enacted and Bid it in Paradises records stand 79. Their breeding murmur reached Jesu's ear For nothing scap'd him which he pleas'd to know When 〈◊〉 he looking up such potent fear Flew on all them as bow'd their Heads as low As they were high before for strait they saw His royall will and knew their soveraign Law 80. Then as Death groaning lay He drew the dart From his own Bodies side and to the head With mighty vengeance stuck it in her heart The wound though deep made not the weapon red For all the Gore that at its mouth it spew'd Black as foule Styx's inkie puddle shew'd 81. Thrice did the Monster gaspe and then let flie Her cursed Ghost which stole its way to hell Her carcase stretch'd out on the ground did lie Her chap fell down her tongue in which did dwell All poisons 〈◊〉 hung dangling out Thus she Who reign'd o'r mortals felt Mortalitie 82. But the brave Conqueror thus having slain Her once by killing her resolved now To slay her by restoring her again To her accursed life for from below He beckned her pale Ghost and bid it dwell At home again as in a fouler Hell 83. And now said he since thou hast felt my might Remember my command and live again Henceforth thou with thy sting no more shalt fight Nor on thy Prisners clap a slavish chain Yet use thy dart for'tis my royall will Though I forbid thy rage to let thee Kill 84. Thou who before the tyrant wert shalt now The servant to my mortal Brethren be And ope the gate by which from Life below Their Soules shall flie to live and reign with me But see their bodies in their quiet sleep Untill I call for them thou safely keep 85. This double Conquest gain'd He look'd aside And sneaking in a Corner of the Toomb Corruption with her Worms about her spi'd Who crawl'd and wrought withall their might to come And seize upon the Body but as yet Could not finde strength enough to reach to it 86. He spi'd them there and charg'd them to be gone At which great word they into nothing fled With that his sacred body he put on As easily as he some Cloak had spread Upon his shoulders or his finger put Into an Annulet exactly fit 87. Thus hast thou seen a tryed fencer from His bloody Sceen of prowess with the prize His virtue purchased returning home There to enjoy his glorious victories But first he cloaths his arms and breast and back Whose naked valour scorn'd the combats shock 88. His heart with life and joy strait gan to leap His veins with new-recovered blood grew hot His blessed eyes threw off their 〈◊〉 sleep And their long leaden night of Rest forgot Afresh the Roses budded in his lip New smiles and graces in his checks did trip 89. Off fell the Napkin and the Winding Sheet Not daring to conceal the Beauties which In a strange Confluence of Glory met All Parts of his pure Body to enrich Which fairer than the Sons of Men before Out-shined now its former Graces store 90. For passing through the Seirce of Death it there Lost all the grossnes of Mortality And riseth more illustrious and cleer Than silver Venus in the Evening Skye What was but course and animal till now Doth most refined and Spiritual grow 91. It doth no longer like a Prison sit Obscure and lumpish on the soule but is Made light and pliant and compleatly fit For her and for her nimblest Bus'nesses And as our ready Wings doe every where Move with our Wills so that can doe with Her 92. For He who our brave Sprightfulnes could make Of dull and sleepy Nothing easily may Teach heavy Flesh and Blood how to awake Into Angelik Purenesse and array It round with full as fair a robe of light As makes the Cherubs or the Seraphs bright 93. But now the promis'd Time was come and He As early as the third Day ment to Rise Remarried to his Body instantlie Out of his Toomb He leaps not in the guise Of boistrous Lightning which doth rend the Clouds But that which through unbroken Bodies crowds 94. Oft hast Thou seen the sprightfull Image flie Compleatly through a Chrystall Wall which yet Unbruis'd uncrack'd it leaveth So did thy Much purer Lord through the stout Marble get For still it kept the Tombes Mouth close and still Was trusty to the Priests unmoved Seal 95. Thus Psyche e'r the dull World was awake Life Rose for it and Deaths strong Gates set ope That it aforehand might a Passage make Unto all mortal Ashes to get up His Members Risen are in Him their Head Though yet in Death they never went to Bed 96. His Resurrection a sure Ernest is Of theirs who ever dyed or can die He buried was onely the Grave to dresse To purge to sweeten and to Sanctifie That in that safe retiring Room his Freinds May take their Rest untill for Them He sends 97. Indeed all Joyes seemd to be slain when He Compleating Bitternesses Tragedy Fetchd his last gasp upon the fatal Tree But this deer Morning they reviv'd and by His rising Body so refined were That They like it Spiritual appear 98. No wonder this sweet Day doth sit so high In pious Soules esteem and bear away The reverend glory and solemnity Of the old consecrated Sabboth Day No wonder that upon the first Daies head The Sev'nths fair diadem is established 99. T is true on That when God six daies had wrough Fetching from Nothing Whatsoe'r We see And All this All unto perfection brought He stay'd his Hand and order'd it to be To sacred Jollitie a constant Feast That all Things else might play when He did rest 100. But on this Day his Rest was far more great For all his life full hard He laboured had He wept He struggled and his blood He Sweat His strength his life He spent on Death He Trod And trampled Hell and now Rose up again In matchlesse 〈◊〉 evermore to reign 101. O noble Sabboth may all Glories swell Each houre and minute of thy sacred light May Pieties best Exultations dwell In thee alone and cursed be the spight Of any Heresie which e'r shall dare Thy festivall Prerogative to impair 102. The other Sabboth was a Shade of Thee And Thou the Copie art of that which shall Amidst the Triumphs of Immensitie Be all Heav'ns everlasting Festivall A Feast which shall no higher Title know Than the Lords Day and this brave Day art Thou 103. But zealous Magdalene could not rest in Bed O no her Soule was here seald in the Tombe And though the Sabbaths Law did her forbid Untill it selfe expired were to come And seek it here yet now she could not stay To be conducted by the mornings Ray. 104. She and another love-enflamed Friend Borrow'd Speeds Wings and having purchas'd store Of pretious Ointment and of Spice to spend Upon the sacred Corps set forth before The Sun gat out of bed but as they came
ward whether He is gone Who stamp'd them heer their Eys will know no Lid But make the Beams recoil the Rafters run Aside and suffer no Concameration To damm the way of Jesu's Exaltation 291. Thus Psyche have I made thee trace thy Lord To his last footsteps through a thousand ways All set with Mercie and made good my Word Thou seest how He a countermure doth raise Against Sinns Battery and thou needst not fear Hells Spight now Heav'n for thee doth take such care 392. Nor durst I doubt but thine owne Heart will say This thy long Pilgrimage is well requited Which hath presented thee a full Display Of that wherewith all Angells are delighted Whose Souls then with sublimest Joy do leap When on these Mysteries of Love they peep 293. Their Harness heer upon his Steeds he threw Who all this while were feeding on the Hill The meaning of that warning Psyche knew And on her knee prayd him to tarry till She gave the Reins to her Devotion As other Pilgrims unto theirs had done 294. He smil'd and stayd But She flat on her face Innumerable Kisses heap'd upon The venerable Stepps and long it was Before her amorous Sighs and Tears had done At length her Bosome with the Dust she fill'd And cri'd Go thou and my foul Body gild 295. Then casting up to Heav'n her zealous Eye After her Spouse a thousand Thoughts she sent To whom her panting Soul strove hard to flie Upon the Wings of her high Ravishment But when she felt her self stick still to Earth Fresh Tears at first and then these Words brake forth 296. Why may my Heart not be where most it is O Thou my