and that on t' other Seed Moves as they move and stayes when as they stay And seemes delighted in their infant-play Yet fearing danger with a busie eye Lookes here and there if ought she can espy Which unawares might snatch a booty from her Eyes all that passe and watches every commer Even so th' affection of this tender Syre B'ing made more fervent with the selfe-same â—â—re Of dearest love which flamed in their brests Preserved as by fuell in those Feasts Was ravisht in the height of joyes to see His happy Childrens ten-fold unity As was his joy such was his holy feare Lest he that plants his Engines every where Baited with golden Sinnes and re-insnares The soule of Man turning his Wheat to Tares Should season Error with the taste of Truth And tempt the frailty of their tender youth No sooner therefore had the dappled skie Opened the Twilight of her waking eye And in her breaking Light had promis'd day But up he rose his holy hands did Iay Vpon the sacred Altar one by one An early Sacrifice for every Sonne For who can tell said he my Sonnes perchance Hâ—ve slipt some sinne which neither Ignorance Pleaded nor want of heed nor youth can cure Sin steales unseene when men sleep most secure Meditat. 1. WAnt is the badge of poverty Then he That wanteth most is the most poore say we The wretch that hunger drives from door to door Aiming at present Almes desires no more The toiling Swaine that hath with pleasing trouble Cockt a small fortune would that fortune double Which dearly bought with slav'ry then alas Hee would be deem'd a Man that 's well to passe Which got his mind 's now tickled with an itch But to deserve that glorious stile of Rich. That done h'enjoyes the crowne of all his labour Could he but once out-nose his right-hand-neighbourâ— Lives he at quiet now Now he begins To wish that Vs'ry were the least of sinnes But great or small he tries and sweet's the trouble And for its sake he wishes all things double Thus wishing still his wishes never cease But as his Wealth his Wishes still encrease Wishes proceed from want The richest then Most wishing want most and are poorest men If he be poore that wanteth much how poore Is he that hath too much and yet wants more Thrice happy he to whom the bounty of heaven Sufficient with a sparing hand hath given 'T is Grace not Gold makes great sever but which The Rich man is but poore the Poore man rich The fairest Crop of either Grasse or Graine Is not for use undew'd with timely raine The wealth of Croesus were it to be given Were not thank-worthy if unblest by Heaven Even as faire Phaebe in Diameter Earth interpos'd betwixt the Sunne and her Suffers Eclips and is disrobed quite During the time of all her borrowed Light So Riches which fond Mortals so embrace If not enlightned with the Beames of Grace B'ing interposed with too grosse a Care They lye obscured and no riches are My stint of Wealth lyes not in my expressing With Iacobs Store Lord give me Iacobs Blessing Or if at night thou grant me Lazars Boone Let Dives Dogs licks all my sores at noone Lord pare my wealth by my Capacity Lest I with it or it suit not with mee This humbly doe I sue for at thy hand Enough and not too much for my command Lord what thou lend'st shall serve but in the place Of reckoning Counters to summe up thy Grace THE ARGVMENT Satan appeares and then professes Himselfe mans Enemy confesses Gods love to Iob malignes his Faith Gaines power over all he hath Sect. 2. VPon a time when heaveÌ„s sweet quire of Saints Whose everlasting Hallelujah chaunts The highest praise of their celestiall King Before their Lord did the presentment bring Of th' execution of his sacred Will Commited to their function to fulfill Satan came too that Satan which betraid The soule of man to Deaths eternall shade Satan came too and in the midst he stands Like to a Vulture 'mongst a herd of Swans Said then th' Eternall From what quarter now Hath businesse brough thee Satan whence com'st thou The Lord of Heaven said th' Infernall since Thou hast intitled me the Worlds great Prince I hâ—ve beene practising mine old profession And come from compassing my large Possession Tempting thy sonnes and like a roaring Lion Seeking my prey disturbe the peace of Sion I come from sâ—wing Tares among thy Wheat To him that shall dissemble Peters seat I have beene plotting how to prompt the death Of Christian Princes and the bribed breath Of cheapned Iustice hath my fire inflam'd With spirit of boldnesse for a while unsham'd I come from planting strife and sterne debate 'Twixt private man and man 'twixt State and State Subverting Truth with all the power I can Accusing Man to God and God to Man I daily sâ—w fresh Schismes among thy Saints I buffet them and laugh at their complaints The Earth is my Dominion Hell 's my Home I round the World and so from thence I come Said then th' Eternall True thou hast not fail'd Of what thou say'st thy spirit hath prevail'd To vexe my little Flocke Thou hast beene bold To make them stray a little from their Fold Bâ—t say In all thy hard Adventures hath Thine eye observed Iob my Servants faith Hath open force or secret fraud beset His Bulwarkes so impregnable as yet And hast thou without envy yet beheld How that the World his second cannot yeeld Hast thou not found that he 's of upright will Iust fearing God â—schewing what is ill True Lord reply'd the Fiend thy Champion â—â—th A strong and fervent yet a crafty Faith A forced love needs no such great applause He loves but ill that loves not for a cause Hast thou not heap'd his Garners with excesse Inricht his Pastures Doth not he possesse All that he hath or can demand from Thee His Coffers fill'd his Land stock'd plenteouâ—â—y Hath not thy love surrounded him about â—And â—edg'd him in to fence my practice out But small 's the triall of a Faith in this â—f thou suppâ—rt him t is thy strength not hisâ— Can then my power that stands by thy permission Encounter where Thou mak'st an Opposition Stretch forth thy Hand and smite 〈◊〉 what he hath And prove thou then the temper of his Faith Cease cock'ring his fond humour veile thy Grace No doubt but he 'll blaspheme thee to thy fâ—â—c Lâ—e said th' Eternall to thy cursed hand I â—ere commit his mighty Stocke his Land His hopefull Issue and Wealth though nere so much Himselfe alone thou shalt forbeare to touch Medita 2. SAâ—an beg'd once and found his pray'rs reward We often beg yet oft returne unheard If granting be th' effect of love then we Conclude our selves to be lesse lov'd than hee True Satan beg'd and beg'd his shame no lesse 'T was granted shall we envie his successe We beg and our request 's perchance not granted
