saw that Mercy fix her Eye Upon the Rainbow where she seem'd to read An Obligation of her Lenitie Though Heav'n-defying Sin bore up its Head Never so high Yet by her own Consent Yea and Desire that Signall Bow was bent 347. The Bow was bent yet not to shoot but show How Mercy bound her self to doe her best The World to shelter from a second Blow Which from the first her onely Love releast Else had the Deluge not repented and To Earth made restitution of drie Land 348. This Speculation inform'd her how Much more heroick is the Victory When Sweetness wreaths the Bay about the Brow Than when plain force doth snatch it thither He In whom both are supreme takes more delight In conquering by his Mercy than his Might 349. And ô may I said when Night at length Warn'd this her Meditation to conclude Not by the Dint of thy all-conquering Strength Dear Lord but by thy Mercy be subdu'd If on a Worme thy Power thou wilt trie O let it be the Might of Lenity 350. But then the seavnth Day gave her Thoughts their cue To trace the Wonders of his Glory which Did from the antecedent Week accrew And with transcendent Brightnes Him enrich Brightness which gave Heav'ns Quire their task to sing Eternal Hallelujahs to their King 351. And ravish'd heer with mighty Joy and Love She needs would take with Them her Part of Praise With utmost Zeals intension she strove Her Acclamations to their Key to raise And though she could not sing so high nor clear Yet did her Musick please Heavn's candid ear 352. She Thought and Sung and then she Thought again For still new floods came rouling in upon Her God's other Attributes illustrious Train Themselves in Homage pay unto his Honour In whose incomparable Vastness they Can all their owne Infinitudes display 353. What ever breaths or lives or has the least Share of Existence constant Tribute brings Unto this Treasurie as well's the best And brightest Cherub yea ev'n empty Things Defects and Sinns though not by Doing yet By Suffring what they merit render it 354. And shall
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
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
Thrice happy Saint to Heav'n he onely sunk But I in this black Gulfe of hideous Ire Must downward dive and overwhelmed be In Derelictions vast Profunditie 48. I would not fear the most appalling Face Of any Sorrow which did not preclude The sight of Thine but now Thine Eyes alas By these of Mine no longer must be viewd How shall I steer through this vast Sea who may Not see the Stars which are to guide my way 49. Here having knock'd her Breast and turn'd her Eye Her generous Eye three times unto the Cup She chid her Selfe profoundly with a Sigh And looking then with noble fervor up Yet why should I demur she cri'd since mine Own Will is not mine own but long since Thine 50. If any Title to my Selfe I had I might be tender of my Ease and Rest But since to Thee a Deed of Gift I made Or rather of due Pay Thou art possest Intirely of Me nor must I refuse That Thou what is thine own shouldst freely use 51. I am no further I than thou wilt grant Propriety is no such Thing to Me And I who nothing have can Nothing want So long as I resigned am to Thee Thy Will in Sweetnesse alwayes equal is Though our false Taste doe sometimes judge amisse 52. And now I know thy Will is mingled here With this sad Potion what soever be The present Rellish Psyche doth not fear But it will end in purest Suavity I fear it not and here she took the Cup And bravely to the Bottome drunk it up 53. As he who has in Poison quaffed deep And drownd Himselfe in what he swallow'd down Quickly perceives the groping Mischief creep About his Heart where being Victor grown It s fatal Chains of cold and heavy Lead Upon its fainting Prisner it doth spread 54. So Psyche having poured down this sad And horrid Draught soon felt its woefull Force Upon her Soule its Patterie it made Which prov'd to weak to stop its mighty Course The Deluge broke into her Heart and there With uncontrolled Power did domineer 55. Forth with the Clouds which had beset the Aire Broke up their gloomy Seige the Phantomes fled Serenity made all the Welkin fair The Rocks left Quaking Birds began to spred Their cheerly Wings abroad Beasts ventur'd out So did the Sun and pour'd his Gold about 56. The World to every Thing grew fresh and clear But unto Psyche for distressed she Perceived no mutation which could cheer The cloudy Region of her Agonie The Brightnesse of the Day to her was more Black than the Veil of Pitch She saw before 57. Thus cheerly Musick is but Torment to A pained Ear Thus Neighbours Liberty With stricter Chains doth gripe the Prisners Woe Thus Candles to the Blinde but Mockings be Thus Gales though cool and gentle nothing slake The boiling Flames but them more furious make 58. Alas her outward Selfe long since had she Forgot and knew not what such Comforts meant Above the Sphear of Sensibility She had established her sole Content What is 't to her that Phoebus shineth fair Upon her face whose Joies above him were 59. This little glaring Thing this mortal Sun Was not the King and Father of her Day Her Morning dawn'd with Jesu's eyes alone The glorious Fountains of her gallant