by the Rivers side Whose loaded Boughs in Fruits return Their Tribute to the Tide No Storm or Drought shall make him fade But he unmov'd shall stand Nor shall Success less prosp'rous crown What e're he takes in hand No so the Wicked who as Chaff By Tempests rais'd on high The triumph of fierce Winds are made And as they drive them flie Unlike in Life unlike shall be The ends which on them wait Whilst these in Judgment cannot stand And those are prais'd i th' Gate For why the ways of Righteous Men Unto the Lord are known But Sinners ways hid to themselves Unto the Dead lead down PSAL. LVII Miserere mei Deus miserere GREAT God on whom I have reli'd Whose Mercy is my stay Under Thy Wings or let me hide Or on them flie away Or hide or flie until the Storm Which threatens me is past Thou all things for me dost perform In Thee my hope is plac'd To God I 'll cry who shall descend From Heav'n i th' Fight to close And while his Love does me defend His Truth shall slay my Foes With Lions Lord my Soul lies down shut up within their Den Lions so fierce were never known Cruel and bloody Men. Whose Tongues are Swords and Eyes all Fire With gore and slaughter Red And who against me all conspire To look or speak me Dead Yet set Thy Glory ' above the Skies O're th' Earth exalted be For tho so high I cannot rise Thou mayst stoop down to me Thou didst so for as I lookt round Pensive and full of care My prostrate Enemies strew'd the Ground Each tane in his own Snare Fixt is my Heart to sing Thy Praise T is fixt and I 'll rejoyce Awake my Harp and with Thee raise To Heav'n my tuneful Voice I will awake too and my Song To th' Nations shall rehearse Mercies whose Praise to Heav'n belong Worthy an Angels Verse Lord set Thy Glory ' above the Skies O're the Earth exalted be Lo how thy Son does thither rise Lift from the Grave by Thee Turn'd and Transcrib'd with the following Psalm for an Hymn upon Easter-day 1671. PSAL. CXIV In exitu Israel de c. WHEN Israel was by God's address And his Almighty Hand From Bondage led and wondrously Brought to the Promis'd Land In Judah God his Glory shew'd And did his Power declare Israel his great Inheritance Temple and Empire were The Sea it saw and suddenly Amaz'd rose up and fled The parted streams of Jordans Flood Ran trembling to their Head Aside the Mountains leapt like Rams And to the Hills did show The Hills which shook like frighted Lambs The way which they should go What ail'd the Sea that all amaz'd So suddenly it fled And what made Jordans parted streams Run trembling to their Head Why did the Mountains leap like Rams And to the Hills first show The Hills which shook like frighted Lambs The way which they should go Confess O Earth thy Soveraign Lord And at his Presence quake Before the Face of Jacob's God Bow and Obeysance make 'T is he who caus'd those Rocks to hear And when Thy Springs are dry Can from their flinty Bowels fetch Streams which shall never die PSAL. CLI According to the LXXII 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. I. YOUNGEST of all my Brethren and the least In the Jessean House to ' a Service I enclin'd Which both my Age and Innocence suited best And best the Throne to which I was design'd My Fathers Flock was early set to keep And how to govern Men first learn among my Sheep II. I kept and fed them with a pious care And as they fed my Harp and Pipe assayd Them and my self to please did Songs prepare And variously as pensive Shepherd playd Till having wearied out an humbler String A bolder flight I dare'd Israels Great God to Sing III. But who such Praise can worthily rehearse I strove my best and it acceptance found With Heav'ns Blest King who to approve my Verse A double Glory round my Temples bound By ' his Prophets Hand there plac'd the Regal Crown From the Flock calling me the Poet 's with his own IV. I many Brethren had and great of Might All valiant Men and all renown'd in War Oft tri'd but God in them took no delight For Causes tho from us removed far To ' himself best known who sees not as Man sees But as the Heart is judges and gives Dignities V. For that and his own Pleasure He chose me And having chosen call'd me forth to fight With Raphas Giant-son whose blasphemy Levell'd at Heav'n on his own Head did light By ' his Gods he curst me and his Gods he curst Himself as the chief God propitiating thus first VI. But such curse Proof I out against him went The firmlier arm'd as he disarm'd thereby And certain Death into his Fore-head sent E're he the place could guard or turn to flie He fell I ran to th' lifeless Monster came From him with 's own Sword took his Head from Israel shame Job cursing his Birth After this opened Job his Mouth and cursed his Day And Job spake and said Pereat dies in qua natus sum MAY the Day perish and it s hastly flight Be still be still retarded