coast And let that double-headed mountain hallow No more the honour'd name of great Apollo And may the Pegasean spring that uses To cheer the palats of the thirstie Muses Drie up and let this happie Isle of thine Preserve Apolloes harp where every line Carries a Suada with 't and doth display The banners of heav'n-born Urania Henceforth let all the world thy verse admire Before that Thracean Orpheus charming lyre He but enchanted Beasts but thy divine And higher aires bring Deities to this Isle of thine A. C. MAns Bodie 's like a house his greater bones Are the main timber and the lesser ones Are smaller splints his ribs are laths daub'd o're Plaister'd with flesh and bloud his mouth 's the doore His throat 's the narrow entrie and his heart Is the great chamber full of curious art His midriffe is a large partition-wall 'Twixt the great chamber and the spacious hall His stomack is the kitchin where the meat Is often but half sod for want of heat His splene's a vessell nature does allot To take the skumme that rises from the pot His lungs are like the bellows that respire In ev'ry office quickning ev'ry fire His nose the chimney is whereby are vented Such fumes as with the bellows are augmented His bowels are the sink whose part 's to drein All noisome filth and keep the kitchin clean His eyes are crystall windows cleare and bright Let in the object and let out the sight And as the timber is or great or small Or strong or weak 't is apt to stand or fall Yet is the likeliest building sometimes known To fall by obvious chances overthrown Ofttimes by tempests by the full-mouth'd blasts Of heav'n sometimes by fire sometimes it wastes Through unadvis'd neglect put case the stuffe Were ruine-proofe by nature strong enough To conquer time and age put case it should Ne're know an end alas our leases would What hast thou then proud flesh and bloud to boast Thy dayes are evil at best but few at most But sad as merriest and but weak at strongest Vnsure at surest and but short at longest FRAN. QUARLES THE PURPLE ISLAND OR THE ISLE OF MAN CANT I. STAN I. THe warmer Sun the golden Bull outran And with the Twins made haste to inne and play Scatt'ring ten thousand flowres he new began To paint the world and piece the length'ning day The world more aged by new youths accrewing Ah wretched man this wretched world pursuing Which still grows worse by age older by renewing 2 The shepherd-boyes who with the Muses dwell Met in the plain their May-lords new to chuse For two they yearely chuse to order well Their rurall sports and yeare that next ensues Now were they sat where by the orchyard walls The learned Chame with stealing water crawls And lowly down before that royall temple falls 3 Among the rout they take two gentle swains Whose sprouting youth did now but greenly bud Well could they pipe and sing but yet their strains Were onely known unto the silent wood Their nearest bloud from self-same fountains flow Their souls self-same in nearer love did grow So seem'd two joyn'd in one or one disjoyn'd in two 4 Now when the shepherd-lads with common voice Their first consent had firmly ratifi'd A gentle boy thus 'gan to wave their choice Thirsil said he though yet thy Muse untri'd Hath onely learn'd in private shades to feigne Soft sighs of love unto a looser strain Or thy poore Thelgons wrong in mournfull verse to plain 5 Yet since the shepherd-swains do all consent To make thee lord of them and of their art And that choice lad to give a full content Hath joyn'd with thee in office as in heart Wake wake thy long thy too long sleeping Muse And thank them with a song as is the use Such honour thus conferr'd thou mayst not well refuse 6 Sing what thou list be it of Cupids spite Ah lovely spite and spitefull lovelinesse Or Gemma's grief if sadder be thy sprite Begin thou loved swain with good successe Ah said the bashfull boy such wanton toyes A better minde and sacred vow destroyes Since in a higher love I setled all my joyes 7 New light new love new love new life hath bred A life that lives by love and loves by light A love to him to whom all loves are wed A light to whom the Sunne is darkest night Eyes light hearts love souls onely life he is Life soul love heart light eye and all are his He eye light heart love soul he all my joy blisse 8 But if you deigne my ruder pipe to heare Rude pipe unus'd untun'd unworthy hearing These infantine beginnings gently bear Whose best desert and hope must be your bearing But you O Muses by soft Chamus sitting Your daintie songs unto his murmures fitting Which bears the under-song unto your chearfull dittying 9 Tell me ye Muses what our father-ages Have left succeeding times to play upon What now remains unthought on by those Sages Where a new Muse may trie her pineon What lightning Heroes like great Peleus heir Darting his beams through our hard-frozen aire May stirre up gentle heat and vertues wane repair 10 Who knows not Iason or bold Tiphys hand That durst unite what Natures self would part He makes Isles continent and all one land O're seas as earth he march'd with dangerous art He rides the white-mouth'd waves and scorneth all Those thousand deaths wide gaping for his fall He death defies fenc't with a thin low wooden wall 11 Who ha's not often read Troyes twice-sung fires And at the second time twice better sung Who ha's not heard th' Arcadian shepherds quires Which now have gladly chang'd their native tongue And sitting by slow Mincius sport their fill With sweeter voice and never equall'd skill Chaunting their amorous layes unto a Romane quill 12 And thou choice wit Loves scholar and Loves master Art known to all where Love himself is known Whether thou bidd'st Vlysses hie him faster Or dost thy fault and distant exile moan Who ha's not seen upon the mourning stage Dire Atreus feast and wrong'd Medea's rage Marching in tragick state and buskin'd equipage 13 And now of late th' Italian fisher-swain Sits on the shore to watch his trembling line There teaches rocks and prouder seas to plain By Nesis fair and fairer Mergiline While his thinne net upon his oars twin'd With wanton strife catches the Sunne and winde Which still do slip away and still remain behinde 14 And that French Muses eagle eye and wing Hath soar'd to heav'n and there hath learn'd the art To frame Angelick strains and canzons sing Too high and deep for every shallow heart Ah blessed soul in those celestiall rayes Which gave thee light these lower works to blaze Thou sitt'st emparadis'd and chaunt'st eternall layes 15 Thrice happy wits which in your springing May Warm'd with the Sunne of well deserved favours Disclose your buds and your fair blooms display Perfume the aire
to the sunnie ray With gold enamels fair the silver white There heav'nly loves their prettie sportings play Firing their darts in that wide flaming light Her daintie neck spread with that silver mold Where double beautie doth it self unfold In th' own fair silver shines and fairer borrow'd gold 86 His breast a rock of purest alabaster Where Loves self sailing shipwrackt often sitteth Hers a twinne-rock unknown but to th' ship-master Which harbours him alone all other splitteth Where better could her love then here have nested Or he his thoughts then here more sweetly feasted Then both their love thoughts in each are ever rested 87 Runne now you shepherd-swains ah run you thither Where this fair Bridegroom leads the blessed way And haste you lovely maids haste you together With this sweet Bride while yet the sunne-shine day Guides your blinde steps while yet loud summons call That every wood hill resounds withall Come Hymen Hymen come drest in thy golden pall 88 The sounding Echo back the musick flung While heav'nly spheres unto the voices playd But see the day is ended with my song And sporting bathes with that fair Ocean Maid Stoop now thy wing my Muse now stoop thee low Hence mayst thou freely play and rest thee now While here I hang my pipe upon the willow bough 89 So up they rose while all the shepherds throng With their loud pipes a countrey triumph blew And led their Thirsil home with joyfull song Mean time the lovely Nymphs with garlands new His locks in Bay and honour'd Palm-tree bound With Lilies set and Hyacinths around And Lord of all the yeare and their May-sportings crown'd FINIS PISCATORIE ECLOGS AND OTHER POETICALL MISCELLANIES By P. F. ¶ Printed by the Printers to the UNIVERSITIE of CAMBRIDGE 1633. Anag Edward Benlowes Sun-warde beloved While Panses Sun = ward look that glorious Light With gentle Beames entring their purple Bowers Shedds there his Love heat and fair to sight Prints his bright forme within their golden flowers Look in their Leaves and see begotten there The Sun̄es lesse Son̄e glitring in acure sphere So when from Shades of superstitious night Mine eye turn'd to the Sun his heavnly powers Stampt on my new-born spirit his Image bright And Love Light Life into my bosome Showers This difference They in themselves have moving But his sweet Love mee dead and Sensles proving First Loves and drawes to Love Then Lover my Soule for Loving P. F ΑΛΙΕΓΤΙΚΟ'ΠOR PISCATORIE ECLOGUES ECLOG I. AMYNTAS IT was the time faithfull Halcyone Once more enjoying new-liv'd Ceyx bed Had left her young birds to the wavering sea Bidding him calm his proud white-curled head And change his mountains to a champian lea The time when gentle Flora's lover reignes Soft creeping all along green Neptunes smoothest plains 2 When haplesse Thelgon a poore fisher-swain Came from his boat to tell the rocks his plaining In rocks he found and the high-swelling main More sense more pitie farre more love remaining Then in the great Amyntas fierce disdain Was not his peer for song 'mong all the lads Whole shrilling pipe or voice the sea-born maiden glads 3 About his head a rocky canopie And craggy hangings round a shadow threw Rebutting Phoebus parching fervencie Into his bosome Zephyr softly flew Hard by his feet the sea came waving by The while to seas and rocks poore swain he sang The while the seas rocks answ'ring loud echoes-rang 4 You goodly Nymphs that in your marble cell In spending never spend your sportfull dayes Or when you list in pearled boats of shell Glide on the dancing wave that leaping playes About the wanton skiffe and you that dwell In Neptunes court the Oceans plenteous throng Deigne you to gently heare sad Thelgons plaining song 5 When the raw blossome of my youth was yet In my first childhoods green enclosure bound Of Aquadune I learnt to fold my net And spread the sail and beat the river round And withy labyrinths in straits to set And guide my boat where Thames and Isis heire By lowly Aeton slides and Windsor proudly fair 6 There while our thinne nets dangling in the winde Hung on our oars tops I learnt to sing Among my Peers apt words to fitly binde In numerous verse witnesse thou crystall Spring Where all the lads were pebles wont to finde And you thick hasles that on Thamis brink Did oft with dallying boughs his silver waters drink 7 But when my tender youth 'gan fairly blow I chang'd large Thames for Chamus narrower seas There as my yeares so skill with yeares did grow And now my pipe the better sort did please So that with Limnus and with Belgio I durst to challenge all my fisher-peers That by learn'd Chamus banks did spend their youthfull yeares 8 And Ianus self that oft with me compared With his oft losses rais'd my victory That afterward in song he never dared Provoke my conquering pipe but enviously Deprave the songs which first his songs had marred And closely bite when now he durst not bark Hating all others light because himself was dark 9 And whether nature joyn'd with art had wrought me Or I too much beleev'd the fishers praise Or whether Phoebus self or Muses taught me Too much enclin'd to verse and Musick playes So farre credulitie and youth had brought me I sang sad Telethusa's frustrate plaint And rustick Daphnis wrong and magicks vain restraint 10 And then appeas'd young Myrtilus repining At generall contempt of shepherds life And rais'd my rime to sing of Richards climbing And taught our Chame to end the old-bred strife Mythicus claim to Nicias resigning The while his goodly Nymphs with song delighted My notes with choicest flowers garlands sweet requited 11 From thence a Shepherd great pleas'd with my song Drew me to Basilissa's Courtly place Fair Basilissa fairest maid among The Nymphs that white-cliffe Albions forrests grace Her errand drove my slender bark along The seas which wash the fruitfull Germans land And swelling Rhene whose wines run swiftly o're the sand 12 But after bold'ned with my first successe I durst assay the new-found paths that led To slavish Mosco's dullard sluggishnesse Whose slothfull Sunne all winter keeps his bed But never sleeps in summers wakefulnesse Yet all for nought another took the gain Faitour that reapt the pleasure of anothers pain 13 And travelling along the Northern plains At her command I past the bounding Twead And liv'd a while with Caledonian swains My life with fair Amyntas there I led Amyntas fair whom still my sore heart plains Yet seem'd he then to love as he was loved But ah I fear true love his high heart never proved 14 And now he haunts th' infamous woods and downs And on Napaean Nymphs doth wholly dote What cares he for poore Thelgons plaintfull sounds Thelgon poore master of a poorer boat Ianus is crept from his wont prison bounds And fits the Porter to his eare and minde What hope Amyntas love a fisher-swain should finde
While smiling heav'ns spread round a canopie Now tost with blasts and civil enmitie While whistling windes blow trumpets to their fight And roaring waves as drummes whet on their spite 8 Such cruel storms my restles heart command Late thousand joyes securely lodged there Ne fear'd I then to care ne car'd to fear But pull'd the prison'd fishes to the land Or spite of windes pip't on the golden sand But since love sway'd my breast these seas alarms Are but dead pictures of my raging harms 9 Love stirres desire desire like stormy winde Blows up high swelling waves of hope and fear Hope on his top my trembling heart doth bear Up to my heav'n but straight my lofty minde By fear sunk in despair deep drown'd I finde But ah your tempests cannot last for ever But ah my storms I fear will leave me never 10 Haples and fond too fond more haples swain Who lovest where th' art scorn'd scorn'st where th' art loved Or learn to hate where thou hast hatred proved Or learn to love where thou art lov'd again Ah cease to love or cease to woo thy pain Thy love thus scorn'd is hell do not so earn it At least learn by forgetting to unlearn it 11 Ah fond and haples swain but much more fond How canst unlearn by learning to forget it When thought of what thou should'st unlearn does whet it And surer ties thy minde in captive bond Canst thou unlearn a ditty thou hast con'd Canst thou forget a song by oft repeating Thus much more wilt thou learn by thy forgetting 12 Haplesse and fond most fond more haplesse swain Seeing thy rooted love will leave thee never She hates thy love love thou her hate for ever In vain thou hop'st hope yet though still in vain Joy in thy grief and triumph in thy pain And though reward exceedeth thy aspiring Live in her love and die in her admiring 13 Fair-cruel maid most cruel fairer ever How hath foul rigour stol'n into thy heart And on a comick stage hath learnt thee art To play a Tyrant-tragical deceiver To promise mercy but perform it never To look more sweet maskt in thy looks disguise Then Mercy self can look with Pities eyes 14 Who taught thy honied tongue the cunning slight To melt the ravisht eare with musicks strains And charm the sense with thousand pleasing pains And yet like thunder roll'd in flames and night To break the rived heart with fear and fright How rules therein thy breast so quiet state Spite leagu'd with mercy love with lovelesse hate 15 Ah no fair Coelia in thy sunne-like eye Heav'n sweetly smiles those starres soft loving fire And living heat not burning flames inspire Love's self enthron'd in thy brows ivorie And every grace in heavens liverie My wants not thine me in despairing drown When hell presumes no mar'l if heavens frown 16 Those gracefull tunes issuing from glorious spheares Ravish the eare and soul with strange delight And with sweet Nectar fill the thirsty sprite Thy honied tongue charming the melted eares Stills stormy hearts and quiets frights and fears My daring heart provokes thee and no wonder When earth so high aspires if heavens thunder 17 See see fair Coelia seas are calmly laid And end their boisterous threats in quiet peace The waves their drummes the windes their trumpets cease But my sick love ah love full ill apayd Never can hope his storms may be allayd But giving to his rage no end or leisure Still restles rests Love knows no mean or measure 18 Fond boy she justly scorns thy proud desire While thou with singing would'st forget thy pain Go strive to empty the still-flowing main Go fuell seek to quench thy growing fire Ah foolish boy scorn is thy musicks hire Drown then these flames in seas but ah I fear To fire the main and to want water there 19 There first thy heav'n I saw there felt my hell There smooth-calm seas rais'd storms of fierce desires There cooling waters kindled burning fires Nor can the Ocean quench them in thy cell Full stor'd with pleasures all my pleasures fell Die then fond lad ah well my death may please thee But love thy love not life not death must ease me 20 So down he swowning sinks nor can remove Till fisher-boyes fond fisher-boyes revive him And back again his life and loving give him But he such wofull gift doth much reprove Hopelesse his life for hopelesse is his love Go then most loving but most dolefull swain Well may I pitie she must cure thy pain FINIS ECLOG IIII. CHROMIS Thelgon Chromis Thel CHromis my joy why drop thy rainie eyes And sullen clouds hang on thy heavie brow Seems that thy net is rent and idle lies Thy merry pipe hangs broken on a bough But late thy time in hundred joyes thou spent'st Now time spends thee while thou in vain lament'st Chrom 2 Thelgon my pipe is whole and nets are new But nets and pipe contemn'd and idle lie My little reed that late so merry blew Tunes sad notes to his masters miserie Time is my foe and hates my rugged rimes And I as much hate both that hate and times Thel 3 What is it then that causeth thy unrest Or wicked charms or loves new-kindled fire Ah! much I fear love eats thy tender breast Too well I know his never quenched ire Since I Amyntas lov'd who me disdains And loves in me nought but my grief and pains Chrom 4 No lack of love did ever breed my smart I onely learn'd to pity others pain And ward my breast from his deceiving art But one I love and he loves me again In love this onely is my greatest sore He loves so much and I can love no more 5 But when the fishers trade once highly priz'd And justly honour'd in those better times By every lozel-groom I see despis'd No marvel if I hate my jocond rimes And hang my pipe upon a willow bough Might I grieve ever if I grieve not now Thel 6 Ah foolish boy why should'st thou so lament To be like him whom thou dost like so well The Prince of fishers thousand tortures rent To heav'n lad thou art bound the way by hell Would'st thou ador'd and great and merry be When he was mockt debas'd and dead for thee 7 Mens scorns should rather joy then sorrow move For then thou highest art when thou art down Their storms of hate should more blow up my love Their laughters my applause their mocks my crown Sorrow for him and shame let me betide Who for me wretch in shame and sorrow died Chrom 8 Thelgon 't is not my self for whom I plain My private losse full easie could I bear If private losse might help the publick gain But who can blame my grief or chide my fear Since now the fishers trade and honour'd name Is made the common badge of scorn and shame 9 Little know they the fishers toilsome pain Whose labour with his age still growing spends not His care and watchings