heart and sucke thy blood Beware betimes lest custome and permission Prescribe a title and so claime possession ¶ Despairing man whose burthen makes thee stoop Vnder the terror of thy sinnes and droop Through dull despaire whose too too sullen griefe Makes heav'n unable to apply reliefe Whose eares are dull'd with noyse of whips and chaines And yels of damned soules through tort'red pains Come here and rouze thy selfe unâ—eele those eyes Which sad Despaire clos'd up Arise Arise And goe to Nineveh the worlds great Palace Earths mighty wonder and behold the Ballace And burthen of her bulke is nought but sin Which wilfull she commits and wallowes in Behold her Images her fornications Her crying sinnes her vile abominations Behold the guiltlesse blood that she did spill Like Spring-tides in the streets and reeking still Behold her scorching lusts and taint desier Like sulph'rous Aetna blaze and blaze up higher She rapes and rends and theeves there is none Can justly call the thing he hath his owne That sacred Name of God that Name of wonder In stead of worshipping she teares in sunder She 's not enthrall'd to this Sin or another But like a Leper's all infected over Not onely sinfull but in sinnes subjection Shee 's not infected but a meere infection No sooner had the Prophet Heav'ns great Spy Begun an onset to his lowder Cry But she repented sigh'd and wept and tore Her curious hayre and garments that she wore She sate in ashes and with Sack-cloth clad her All drencht in brine that griefe cannot be sadder She calls a Fast proclames a prohibition To man and beast sad tokens of contrition No sooner pray'd but heard No sooner groan'd But pittied No sooner griev'd but moan'd Timely Repentance speedy grace procur'd The sore that 's salvd in time is eas'ly cur'd No sooner had her trickling teares ore-flowne Her blubber'd cheeks but heav'n was apt to mone Her pensive heart wip'd her suffused eyes And gently strok'd her cheekes and bid her rise No faults were seene as if no fault had bin Deare Mercy made a Quittance for her sin ¶ Malfido rouze thy leaden spirit bestirre thee Hold up thy drouzy head here 's comfort for thee What if thy zeale be frozen hard What then Thy Saviours blood will thaw that frost agen Thy pray'rs that should be servent hot as fier Proceed but coldly from a dull desier What then Grieve inly But do not dismay Who heares thy pray'rs will give thee strength to pray Though left a while thou art not quite giv'n ore Where Sinne abounds there Grace abounâ—eth more This this is all the good that I can doe thee To ease thy griefe I here commend unto thee A little booke but a great Mystery A great delight A little History A little branch slipt from a saving tree But bearing fruit as great as great mought be A small abridgement of thy Lords great love A message sent from heaven by a Dove It is a heavenly Lecture that relates To Princes Pastors People all Estates Their sev'rall duties ¶ Peruse it well and binde it to thy brest The rests the Cause of thy defect of rest But read it often or else read it not Once read is not observ'd and soone forgot Nor is 't enough to read but understand Or else thy tongue for want of wit 's prophan'd Nor is 't enough to purchase knowledge by it Salve heales no sore unlesse the party ' apply it Apply it then which if thy flesh restraines Strive what thou canst pray for what remaines The particular Application ¶ THen thou that art opprest with sad Despaire Here shalt thou see the strong effect of pray'r Then pray with faith servent without ceasing Like Iacob wrestle till thou get a blessing ¶ Here shalt thou see the type of Christ thy Saviour Then let thy suits be through his name and favour ¶ Here shalt thou finde repentance and true griefe Of sinners like thy selfe and their beliefe Then suit thy griefe to theirs and let thy soule Cry mightily untill her wounds be whole ¶ Here shalt thou see the meeknesse of thy God Who on Repentance turnes and burnes the Rod Repents of what he purpos'd and is sorry Here may ye heare him stoutly pleading for ye Then thus shall be thy meed if thou repent In stead of plagues and direfull punishment Thou shalt find mercy love and Heav'ns applause And God of Heav'n himselfe will plead thy cause ¶ Here hast thou theÌ„ compil'd within this treasure First the Almighties high and just displeasure Against foule sinne or such as sinfull be Or Prince or poore or high or low degree ¶ Here is descri'd the beaten Road to Faith ¶ Here maist thou see the force that Preaching hath ¶ Here is describ'd in briefe but full expression The nature of a Convert and his passion His sober Dyet which is thin and spare His clothing which is Sack-cloth and his Prayre Not faintly sent to heaven nor spatingly But piercing â—ervent and a mighty cry ¶ Here maist thou see how Pray'r true repeÌ„tance Do strive with God prevaile and turn his sentence From strokes to stroking from plagues infernall To boundlesse Mercies and to life Eternall ¶ Till Zephyr lend my Barke a second Gale I slip mine Anchor and I strike my saile FINIS O dulcis Salvator Mundi ultima verba quae tu dixisti in Cruce sint ultima mea verba in Luce quando amplius effari non possum exaudi tu cordis mei desiderium A HYMNE to GOD. WHo gives me then an Adamantine quill A marble tablet And a Davids skill To blazon forth the praise of my deare Lord In deepe-grav'n Characters upon record To last for times etcâ—nall processe suer So long as Sunne and Moone and Starres endure Had I as many mouthes as Sands there are Had I a nimble tongue for every Starre And every word I speake a Character And every minutes time ten Ages were To chaunt forth all thy prayse it no'te availe For tongues words and time and all would faile Much lesse can I poore Weakling tune my tongue To take a taske befits an Angels song Sing what thou canst when thou canst sing no more Weepe then as fast that thou canst sing no more Beblurre thy booke with teares and go thy wayes For every blurre will prove a booke of prayse Thine eye that viewes the moving Spheares above Let it give praise to him that makes them move Thou riches hast Thy hands that hold have them Let them give praise to him that freely gave them Thine armes defend thee then for recompence Let them praise him that gave thee such defence Thy tongue was given to praise thy Lord the Giver Then let thy tongue praise highest God for ever Faith comes by hearing thy Faith will save thee TheÌ„ let thine cars prais him that hearing gave thee Thy bea rt is beg'd by him whose hands did make it My Sonne Give me thy Heart Lord freeâ—y take
