A SACRED POEME DESCRIBING THE MIRACVLOVS LIFE AND DEATH OF THE GLORIOVS CONVERT S. MARIE OF AEGIPT Who passed fortie seauen yeares in the desarts leading a penitentiall life to the astonishment of all succeeding ages Plerumque gratior est Deo feruens post culpam vita quam securitate torpens innocentia D. Greg. THE ARGVMENT OF THE POEM FROM APPROVED AVTHORS MARY THE AEGIPTIAN being but 12. yeares old left her Parents and came to Alexandria where for 17 yeares she prostituted her selfe to insatiable lust And to allure more to her company exposed on free cost to their pleasure mayntayning her self in the meane time by begging and spinning of wool It hapned that many sailed to Hierusalem to celebrate the festiuity of the exaltation of the Holy Crosse whither she also trauelled not out of piety but to gaine new associats to her sensual delights And now arriued euen at the gates of the Temple the rest continually entring she alone strangely suffred repulse Which hauing 3. or 4. times susteyned at length she vnderstood that for her sinnes she was deemed vnworthy to behold the holy Crosse Wherefore seriously touched with compunction and prostrate before an Image of the Blessed Virgin she implored her aide that with the rest she might behold honor that sacred Instrument of our Redēption promising from that time neuer to contaminate her self with luxurious impurities Then assaying to enter she found no stoppage as before but like the sea rowling forward the waues the multitude impelle her into the Temple There according to her desire hauing honoured the sanctified wood she returned to the place where formerly she had made her promise to the Blessed Virgin And a voice from heauen directed her how she should dispose of her self for the glory of God and her eternal behoof Whervpon taking with her three loaues of course bread she hastned to the wildernes and there for the space of 47. yeares liued in such austerity as she neither beheld man nor liuing creature confining her self to the presence of God and his Angels her sole spectators her loaues after lōg tract of time being spent she for 17. yeares sustained her feeble body with hearbs onely rootes her garments rotting falling from her she was long so afflicted with winters cold and scortching heats of that clymate as often fainting void of breath she layd on the ground destitute of sense motion For the first 17. yeares after her entrance into the wildernes she was assayled with vgly and violent temptations but through diuine assistance still victorious To conclude after a wonderful and most penitential life interseasoned with diuine consolations Zozimas a blessed Monk coming into that part of the desart found her out and ministred vnto her the B. Sacrament on the Euening of Maundy Thursday and after spiritual conference with her departed the yeare following vpon her appointment returning he found her deceased in a caue whither a lyon then approaching digged vp a graue in which with teares prayers she was interred by Zozimas The Romane Martyrologe and Vsuard recount her day the 2. of Aprill The Grecians in their Menaloge obserue it the day before Nicephorus lib. 7. cap. 5. affirmeth her life to haue been written by Sophronius Bishop of Hierusalem The same is cited in the 2. Councell of Nice And by St. Iohn Damascen orat 3. de Imag and translated into Latine by Paul Diacon Neopoleas is extant in vitis Patrum it was also composed in verse by Hyldebrand Episc. Senon and by Bonad Santon lib. 3. Monad 29. and others She liued about the yeare of Christ 520. in the time of Iustine the elder THE MIRACVLOVS LIFE OF S. MARIE OF AEGIPT MARY of Aegypt's life I sing and crimes To no lesse guilty much more hardned times Smile truth and ye who both by choyce and name O happy may so great a patron clayme Great in hir loosenesse greater in restraint A wondrous sinner a more wondrous saint If my weake muse long nurst in wanton lore Led by a better choice then t' was before Blest soule thy prayses chante oh see and loue The first fruites of hir pennance from aboue Direct hir flight whiles she thy trophyes sings And impe new feathers to hir tainted wings Christs faithful spouse which long had groand opprest By hell-bred Arriâns swarming in the east After th' amazement of that horrid night Was now restored to hit wonted light By Iustin namd the Elder fears were past And wicked errour by faire truth displast The Church inioyed an vniuersal peace Praysing the giuer so when loud stormes cease The merchant safe paves on the calmer shore Such thankefull vowes as he had made before The now free temples through the cittye were Throngd by al sortes of people psalmes each where With hymnes of ioy are shrilld by euéry tongue And loud TE-DEVM'S by the Clergy sung The noyse rings through the ayre a pleasing sound And there receaud doth with new ioy rebound From th' ecchôing angels to th' allmighty's ears Who pleased with their zeale from starre-crownd spheres Viewing the citty and imperial throne Of great Byzantium approues what 's don Thence Eastward twining his all-seeing eyes The sacred land of palestine surueyes No regiön so forcibly inuites His mild aspect no ayre so much delights For there 's his garden there those happy groaues Where first he stoopt o strange to mortal loues There Caluarye showerd with aeternal blood There Sion Oliuet and Iordans flood There Nazareth Bethlem powerfullye arrest His heauenlye eye and oh aboue the rest Here him a band of liuing saints inuites Poore Thred-bare monkes to grace their pious tites Th' almighty's self their burning zeal admires Their many altars and perpetual quyers Their close retired walkes their silent celles Their lowely cloysters and farre distant welles So suncke of purpose that their drinke and meate Might aequally be purchast with their sweat For they their food seeke in the open