by a sluggish Night The Day unhappy Day whereon 't was known My Mother could that name and sorrows own Let it look black as Hell no Ray appear Nor on it God in common Light draw near But unregarded may it from above To ' all other Days a different Circle move Augment the last Nights gloom and ne're be found But in a Sea of Rapes and Murder drownd Let Deaths grim Terrors on it ever dwell Of if 't has Light let it be such as fell On Sodom when avenging Heav'n did showr Tempests of Fire and flouds of Lightning pour And for the Night if yet it were the Night For any Day too bad which first disclos'd the sight Dark of it self let Horrour on it seize And when all others welcome are for th' ease And respit which they bring the toilsome care Of pains which in their Curtains hidden are Let it be Curst too and by ' a fatal Breath Doom'd not the shadow of it but very Death Sad dismal solitary know no Joys No chearful shouts but a dull confus'd noise Of Groans and Shrieks as when the parting Soul Labours in vain its dest'iny to controul And as the Criminal who to die next Morn The pity of the many and their Scorn Curses its shortness and does think it done Sooner than other Nights are well begun Let it abide Curst and grown Ominous Its Tale in some prodigious ruine lose Black be its Twilight in it rise no Star But such as when 't is seen tho from a far Famine portends and Blood and the Worlds flame And all the Plagues that have or have not Name Let it expect the Light and pine away To Darkness palpable but see no Day With thousand Curses more And Day
Favours shown by me A Fame which by his Birth he ne're had gain'd Till I who rais'd his Wit that Honour too obtain'd VII Ei sa che'l grande Atride He knows that Menelaus and Achilles too And Anibal and a greater than all these The mighty Scipio I did once subdue And after all their Wars enslav'd in Peace Giving them Waiting-Maids for Mistresses But for him Wretch a Love so sacred chose And of a Million so beyond compare That Heav'n alone such sublim'd Beauties knows This World has nothing half so bright or fair Not Rome it self tho its Lucrece were there Nor was this all but gave withal a Voice And of Harmonious Numbers so great choice Such skill to Sing that nothing base or low E're reacht his Thoughts except his Malice now These my Deceits were these my Flatteries For which I 'm charg'd which other would as Honours prize VIII Questo fu il fel c. This was the Gall these the Disdains and Ire Favours too great to be so soon forgot By which I kindled the most sacred Fire But see the Blaze my Labour answers not Who for a thankless Man thus long have wrought If under me he has the Skill attain'd To Ravish all who do his Numbers hear If with the Good he such Respect has gain'd And with the Great that to ' him they Deference bear How high so e're he Soar'd I fixt him there Till now perchance some servile Wretch he ' had been A Brawler at some Bar without esteem But I first rais'd him made him first be known Nor were those Arts he Riots in his own But in my School he first procur'd the Grace And then from her who next me his great Mistris was IX E per dir al extremo c. Yet last of all hear his grand Slavery And you will think he ' has reason to complain From thousand Chains of Vice I set him free By Her whose Favour he could never gain By any Act which had the smallest stain Temp'rate and Modest in design and deed Since a Liege Man of hers he still has been Who with great thoughts his abject Soul did feed And of her self i th' Cure threw so much in That to be her like he did strait begin What e're he boasts then worthy Praise or Fame From us the Spoilers of his Fortune came But ne're was Dream so wild or humorous To it self so strange as he has been to us For tho by us he 's known to God and Man The Happiness he or repents or does disdain X. Anchor questo è qual c. There 's one thing more which all the rest out-does I gave him Plumes to mount above the Skies By Mortal things which to the Man who knows The Learning like a Towring Pyramis To the first Maker by degrees arise For seeing well how great and wondrous fair Vertue in her whom he ador'd did shine From thence he might to ' himself present the Air By Heav'nly Vision of the Cause Divine As himself sings and proves this Charge of mine But I 'm forgot now and with me that Dame I gave him to support his Life and Fame Whereat I shriekt and answer'd tho in pain Well might he give who took her soon again Not I but God from whom She first did come He smartly turn'd with him would have her live at Home 1967. XI Al fin ambo c. Then pressing both to th' Bar I trembling clamorous he and over rude Both of us did in one Request conclude Great Queen we wait what Sentence you will give On both she smil'd but did us both deceive Pleas'd with your Pleadings are we she