his strength may be betray'd To bâ—nds and how his power may be allaid That we may right these wrongs which his proud hand Hath rudely offer'd to our ruinous land In this thou shalt obtaine the reputation To be the sole redeemer of thy Nation Whose wealth shall crowne thy loyalty with a meed Due to the merits of so faire a deed Whereto faire Delila whose heart was tyed To Samsons love for her owne ends replied My honourable Lords If my successe In these your just imployments prove no lesse Then my desiers I should thinke my paines Rewarded in the Action If the raines Of Samsons headstrong power were in my hands These lips should now performance Your commands Should worke obedience in the loyall brest Of your true servant who would never rest Till she had done the deed But know my Lords If the poore frailty of a womans words May shake so great a power and prevaile My best advis'd endeavours shall not faile To be imploy'd I le make a sudden triall And quickly speed or finde a soule deniall Meditat. 20. INsatiate Samson Could not Azza smother Thy flaming Lust but must thou finde another Is th' old growne stale And seekst thou for a new Alas where Two's too many Three 's too few Mans soule is infinite and never tires In the extension of her owne desires The sprightly nature of his active minde Aimes still at further Will not be confinde To th' poore dimensions of flesh and blood Something it still desiers Covets good Would faine be happy in the sweet enjoyment Of what it prosecutes with the imployment Of best endeavours but it cannot finde So great a good but something 's still behind It first propounds applauds desires endeavours At last enjoyes but like to men in Feavours Who fancy alway those things that are worst The more it drinks the more it is a thirst The fruitfull earth whose nature is the worse For sin with man partaker in the curse â—â—mes at perfection and would faine bring forth As first it did things of the greatest worth â—er colder wombe endeavours as of old To ripen all her Metals unto Gold O but that sin-procured curse hath chill'd The heate of pregnant Nature and hath filld Her barren seed with coldnesse which does lurke In her â—aint wombe that her more perfect worke Is hindred and for want of heate brings forth Imperfect metals of a baser worth Even so the soule of Man in her first state Receiv'd a power and a will to that Which was most pure and good but since the losse Of that faire freedome onely trades in drosse Aimes shee at Wealth alas her proud desire Strives for the best but failing to mount higher Than earth her errour grapples and takes hold On that which earth can onely give her Gold Aimes she at Glory Her ambition flies As high a pitch as her dull wings can rise But failing in her strength she leaves to strive And takes such Honour as base earth can give Aimes she at Pleasure her desires extend To lasting joyes whose pleasures have no end But wanting wings she grovels on the Dust And there she lights upon a carnall Lust Yet nerethelesse th'aspring Soule desires A perfect good but wanting those sweet fires Whose heate should perfect her unrip'ned will Cleaves to th'apparent Good which Good is ill Whose sweet enjoyment being farre unable To give a satisfaction answerable To her unbounded wishes leaves a thirst Of re-enjoyment greater than the first Lord When our fruitlesse fallowes are growne cold And out of heart we can inrich the mould With a new heate wee can restore againe Her weakned soile and make it apt for graine And wilt thou suffer our faint soules to lie Thus unmanur'd that is thy Husbandry They beare no other bulke but idle weeds Alas they have no heart no heate Thy seedes Are cast away untill thou please t'enspire New strength quench them with thy sacred fire Stirre thou my Fallowes and enrich my mould And they shal bring thee'encrease a hundred fold THE ARGVMENT False Delila accosts her Lover her lips endeavour to entice His gentle nature to discover his strength Samson deceives her thrice Sect. 21. SOone as occasion lent our Champions eare To Delila which could not chuse but heare If Delila but whisper'd she whose wiles Were neatly baited with her simple smiles Accosted Samson Her alluring hand Sometimes would stroke his Temples sometime span'd His brawny arme Sometimes would gently gripe His sinewy wrest Another while would wipe His sweating browes Her wanton fingers plai'd Sometimes with his faire lockes sometimes would brai'd His long dishevell'd hair her eyes one while Would steale a glance upon his eyes and smile And theÌ„ her crafty lips would speak then smother Her broken speech and then begin another At last as if a sudden thought had brake From the faire prison of her lips she spake How poore a Grisle is this arme of mine Me thinkes 't is nothing in respect of thine I 'd rather feele the power of thy Love Than of thy hand In that my heart would prove The stouter Champion and would make thee yeeld And leave thee captive in the conquer'd field The strength of my affection passes thine As much as thy victorious arme does mine The greatest conquest then is due to me Thou conquer'st others but I conquer thee But say my love is it some hidden charme Or does thy stocke of youth enrich thy arme With so great power that can overthrow And conquer mighty Kingdomes at a blow What cause have I to joy I need not feare The greatest danger now my Samson's here I feare no Rebels now me thinks thy power Makes me a Princesse and my house a Tower But say my Love if Delila should finde thee Lost in a sleepe could not her fingers binde thee Me thinkes they should But I would scorne to make So poore a Conquest When th' art broad awake Teach me the tricke Or if thou wilt deny me Know that my owne invention shall supply me Without thy helpe I 'le use a womans charmes And binde thee fast within these circled Armes To whom the Champion smiling thus replied Take the greene Osyers that were never dried And bind thy Samsons wrists together then He shall be fast and weake as other men With that the Philistines that lay in waite Within an eares command commanded strait That Osyers should be brought wherwith she tyed Victorious Samsons joyned hands and cryed Samson make haste and let thy strength appeare Samson take heed the Philistines are here He starts and as the flaming fier cracks The slender substance of th'untwisted flaxe 〈◊〉 â—witcht in sunder his divided bands 〈◊〉 in a moment freed his fastned hands 〈◊〉 that offended Delila bewrai'd 〈◊〉 frowne halfe sweetned with a smile and said Thinkst thou thy Delila does goe about 〈◊〉 â—rappe thy life Or can my Samson doubt â—wrodâ— ledge a secret in the loyall brest 〈◊〉 faithfull Delila that findes no rest 〈◊〉 happinesse