change their length the Sunne his daily race Be constant when you love Love loves not ranging Change when you sing Muses delight in changing Daph. 20 Pan loves the pine-tree Iove the oak approves High populars Alcides temples crown Phoebus though in a tree still Daphne loves And hyacinths though living now in ground Shepherds if you your selves would victours see Girt then this head with Phoebus flower and tree Thom. 21 Alcinous peares Pomona apples bore Bacchus the vine the olive Pallas chose Venus loves myrtils myrtils love the shore Venus Adonis loves who freshly blowes Yet breathes no more weave lads with myrtils roses And bay and hyacinth the garland loses Daph. 22 Mira thine eyes are those twin-heav'nly powers Which to the widowed earth new offspring bring No marvel then if still thy face so flowers And cheeks with beauteous blossomes freshly spring So is thy face a never-fading May So is thine eye a never-falling day Thom. 23 Stella thine eyes are those twin-brothers fair Which tempests slake and promise quiet seas No marvel then if thy brown shadie hair Like night por tend sweet rest and gentle ease Thus is thine eye an ever-calming light Thus is thy hair a lovers ne'r-spent night Daph. 24 If sleepy poppies yeeld to lilies white If black to snowy lambes if night to day If Western shades to fair Aurora's light Stella must yeeld to Mira's shining ray In day we sport in day we shepherds toy The night for wolves the light the shepherds joy Thom. 25 Who white-thorn equalls with the violet What workman rest compares with painfull light Who weares the glaring glasse and scorns the jet Day yeeld to her that is both day and night In night the fishers thrive the workmen play Love loves the night night's lovers holy-day Daph. 26 Fly thou the seas fly farre the dangerous shore Mira if thee the king of seas should spie He 'l think Medusa sweeter then before With fairer hair and double fairer eye Is chang'd again and with thee ebbing low In his deep courts again will never flow Thom. 27 Stella avoid both Phoebus eare and eye His musick he will scorn if thee he heare Thee Daphne if thy face by chance he spie Daphne now fairer chang'd he 'l rashly sweare And viewing thee will later rise and fall Or viewing thee will never rise at all Daph. 28 Phoebus and Pan both strive my love to gain And seek by gifts to winne my carelesse heart Pan vows with lambes to fill the fruitfull plain Apollo offers skill and pleasing art But Stella if thou grant my suit a kisse Phoebus and Pan their suit my love shall misse Thom. 29 Proteus himself and Glaucus seek unto me And twenty gifts to please my minde devise Proteus with songs Glaucus with fish doth woo me Both strive to winne but I them both despise For if my Love my love will entertain Proteus himself and Glaucus seek in vain Daph. 30 Two twin two spotted lambes my songs reward With them a cup I got where Jove assumed New shapes to mock his wives too jealous guard Full of Joves fires it burns still unconsumed But Mira if thou gently deigne to shine Thine be the cup the spotted lambes be thine Thom. 31 A pair of swannes are mine and all their train With them a cup which Thetis self bestowed As she of love did heare me sadly plain A pearled cup where Nectar oft hath flowed But if my Love will love the gift and giver Thine be the cup thine be the swannes for ever Daph. 32 Thrice happy swains thrice happy shepherds fate Thom. Ah blessed life ah blessed fishers state Your pipes asswage your love your nets maintain you Daph. Your lambkins clothe you warm your flocks sustain you Your fear no stormie seas nor tempests roaring Thom. You sit not rots or burning starres deploring In calms you fish in roughs use songs and dances Daph. More do you fear your Loves sweet-bitter glances Then certain fate or fortune ever changing Thom. Ah that the life in seas so safely ranging Should with loves weeping eye be sunk and drown'd Daph. The shepherds life Phoebus a shepherd crown'd His snowy flocks by stately Peneus leading Thom. What herb was that on which old Glaucus feeding Grows never old but now the gods augmenteth Daph. Delia her self her rigour hard relenteth To play with shepherds boy she 's not ashamed Thom. Venus of frothy seas thou first wast framed The waves thy cradle now Love's Queen art named Daph. 33 Thou gentle boy what prize may well reward thee So slender gift as this not half requites thee May prosperous starres and quiet seas regard thee But most that pleasing starre that most delights thee May Proteus still and Glaucus dearest hold thee But most her influence all safe infold thee May she with gentle beams from her fair sphear behold thee Thom. 34 As whistling windes 'gainst rocks their voices tearing As rivers through the valleys softly gliding As haven after cruel tempests fearing Such fairest boy such is thy verses sliding Thine be the prize may Pan and Phoebus grace thee Most whom thou most admir'st may she embrace thee And flaming in thy love with snowy arms enlace thee Thirsil 35 You lovely boyes full well your art you guided That with your striving songs your strife is ended So you your selves the cause have well decided And by no judge can your award be mended Then since the prize for onely one intended You both refuse we justly may reserve it And as your offering in Love's temple serve it Since none of both deserve when both so well deserve it 36 Yet for such songs should ever be rewarded Daphnis take thou this hook of ivory clearest Giv'n me by Pan when Pan my verse regarded This fears the wolf when most the wolf thou fearest But thou my Thomalin my love my dearest Take thou this pipe which oft proud storms restrained Which spite of Chamus spite I still retained Was never little pipe more soft more sweetly plained 37 And you fair troop if Thirsil you disdain not Vouch safe with me to take some short refection Excesse or daints my lowly roofs maintain not Peares apples plummes no sugred made confection So up they rose and by Love's sweet direction Sea-nymphs with shepherds sort sea-boyes complain not That wood-nymphs with like love them entertain not And all the day to songs and dances lending Too swift it runnes and spends too fast in spending With day their sports began with day they take their ending FINIS POETICALL MISCELLANIES An Hymen at the Marriage of my most deare Cousins Mr. W. and M. R. CHamus that with thy yellow-sanded stream Slid'st softly down where thousand Muses dwell Gracing their bowres but thou more grac'd by them Heark Chamus from thy low-built greeny cell Heark how our Kentish woods with Hymen ring While all the Nymphs and all the shepherds sing Hymen oh Hymen here thy saffron garment bring With him a shoal of goodly shepherd-swains Yet he more goodly
greedie minde The sad Hungarian fears his tried might And waning Persia trembles at his sight His greener youth most with the heathen spent Gives Christian Princes justest cause to fear His riper age whose childhood thus is bent A thousand trophies will he shortly rear Unlesse that God who gave him first this rage Binde his proud head in humble vassalage To Mr. Jo. Tomkins THomalin my lief thy musick strains to heare More raps my soul then when the swelling windes On craggie rocks their whistling voices tear Or when the sea if stopt his course he findes With broken murmures thinks weak shores to fear Scorning such sandie cords his proud head bindes More then where rivers in the summers ray Through covert glades cutting their shadie way Run tumbling down the lawns with the pebles play Thy strains to heare old Chamus from his cell Comes guarded with an hundred Nymphs around An hundred Nymphs that in his rivers dwell About him flock with water-lilies crown'd For thee the Muses leave their silver well And marvel where thou all their art hast found There sitting they admire thy dainty strains And while thy sadder accent sweetly plains Feel thousand sugred joyes creep in their melting veins How oft have I the Muses bower frequenting Miss'd them at home and found them all with thee Whether thou sing'st sad Eupathus lamenting Or tunest notes to sacred harmonie The ravisht soul with thy sweet songs consenting Scorning the earth in heav'nly extasie Transcends the starres and with the angels train Those courts survaies and now come back again Findes yet another heav'n in thy delightfull strain Ah! could'st thou here thy humble minde content Lowly with me to live in countrey cell And learn suspect the courts proud blandishment Here might we safe here might we sweetly dwell Live Pallas in her towers and marble tent But ah the countrey bowers please me as well There with my Thomalin I safe would sing And frame sweet ditties to thy sweeter string There would we laugh at spite and fortunes thundering No flattery hate or envy lodgeth there There no suspicion wall'd in proved steel Yet fearfull of the arms her self doth wear Pride is not there no tyrant there we feel No clamorous laws shall deaf thy musick eare They know no change nor wanton fortunes wheel Thousand fresh sports grow in those daintie places Light Fawns Nymphs dance in the woodie spaces And little Love himself plaies with the naked Graces But seeing fate my happie wish refuses Let me alone enjoy my low estate Of all the gifts that fair Parnassus uses Onely scorn'd povertie and fortunes hate Common I finde to me and to the Muses But with the Muses welcome poorest fate Safe in my humble cottage will I rest And lifting up from my untainted breast A quiet spirit to heav'n securely live and blest To thee I here bequeath the courtly joyes Seeing to court my Thomalin is bent Take from thy Thirsil these his idle toyes Here I will end my looser merriment And when thou sing'st them to the wanton boyes Among the courtly lasses blandishment Think of thy Thirsil's love that never spends And softly say his love still better mends Ah too unlike the love of court or courtly friends Go little pipe for ever I must leave thee My little little pipe but sweetest ever Go go for I have vow'd to see thee never Never ah never must I more receive thee But he in better love will still persever Go little pipe for I must have a new Farewell ye Norfolk maids and Ida crue Thirsil will play no more for ever now adieu To Thomalin THomalin since Thirsil nothing ha's to leave thee And leave thee must pardon me gentle friend If nothing but my love I onely give thee Yet see how great this Nothing is I send For though this love of thine I sweetest prove Nothing 's more sweet then is this sweetest love The souldier Nothing like his prey esteems Nothing toss'd sailers equal with the shore Nothing before his health the sick man deems The pilgrim hugges his countrey Nothing more The miser hoording up his golden wares This Nothing with his precious wealth compares Our thoughts ambition onely Nothing ends Nothing fills up the golden-dropsied minde The prodigall that all so lavish spends Yet Nothing cannot Nothing stayes behinde The King that with his life a kingdome buyes Then life or crown doth Nothing higher prize Who all enjoyes yet Nothing now desires Nothing is greater then the highest Iove Who dwells in heav'n then Nothing more requires Love more then honey Nothing more sweet then love Nothing is onely better then the best Nothing is sure Nothing is ever blest I love my health my life my books my friends Thee dearest Thomalin Nothing above thee For when my books friends health life fainting ends When thy love fails yet Nothing still will love me When heav'n and aire the earth and floating mains Are gone yet Nothing still untoucht remains Since then to other streams I must betake me And spitefull Chame of all ha's quite bereft me Since Muses selves false Muses will forsake me And but this Nothing nothing els is left me Take thou my love and keep it still in store That given Nothing now remaineth more Against a rich man despising povertie IF well thou view'st us with no squinted eye No partiall judgement thou wilt quickly rate Thy wealth no richer then my povertie My want no poorer then thy rich estate Our ends and births alike in this as I Poore thou wert born and poore again shalt die My little fills my little-wishing minde Thou having more then much yet seekest more Who seeks still wishes what he seeks to finde Who wishes wants and who so wants is poore Then this must follow of necessitie Poore are thy riches rich my povertie Though still thou gett'st yet is thy want not spent But as thy wealth so growes thy wealthy itch But with my little I have much content Content hath all and who hath all is rich Then this in reason thou must needs confesse If I have little yet that thou hast lesse What ever man possesses God hath lent And to his audit liable is ever To reckon how and where and when he spent Then this thou bragg'st thou art a great receiver Little my debt when little is my store The more thou hast thy debt still growes the more But seeing God himself descended down T' enrich the poore by his rich povertie His meat his house his grave were not his own Yet all is his from all eternitie Let me be like my Head whom I adore Be thou great wealthie I still base and poore Contemnenti COntinuall burning yet no fire or fuel Chill icie frosts in midst of summers frying A hell most pleasing and a heav'n most cruel A death still living and a life still dying And whatsoever pains poore hearts can prove I feel and utter in one word I LOVE Two fires of love and grief each upon
kisse his rod 17 My deare once all my joy now all my care To these my words these my last words apply thee Give me thy hand these my last greetings are Shew me thy face I never more shall eye thee Ah would our boyes our lesser selves were by thee Those my ' live pictures to the world I give So single onely die in them twice-two I live 18 Your little souls your sweetest times enjoy And softly spend among your mothers kisses And with your prettie sports and hurtlesse joy Supply your weeping mothers grievous misses Ah while you may enjoy your little blisses While yet you nothing know when back you view Sweet will this knowledge seem when yet you nothing knew 19 For when to riper times your yeares arrive No more ah then no more may you go play you Lancht in the deep farre from the wished hive Change of worlds tépests through blinde seas will sway you Till to the long-long'd haven they convey you Through many a wave this brittle life must passe And cut the churlish seas shipt in a bark of glasse 20 How many ships in quick-sands swallow'd been What gaping waves whales monsters there expect you How many rocks much sooner felt then seen Yet let no fear no coward fright affect you He holds the stern and he will safe direct you Who to my sails thus long so gently blew That now I touch the shore before the seas I knew 21 I touch the shore and see my rest preparing Oh blessed God! how infinite a blessing Is in this thought that through this troubled faring Through all the faults this guiltie age depressing I guiltlesse past no helplesse man oppressing And coming now to thee lift to the skies Unbribed hands cleans'd heart and never tainted eyes 22 Life life how many Sylla's dost thou hide In thy calm streams which sooner kill then threaten Gold honour greatnesse and their daughter pride More quiet lives and lesse with tempests beaten Whose middle state content doth richly sweeten He knows not strife or brabling lawyers brawls His love and wish live pleas'd within his private walls 23 The King he never sees nor fears nor prayes Nor sits court-promise and false hopes lamenting Within that house he spends and ends his dayes Where day he viewed first his hearts contenting His wife and babes nor sits new joyes inventing Unspotted there and quiet he remains And 'mong his duteous sonnes most lov'd and fearlesse reignes 24 Thou God of peace with what a gentle tide Through this worlds raging tempest hast thou brought me Thou thou my open soul didst safely hide When thousand crafty foes so nearely sought me Els had the endlesse pit too quickly caught me That endlesse pit where it is easier never To fall then being fall'n to cease from falling ever 25 I never knew or want or luxurie Much lesse their followers or cares tormenting Or ranging lust or base-bred flatterie I lov'd and was belov'd with like consenting My hate was hers her joy my sole contenting Thus long I liv'd and yet have never prov'd Whether I lov'd her more or more by her was lov'd 26 Foure babes the fift with thee I soon shall finde With equall grace in soul and bodie fram'd And left these goods might swell my bladder'd minde Which last I name but should not last be nam'd A sicknesse long my stubborn heart hath tam'd And taught me pleasing goods are not the best But most unblest he lives that lives here ever blest 27 Ah life once vertues spring now sink of evil Thou change of pleasing pain and painfull pleasure Thou brittle painted bubble shop o' th' devil How dost thou bribe us with false gilded treasure That in thy joyes we finde no mean or measure How dost thou witch I know thou dost deceive me I know I should I must and yet I would not leave thee 28 Ah death once greatest ill now onely blessing Untroubled sleep short travel ever resting All sicknesse cure thou end of all distressing Thou one meals fast usher to endlesse feasting Though hopelesse griefs crie out thy aid requesting Though thou art sweetned by a life most hatefull How is 't that when thou com'st thy coming is ungratefull 29 Frail flesh why would'st thou keep a hated guest And him refuse whom thou hast oft invited Life thy tormenter death thy sleep and rest And thou poore soul why at his sight art frighted Who clears thine eyes and makes thee eagle-sighted Mount now my soul seat thee in thy throne Thou shalt be one with him by whom thou first wast one 30 Why should'st thou love this star this borrow'd light And not that Sunne at which thou oft hast guessed But guess'd in vain which dares thy piercing sight Which never was which cannot be expressed Why lov'st thy load joy'st to be oppressed Seest thou those joyes those thousand thousand graces Mount now my soul leap to those outstretcht embraces 31 Deare countrey I must leave thee and in thee No benefit which most doth pierce and grieve me Yet had not hasty death prevented me I would repay my life and somewhat give thee My sonnes for that I leave and so I leave thee Thus heav'n commands the lord outrides the page And is arriv'd before death hath prevented age 32 My dearest Bettie my more loved heart I leave thee now with thee all earthly joying Heav'n knows with thee alone I sadly part All other earthly sweets have had their cloying Yet never full of thy sweet loves enjoying Thy constant loves next heav'n I did referre them Had not much grace prevail'd 'fore heav'n I should preferre them 33 I leave them now the trumpet calls away In vain thine eyes beg for some times reprieving Yet in my children here immortall stay In one I die in many ones am living In them and for them stay thy too much grieving Look but on them in them thou still wilt see Marry'd with thee again thy twice-two Antonie 34 And when with little hands they stroke thy face As in thy lap they sit ah carelesse playing And stammering ask a kisse give them a brace The last from me and then a little staying And in their face some part of me survaying In them give me a third and with a teare Shew thy deare love to him who lov'd thee ever deare 35 And now our falling house leans all on thee This little nation to thy care commend them In thee it lies that hence they want not me Themselves yet cannot thou the more defend them And when green age permits to goodnesse bend them A mother were you once now both you are Then with this double style double your love and care 36 Turn their unwarie steps into the way What first the vessel drinks it long retaineth No barres will hold when they have us'd to stray And when for me one asks and weeping plaineth Point thou to heav'n and say he there remaineth And if they live in grace grow and persever There shall they
