Prologus FRet not to see a Tragi-Comedy Written by one who thinks no shame to be All things to all men Pedant Player Fool Provided he may gain a Sin-sick Soul And bring him back to his first Love and Lord Using no other Spel than Heav'ns word The Atheist I do first Court and say Sir you 're invited to our homely Play Where if you look with Abraham's faithful eye You mercy in a Mystery may spie The disobedient Child I do invite To come and view with me this happy sight Young Isaack who submitteth to the knife Of Abraham from whom he first had life The tender Mother may also draw near And hear or read these Lines and never fear Abra'm by God must only tryed be The Boy by him and then delivery From Heav'n will come or if the World 's worthies Will daign a look or stoop to catch such flies As I have brought or can spare any time From greater matters to read humble Rhyme They 're welcome Sick men also from their beds May come and have a Pillow for their heads He that is fit to hang himself may come Here is a Ram already in his Room In fine of all sorts comers welcome be To see Heav'ns Wisdom Pow'er Philanthropy Abrahams Faith Hagar Ismael Abraham Sarah Midwife Hag. ALas poor Boy our comfort now is o're I never knew what 't was to grieve before How often have I solac'd in the Armes Of thy dear Father Oh! but now the charmes Printed by Heav'n upon my Mistress face Are irresistable alas alas Ism Why Mother why was it not always so Hag No Child thou' rt ignorant thou dost not know It is not long since Old-age and dispair Of Issue made her self account me fair And recommend me to my dearest Lord Though now her piercing looks as sharpest Sword Cut what they see We we are both undone She must enjoy old Abraham alone Ism But Mother Sarah hath no Children yet Hag. I know she hath not but the time is set For her deliv'ry and 't will be a Boy To dis-inherit thee the only joy Of me thy Mother Ism Dis-inherit me He cannot unless Law perverted be The Primo-geniture I 'm sure is mine Which no man shall perswade me to resign Hag. I 'm but the Hand-maid Sarah is the wife These very words may breed an endless strife I' th' Family and Mistress without doubt Will study means whereby to cast us out Sar. My Lord can you the glories of my face Behold and not admire Can there be place In your grave Breast for any other flame Beside that kindled from my Eyes then tame Your strange desires and let your lawful Bed bound your caresses Know that you are Wed To Sarah now who ceaseth to be dead And barren as before View her from head To foot her features and her limbs mark well And if these please not see her Belly swell One Child from Heav'n may ballanc'd be with two That come by Natures law and mine is so Abr. Dearest of Wives this new thought on discourse Seemeth to rise from some malitious source What is thy will or what dost thou desire Would you have fewel added to the fire That Heav'n hath kindled Dear what do'st require Sar That you shake off your Hand-maids and Love me Is all I crave I will not Rivall'd be Kind Husbands when their Wives in my condition Be for the most part do with full submission Hearken to them fearing untimely birth Abr. Well Sarah well you are dispos'd for mirth Sar. 'T is mirth to you but I must feel the sorrow I think I shall be brought to Bed to morrow Go call the Midwife I am very bad I never yet such Griping torture had Abr. Chear up my dearest when thou see'st the Boy 'T will banish grief and ravish thee with joy When Males are born the trouble is forgot And thine will be a Boy I question not Sar. Pray for me Husband this is a sharp bout Abr. He who hath promis'd he will help thee out Midwife what news Mid. You have a lovely Child Thank Heav'n your expectation 's not beguil'd Sar. Take him my Lord this Boy will make you glad Abr. It is the best that e're my dearest had Here take ye him 't is time that he were fed Mid. Nay hold as yet my Lord you 've forfeited Abr. Forfeited what Mid. Good Sir a Midwives fee. Abr. Here take the Child and I will give it thee Here. Mid. Sir I thank you when I women lay Of their first born I see I 'ave double pay The next my Lady hath my Lord will hold His hand and will not part with so much Gold Abr. I am no Niggard if that time do come I promise thee to give a bigger sum Mid. My Lord I 'm but in Jest yet may you have A num'rous issue if you nothing gave Sar. Husband you know I laughed heretofore Have not I reason now as many more Then from my laughter let him have his name Abr. I 'ave call'd him Isaack is not that the same Sar. My Lovely Babe come let me suckle thee There is no Mortal can more joyful be Chorus Heav'ns mind's fulfill'd And Sarah stillâ—d O how she long'd And said I 'm wrong'd No Wife like me Who Abra'ms be All have their Joys Their Babies-toys I 'm only she Who barren be New now her Breasts Are made two Nests