dearest Life ô Jesu why Since Thou art mounted to the Topp of Bliss And leav'st Me Dead have I not leave to Die Never was any Ghost but I till now In its own Body bound and chaind below 297. I by thy Cross and Death was wholly slain And by thy Resurrections Life I grew Alive and safe and vigorous again But thy Ascension doth my Death renew Since nothing of my Life poor I can finde But these bare footsteps left Me heer behinde 298. Sweet Lord by these thy Psyche cannot live Though for thy Sake they pretious are to Me O no! their Worth doth but more reason give To long for most inestimable Thee If any footstepp Me can satisfie It must be that which next thy foot doth lie 299. Hast Thou not said that Earth thy Footstool is As well as Heav'n thy Throne O mighty Lord 'T will be thy Handmaydes most accomplish d Blisse If thou but unto Me make'st good that Word Loe I thy Dust the Footstool crave to be Of thy now Heav'n-enthroned Majesty 300. High my Petition is and bold I know And yet the worthlesse Dew must needs aspire To Heav'n it selfe when once it gins to glow With Phoebu's sweet and most attracting Fire Nor can the Spark in its dull Ashes lie But must have leave to venture at the Skie 301. Alas what is this weary World to Me What are the silver Sphears and golden Sun Could I reign Queen of every Thing I see At my sole Nod would all Earths Kindreds ran What were this Empire worth now Thou art gone Whom Psyche must esteem her Crown alone 302. 'T is not thy heav'nly Paradise that I Ambitious am to see 't is not thy Court Of Angels though by Phylax's company I guesse their Worth 't is not the Pomp and Port That flows about thy throne Nor doe I long To dance unto thy Quires eternal Song 303. My Heart doth pant for Thee and onely Thee And could'st Thou be in Hell I never more Would loose a Looking up to Heav'n but be Inamored of that Abysse and poure My Longings and my Labours downward till I at thy Feet my Vows and Soule could spill 304. O why art Thou so infinitely sweet Or rather Why must We that Sweetnesse know If Thou deer Jesu dost not think it meet Unto our Fires their 〈◊〉 to allow Away Thou flyest and Forsaken We Ev'n by thy sweets and Blisse tormented be 305. How can I help this my excessive Passion Or how can it deserve these Torments Since Thine own Love doth professe Immoderation And guilty is of boundlesse influence In which soft Sea of Fire whilst drown'd I am What can I doe but burn with answering Flame 306. Blame Me not blessed Lord it is not I But Thou thy Selfe rebounding from my Heart Who beat'st Heav'n with this Importunity And call'st for Ease for my mysterious Smart Had'st Thou by Love not stampd thy Selfe upon My Soule now Psyche had let Thee alone 307. Remembet Jesu what it is to be Forsaken ô remember thine own Crie When in thy Desolation on the Tree Thy Father Thou didst challenge May not I Use thine own Words My God my God why now Dost Thou thy desolate Psyche leave below 308. Upon this Olivet my Calvary I finde and to my Crosse am nailed here Ten thousand Torments in my Bosome lie And full as many Thorns as planted were Upon thy Tempels in my Heart doe stick Where all the Bowels of my Soule they prick 309. O Love why must thine onely Tyranny The Bounds of other Cruelties exceed Why will it not allow the Courtesie Of Death unto thy Vassals who are Dead By its reviving Slaughters and desire To be free Holocausts in thy sweet Fire 310. Her Passion here beyond expression grew Yet though She with her Tongue no more could speak With her resolved Eyes to Heav'n she flew And there a long Oration did make Both long and fluent in th' exuberance Of Tears the streams of strongest Eloquence 311. But Phylux having to Her tender Heart Thus far indulg'd thought fit to stop Her here Psyche said He imagin not Thou art Inamored more than the Disciples were Of thy Ascended Lord yet desolate They Warn'd by the 〈◊〉 meekly went away 312. I in their room that Warning give to Thee On Heav'n why dost Thou naile thine eyes in vain Thy Saviour is too high for Thee to see Till on a Cloud He posteth back again Then shalt Thou look thy Fill of Blisse and be To all thy Loves Extremities let free 313. Mean while thine Adorations and Imbraces On his dear Name and Memory thou mayst poure Come le ts away that by these signal places Of Mercies Triumphs thy soft Heart no more May tortured be Here on her hand he laid His own and raised up the heavie Maid 114. Then in his Chariot gently Her he set Who on the Footsteps kept her hankering eye But instantly he mov'd his reins to let His Coursers know he gave them liberty Forth with their goodly mains in answer They Shook in proud hast and gallopped away PSYCHE OR LOVES MYSTERIE CANTO XV. The Poyson ARGUMENT LEaving his Psyche carefull Phylax arms With whole some sage Advice her tender breast Yet shee the Venome of Heretick Charms And Spurious Reasons wiles could not resist Phylax returns and in his
Ages hadst thy Spring Where thou didst sweetly Smile amidst the Three Most undivided One and traversing Those Heights Depths of Blessedness didst through Eternities immense Expansion flow 3. Thence when the World burst out from Nothing thou Didst spare some Streams Created Hearts to cheer No Bosomes with that Influence did glow But of thy Sweets they straight enamor'd were Which as their richest dearest Jewells they Close in the heart of their own Hearts did lay 4. Their Goods their Parents or their Children were Not halfe so pretious to Them as Thou Their Joynts their Limbs their Skin they well could spare Their tender Name and Fame they could allow A Prey to Injury so they by them Might Thee and thy Security 〈◊〉 5. The vilest Worme whom Thou dost please to grace Forgetteth not that worth he gains by Thee He shoots his warey Self from place to place And when oppressed feeble though he be He turns again and with the strongest Foe Tries what for thy deer Rescue He can doe 6. The wretched Serpent is content to feed On basest Dust rather than part with Thee Though Curses poure their Streams upon his head He makes his Body all one Helmet be To sheltre it and roules himself about Himself to keep all mortall violence out 7. Nay when the Sword or Wand its way has cut Quite through his Circles till his Body be An heap of fragments He himself doth knit Ev'n by the Cement of his Wounds till He Grows One again So lothe he is to die Though his damn'd life be but his Miserie 8. What Voyages will silly Swallows take Warme Seasons round about the World to chase What hard shift will the hunted Partridge make To shun the greedy Griffens deadly face What Wings of Speed what Tricks and Sleights will fear Of Death soon teach the close-pursued Hare 6. In how great Sweat and Pains doe Pismires spend Their warmer Moneths to reap and carry home Their Cropp which in the Cold may them befreind With Sustentation and defend Them from The fear of loosing that poor Life which They In love of it to endlesse Toile betray 10. The most industrious never-tired Bee Flies through all Summer knocking at the door Of every likely Flower where thoughtfull she Can borrow ought towards her Winter Store And thus for love of Life her honey trade A bitter course of Painfulnes is made 11. Yea ev'n the simplest Weed whose Life doth but Preserve that Stink with which She taints the air When Winter gins its chains of Frost to put Upon the Earth makes all her Spirits repair Down to the Root for rather than be dead Alive She chooseth to be buried 12. But yet no Creature with such painfull Pains Doth purchase Lifes Security as Man What Plots and Projects tumble in his brains What Cares and Labours make Him faint and wan Earth open house to all things else doth keep But He must sowe before he looks to reap 13. A tedious Prentisehood He spends to learn How he may toile himself another Day And by his still-returning Labours ern What will support his Strength that still He may Be grapling with his Work for his own S weat Must be the constant Sauce unto his Meat 14. To get a Living 's a sufficient Charm T' allure him through the most portentous Sea To make him scorn the most