fields Or eate the croppe which their owne labour yeelds Here contemplation without noyse or strife Inioyes it's peace mixt with the actiue life Whiles Mary sighing swimmes in pious teares Laborious Marthe hir burden gladly beares For loue both sisters in one bond vnites Shares aequally their labours and delights The world 's great Ruler playes his part the whiles Addes flame to flames and at their feruour smiles Yet no one soule could fixe with more delight Th' almighty's eye then that poore naked wight Which howling from the desart with Loud cryes And doleful clamours rent the iniurd skyes Groueling on earth hir eyes bathd in warme streames Hir witherd armes parcht with Sol's fyêry beames Stretcht at their length the rest a naked coarse In hoary tresses clad with zealous force She beates at heauens bright gates and strong in faith Vrgeth hir pardon and hir pardon hath Haue mercy lord the worst of sinners prayes Mercy my god forget my damnëd dayes For hir deare sake whose blessed name I beare Ah can a Mary
speed seemes more slack than his desier He runs and runing thinkes his feet but slow Not dreaming to what misery they goe And who knowes would he say but that she stayes Expecting me and for my coming prayes For saints their longings haue t' was true he sayd She for their euerlasting meeting prayd Arriud he strait sends forth his busye spyes Hoping to see those long-since-closed eyes Too bright for earth to looke on They by chance In their retourne vpon a small caue glance Which in the maine rocke by no mortal taught Nature art's Mistrisse curiously had wrought And in the natiue stone had framd a doore Two lights aboue beneath a pummizd flooer Stord with a pleasant fountaine fruite and shade Which to the spring a goodly palme tree made His heart with ioy beates and his willing feet Run their supposed happinesse to meet For t' was a place which he with reason ghest Heauen had prepard for such a heauenly guest Enterd he findes her kneeling with a face Which yet retaind it's former zeale and grace Tho motion lesse depriud of sence and breath The sweetest picture that erê grac't pale death Here first seen smiling her ioynd hands applyed T'a crucifix which in the rockes maine side Her bodkin had not without forme designd Tho much lesse perfect than it in her mind The monke admires her zeal and loath to break Her soules imagind rapt forbears to speake But his impatient ears grudge that delight Bad councellors which onely blest his sight And longing to inioy her heauenly voyce Their maister vrge first with some litle noyse Of bootelesse sighes then in a louder tone As from a soule much suffering to groane All fayling to her keye-cold feet he creepes Where with good cause tho yet vnknown he weepes Too hasty lippes ah whiles you kisse you kill And guiltlesse heart with deadly horrors thrill Yet lipps may erre his handes must also feele Those sacred soales as cold as starke as steel Stiff were her handes her nostrils without breath All certain tokens of a certaine death His sorrow is too great to find a vent With drye eyes on that doleful obiect bent He stands more sencelesse than the sencelesse stone The growing rocke had some life he had none And life-lesse might to this day haue remaind Had not her pure soule of her spouse obtaind That her bare corpse exposd to open view Might by his means receaue it 's mortal dew Heauen his lost senses to their place restores And he his misery in words deplores Which no pen can expresse but most he grieues That he expressely sent as he beleeues To leaue her story and immortal fame To after-times had not inquir'd her name For it through chance or rather hidden fate He had forgot to aske she to relate A new doubt how to bury her expelles The former and her blessed name reueales For whiles he seekes some toole to breake the ground Her name her age and dying day he found In Syrian characters scord on the sand Eyther by angels or her owne pure hand Hereby he learnes that she had closd her dayes Twelue whole moneths since and yet would think she prayes Such sweet deuotion in her face appears And long-closd lids had he not mist their tears For their dryed channels in her much worne face Were then first markt without those streams of grace This want himself not sparingly supplyes But questionlesse would haue wept out his eyes Had not a more grim obiect and as near Restraind his griefe to make some roome for fear A hydeous lyon on his habit rubbes And trembling sides with harmelesse nostrils grubs Whiles he now pale whith fear amazed stands And stretcheth to the corpse his palsey hands Praying for help the beast with fyery eyes The death pale saints and the whole caue surueyes Then awfully his round walkes with a grace Might make him iudgd of more than mortal race Til at the saint's feet a ful stop he makes And as himself so the whole caue he shakes The monkes white haires with horror bristled stand Whiles he his whole length stretch forth on the sand The rockes themselues with terror seeme to sinke And too weake for so maine a burden shrink The monster couch't his shaggy outside smoothes And dreadful pawes now mildly licking soothes The trembling father with a fawning chear Expelling part both of his griefe and fear Who taking heart thus spoke Thou king of beastes Which neuer breakes thy maker's dreadful hests More blest herein than man since his high will Hath sent the hither in his name ful-fill Thy happy office and dig out a graue T' interre this sacred corpse in it's owne caâ—e The beast with fury flyes to worke and tears The ground vp with his dreadful clawes new fears Assayle the monk's heart least some sparkling stone Should maime the sacred carcasse or his owne So fiercely he earth's craggy entralls riues And round about the litle parlor driues Yet wary in his fury euer keepes That compasse harmelesse where the