For harbouring The lov'd Off-spring Of her dear Lord At Heavens word And more she may Have that same way Gods promises To us are bliss No Art avails When Heaven fails His blessings he Bestow'd then she Got blowen Saills If any after Children want they may For remedy with her to Heaven pray Abraham Sarah Isaack Angel Ab. Dear heart methinks this Boy hath suck'd too long Sar. What and hath neither Feet nor Tongue E're he be wean'd he must a Foot-man be To run and prattle up and down with thee Now do your pleasure Ab. Call our friends together He must not be a burthen to his Mother Isa Mam if I lose my pap the Child will cry Sar. Yes prety thing thou must or Mam will dye O! how it snugs and sleeps upon my Breast Poor rogue I 'm sure of all he loves me best Here thou shalt have thy bubby one month longer E're that be o're my Chicken may be stronger And if that will not do He give'm another No Love is like to that of a dear Mother Come dry Nurse take the Child and use him well Thy care of him shall make thee ever dwell With me in plenty Abram see the scorn Of Hagar's Brat that in my house was born If you deceive not Heav'n which counts you just You must him and his Mother both out thrust Because the Rogâ—e in years hath got the start He strives with Isaack for an equal part In thy estate but it must not be so If me and mine you Love pray let them go Ab. What change of humours all you Women have It is not long
DIVINE DIALOGUES VIZ. Dives's Doom Sodom's Flames and Abraham's Faith CONTAINING The Histories of Dives and Lazarus The Destruction of Sodom And Abraham's Sacrificing his Son To which is Added Ioseph Reviv'd OR The History of his Life and Death By George Lesly Minister of the Gospel Herbert's Church-Porch A Verse may find him who a Sermon flies And turn delight into a Sacrifice LONDON â—â—inted for Charles Smith at the Angel near 〈◊〉 the Inner Temple gate Fleet-street 1678. To the Right Honourable Charles Earl of Westmoreland c. Right Honourable THough the Author's obscurity and unworthiness of the ensuing Poem may in Justice forbid either your Lordships Patronage yet the swift-wing'd fame of your Honour's goodness giving life to my harmless ambition hath emboldened me though with trembling Heart and Hand to make this poor address Not that I have or dare have confidence to think it worth your Lordship's acceptance being the frozen conception of one born in a cold Climate but that the enlivening Beams of your Honour's Patronage may screen it from that contempt and obloquie it might otherwise meet with in a hotter region On this and no other score is poor Aeschine's gift presented to your Lordship Favour therefore noble Sir my begger with a Serene Aspect And if your Honour think him worthy grant him the regard of being one of the meanest of your Lordship's Closet inhabitants and for his fidelity take the word of a Priest he 'll neither steal nor flatter His beginning is divine and so I hope is his rise though he be not adorned with so much Eloquent bravery as this Golden-tongu'd age boasteth of yet I dare say he will stammer out so much truth as may inform the Reader that the Kernel not Shel the substance not shew of Christian Religion and Piety is to be minded I might I confess have drawn the Matter to a longer Thread had I not feared that it would neither please your Honours Eye nor become the Hand of Your Lordships most Obedient George Lesly Wittring June 14. 1676. To the READER HAving in a small essay declar'd my self a Lover of the Muses I have now ventur'd upon the Stage not ignorant of the fate â—hat attends pious Poems that of the Poet being â—o less true than common Pro captu lectoris haâ—ent sua fata libelli I discern a Cloud I might say 〈◊〉 crowd of Carpers for they will be of all sorts The Learned whom I honour and would be glad â—o imitate may think my Style antick Matter â—aw Plots ill-laid and worse managed and no â—arty well humoured To them I grant all because they could better have answered wise mens expectations in such an enterprize Yet I hope â—hat the expression is neither so rude nor the matâ—er so indigested though that be not so tumid â—or this so taking as the Genius of the present Age â—equires but that they may out-live the rigour â—f a sober censurer and prove beneficial to some The Lady that weareth a Ruff with a loose Gown â—he Gentleman with the high Crown'd Hat and Wooden heel'd Shooes may call it plain old Engâ—ish and good Morality at least I know there are Courteous as well as Critical heads these may let my Pamphlet alone 't is intended for the other If the Stage-Poet frown all I shall say to him is Though my Muse be not tuned to his Key yet my mind transcends his Apollo Majora Cano. But if all men put a fair construction on what they find here and read with the same intention I wrote it not only to divert idle hours but