out ragious Storm Though Death within three Inches of Him be To fire him unto all impieties Defying Veng'ance and the Thundering Skies 15. A Charm sufficient to make him List Himself an Enemie to the life of Man Whilst he fears not to make his stoney breast Harder by martiall Steel and Brasse and can Without all blushing take his bloody Pay For his Endeavours daily to Destroy 16. O wonderous Riddle though eternall Death Invitably be entaild upon His monstrous Crimes Yet He his present Breath Esteems so deer that still he dares run on In any Deadly Wickednes which may Maintain that life which must 〈◊〉 long 〈◊〉 17. Indeed the Man whose swelling Coffers bring Him forth free choise of all the dainty Store Which Land or Sea can yeild to cheer a King May finde some feeling reason to adore His Jollse Life But what convincing Plea Can Beggers move to this 〈◊〉 18. Yet They who are so destitute within And poor without that equally they want Both Food wherewith to fill their wretened Skin And Clothes to cover it are well content On these hard tenns to live nor 〈◊〉 They be By any Death quit of this 〈◊〉 19. The woefull Captive whose dark Dungeon is No other but his antidated Grave Though neither Light nor open air be his Yet huggs his Life as deerely as the brave And lustie Gallant who himself can please With all the Fat of pleasure and of case 20. The Leper clothed in his winding sheet By his disease abhorrs the thought of death Life still is ev'n in his dead Body sweet And full as pretious He esteems his Breath As doth the Virgin whose fair Bodies dresse Of native Lilies and of Roses is 21. He who doth in a Fevers fornace frie Would yet not Cool himself within his Grave But hires Physicians costly Industrie To study out some way how He may save His torturing Life Notfor 〈◊〉 World would He By Death's most 〈◊〉 Physick eased be 22. The lamentable Gally-slave who is Fast chained to perpetuall Miserie Still toiles and rows through the tempestuous Seas Without all Hopes that any Port can be An Haven of Rest to Him and yet full deat He holds that Life which holds him Pris'ner there 23. She whom a Seige begins so close that she Is crowded up to nought but Bones and Skin Flies from the thought of gaining Libertie By Deaths Assistance and will rather win Upon her Bowels to devour her childe Than be by Famine of her Life 〈◊〉 24. The cursed Traitour who is chain'd alive Unto his Chaire of Death though he be sure It needs must be in vain for Life to strive Yet in strong Love of it he will endure To feed on his own Arms that so He may What e'r it cost Him Live one other day 25. He who disjoynted on the Rack doth lie Although his Body now no more be his After a thousand 〈◊〉 is to the to die And any Crime is willing to Confesse He doth Confesse what needs must be his Death Onely to gaine a little longer breath 26. Thus all the Gall that sharpest Miserie Into the heart of Mortall Life can poure Meets there such Powers of vitall suavitie As conquer all its Bitternesse Suct store Of pretious Delicates as dare despise The keepest force of all Calamities 27. Snatch what you will from Man besides and He Will stoutly set his shoulders to sustein His Losse but if his Life required be In vain all Comforts fawn on Him in vain Are Crowns and Sceptres proffer'd Him a price Too poor to hire Him to his Obsequies 28. Since then the Life ev'n of the meanest Wight
〈◊〉 nor ever failes to hit Its blessed Marke whither on Prayers Wings Or Contemplation's it takes its flight And there with busie Angels rank'd it sings Admires adores and studies to forget There is a Breast below which look's for it 110. How often has his fainting Body made Complaint of his injurious Piety How often has it cri'd I am betrayd My life and spirits all away do flie And smile in Heav'n whilst I below am left To live this Death of death and life bereft 111. That Cave his Palace was both safe and strong Because not kept by jealous Door nor Barr Those Groves his Gardens where hee walk'd among The Family of Dread yet knew no feare Fear 's proper Region and Dominion is A guilty Breast more than a Wildernesse 112. Those Bears those Boars those Wolves whose irefull face Strikes Terror into other Mortall Eyes With friendly Mildnesse upon him did gaze As on old Adam in calme Paradise They slandered are with Salvagenesse No spleer They owe to Man but onely unto Sinne. 113. So wilde so black and so mis-shap'd a Beast Is Sinne that other Monsters it doe hate As a more monstrous thing then they and cast About how to revenge it But the Gate And Looks of Purity so reverend are That dreadfull Beasts wait upon it with feare 114. The beams of this Angelick Life at last Broke out and summon'd in the Admiration Of all the Countrey Man that runder Beast Convinc d by these Examples learn'd their fashion Behold that thronging Rout which hither flies See how they stare and scarce beleeve their Eyes 115. These Deserts nothing lesse than such do seeme Being crowded from themselves and now become Judea's Towns and fair Jerusalem Which hither have remov'd their populous Home What now has John lost by his private Cell To which whole Towns and Cities flock to dwell 116. And having now so fair an Auditory The noble Ermite is resolv'd to Preach Behold sayes hee the Dawn of that great Glory Which to behold the Patriarks did reach Their Necks and Eyes through many a shady thing In your Horizon now begins to spring 117. O faile ye not to meet his spotlesse Beams With undefiled Hearts for such is He And will Baptize you with refined streams Of searching Fire Then first be Wash'd by Me My Water for His Fire will you prepare As must your Tears for this my Water here 118. Observ'st thou Psyche how that silver stream It s limpid selfe doth through the Girdle winde This Jordan is looke how the People seem At strife who first should enter in to finde A better Baptism in those floods which may Their fruitlesse Legall Washings wash away 119. But mark Who standeth there how sweet his Eye How delicate and how divine his Face Embellish'd with heart-conquering Majesty Wert thou to choose thy Spouse would'st thou not place Thy soul on Him 'T is He ô no it is As much of him as Jewells can expresse 120. To be Baptiz'd but not made clean comes He Who is more spotlesse than that living Light Which gilds the Crest of Heav'ns Sublimity He comes to be Baptized and wash white Baptism it selfe that it henceforth from Him And his pure Touch with Puritie may swim 121. As when amongst a grosse ignoble Croud Of Flints and Pebles and such earth-bred Stones An heav'n-descended Diamond doth shroud Its Lustres brave ejaculations Although it scapes the test of Vulgar Eyes Yet a wise Jeweller the Gem descries 122. So John his Master straight discovered And Heav'n forbid that worthless I cries He Should wash a thing more bright then it and shed These lesse clean Waters upon mighty Thee Dear Lord my great Pollutions bid Me fall Prostrate and unto thee for Baptism call 123. If I be Lord thy gentle Spouse replies Pay then thy Duty to my first Injunction It must be so This Mandate did suffice The Saint and He submits to his high Function Cast but thine Eye a little up the stream Wading in Chrystall there thou seest them 124. Old Jordan smil'd receiving such high Pay For those small Pains obedient hee had spent Making his pliant Waves ope a drie Way When numerous Israel into Canaan went Nor does he envy now Pactolu's streams Nor Eastern Floods whose Paths are pav'd with Gems 125. The Waves came crowding one upon another Unto their Lord their chaste Salute to give Each one did chide and justle back his Brother And with contentious foaming murmur strive To kisse its Maker and more spotless grow Than from its Virgin spring it first did flow 126. But those most happy Drops the Baptist cast Upon his Saviours head return'd with Joy And to the Wealthy Ocean making haste Amaz'd the Treasures which there heaped lay The Deeps look'd up and op'd their richest Breast To make these Guests a correspondent Nest. 127. See there thy Spouse is on the Bank and more Than Heav'n come down and pitch'd upon