Joy And how how can she live now she no more Can feed upon that Blisse as heretofore 60. Her Soule look'd up alas but look'd in 〈◊〉 For on its Eye-lids sate so thick a Night That from that happy Prospect it did chain And keep close Prisner her unhappy Sight And lesse is Blinde Mens Grief than theirs 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Nothing at all 〈◊〉 their own Misery 61. For unto this and this alone her Eyes Wide open were yea though she shut then 〈◊〉 Still her importunate Calamities And Desolations would themselves expose In full array unto her View in spight Of any Veil which could against them fight 62. Tortur'd by this unsufferable Losse For she had never been alone till now Spreading to Heav'n her woefull Hands 〈◊〉 To her Devotions she her Knees did bow And in an helplesse lamentable hue Thus to her 〈◊〉 wonted 〈◊〉 did sue 63. My God where e'r Thou art Why Why wilt Thou Who every where canst thy great Selte display Unto thine Handmaid not one glimpse allow Who once enjoy'd thy Favoure Highnoon Day Which had I never done my present Pain With such excessive Anguish would not reign 64. Hath not thy boundlesse Sweetnesse taught my Heart Compleat Disrellish of all Things beside Where grows the Balsame then which for my Smart And Me can any Lenitive provide So long as most abandon'd I in this Black Death the Life of thy sweet Aspect 〈◊〉 65. Strong was this Crie for all the Heav'ns it rent But yet it could not make them hear and She Who never untill now had thither sent Her Prayers in vain amazed was to see These which so loud about her Spouse resounded Back to her Breast with Emptinesse rebounded 66. Yet as the noble Palme though on her Head A massie churlish sturdy Burden lies With valiant Patience still goes on to spreac Her inderatigable Arms and tries How she may both her sad Affiiction bear And her ambitious Boughs still higher rear 67. So galiant Psyche though now on her Back This Load more ponderous than Mountains lay Bravely resolved not to let it crack Nor her most loyal Patience betray She knew what Jesus underwent before And that his Love deserv'd thus much and more 68. Confirmed therefore to her Task she went And spurr'd up Logos to his daily Part Whom upon Contemplations Wings she sent To fetch some Comfort for her pined Heart Vnto Heav'ns Treasurie she sent Him where 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 meet with high and holy Chear 69. But every Night when he returned home Alas he nothing brought but saplesse Fare Lank drie Results whose Bulk and Total Sum She never saw amount to more than bare And flashie Uselessenesse resembling that 〈…〉 thither lately shot 〈◊〉 This sad Miscartiage fully did a wake The fountains of her Eyes which liberal were In 〈◊〉 Drops by that thick showre to slake Or empty out the Grief which flam'd in her Yet all this woefull Brine she thus did poure But onely 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Cheeks and 〈◊〉 her more 71. Thus cross'd and disappointed every way Though she a fair and full Temptation had No more to Mock her selfe and waste the day In fruitlesse Toile Yet she this Statute made Unto her Selfe Her Duty still to doe Whether Heav'n would regard her Pains or 〈◊〉 72. So when the unrelenting Storm hath driven The Mariner into the boiling Main And with thick Clouds so veild the face of Heav'n That he direction from no Star can gain He yeildeth not to all those Miseries But plies his Oars whether He lives or dies 73. Her Tears she poured still her Sighs she blew Her Hands she Lifted up her Knees she bent She knock'd her Breast her Contemplations fiew Their wonted flight her
of the Rest That supream Diademe which flam'd upon The Head of Jesus fully was possest Of all this Multitude for bounteous He Did lay in Common all Propriety 135. Thus whatsoever Honor decks the Brow Or Consolation smileth in the Heart Its beams are not confined there but flow With Brotherly Affection to each Part That the whole Body may engaged be To make a private Comfort publike Glee 136. And yet these so united Spirits were By several Stations distinguished Nine blessed Orders were divided there Which in three Hierarchik Classe's did Conjoin again and by their single Three Thrice imitate th' eternal Trinity 137. With these the Saints did intermixed reign And fill'd the Places of those Spirits who Hoping against their Maker to maintain Their sturdy Stomacks into Arms did goe But over-whelm'd by his Almighty Tide Their Rume onely gained by their Pride 138. By that proportion of Humility And holy Love they practis'd here below The Measures of their Recompence the high And righteous King of Bounty did bestow Which though they in degrees much difference shew'd Yet every One enjoyed Plenitude 139. So when a thousand Vessells great and small Into the Sea are thrown though some receive More of the Ocean far than others All Are fill'd brim full nor can the Lesser grieve Their Brethrens fairer Amplitude to see Since they no fuller than the Smallest be 140. But how to blazon these bright Honors how To sound this boundlesse Sea of equal Pleasures How to compute this vast Account and know The Total Summ of perfect Blisse's Treasures Posed