blest saint sleepes His panting sides with his owne steere he beates Breaths fyêr and ruine to the whol rocke threates His shaggy fleâ—â— waues with his angry wind And stares with horrour quilted he inclind Close to his taske both with his teeth and clawes The harder crags breakes lighter mold with drawes And now inter'd in his owne worke he lyes Yet stil workes on enough the father cryes His furious labours in an instant cease And he by Zozim blest departs in peace Whiles the sad monke in streames of sorrow fleets And her cold limmes in his owne mantel sheetes All rites performd the sacred corse he rears With due respect and to it's mansion beares Where once more at her blessed feet he fel Kist them and weeping tooke his last farewell First throwing in the sand and lighter mold Then shiuerd crags and bigger stones he rold Of which vpon her armes and sacred breast The figure of a homely crosse he drest And paying the last tribut of his tears Retournes to his owne celle where ful of yeares And sanctitye whiles her strange life he writes She him to euerlasting ioyes inuites His soule to heauen his bones to earth retourne And peacefully rest in their natiue vrne Blest payre of saints to whose al honourd shrines My blacke muse addes these late recanting lines Mildly accept of her vnfained zeale And by your prayers strengthen mine appeale From that of iustice to sweet mercy's throne Most blest of sinners not to thee vnknown Mercy it self can not shew more diuine Than by remitting greater sins than thine Disdaine not therefore to prepare a place For my staind soule great sins requyer great grace And mercy calles on mercyes be my guide To those great mercyes which thy self hast tryed That there thy prayse I may for euer sing A laureld poet to a happyêr string Amen Deo gratias
life of mine Hath been prolongd by prouidence diuine For this directed by a heauenly voyce I left my natiue celle and former choyce My self alone in these darke caues designd The rarest wonder of this age to find And wil you ah too nice those great workes hide Which God himself it seemes would haue discryed High graces oft to priuat soules are lent But to a genêral good their vse is ment These by concealing you 'l vsurpe a due We must ascribe to heauen and not to you The holy penitent with tears begins To cal to memory her former sinnes Then sighing spoke behold my vnfaind griefe And blushing eyes bewray my guilty life Though my grieud soule paint in this outward showe Those soares which on it like foule leapers growe Since you my naked out side did behold I shal with like simplicitye vnfold A blacker inside and such sins I fear You 'l flye me as some fiend when them you hear First praying you incessantly to pray That in the last of dayes that dreadful day To guilty soules when heauen and earth combind Shal stand against vs I may mercy find With teares he onely answrîng she pursues And adding tears to tears hir grief renewes Borne where the fruitful Nile oreflows the land And leaues it mannurd to the farmers hand At twelue years age cloggd with the tender loue And care of mine old parents I remoue To Alexandrïa that royal seate That farre-famd litle world that citty great That fatal rocke on which much youth vnstayd And many a lady's honour shipwrack made Who now with me may curse that il-famd coast On which our better names we fondly lost I blush to speake my first fault and to tell How from the state of innocence I fell Nor think it fit your chaster eare to wound With the most horrid and detested sound Of my vnsatiably bad desires No flame can match them but hel's natiue fyêrs Let this suffice ful seuenteen years and more I in that citty liud a common whore Neyther did I at first mine honour graunt Tempted with gold or ouercome with want Nor since through aûarice haue I welterd in Th' vn bridled rage of this detested sin But drownd in damnëd lusts I held the vice Reward sufficiënt and its owne price Where by to sin and craft in sin inurd More customers I wickedly allurd Liuing vpon my needle bare and poore Whiles forct to beg my bread from dore to dore Curst wretch the mouthes of Orphans to defraud And who first made blest pouerty a bawde Which rather then the charges should distaste My wicked mates I willingly imbrac't Thus long I sayld on deepe damnation's seas Whiles onely lust my lustful soule could please Yet stil vnsatisfyêd and neuer tyrd The more I find the more to sin desired When one day walking on the sandes I spyed Great multitudes thronging to this sea-side Bound for the holy land the feast drew near Of th' holy roode and these al pilgrims were With them some toye or rather some bad fiend Tooke me to ioyne I cald to one my friend Pray tel me is there roome aboard to spare Enough he answerd paying for your fare Tush with foule gestures sayd I here 's as good Making my fouler meaning vnderstood Pardon me holy father for I wrong Your chaster eare detayning it so long On these blacke sins which whiles I here declare My baneful breath infects the purer ayre And heauen knowes with what horrors I relate Th' abominations of my former state Mother sayd he let not this clowde of shame Obscure the glory due to his great name Whose power and grace such crymes can onely clear And no where more then in our sins appear Then she continued thus vpon the sand Ready to boate I sawe an able band Of tall yong men 'mongst whom I rushing in With frontlesse impudence did thus begin Haue with you gallants where so êre y' are bound And thinke not that of me firs you haue found A thanklesse wretch for truely you shal see That I am open hearted kind and free My strange immodesty their laughter moues They al professe and I accept their loues With such lewd speeches and much worse then these I woed those youths and with them tooke the seas Hoping if euer in such choyce to find Pleasure as ample