his Head That snowie Dove which perched heretofore High on the all-illustrious Throne of God Hath chose this seat nor thinks it a Descent Upon such tearms to leave the Firmament 128. And Heav'n well witness'd this strange truth which at That wonderous instant op'd its mouth and cri'd This is my Darling Son in whom are set All my Joyes Jewells O how farre and wide That Voice did flie on which each Wind caught hold And round about the World the Wonder told 129. This businesse done to Court the Baptist goes Where lusty Sinnes as well as Herod reign Long Sanctity had made him fit with those Proud Enemies a Combat to maintain He who does nothing but his Maker fear Against all Monsters may proclaim a War 130. Behold how Pomp besots great Herod there O what impostumes of fond Majesty Pride puffs into his face Dares there appeare A Censor now a just Truth to apply Home to the King and tell him that his Eyes Should rather swell with Tears his Breast with sighs 131. Yes there the Heav'n-embraved Baptist is Who feareth not but pittieth to see A Prince made subject to vile Wickednesse Great Sir the Match unlawfull is cries He O farre be it from Kings to break the Law For whose Defence so strong their Scepters grow 132. Since to thine own Commands just duty Thou Expect'st from these thy subjects Let thy Neck Not scorn to thine own Makers yoak to bow The Precedent may dangerous prove and wrack Thy Throne and Kingdome if thy People read Such stat and high Rebellion in their Head 133. Thy Brothers Wife to Him as neer is ti'd As He himselfe ô teare Him not in sunder You murder Him alive if you divide His Heart all one with Hers The worst of Plunder Is Mercy if compar'd with this which doth By tearing off one Halfe unravell both 134. God who has this Enclosure made and Her To Philip given still hath left to thee And thy free choise an open Champain where Millions of sweet and Virgin Beauties be Adorn thy Bed with any
crowns of joy whose hands with Palms Whose eyes with beams whose tongues are fill'd with psalms 236. But now the Blood-hounds back to Hered went And brandish'd on their stained Swords the Sign Of their owne guilt The sight gave high content To their fell Soveraign hoping the Divine Infant was now destroyd and that his Crown In spight of all Arabia was his own 237. Yet to make sure for in a Tyrants breast Suspition like the Vulture faind to gnaw On Tytiu's Soul makes its eternall feast The Jews he summons by a rigid Law Without the least exception to swear Allegiance unto Him and to his Heir 238. Alas He little thought his slaughterd Son Was now become a stronger Foe than those Arabian Kings his own Suspition Had arm'd against himselfe or that there rose From the massacred Babes a mighty Band Which scornd the power both of his Head 〈◊〉 239. For now these Infants Blood to Heav'n did send A louder Crie than had their Mothers done Nor doth the great Creators Justice lend A readier Ear to any Plantiffs Moan Than unto this although Mortality Belongs to Man Mans Blood can never 〈◊〉 240. Next neighbour to the Dead Seas poys'nous shore There stands a gloomy Grove where cheerly Day Had never roome to shew her face such store Of Box Yew Cypress dammed up her way Whose fatall Brows and Branches every where With Owls and Batts and Ravens impeopled 〈◊〉 241. Beside a sturdie Mist of Stincks doth stick Upon the wretched Air and her defloure Unwholsome Vapors gathering black and thick Drop morn and ev'n into a venomous shour Where drunk up by the cursed Earth below It makes the Hemlocks and the Poppy grow 242. Amidst these dismall shades is sunk a Cave At whose black Door uncessant Cries and 〈◊〉 And Ejulations the Office have Of never sleeping Porters all the Stones Hang thick with Tears being mov'd to that Compassion By the sad Genius of their Habitation 243. The Mistresse of the House doth alway lie Upon her weary Bed which hedged in By melancholick Curtains doth supply The Graves dark Office and aforehand 'gin To teach her what her Coffin ment and what Her Herse which ready by her Couch were set 244. Her Pillows were of softest Down but yet On churlish Thorns and Stones she seem'd to lie Oft did she rosse and turn and tumble but Could never shift her sturdy Griefe which by That Motion onely wakened was and did But gather strength to roll about the Bed 245. Shootings and Megrims raged in her Head A desperate squinsey dammed up her throat The tawny Jaundise in her Eyes was spred The Tooth-ache of her Jaws full Power had got Stark-raving Madnes sate upon her Tongue Ten thousand Cramps her shrivel'd Body wrung 246. The Fever Colick Griping Strangury Gout Apoplexie Scurvy Pestilence Stone Rupture Phthisis Dropsie Plurisie Flux Surfet Asthma and the confluence Of all divided Deaths united were In one strange Masse and learn'd to live in Her 247. The odious Scab the ever-gnawing Itch The stinging Bile the wasting Leprosie The banefull Pocks the Wolf and Canker which On her make fat their dreadfull Luxury Conspire with every sort of horrid Sore To clothe her round with most infectious Gore 248. Pots Papyrs Glasses sweet and stinking Things Were marshal'd on a Cup-bord standing by Which Physick brought to ease those Pangs and Stings Or at the least cure her own Poverty Costly Additions unto Pain were these And onely eas'd the Purses Plurisies 249. For though full many a dear Docter there Talk'd words as strange as her Diseases yet Her pertinacious Torments would not hear Either there Druggs of Nature or of Wit Nor minde their Stories or regard at all Their Oracles out of the Urinall 250. Her whining Kindred stood about the Bed And though alas her case were too too plain With tedious Love still ask'd Her how she did Heaping that Crambe on her other Pain Their fond Remembrances would never let Her any one of all her Pangs forget 251. Down to this Loathsome She sterne Justice came Tall was her Person and her Looks were high Strength in her martiall Sinews made its home Darts of keen fire did stream from either Eye For she what e'r Men Fancy Eyes can finde Alas Earths Justice and not Heav'ns is blinde 252. Her right Hand held a Sword of two-edg'd flame Her left a Ballance in one Scale did lie A mighty Masse inscrib'd with Herods Name A Masse of Pride and bloody Tyranny Which press'd it down to Hell Mean while the other Fill'd with vain Winde flew up and left its Brother 253. When Sicknesse for that was the Furies Name Beheld her Soveraign Queen she rais'd her Head And to obeysance did her Body frame Black Streams of poys'nous Gore straight issued From all her Sores and with outragious stinck Ran down into her Beds contagious sink 254. Up up said Justice and be dress'd apace I on an earnest errand thee must send Time was when thou a tedious Way did'st trace At Hells and envious Lucifers Command Usurpers which have no just power on thee 'T is fit thou doe as much for Heav'n and Me. 255. Unto the Land of Uz they made thee run And poure the bottome of thy whole despight Upon the reverend Body of a Man Which was with matchlesse Purity bedight More fair and bright was Job in Heav'ns esteem Than thou to Earth did'st make him Horrid seem 256. He heap'd this Scale as full of Virtue as Fell Herod has replenish'd it with Vice That empty one so lightly hovering was His Score of faults but meer Vacuities Thin as the Aire which though it dusky be Sometimes with Clouds regains its purity 257. See now thou recompence that Injury By righteous Vengance upon Herod Loe There unbridle thy Extremitie And give thee leave in free carreer to goe Goe then and fully use thy full Command His Body and his Life are in thy Hand 258. So spake the Queen of everlasting Dread And in her Black Cloud mounted home again When Sicknes leaping from her nasty Bed And in feirce haste forgetting her own Pain Furnish'd her self with every bitter sting Which most might torture the Condemned King 259. Then to her gloomy Chariot she went Which of a poisnous Vapour framed was Her speed was headlong so was her Intent And into Herods Court she soon did presse For she by no slow paced Coursers Drawn But by a pestilentiall Blast was blown 260. Unseen she came and did so sliely guide Her stealing Chariots silent Wheels that she Quite down the Tyrants cursed throat did glide As does his unsuspected Breath which he Lets in to fan his heart But this Blast came Qute to blow out and not to puff his flame 261. Yet e'r it blew it out it strove to frie His black Soule in the fornace of his Breast Torthwith his Entrails sing'd and scalded by An hidden fire frighted away his Rest He would have rise but strait he felt his Pains Had with