their highest strength and deepest Wit Who were infeofed and possest of it 141. Yet all the Homage which they paid for this Supremacy of Glory was to Praise Admire and Love and Blesse and Chant out His Eternal Name and Fame who then did raise To this Capacity of Exulation O blessed Life whose Task is Acclamation 142. Through this illustrious Maze of Joy and Blisse As Psyche laboured and seem'd to be In heav'n afresh at every Step by this Unwearied Quires Heroick Peans she Perceiv'd the entertainment neer as high Which cheer'd her Ear as that which fill'd her Eye 143. And now her Wonder could endure no Rein She sacrific'd her Soule to Ecstasie When loe the Seraphs Pipes let flie a Strein Of holy Triumph so exceeding high That starting at the mighty Song she shaked Her pretious Dream insunder and awaked 144. As when unhappy Adam was expell'd Out of the Sceen of Blisse sweet Paradise And on the sudden all the World beheld Planted with desolate thorny Miseries Aghast He look'd his woefull Hands he wrung And sigh'd and sobb'd to think whence he was flung 145. So Psyche having lost this glorious Sight And ravishing Musick which perplexed Her In sweet confufion for by this Delight She tempted was to wish her selfe all Ear By that intirely Eye or else that she Could teach her Eyes to Hear her Ears to See 146. Surprised was with lamentable Fright To see the grosse face of Mortality To see the glaring Beams of Natures Light To see her Selfe on her poor Pallet ly So far remov'd from Blisse's royal Sphear That on dull Earth She still was groveling here 147. Alas She cri'd what injury have I Done unto Sleep that it should mock me thus To have me up unto the glorious Skie Why should my Dreams be so industrious If by so sudden a defection They Me back unto this Deep meant to betray 148. Unhapp Life which whilst we are Awake With nothing else but Dreams dost fill our Eyes The burly Show this Mortal World doth make Is but a puffed Bulk of Vanities Where whilst we hope substantial Worth to finde We mocked are with foolish empty Winde 149. But when by Sleep We robbed are of more Than halfe our Selves and in Deaths Embleme ly Then onely dost thou suffer Us to sore To solid Joyes which yet being carried by Our Dreams faint Wings by them betrayed be And soon forget their own Soliditie 150. Deceitfull Sleep which wear'st the Name of Rest Why wilt Thou never make it good to Me Why was I with thy highest Favours blest If they must onely torture Waking Me Why Slept I if I needs must Wake and misse By setting ope mine Eyes my Sight of Blisse 151. Phylax who all this while with piercing Eye Div'd through her Bosome and Spectator was How Charis order'd all that Pageantry Which through his Pupills wondering Soule did passe Stopp'd with a Kisse that tide of Grief which ran From her complaining Lips then thus began 152. To Joy this Morning sacred is my Dear If thine Eys bottles Thou wouldst rightly spend On Sorrow lavish not the Smallest Tear But all thy Streams to Exultation lend Thy Dream has not deceiv'd Thee all was true Which it displaid to thine admiring View 153. It is enough that Heav'n doth condescend To Act it Selfe aforehand unto Thee Nor canst thou think thy Saviour doth entend To put Thee off with this No royal He Prepares thine Eyes by this short glimpse of Blisse Henceforth to See its endlesse bright Excesse 154. In patience then thine humble Soule possesse For sure this prize is worth thine Expectation Although it should attended be till this Firm World grows Weak stoops to Consummation Time at its utmost Tether cannot be More than a Span unto Eternity 155. Eternity is that which shall enhance Beatitude and crown its Diademes In hopes of which doe thou thy Soule advance And never troubled be to think that Dreams Which on thin Fancie their Foundation lay Are fickle fluid Things and start away 156. Courageous Friend the Mayd to this repli'd Brave is the Metall of thy sprightfull Heart Which easily beats back all Misfortunes Tide And can the Streams of Grief to Joy convert Full well those cheerly Looks with thee doe suit Who all my Losse canst with a Smile confute 157. But I cannot doe so Mischances throw Their own upon my Smiles with high disdain My deep Passivity will not allow Me any Art or Power to maintain A fight with Suffrings so as not to feel The Wound when in my Heart I finde the Steel 158. It is but lately since unhappy I Was quite lost in the Mist of Desolation And heavy was that blinde Calamity Which did both muffle up my Contemplation And clip those Wings that had been us'd before Unto the Pinnacles of Heav'n to sore 159. But now her Eyes again unmaked are And unto their full length her Feathers grown No sooner I in Heav'ns illustrious Sphear Or read or flie but I am tumbled down And by my journey to compleat my Crosse No Profit reap but Knowledge of My Losse 160. O I acquit my Dream from the least Guilt Of fairfac'd Fraud in every blessed Part The genuine Pulse of Truth I cleerly felt Beating right time with my exultant Heart I would not have it false for Heav'n and yet It s being true begetteth this regret 161. For had it not been the unfeined Sceen Of
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