as my boundlesse mind Now o thou man of God how can I tell Those sins fit onely to be knowne in Hell No mortal tongue can speake no godly eare Can without horror their relation hear Yet this I le say what art or lust could doe What fiends could tempt the worst of creatures to I there came guilty of which when I now Recall to memorye I wonder how Those swelling tydes were not allowd to sweep My sinful soule to th' euer-lasting deep Ah no! whiles I euen in sins ocean liud That shoare-lesse mercy my poore soule repriud That long-forbearing God who would haue none To perish calmd from his eternal throne The fury of the sea and angry wind Against their maker's enemye combind At last we landed on the Syrian shoare I stil the same taled on my hellish score For al that iourney as by land we went My malice on the wreak of soules was bent Not onely sinning with my long-knowne band But tempting many natiues of the land And euen to them who for deuotion came Shame-lesse to all made proffer of my shame Now O the very thought for iudgement calles Of those sinnes which within the holy walles I durst commit euen where a crimson flood Had washt the streets with my wrongd sauiours blood Where not one soule so bad as had the force To viewe those places without some remorse My diuelish self excepted dare I say That on the Eeue of that al-honourd day Nay euen the day of th' exaltation I When euery one repented euery eye Was turnd to heauen contriud the while to winne As many partners as I could to sinne Pardon my shame sir if too fast I run From this foule Hell to the more gratious Sun Of my conuersion no wordes can expresse My sinnes the mercyes of my God much lesse Bright was the morne and Tythons loue graye-eyed Her purest skye in purpled streames had dyde The golden Sun which then appeard before I'ts vsual time ran poasting to adore The euer-honourd crosse dumb things declard Their ioye by signes and for the feast prepard Noe soule in which the foulest sinnes had swarmd But then came with remorce and pennance armd I who that sacrament of grace abhord More than the iust edge of heauen's angry sword Neuer more bold in sin more hard in heart Came in this feast to act my hellish part Where with coye lookes and wanton words in vaine I labourd some vnhappy soule to gaigne Thus wicked both in action and intent I with the people to the temple went A building of such glory state and cost Mine eyes in it 's vnmeasurd hugenesse lost Could not but vnder-prize those antique frames Wherewith
portal fayle Now th out commers th' incommers now preuayle My self like to a bowe-shot arrow flew And borne with equal speed through eyther crow Which way or how I past I can not tell Prostrat before the signe of triumph fel Here feare and horrour springing from the tyde Of ouer-flowing ioye my soule deuide Guilty of it's owne sins a flood of teares Badges of inward sorrow drowne my feares In seas of true content no ioye hath life Compard to this sad ioye this ioye-ful griefe Hence springs true hatred of my former sins Hence heauenly loue with better hopes begins To spreade pure flames and my best part inspires O that a streame of tears should rayse such fyers The marbled flooër groueling I embrac't And cleansd the checkerd flags with kisses chast Then crawling on and kneeling at the foote Of th' holy crosse I bathd it's sacred roote With flowing tears and empty hoales adord Yet with the blood of my redeemer goard Oh what a full content what seas of blisse My soule swam in lost in the vast abysse Of that vnmeasurd loue which for our good Left these sad markes of his much-wasted blood Vnworthy I my sexes shame the worst Of Aegipt's monsters and the most accurst Led by so great a patronesse was free To kisse the foote of his blood-honourd tree And through her fauour made my guilty eyes Partakers of it's glorious misteryes And oh such sweetnesse there such odours felt As none can ghesse the same who haue not smelt A heauenly sent the like no flowrye field Perfumd panchaia nor Sabaea yeeld My harder hart now in warme tears distilles And inward comfort my whole senses thrilles O may al such as are opprest in mind The like relief in true repentance find The brazen gates no-sooner had I past When my whole burden on the green I cast Before the image where I first had prayd And mindful of my former promise sayd Mother of God who doest to none refuse Mercy vnlesse thy mercyes they abuse Through thee I haue this glorious sight obtained Not with a wicked eye to be prophand Through thee I 'le glorifye my God who saues The sinner which through thee his mercy craues What can a wretch say more or more requyre Hauing from thee obtained her hearts desire T' is now my turne blest virgin here I stand Ready t' obserue my vow and thy command O teach me heauen's path yet vnknowne to tread And in the way of truth thy pupil leade This said as I was rising from my prayêr A heauenly voice came through the open ayre Flye to the desart there sad soule repent Beyond the Iordan there find true content My trembling knees on earth againe I fold And out-stretcht hands to heauen's bright arches hold Alme virgin loe here once more I abiure The world and sin thou which art euer pure Mother and mayd if gladly all I leaue And naked to thy dear protection cleaue If readily I follow thy command O doe not thou with-draw thy helping hand But thy poore creature guide preserue defend Til in thy son my selfe and vowes both end Here-with I rose as I departed thence Some charitable man stopt three smal pence In to my hand with which in hast I bought Three penny loafes and by the baker taught The way to Iordan which I was to take With teares the holy citty I forsake The fayling sun yet with a ruddy light I could see glimring on mount Carmel's height When to a litle chappel of St. Ihon Ihon holy Zachary'es more holy son Weary and weake