gold in deepest centre dwells So sweetest violets trail on lowly ground So richest pearls ly clos'd in vilest shells So lowest dales we let at highest rates So creeping strawberries yeeld daintiest cates The Highest highly loves the low the loftie hates 17 Upon his shield was drawn that Shepherd lad Who with a sling threw down faint Israels fears And in his hand his spoils and trophies glad The Monsters sword and head he bravely bears Plain in his lovely face you might behold A blushing meeknesse met with courage bold Little not little worth was fairly wrote in gold 18 With him his kinsman both in birth and name Obedience taught by many bitter showers In humble bonds his passions proud to tame And low submit unto the higher powers But yet no servile yoke his forehead brands For ti'd in such an holy service bands In this obedience rules and serving thus commands 19 By them went Fido Marshal of the field Weak was his mother when she gave him day And he at first a sick and weakly childe As e're with tears welcom'd the sunnie ray Yet when more yeares afford more growth might A champion stout he was and puissant Knight As ever came in field or shone in armour bright 20 So may we see a little lionet When newly whelpt a weak and tender thing Despis'd by every beast but waxen great When fuller times full strength and courage bring The beasts all crouching low their King adore And dare not see what they contemn'd before The trembling forrest quakes at his affrighting roar 21 Mountains he flings in seas with mighty hand Stops and turns back the Sunnes impetuous course Nature breaks natures laws at his command No force of hell or heav'n withstands his force Events to come yet many ages hence He present makes by wondrous prescience Proving the senses blinde by being blinde to sense 22 His sky-like arms di'd all in blue and white And set with golden starres that flamed wide His shield invisible to mortall sight Yet he upon it easily descri'd The lively semblance of his dying Lord Whose bleeding side with wicked steel was gor'd Which to his fainting spirits new courage would afford 23 Strange was the force of that enchanted shield Which highest powers to it from heav'n impart For who could bear it well and rightly wield It sav'd from sword and spear and poison'd dart Well might he slip but yet not wholly fall No finall losse his courage might appall Growing more sound by wounds and rising by his fall 24 So some have feign'd that Tellus giant sonne Drew many new-born lives from his dead mother Another rose as soon as one was done And twentie lost yet still remain'd another For when he fell and kist the barren heath His parent straight inspir'd successive breath And though her self was dead yet ransom'd him from death 25 With him his Nurse went carefull Acoe Whose hands first from his mothers wombe did take him And ever since have foster'd tenderly She never might she never would forsake him And he her lov'd again with mutuall band For by her needfull help he oft did stand When else he soon would fail and fall in foemens hand 26 With both sweet Meditation ever pac't His Nurses daughter and his Foster-sister Deare as his soul he in his soul her plac't And oft embrac't and oft by stealth he kist her For she had taught him by her silent talk To tread the safe and dangerous wayes to balk And brought his God with him him with his God to walk 27 Behinde him Penitence did sadly go Whose cloudie dropping eyes were ever raining Her swelling tears which ev'n in ebbing flow Furrow her cheek the sinfull puddles draining Much seem'd she in her pensive thought molested And much the mocking world her soul infested More she the hatefull world and most her self detested 28 She was the object of lewd mens disgrace The squint-ey'd wrie-mouth'd scoffe of carnall hearts Yet smiling heav'n delights to kisse her face And with his bloud God bathes her painfull smarts Afflictions iron flail her soul had thrasht Sharp Circumcisions knife her heart had slasht Yet was it angels wine which in her eyes was masht 29 With her a troop of mournfull grooms abiding Help with their sullen blacks their Mistresse wo Amendment still but still his own faults chiding And Penance arm'd with smarting whips did go Then sad Remorse came sighing all the way Last Satisfaction giving all away Much surely did he owe much more he would repay 30 Next went Elpinus clad in skie-like blue And through his arms few starres did seem to peep Which there the workmans hand so finely drew That rockt in clouds they softly seem'd to sleep His rugged shield was like a rockie mold On which an anchour bit with surest hold I hold by being held was written round in gold 31 Nothing so cheerfull was his thoughtfull face As was his brother Fido's Fear seem'd dwell Close by his heart his colour chang'd apace And went and came that sure all was not well Therefore a comely Maid did oft sustain His fainting steps and fleeting life maintain Pollicita she hight which ne're could lie or feigne 32 Next to Elpinus marcht his brother Love Not that great Love which cloth'd his Godhead bright With rags of flesh and now again above Hath drest his flesh in heav'ns eternall light Much lesse the brat of that false Cyprian dame Begot by froth and fire in bed of shame And now burns idle hearts swelt'ring in lustfull flame 33 But this from heav'n brings his immortall race And nurst by Gratitude whose carefull arms Long held and hold him still in kinde embrace But train'd to daily warres and fierce alarms He grew to wondrous strength and beautie rare Next that God-Love from whom his off-springs are No match in earth or heav'n may with this Love compare 34 His Page who from his side might never move Remembrance on him waits in books reciting The famous passions of that highest Love His burning zeal to greater flames exciting Deep would he sigh and seem empassion'd sore And oft with tears his backward heart deplore That loving all he could he lov'd that Love no more 35 Yet sure he truely lov'd and honour'd deare That glorious name for when or where he spi'd Wrong'd or in hellish speech blasphem'd did heare Boldly the rash blasphemer he defi'd And forc't him eat the words he foully spake But if for him he grief or death did take That grief he counted joy and death life for his sake 36 His glitt'ring arms drest all with firie hearts Seem'd burn in chaste desire and heav'nly flame And on his shield kinde Ionathan imparts To his souls friend his robes and princely name And kingly throne which mortals so adore And round about was writ in golden ore Well might he give him all that gave his life before 37 These led the Vantguard and an hundred moe Fill'd up the emptie ranks with ord'red train But
cure on this my plaint is grounded Nicaea Cures are diseases when the wounds are easing Why would'st thou have me please thee by displeasing Algon Scorn'd love is death loves mutuall wounds delighting Happie thy love my love to thine uniting Love paying debts grows rich requited in requiting Damon 18 What lives alone Nicaea starres most chaste Have their conjunctions spheares their mixt embraces And mutuall folds Nothing can single last But die in living in increasing waste Nicaea Their joyning perfects them but us defaces Algon That 's perfect which obtains his end your graces Receive their end in love She that 's alone Dies as she lives no number is in one Thus while she 's but her self she 's not her self she 's none Nicaea 19 Why blam'st thou then my stonie hard confection Which nothing loves thou single nothing art Algon Love perfects what it loves thus thy affection Married to mine makes mine and thy perfection Nicaea Well then to passe our Tryphon in his art And in a moment cure a wounded heart If fairest Darwin whom I serve approve Thy suit and thou wilt not thy heart remove I 'le joyn my heart to thine and answer thee in love 20 The sunne is set adieu Algon 'T is set to me Thy parting is my ev'n thy presence light Nicaea Farewell Algon Thou giv'st thy wish it is in thee Unlesse thou wilt haplesse I cannot be Damon Come Algon cheerly home the theevish night Steals on the world and robs our eyes of sight The silver streams grow black home let us coast There of loves conquest may we safely boast Soonest in love he winnes that oft in love hath lost FINIS ECLOG VI. THOMALIN Thirsil Thomalin A Fisher-boy that never knew his peer In daintie songs the gentle Thomalin With folded arms deep sighs heavy cheer Where hundred Nymphs hundred Muses inne Sunk down by Chamus brinks with him his deare Deare Thirsil lay oft times would he begin To cure his grief and better way advise But still his words when his sad friend he spies Forsook his silent tongue to speak in watrie eyes 2 Under a sprouting vine they carelesse lie Whose tender leaves bit with the Eastern blast But now were born and now began to die The latter warned by the formers haste Thinly for fear salute the envious skie Thus as they sat Thirsil embracing fast His loved friend feeling his panting heart To give no rest to his increasing smart At length thus spake while sighs words to his grief impart Thirsil 3 Thomalin I see thy Thirsil thou neglect'st Some greater love holds down thy heart in fear Thy Thirsils love and counsel thou reject'st Thy soul was wont to lodge within my eare But now that port no longer thou respect'st Yet hath it still been safely harbour'd there My eare is not acquainted with my tongue That either tongue or eare should do thee wrong Why then should'st thou conceal thy hidden grief so long Thom. 4 Thirsil it is thy love that makes me hide My smother'd grief from thy known faithfull eare May still my Thirsil safe and merry ' bide Enough is me my hidden grief to bear For while thy breast in hav'n doth safely ride My greater half with thee rides safely there Thirsil So thou art well but still my better part My Thomalin sinks loaden with his smart Thus thou my finger cur'st and wound'st my bleeding heart 5 How oft hath Thomalin to Thirsil vowed That as his heart so he his love esteem'd Where are those oaths where is that heart bestowed Which hides it from that breast which deare it deem'd And to that heart room in his heart allowed That love was never love but onely seem'd Tell me my Thomalin what envious thief Thus robs thy joy tell me my liefest lief Thou little lov'st me friend if more thou lov'st thy grief Thom. 6 Thirsil my joyous spring is blasted quite And winter storms prevent the summers ray All as this vine whose green the Eastern spite Hath di'd to black his catching arms decay And letting go their hold for want of might Mar'l winter comes so soon in first of May. Thirsil Yet see the leaves do freshly bud again Thou drooping still di'st in this heavie strain Nor can I see or end or cause of all thy pain Thom. 7 No marvel Thirsil if thou dost not know This grief which in my heart lies deeply drown'd My heart it self though well it feels his wo Knows not the wo it feels the worse my wound Which though I rankling finde I cannot show Thousand fond passions in my breast abound Fear leagu'd to joy hope and despair together Sighs bound to smiles my heart though prone to either While both it would obey 'twixt both obeyeth neither 8 Oft blushing flames leap up into my face My guiltlesse cheek such purple flash admires Oft stealing tears slip from mine eyes apace As if they meant to quench those causelesse fires My good I hate my hurt I glad embrace My heart though griev'd his grief as joy desires I burn yet know no fuel to my firing My wishes know no want yet still desiring Hope knows not what to hope yet still in hope aspiring Thirsil 9 Too true my fears alas no wicked sprite No writhel'd witch with spells or powerfull charms Or hellish herbs digg'd in as hellish night Gives to thy heart these oft and fierce alarms But Love too hatefull Love with pleasing spite And spitefull pleasure thus hath bred thy harms And seeks thy mirth with pleasance to destroy 'T is Love my Thomalin my liefest boy 'T is Love robs me of thee and thee of all thy joy Thomal 10 Thirsil I ken not what is hate or Love Thee well I love and thou lov'st me as well Yet joy no torment in this passion prove But often have I heard the fishers tell He 's not inferiour to the mighty Iove Iove heaven rules Love Iove heav'n earth and hell Tell me my friend if thou dost better know Men say he goes arm'd with his shafts and bow Two darts one swift as fire as lead the other slow Thirsil 11 Ah heedlesse boy Love is not such a lad As he is fancy'd by the idle swain With bow and shafts and purple feathers clad Such as Diana with her buskin'd train Of armed Nymphs along the forrests glade With golden quivers in Thessalian plain In level race outstrips the jumping Deer With nimble feet or with a mighty spear Flings down a bristled bore or els a squalid bear 12 Love 's sooner felt then seen his substance thinne Betwixt those snowy mounts in ambush lies Oft in the eyes he spreads his subtil ginne He therefore soonest winnes that fastest flies Fly thence my deare fly fast my Thomalin Who him encounters once for ever dies But if he lurk between the ruddy lips Unhappie soul that thence his Nectar sips While down into his heart the sugred poison slips 13 Oft in a voice he creeps down through the eare Oft from a blushing cheek he
the fisher in whose heart did reigne Stella whose love his life and whose disdain Seems worse then angry skies or never quiet main 3 There soon I view the merry shepherd-swains March three by three clad all in youthfull green And while the sad recorder sweetly plains Three lovely Nymphs each several row between More lovely Nymphs could no where els be seen Whose faces snow their snowy garments stains With sweeter voices fit their pleasing strains Their flocks flock round about the horned rammes And ewes go silent by while wanton lambes Dancing along the plains forget their milky dammes 4 Scarce were the shepherds set but straight in sight The fisher-boyes came driving up the stream Themselves in blue and twenty sea-nymphs bright In curious robes that well the waves might seem All dark below the top like frothy cream Their boats and masts with flowres and garlands dight And round the swannes guard them with armies white Their skiffes by couples dance to sweetest sounds Which running corners breath to full plain grounds That strikes the rivers face and thence more sweet rebounds 5 And now the Nymphs and swains had took their place First those two boyes Thomalin the fishers pride Daphnis the shepherds Nymphs their right hand grace And choicest swains shut up the other side So sit they down in order fit appli'd Thirsil betwixt them both in middle space Thirsil their judge who now 's a shepherd base But late a fisher-swain till envious Chame Had rent his nets and sunk his boat with shame So robb'd the boyes of him and him of all his game Thirsil 6 So as they sit thus Thirsil 'gins the lay You lovely boyes the woods and Oceans pride Since I am judge of this sweet peacefull fray First tell us where and when your Loves you spied And when in long discourse you well are tried Then in short verse by turns we 'l gently play In love begin in love we 'l end the day Daphnis thou first to me you both are deare Ah if I might I would not judge but heare Nought have I of a judge but an impartiall eare Daph. 7 Phoebus if as thy words thy oaths are true Give me that verse which to the honour'd bay That verse which by thy promise now is due To honour'd Daphne in a sweet tun'd lay Daphne thy chang'd thy love unchanged aye Thou sangest late when she now better staid More humane when a tree then when a maid Bending her head thy love with gentle signe repaid 8 What tongue what thought can paint my Loves perfection So sweet hath nature pourtray'd every part That art will prove that artists imperfection Who when no eye dare view dares limme her face Phoebus in vain I call thy help to blaze More light then thine a light that never fell Thou tell'st what 's done in heav'n in earth and hell Her worth thou mayst admire there are no words to tell 9 She is like thee or thou art like her rather Such as her hair thy beams thy single light As her twin-sunnes that creature then I gather Twice heav'nly is where two sunnes shine so bright So thou as she confound'st the gazing sight Thy absence is my night her absence hell Since then in all thy self she doth excell What is beyond thy self how canst thou hope to tell 10 First her I saw when tir'd with hunting toyl In shady grove spent with the weary chace Her naked breast lay open to the spoil The crystal humour trickling down apace Like ropes of pearl her neck and breast enlace The aire my rivall aire did coolly glide Through every part such when my Love I spi'd So soon I saw my Love so soon I lov'd and di'd 11 Her face two colours paint the first a flame Yet she all cold a flame in rosie die Which sweetly blushes like the mornings shame The second snow such as on Alps doth lie And safely there the sunne doth bold defie Yet this cold snow can kindle hot desire Thou miracle mar'l not if I admire How flame should coldly freez and snow should burn as fire 12 Her slender waste her hand that dainty breast Her cheek her forehead eye and flaming hair And those hid beauties which must sure be best In vain to speak when words will more impair Of all the fairs she is the fairest fair Cease then vain words well may you shew affection But not her worth the minde her sweet perfection Admires how should it then give the lame tongue direction Thom. 13 Unlesse thy words be flitting as thy wave Proteus that song into my breast inspire With which the seas when loud they rore and rave Thou softly charm'st and windes intestine ire When 'gainst heav'n earth and seas they did conspire Thou quiet laid'st Proteus thy song to heare Seas listning stand and windes to whistle fear The lively Delphins dance and brisly Seales give eare 14 Stella my starre-like love my lovely starre Her hair a lovely brown her forehead high And lovely fair such her cheeks roses are Lovely her lip most lovely is her eye And as in each of these all love doth lie So thousand loves within her minde retiring Kindle ten thousand loves with gentle firing Ah let me love my Love not live in loves admiring 15 At Proteus feast where many a goodly boy And many a lovely lasse did lately meet There first I found there first I lost my joy Her face mine eye her voice mine eare did greet While eare eye strove which should be most sweet That face or voice but when my lips at last Saluted hers those senses strove as fast Which most those lips did please the eye eare touch or taste 16 The eye sweares never fairer lip was eyed The eare with those sweet relishes delighted Thinks them the spheares the taste that nearer tried Their relish sweet the soul to feast invited The touch with pressure soft more close united Wisht ever there to dwell and never cloyed While thus their joy too greedy they enjoyed Enjoy'd not half their joy by being overjoyed 17 Her hair all dark more clear the white doth show And with its night her faces morn commends Her eye-brow black like to an ebon bow Which sporting Love upon her forehead bends And thence his never-missing arrow sends But most I wonder how that jetty ray Which those two blackest sunnes do fair display Should shine so bright night should make so sweet a day 18 So is my love an heav'n her hair a night Her shining forehead Dian's silver light Her eyes the starres their influence delight Her voice the sphears her cheek Aurora bright Her breast the globes where heav'ns path milkie-white Runnes 'twixt those hills her hand Arions touch As much delights the eye the eare as much Such is my Love that but my Love was never such Thirsil 19 The earth her robe the sea her swelling tide The trees their leaves the moon her divers face The starres their courses flowers their springing pride Dayes