with infinite carrieer Still further everlastingly doth ride Being loose at God himselfe in whom Immensity affords her boundlesse room 360. Now Psyche thou mayst eas'ly judge how dear Was this Seraphick Woman to thy Lord. She had one onely Brother who for her Sake and his own was to his Love preferr'd He falling sick she sent the News unto Her Master waiting what hee pleas'd to doe 361. He who had never yet his help delay'd When loving Mary did his Mercy woe Till Phebus twise the World had compass'd stay d He stay'd indeed but 't was that hee might goe With advantageous Glory and his stay Might prove but ripened Love and not Delay 362. Mean while his Sicknesse so prevail'd upon Good Lazarus that his Soule it chased out Jesus whose eyes through all things cleerly ran Beheld it as it went and saw it brought On Angells Wings into the blessed Nest Of naked Peace and Quiet Abraham's breast 363. Where when it was reposed Lazarus Our Friend is fallen fast asleep said He But I intend to wake Him Come let Us Delay no longer but to Bethany And Lord what needs it his Disciples cri'd If Lazarus sleep what harm can Him betide 364. 'T is true their Lord repli'd for now he lies Safe in the bosome of Serenity Yet what his Rest is little you surmise Not knowing that in Death true sleep can be Alas all other Rest compar'd with this Scarcely the shaddow of true Quiet is 365. Death is that onely sleep which puts an end Unto this weary Worlds tempestuous Cares And pious Soules unto that Shore doth send Which knows no Dangers Labours Griefs or Fears Our friend is dead and glad I am that I Was not at Bethany when He did die 366. Glad for your sakes whose faith now dead shall by His Death revive This said He forward went And they with Him But e'r at Bethany He did arrive two other dayes were spent He could have taken coach upon the back Of any Winde but now chose to be slack 367. First busie Martha met Him as He drew Neer to the Town for when hee coming was The fame of his Approach before Him flew Which her sollicitous ears soon caught and as She threw her selfe upon her knees she cried Had'st thou been here my Brother had not died 368. Dear Lord of Life if thou had'st but been here Death would have his due distance kept if not For love of Thee or Us at least for fear Of his own life And yet thy Power is but Deferred not precluded God will still Each syllable of thy Requests fulfill 369. Nor weep nor doubt dear Martha Jesus cried Thy Brother shall again to life return I doubt it not sweet Master she replied But in the universall worlds new morn When all Things spring into fresh life that He Shall with his Body reinvested be 370. I am said He the Resurrection and The life Whoever doth beleeve in Me Although he be a Pris'ner in the land Of Death shall unto life released be Nay he shall never taste of Death who is Living by Faith in Me Beleev'st thou this 371. Heer dazeled by his high Discourse Great Lord She cri'd my Faith doth take Thee for no lesse Then Gods Almighty Son who by his Word Wert promised this cursed World to bless This said three times she kiss'd the ground and home Made hast to bid her pensive Sister come 372. As when the powerfull Loadstone's placed neer Th' inamored Iron leaps its love to kisse So Mary when she heard how Christ was there Speeded to meet her dearest Hapiness And falling at her highest Throne His Feet Martha's Complaint She did again repeat 373. Short were her Words but copious were her Tears Love-ravish'd Pleaders strongest Eloquence For in her Eyes those fertile springs she bears Which by their ever-ready Influence Confirm Her Queen of Weepers Ne'r was seen A more bedewed Thing then Magdalene 374. For Love though valiant as the Lyons Heart Is yet as soft as the milde Turtles Soule And mourns as much knowing no other Art By which to slake the mighty Flames which roule About her Bosome and would burn her up Did not her streams of Tears that Torrent stop 375. If when the Clouds lament the hardest stone Under their frequent Tears relenteth How Will Maries thicker Showers prevail upon The Heart of Jesus which did never know What Hardnesse ment He straitway melts and by His Groanes does his Compassion testifie 376. Then turning to the Grave he broach'd his Eyes And vi'd with Maries streams whither it were In Pitty of Mans fatall Miseries Who did his own Destruction prepare For neither Gods nor Natures Hand but he Digg'd his own Grave by his Impietie 377. Or in deep greif his dearest Freinds to see Of his Omnipotence distrustfull still Or in soft Sympathie with those whom He Of Tears and Lamentations saw so full What e'r the reason were He showred down Those streams for Mans sake and not for his own 378. O Tears you now are Perls indeed since He Who is the Gem of Heav'n hath brought you Forth Now you may worthy of Gods Bottles be Who from Gods radiant Eyes derive your Worth All holy Drops which are of kin to you By that Affinitie must glorious grow 379. Let flintie Bosomes build their foolish Pride On their own Hardnesse and the Weeping Eye As an effeminate childish Thing deride And inconsistent with the Braverie Of Masculine Spirits Yet truely-noble Hearts With Jesus will not scorn to Weep their parts 380. But He now from the Tombe commands the stone To be remov'd which sealed Lazarus up Alas an harder Marble lay upon Poor Martha's Heart which Faiths access did stop Corrupted was her Minde which made Her think And talk so much of Foure Days and the Stink 381. What are Foure Dayes that their poor intervention Should able be to raise a scruple here And intercept his soveraign Intention To whom Eternitie doth bow A Year An Age a World is no stop unto Him Upon whose Will depends the life of Time 382. Stinks and Corruptions no Retardments are To his productive Power who doth derive Through Putrifactions Pipes and there prepare The life which to all Creatures he doth give For by his Law which knows no violation Corruption Mother is to Generation 383. The Stone removed and the Cave laid ope Jesus the mighty King of Life and Death With awfull Majesty his hand lift up And then his Voice forming his royall breath Into these high imperious Words which Earth And Heav'n obeyed Lazarus come forth 384. A mighty Voice indeed which reach'd the Breast Of Abraham where the Soule in quiet lay But at these potent Summons made all haste Back to its own The Patriark they say Kiss'd the sweet Spirit and intreated it To bear that Token unto Jesu's feet 385. But when it came into the Cave it found What there the Thunder of this Voice had done Shatter'd and scatter d all about the ground Lay adamantine Chains which