gnaw Prometheus And let poore Ixion turne his endlesse wheele Let Nemesis torment with whips of steele They far come short t' expresse the paines of those That rage in Hell enwrapt in endlesse woes Where time no end and plaguâ—s finde no exemption Where cryes admit no helpe nor place redemption Where fier lacks no flame the flame no beat To make their torments sharpe and plagues compleaâ— Where wretched Soules to tortures bound shall beâ— Serving a world of yeares and not be Freâ— Where nothing's heard but yells and sudden cryes Where â—ier never flakes nor Worme e're dyes But where this Hell is plac'd my Muse stop there Lord shew me what it is but never where Mors tua 1. ¶ CAn he be faire that withers at a blast Or he be strong that ayery Breath can cast Can he be wise that knowes not how to live Or hee be rich that nothing hath to give Can he be young that 's feeble weake and wan So faire strong wise so rich so young is mâ—n So faire is Man that Death a parting Blast Blasts his faire flow'r and makes him Earth at last So strong is Man that with a gasping Breath Hee totters and bequeathes his strength to Deatâ— So wise is Man that if with Death he strive His wisedome cannot teach him how to live So rich is Man that all his Debts b'ing paid His wealth 's the winding-sheet wherein he 's laid So yong is Man that broke with care and sorrow He 's old enough to day to Dye to morrow Why brag'st thou theÌ„ thou worm of five-foot long Th' art neither faire nor strong nor wise nor rich nor 〈◊〉 Mors Christi 2. I Thurst and who shall quench this eager Thurst I grieve and with my griefe my heart will burst I grieve because I thurst without reliefe I thurst because my Soule is burnt with griefe I thurst and dry'd with griefe my heart will dye I grieve and thurst the more for Sorrow's dry The more I grieve the more my thurst appeares Would God I had not griev'd out all my teares I thurst and yet my griefes have made a Floud But teares are salt I grieve and thurst for blood I grieve for blood must send reliefe I thurst for blood for blood for blood must ease my griefe I thurst for sacred blood of a deare Lambe I grieve to thinke from whence that deare blood came 'T was shed for me O let me drinke my fill Although my griefe remaine entier still O soveraigne pow'r of that Vermilian Spring Whose vertue neither heart coÌ„ceives nor tongue can sing Fraus Mundi 3. I Love the World as Clients love the Lawes To manage the uprightnesse of my Cause The World loves me as Shepheards doe their flockes To rob and spoile them of their fleecy lockes I love the World and use it as mine Inne To bait and rest my tyred sarkeise in The World loves me For what To make her 〈◊〉 For filthy sinne she sels me timely shame She 's like the Basiliske by whose sharpe eyes The living object first discover'd dyes Forth from her eyes empoysoned beames do durâ—â— Dyes like a Basiliske discerned first We live at jarres as froward Gamesters doe Still guarding nor regarding others foe I love the World to serve my turne and leave her 'T is no deceit to coâ—zen a Deceiver She 'll not misse me I lesse the world shall misse To lose a world of griefe t' enjoy a world of Blâ—sse Gloria Coeli 4. EArth stands immov'd and fixt her situation Admits no locall change no alteration Heaven alway moves renewing still his place And ever sees us with another Face Earth standeth fixt yet there I live opprest Heaven alway mooves yet there is all my rest Enlarge thy selfe my Soule with meditation Mount there and there bespeake thy habitatioâ— Where joies are full pure not mixt with mourniâ—â— All endlesse and from which is no returning No theft no cruell murther harbours there No hoary-headed Care no sudden Feare No pinching want no griping-fast oppression Nor Death the stipend of our first transgression But dearest Friendship Love and lasting Plâ—â—sure Still there abides without or stint or measure Fulnesse of Riches comfâ—â—â—t sempeternall Excesse without a surfetting And Life Eternall Dolor Inferni 5. THe Trump shall blow the dead awak'd shal rise And to the Clouds shall turn their wondring eies The heav'ns shal ope the Bridegroom forth shal come To judge the World and give the World her doome Ioy to the Iust to others endlesse smart To those the Voyce bids Come to these Depart Depart from Life yet dying live for ever For ever dying be and yet Dye never Depart like Dogs with Devils take your lot Depart like Devils for I know you not Like Dogs like Devils goe Goe howle and barke Depart in darknesse for your deeds were darke Let râ—aring be your Musicke and your Food Be flesh of Vipers and your drinke their blood Let Fiends afflict you with Reproach and Shame Depart depart into Eternall Flame If Hell the Guerdon then of Sinners be Lord give me Hell on earth Lord give mee heav'n with thee vv vv Iam deâ—ine Tibia versus FINIS Hadassa Horat. Ode 6. â—onamur tenues grandia nec pudor â—mbellisque Lyrae Musapotens vetat By Fra. Quarles LONDON Printed for IOHN MARRIOT 1632. A PREFACE TO THE READER A Sober veine best suits Theologie If therefore thou expect'st such Elegancy as takes the times affect some subject as will beare it Had I laboured with over-abundaÌ„ce of fictions or flourishes perhaps they had exposed mee censurable and disprized this sacred subject Therefore I rest more sparing in that kinde Two things I would treate of First the matter secondly the manner of this History As for the matter so farre as I have dealt it is Canonicall and indited by the holy Spirit of God not lyable to errour and needs no blanching In it Theologie sits as Queene attended by her handmaid Philosophy both concurring to make the understanding Reader a good Divine and a wise Moralist As for the Divinitie it discovers the Almighty in his two great Attributes in his Mercy delivering his Church in his Iustice confounding her enemies As for the Morality it offers to us the whole practick part of Philosophy dealt 〈◊〉 into Ethicks Politicks and Oeconomickâ— 1. The Ethical part the object wherof is thâ— manners of a private man ranges throâ—â—â— the whole booke and empties it selfe 〈◊〉 the Catalogue of Morall vertues either thâ—â— that governe the body as Fortitude Châ—â— 9. 2. and Temperance Chap. 1. 8. or thoâ—â— which direct the soule either in outwaâ—â— things as Liberalitie Chap 1. 3. Magnifâ—cence Chap. 1. 6. Magnanimity Chap. 2. â— and Modesty Chap. 6. 12. or in conversatioâ— as Iustice Chap. 7. 9. Mansuetude Chap 5 c. 2. The Politicall part the object whereof publike Societie instructs first in the behaviour of a Prince to his Subject in punishâ—â— his vice Chap 7. 10. in rewarding of vertuâ—