I came this chappel stood Vpon the bankes of the desired flood There as the sun euen hid his sea-drencht beames Handes face and feet I washe in liuing streames The night I spend in prayer and with teares Reade the blacke legend of my sinful yeares Preparing my staind soule with vnfaind griefe The next day to receaue the foode of life Iust heauens be merciful I know I went Vnworthily to this great sacrament O sacred manna fountaine of al good O deified bread o angel's foode Hide me in thy eternal mercyes from The dreadful iustice of thy threatned doome Neuer sicke soule presumd in house prophane So glorious o ghest to entertaine But oh vnsearched treasures boundlesse seas Of mercyes and of goodnesse when I cease Thy mercyes and thy grace to magnifie O let me without grace and mercy dye Neuer sicke soule so lame and impotent So full of horrours which durst yet present I'ts naked inside to that heauenly ghest Receaud more comfort in this sacred feast Than I poore sinher vndeserued grace Did neuer yet more amiably imbrace A leaprous soule restord with angel's foode And cleansed with my God's al-clensing blood The inward ioy and spiritual delight The peace of mind and comfortable light Which liberâlly infused from aboue Fierd my soule with euerlasting loue Were such as should my wordes hope to deliuer My wordes would wrong the bounty of the giuer Alas how oft to solitude confind Haue I since then with holy hungar pind After this blessed food how oft distrest And with the weight of mine owne woes opprest Haue I in agony and hellish dread Sighed for the comfort of this heauenly bread How oft in bitternesse and drought of heart Haue I aspird but to some litle part Of this oreflowing grace this tast of heauen Now to a wretch so prodigally giuen Ah I deserud it not my sinnes were such Rather what then I had was too too much Yet he who knowes both when and how to giue Will when his pleasd a famisht wretch relieue Oh father might a sinner euer pray With such full comfort as I did that day How should we beat our sin's deserued paine Without which heauenly ioyes are hopd in vaine But I the time in mine owne passions spend Wronging your eare which craues my story's end Yet as you see I can not wel let passe This pleasing memory so then I was No lesse vnwilling to forsake the place Wherein vnworthy I receaud such grace From hence about high noone though loth I part More strong more comforted and light of heârt Then euer I had been prone on the bankes Of siluer Iordan I yeeld humblest thankes To my great mistrisse for I must to her All fauours what so ere and guifts referre Her son at her intreatye shal bestowe For al through her that 's giuen to her I owe with tears I craue that she vouch safe t' abate My God's iust wrath whom in such wretched state I had presumd vnworthy to recêiue That he my faulty rashnesse would forgiue Then in his late-tryêd mercyâ—s confident My self and all t' his heauenly will present My prayer ended on the tufted grasse Earth's natif Carpet halfe a loafe I place And sitting downe on Iordan's flowry bed Praysing th' almighty's name I eate my bread My htirst I quench in the vndamagd flood For what I tooke in drinke my tears made good Contented with this sober fare I rise And to the orient skye
couuert mine eyes Giuing all thanks to him who to all giues And with due foode his creatures relieues That eue and most part of that night I spent In prayêr the rest to careful slumbers lent Early next morning ere the rising sun Had from the east his dayly course begun Watchful I rise my knees and heart I bowe Weepe and reiterate my former vow And hauing to the glorious virgin prayd More earnestly then euer for her ayd In al my actions til my soule inlargd From mortal fetters had it 's vowes dischargd With constant purpose neuer to forsake The course by her addresse I was to take Strait boating ouer the saint honourd flood I hid me in this vnfrequented wood From which time euer flying I haue fled And this vast desart's depth inhabited Expecting him with loue and fear who saues The humbled sinner which his mercy craues Here she concluded he whose rauisht ears Had seemd transported to th' harmonial speres Whiles she spake sweeter musicke now displeasd Those accents of her heauenly voyce were ceasd Hoping a while that of her self she would Some other passage of her life haue told Stood mure but silent shame with downe-cast eies Her aaged face in virtue's colour dyes At things her self had sayd this he perceaues And thus with wordes her of newe words deceaues How long o sainted sinner is it since These woods their first blisse borrôwed from thy sinnes Forty seuen times sayd she the golden sun Through the twelue signes it 's compleate race hath run For so oft haue I markt these trees left bare And their rich out sides nipt by th' colder ayre As ost if this we reckon haue I seen The fragrant spring restore their natiue green Since Sions holy citty I forsooke And pennance in this desart vndertoke Zozim againe how haue you liud since then Whither relieud by angels or by men Haue you in peace and without strife attaind To this perfection's height vnstopt vnstraind Or haue you felt the ciuil violence Of lawlesse passions reason against sence Will opposite to will and rebell nature In armes against the lawes of it's creatour Hath not that common foe whose subtle sleight Some times transformes him to an angel bright Some times puts on the hydeous shape of fear With this t' amaze with that the eyes to blear Of weaker soules with cunning and with force Opposd you in this solitary course For with such trickes it euer was his vse The desart's late improouers to seduce Th Aegiptian sighes who in the fearfulst kind Had stood the vtmost fury of the fiend Yet loath those fatal conflicts to renewe From which she doubts fresh dangers might ensue Pale at their memory