reply'd But it requires more time your Difference to decide BALLAD Prophane Love LOVE is a Net and Love 's a Snare A Thief disguis'd is Love Poyson below Honey above A Serpent under Flowers most fair Fatal as Death whose bitings are A Whirl-pool sounded ne're to be And a soul Sea from Tempests never free Love is a Lion robb'd of his Prey A Wolf with Famin pin'd Love is a Fortress undermin'd A Fire whose flames no Floods allay Flattery which does our Life betray A Labrinth pleasant to the Eye But without Clew to guide the Wand'rer by Love is a â—â—ck of Ambushments A weeping Crocodile A Syrene us'd to Sing and Spoil And all the Lovers false Contents Are Frauds which he too late resents Love 's an incurable Disease And War eternal mid vain boasts of Peace Dirupisti Domine vincula mea Tibi hostiam laudis Sacrificabo SONNET Loves Exaltation ENLARGE Thy flight Love said I and on high Raise my dull Soul those Beauties to admire Which in the Heav'nly Treasuries do lie And Mortal Brests with holy Flame inspire Shew me the Spring of that Celestial Fire Design'd our Earthy Dross to purifie But after which in vain below we ' enquire Who sit down i th' warm Sun of a fair Eye So up he rais'd me but no Tongue can tell What I in Rapturous Vision did behold My Love I found was Pure and made me bold This only I remember very well So high we soar'd till on an Arch above I saw inscrib'd SACRED TO HEAVENLY LOVE ODE The Thoughts I. I'vo pensando c. FULL of strange Thoughts and pensive as I go A tenderness which to my self I owe So strongly does my Mind assail And so insensibly prevail That all in Tears I flow But for my own misfortune now And not anothers Cruelty as I was wont to do For seeing every Day my end draw nigh A thousand times of God I 've begg'd those Wings With which from this lewd World and Mortal things Th' unpinion'd Soul to Heav'n does flie And beg still but he does the Grace deny And tho I Sigh and Grieve and Pray That Happiness does countermand But reason 't is that he who will not upright stand When 't is in his own Power or wilfully must stray Low as the Earth should lie and never find his way I see 't is true th' Eternal Arms extended wide But my own Fear and others Fate Who have deferr'd till 't was too late Make me tremble at my present state Another Tyran too beside Whom oft to throw in vain I oft have try'd Furiously spurs me on Ah! Whither will he ride II. L'un pensier parla c. But Lo what thoughts my mind assault And how to it thus One roundly says Why foolish Thing why these delays What lookt-for Succour causes such an Alt Seest thou not how the winged Minutes pass And add more Years to thy Disgrace And yet thy help as far to seek as e're it was Take rather take thy last Farewel And do it quickly every Root destroy Of fruitless Pleasure which couldst thou enjoy In its Perfection for it thou must sell Thy Soul and Liberty and in an hurry dwell But since thou ne're canst that expect And in the toilsome quest art tir'd Of what so much admired Yet which the glozing
Thrall To Vulgar Souls and had from th' Earth Original XVI Two unlike Mothers of two Sons unlike Eros and Anteros whose oppos'd Name Which different Sentiments in them did strike From their own first great Opposition came That from their Nature and tho judg'd the same In one and t'other Sex where they preside The Male and Female Hymeneal Flame Are two so that once kindled they divide Just like those Fatal Brethrens who Dead each defi'd XVII Eros was Elder and the stronger too Of Constitution likely to endure Eternal Ages if the Spi'rit he drew Were not empoyson'd by an Air impure Of which consulting how to be secure 'T was plainly told him from th' Oraculous Throne Than that of Themis far more Old and sure A Tripode which ne're fail'd When two are One Then Love in danger is by Love to be undone XVIII Of two made one Love well enough conceiv'd For that himself had seen himself had done But it by Love could hardly be believ'd That he to ' himself so contrary should run As to provoke what most he sought to shun Against himself that he should so prevail As thence in hazard be to be undone This ev'en to Love obscur'd in Mortal Vail Abstruse did seem and by another sai'd might fail XIX But Time a little time the Mysterie clear'd When by another Love this Anteros He was betray'd who that which first appear'd And 't was the Sun when from the Earth he rose Ador'd as his chief God with sacred Vows And many Altars to it after made By ' his Votaries on whom he did impose The Task Idolatrous and First-fruits pai'd Himself the first Idolater there prophanely laid XX. From Earth first rose this feign'd and Idol Love By DIS begot tho not till after known Who was his Sire or what himself would prove Of a curst Father the as cursed Son Born Arm'd for others Ruine and his own With all the