did flie Unto the bottome of Nights nideous Sea That now Sins Blacknesse chased was away Earth might behold a double glorious Day 421. But will no Pitty on the Body look Which now has born the utmost spight of spight Yes Arimathean Joseph undertook To pay unto it its Sepulchral Right And now with loving Loyaltie doth mean To prove that he had a Disciple been 422. A true Disciple though a Secret one Witnesse his Fear to generous Courage grown For though his Master now were dead and gone His Faith revives nor shall the High-priests Frown Or Peoples Fury fright his Duty from Yeilding his Saviour his own costly Tombe 423. A Man of honorable Place was he And Pilate easily grants him his Request The Corps resigned is unto his free Disposall which he straight-way doth invest With daintiest Linen that the Winding Sheet Might Delicacie learn by Kissing it 424. Right well he Knew this solemn Paschal Feast For bad him all Pollution by the Dead And yet his pious Love durst not desist Till he this votive Task had finished Being assur'd he could not stained be By handling the dead Corps of Purity 425. But is Ho busie was another Freind Came in good Nicodemus who by Night On Iesus whilst He lived did attend To gain for his obscured Judgment Light And in his blacker Night of Death doth now His gratefull Pietie upon Him bestow 426. Of pretious aromatick Mixtures He An hundred Weight doth bring to sacrifice Unto this Bodies service so to be Enobled and enhanced in its price The O dours smiled as they kiss'd the Skin For by that Touch more Sweetnes they did win 427. Mean while the Instruments of Death for this The manner was were younder buried Where they shall sleep untill a Queen shall rise Out of thy Albion from whose blessed Bed A Prince shall spring who shall exalt above His Roman Eagles the meek Christian Dove 428. Their deer Discovery is reserv'd for none But venerable Helen who when here Hot in her passionate Devotion Her Saviours Sufferings She her selfe shall bear Transfiguring her Miditating Heart Into each severall Torture Wound and Smart 429. Those noble Relicts shall revealed be In recompence of her brave Love and Zeal There for the Jewells She shall Dig and see At length the rude but glorious Spectacle The Crosse and Nail She there shall finde Which her Lords Body pain'd and her own Minde 430. Inestimable shall their Worth be held One of those Nailes to Constantine shall seem Illustrious enough his Head to gild And sit enthron'd upon his Diademe Two in his Bridle shall triumph when He Rides through the World like King of Victory 431. The Fourth shall tame the Adriatik Man And naile it fast unto its bottome so That on its equall pacisied Plain The unmolested Ships may safely goe Then by this Gem shall that enriched Sea More wealthy than the eastern Ocean be 432. But for the noble Crosse no Toung can tell The Wonders that shall spring from that drie Tree Which hew'd out by Devotions Edge shall fill The zealous World and quit that Injury Which from the fatall Bough in Eden spread Through all the 〈◊〉 sown with humane Seed 433. Persia shall take it Captive yet not dare To look upon its Pris'ner Pietie Shall thence redeem it by a 〈◊〉 War And then return it to its Calvarie When great Heraclius his own royall Back A willing Chariot for it shall make 434. But come my Dear here on the Western side Of this now holy Mountain Thou mayst see The pretious Sepulchre of Him who di'd And who was also Buried for Thee This Rock is it Come lets 's into the Cave No Temple is more holy than this Grave 435. Loe here good Joseph did the Body lay Here lay the blessed Head and here the Feet Hard was the Couche and yet no Princes may Compare their Beds with it which was more sweet Than Solomons although Arabia did With all her sweetest Sweets goe there to bed 436. The Phaeni'x balmie grave could never show Such soveraign Riches of perfumes as here Did from thy blessed Saviours Body flow Who soon the truer Phoenix did appear O pretious Place No Mau 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Into comparison with this must come 437. What are the Monuments of Kings but 〈◊〉 Memorials of their putid Rottennesse Whilst odious Worms and Dust inshrined are Iu specious Gold and Marble But in this Plain Sepulchre bold 〈◊〉 found Her Hands were more than the dead 〈◊〉 bound 438. This is that Oratorie Psyche now Whither the 〈◊〉 Soules 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 Themselves and their best 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they Here all their Zealous 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 With their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And in this Air their warmest 〈◊〉 they 〈◊〉 439. Yet time 's at hand when bold Idolatrie Will venture to prophane this sacred Place To turn this Paradise into a stie And holinesses beauty to deface To build Hels soveraign Monster odious Jove Upon this monument of divinest love 440. But all in vain for Christian Eagles still Will to the place of the dear carcase fly And their impatient devotions fill By feasting on its pretious memory Jove though the most impure of things is not So foule as this Toombs puritie to blot 441. And here may'st thou for I thy heats discover Sweet Psyche stay and ease thy burning heart Thy Uows and Prayers here thou may'st run over And with the pious world take thy free part Doe riot in thy zeal I will attend And keep the door till thou hast made an end 442. Psyche who scarcely for this cue could wait Fell on her face and kiss'd the reveren'd floor Where her brave flames so melted her that strait Her armorous sighs and soule she forth did pour And by the strong embrace of Faith and Love Seem'd there to hug Him who was high above 443. Through all his pains and all his wounds she went And on her own heart printed every one Her bowels with his wofull cry she rent And wish'd not 〈◊〉 seeing he found none By bitter thoughts his nails his throns his spear She copied out by tears his Vinagre 444. But comming to his death she fetch'd a sigh Up from the bottome of her soule in hope Her life would have flown in its company And made her passion too compleatly up Striving in meek ambitious love to have The ready honor of her Saviours Grave 445. Desire lay boyling in her ardent breast With secret groans her Aspirations beat With restlesse panting she reach'd at that rest To which her Lord was flown and in the heat Of this contention she was towr'd so high That scarce her Body upon earth did lye 446. But when life held her on this dainty Rack In a full Ocean of Inamorations And mighty Ecstasies she strove to wrack Her labouring heart And yet these perturabtions And strong assaults of loves intestine war She by diviner loves assistance bare PSYCHE OR LOVES MYSTERIE CANTO XIV The Triumph of Love ARGUMENT LOve bindes in his own
Neer to the Tombe He peeped forth on Them 105. He peeped forth and little thought that Day Was up before and had prevented Him This Day was Jesus his and scornd to stay And be beholden to the tardie beam Of glaring Phoebus since it of its own Glories had ample store its head to crown 106. So had the Corps of Sweets had it lain still But this was gone Yet shall religious They Finde something which will their Devotion fill With Satisfaction and in full repay Their Odours Price for in the Tombe they see An Angel sitting in bright Majesty 107. This was that noble Spirit who in haste Flew down from Heav'n just as thy Lord gat up And whose prest bus'nes was away to cast That mighty stone which did the Tombs Mouth stop That these religious Visitants might there See how their Saviours Words performed were 108. And gallantly his blessed Work he did For at his mighty coming Earth did quake The Seal was startled and in peeces fled The trembling Stone was ready too to break And had in shivers fallen had not he Roll'd it aside and bid it quiet be 109. When loe the Watch which at the Sepulchre Guarded the High-priests Sin with Swords and Spears Forthwith beyond their own protection were Being arrested by prodigious Fears The Hills Commotion reached to their Hearts Which with the Seal split in a thousand parts 110. But chiefly at the Angels Presence They Were seiz'd with their intoletable Fright His shining Roabs were glorious as the Day And partners with the driven Snow in white For 't was his Easter Suit the Suit he had To honor this bright Feast on purpose made 111. And yet the Lustre which kept Holiday Rejoycing in his delicate attire Could not such wealthy floods of rays display As streamed from his aspects fairer fire For in the Majesty of his sweet face A spring of living lightning bubling was 112. In this celestiall bravery his threne He took upon the stone he rolled thence Whence his illustrious terror he upon The eyes of all the Soldiers did dispense At whose bright dint forthwith each man let fall His sword and tumbled down himself withall 113. They tumbled down and where they tumbled lay For though they gladly would have farther fled Alas they had no Power to run away Pallid Amazement naild