and willing to Forget thus sleights what he desird to know Tentations I had many and those such I can not say too litle may too much Their memory is horrour and may yet Breed danger who is safe whom foes beset But for my foode o stay here Zozim cryed With this halfe-answer not to be denyed For thinking it the will of heauen he should Her wondrous life to after-times vnfold He would haue al ah whither is 't you run From that which you should most insist vpon Weake of your self if through heauen's ayding pôwrs You haue preuayld the glory is not yours Secrets of kings w' are warned to conceal But gloriôus t' is God's wonders to reueale The sun burnd saint her eyes glazd with fresh tears Made answer for the space of seuenteen years Or there abouts when to the silent shade Of gloomy woods my first retreat I made The raging monsters of vntamd desyers The light-wingd furyes of my former fyers Wasp-like innumerous and busy swarmes Frighted my restlesse soule with dire alarmes They roamd they ragd by day by night obscure No time no place my prayers were secure Hot meates where in our Aegipt much exceeds And bodyes plumpt to sinful pleasures feeds Now represent themselues with al the store Of law-lesse cates which I had vsd before Tempting with an vnwilling forc't delight My stil in-vaine-resisting appetite My blood-lesse vaines with strong wines seemt to swell Which I was wont to quaffe as deepe as Hell In sinful healths lasciuious tunes deterre My euen vnwillingly attentiue eare Whiles my too busy and vnheed-ful tongue Hummes the leaud parcels of some wanton song To these both tears and prayers I oppose Batter my guilty breast with trebled blowes Implore the ayde of my great patronesse Whose succour neuer fayld me in distresse For as it were euen kneeling in the place Where first I saw her image my sad case With tears I would expose o happy they Who to the mother of al mercy fly For whiles tears from mine eyes flowd in ful streames A heauenly light diffusd in glorious beames Would round incircle me secure my fears And change those streams of sorrows to glad tears But oh the snares the vnresisted charmes The fierce assaults th' vneuitable armes Wherewith soule lust and actions vnnamd Ay me my too proone memory inflamd When all those wanton pranckes of loue which I In former times had acted willingly Presented now to my vnwilling mind Eache one it's seueral face it's seueral kind Then millions of chymera-like delights Would throng in with vn heard of appetites And all lust's varyed shapes a hydeous shoale None can paint sin but to a sinful soule Thrice happy ye whose purer minds not know Those tortures which our sins are subiect to Who in your state of innocence secure Dreame not what our once guilty soules indure Mine yet with horrour faints euen at the thought Mindful how weakely thus assayld it fought No flaxe no sulphur spreads more readily The nimble flame which heedlesse hands applye Then my prone senses through sin's former vse Like lightning these impoysond thoughts diffuse My forc't will it's assent in vaine denyes My soule melts in the flame my marrow fryes I weepe when vrgd with these inragd desires But o no sea of tears can quench such fyers My boyling limmes I spread on the cold ground Mine eyes and face in flowing sorrow drownd Thus in the pangs of mortal agonye Whole dayes whole nights oftime I grouelinglye Inuoking ful of trust her virgin ayde Which neuer fayld me though some times delayd For from the dust I neuer rear my face Vext with such thoughts til that clear beame of grace It 's light of comfortable sweetnesse sheds And round about me glorious brightnesse spreads For then the enemy retyers dismayd Hot flames and lust's abhord suggestions vade So when foule mists clogge Iordans siluer flood The sun cleard from some interposed cloud The foggy dampe disperses and displayes On the reflecting waues his brightest rayes Full seuenteen years thus I afflicted liued Inuaded by the foe by her relieud So long when I had spent that little bread Where of I spake on herbes and rootes I fed Experience instructing me to chuse Such as the woods afforded best for vse So long through th' alterd seasons of the
year I sufferd much from the distemperd sphere In depth of winter with cold mornings glac't With snowes with sleetes and stormes of hayle defac't In summer tand and scorcht with Titans beames My nakednesse exposd to both extreames For those sheere weedes the moyst and bleaker ayre Had quickly rotted which at first I ware From which time forward naked as you see From soultry heate from blashing winters free Clad in the mercyes of my God in prayse Of his blest name I spend my waining dayes My soule which in these caues heauen ayding through A thousand snares hath kept it's former vow Not ignorant with what high fauours grac't Innumerable hazards it hath past And trusting to that grace by which repriud From these exteriour troubles it hath liud Growes confident and with inflamd desires To euer-lasting comforts glad aspyres I drinke I feed I 'm clothd out of heauens store The word of God all these supplyes and more Because that man on bread not onely feeds But on each word which from our Lord proceeds Nay euen the very rocke shal them arraye Who the foule robe of sin haue thrown away Th' attentiue father when she had annext These places pickt out of the sacred text Demanded if she had been some times bred In studyes or the psalmes perhaps had read Noe truly said she nor haue seen the face Of mortal creature in this forlorne place But be not this your wonder for Gods word Doth sence and science to all his afford Loe father now my whole life's tract you haue And once againe vpon my knees I craue That in those holy offrings which you make Dayly to heauen you some compassion take Of my much-burdend soule and recommend To that great God of mercyes my