Ensigns Love was wont to bear By th' Heathen read that if together shown All but themselves to ' impose on they 'd go near And here 's the true Love one would say one he 's there XXI Like Youth in both like Face and Looks were seen Like naked Limbs with covered Impudence In this but gesture tending to obscene In a free gayety ' hid to ' elude the Sense Like Chaplet for their Brows and Eyes defence Like Wings like Quiver hung their Backs adown Like different Arrows to be drawn out thence Like burning Torch which Flames so like did crown Either would seem the true if single and alone XXII Ah! that they had like Grace those Arms to use But this was loudly by the False decry'd Who only took them that he might abuse The World by whom he should be Deifi'd And acts inglorious in that Visor hide Never to use them was his full intent Or if he did not as before well try'd But to a Love and Learning different Where Sense alone should be supreme in Government XXIII Love saw all this for what to Love is hid The true Love saw it and withdrew in haste No place was left him on the Earth to ' abide Wherefore he to the Empyrean past And only Conscience his Vicegerent plac'd With Promise yet that if in time to come Man wiser grew the Counterfeit uncas'd Himself his now left Charge would reassume And once again to Man return as his last Home XXIV For Man 't is known scarce the wild Phanto'sm saw This Pageant Counterfeit of Love Divine But his Allegeance back he straight did draw And to the Enemies part from Love decline By Sense led which had quickly sunk a Mine Reason or to surprize or to o'rethrow And the vain Stratagem had drest so fine With umbrage that it Good and Ill should know The Fort surrendred was scarce known for what or how XXV But up 't was given and therewith given was all For Nothing or what 's worse than nothing lies What ever Man his own by right might call Or by Commission but sure ne're did prize Deserv'dly since he ' it could so soon despise His Life his Soul what most was of behoof To ' a Being so dispos'd and fram'd as His Of his Obedience the first easie proof And what as Heav'n it self was valuable his Love XXVI All were give'n up and now adieu blest Love Adieu all Happiness and Innocence Honour and Vertue which the same Course move And Mortals very rarely visit since Adieu unto you all for Love 's gone hence And only left your empty Names behind Upon the Stage to please or give offence As variously Spectators are inclin'd But wherewith most are pleas'd as most 'gainst Love combind XXVII Honour and Love adieu And now my Song Since thou hast trace'd them to their first aboad Rest they a while and tell as does belong To the Mock-Love the World's and â—coples God! But make of every Rime an Iron Rod Wherewith thou mayst the Profligate chastise And tho thou goest a way as yet untrod Despair not but thy Work shall beauteous rise And with the Sober find acceptance and the Wise XXVIII With these acceptance but with others scorn Who to this Anti-Love blind Vassals made By our First-Fathers Act have Fealty sworn To a fell Tyran who must be obeyâ—d And will nor in his furious heats gain-said Unhappy Men if their unhappiness They could but know and how they are betray'd Enough unhappy would they but confess The little that they know which words can scarce express XXIX Slaves of Vile Passions which drive furiously And all that 's Sacred with high Hand bear down Themselves their Ancestors the Deity Reason and Reasons Guide Religion The Worlds consent attested by their own Till to the Winds and Seas their Faith they gave And sought what else they could not flee to drown In bottomless Abyss nor Shipwrackt have The least security they shall their Fraightage save XXX And yet who more secure But this their Love Their New Love in whose Service they 're retain'd Gives as his own and their most urging Proof That they true Conquerors have the Victory gain'd And broke those Iro'ns wherewith all else are chain'd Ill Education brutal Thunders dread A fear of what 's above to which they ' are train'd And what 's to come dreams of the long since dead That first made Gods and what their Fears made worshipped XXXI Horrors th' Anti-diluvian World ne're knew Or if it did durst not bare-face'd profess Tho from one Seed their Love and Atheism grew Both Ills but which the greater which the less Is hard to say almost as hard to ghess For either both in both was either had In both and either lost Man's Righteousness I' th' cause or in th' effect both equal bad And both that sensually and this prophanely mad XXXII But for Prophaneness Sense was th' Harbinger And busily by Love prepar'd its way For so Iâ—ll call awhile the Worlds Troubler Who all its Stages did before-hand lay And longer here and