to deter them from sin who will not trouble themselves with an impartial Scrutinity of Holy Wriâ— for an Antidote and to promote Divine Faith and Charity among Mortals in this faithless and frozen Age. If this I say be done my time I hope in Writing nor theirs in Reading will be mispent Farewell The Persons Dives a wicked Rich man Pride Gluttony his Friends Huntsman Servants Lazarus a Begger Poverty Sickness his Attendants Death Sexton Chirurgions Masons Carvers Mourners Angels good and bad Abraham Threnophilus one who writeth his Epitaph The Prologue THese humble Lines to all men cry aloud Bidding them shun Hells horrour Styg'an flood In Heavens Language ev'ry Neophite Must learn to say mercy Lord I 'm not meet To tread thy Courts nor cast a hoping Eye Upon a promise till I do espy My Sins transferred on a Saviour And then O then begins that happy hour When dismal Clouds of wrath shall disappear And Sunshine mercy overspread the Sphere Of thy poor weather-beaten Soul and then Thy Tongue shall bless God thank the trembling pen Of him who rais'd thee out of deepest sleep E're death succeeded wishing thee to keep The wholesome Lawes of him who can destroy Thy Soul or give it everlasting Joy These are the ends I have propos'd and do Wish they may prove effectual to you If sense not swelling words have leave to speak Know it is you not yours that I do seek â—â— DIVES'S DOOM OR The Rich Man's Misery Dives Pride Servants Div. WHat Monster 's this li'th at my noble Gate Bedawb'd with leprous spots what cruel fate Attends the caitife What unhappy Star Rul'd at his birth that such his mis'ries are While happy I who scorn the Divine Powers Am glorious by Nature's help and yours Doth not the World behold my heaps of Gold With cov'tous eyes Pr. Yes it was always bold Div. This stately Fabrick that is by me made Do not all men admire Pr. Yes most have said You 're he and only he dare boldly say The life of Man is constant holy-day The earth with all its fulness smiles on you And we its dearest Minions serve you too Rise from your rich embroyder'd Bed I see This petty light would emulator be Of those resplendant Rubies that hang round Your Couch and those wherewith your Head is crown'd See! how the num'rous Atoms daunce and touch Your lofty Brow as if they did think much That their own Brats should have so near approach To your admired worth they but encroach Rise up and let your Purple Red and White Exceed the Sun in beauty and delight Call call your Waiting-men that they may dress And fit you for your golden Business Div. Who 's there Pr. What! Slaves do not you hear my Lord Good Servants always answer at first word Serv. We come what is your Honour's will Div. That ye Perform your Offices I 'll dressed be Serv. What Cloaths to day Great Sir the Heavens frown Div. What! Purple and fine Linne worse I scorn Pr. Good good immortal Sir why should you be Serv'd with the Emblems of Mortality With Russet Flaxen or the courser Stuff Since your rich Wardrobe can afford enough To speak you Non-such bring the Crimson Suit You may at pleasure have a new recruit Finest Silk Stockings Shooes of golden Cloth With best of Beavers never touch'd by moth The largest Chain of Gold and Diamond Rings
dreadful streams Of Fre and Brimstone darken the Sun-beams Once more let Heav'ns Windows open'd be That Lot may fire as Noah water see Shut up those bowells full of mercy are And neither young nor old i'th'Cities spare Raise thickest Smoak and make a sulph'rous smell That living they may know the paines of Hell Perhaps 't may warn all those that come behind To know and walk according to my mind If not while I am just they must be sure Those or such dreadful torments to endure He that sheds blood with blood must punish'd be For lust and anger fire 's the destiny I 'le stamp my curse on all things for their sake This fruitful plain shall be a stinking Lake If any fruit for ever after grow It shall not be for Food but only show Sod Oh Heav'ns I 'm choack'd with Smoak I 'm burn'd with fire O Brimston Brimston Where shall we retire We dye we dye O may this be the last Of Heav'ns dreadful Sentence on us past We 're burn'd and damn'd there is no remedy We would not hear Lot when he bid us fly From wrath to come O how our Limbs do crack With fire Our Conscience is upon the rack For by-past Crimes our beastly Lusts Torment Us as the pretious time that we have spent O wretched Nature whither hast thou brought Us Fools and made us sell our Souls for nought Luxurious Eyes why were ye so unkind To dote on objects who have made you blind And you Tenacious hands why did you grasp The Poyson of the Spider Why from Wasp Did you seek Honey did not Heav'n bestow As upon Lot so also upon you The Lawful helps and remedies for lust Was not all this enough but that you must In spite of Heav'n lay hold on all that