he lists No power is of man to love or hate Lyes not in mortals brest or pow'r of Fate MaÌ„ wants the strength to sway his strong affections What power is is from Divine directions Which oft unseene through dulnesse of the minde We nick name Chance because our selves are blind And that 's the cause mans first beholding eye Oft loves or hates and knowes no reason why ¶ 'T was not the brightnesse of Rebecca's face Or servants skill that wan the virgins grace 'T was not the wish or wealth of Abraham Or Isacks fortune or renowned name His comely personage or his high desert Obtain'd the conquest of Rebecca's heart Old Abra'm wisht in secret God directed 'T was Abra'm us'd the meanes 't was God effected Best marriages are made in heaven In heaven The hearts are joyn'd in earth the hands are given First God ordaines then man confirmes the Love Proclaming that on earth was done above ¶ 'T was not the sharpnesse of thy wandring eye Great King Assuerus to picke Majesty From out the sadnesse of a Captives face 'T was not alone thy chusing nor her grace Who mounts the meeke and beates the lofty down Gave thee the heart to chuse gave her the Crown Who blest thy fortunes with a second wife He blest thy fortunes with a second life That brest that entertain'd so sweet a Bride Stood faire to Treason by her meanes descride With double fortunes wer 't thou doubly blest To finde so faire and scape so foule a guest ¶ Thou aged father of our yeares and houres For thou as well discoverst as devoures Search still the entrails of thy just Records Wherein are entred the diurnall words And deeds of mortall men Bring thou to light All trech'rous projects mann'd by craft or might With Towr's of Brasse their faithful heart's imbosse That beare the Christian colours of the Crosse. ¶ And Thou Preserver of all mortall things Within whose hands are plac'd the hearts of Kings By whom all Kingdomes stand and Princes raigne Preserve thy CHARLES and my dear Soveraigne Let Traitors plots like wandring Atomes fly And on their heads pay ten-fold usury His bosome tuter and his safety tender O be thou his as hee 's thy Faiths Defender That thou in him and hee in thee may rest And we of both may live and die possest THE ARGVMENT The line of Haman and his race His fortunes in the Princes grace His rage to Mordecai exprest Not bowing to him as the rest Sect 7. VPon a time to Persias Royall Court A forraigne Stranger used to resort He was the issue of a royall breed The off-cast off-spring of the cursed seed Of Amelck from him descended right That sold his birth-right for his Appetite 〈◊〉 his name His fortunes did improve Increast by favour of the Princes love Full great he grew preferd to high command And plac'd before the Princes of the Land And since that honour and due reverence Belong where Princes give preeminence The King commands the servants of his State To suit respect to Hamans high estate And doe him honour fitting his degree With vailed bonnet and low bended knee They all observ'd but aged Mordecai Whose stubborne joynts neglected to obey The seed which Heaven with infamy had branded Stoutly refused what the King commanded Which when the servants of the King had seene Their fell disdaine mixtwith an envious spleene Inflam'd They question'd how he durst withstand The just performance of the Kings Command Daily they checkt him for his high disdaine And hee their checks did daily entertaine With silent slight behaviour which did prove As full of care as their rebukes of love ¶ Since then their hearts not able to abide A longer sufferance of his peevish pride Whose scorching fires passion did augment Must either breake or finde a speedy vâ—nt To Haman they th' unwelcome newes related And what they said their malice aggravated Envie did ope her Snake-devouring Iawes Foam'd frothy blood and bent her unked Pawes Her hollow eyes did cast out sudden flame And pale as ashes look't this angry Dame And thus bespake Art thou that man of might That Impe of Glory Times great Favorite Hath thy deserved worth restor'd againe The blemisht honour of thy Princely straine Art thou that Wonder which the Persian State Stands gazing at so much and poynting at Filling all woâ—dring eyes with Admiration And every loyall heart with Adoration Art thou that mighty He How haps it then That wretched Mordecai the worst of men A captive slave a superstitious Iew Slights thee and robs thee of thy righfull due Nor was his fault disguis'd with Ignâ—â—â—ce The unfee'd Advocate of sinne or Chance But backt with Arrogance and foâ—le Despite Rise up and doe thy suffring honour right Vp like his deepe Revenge rose Haman then And like a sleeping Lion from his Den Rouz'd his relentlesse Rage But when his eye Confirm'd the newes Report did testifie His Reason straight was heav'd from off his henge And Fury rounded in his eare Revenge And like a rash Adviser thus began There 's nothing Haman is more deare to man Aâ—d cooles his â—oyling veines with sweeter pleasure Than quicke revenge for to revenge by leisure Is but like feeding when the stomacke 's past Pleasing nor eager appetite nor taste â—et when delay returnes Revenge the greater Like poynant saâ—ce it makes the meate the sweeter It fiâ—s not th' honour of thy personage Nor stands it with thy Greatnesse to ingage Thy noble thoughts to make Revenge so poore To â—e reveng'd on one alone thy sore Needs many plaisters make thy honour good Not with a drop but with a world of blood Borrow the Syâ—â—e of Time and let thy Passion Mowe downe thy Iewish Foe with all his Nation Medita 7. FIghts God for cursed Amalek That hand That once did curse doth now the curse withstand Is God unjust Is Iustice fled from heaven Or are the righteous Ballances uneven Is this that Iust Iehova's sacred Word Firmely inroll'd within the Lawes Record I le fight with Amalek destroy his Nation And from remembrance blurre his Generation What shall his curse to Amalek be void And with those plagues shall Isr'el be destroyd Ah sooner shall the sprightfull flames of fire Descend and moysten and dull earth aspire And with her drinesse quench faire Titans heate Then shall thy words and just Decrees retreat The Day as wery of his burden tyres The Yeare full laden with her months expires The heav'ns growne great with age must soon decay The pondrous earth in time shall passe away But yet thy sacred words shall alway flourish Though daies years heaveÌ„ earth do perish How perkes proud Haman then What prosp'rous fate Exalts his Pagan head How fortunate Hath favour crown'd his times Hath God decreed No other Curse upon that cursed seed The mortall eye of man can but perceive Things present when his heart cannot conceive Hee 's either by his outward senses guided Or like a Quere