ungraceful compos'd Air Save when she spake or laught but then betray'd A thousand Follies with prodigious glare For by a Glass she with a Shadow plaid Her self to whom she frequent Honours made And every glance which she design'd to cast And every look by that in order laid And to such troublesome Impertinence past That every little Word she thereby form'd at last L. Mirth was a Youth of beautiful regard With chearful Eyes plump downy Cheeks and Chin And nothing in his looks or strange or hard That if one by the Face could ought divine All Beauties there amass't did seem to shine All that can Man become or Love excite In Loves great Criticks the Sex Feminine All but i' th' Timorous whom his Whip did fright And more deterr than all his other Charms invite LI. For in his Hand a Bloody Discipline With many a' pointed Rowel stuck he bore And wherewith when unmark't he saw his time Backward reflecting he his Shoulders tore And the smooth Channel fill'd with purple gore But when or Folly call'd or Dalliance The fretting exercise he soon gave o're And as recovered from a sullen Trance Met with quick Eyes and amorous Look each smiling Glance LII Him Dalliance followed next a Damsel gay Of light behaviour as she well could feign And wantonly her Brest did open lay The Lover who came next to entertain Tho who the He were of her mighty Train She was not much solicitous to know Nor much to fancy him her self did pain For she like Favours did on all bestow And bonnour was to all how high so e're or low LIII A Night-Gown was the Habit which she wore Loosely clapt round her but so airy thin That through its light disguise appear'd the more What she ne're strove to hide her beauteous Skin And just proportion of each curious Limb With Impudence too luscious to be told And speech Lascivious when she did begin Which none but like her self unchast and bold Or unreprov'd could hear or unasham'd behold LIV. Next after her in order Genius came Of Body somewhat gross but Humour free Whom part call'd Comus as by his Sirname Tho both or either with him well agree Without whom Love nor merry Life can be A right good Fellow as his Belly show'd Which in a Swath reacht almost to his Knee And made him passage through th' admiring Crowd Which shouting to him louted as to them he bow'd LV. No wrinkle in his Counte'nance did appear Nor careful thought seem'd to come near his Mind Of what should be but things which present were Variously turn'd him as did sit the Wind And this way now now that way he inclin'd Tho if 't were still and sometime still it lay Diversions to himself he 'd make or find And sometimes only muse a live-long Day Tho askt on what he or nought knew or nought could say LVI These were the fairest Shews Loves entrance had And of the Pomp the sightliest Officers Who therefore next the Carr Triumphal staid But Spirits Incarnate were and all as fierce Provoke'd once as those Fatal Ministers Of his and more than his of th' Wrath Divine Which follow'd next with look and meen perverse A Grisly Horrid and Prodigious Trine Which hardly into shape Love could by ' his Art refine LVII Lust was the First but whether Man or Beast Or He or She one could by no means know For it both Sexes had and did invest Mankind above and Beast mishape'd below And slote divided did for ostent show With shaggy Hair the' whole Body cover'd o're And poysonous stench which he around did throw Undampt by th' Perfumes which the Satyre bore For so they call'd him and about him ever wore LVIII A very Satyr whom he nearest came In Face and Guise but in Deformity Excell'd the first of the' Family and Name And shameless was his Look and lew'd his Eye But sharp withal Beauties which cloyster'd lie First to discover then to circumvent By Clamour wherein low'd he was and high Nor could forbear as he in Triumph went Prime Visier of the Port and Loves chief Confident LIX Sin follow'd him who was his Eldest Son And only Child with place and dignity His Parents Titles suiting and his own But on his own he mostly did relie And all but what his own was did decry Would and did loudly against Lust declame As Impotent couragious to defie But who to Handy-blows or never came Or not with such effect as he to get a Name LX. For tho but one a thousand Heads he had And twice a thousand Hands boldly to fight An Army of himself and which he made Greater or less as the Cause did invite Love and Loves Good Old Cause was his delight Rebellion whose design to carry on Himself he variously as ' it hapt would dight A Beasts or Man's form take now and anon Angels or Fiends a multitude one be or none LXI But Death the third the same shape alway kept If Shape it might be call'd that shape had none Except in that half of him which foremost stept And to the view expos'd a side of Bone That seem'd with Skin to have been cloath'd upon And Musculage not many Days before For scarcely cleansed was