came Although they man his members had or name Could not a lawful Wedlock satisfie Thy burning flame proud flesh No thou must cry Bring out thy handsome Guests them we must know Not knowing that they were not from below Whose Just revenge doth make us miserable To bear these scorching flames we are not able And yet alas our wo doth but begin The vengeance is Eternal that 's for sin O that Lots God would grant us a reprieve But for one hour that wretched we might live To wail our by-past sins and beg his aid Who never yet to humble sinner said I scorn your plaints but always graciously Prepar'd a bottle for a melting Eye And piece-meal Pray'rs made whole with his own merit Sa'ing be comforted 't is you must inherit My endless Joy which sentence now doth pierce Our Souls so much that we cannot rehearse Our woes though Oh! alas it is too late We must expect nought but Almighties hate See how the Devils laugh whom we have serv'd O cursed Sp'rits it't this we have deserv'd From you for all those things that we have done At your Comand Devil Give over blame not me You know I did but only gratifie Your own desires I never could command Or force your wills this the Almighties hand Was only able to effect but ye With your unbounded wishes wearied me You made the Tinder then from me beg'd fire Half what ye did was never my desire You sought the newest ways to damn your Souls For which we Devils do account you Fools Your state might have been happy when at worst If you had not me and your Natures forc'd If we Apostates had such promises And helps as you No sinful false surmises Of feign'd fruition of I know not what Should e're have made us spirits forfeit that You were assured of by Heavens word Viz. Whosoever turn'd unto the Lord Should have their crimson sins made white as Snow Their Scarlet ones like Wool and what they ow Cancelled out of Gods omniscience Book Ev'n all sins trumpery that they ever took On trust and after death should all receive Glory in Heav'n as much as they could crave Did not your consciences many times Speak when you acted these unheard of Crimes Then why did ye not say Tempter forbear This this ye did not being voy'd of fear Of either Heav'ns anger or of Hell Till scorching flames of a Sulphureous smell Forc'd you on former actions to reflect Which heretofore you ever did neglect This you will find a good Apology When you to Heav'ns Tribunal called be Then you shall hear what I already said That if you had implor'd th' Almighty's aid He would at all points so have armed you As all my fiery Darts should ever bow And never pierce But since your free election Was sin you must not grudge at your rejection You are my Prisoners and Hell your place Where you shall never see the blessed Face Of God in mercy but for ever must Burn with his wrath for your unnat'ral Lust Lot Come Wife why dost thou tarry so behind Wife I am a Woman can I be unkind Have we not dwelt in Sodom several years Can I behold its flames and not shed Tears Lot When Heav'n is angry we must be so too Wife Ah Husband flesh and blood this cannot do Lot But flesh and blood shall not inherit bliss This truth we fully see confirm'd in this Sad fire Wife O Husband Husband see the smoak The Town is fir'd Lot No it will provoke My God who hath his mercy magnifi'd To grieve that I 'ave not with the City died Wife I must look back let come of it what will What God hath promised he will fulfill I shall not dye Lot Fond Woman say not so Thou must perform conditions if thou go Alive to Zoar. Wife O! I 'm sensless struck Lot Who break God's precepts ne're have better luck Wife Help Husband e're I dye I fixed stand My mouth is full of Salt Lot It is God's hand That strikes his blessed will I 'le not controul However Lord have mercy on her Soul Chorus Beware of Sin for God abhors Impenitents and all their scores With pen of Iron graves in stone Which he 'll produce when time is done Of vengeance if you would be free Beware of Lust and Gluttony This drowns the Soul that doth it kill Though Christ for it his blood did spill The man that doth attempt the Crown Deserv's not to have kindness shown Christ's honour is his Crown yet we From time to time attempters be Though he be patient and forbears As witness his Jerus'lem Tears Yet at the last when he doth come With all his Angels then our doom With Majesty he shall repeat When we can neither Bribe nor Cheat The Judge nor Jury but submit To those that hurry to the Pit Where we must be depriv'd of bliss If we make Sin our business Then let us look on Sodom's flames and say From Sodom's sins deliver Lord we pray FINIS Abraham's FAITH 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mark 9.23 The Persons Prologus Hagar Abraham's Hand-maid Ismael Hagar's Son Abraham Sarah Isaack Angel Midwife Devil Faith Flesh Despair Abraham's Servants Chorus Epilogue