then the goodliest swain With her a troop of fairest wood-nymphs trains Yet the more fair then fairest of the train And all in course their voice attempering While the woods back their bounding Echo fling Hymen come holy Hymen Hymen lowd they sing His high-built forehead almost maiden fair Hath made an hundred Nymphs her chance envying Her more then silver skin and golden hair Cause of a thousand shepherds forced dying Where better could her love then here have nested Or he his thoughts more daintily have feasted Hymen come Hymen here thy saffron coat is rested His looks resembling humble Majesty Rightly his fairest mothers grace besitteth In her face blushing fearfull modesty The Queens of chastity and beauty sitteth There cheerfulnesse all sadnesse farre exileth Here love with bow unbent all gently smileth Hymen come Hymen come no spot thy garment ' fileth Love's bow in his bent eye-brows bended lies And in his eyes a thousand darts of loving Her shining starres which fools we oft call eyes As quick as heav'n it self in speedy moving And this in both the onely difference being Other starres blinde these starres indu'd with seeing Hymen come Hymen all is for thy rites agreeing His breast a shelf of purest alabaster Where Love's self sailing often shipwrackt sitteth Hers a twin-rock unknown but to th'ship-master Which though him safe receives all other splitteth Both Love's high-way yet by Love's self unbeaten Most like the milky path which crosses heaven Hymen come Hymen all their marriage joyes are even And yet all these but as gilt covers be Within a book more fair we written finde For Nature framing th' All 's epitome Set in the face the Index of the minde Their bodies are but Temples built for state To shrine the Graces in their silver plate Come Hymen Hymen come these Temples consecrate Hymen the tier of hearts already tied Hymen the end of lovers never ending Hymen the cause of joyes joyes never tried Joyes never to be spent yet ever spending Hymen that sow'st with men the desert sands Come bring with thee come bring thy sacred bands Hymen come Hymen th' hearts are joyn'd joyn thou the hands Warrant of lovers the true seal of loving Sign'd with the face of joy the holy knot That bindes two hearts and holds from slippery moving A gainfull losse a stain without a blot That mak'st one soul as two and two as one Yoke lightning burdens love's foundation Hymen come Hymen now untie the maiden zone Thou that mad'st Man a brief of all thou mad'st A little living world and mad'st him twain Dividing him whom first thou one creat'st And by this bond mad'st one of two again Bidding her cleave to him and him to her And leave their parents when no parents were Hymen send Hymen from thy sacred bosome here See where he goes how all the troop he cheereth Clad with a saffron coat in 's hand a light In all his brow not one sad cloud appeareth His coat all pure his torch all burning bright Now chant we Hymen shepherds Hymen sing See where he goes as fresh as is the Spring Hymen oh Hymen Hymen all the valleys ring Oh happy pair where nothing wants to either Both having to content and be contented Fortune and nature being spare to neither Ne're may this bond of holy love be rented But like two parallels run a level race In just proportion and in even space Hymen thus Hymen will their spotlesse marriage grace Live each of other firmly lov'd and loving As farre from hate as self-ill jealousie Moving like heav'n still in the self same moving In motion ne're forgetting constancy Be all your dayes as this no cause to plain Free from satiety or but lovers pain Hymen so Hymen still their present joyes maintain To my beloved Cousin W. R. Esquire Calend. Ianuar. COusin day-birds are silenc't and those fowl Yet onely sing which hate warm Phoebus light Th' unlucky * Parra and death-boding Owl Which ush'ring in to heav'n their mistresse Night Hollow their mates triumphing o're the quick-spent light The wronged Philomel hath left to plain Tereus constraint and cruel ravishment Seems the poore bird hath lost her tongue again Progne long since is gone to banishment And the loud-tuned Thrush leaves all her merriment All so my frozen Muse hid in my breast To come into the open aire refuses And dragg'd at length from hence doth oft protest This is no time for Phoebus-loving Muses When the farre-distant sunne our frozen coast disuses Then till the sunne which yet in fishes hasks Or watry urn impounds his fainting head 'Twixt Taurus horns his warmer beam unmasks And sooner rises later goes to bed Calling back all the flowers now to their mother fled Till Philomel resumes her tongue again And Progne fierce returns from long exiling Till the shrill Blackbird chants his merry vein And the day-birds the long-liv'd sunne beguiling Renew their mirth and the yeares pleasant smiling Here must I stay in sullen study pent Among our Cambridge fennes my time misspending But then revisit our long-long'd-for Kent Till then live happy the time ever mending Happy the first o' th' yeare thrice happy be the ending To Master W. C. WIlly my deare that late by Haddam sitting By little Haddam in those private shades Unto thy fancie thousand pleasures fitting With dainty Nymphs in those retired glades Didst spend thy time time that too quickly fades Ah! much I fear that those so pleasing toyes Have too much lull'd thy sense and minde in slumbring joyes Now art thou come to nearer Maddingly Which with fresh sport and pleasure doth enthrall thee There new delights withdraw thy eare thy eye Too much I fear left some ill chance befall thee Heark how the Cambridge Muses thence recall thee Willy our deare Willy his time abuses But sure thou hast forgot our Chame and Cambridge Muses Return now Willy now at length return thee Here thou and I under the sprouting vine By yellow Chame where no hot ray shall burn thee Will fit and sing among the Muses nine And safely cover'd from the scalding shine We 'l read that Mantuan shepherds sweet complaining Whom fair Alexis griev'd with his unjust disdaining And when we list to lower notes descend Heare Thirsil's moan and Fusca's crueltie He cares not now his ragged flock to tend Fusca his care but carelesse enemie Hope oft he sees shine in her humble eye But soon her angrie words of hope deprives him So often dies with love but love as oft revives him To my ever honoured Cousin W. R. Esquire STrange power of home with how strong-twisted arms And Gordian-twined knot dost thou enchain me Never might fair Calisto's doubled charms Nor powerfull Circe's whispring so detain me Though all her art she spent to entertain me Their presence could not force a weak desire But oh thy powerfull absence breeds still-growing fire By night thou try'st with strong imagination To force my sense 'gainst reason to belie it Me thinks I see the
either And both upon one poore heart ever feeding I hill cold despair most cold yet cooling neither In midst of fires his ycie frosts is breeding So fires and frosts to make a perfect hell Meet in one breast in one house friendly dwell Tir'd in this toylsome way my deep affection I ever forward runne and never ease me I dare not swerve her eye is my direction A heavie grief and weighty love oppresse me Desire and hope two spurres that forth compell'd me But awfull fear abridle still withheld me Twice have I plung'd and flung and strove to cast This double burden from my weary heart Fast though I runne and stop they sit as fast Her looks my bait which she doth seld ' impart Thus fainting still some inne I wish and crave Either her maiden bosome or my grave A vow BY hope and fear by grief and joy opprest With deadly hate more deadly love infected Without within in body soul distrest Little by all least by my self respected But most most there where most I lov'd neglected Hated and hating life to death I call Who scorns to take what is refus'd by all Whither ah whither then wilt thou betake thee Despised wretch of friends of all forlorn Since hope and love and life and death forsake thee Poore soul thy own tormenter others scorn Whither poore soul ah whither wilt thou turn What inne what host scorn'd wretch wilt thou now chuse thee The common host and inne death grave refuse thee To thee great Love to thee I prostrate fall That right'st in love the heart in false love swerved On thee true Love on thee I weeping call I who am scorn'd where with all truth I served On thee so wrong'd where thou hast so deserved Disdain'd where most I lov'd to thee I plain me Who truly lovest those who fools disdain thee Thou never-erring Way in thee direct me Thou Death of death oh in thy death engrave me Thou hated Love with thy firm love respect me Thou freest Servant from this yoke unslave me Glorious Salvation for thy glory save me So neither love nor hate scorn death shall move me But with thy love great Love I still shall love thee On womens lightnesse VVHo sowes the sand or ploughs the easie shore Or strives in nets to prison in the winde Yet I fond I more fond and senselesse more Thought in sure love a womans thoughts to binde Fond too fond thoughts that thought in love to tie One more inconstant then inconstancie Look as it is with some true April day Whose various weather stores the world with flowers The sunne his glorious beams doth fair display Then rains and shines again and straight it lowres And twenty changes in one houre doth prove So and more changing is a womans love Or as the hairs which deck their wanton heads Which loosely fly and play with every winde And with each blast turn round their golden threads Such as their hair such is their looser minde The difference this their hair is often bound But never bonds a woman might impound False is their flattering colour false and fading False is their flattering tongue false every part Their hair is forg'd their silver foreheads shading False are their eyes but falsest is their heart Then this in consequence must needs ensue All must be false when every part 's untrue Fond then my thoughts which thought a thing so vain Fond hopes that anchour on so false a ground Fond love to love what could not love again Fond heart thus fir'd with love in hope thus drown'd Fond thoughts fond heart fond hope but fondest I To grasp the winde and love inconstancie A reply upon the fair M. S. A Daintie maid that drawes her double name From bitter sweetnesse with sweet bitternesse Did late my skill and faulty verses blame And to her loving friend did plain confesse That I my former credit foul did shame And might no more a poets name professe The cause that with my verse she was offended For womens levitie I discommended Too true you said that poet I was never And I confesse it fair if that content ye That then I playd the poet lesse then ever Not for of such a verse I now repent me Poets to feigne and make fine lies endeavour But I the truth truth ah too certain sent ye Then that I am no poet I denie not For when their lightnesse I condemne I ly not But if my verse had ly'd against my minde And praised that which truth cannot approve And falsly said they were as fair as kinde As true as sweet their faith could never move But sure is linkt where constant love they finde That with sweet braving they vie truth and love If thus I write it cannot be deni'd But I a poet were so foul I ly'd But give me leave to write as I have found Like ruddy apples are their outsides bright Whose skin is fair the core or heart unsound Whose cherry-cheek the eye doth much delight But inward rottennesse the taste doth wound Ah! were the taste so good as is the sight To pluck such apples lost with self same price Would back restore us part of paradise But truth hath said it truth who dare denie Men seldome are more seldome women sure But if fair-sweet thy truth and constancie To better faith thy thoughts and minde procure If thy firm truth could give firm truth the lie If thy first love will first and last endure Thou more then woman art if time so proves thee And he more then a man that loved loves thee An Apologie for the premises to the Ladie Culpepper WHo with a bridle strives to curb the waves Or in a cypresse chest locks flaming fires So when love angred in thy bosome raves And grief with love a double flame inspires By silence thou mayst adde but never lesse it The way is by expressing to represse it Who then will blame affection not respected To vent in grief the grief that so torments him Passion will speak in passion if neglected Love that so soon will chide as soon repents him And therefore boyish Love's too like a boy With a toy pleas'd displeased with a toy Have you not seen when you have chid or fought That lively picture of your lovely beauty Your pretty childe at first to lowre or pout But soon again reclaim'd to love and duty Forgets the rod and all her anger ends Playes on your lap or on your neck depends Too like that pretty childe is childish Love That when in anger he is wrong'd or beat Will rave and chide and every passion prove But soon to smiles and fawns turns all his heat And prayes and swears he never more will do it Such one is Love alas that women know it But if so just excuse will not content ye But still you blame the words of angry Love Here I recant and of those words repent me In signe hereof I offer now to prove That changing womens love is
reside Where every Grace her naked sight afforded And Majestie with Love sat well accorded A little map of heav'n sweet influence giving More perfect yet in this it was a heaven living 8 Yet now this heav'n with melting clouds was stain'd Her starry eyes with sister grief infected Might seem the Pleiades so fast they rain'd And though her tongue to comfort she directed Sighs waiting on each word like grief detected That in her face you now might plainly see Sorrow to sit for Love Pitie for Majestie 9 At length when now those storms she had allay'd A league with grief for some short time indenting She 'gan to speak and sister onely said The sad Elisa soon her words preventing El. In vain you think to ease my hearts tormenting Words comforts hope all med'cine is in vain My heart most hates his cure loves his pleasing pain Al. 10 As vain to weep since fate cannot reprieve El. Teares are most due when there is no reprieving Al. When doom is past weak hearts that fondly grieve El. A helplesse griefs sole joy is joylesse grieving Al. To losses old new losse is no relieving You lose your teares El. When that I onely fear For ever now is lost poore losse to lose a teare Al. 11 Nature can teach that who is born must die El. And Nature teaches teares in griefs tormenting Al. Passions are slaves to Reasons monarchie El. Reason best shews her reason in lamenting Al. Religion blames impatient discontenting El. Not passion but excesse Religion branded Nor ever countermands what Natures self commanded Al. 12 That hand which gave him first into your hand To his own hand doth now again receive him Impious and fond to grudge at his command Who once by death from death doth ever reave him He lives by leaving life which soon would leave him Thus God and him you wrong by too much crying Who living dy'd to life much better lives by dying El. 13 Not him I plain ill would it fit our loves In his best state to shew my hearts repining To mourn at others good fond envy proves I know his soul is now more brightly shining Then all the starres their light in one combining No dearest soul so lifting up her eyes Which shew'd like watry suns quench't in the moister skies 14 My deare my dearest Irby at that name As at a well-known watch-word forth there pressed Whole flouds of teares and straight a suddain quame Seizing her heart her tongue with weight oppressed And lockt her grief within her soul distressed There all in vain he close and hidden lies Silence is sorrows speech his tongue speaks in her eyes 15 Till grief new mounted on uneven wings Of loud-breath'd sighs his leaden weight up sending Back to the tongue his heavie presence brings His usher teares deep grones behinde attending And in his name her breath most gladly spending As if he gone his name were all her joying Irby I never grudg'd thee heav'n and heav'ns enjoying 16 'T is not thy happinesse that breeds my smart It is my losse and cause that made me lose thee Which hatching first this tempest in my heart Thus justly rages he that lately chose thee To live with him where thou might'st safe repose thee Hath found some cause out of my little caring By spoiling thine to spare and spoil my life by sparing 17 Whither ah whither shall I turn my head Since thou my God so sore my heart hast beaten Thy rods yet with my bloud are warm and red Thy scourge my soul hath drunk my flesh hath eaten Who helps when thou my Father so dost threaten Thou hid'st thy eyes or if thou dost not hide them So dost thou frown that best I hidden may abide them 18 I weeping grant what ever may be dreaded All ill thou canst inflict I have deserved Thy mercy I I mercie onely pleaded Most wretched men if all that from thee swerved By merit onely in just weight were served If nought thou giv'st but what desert doth get me Oh give me nothing then for nothing I intreat thee 19 Ah wherefore are thy mercies infinite If thou dost hourd them up and never spend them Mercy 's no mercy hid in envious night The rich mans goods while in his chest he penn'd them Were then no goods much better to misspend them Why mak'st thou such a rod so fierce dost threat me Thy frowns to me were rods thy forehead would have beat me 20 Thou seiz'd my joy ah he is dead and gone That might have dress'd my wounds when thus they smarted To all my griefs I now am left alone Comfort 's in vain to hopelesse grief imparted Hope comfort joy with him are all departed Comfort hope joy lifes flatterers most I flie you And would not deigne to name but naming to defie you Al. 21 Sister too farre your passions violent heat And griefs too headlong in your plaint convay you You feel your stripes but mark not who does beat 'T is he that takes away who can repay you This grief to other rods doth open lay you He bindes your grief to patience not dejection Who bears the first not well provokes a new correctiō El. 22 I know 't is true but sorrows blubber'd eye Fain would not see and cannot well behold it My heart surround with grief is swoll'n so high It will not sink till I alone unfold it But grows more strong the more you do withhold it Leave me a while alone griefs tide grows low And ebs when private tears the eye-banks overflow 23 She quickly rose and readie now to go Remember measure in your griefs complaining His last his dying words command you so So left her and Elisa sole remaining Now every grief more boldly entertaining They flock about her round so one was gone And twentie fresh arriv'd ' Lone grief is least alone 24 Thus as she sat with fixt and setled eye Thousand fond thoughts their wandring shapes depainted Now seem'd she mounted to the crystall skie And one with him and with him fellow-sainted Straight pull'd from heav'n then again she fainted Thus while their numerous thoughts each fancie brought The minde all idle sat much thinking lost her thought 25 And fancy finding now the dulled sight Idle with businesse to her soul presented While th' heavy minde obscur'd his shaded light Her wofull body from her head absented And suddain starting with that thought tormented A thing impossible too true she found The head was gone and yet the headlesse body sound 26 Nor yet awake she cries ah this is wrong To part what Natures hand so neare hath tied Stay oh my head and take thy trunk along But then her minde recall'd her errour spied And sigh'd to see how true the fancy lied Which made the eye his instrument to see That true which being true it self must nothing be 27 Vile trunk saies she thy head is ever gone Vile headlesse trunk why art thou not engraved One wast thou once with him now art
who can end in death where deaths no ending have 57 For ever had this Isle in that foul ditch With curelesse grief and endlesse errour strai'd Boyling in sulphur and hot-bubbling pitch Had not the King whose laws he fool betrai'd Unsnarl'd that chain then from that lake secur'd For which ten thousand tortures he endur'd So hard was this lost Isle so hard to be recur'd 58 O thou deep well of life wide stream of love More deep more wide then widest deepest seas Who dying Death to endlesse death didst prove To work this wilfull-rebell Islands ease Thy love no time began no time decaies But still increaseth with decreasing daies Where then may we begin where may we end thy praise 59 My callow wing that newly left the nest How can it make so high a towring flight O depth without a depth in humble breast With praises I admire so wondrous height But thou my sister Muse mayst well go higher And end thy flight ne're may thy pineons tire Thereto may he his grace and gentle heat aspire 60 Then let me end my easier taken storie And sing this Islands new recover'd sear But see the eye of noon in brightest glorie Teaching great men is ne're so little great Our panting flocks retire into the glade They crouch and close to th' earth their horns have laid Vail we our scorched heads in that thick beeches shade CANT II. DEclining Phoebus as he larger grows Taxing proud folly gentler waxeth still Never lesse fierce then when he greatest shows When Thirsil on a gentle rising hill Where all his flock he round might feeding view Sits down and circled with a lovely crue Of Nymphs shepherd-boyes thus 'gan his song renew 2 Now was this Isle pull'd from that horrid main Which bears the fearfull looks and name of death And setled new with bloud and dreadfull pain By him who twice had giv'n once forfeit breath A baser state then what was first assign'd Wherein to curb the too aspiring minde The better things were lost the worst were left behinde 3 That glorious image of himself was raz'd Ah! scarce the place of that best part we finde And that bright Sun-like knowledge much defac'd Onely some twinkling starres remain behinde Then mortall made yet as one fainting dies Two other in its place succeeding rise And drooping stock with branches fresh immortalize 4 So that'lone bird in fruitfull Arabie When now her strength and waning life decaies Upon some airie rock or mountain high In spiced bed fir'd by neare Phoebus rayes Her self and all her crooked age consumes Straight from the ashes and those rich perfumes A new-born Phoenix flies widow'd place resumes 5 It grounded lies upon a sure foundation Compact and hard whose matter cold and drie To marble turns in strongest congelation Fram'd of fat earth which fires together tie Through all the Isle and every part extent To give just form to every regiment Imparting to each part due strength and stablishment 6 Whose looser ends are glu'd with brother earth Of nature like and of a neare relation Of self-same parents both at self-same birth That oft it self stands for a good foundation Both these a third doth soulder fast and binde Softer then both yet of the self-same kinde All instruments of motion in one league combin'd 7 Upon this base a curious work is