the Skeleton And here and there appear'd fresh stains of Gore And gobbets of green flesh which from the joynts he tore LXII To'ther half was the Universe and all And every thing that in the World is found Which hastens or is ready at Death's call And are th' Ingredients which he does compound Or single or in Mass to give the Wound A dreadful Mixture and of which to tell Almost to think would th' greatest Wit confound For since the time that Man from Happi'ness fell They were collecting and had at the bottom Hell LXIII Where e're he came these were Loves Company With Train and Baggage which did far extend And Meny suiting so great Prince as He For Prince and God they call'd him tho Pure Fiend Unquiet Care which all his time did spend Himself to ' undo backt by Suspicion Then Impudence which did to Lechery lend His unchast Ear and Fury bad come on By Riotice drawn up and Irreligion LXIV Without door Danger and Distrust did wait And Fear that never was himself at rest Or others would permit their Watch to ' abate And Jealousie which tho he were possest Of what he lov'd for rage tore his own Breast And Lust unnatural and Villany And Revellings in thousand Anticks drest And Poverty in Rags clad piteously Calling aloud for Death which did th' unhappy fly LXV It fled him as one who from Love was fled Under the Disc'ipline if he had the skill To use it right of Sorrow seeming dead But which for a blest Life prepares Our will By that Repentance which Shame does instil Repentance the first step to Innocence Whose various parts it makes or does fulfil But whereof Lustful Minds have little sense Till Shame sum up the Total of the
Rites absurd by his strange Wives brought in Authentick made when their establishing Own'd him as Founder and some think that Verse Then lustful Orgias first began to sing And prostituted Mysteries rehearse Which Fabulous Greece did after through the World disperse XXX Verse it is sure did early suffer wrong And Tyran Love debaucht it as he ' had done God's noblest Creature for the chains are strong With which he holds it yet as if his own It purely were and were enough alone All that he else has lost back to regain And whence he had been tumbled to the Throne Once more advance him in his Hands the Rein Of all things midst an holier People put again XXXI It serv'd a little then its service now Is wondrously encreast since Sloth and Age Have heightned Vice and made Verse to it bow To th' Gods before it was in Vassalage And only knew the Pythonesses rage Or Priests inspir'd to all beside most chast To Vertue did and to true Worth engage And if the Object had been rightly plac'd Might for a real Vertue and true Grace have past XXXII But now what quickly after it begun Retaining nothing but the Ill ' it has gain'd By Lux and Travel it does counter-run To all that 's Good or Honest or maintain'd I' th' Civil Worlds esteem with Atheism stain'd As the next step to many Gods is none And all Impiety has place obtain'd With the worst Men and is so furious grown That in its fits it God and King defies alone XXXIII These it defies and dare unmask'd profess Where'it may be free and to its full pitch flown What e'ven to think abash'd mere Heathenness Nay when reserv'd most and most modest grown 'T will others Follies sing and make its own And than the Wise much rather please the Vain But since its present State too well is known To be conceal'd my self I shall not pain To tell it here or further tho provok'd complain XXXIV Ah! that it would it self or could complain And of the Lusts to which it did submit Unwillingly at first nor without pain But willingly when Custom humbled it Betray'd by ' its false and treacherous Mi'gnon Wit Her Mistress Verse the treacherous Maid beguil'd The false Love her and up they both did set One shameless Brothel wanton that this wild Till both of Honour Vertue and true Love were spoil'd XXXV Despoil'd they were despoil'd what they did serve Honour and Vertue and the Love Divine And Wedlock which did covertly preserve Some Traces of a Vigor Masculine Which Lust could never to its Beck incline So perfectly but it resistance made Weak as it was and sprung a Counter-mine But now aside all Enmities were laid And all with one consent did plot Heavâ—n to invade XXXVI Which as th' Almighty saw into his Mind That Mind of his it came which ever love To ' his Works did bear to Man was ever kind The madness of such Faytours to reprove And what none else could do the Cause remove The cause was this Mock-Love whom to debase Into his Mind it came by him who strove So high to raise him and who what he was Of all Men best did know did all in Loves surpass XXXVII Wise Salomon who when he long had try'd The vain Experiment at length grew Wise Nor longer with him would the secret hide Than till th' Almighty open'd had his