them there for dead Thus they who came to guard thy Saviours Tombe Into capacity of their own were come 114. When the two Maries spi'd this Stranger there And all the Watch before Him slain with Dread They in their Passion began to share And had not Innocence its Protection spred Over their hearts this Apparition had An equal Conquest on their Spirits made 115. But when the Angel saw them drawing neer He sweetly intercepted further Fright You have said he no portion in this fear Which on this Watch of Wickednesse doth light I know your errand well and here he smil'd And all his face with gentler lustre fill'd 116. You likewise Come to Watch the Corps but yet To Pray withall You Jesus come to finde Although his Crosse and Shame themselves do set Full in your way to daunt your pious Minde You bravely Come although a Guard stood here Your Spices and Devotions to prefer 117. You in courageous forgetfulnes Of your faint feeble sex Come to attend Upon his body who forsaken is By his own Masculine Scholars I commend Your early valiant zeal although it be Arrived here too late your Hopes to see 118. For Jesus earlier was up than you And unto slaughter'd death bequeath'd his Tombe His royall Word long since He pass'd you know And this prefixed morning being come Impossible it was that longer He In Deaths coldregion should froazen bee 119. Doubt not this news I tell Come in and let Your eyes convince your hearts His empty bed You see with all the Cloaths and Sheets of it This Bed from whence He nobly flourished Into new life a cold dead bed but He You know sprung first from dry virginitie 120. The Angels Words the holy Women read Plain in the Grave and in the Grave-cloaths yet So deeply were their Soules astonished At this 〈◊〉 of wonders which beset Their unprovided thoughts that they surmise Some pleasing error flattered their eyes 121. Which He perceiving sweetly chode their doubt Their jealous faintnes and dejected eyes Demanding why they in Deaths Closet sought For Him who thence to open life did rise He cheers them then and tels them they shall be The Angels of this news as well as He. 122. Make haste said he to the Disciples who As jealous of this busines are as you Bid them be cheerly and to Galile goe Where unto them their Lord himself will show And gentle Soules you to forestall their doubt May tell them you from me this message brought 123. Out went the pious Women in a sweet Distraction of loving feare and joy The glorious Miracle did feare beget The blessed news new comfort did display With doubtfull certainty they trembling ran And told their sight to Peter and to John 124. Deer Sirs they cry'd ô what what shall we doe The onely Relict of our Hope is gone But where our Lords sweet body is or who Hath born it from the tombe God knows alone We with these eyes the empty Grave beheld Which us with terrible amazement fill'd 125. Indeed an Angell if our fancie did Not cheat our ears joy to our sorrow spake And told us that our Saviour from his Bed Of death was rise commanding us to make You with the news acquainted But whate'r The matter is our hearts still beat with fear 126. He bad us charge you and your Brethren all To meet in Galile For there said he Their risen Masters apparition shall Requite th' attendance of their Pietie O that it might be so though he had set Ev'n the Worlds furthest end for you to meet 127. So spake the Women but the standers by Shak'd their wise heads at the unlikely news And see said they the wilde credulitie Of female hearts whom fancy doth abuse How fine a storie they can forge and fashion Of no materials but imagination 128. And yet for all this censure wiser John Fir'd at the news thought not of Galile But in Loves loyall disobedience ran Hither the present Miracle to see The same spur prick'd on Peter too and He Stoutly set forward in his company 126. Unto their Prey no Eagles e'r did post With heartier Speed ne'r did Ambition make To Crowns and Scepters more impatient hast No Spark to Heav'n its course did ever take With braver Zeal than this religious Pair Flew to observe the empty Sepulchre 56. But John in whose soft Breast more flames did reign More flames of Youth and more of gallant Love His fellow-traveller did soon out-strein And gat before In vain old Peter strove For though his Tongue were alwaies forward yet John had the quicker Heart and nimbler Feet 131. He first came to the Tombe
Daughter and thou dost resist The course of thy Designe whilst thou dost shut Out Arts and Sciences the Wings whereby Proud Spirits as well as Generous soar high 33. But if thou choosest Virtues craggie Way And dar'st despise whate'r Thou see'st beneath If thy dull Bodies Burden cannot sway Thee downward if this Life to thee be Death If high thine Aim if heav'nly be the Heat Which doth in thy Heroick Bosome beat 34. Right generous is thy Enterprise but yet Strong Difficulties throng about it thick Bold inbred Dangers will encounter it Whilst thy wilde Passions all against it kick Nay thine own Heart unlesse thy Care be great Will Traytor prove and its own Plots defeat 35. Besides All They whose Bosomes tainted be With banefull Sins Contagion will joyn Their malice in a fell conspiracie Thy single Piety to undermine For all thy Virtue checks and chides their Vice And Thy fair Glories shame their Villanies 36. Thou art their Scandal and their Fame doth call Upon their deepest wariest Cares for aid Against that Blot thy Beauty throwss on all Those who of Virtues Hardship are afraid What Weapons wilt thou finde to force back them How shall thy Vessell strive against the Stream 37. Yet through this rampant Sea of Opposition Couldst Thou force ope thy way What wouldst Thou doe Against those stouter Billows of Perdition Which foam and roar wherever Thou dost goe Hell and its Prince their utmost Powers combine To terrifie and to enervate thine 38. And sure this Tempest would effect its Spight On thy weak Bark did not kinde Heav'n descend In pare aforehand did not Grace's light With cordial Assistance Thee befriend Did she not steer thy course and bid thee ride Secure upon the most outrageous Tide 39. Thy Life is nothing but a Tragick Sceen Of most inevitable Death if she By seasonable Help comes not between Thy faint Soule and its dire Catastrophe Grace onely doth condemned Man reprieve From fatall Woes and teach his Life to live 40. T was blessed Charis who so fast did move Phylax his Wings when He to Psyche flew And with the wholsome speed of heav'nly Love Her from the Jaws of the Cerinthians drew By shewing her the horror of that Pit Where Heresie and all her Brood did sit 41. But Phylax from that Grotreturned now His Chariot takes again and her with it Straight Gitton and Samaria sunk below For warned by the motion of their Bit The lusty Coursers took their sprightful wing And justling through the Clouds away did fling 42. As Psyche wonder'd whether they would flie She found her Selfe rapt to a gentle Sphear No Winde durst ever venture up so high Nor blow up any Tempests tumults there The onely Gales which in this Orb did move Were the delicious Breaths of Heav'n and Love 43. The onely Clouds which there did meet her Eye Thick Volumes of religious Ineense were The onely Noise which rooled through that skie Were holy Echo's that to her did bear The sweet Resounds of those rich Anthems which The Throats and Hearts of joyfull Saints did stretch 44. She mused much to think what Creatures were Inhabitants in that calm Sea of Blisse When loe a Troop of glistering Towers drew neer As her swift Chariot further on did presse And straight a goodly Palace fill'd her Eye With large and high-erected Majesty 45. Directly thither for they knew the way The Coursers speeded neighing as they slew But Phylax pluck'd the Reins to bid them stay When neer unto the outer Gate they drew Then lighting with his Virgin-pupill He Warnd her to ponder well what She did see 46. Never said he my Dear those Eyes of thine Though they have travell'd through the World so far Were honored with Object so divine As these with which they now saluted are No Pile