rais'd Like undivided brick entire and one Though soft yet lasting with just balance pais'd Distributed with due proportion And that the rougher frame might lurk unseen All fair is hung with coverings slight and thinne Which partly hide it all yet all is partly seen 8 As when a virgin her snow-circled breast Displaying hides and hiding sweet displaies The greater segments cover'd and the rest The vail transparent willingly betraies Thus takes and gives thus lends and borrows light Lest eyes should surfet with too greedy sight Transparent lawns withhold more to increase delight 9 Nor is there any part in all this land But is a little Isle for thousand brooks In azure chanels glide on silver sand Their serpent windings and deceiving crooks Circling about and wat'ring all the plain Emptie themselves into th' all-drinking main And creeping forward slide but never turn again 10 Three diff'ring streams from fountains different Neither in nature nor in shape agreeing Yet each with other friendly ever went Give to this Isle his fruitfulnesse and being The first in single chanels skie-like blue With luke-warm waters di'd in porphyr hue Sprinkle this crimson Isle with purple-colour'd dew 11 The next though from the same springs first it rise Yet passing through another greater fountain Doth lose his former name and qualities Through many a dale it flows and many a mountain More firie light and needfull more then all And therefore fenced with a double wall All froths his yellow streams with many a sudding fall 12 The last in all things diff'ring from the other Fall from an hill and close together go Embracing as they runne each with his brother Guarded with double trenches sure they flow The coldest spring yet nature best they have And like the lacteall stones which heaven pave Slide down to every part with their thick milky wave 13 These with a thousand streams through th' Island roving Bring tribute in the first gives nourishment Next life last sense and arbitrarie moving For when the Prince hath now his mandate sent The nimble poasts quick down the river runne And end their journey though but now begunne But now the mandate came now the mandate's done 14 The whole Isle parted in three regiments By three Metropolies is joyntly sway'd Ord'ring in peace and warre their governments With loving concord and with mutuall aid The lowest hath the worst but largest See The middle lesse of greater dignitie The highest least but holds the greatest soveraigntie 15 Deep in a vale doth that first province lie With many a citie grac't and fairly town'd And for a fence from forrain enmitie With five strong-builded walls encompast round Which my rude pencil will in limming stain A work more curious then which poets feigne Neptune and Phoebus built and pulled down again 16 The first of these is that round spreading fence Which like a sea girts th' Isle in every part Of fairest building quick and nimble sense Of common matter fram'd with speciall art Of middle temper outwardest of all To warn of every chance that may befall The same a fence and spie a watchman and a wall 17 His native beautie is a lilie white Which still some other colour'd stream infecteth Least like it self with divers stainings dight The inward disposition detecteth If white it argues wet if purple fire If black a heavie cheer and fixt desire Youthfull and blithe if suited in a rosie tire 18 It cover'd stands with silken flourishing Which as it oft decaies renews again The others sense and beautie perfecting Which
stopt with stifeling mire Through th' idle pipe with piercing waters soking His tender sides with sharpest stream provoking Thrusts out the muddy parts rids the miry choking 41 The second lean and lank still pill'd and harri'd By mighty bord'rers oft his barns invading Away his food and new-inn'd store is carri'd Therefore an angry colour never fading Purples his cheek the third for length exceeds And down his stream in hundred turnings leads These three most noble are adorn'd with silken threads 42 The formost of the base half blinde appeares And where his broad way in an Isthmos ends There he examines all his passengers And those who ought not scape he backward sends The second Aeols court where tempests raging Shut close within a cave the windes encaging With earthquakes shakes the Island thunders sad presaging 43 The last down-right falls to port Esquiline More strait above beneath still broader growing Soon as the gate opes by the Kings assigne Empties it self farre thence the filth out-throwing This gate endow'd with many properties Yet for his office sight and naming flies Therefore between two hills in darkest valley lies 44 To that Arch-citie of this government The three first pipes the ready feast convoy The other three in baser office spent Fling out the dregs which else the kitchin cloy In every one the Hepar keeps his spies Who if ought good with evil blended lies Thence bring it back again to Hepars treasuries 45 Two severall covers fence these twice three pipes The first from over-swimming takes his name Like cobweb-lawn woven with hundred stripes The second strength'ned with a double frame From forein enmitie the pipes maintains Close by the Pancreas stands who ne're complains Though prest by all his neighbours he their state sustains 46 Next Hepar chief of all these lower parts One of the three yet of the three the least But see the Sunne like to undaunted hearts Enlarges in his fall his ample breast Now hie we home the pearled dew ere long Will wet the mothers and their tender young To morrow with the day we may renew our song CANT III. THe Morning fresh dappling her horse with roses Vext at the lingring shades that long had left her In Tithons freezing arms the light discloses And chasing Night of rule and heav'n bereft her The Sunne with gentle beams his rage disguises And like aspiring tyrants temporises Never to be endur'd but when he falls or rises 2 Thirsil from withy prison as he uses Le ts out his flock and on an hill stood heeding Which bites the grasse and which his meat refuses So his glad eyes fed with their greedy feeding Straight flock a shoal of Nymphs shepherd-swains While all their lambes rang'd on the flowry plains Then thus the boy began crown'd with their circling trains 3 You gentle shepherds and you snowie fires That sit around my rugged rimes attending How may I hope to quit your strong desires In verse uncomb'd such wonders comprehending Too well I know my rudenesse all unfit To frame this curious Isle whose framing yet Was never throughly known to any humane wit 4 Thou Shepherd-God who onely know'st it right And hid'st that art from all the world beside Shed in my mistie breast thy sparkling light And in this fogge my erring footsteps guide Thou who first mad'st and never wilt forsake it Else how shall my weak hand dare undertake it When thou thy self ask'st counsel of thy self to make it 5 Next to Koilia on the right side stands Fairly dispread in large dominion Th' Arch-citie Hepar stretching her commands To all within this lower region Fenc't with sure barres and strongest situation So never fearing foreiners invasion Hence are the walls slight thinne built but for sight fashion 6 To th' Heart and to th' Head-citie surely ti'd With firmest league and mutuall reference His liegers there theirs ever here abide To take up strife and casuall difference Built all alike seeming like rubies sheen Of some peculiar matter such I ween As over all the world may no where else be seen 7 Much like a mount it easily ascendeth The upper part 's all smooth as slipperie glasse But on the lower many a cragge dependeth Like to the hangings of some rockie masse Here first the purple fountain making vent By thousand rivers through the Isle dispent Gives every part fit growth and daily nourishment 8 In this fair town the Isles great Steward dwells His porphyre house glitters in purple die In purple clad himself from hence he deals His store to all the Isles necessitie And though the rent he daily duly pay Yet doth his flowing substance ne're decay All day he rent receives returns it all the day 9 And like that golden starre which cuts his way Through Saturns ice and Mars his firy ball Temp'ring their strife with his more kindely ray So 'tween the Splenions frost and th' angry Gall The joviall Hepar sits with great expence Cheering the Isle by his sweet influence So slakes their envious rage and endlesse difference 10 Within some say Love hath his habitation Not Cupids self but Cupids better brother For Cupids self dwells with a lower nation But this more sure much chaster then the other By whose command we either love our kinde Or with most perfect love affect the minde With such a diamond knot he often souls can binde 11 Two purple streams here raise their boiling heads The first and least in th' hollow cavern breeding His waves on divers neighbour grounds dispreads The next fair river all the rest exceeding Topping the hill breaks forth in fierce evasion And sheds abroad his Nile-like inundation So gives to all the Isle their food and vegetation 12 Yet these from other streams much different For others as they longer broader grow These as they runne in narrow banks impent Are then at least when in the main they flow Much like a tree which all his roots so guides That all the trunk in his full body hides Which straight his stemme to thousand branches subdivides 13 Yet lest these streams might hap to be infected With other liquours in the well abounding Before their flowing chanels are detected Some lesser delfs the fountains bottome sounding Suck out the baser streams the springs annoying An hundred pipes unto that end employing Thence run to fitter place their noisome load convoying 14 Such is fair Hepar which with great dissension Of all the rest pleads most antiquitie But yet th' Heart-citie with no lesse contention And justest challenge claims prioritie But sure the Hepar was the elder bore For that small river call'd the Nurse of yore Laid boths foundation yet Hepar built afore 15 Three pois'nous liquours from this purple well Rise with the native streams the first like fire All flaming hot red furious and fell The spring of dire debate and civile ire Which wer
Tactus may eas'ly seem his father and his brother 55 Tactus the last but yet the eldest brother Whose office meanest yet of all the race The first and last more needfull then the other Hath his abode in none yet every place Through all the Isle distended is his dwelling He rules the streams that from the Cephal swelling Runne all along the Isle both sence motion dealing 56 With Gustus Lingua dwells his pratling wife Indu'd with strange and adverse qualities The nurse of hate and love of peace and strife Mother of fairest truth and foulest lies Or best or worst no mean made all of fire Which sometimes hell sometimes heav'ns inspire By whom oft Truth self speaks oft that first murth'ring liar 57 The idle Sunne stood still at her command Breathing his firie steeds in Gibeon And pale-fac'd Cynthia at her word made stand Resting her coach in vales of Aialon Her voice oft open breaks the stubborn skies And holds th' Almighties hands with suppliant cries Her voice tears open hell with horrid blasphemies 58 Therefore that great Creatour well foreseeing To what a monster she would soon be changing Though lovely once perfect and glorious being Curb'd her with iron bit and held from ranging And with strong bonds her looser steps enchaining Bridled her course too many words refraining And doubled all his guards bold libertie restraining 59 For close within he sets twice sixteen guarders Whose hardned temper could not soon be mov'd Without the gate he plac'd two other warders To shut and ope the doore as it behov'd But such strange force hath her enchanting art That she hath made her keepers of her part And they to all her slights all furtherance impart 60 Thus with their help by her the sacred Muses Refresh the Prince dull'd with much businesse By her the Prince unto his Prince oft uses In heav'ly throne from hell to finde accesse She heav'n to earth in musick often brings And earth to heaven but oh how sweet she sings When in rich graces key she tunes poor natures strings 61 Thus Orpheus wanne his lost Eurydice Whom some deaf snake that could no musick heare Or some blinde neut that could no beautie see Thinking to kisse kill'd with his forked spear He when his plaints on earth were vainly spent Down to Avernus river boldly went And charm'd the meager ghosts with mournfull blandishment 62 There what his mother fair Calliope From Phoebus harp and Muses spring had brought him What sharpest grief for his Eurydice And love redoubling grief had newly taught him He lavisht out and with his potent spell Bent all the rigorous powers of stubborn hell He first brought pitie down with rigid ghosts to dwell 63 Th' amazed shades came flocking round about Nor car'd they now to passe the Stygian ford All hell came running there an hideous rout And dropt a silent tear for every word The aged Ferrieman shov'd out his boat But that without his help did thither float And having ta'ne him in came dancing on the moat 64 The hungry Tantal might have fill'd him now And with large draughts swill'd in the standing pool The fruit hung listning on the wondring bough Forgetting hells command but he ah fool Forgot his starved taste his eares to fill Ixions turning wheel unmov'd stood still But he was rapt as much with powerfull musicks skill 65 Tir'd Sisyphus sat on his resting stone And hop'd at length his labour done for ever The vulture feeding on his pleasing mone Glutted with musick scorn'd grown Tityus liver The Furies flung their snakie whips away And molt in tears at his enchanting lay No shrieches now were heard all hell kept holy-day 66 That treble Dog whose voice ne're quiet fears All that in endlesse nights sad kingdome dwell Stood pricking up his thrice two listning eares With greedy joy drinking the sacred spell And softly whining piti'd much his wrongs And now first silent at those dainty songs Oft wisht himself more ears fewer mouths tongues 67 At length return'd with his Eurydice But with this law not to return his eyes Till he was past the laws of Tartarie Alas who gives love laws in miseries Love is loves law love but to love is ti'd Now when the dawns of neighbour day he spi'd Ah wretch Eurydice he saw and lost and di'd 68 All so who strives from grave of hellish night To bring his dead soul to the joyfull skie If when he comes in view of heav'nly light He turns again to hell his yeelding eye And longs to see what he had left his sore Grows desp'rate deeper deadlier then afore His helps and hopes much lesse his crime judgement more 69 But why do I enlarge my tedious song And tire my flagging Muse with wearie flight Ah! much I fear I hold you much too long The outward parts be plain to every sight But to describe the people of this Isle And that great Prince these reeds are all too vile Some higher verse may fit and some more loftie style 70 See Phlegon drenched in the hizzing main Allayes his thirst and cools the flaming carre Vesper fair Cynthia ushers and her train See th' apish earth hath lighted many a starre Sparkling in dewie globes all home invite Home then my flocks home shepherds home 't is night My song with day is done my Muse is set with light 71 By this the gentle boyes had framed well A myrtle garland mixt with conqu'ring bay From whose fit match issu'd a pleasing smell And all enamel'd it with roses gay With which they crown their honour'd Thirsils head Ah blessed shepherd-swain ah happy meed While all his fellows chaunt on slender pipes of reed CANT VI. THe houres had now unlockt the gate of day When fair Aurora leaves her frosty bed Hasting with youthfull Cephalus to play Unmaskt her face and rosie beauties spread Tithonus silver age was much despis'd Ah! who in love that cruel law devis'd That old love's little worth and new too highly priz'd 2 The gentle shepherds on an hillock plac'd Whose shadie head a beechie garland crown'd View'd all their flocks that on the pastures graz'd Then down they sit while Thenot 'gins the round Thenot was never fairer boy among The gentle lads that in the Muses throng By Chamus yellow streams learn tune their pipe song 3 See Thirsil see the shepherds expectation Why then ah why sitt'st thou so silent there We long to know that Islands happy nation Oh! do not leave thy Isle unpeopled here Tell us who brought and whence these colonies Who is their King what foes and what allies What laws maintain their peace what warres victories 4 Thenot my deare that simple fisher-swain Whose little boat in some small river strayes Yet fondly lanches in the swelling main Soon yet too late repents his foolish playes How dare I then forsake my well-set bounds Whose new-cut pipe as yet but harshly sounds A narrow compasse best my ungrown Muse impounds 5 Two shepherds
first in middle ward did justly go In goodly arms a fresh and lovely Swain Vaunting himself Loves twin but younger brother Well mought it be for ev'n their very mother With pleasing errour oft mistook the one for th' other 38 As when fair Paris gave that golden ball A thousand doubts ranne in his stagg'ring breast All lik'd him well fain would he give it all Each better seems and still the last seems best Doubts ever new his reaching hand deferr'd The more he looks the more his judgement err'd So she first this then that then none then both preferr'd 39 Like them their armour seem'd full neare of kinne In this they onely differ th' elder bent His higher soul to heav'n the younger Twinne 'Mong mortals here his love and kindenesse spent Teaching strange alchymie to get a living By selling land and to grow rich by giving By emptying filling bags so heav'n by earth atchieving 40 About him troop the poore with num'rous trains Whom he with tender care and large expence With kindest words and succour entertains Ne looks for thanks or thinks of recompence His wardrobe serves to cloath the naked side And shamefull parts of bared bodies hide If other cloaths he lackt his own he would divide 41 To rogues his gate was shut but open lay Kindely the weary traveller inviting Oft therefore Angels hid in mortall clay And God himself in his free roofs delighting Lowly to visit him would not disdain And in his narrow cabin oft remain Whom heav'n earth all the world cannot contain 42 His table still was fill'd with wholesome meat Not to provoke but quiet appetite And round about the hungry freely eat With plenteous cates cheering their feeble sprite Their earnest vows broke open heav'ns wide doore That not in vain sweet Plentie evermore With gracious eye looks down upon his blessed store 43 Behinde attend him in an uncouth wise A troop with little caps and shaved head Such whilome was infranched bondmens guise New freed from cruell masters servile dread These had he lately bought from captive chain Hence they his triumph sing with joyfull strain And on his head due praise and thousand blessings rain 44 He was a father to the fatherlesse To widows he suppli'd an husbands care Nor would he heap up woe to their distresse Or by a Guardians name their state impair But rescue them from strong oppressours might Nor doth he weigh the great mans heavie spight Who fears the highest Iudge needs fear no mortall wight 45 Once every week he on his progresse went The sick to visit and those meager swains Which all their weary life in darknesse spent Clogg'd with cold iron prest with heavy chains He hoords not wealth for his loose heir to spend it But with a willing hand doth well expend it Good then is onely good when to our God we lend it 46 And when the dead by cruell tyrants spight Lie out to rav'nous birds and beasts expos'd His yearnfull heart pitying that wretched sight In seemly graves their weary flesh enclos'd And strew'd with dainty flowers the lowly herse Then all alone the last words did rehearse Bidding them softly sleep in his sad sighing verse 47 So once that royall Maid fierce Thebes beguil'd Though wilfull Creon proudly did forbid her Her brother from his home and tombe exil'd While willing night in darknesse safely hid her She lowly laid in earths all-covering shade Her dainty hands not us'd to such a trade She with a mattock toils and with a weary spade 48 Yet feels she neither sweat nor irksome pain Till now his grave was fully finished Then on his wounds her cloudy eyes 'gin rain To wash the guilt painted in bloudy red And falling down upon his gored side With hundred varied plaints she often cri'd Oh had I di'd for thee or with thee might have di'd 49 Ay me my ever wrong'd and banisht brother How can I fitly thy hard fate deplore Or in my breast so just complainings smother To thy sad chance what can be added more Exile thy home thy home a tombe thee gave Oh no such little room thou must not have But for thy banisht bones I wretch must steal a grave 50 But whither wofull Maid have thy complaints With fellow passion drawn my feeling mone But thus this Love deals with those murd'red Saints Weeps with the sad and sighs with those that grone But now in that beech grove we 'l safely play And in those shadows mock the boyling ray Which yet increases more with the decreasing day CANT X. THe Shepherds to the woodie mount withdrew Where th' hillock seats shades yeeld a canopie Whose tops with violets di'd all in blue Might seem to make a little azure skie And that round hill which their weak heads maintain'd A lesser Atlas seem'd whose neck sustain'd The weight of all the heav'ns which fore his shoulders pain'd 2 And here and there sweet Primrose scattered Spangling the blue fit constellations make Some broadly flaming their fair colours spread Some other winkt as yet but half awake Fit were they plac't and set in order due Nature seem'd work by art so lively true A little heav'n on earth in narrow space she drew 3 Upon this earthly heav'n the shepherds play The time beguiling and the parching light Till the declining Sunne and elder day Abate their flaming heat and youthfull might The sheep had left the shades to minde their meat Then all returning to their former seat Thirsil again began his wearie song repeat 4 Great power of Love with what commanding fire Dost thou enflame the worlds wide Regiment And kindely heat in every heart inspire Nothing is free from thy sweet government Fish burn in seas beasts birds thy weapons prove By thee dead elements and heavens move Which void of sense it self yet are not void of love 5 But those twinne Loves which from thy seas of light To us on earth derive their lesser streams Though in their force they shew thy wondrous might On thee reflecting back their glorious beams Yet here encountred with so mightie foe Had need both arm'd and surely guarded go But most thy help they need do not thy help foreslow 6 Next to the younger Love Irenus went Whose frostie head proclaim'd his winter age His spring in many battels had he spent But now all weapons chang'd for counsell sage His heavie sword the witnesse of his might Upon a lopped tree he idlely pight There hid in quiet sheath sleeps it in endlesse night 7 Patience his shield had lent to ward his breast Whose golden plain three Olive-branches dresse The word in letters large was fair exprest Thrice happie authour of a happie peace Rich plenty yeelds him power power stores his will Will ends in works good works his treasures fill Earths slave heav'ns heir he is as God payes good for ill 8 By him Andreos pac't of middle age His minde as farre from rashnesse as from fears Hating base thoughts