Eyes And to him clear'd the blest Discoveries Till his Repentance had his Loves effac'd And Credence gain'd us that immerst to rise Tho hard it be the Doom may not be past If what 's too long one Day deferr'd yet come at last XXXVIII Him his great Prophet God most high did raise Turning the Tenor of his inspir'd String Of Ancient Honour and of Future Praise But most of Love the Cause and end to sing And hidden Mysteries to the Light to bring The mighty Works th' Almighty's Self would do For Loves and his BELOVEDS ransoming All which he did to th' Royal Prophet show And all which by him taught his Israel came to know XXXIX Not as those Works when finisht perfectly Should be display'd but as became their state And Him who was restor'd the Type to be Of all the Glories which he should relate By Figures and by Shadows adaequate To Humane Reasonings and Discourse finite By his chang'd Loves a Love to adumbrate Which cannot else be seen by Mortal Light God's Love to Man which different Natures should unite XL. That Love which God in time from Heav'n should bring With Man to dwell and as true Man appear Which Man no less of all his Works the King To Heav'n excluded thence by ' his Fall should bear And on his Wings triumphantly up-rear And all the way as he does thither rise With Idees fill him of the Beauties there That Love in fine which does all Loves comprize Whence Man to ' his Maker lives his Maker for him dies XLI Of all which Marriage is the Sacrament Or Symbol call it if the Name displease The closest Union to represent 'Twixt God and Man 'twixt Man and Happiness And if there closer Union be than these Or more and whether more be meant who knows Tho closer none in one Term all to express Marriage which once confirm'd by holy Vows Is Loves Reprizal and in one all Unions shows XLII So God most High resolv'd so Salomon By him inspir'd did carnal Love impeach Of highest Treason and Rebellion The first who plainly did the Mystery preach And what himself but late learnt others teach That Love alone whose long and outstretcht Line Through Natures Works to Natures end does reach Their Love whom God not Lust or Interest joyn Unequal tho it be comes nearest the Divine XLIII As near as was or fit for us to know Or possible in Mortal Flesh immur'd Tho God himself the Form would take below When brighter Vision could not be endur'd Nor Loves invisible taught else or secur'd For such is Man tho of God's Works the chief Of things Invisible to be assur'd That from things Visible he must receive Th' imperfect Image and of God by ' himself conceive XLIV His Bodies structure and his Souls great Powers Both which as having God himself propounds Tho Acts Organical are purely Ours And he the Deity by the shift confounds Who makes it what the Parable expounds With Senses and with Parts corporeal Loving like us and with a Lovers Wounds Which from the Deity are excluded all And only us'd that under Sense those Acts may fall XLV Yet so God loves so would be known to Love As Love i th' Marriage Bed kept undefilâ—d Might figure best if one the Vail remove Our Nature which of Innocence dispoylâ—d Till rais'd whence sunk beguiles and is beguil'd But once restor'd is worthy Him and Us Him still to love with Love us to be fill'd Of Grace not Debt become both Amorous The Churches Husband He the Church his Bride and Spouse XLVI Thus loving and belov'd
But in all else more secret Snares than we Till by them Caught shall ever know From this to clear it and restore To th' Garden what it had before And perfect Innocence add one Beauty more As there fall'n Man his Life first forfeited There to Redeem him first the Blood of God was shed VI. How grievous were his Pains there and how great Burning tho in the frosty shades of Night Shivering with Cold but in a Bloody Sweat And all dissolv'd at his approaching Passions Sight Thrice did He his Disciples leave And thrice to his Great Father pray'd Thrice to himself He answer made And by an Angel did support receive But O! th' Assaults that were within Compar'd with which his Bodies Flame Was temperate heat and scarce deserv'd the Name When in his Soul the Burning did begin And Hell to ' encrease the Fire did Mines of Brimstone bring A thousand Fiends about him flew And Coals and bailful Firebrand threw That seiz'd at length the noblest Part Beyond the weak defence of Nature or of Art And unconsum'd did only leave the Heart VII The Heart did unconsum'd remain By the Arch-Fiend With its own Grief to burst design'd When in the Judgment Hall again He should the Charge renew but all in vain Thither betray'd by 'a Kiss the Traytors bring With Fetters bound Heav'ns Sacred King Where being Cited and Blasphem'd Flouted Scourg'd Spat upon Derided and Contemn'd By them Revil'd deny'd by ' His own A Reed in ' his Hand his Head with Thorns