leaves it undecided The fleshly eye that lends a feeble sight Failes in extent and hath no further might Than to attaine the object and there ends His office and of what it apprehends Acquaints the understanding which conceives And descants on that thing the sight perceives Or good or bad unable to project The just occasion or the true effect Man sees like man and can but comprehend Things as they present are not as they end God sees a Kings heart in a shepheards brest And in a mighty King he sees a Beast 'T is not the spring tyde of an high estate Creates a man though seeming Fortunate The blaze of Honour Fortunes sweet excesse Doe undeserve the name of Happinesse The frownes of indisposed Fortune makes Man poore but not unhappy He that takes Her checks with patience leaves the name of poor And lets in Fortune at a backer doore ¶ Lord let my fortunes be or rich or poore If small the lesse account if great the more THE ARGVMENT Vnto the King proud Haman sues For the destruction of the Iewes The King consents and in his name Decrees were sent t' effect the same Sect. 8. NOw when the year had turn'd his course about And fully worne his weary howers out And left his circling travell to his heire That now sets onset to th' ensuing yeare Proud Haman pain'd with travell in the birth Till after-time could bring his mischiefe forth Casts Lots from month to month from day to day To picke the choycest time when Fortune may Be most propitious to his damned plot Till on the last month fell th' unwilling Lot So Haman guided by his Idoll Fate Cloaking with publike good his private Hate In plaintiffe tearmes where Reason forg'd a rellish Vnto the King his speech did thus imbellish Vpâ—â— the limits of this happy Nation There flotes a skumâ—e an off-cast Generation Disperst despis'd and noysome to the Land And Refractory to the Lawes to thy Command Not stooping to thy Power but despising All Government but of their owne devising Which stirs the glowing embers of division The hatefull mother of a States perdition The which not soone redrest by Reformation Will ruine-breed to thee and to thy Nation Begetting Rebels and seditioâ—s broyles And fill thy peacefull Land with bloody spoyles Now therefore if it please my gracious Lord To right this grievance with his Princely sword That Death and equall Iustice may o'rewhelme The secret Ruiners of thy sacred Realme Vnto the Royall Treasure of the King Ten thousand silver Talents wâ—ll I bring Then gave the King from off his heedlesse hand His Ring to Haman with that Ring command And said Thy proffer'd wealth possesse Yet â—e thy just Petition ne'rthelesse Entirely granted Lâ—e before thy face Thy vassals lye with all their rebell race Thine be the people and the power thine T' allot these Rebels their deserved Fine Forthwith the Scribes were summon'd to appeare Decrees were written sent to every Shire To all Lieutenants Captaines of the Band And all the Provinces throughout the Land Stil'd in the name and person of the King And made authentick with his Royall Ring By speedy Post men were the Letters sent And this the summe is of their sad content ASSVERVS REX Let ev'ry Province in the Persian Land Vpon the Day prefixt prepare his hand To make the Channels flow with Rebels blood And from the earth to roote the Iewish brood And let the sâ—finesse of no partiall heart Through melting pitie love or false desert Spare either young or old or man or woman But like their faults so let their plagues be common Dicreed and signed by our Princely Grace And given at Sushan from our Royall Place So Haman fill'd with joy his fortunes blest With faire successe of his so foule request Laid care aside to sleepe and with the King Consum'd the time in jolly banquetting Meane while the Iewes the poore afflicted Iewes Perplext and startl'd with the new-bred newes With drooping heads and selfe-imbracing armes Wept forth the Dirge of their ensuing harmes Medita 8. OF all diseases in a publike weale No one more dangerous and hard to heale Except a tyrant King then when great might Is trusted to the hands that take delight To bathe and paddle in the blood of those Whoâ— jealousies and not just cause oppose 〈…〉 as haughty power is conjoynd Vnto 〈◊〉 will of a distemper'd mind What â—â—re it can it will and what it will It in it 〈◊〉 hath power to fulfill What! 〈◊〉 then can linger unattemted What base attempts can happen unprevented Statutes must breake good Lawes must go to wracâ— And like a Bow that 's overbent must cracke Iustice the life of Law becomes so furious That over-doing right it proves injurious Mercy the Steare of Iustice flyes the City And falsly must be term'd a foolish Pity Meane while the gracious Princes tender brest Gently possest with nothing but the best Of the disguis'd dissembler is abus'd And made the cloke wherewith his fault 's excus'd The radient beames that warme shine so bright Comfort this lower world with heat and light But drawne and recollected in a glasse They burne and their appointed limits passe Even so the power from the Princes hand Directs the subject with a sweet command But to perverse fantasticks if confer'd Whom wealth or blinded Fortune hath prefer'd It spurres on wrong and makes the right retire And sets the grumbling Common-wealth on fire Their foule intent the Common good pretends And with that good they maske their private ends Their glorie 's dimme and cannot b'understood Vnlesse it shine in pride or swimme in blood Their will 's a Law their mischiefe Policy Their frownes are Death their power Tyranny Ill thrives the State that harbours such a man That can what e're he wills wills what he can May my ungarnisht quill presume so much To glorifie it selfe and give a touch Vpon the Iland of my Soveraigne Lord What language shall I use what new-founâ—â—ord T' abridge the mighty volume of of his worth And keepe me blamelesse from th' untimely birth Of false reputed flattery He lends No cursed Haman pow'r to worke his Ends Vpon our ruine but transferres his grace On just desert which in the ugly face Of foule detraction untouch't can dare And smile till black-mouth'd Envy blush and tare Her Snaky fleece Thus thus in happy peace He rules to make our happinesse increase Directs with love commands with Princely awe And in his brest he beares a living Law Defend us thou and heavens thee defend And let proud Haman have proud Hamans end THE ARGVMENT The Iewes and Mordecai lament And waile the height of their distresses But Mordecai the Queene possesses With cruell Hamans foule intent Sect 3. NOw when as 〈◊〉 the daughter of the earth Newly dis-burthen'd of her plumed birth From off her Turrets did her wings display And pearcht in the sad cares of Mordecai He rent his garments wearing in their stead Distressed sack-cloth