with courage to recall And rouze her fainting head which down as oft would fall 30 All so a Lilie prest with heavie rain Which fills her cup with showers up to the brinks The wearie stalk no longer can sustain The head but low beneath the burden sinks Or as a virgin Rose her leaves displayes Whom too hot scorching beams quite disarayes Down flags her double ruffe and all her sweet decayes 31 Th' undanted Maid feeling her feet denie Their wonted dutie to a tree retir'd Whom all the rout pursue with deadly crie As when a hunted Stag now welnigh tir'd Shor'd by an oak 'gins with his head to play The fearfull hounds dare not his horns assay But running round about with yelping voices bay 32 And now perceiving all her strength was spent Lifting to listning heav'n her trembling eyes Thus whispring soft her soul to heav'n she sent Thou chastest Love that rul'st the wandring skies More pure then purest heavens by thee moved If thine own love in me thou sure hast proved If ever thou my self my vows my love hast loved 33 Let not this Temple of thy spotlesse love Be with foul hand and beastly rage defil'd But when my spirit shall his camp remove And to his home return too long exil'd Do thou protect it from the ravenous spoil Of ranc'rous enemies that hourely toil Thy humble votarie with loathsome spot to foil 34 With this few drops fell from her fainting eyes To dew the fading roses of her cheek That much high Love seem'd passion'd with those cries Much more those streams his heart and patience break Straight he the charge gives to a winged Swain Quickly to step down to that bloudie plain And aid her wearie arms and rightfull cause maintain 35 Soon stoops the speedie Herauld through the aire Where chaste Agneia and Encrates fought See see he cries where your Parthenia fair The flower of all your armie hemm'd about With thousand enemies now fainting stands Readie to fall into their murdring hands Hie ye oh hie ye fast the highest Love commands 36 They casting round about their angrie eye The wounded Virgin almost sinking spi'd They prick their steeds which straight like lightning flie Their brother Continence runnes by their side Fair Continence that truely long before As his hearts liege this Ladie did adore And now his faithfull love kindled his hate the more 37 Encrates and his Spouse with flashing sword Assail the scatter'd troops that headlong flie While Continence a precious liquour pour'd Into the wound and suppled tenderly Then binding up the gaping orifice Reviv'd the spirits that now she 'gan to rise And with new life confront her heartlesse enemies 38 So have I often seen a purple flower Fainting through heat hang down her drooping head But soon refreshed with a welcome shower Begins again her lively beauties spread And with new pride her silken leaves display And while the Sunne doth now more gently play Lay out her swelling bosome to the smiling day 39 Now rush they all into the flying trains Bloud fires their bloud and slaughter kindles fight The wretched vulgar on the purple plains Fall down as thick as when a rustick wight From laden oaks the plenteous akorns poures Or when the blubbring ayer sadly lowres And melts his sullen brow and weeps sweet April showers 40 The greedy Dragon that aloof did spie So ill successe of this renewed fray More vext with losse of certain victorie Depriv'd of so assur'd and wished prey Gnashed his iron teeth for grief and spite The burning sparks leap from his flaming sight And forth his smoking jawes steams out a smouldring night 41 Straight thither sends he in a fresh supply The swelling band that drunken Methos led And all the rout his brother Gluttonie Commands in lawlesse bands disordered So now they bold restore their broken fight And fiercely turn again from shamefull flight While both with former losse sharpen their raging spite 42 Freshly these Knights assault these fresher bands And with new battell all their strength renew Down fell Geloios by Encrates hands Agneia Moechus and Anagnus slew And spying Methos fenc't in 's iron vine Pierc't his swoln panch there lies the grunting swine And spues his liquid soul out in his purple wine 43 As when a greedy lion long unfed Breaks in at length into the harmlesse folds So hungry rage commands with fearfull dread He drags the silly beasts nothing controlls The victour proud he spoils devours and tears In vain the keeper calls his shepherd peers Mean while the simple flock gaze on with silent fears 44 Such was the slaughter these three Champions made But most Encrates whose unconquer'd hands Sent thousand foes down to th' infernall shade With uselesse limbes strewing the bloudie sands Oft were they succourd fresh with new supplies But fell as oft the Dragon grown more wise By former losse began another way devise 45 Soon to their aid the Cyprian band he sent For easie skirmish clad in armour light Their golden bowes in hand stood ready bent And painted quivers furnisht well for fight Stuck full of shafts whose heads foul poyson stains Which dipt in Phlegethon by hellish swains Bring thousand painfull deaths and thousand deadly pains 46 Thereto of substance strange so thinne and slight And wrought by subtil hand so cunningly That hardly were discern'd by weaker fight Sooner the heart did feel then eye could see Farre off they stood and flung their darts around Raining whole clouds of arrows on the ground So safely others hurt and never wounded wound 47 Much were the Knights encumbred with these foes For well they saw and felt their enemies But when they back would turn the borrow'd blows The light-foot troop away more swiftly flies Then do their winged arrows through the winde And in their course oft would they turn behinde And with their glancing darts their hot pursuers blinde 48 As when by Russian Volgha's frozen banks The false-back Tartars fear with cunning feigne And poasting fast away in flying ranks Oft backward turn and from their bowes down rain Whole storms of darts so do they flying fight And what by force they lose they winne by slight Conquerd by standing out and conquerours by flight 49 Such was the craft of this false Cyprian crue Yet oft they seem'd to slack their fearfull pace And yeeld themselves to foes that fast pursue So would they deeper wound in nearer space In such a fight he winnes that fastest flies Flie flie chaste Knights such subtil enemies The vanquisht cannot live and conqu'rour surely dies 50 The Knights opprest with wounds and travel past Began retire and now were neare to fainting With that a winged Poast him speeded fast The Generall with these heavy newes acquainting He soon refresht their hearts that 'gan to tire But let our weary Muse a while respire Shade we our scorched heads from Phoebus parching fire CANT XII THe shepherds guarded from the sparkling heat Of blazing aire upon the flowrie banks Where
15 Yet once he said which I then fool beleev'd The woods of it and Damon witnesse be When in fair Albions fields he first arriv'd When I forget true Thelgons love to me The love which ne're my certain hope deceiv'd The wavering sea shall stand and rocks remove He said and I beleev'd so credulous is love 16 You steady rocks why still do you stand still You fleeting waves why do you never stand Amyntas hath forgot his Thelgons quill His promise and his love are writ in sand But rocks are firm though Neptune rage his fill When thou Amyntas like the fire-drake rangest The sea keeps on his course when like the winde thou changest 17 Yet as I swiftly sail'd the other day The setled rock seem'd from his seat remove And standing waves seem'd doubtfull of their way And by their stop thy wavering reprove Sure either this thou didst but mocking say Or else the rock and sea had heard my plaining But thou ay me art onely constant in disdaining 18 Ah! would thou knew'st how much it better were To ' bide among the simple fisher-swains No shrieching owl no night-crow lodgeth here Nor is our simple pleasure mixt with pains Our sports begin with the beginning yeare In calms to pull the leaping fish to land In roughs to sing and dance along the golden sand 19 I have a pipe which once thou lovedst well Was never pipe that gave a better sound Which oft to heare fair Thetis from her cell Thetis the Queen of seas attended round With hundred Nymphs and many powers that dwell In th' Oceans rocky walls came up to heare And gave me gifts which still for thee lie hoarded here 20 Here with sweet bayes the lovely myrtils grow Where th' Oceans fair-cheekt maidens oft repair Here to my pipe they dancen on a row No other swain may come to note their fair Yet my Amyntas there with me shall go Proteus himself pipes to his flocks hereby Whom thou shalt heare ne're seen by any jealous eye 21 But ah both me and fishers he disdains While I sit piping to the gadding winde Better that to the boysterous sea complains Sooner fierce waves are mov'd then his hard minde I 'le to some rock farre from our common mains And in his bottome learn forget my smart And blot Amyntas name from Thelgons wretched heart 22 So up he rose and lancht into the deep Dividing with his oare the surging main Which dropping seem'd with teares his case to weep The whistling windes joyn'd with the seas to plain And o're his boat in whines lamenting creep Nought feared he fierce Oceans watry ire Who in his heart of grief and love felt equall fire FINIS ECLOG II. THIRSIL Dorus Myrtilus Thomalin Thirsil Dorus. MYrtil why idle sit we on the shore Since stormy windes and waves intestine spite Impatient rage of sail or bending oare Sit we and sing while windes waters fight And carol lowd of love and loves delight Myrtil 2 Dorus ah rather stormy seas require With sadder song the tempests rage deplore In calms let 's sing of love and lovers fire Tell we how Thirsil late our seas forswore When forc't he left our Chame and desert shore Dorus. 3 Now as thou art a lad repeat that lay Myrtil his songs more please my ravisht eare Then rumbling brooks that with the pebles play Then murmuring seas broke on the banks to heare Or windes on rocks their whistling voices teare Myrtil 4 Seest thou that rock which hanging o're the main Looks proudly down there as I under lay Thirsil with Thomalin I heard complain Thomalin who now goes sighing all the day Who thus 'gan tempt his friend with Chamish boyes to stay Thom. 5 Thirsil what wicked chance or lucklesse starre From Chamus streams removes thy boat and minde Farre hence thy boat is bound thy minde more farre More sweet or fruitfull streams where canst thou finde Where fisher-lads or Nymphs more fair or kinde The Muses selves sit with the sliding Chame Chame and the Muses selves do love thy name Where thou art lov'd so dear so much to hate is shame Thirsil 6 The Muses me forsake not I the Muses Thomalin thou know'st how I them honour'd ever Not I my Chame but me proud Chame refuses His froward spites my strong affections sever Else from his banks could I have parted never But like his Swannes when now their fate is nigh Where singing sweet they liv'd there dead they lie So would I gladly live so would I gladly die 7 His stubborn hands my net hath broken quite My fish the guerdon of my toil and pain He causelesse seaz'd and with ungratefull spite Bestow'd upon a lesse deserving swain The cost and labour mine his all the gain My boat lies broke my oares crackt and gone Nought ha's he left me but my pipe alone Which with his sadder notes may help his master moan Thom. 8 Ungratefull Chame how oft hath Thirsil crown'd With songs and garlands thy obscurer head That now thy name through Albion loud doth sound Ah foolish Chame who now in Thirsils stead Shall chant thy praise since Thelgon's lately dead He whom thou lov'st can neither sing nor play His dusty pipe scorn'd broke is cast away Ah foolish Chame who now shall grace thy holy-day Thirsil 9 Too fond my former hopes I still expected With my desert his love should grow the more Ill can he love who Thelgons love rejected Thelgon who more hath grac'd his gracelesse shore Then any swain that ever sang before Yet Gripus he prefer'd when Thelgon strove I wish no other curse he ever prove Who Thelgon causelesse hates still may he Gripus love Thom. 10 Thirsil but that so long I know thee well I now should think thou speak'st of hate or spite Can such a wrong with Chame or Muses dwell That Thelgons worth and love with hate they'quite Thirsil Thomalin judge thou and thou that judgest right Great King of seas that grasp'st the Ocean heare If ever thou thy Thelgon lovedst deare Though thou forbear a while yet long thou canst not bear 11 When Thelgon here had spent his prentise-yeares Soon had he learnt to sing as sweet a note As ever strook the churlish Chamus eares To him the river gives a costly boat That on his waters he might safely float The songs reward which oft unto his shore He sweetly tun'd Then arm'd with sail and oare Dearely the gift he lov'd but lov'd the giver more 12 Scarce of the boat he yet was full possest When with a minde more changing then his wave Again bequeath'd it to a wandring guest Whom then he onely saw to him he gave The sails and oares in vain poore Thelgon strave The boat is under sail no boot to plain Then banisht him the more to eke his pain As if himself were wrong'd did not wrong the swain 13 From thence he furrow'd many a churlish sea The viny Rhene and Volgha's self did passe Who sleds doth suffer on his watry
lea And horses trampling on his ycie face Where Phoebus prison'd in the frozen glasse All winter cannot move his quenched light Nor in the heat will drench his chariot bright Thereby the tedious yeare is all one day and night 14 Yet little thank and lesse reward he got He never learn'd to sooth the itching eare One day as chanc't he spies that painted boat Which once was his though his of right it were He bought it now again and bought it deare But Chame to Gripus gave it once again Gripus the basest and most dung-hil swain That ever drew a net or fisht in fruitfull main 15 Go now ye fisher-boyes go learn to play To play and sing along your Chamus shore Go watch and toyl go spend the night and day While windes waves while storms tempests roar And for your trade consume your life and store Lo your reward thus will your Chamus use you Why should you plain that lozel swains refuse you Chamus good fishers hates the Muses selves abuse you Thomal 16 Ah Thelgon poorest but the worthiest swain That ever grac't unworthy povertie How ever here thou liv'dst in joylesse pain Prest down with grief and patient miserie Yet shalt thou live when thy proud enemie Shall rot with scorn and base contempt opprest Sure now in joy thou safe and glad dost rest Smil'st at those eager foes which here thee so molest Thirsil 17 Thomalin mourn not for him he 's sweetly sleeping In Neptunes court whom here he sought to please While humming rivers by his cabin creeping Rock soft his slumbering thoughts in quiet ease Mourn for thy self here windes do never cease Our dying life will better fit thy crying He softly sleeps and blest is quiet lying Who ever living dies he better lives by dying Thomal 18 Can Thirsil then our Chame abandon ever And never will our fishers see again Thirsil Who 'gainst a raging stream doth vain endeavour To drive his boat gets labour for his pain When fates command to go to lagge is vain As late upon the shore I chanc't to play I heard a voice like thunder lowdly say Thirsil why idle liv'st Thirsil away away 19 Thou God of seas thy voice I gladly heare Thy voice thy voice I know I glad obey Onely do thou my wandring whirry steer And when it erres as it will eas'ly stray Upon the rock with hopefull anchour stay Then will I swimme where 's either sea or shore Where never swain or boat was seen afore My trunk shall be my boat my arm shall be my oare 20 Thomalin me thinks I heare thy speaking eye Woo me my posting journey to delay But let thy love yeeld to necessitie With thee my friend too gladly would I stay And live and die were Thomalin away Though now I half unwilling leave his stream How ever Chame doth Thirsil lightly deem Yet would thy Thirsil lesse proud Chamus scorns esteem Thom. 21 Who now with Thomalin shall sit and sing Who left to play in lovely myrtils shade Or tune sweet ditties to as sweet a string Who now those wounds shall ' swage in covert glade Sweet-bitter wounds which cruel love hath made You fisher-boyes and sea-maids dainty crue Farewell for Thomalin will seek a new And more respectfull stream ungratefull Chame adieu Thirsil 22 Thomalin forsake not thou the fisher-swains Which hold thy stay and love at dearest rate Here mayst thou live among their sportfull trains Till better times afford thee better state Then mayst thou follow well thy guiding fate So live thou here with peace and quiet blest So let thy love afford thee ease and rest So let thy sweetest foe recure thy wounded breast 23 But thou proud Chame which thus hast wrought me spite Some greater river drown thy hatefull name Let never myrtle on thy banks delight But willows pale the badge of spite and blame Crown thy ungratefull shores with scorn and shame Let dirt and mud thy lazie waters seise Thy weeds still grow thy waters still decrease Nor let thy wretched love to Gripus ever cease 24 Farewell ye streams which once I loved deare Farewell ye boyes which on your Chame do float Muses farewell if there be Muses here Farewell my nets farewell my little boat Come sadder pipe farewell my merry note My Thomalin with thee all sweetnesse dwell Think of thy Thirsil Thirsil loves thee well Thomalin my dearest deare my Thomalin farewell Dorus. 25 Ah haplesse boy the fishers joy and pride Ah wo is us we cannot help thy wo Our pity vain ill may that swain betide Whose undeserved spite hath wrong'd thee so Thirsil with thee our joy and wishes go Myrtil 26 Dorus some greater power prevents thy curse So vile so basely lives that hatefull swain So base so vile that none can wish him worse But Thirsil much a better state doth gain For never will he finde so thanklesse main FINIS ECLOG III. MYRTILVS A Fisher-lad no higher dares he look Myrtil sat down by silver Medwayes shore His dangling nets hung on the trembling oare Had leave to play so had his idle hook While madding windes the madder Ocean shook Of Chamus had he learnt to pipe and sing And frame low dirties to his humble string 2 There as his boat late in the river stray'd A friendly fisher brought the boy to view Coelia the fair whose lovely beauties drew His heart from him into that heav'nly maid There all his wandring thoughts there now they staid All other fairs all other love defies In Coelia he lives for Coelia dies 3 Nor durst the coward woo his high desiring For low he was lower himself accounts And she the highest height in worth surmounts But sits alone in hell his heav'n admiring And thinks with sighs to fanne but blows his firing Nor does he strive to cure his painfull wound For till this sicknesse never was he sound 4 His blubber'd face was temper'd to the day All sad he look't that sure all was not well Deep in his heart was hid an heav'nly hell Thick clouds upon his watrie eye-brows lay Which melting showre and showring never stay So sitting down upon the sandy plain Thus 'gan he vent his grief and hidden pain 5 You sea-born maids that in the Ocean reigne If in your courts is known Loves matchlesse power Kindling his fire in your cold watry bower Learn by your own to pity others pain Tryphon that know'st a thousand herbs in vain But know'st not one to cure a love-sick heart See here a wound that farre outgoes thy art 6 Your stately seas perhaps with loves fire glow And over-seeth their banks with springing tide Mustring their white-plum'd waves with lordly pride They soon retire and lay their curl'd heads low So sinking in themselves they backward go But in my breast full seas of grief remain Which ever flow and never ebbe again 7 How well fair Thetis in thy glasse I see As in a crystal all my raging pains Late thy green fields slept in their even plains