neere end A deepe-fetcht sigh here closd her speech the man Confounded kneeld and with loud voyce began His eyes in warme tears swimming Blessed be That God by whom great things we compast see Strange high and wonderful most dreadful things Things which no scypher within number brings Blessed art thou Lord God almighty who Art pleasd that I a sinful wretch should know All those good things which thou reseru'st in store For them that loue thee who doest euermore Help them who seeke thee there th' Aegiptian takes The oldman's hand and raysing him thus speakes Whiles I am liuing let no mortal ear O man of God what I haue told thee heare Touching my life and state now go in peace And when the sun shal this same dayes increase Adde to the ful year's period you me And I shal you God's grace assisting see Yet for Christ's sake let me intreat that you When the next lent shal these blest rites renew Though all the rest their annual custom keep In boating ouer Iordan's sacred deep Yet passe not with them Zozim marking her His monasteryes solemne rule tinferre With wonder shrinking onely sayd in 's heart Glory to thee my God who doest impart To them who loue thee she proceeded stay At home as I was saying nor obey Thy rule here in which wouldst thou know in vaine Man striues when otherwise the heauens ordaine Then on that euer honourd day in which It pleasd our lord his people to inrich With the vnualued treasure of his blood And sacred body that life-giuing food Which as his lou'es eternal testament By his last will in this great sacrament He left to his beloued then I say When the declining sun shal close the day Hauing with due solemnity renewd The sacred cene doe not my hopes delude But part of that celestial foode reserue The worst of sinners and most poore to serue This don expect me on the farther side Where Iordan's streames the world and vs deuide That there once more I may receaue the blood And body of my God which sacred foode My famisht soule since those blest streams I past Hath not been worthy in these woods to tast O father though I know my self the worst Of al that euer find and most accurst Yet doe not you a sinners prayer slight For heauen it self in such oft takes delight Hear me and graunt that I vnworthy may Receaue my God about that time of day Wherein it pleasd himself to consecrate And giue his last of suppers the first date Father be mindful of me and farewel One thing I had forgotten pray you tell Your Abbot Iohn that some things are amisse Which he should not neglect but as for this Say nothing for a while yet tell him when Our lord shal think it fit forbear til then Sh 'had sayd and kneeld for 's blessing which obtaind With winged speed the thickest thickes she gaignd The ayre receaues her on glad wings the grasse Prest lightly with her foot steps as they passe Forceth to rise again you 'd say to meet I'ts happinesse and kisse her sacred feet The woods haste to incounter their loud'ghest The leafes to whispering windes their ioys exprest And spread a thicker shadow for they know It is her will that they should hide her so Things without sence exult th' oldman alone Forsaken and deiected stands like one Whose high-contemplatiue transported soule Wholy absorpt and fixt in th' vpper pole Reard on the wings of pure eternal loue Admire those treasures which are stord aboue For true chaste louers and inioyes the place Of endlesse blisse alas one minut's space This high raysd soule to it's frayle home retournes Where sad deiected and opprest it mournes I'ts misery the greater by how much The late-tryed ioyes of heauen it had found such So stood the sad anachoret depriud Of that blest obiect which had earst reuiud His death-likeage whiles euerye word of hers Pierc't like sweet musick his attentiue ears Her countenance and illuminated face Diffusing part of that redounding grace Which through the working of the holy ghost His neighbouring soule with plenteous streams ingrost What ioy might with that ioy of his compare What mysery now equal his despaire Since past felicityes but vex the more Than if they neuer had been knowne before His eyes pursue the saint as far as hee Through the dimme glasses of those eyes could see But when the spatious plaine and woods thicke shade His prospect's vtmost period had made Lost in himself he without motion stood His eyes and soule both sinking in a flood Of endlesse teares innumerable woes Oppresse him with their weight and mortal throwes His straitned heart and bowels thrill but when Weighing the varying state of mortal men He had reflected on his griefe and calld The will of God to mind himself appalld And fearful least he had offended in His too rash sorrow sorrowes for his sin And rectifying his inferiour will Vowes that of heauen in all things to fulfill Then kneeling kist the grasse where she had stept Which with obseruance dewe yet careful kept The prints of her dear feet and with calme showers Waterd the drooping grasse and late-blest flowers But time calles on him and himself restraines His too