they Crown And lead to Golgotha their God whom they ' had Condemn'd VIII Follow Muse if thou hast the heart and see What other Torments they prepare I know the utmost of their Cruelty And from thy Mouth had rather hear The sad Report than a Spectator be Yet that thou mayst not stand thy self surpriz'd Stript off his Clothes in Nakedness disguiz'd To th' Cross they 'll nail his Hands 't is said And bore with Nalls his tender Feet Then all his Sufferings to upbraid Cry If Thou art the Son of God let 's see 't Now from the Tree triumphantly come down Or reign thence like Thy self alone Or any other Wonder show Whereby Thy De'ity may be known And to its Scepter we will bow As if there greater Miracle could be Than all that Patience which they do but will not see IX Nor is this all but when He 's Dead His Side they 'll open with a Spear Approach the Wound and look what Blood is shed For it Mysterious will appear And be another Argument for thee next Year A better Spring will thence arise Than Helicon so Fam'd of old There bath thy self if thou art wise Nor fear in those chast Streams to be too bold But see be sure too long thou dost not stay For all the while Thou art away Tears only from these Eyes will flow And in my Fancy I shall double o're All that I have told thee now before And all that thou return'd will'st tell again and more Beside my Verse will fetter'd be and slow And want both Wings to flie and Feet to go 10. Martii 166â— EPIGRAM WHen my God Di'd I first began to Live And Life which he refus'd Heav'n me did give Unlike that Day O how unlike we were Him dead the Cross me ' alive the Knees did bear But may not I die too This life of mine I can as well as Thou dispise if not like Thine Ah dearest Lord this Legacy bestow A double Life then to Thy Death I 'll owe And sanctifi'd thus in my Birth by Thee A living Death my dying Life shall be 5. Decemb. 1668. An Extasie of Divine Love Aquesta Divina Vnion c. I. THat sacred Bond of Charity Wherein I uncorrupted Live Makes God the Captive Chain receive But my pinion'd Heart sets free Tho causing still such love in me To see Heav'ns King my Pris'ner lie That I die 'cause I cannot die II. How teadious now this Life is grown The way to Death how hard and long How dark the Dunge'on th' Ir'ns how strong With which my ' unwilling Soul 's kept down And has no trust but hope alone These thoughts my Troubles raise so high That I die 'cause I cannot die III. Bitter Life shalt thou be to me Where I my God can ne're enjoy But if my Love has no alloy My hope as try'd and pure may be Ah! come my Lord and set me free Take off this weight which makes me cry That I die 'cause I cannot die IV. By hope alone it is I Live Hope that I bear the seeds of Death And dying once a second Birth Secures that Hope and Life do's give O Death I 'll ne're thy coming grieve When Life succeeds through hope so nigh That I die 'cause I cannot die V. Who can the Charms of Love refuse Ah Life no more my Heart betray 'T is only thou stand'st in my way Which rather than my Love I 'll loose And Death for my great Champion choose So much alate thy Enemy That I die 'cause I cannot die VI. The Life alone that 's hid above Can of true Life the Title claim That Toy which here usurps the Name Its pleasure hides and deads our Love And a worse Foe than Death does prove Death for whose sake I Life so flie That I die 'cause I cannot die VII What can I give frail Life but thee To th' God who in me deigns to live Yet how can I the nothing give Till he first grants me Liberty O let me die his Face to see But that 's so distant from my Eye That I die 'cause I cannot die VIII Beside my God from thee away Who would not of a Life complain That terrible and full of pain Suffers a thousand Deaths each Day A Mortal but a slow decay And this so swells my Misery That I die 'cause I cannot die IX All Creatures love their Element And pleasure there enjoy and rest And if by Death they are disseas'd To their first nothing they are sent But I 'm beyond kind Death's extent And yet so many hardships try That I die 'cause I cannot die X. When in the Eucharist my dull Soul Eating thy Flesh it self would ease A thousand thoughts for entrance press And there not to enjoy Thee whole Whole and alone I a ' new condole For 't is the Voice of every Sigh That I die cause I cannot die XI I please my self i th' Hopes 't is true E're long my God of seeing Thee But fearing lest they false should be My Torments with my Fears renew And both so close my Soul pursue Hoping mid both so heartily That I die 'cause I cannot die XII Lord from this Death deliver me And Life thus beg'd at length bestow Why should I still be kept below Look how I die for love of Thee And since enjoy'd Thou canst not be In this Lifes death regard my cry That I die 'cause I cannot die XII My dying Life