oft mispent in vain The early morn begins dark evening ends not Too foolish men that think all labour stands In travell of the feet and tired hands 10 Ah wretched fishers born to hate and strife To others good but to your rape and spoil This is the briefest summe of fishers life To sweat to freeze to watch to fast to toil Hated to love to live despis'd forlorn A sorrow to himself all others scorn Thel 11 Too well I know the fishers thanklesse pain Yet bear it cheerfully nor dare repine To grudge at losse is fond too fond and vain When highest causes justly it assigne Who bites the stone and yet the dog condemnes Much worse is then the beast he so contemnes 12 Chromis how many fishers dost thou know That rule their boats and use their nets aright That neither winde nor time nor tide foreslow Such some have been but ah by tempests spite Their boats are lost while we may sit and moan That few were such and now those few are none Chrom 13 Ah cruel spite and spitefull crueltie That thus hath robb'd our joy and desert shore No more our seas shall heare your melodie Your songs and shrilling pipes shall sound no more Silent our shores our seas are vacant quite Ah spitefull crueltie and cruel spite Thel 14 In stead of these a crue of idle grooms Idle and bold that never saw the seas Fearlesse succeed and fill their empty rooms Some lazy live bathing in wealth and ease Their floating boats with waves have leave to play Their rusty hooks all yeare keep holy-day 15 Here stray their skiffes themselves are never here Ne're saw their boats ill mought they fishers be Mean time some wanton boy the boat doth steer Poore boat the while that cares as much as he Who in a brook a whirry cannot row Now backs the seas before the seas he know Chrom 16 Ah foolish lads that think with waves to play And rule rough seas which never knew command First in some river thy new skill assay Till time and practise teach thy weakly hand A thin thin plank keeps in thy vitall breath Death ready waits Fond boyes to play with death Thel 17 Some stretching in their boats supinely sleep Seasons in vain recall'd and windes neglecting Other their hooks and baits in poison steep Neptune himself with deathfull drugges infecting The fish their life and death together drink And dead pollute the seas with venom'd stink 18 Some teach to work but have no hands to row Some will be eyes but have no light to see Some will be guides but have no feet to go Some deaf yet eares some dumbe yet tongues will be Dumbe deaf lame blinde and maim'd yet fishers all Fit for no use but store an hospital 19 Some greater scorning now their narrow boat In mighty hulks and ships like courts do dwell Slaving the skiffes that in their seas do float Their silken sails with windes do proudly swell Their narrow bottomes stretch they large and wide And make full room for luxurie and pride 20 Self did I see a swain not long ago Whose lordly ship kept all the rest in aw About him thousand boats do waiting row His frowns are death his word is firmest law While all the fisher-boyes their bonnets vail And farre adore their lord with strucken sail 21 His eare is shut to simple fisher-swain For Gemma's self a sea-nymph great and high Upon his boat attended long in vain What hope poore fisher-boy may come him nigh His speech to her and presence he denied Had Neptune come Neptune he had defied 22 Where Tybers swelling waves his banks o'reflow There princely fishers dwell in courtly halls The trade they scorn their hands forget to row Their trade to plot their rising others falls Into their seas to draw the lesser brooks And fish for steeples high with golden hooks Chrom 23 Thelgon how canst thou well that fisher blame Who in his art so highly doth excell That with himself can raise the fishers name Well may he thrive that spends his art so well Ah little needs their honour to depresse Little it is yet most would have it lesse Thel 24 Alas poore boy thy shallow-swimming sight Can never dive into their deepest art Those silken shews so dimme thy dazel'd sight Could'st thou unmask their pomp unbreast their heart How would'st thou laugh at this rich beggerie And learn to hate such happy miserie 25 Panting ambition spurres their tired breast Hope chain'd to doubt fear linkt to pride and threat Too ill yok't pairs give them no time to rest Tyrants to lesser boats slaves to the great That man I rather pity then adore Who fear'd by others much fears others more 26 Most cursed town where but one tyrant reignes Though lesse his single rage on many spent But much more miserie that soul remains When many tyrants in one heart are pent When thus thou serv'st the comfort thou canst have From greatnesse is thou art a greater slave Chrom 27 Ah wretched swains that live in fishers trade With inward griefs and outward wants distressed While every day doth more your sorrow lade By others scorn'd and by your selves oppressed The great the greater serve the lesser these And all their art is how to rise and please Algon 28 Those fisher-swains from whom our trade doth flow That by the King of seas their skill were taught As they their boats on Iordan wave did row And catching fish were by a Fisher caught Ah blessed chance much better was the trade That being fishers thus were fishes made 29 Those happy swains in outward shew unblest Were scourg'd were scorn'd yet was this losse their gain By land by sea in life in death distrest But now with King of seas securely reigne For that short wo in this base earthly dwelling Enjoying joy all excellence excelling 30 Then do not thou my boy cast down thy minde But seek to please with all thy busie care The King of seas so shalt thou surely finde Rest quiet joy in all this troublous fare Let not thy net thy hook thy singing cease And pray these tempests may be turn'd to peace 31 Oh Prince of waters Soveraigne of seas Whom storms calms whom windes and waves obey If ever that great Fisher did thee please Chide thou the windes and furious waves allay So on thy shore the fisher-boys shall sing Sweet songs of peace to our sweet peaces King FINIS ECLOG V. NICAEA Damon Algon Nicaea THe well known fisher-boy that late his name And place and ah for pity mirth had changed Which from the Muses spring churlish Chame Was fled his glory late but now his shame For he with spite the gentle boy estranged Now 'long the Trent with his new fellows ranged There Damon friendly Damon met the boy Where lordly Trent kisses the Darwin coy Bathing his liquid streams in lovers melting joy Damon 2 Algon what lucklesse starre thy mirth hath blasted My joy in thee and thou in sorrow
lights his fire Oft shrouds his golden flame in likest hair Oft in a soft-smooth skin doth close retire Oft in a smile oft in a silent tear And if all fail yet Vertue 's self he 'l hire Himself 's a dart when nothing els can move Who then the captive soul can well reprove When Love and Vertue 's self become the darts of Love Thom. 14 Sure Love it is which breeds this burning fever For late yet all too soon on Venus day I chanc't Oh cursed chance yet blessed ever As carelesse on the silent shores I stray Five Nymphs to see five fairer saw I never Upon the golden sand to dance and play The rest among yet farre above the rest Sweet Melite by whom my wounded breast Though rankling still in grief yet joyes in his unrest 15 There to their sportings while I pipe and sing Out from her eyes I felt a firie beam And pleasing heat such as in first of Spring From Sol inn'd in the Bull do kindly stream To warm my heart and with a gentle sting Blow up desire yet little did I dream Such bitter fruits from such sweet roots could grow Or from so gentle eye such spite could flow For who could fire expect hid in an hill of snow 16 But when those lips those melting lips I prest I lost my heart which sure she stole away For with a blush she soon her guilt confest And sighs which sweetest breath did soft convey Betraid her theft from thence my flaming breast Like thundring Aetna burns both night and day All day she present is and in the night My wakefull fancie paints her full to sight Absence her presence makes darknes presents her light Thirsil 17 Thomalin too well those bitter sweets I know Since fair Nicaea bred my pleasing smart But better times did better reason show And cur'd those burning wounds with heav'nly art Those storms of looser fire are laid full low And higher love safe anchours in my heart So now a quiet calm does safely reigne And if my friend think not my counsel vain Perhaps my art may cure or much asswage thy pain Thom. 18 Thirsil although this witching grief doth please My captive heart and Love doth more detest The cure and curer then the sweet disease Yet if my Thirsil doth the cure request This storm which rocks my heart in slumbring ease Spite of it self shall yeeld to thy behest Thirsil Then heark how Tryphons self did salve my paining While in a rock I sat of love complaining My wounds with herbs my grief with counsel sage restraining 19 But tell me first Why should thy partial minde More Melite then all the rest approve Thom. Thirsil her beautie all the rest did blinde That she alone seem'd worthy of my love Delight upon her face and sweetnesse shin'd Her eyes do spark as starres as starres do move Like those twin-fires which on our masts appear And promise calms Ah that those flames so clear To me alone should raise such storms of hope and fear Thirsil 20 If that which to thy minde doth worthiest seem By thy wel-temper'd soul is most affected Canst thou a face worthy thy love esteem What in thy soul then love is more respected Those eyes which in their spheare thou fond dost deem Like living starres with some disease infected Are dull as leaden drosse those beauteous rayes So like a rose when she her breast displayes Are like a rose indeed as sweet as soon decayes 21 Art thou in love with words her words are winde As flit as is their matter flittest aire Her beautie moves can colours move thy minde Colours in scorned weeds more sweet and fair Some pleasing qualitie thy thoughts doth binde Love then thy self Perhaps her golden hair False metall which to silver soon descends Is 't pleasure then which so thy fancie bends Poore pleasure that in pain begins in sorrow ends 22 What is 't her company so much contents thee How would she present stirre up stormy weather When thus in absence present she torments thee Lov'st thou not one but all these joyn'd together All 's but a woman Is 't her love that rents thee Light windes light aire her love more light then either If then due worth thy true affection moves Here is no worth Who some old hagge approves And scorns a beauteous spouse he rather dotes then loves 23 Then let thy love mount from these baser things And to the highest love and worth aspire Love 's born of fire fitted with mounting wings That at his highest he might winde him higher Base love that to base earth so basely clings Look as the beams of that celestiall fire Put out these earthly flames with purer ray So shall that love this baser heat allay And quench these coals of earth with his more heav'nly day 24 Raise then thy prostrate love with towring thought And clog it not in chains and prison here The God of fishers deare thy love hath bought Most deare he loves for shame love thou as deare Next love thou there where best thy love is sought My self or els some other fitting peer Ah might thy love with me forever dwell Why should'st thou hate thy heav'n and love thy hell She shall not more deserve nor cannot love so well 25 Thus Tryphon once did wean my fond affection Then fits a salve unto th' infected place A salve of soveraigne and strange confection Nepenthe mixt with Rue and Herb-de-grace So did he quickly heal this strong infection And to my self restor'd my self apace Yet did he not my love extinguish quite I love with sweeter love and more delight But most I love that Love which to my love ha's right Thom. 26 Thrice happy thou that could'st my weaker minde Can never learn to climbe so lofty flight Thirsil If from this love thy will thou canst unbinde To will is here to can will gives thee might 'T is done if once thou wilt 't is done I finde Now let us home for see the creeping night Steals from those further waves upon the land To morrow shall we feast then hand in hand Free will we sing and dance along the golden sand FINIS ECLOG VII The PRIZE Thirsil Daphnis Thomalin AVrora from old Tithons frosty bed Cold wintry wither'd Tithon early creeps Her cheek with grief was pale with angerred Out of her window close she blushing peeps Her weeping eyes in pearled dew she steeps Casting what sportlesse nights she ever led She dying lives to think he 's living dead Curst be and cursed is that wretched fire That yokes green youth with age want with desire Who ties the sunne to snow or marries frost to fire 2 The morn saluting up I quickly rise And to the green I poste for on this day Shepherd and fisher-boyes had set a prize Upon the shore to meet in gentle fray Which of the two should sing the choicest lay Daphnis the shepherds lad whom Mira's eys Had kill'd yet with such wound he gladly dies Thomalin
constant ever And men though ever firm are constant never For men that to one fair their passions binde Must ever change as do those changing fairs So as she alters alters still their minde And with their fading Loves their love impairs Therefore still moving as the fair they loved Most do they move by being most unmoved But women when their lovers change their graces What first in them they lov'd love now in others Affecting still the same in divers places So never change their love but change their lovers Therefore their minde is firm and constant prov'd Seeing they ever love what first they lov'd Their love ty'd to some vertue cannot stray Shifting the outside oft the inside never But men when now their Loves dissolv'd to clay Indeed are nothing still in love persever How then can such fond men be constant made That nothing love or but a nothing shade What fool commends a stone for never moving Or blames the speedie heav'ns for ever ranging Cease then fond men to blaze your constant loving Love's firie winged light and therefore changing Fond man that thinks such fire and aire to fetter All change men for the worse women for better To my onely chosen Valentine and wife Anagram MAYSTRESS ELISABETH VINCENT IS MY BRESTS CHASTE VALENTINE THink not fair love that Chance my hand directed To make my choice my chance blinde Chance hands Could never see what most my minde affected But heav'n that ever with chaste true love stands Lent eyes to see what most my heart respected Then do not thou resist what heav'n commands But yeeld thee his who must be ever thine My heart thy altar is my breast thy shrine Thy name for ever is My brests chaste Valentine A translation of Boëthius the third book and last verse HAppie man whose perfect sight Views the over-flowing light Happie man that canst unbinde Th' earth-barres pounding up the minde Once his wives quick fate lamenting Orpheus sat his hair all renting While the speedie woods came running And rivers stood to heare his cunning And the lion with the hart Joyn'd side to side to heare his art Hares ran with the dogs along Not from dogs but to his song But when all his verses turning Onely fann'd his poore hearts burning And his grief came but the faster His verse all easing but his master Of the higher powers complaining Down he went to hell disdaining There his silver lute-strings hitting And his potent verses fitting All the sweets that e're he took From his sacred mothers brook What his double sorrow gives him And love that doubly-double grieves him There he spends to move deaf hell Charming divels with his spell And with sweetest asking leave Does the lords of ghosts deceive The dog whose never quiet yell Affrights sad souls in night that dwell Pricks up now his thrice two eares To howl or bark or whine he fears Struck with dumbe wonder at those songs He wisht more eares and fewer tongues Charon amaz'd his oare foreslowes While the boat the sculler rowes Tantal might have eaten now The fruit as still as is the bough But he fool no hunger fearing Starv'd his taste to feed his hearing Ixion though his wheel stood still Still was rapt with musicks skill At length the Judge of souls with pitie Yeelds as conquer'd with his dittie Let 's give back his spouses herse Purchas'd with so pleasing verse Yet this law shall binde our gift He turn not till ha's Tartar left Who to laws can lovers draw Love in love is onely law Now almost he left the night When he first turn'd back his sight And at once while her he ey'd His Love he saw and lost and dy'd So who strives out of the night To bring his soul to joy in light Yet again turns back his eye To view left hells deformitie Though he seems enlightned more Yet is blacker then afore A translation of Boëthius book 2 verse 7. WHo onely honour seeks with prone affection And thinks that glory is his greatest blisse First let him view the heav'ns wide-stretched section Then in some mappe the earths short narrownesse Well may he blush to see his name not able To fill one quarter of so brief a table Why then should high-grow'n mindes so much rejoyce To draw their stubborn necks from mans subjection For though loud fame stretch high her pratling voice To blaze abroad their vertues great pefection Though goodly titles of their house adorn them With ancient Heraldrie yet death doth scorn them The high and base lie in the self same grave No difference there between a King and slave Where now are true Fabricius bones remaining Who knowes where Brutus or rough Cato lives Onely a weak report their names sustaining In records old a slender knowledge gives Yet when we reade the deeds of men inhumed Can we by that know them long since consumed Now therefore lie you buried and forgotten Nor can report frustrate encroaching death Or if you think when you are dead and rotten You live again by fame and vulgar breath When with times shadows this false glory wanes You die again but this your glorie gains Upon my brother Mr G. F. his book entituled Christs Victorie and Triumph FOnd lads that spend so fast your posting time Too posting time that spends your time as fast To chant light toyes or frame some wanton rhyme Where idle boyes may glut their lustfull taste Or else with praise to clothe some fleshly slime With virgin roses and fair lilies chaste While itching blouds and youthfull eares adore it But wiser men and once your selves will most abhorre it But thou most neare most deare in this of thine Hast prov'd the Muses not to Venus bound Such as thy matter such thy Muse divine Or thou such grace with Mercie 's self hast found That she her self deignes in thy leaves to shine Or stoll'n from heav'n thou brought'st this verse to ground Which frights the nummed soul with fearfull thunder And soon with honeyed dews thawes it'twixt joy and wonder Then do not thou malicious tongues esteem The glasse through which an envious eye doth gaze Can eas'ly make a mole-hill mountain seem His praise dispraises his dispraises praise Enough if best men best thy labours deem And to the highest pitch thy merit raise While all the Muses to thy song decree Victorious Triumph Triumphant Victorie Upon the B. of Exon. Doct. Hall his Meditations MOst wretched soul that here carowsing pleasure Hath all his heav'n on earth and ne're distressed Enjoyes these fond delights without all measure And freely living thus is thus deceased Ah greatest curse so to be ever blessed For where to live is heav'n 't is hell to die Ah wretch that here begins hells miserie Most bessed soul that lifted up with wings Of faith and love leaves this base habitation And scorning sluggish earth to heav'n up springs On earth yet still in heav'n by meditation With the souls eye foreseeing th' heav'nly station Then