pray and thou not heare O powêrfull charme the very name could moue Both the effects of pardon and of loue That euerlasting goodnesse which long since Had razd the memôry of hir former sinnes And those blacke characters which hir true tears Had for thespace of seuen and forty years washt with vnwearied streames not pleasd that she whose life t'all sinners might a comfort be And had so pleasëd his eternal eye Vnknowne vnhonourd in those shades should dye Pointed out of his all fore-seeing care A graue old moncke his wonders to declare A glorious father Zozimus his name In goodnesse great great in desert and fame And who perhaps much greater might haue been Had he been lesse in his owne greatnesse seen Poore man already he seemd euen to play On vertu's green and to haue won the day Sings ioyful Paeans gloryes in his years Growne hoary in long pennance and appears That desart's onely sunne in his owne sight Whence yonger saints receaued a borrôwed light Vnwise for whiles he snatcheth at a crowne Which might ere long haue iustly been his owne He falles thinkes darknesse light falles stil and euen As he is falling thinkes he mounts to heauen So when our Northern Tine swelles ore the strands Planing the fatal foard with both the lands Some daring traueller spurres on enragd Nor sees the perill til too far ingagd Measûring his owne life by the sea-like streames Too late alas intrapt twixt two extreames He doubtful pauseth if he forward presse The danger 's great should he turne backe not lesse Mean time pale fear his better sence bereaues And fiercer currant his weake eye deceaues For stil borne downe by it's resistlesse force Stil dreames he rides too high his wiser horse Bears strongly with the streame but toyles in vain His maister maisters him some-one amaine Whoopes from the shoare Bear vp Bear vp he hears But false eyes trusts more then his truer ears Til swept away by the remorselesse flood H 'is lost and makes it 's fatal sir-name good Such or much worse might haue been Zozims end Had he not heard à farre more powêrful friend Who through the organs of a whistling wind In aéry sounds thus check't his aery mind Many as aâged more holy and lesse proud Their vertues in this sacred desart shrowd Flye therefore hence and leaue the place in which Pride and self-loue thy better thoughts bewitch A Conuent neere the bankes of Iordan stands Not great in circuit or extent of lands But great in sanctity ther seeke and find The cüre of a self-delighted mind His eyes are opend and his sin appears More great augmented by insuing fears For what can now secürehim who fel Thinking himself in heauen as deepe as Hel He falles as lowe as he had soard too high Anthaeus-like resuming strength there by For whiles he prostrat cleaues t' his mother earth By blazôning in it's molde his baser birth He riseth stronger then he was before Lesse in his owne eye but in god 's much more And takes his iourney guided by that hand Which earst when Abram left his natiue land His house and friends was with him in his way And held him least he from truth's path should stray A witherd sticke his trembling iointes sustaines Whiles wandring through vast woodes and vaster plaines Stil from aboue imploring light and grace He seekes neere Iordan the desired place Which where the riuer straitned twixt two hilles The hanging cliffes with hollowe ecchoes shrilles He found at last a Conuent of smal showe Yet well contriued the walles and roafe both lowe No gluring outside no art's new deuise Of curious worldlings to allure the eyes No path but one and that but litle vsd Which brought our zozim in himself confusd At such retyrednesse to one onely gate It opening from within there weake he sate With griefe and toyle his former life now blames And these poore monkes thrice happy he proclaimes Whose inward sanctitye he quickly guest By What their outward solitude exprest Thus humbled in himself he knockes with fear As one not worthy to find entrance there The porter hauing eyed him through the grate Informes his Prelat of his forme and state He strait descending in the entry meets The stranger whom imbracing thus he greets Welcom graue father what could we deserue Vnworthy seruants of him whom you serue That you should visit vs here poore beginners Il mortifyêd and halfe-conuerted sinners Zozim abasht bends his brim-swelling eyes Downe to the earth and sighing thus replyes I seek perfectiôn here growne old in pride O take me for his sake who for such dyed The Abbot glad receaues him there he liues With saints a saint and disinchanted giues Not now t' himself but to those holy syres Vertue 's full prayse sees in them and admires Their patiênce zeale humilitye profound Raysd by pure rapts aboue the starry round Nimble obedience charitye in al Whose charter warrants it shal neuer fal Al things wel-orderd and in the quyer Perpetual vigils harmonye and prayer But winter now declining had begun To feele the powër of a warmer sun And Febrüarye old praepard to yeeld To springing Marche the honour of the field Wensday the first of clensing dayes appeares When the whole Conuent to one roome repaird And hauing crau'd assistance from aboue Came forth in vnity in peace in loue Praepard to crosse the riuer as each year In this blest season they accustomd were To keep lent silent nor to meete agen Til the renewing of the sacred Cene The gate as loathe to part with such loud ghests It's griefe in th' opening with lowd groanes attests whiles matching downe to Iordan the whole quyêr In order sings this psalme led by the Priour Psalme 26. HEnce fear our lord 's my safety and my light My life s protector what shal me affright Whiles bad men on me rusht my flesh to teare My foes who vext me fell and weakened were Opposed Campes my courage shall not quell In battle strong here fixt my hopes shal dwel One thing I 'ue askt our lord this I 'le request That in his house I all my dayes may rest That I his ioyes may view and temple blest For he hath kept me in his sanctuâry in It 's closest vaults safe from the dayes of sin H' ath reard me on the rock and plac't me out Of foe's reache in his house I 'ue romd about Offring an hoaste of clamour I will sing And say a psalme to heauen's aeternal king My voyce o lord to thee loud-crying hear Haue mery on me and to me giue ear To thee my heart spake thee mine eyes desire To thee o lord I euer will aspire Turne not nor in thy wrath decline thy face From me thy seruant help me with thy grace Oh doe not leaue nor sleight me in thy scorne My saûiour and my God for me forlorne My parents both haue left but thou didst take Compassion on me Lord vnto me make A law in thy way and the