Gods Iudgement stand Since we were both created by one Hand If e're my power wrong'd the Poore mans cause Or to the Widow lengthned out the Lawes If e're alone my lips did taste my bread Or shut my churlish doores the poore unfed Or bent my hand to doe the Orphane wrong Or saw him naked unapparell'd long In heapes of Gold if e're I tooke delight Or gave Heavens worship to the heavenly Light Or e're was flattred by my secret Will or joyed in my Adversaries Ill Let God accurse mee from his glorious Seat And make my plagues if possible more great Oh! That some equall hearer now were by To judge my righteous cause Full sure am I I shall be quitted by th' Almighties hand What therefore if censorious tongues withstand The judgement of my sober Conscience Compose they Ballads on me yet from thence My simple Innocence shall gaine renowne And on my head I 'le weare them as my Crowne To the Almighties care will I reveale My secret wayes to him alone appeale If to conclude the Earth could finde a tongue Tâ—impeach my guiltlesse hands of doing wrong If hidden Wages earn'd with sweat doe lye Rak't in her furrowes let her wombe deny To blesse my Harvest let her better Seeds Be turn'd to Thistles and the rest to Weeds Medita 15. THe man whose soule is undistain'd with Ill Pure from the check of a distempred Will Stands onely free from the distracts of Care And flies a pitch above the reach of Feare His bosome dares the threatning Bow-mans arme His wisedome sees his Courage feares no harme His brest lyes open to the reâ—king Sword The darts of swarthy Maurus can affoord Lesse dread than danger to his well prepar'd And setled minde which standing on her guard Bids Mischiefe doe the worst she can or will For he that does no ill deserves no ill Would any strive with Samson for renowne Whose brawny arme can strike most pillers downe Or try a fall with Angels and prevaile Or with a Hymne unhinge the strongest Iayle Would any from a prâ—â—ner prove a Prince Or with slow speech best Orators convince Preserve he then unstained in his brest A milkeâ—white Conscience let his soule be blest With simple Innocence This seven fold shield No dart shall pierce no sword shall make it yeeld The siâ—ewy Bow and deadly headed Launce Shall breake in shivers and the splinters glaunce Aside returning backe from whence they came And wound their hearts with an eternall shame The just and constant minde that perseveres Vnblemisht with false pleasures never feares The bended threatnings of a Tyrants brow Death neither can disturbe nor change his Vow Well guarded with himselfe he walkes along When most alone he stands a thousand strong Lives he in weale and full Prosperity His wisedome tells him that he lives to dye Is he afflicted Sharpe afflictions give Him hopes of Chang and that hee dyes to live Is he revil'd and scorn'd He sits and smiles Knowing him happy whom the world reviles If Rich he gives the Poore and if he live In poore estate he findes rich friends to give He lives and Angel in a mortall forme And having past the brunt of many a storme At last ariveth at the Haven of Rest Where that just Iudge that rambles in his brest Ioyning with Angels with an Angels voyce Chaunts forth sweet Requieâ—s of Eternall joyes THE ARGVMENT Elihu Iob reproves reproves His Friends alike he pleades the case With Iob in Gods behalfe and moves Him to recant and call for Grace Sect. 16. THus Iob his ill defended Cause adjournes And silence lends free liberty of turnes To his unjust Accusers whose bad cause Hath left them grounded in too large a pause Whereat Elihu a young stander-by Whose modest eares upon their long reply Did wait his angry silence did awake And craving pardon for his Youth bespake Young Standers-by doe oftentimes see more Than elder Gamesters Y' are to blame all foure T'ones cause is bad but with good proofs befriended The others just and good but ill defended Though reason makes the man Heaven makes him wise Wisdome in greatest Clerks not alway lyes Then let your silence give me leave to spend My judgement whilst your heedfull eares attend I have not heard alone but still expected To heare what more your spleenes might have objected Against your wofull Friend but I have found Your reasons built upon a sandy ground Flourish no Flags of Conquest Vnderstand That he 's afflicted by th' Almighties hand He hath not fail'd to crosse your accusations Yet I though not with your â—oule exprobations Will crosse him too I 'me full and I must speake Or like unvented vessels I must breake And with my tongue my heart will be reliev'd That swells with what my patience hath conceiv'd Be none offended for my lips shall tread That ground without respect as Truth shall lead God hates a flattering language then how can I Vnliable to danger flatter any Now Iob to thee I speake O let my Errant Be welcome to thine â—ares for truth 's my warrant They are no slender trifles that I treat But things digested with the sacred heat Of an inspired knowledge 'T is no rash Discharge of wrath nor wits conceited flash I 'le speake and heare thee speake as free for I Will take no vantage of thy Misery Thy tongue did challenge to maintaine thy casâ— With God if he would veile his glorious face Be I the man though clad with clay and dust And mortall like thy selfe that takes the trust To represent his Person Thou dost terme Thy selfe most just and boldly dost affirme That Heaven afflicts thy soul without a reason Ah Iob these very words alone are treason Against th' Almighties will Thou oughtest rather Submit thy passion to him as thy Father Than plead with him as with thy Peere Is he Bound to reveale his secret Will to thee God speaketh oft to man not understood Sometimes in dreames at other times thinkes good To thunder Iudgement in his drowzy eare Sometimes with hard afflictions scourge doth teare His wounded soule which may at length give easâ— Like sharper Physicke to his foule Disease But if like pleasing Iulips he afford The meâ—ke Expounders of his sacred Word With sweet perswasions to recure his griefe How can his sorroâ—es wish more faire Reliefe Ah then his body shall wax young and bright Heavens face that scorcht before shall now delight His tongue with Triumph shall confesse to men I was a Leper but am cleare agen Thus thus that Spring of Mercy oftentimes Doth speak to man that man may speak his crimes Consider Iob my words with judgement weigh Which done if thou hast ought then boldly say If otherwise shame not to hold thy peace And let thy wisedome with my words encrease And you you Wisemen that are silent here Vouchsafe to lend my lips your ripened earâ— Let 's call a parly and the cause decide For Iob pleads guiltlesse and would faine be