'gins his life when he 's of life bereaven Ah blessed soul that here begins his heaven Upon the Contemplations of the B. of Excester given to the Ladie E. W. at New-yeares-tide THis little worlds two little starres are eyes And he that all eyes framed fram'd all others Downward to fall but these to climbe the skies There to acquaint them with their starrie brothers Planets fixt in the head their spheare of sense Yet wandring still through heav'ns circumference The Intellect being their Intelligence Dull then that heavie soul which ever bent On earth and earthly toyes his heav'n neglects Content with that which cannot give content What thy foot scorning kicks thy soul respects Fond soul thy eye will up to heav'n erect thee Thou it direct'st and must it now direct thee Dull heavie soul thy scholar must correct thee Thrice happie soul that guided by thine eyes Art mounted up unto that starrie nation And leaving there thy sense entrest the skies Enshrin'd and sainted there by contemplation Heav'n thou enjoy'st on earth and now bereaven Of life a new life to thy soul is given Thrice happie soul that hast a double heaven That sacred hand which to this yeare hath brought you Perfect your yeares and with your yeares his graces And when his will unto his will hath wrought you Conduct your soul unto those happie places Where thousand joyes and pleasures ever new And blessings thicker then the morning dew With endlesse sweets rain on that heav'nly crue These Asclepiads of Mr. H. S. translated and enlarged Nè Verbum mihi sit mortua Litera Nec Christi Meritum Gratia vanida Sed Verbum fatuo sola Scientia Et Christus misero sola Redemptio UNletter'd Word which never eare could heare Unwritten Word which never eye could see Yet syllabled in flesh-spell'd character That so to senses thou might'st subject be Since thou in bread art stampt in print art read Let not thy print-stampt Word to me be dead Thou all-contriving all-deserving Spirit Made flesh to die that so thou might'st be mine That thou in us and we in thee might merit We thine thou ours thou humane we divine Let not my dead lifes merit my dead heart Forfeit so deare a purchas'd deaths desert Thou Sunne of wisdome knowledge infinite Made folly to the wise night to prophane Be I thy Moon oh let thy sacred light Increase to th' full and never never wane Wise folly set in me fond wisdome rise Make me renounce my wisdome to be wise Thou Life eternall purest blessednesse Made mortal wretched sinne it self for me Shew me my death my sin my wretchednesse That I may flourish shine and live in thee So I with praise shall sing thy life deaths storie O thou my Merit Life my Wisdome Glorie Certain of the royal Prophets Psalmes metaphrased Psalm 42. which agrees with the tune of Like the Hermite poore LOok as an hart with sweat and bloud embrued Chas'd and embost thirsts in the soil to be So my poore soul with eager foes pursued Looks longs O Lord pines pants and faints for thee When O my God when shall I come in place To see thy light and view thy glorious face I dine and sup with sighs with grones and teares While all thy foes mine eares with taunting load Who now thy cries who now thy prayer heares Where is say they where is thy boasted God My molten heart deep plung'd in sad despairs Runnes forth to thee in streams of teares and prayers With grief I think on those sweet now past dayes When to thy house my troops with joy I led We sang we danc'd we chanted sacred layes No men so haste to wine no bride to bed Why droop'st my soul why faint'st thou in my breast Wait still with praise his presence is thy rest My famisht soul driv'n from thy sweetest word From Hermon hill and Jordans swelling brook To thee laments sighs deep to thee O Lord To thee sends back her hungrie longing look Flouds of thy wrath breed flouds of grief and fears And flouds of griefbreed flouds of plaints and teares His early light with morn these clouds shall clear These drearie clouds and storms of sad despairs Sure am I in the night his songs to heare Sweet songs of joy as well as he my prayers I 'le say My God why slight'st thou my distresse While all my foes my wearie soul oppresse My cruel foes both thee and me upbraid They cut my heart they vant that bitter word Where is thy trust where is thy hope they said Where is thy God where is thy boasted Lord Why droop'st my soul why faint'st thou in my breast Wait still with praise his presence is thy rest Psal. 63. which may be sung as The widow or mock-widow O Lord before the morning Gives heav'n warning To let out the day My wakefull eyes Look for thy rise And wait to let in thy joyfull ray Lank hunger here peoples the desert cells Here thirst fills up the emptie wells How longs my flesh for that bread without leaven How thirsts my soul for that wine of heaven Such oh to taste thy ravishing grace Such in thy house to view thy glorious face Thy love thy light thy faces Bright-shining graces Whose unchanged ray Knows nor morns dawn Nor evenings wane How farre surmount they lifes winter day My heart to thy glorie tunes all his strings My tongue thy praises cheerly sings And till I slumber and death shall undresse me Thus will I sing thus will I blesse thee Fill me with love oh fill me with praise So shall I vent due thanks in joyfull layes When night all eyes hath quenched And thoughts lie drenched In silence and rest Then will I all Thy waies recall And look on thy light in darknesse best When my poore soul wounded had lost the field Thou wast my fort thou wast my shield Safe in thy trenches I boldly will vant me There will I sing there will I chant thee There I 'le triumph in thy banner of grace My conqu'ring arms shall be thy arms embrace My foes from deeps ascending In rage transcending Assaulting me sore Into their hell Are headlong fell There shall they lie there howl and roare There let deserv'd torments their spirits tear Feel they worst ills and worse yet fear But with his spouse thine anointed in pleasure Shall reigne and joy past time or measure There new delights new pleasures still spring Haste there oh haste my soul to dance and sing PSAL. 127. To the tune of that Psalme IF God build not the house and lay The ground-work sure who ever build It cannot stand one stormie day If God be not the cities shield If he be not their barres and wall In vain is watch-tower men and all Though then thou wak'st when others rest Though rising thou prevent'st the Sunne Though with lean care thou daily feast Thy labour 's lost and thou undone But God his childe will feed and keep And draw the curtains to
thou none Or if thou art or wert how art thou saved And livest still when he to death is slaved But ah when well I think I plainly see That death to him was life and life is death to me 28 Vile trunk if yet he live ah then again Why seek'st thou not with him to be combined But oh since he in heav'n doth living reigne Death wer't to him in such knots to be twined And life to me with him to be confined So while I better think I eas'ly see My life to him were death his death were life to me 29 Then die with him vile trunk and dying live Or rather with him live his life applying Where thou shalt never die nor ever grieve But ah though death thou feel'st within thee lying Thou ne're art dead though still in sorrow dying Most wretched soul which hast thy seat and being Where life with death is one death with life agreeing 30 He lives and joyes death life to him hath bred Why is he living then in earth enwombed But I a walking coarse in life am dead 'T is I my friends 't is I must be entombed Whose joy with grief whose life with death's benummed Thou coffin art not his nor he is thine Mine art thou thou the dead not the livings shrine 31 You few thinne boards how in so scanted room So quiet such great enemies contain ye All joy all grief lies in this narrow tombe You contraries how thus in peace remain ye That one small cabin so should entertain ye But joy is dead and here entomb'd doth lie While grief is come to moan his dead-lov'd enemie 32 How many vertues in this little space This little little space lie buried ever In him they liv'd and with them every grace In him they liv'd and di'd and rise will never Fond men go now in vertues steps persever Go sweat and toil thus you inglorious lie In this old frozen age vertue it self can die 33 Those petty Northern starres do never fall The unwasht Beare the Ocean wave despises Ever unmov'd it moves and ever shall The Sun which oft his head in night disguises So often as he falls so often rises And stealing backward by some hidden way With self same light begins and ends the yeare day 34 The flowers which in the absence of the Sunne Sleep in their winter-houses all disarm'd And backward to their mothers wombe do runne Soon as the earth by Taurus horns is warm'd Muster their colour'd troups and freshly arm'd Spreading their braving colours to the skie Winter and winters spight bold little elves defie 35 But Vertues heav'nly and more glorious light Though seeming ever sure yet oft dismounteth And sinking low sleeps in eternall night Nor ever more his broken spheare remounteth Her sweetest flower which other flowers surmounteth As farre as roses nettles soonest fadeth Down falls her glorious leaf never more it bladeth 36 And as that dainty flower the maiden rofe Her swelling bosome to the Sunne discloses Soon as her lover hot and fiery grows Straight all her sweets unto his heat exposes Then soon disrob'd her sweet and beautie loses While hurtfull weeds hemlocks nettles stinking Soon from the earth ascend late to their graves are sinking 37 All so the vertuous bud in blooming falls While vice long flourishing late sees her ending Vertue once dead no gentle spring recalls But vice springs of it self and soon ascending Long views the day late to his night descending Vain men that in this life set up your rest Which to the ill is long and short unto the best 38 And as a dream where th' idle fancie playes One thinks that fortune high his head advances Another spends in woe his weary dayes A third seems sport in love and courtly dances A fourth to finde some glitt'ring treasure chances Soon as they wake they see their thoughts were vain And either quite forget or laugh their idle brain 39 Such is the world and such lifes quick-spent play This base and scorn'd that great in high esteeming This poore and patched seems that rich and gay This sick that sound yet all is but a seeming So like that waking oft we fear w' are dreaming And think we wake oft when we dreaming play Dreams are as living nights life as a dreaming day 40 Go then vain life for I will trust no more Thy flattering dreams death to thy resting take me Thou sleep without all dreams lifes quiet shore When wilt thou come when wilt thou overtake me Enough I now have liv'd loath'd life forsake me Thou good mens endlesse fight thou ill mens feast That at the best art bad and worst art to the best 41 Thus as in teares she drowns her swollen eyes A suddain noise recalls them backward bending Her weary head there all in black she spies Six mournfull bearers the sad hearse attending Their feet and hands to that last dutie lending All silent stood she trembling pale and wan The first grief left his stage a new his part began 42 And now the coffin in their arms they take While she with weight of grief sat still amazed As do sear leaves in March so did she quake And with intended eyes upon them gazed But when from ground the doleful hearse they raised Down on the beer half dead she carelesse fell While teares did talk apace and sighs her sorrows tell 43 At last Fond men said she you are deceiv'd It is not he 't is I must be interred Not he but I of life and soul bereav'd He lives in heav'n among the saints referred This trunk this headlesse body must be buried But while by force some hold her up they reare him And weeping at her tears away they softly beare him 44 But then impatient grief all passion proves She prayes weeps with teares she doth intreat them But when this onely fellow passion moves She storms and raves and now as fast doth threat them And as she onely could with words doth beat them Ah cruell men ah men most cruell stay It is my heart my life my soul you beare away 45 And now no sooner was he out of sight As if she would make good what she had spoken First from her hearts deep centre deep she sigh'd Then as if heart and life and soul were broken Down dead she fell and once again awoken Fell once again so to her bed they bore her While friends no friends hard love to life and grief restore her 46 Unfriendly friends saith she why do ye strive To barre wisht death from his so just ingression Your pitie kills me 't is my death to live And life to die it is as great oppression To force out death as life from due possession 'T is much more great better that quickly spills A loathed life then he that with long torture kills 47 And then as if her guiltlesse bed offended Thou trait'rous bed when first thou didst receive me Not single to thy rest I then ascended
drown'd The yeare with winter storms all rent and wasted Hath now fresh youth and gentler seasons tasted The warmer sunne his bride hath newly gown'd With firie arms clipping the wanton ground And gets an heav'n on earth that primrose there Which 'mongst those violets sheds his golden hair Seems the sunnes little sonne fixt in his azure spheare 3 Seest how the dancing lambes on flowrie banks Forget their food to minde their sweeter play Seest how they skip and in their wanton pranks Bound o're the hillocks set in sportfull ranks They skip they vault full little caren they To make their milkie mothers bleating stay Seest how the salmons waters colder nation Lately arriv'd from their sea-navigation How joy leaps in their heart shew by their leaping fashion 4 What witch enchants thy minde with fullen madnes When all things smile thou onely fitt'st complaining Algon Damon I onely I have cause of sadnesse The more my wo to weep in common gladnesse When all eyes shine mine onely must be raining No winter now but in my breast remaining Yet feels this breast a summers burning fever And yet alas my winter thaweth never And yet alas this fire eats and consumes me ever Damon 5 Within our Darwin in her rockie cell A Nymph there lives which thousand boys hath harm'd All as she gliding rides in boats of shell Darting her eye where spite and beauty dwell Ay me that spite with beautie should be arm'd Her witching eye the boy and boat hath charm'd No sooner drinks he down that poisonous eye But mourns and pines ah piteous crueltie With her he longs to live for her he longs to die Algon 6 Damon what Tryphon taught thine eye the art By these few signes to search so soon so well A wound deep hid deep in my fester'd heart Pierc't by her eye Loves and deaths pleasing dart Ah she it is an earthly heav'n and hell Who thus hath charm'd my heart with sugred spell Ease thou my wound but ah what hand can ease Or give a medicine that such wound may please When she my sole Physician is my souls disease Damon 7 Poore boy the wounds which spite and Love impart There is no ward to fence no herb to ease Heav'ns circling folds lie open to his dart Hells Lethe's self cools not his burning smart The fishes cold flame with this strong disease And want their water in the midst of seas All are his slaves hell earth and heav'n above Strive not i' th' net in vain thy force to prove Give woo sigh weep pray Love's only cur'd by love Algon 8 If for thy love no other cure there be Love thou art cureles gifts prayers vows and art She scorns both you and me nay Love ev'n thee Thou sigh'st her prisoner while she laughs as free What ever charms might move a gentle heart I oft have try'd and shew'd the earnfull smart Which eats my breast she laughs at all my pain Art prayers vows gifts love grief she does disdain Grief love gifts vows prayers art ye all are spent in vain Damon 9 Algon oft hast thou fisht but sped not straight With hook and net thou beat'st the water round Oft-times the place thou changest oft the bait And catching nothing still and still dost wait Learn by thy trade to cure thee time hath found In desp'rate cures a salve for every wound The fish long playing with the baited hook At last is caught Thus many a Nymph is took Mocking the strokes of Love is with her striking strook Algon 10 The marbles self is pierc't with drops of rain Fires soften steel and hardest metals try But she more hard then both such her disdain That seas of tears Aetna's of love are vain In her strange heart weep I burn pine or die Still reignes a cold coy carelesse apathie The rock that bears her name breeds that hard stone With goats bloud onely softned she with none More precious she and ah more hard then diamond 11 That rock I think her mother thence she took Her name and nature Damon Damon see See where she comes arm'd with a line and hook Tell me perhaps thou think'st in that sweet look The white is beauties native tapestrie 'T is crystall friend yc'd in the frozen sea The red is rubies these two joyn'd in one Make up that beauteous frame the difference none But this she is a precious living speaking stone Damon 12 No gemme so costly but with cost is bought The hardest stone is cut and fram'd by art A diamond hid in rocks is found if sought Be she a diamond a diamond's wrought Thy fear congeales thy fainting steels her heart I 'le be thy Captain boy and take thy part Alcides self would never combat two Take courage Algon I will teach thee woo Cold beggars freez our gifts thy faint suit breeds her no. 13 Speak to her boy Al. Love is more deaf then blinde Damon She must be woo'd Al. Love's tongue is in the eyes Damon Speech is Love's dart Al. Silence best speaks the minde Damon Her eye invites Al. Thence love and death I finde Damon Her smiles speak peace Al. Storms breed in smiling skies Damon Who silent loves Al. Whom speech all hope denies Damon Why should'st thou fear Al. To Love Fear 's neare akinne Damon Well if my cunning fail not by a gin Spite of her scorn thy fear I 'le make thee woo and winne 14 What ho thou fairest maid turn back thine oare And gently deigne to help a fishers smart Nicaea Are thy lines broke or are thy trammels tore If thou desir'st my help unhide the sore Ah gentlest Nymph oft have I heard thy art Can soveraigne herbs to every grief impart So mayst thou live the fishers song and joy As thou wilt deigne to cure this sickly boy Unworthy they of art who of their art are coy 15 His inward grief in outward change appeares His cheeks with sudden fires bright-flaming glow Which quencht end all in ashes storms of teares Becloud his eyes which soon forc't smiling cleares Thick tides of passions ever ebbe and flow And as his flesh still wastes his griefs still grow Nicaea Damon the wounds deep rankling in the minde What herb could ever cure what art could finde Blinde are mine eyes to see wounds in the soul most blinde Algon 16 Hard maid t' is worse to mock then make a wound Why should'st thou then fair-cruel scorn to see What thou by seeing mad'st my sorrows ground Was in thy eye may by thy eye be found How can thy eye most sharp in wounding be In seeing dull these two are one in thee To see and wound by sight thy eye the dart Fair-cruel maid thou well hast learn'd the art With the same eye to see to wound to cure my heart Nicaea 17 What cures thy wounded heart Algon Thy heart so wounded Nicaea Is 't love to wound thy love Algon Loves wounds are pleasing Nicaea Why plain'st thou then Al. Because thou art unwounded Thy wound my