To him that of thy prescence is bereft Absented from thy favour what remaines But sense and sad remembrance of my paines Yet hath affliction op'ned my dull eare And taught me what in weale I ne're could heare Her scourge hath tutor'd me with sharpe corrections And swag'd the swelling of my proud affections Till now I slumbred in a prosp'rous dreame From wheÌ„ce awak'd my griefes are more extreame Hopes newly quickned have my soule assur'd That griefes discover'd are one halfe recur'd ELEG 8. HAd not the milder hand of mercy broke The furious violence of that fatall stroke Offended Iustice strucke we had beene quite Lost in the shadowes of eternall night Thy mercy Lord is like the morning Sunne Whose beames undoe what sable night hath done Or like a streame the current of whose course Restrain'd a while runs with a swifter force Oh let me swelter in those sacred beames And after bathe me in these silver streames To thee alone my sorrowes shall appeale Hath earth a wound too hard for heaven to heale ELEG 9. IN thee deare Lord my pensive soule respires Thou art the fulnesse of my choice desires Thou art that sacred Spring whose waters burst In streames to him that seekes with holy thirst Thrice happy man thrice happy thirst to bring The fainting soule to so so sweet a spring Thrice happy he whose well resolved brest Expects no other aide no other rest Thrice happie he whose downie age had bin Reclaim'd by scourges from the prime of sin And early season'd with the taste of Truth Remembers his Creator in his youth ELEG 10. KNowledge concomitates Heavens painefull rod â— eaches the soule to know her selfe her GOD Vnseiles the eye of Faith presents a morrow Of joy within the â—ablest night of sorrow Th' afflicted soule abounds in barest need Sucks purest honie from the foulest weed Detests that good which pamp'red reason likes Welcomes the stroke kisses the hand that strikes In roughest Tides his well-prepared brest Vntoucht with danger findes aâ— haven of rest Hath all in all when most of all bereaven In earth a hell in hell he findes a Heaven ELEG 11. LAbour perfected with the evening ends The lampe of heaven his course fulfill'd descends Can workes of nature seeke and finde a rest And shall the torments of a troubled brest Impos'd by Natures all-commanding GOD Ne're know an end ne're finde a period Deare soule despaire not whet thy dull beliefe With hope heavens mercy will o'recome thy griefe From thee not him proceeds thy punishment Hee 's slow to wrath and speedy to relent Thou burnst like gold consumest not like fuell O wrong not Heaven to thinke that Heaven is cruell ELEG 12. MOuntaines shall move the Sun his circling course Shall stop Tridented Neptuae shall divorce Th' embracing floods from their beloved Iles Ere heaven forgets his servant and recoyles From his eternall vow Those those that bruise His broken reeds or secretly abuse The doubtfull Title of a rightfull Cause Or with false bribes adulterat the Lawes That should be chaste these these th' Almightie hath Branded for subjects of a future wrath Oh may the just man know th' Eternall hastens His plagues for trialls loves the child he chastens ELEG 13. NO mortall power nor supernall might Not Lucifer nor no infernall spright Nor all together joyn'd in one commission Can thinke or act without divine permission Man wils Heaven breathes successe or not upon it What good what evill befals but heaven hath done it Vpon his right hand Health and Honors stand And flaming Scourges on the other hand Since then the States of good or evill depend Vpon his will fond mortall thou attend Vpon his Wisdome Why should living Dust Complaine on Heaven because that Heaven is just ELEG 14. O Let the ballance of our even pois'd hearts Weigh our afflictions with our just deserts And ease our heavie scale Double the graines We take from sinne Heaven taketh from our pains Oh let thy lowly-bended eyes not feare Th' Almighties frownes nor husband one poore teare Be prodigall in sighes and let thy â—ongue Thy tongue estrang'd to heaven cry all night long My soule thou leav'st what thy Creator did Will thee to doe hast done what he forbid This this hath made so great a strangenesse bee If not divorce betwixt thy GOD and thee ELEG 15. PRepar'd to vengeance and resolv'd to spoile Thy hand just GOD hath taken in thy toile Our wounded soules That arme which hath forgot His wonted mercy kills and spareth not Our crimes have set a barre betwixt thy Grace And us thou hast eclipst thy glorious face Hast stopt thy gracious eare lest prayers enforce done Thy tender Heart to pity and remorse See see great GOD what thy deare hand hath We lie like drosse when all the gold is gone Contemn'd despis'd and like to Atomes flye Before the Sunne the scorne of every eye ELEG 16. QVotidian fevers of reproach and shame Have chill'd our Honor and renowned Name We are become the by-word and the scorne Of Heaven and Earth of heaven earth forlorne Our captiv'd soules are compast round about Within with troopes of feares of foes without Without within distrest and in conclusion We are the haplesse children of confusion Oh how mine eyes the rivers of mine eyes O'reflow these barren lips that can devise No Dialect that can expresse or borrow Sufficient Metaphors to shew my sorrow ELEG 17. RIvers of marish teares have over-flowne My blubber'd cheeks my tongue can find no Tone So sharpe as silence to bewaile that woe Whose flowing Tides an Ebbe could never know Weepe on mine eyes mine eyes shall never cease Speake on my Tongue forget to hold thy peace Cease not thy teares close not thy lips so long Til heaven shal wipe thine eles heare thy tongue What heart of brasse what Adamantine brest Can know the torments of my soule and rest What stupid braine ah me what marble eye Can see these these my ruines and not cry ELEG 18. SO hath the Fowler with his slye deceits Beguil'd the harmelesse bird so with false baits The treach'rous Angler strikes his nibbling prey Even so my Foes my guiltlesse soule betray So have my fierce pursuers with close wiles Inthralled me and gloried in my spoiles Where undermining plots could not prevaile There mischiefe did with strength of arme assaile Thus in afflictions troubled billowes tost I live but t is a life worse had than lost Thus thus o'rewhelm'd my secret soule doth cry I am destroy'd and there 's no helper nigh ELEG 19. THou great Creator whose diviner breath Preserves thy Creature joyst not in his death Looke downe from thy eternall Throne that art The onely Rocke of a despairing heart Looke downe from Heaven O thou whose tender eare Once heard the trickling of one single teare How art thou now estranged from his cry That sends forth Rivers from his fruitfull eye How often hast thou with a gentle arme Rais'd me from death and bid