e'r swell'd to such bright statelinesse All Princes Courts are Cottages to this 47. That pompous Fabrick which great Davids Son Built for a greater King was poor and plain If it be brought into comparison With this Magnificence which here doth reign As Shaddows doe the Substance so does that But blindly intimate this Temples state 48. The Gold which shin'd the Stones which sparkled there Were all th' ignoble Sons of dirty Earth But these substantial Glories flaming here Owe to Heav'ns Wombe their most illustrious Birth Nor was the Work atcheiv'd by Mortal Hand Which firm as Immortality doth stand 49. Hadst Thou my Wings and through the Sphears couldst flie Heav'ns most imperial Palace there to read That Spectacle would onely feast thine Eye With a more ample Copie wider spred And fuller drawn a Copie of what here Is written in a smaller Character 50. Mark well its Situation Caucasus The Alps th' Athlantick Mountains Ararat Noble Olympus nobler Lybanus Are in their highest exaltations not Halfe so sublime as is this royal Hill Which almost in both Worlds at once doth dwell 51. It s Head thou see'st to Heav'n next Neighbour is And upon Hell its Foot is surely set On Hell which often has repin'd at this Oppressing Burden and oft strove to get Its neck from under it but still in vain The Powers of all that vexed Pit did strein 52. For loe the Mountain's all one solid Rock Compacted in the Strength of Unity Though Hills of Brasse should yeild unto the shock Of Violence though Earths vast Base should be Shouldred out of its place this Mount would stand And laugh to scorn them who against it band 53. So stands the craggie Promontory sure With head erected high above the Storme When all the Windes against its Site conjure And thousand Waves with high-swolln fury arme It stands and sees the Blasts blown out of breath And all the 〈◊〉 shattered beneath 54. But mark the fabrick of this outer Gate And tell me if thou ever saw'st a more Unlikely Passage to a Court of State Strong the Materialls are but yet the Door Is built so low and so extreemly narrow That Worms not Men seem fit to scramble thorow 55. And Worms indeed the Passengers must be Poor thin and humble Things which enter here Big puffing Pride must never hope that She Shall through this Portal crowd or Worldly Care Swelld with Incumbrances and lagg'd with Sin At this small mystick Needles Eye thrust in 56. He whose unhappy Bosome 's stuff'd with Gold Whilst all his Baggs lie heaped in his Heart He who in Fat and Ease himselfe doth fold And never was shrunk up by any Smart Too burlie is to enter here and fit Through Hells wide-gaping Jaws alone to get 57. All secular Impostumes which doe rise From any Humors Superfluity From any Lusts or any Vanities From inward or from outward Luxury Can at this humble Passage finde no room But damm the Way to all that Laden come 58. This said He led the 〈◊〉 to the Gate Where though she shrunk and closely gatherd up Her selfe within her Selfe yet still to great She found her bulk that she was 〈◊〉 to stoop
thonghts took up When to the Fountain of her Drink the sweet 〈◊〉 of Heav'n her Course and Thirst did stop When to her sleep she was disturbed by The 〈◊〉 Rest of Fternity 190. The dear Remembrance of her Soverdign Lord Boild in her Soule and would not slaked be So that while tortured she could not afford Unto her Body what Necessitie Crav dat her Hands she faint and feeble grew And by Degrees her Mortal self she slew 191. She slew her Flesh which pin'd and sunk away She slew the Vigor of her Senses which Like unbent Bows all damp'd and uselesse lay But by these Slaughters she did but inrich The Life of her afflicted Heart which still With stouter and more active Fire did swell 192. So high it swell'd that what soe'r came neer The mighty Torrent strait became its Prey Yea ev n the Bridles too subdned were Which still she hop'd and strove on it to lay Her Meditations all to Passion turned And whatso'er she Did or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 193. In 〈◊〉 unto such a 〈◊〉 The Sceptie of his 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 194. 〈◊〉 be it of a Thing But weak and mortal and Dust's wretched Heir Doth with immortal Pains and Wishes sting And spur the Soule unto unwearied Care Discouragement in vain doth muster up All Troops of Obstacles 〈◊〉 way to stop 195. No no the generous Lovers Heart disdains Not to approve his Passion infinite With gallant Obstinacie he maintains Against the Will of Heav'n and Earth the fight 〈◊〉 win his Idol for whose sake had he Ten thousand 〈◊〉 they all should ventur'd be 196. For in her Image which He hath enshrin'd High in the 〈◊〉 of his loyal Breast Such Charms and strong Attractions He doth finde As rob Him of all Power to resist He runs and in such strange and furious wise That Love is slandered with want of Eys 197. The whole World knows how Hamors royal Son Scorn'd his Religion and his foreskin too When Dinah's Love had full possession Of his subdued Soule How David who Was Heav'ns choise Darling durst Heav'ns Law despise For what he read in Bathsheba's fair Eys 198. Who hath not heard what Power one Heart 〈◊〉 Upon two mighty Nations both content For love or her to run so strangely mad Upon a mortal War whose furie rent Up Ilium by the roots which to the 〈◊〉 Of Lust a wofull Holocaust became 199. No 〈◊〉 then 〈…〉 With such mtolerable 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Whose 〈…〉 〈◊〉 Charms whose royall 〈◊〉 Draw with 〈…〉 Outvi'd by 〈…〉 〈◊〉 201. For all those Wounds bleed nothing else but Fire Fire which remembring its original Flame With never-wearied struggling doth aspire Back to the radiant place from whence it came It s proper Element are Jesu's eyes And thither in heroick Zeal it flies 202. And what can tortured Psyche doe who by This most unruly Heat to Heav'n is haled And yet by Mortal Lifes repugnancy Fast to her Body and dull Earth is sealed What can she doe in this Extremity Of raging Life and Death at once but Crie 203. Hardy and bold she grows in her Complaint For lifting upward her enamored Eyes Although her sickly Voice were low and faint Yet full of sinews were her serious Cries Which thus she suiting them unto her Passion Tun'd by the stout Key of Expostulation 204. O Lord of Gentlenesse ô why dost Thou Make Love so cruel to tormented Me Why would thy bounteous Justice not allow Me any other Rack but Suavitie Why must my Gall be onely Honey why Of nothing else but Life must Psyche die 205. Why didst Thou not permit Me to decease When thou hadst left Me to my Selfe alone So had thine Handmaid been repriev'd from these Extremities of Pangs so had I gone Whole to my Grave who now must Melted be By thine unsufferable Sweets and Thee 206. And am I not a Worm or worse than so Why dost Thou build such Triumph then on Me Why dost thou not pick out some Seraph who With this sublime and blessed Misery Might bravely grapple or why might'st Thou not At Phylax's nobler Breast my Dart have shot 207. O be not angry 't is not I that speak But tortured Necessity my Heart A thousand times desir'd but cannot break Else had my Lips not dared thus to part And ope themselves into Complaints but now Excuse together with my Fault doth flow 208. Not for innumerable Worlds would I Have been without that Apparition but Should full as many Worlds their Tyranny Combine against my Soul they could not put Me unto any Torture so extream As the Remembrance of my blessed Dream 209. In Sweetnesse why art thou so Infinite Or why must that Infinitude appear Unto a Soule to fire it with Delight If to the Fountain it must not draw neer To quench its burning Thirst O Jesu be Still what thou art but then be so to Me. 210. Be so to Me and ô be so with Speed Death is not Death compared with Delay Alas one Moment now doth far exceed All those long years which I till this sad Day Have tediously measured and now I older by an Age each Minute grow 211. Fain fain would I Let thee alone and be Content to wait thy longest Leisure still But ô all-lovely Thou still urgest Me And violently dragg'st my Conquer'd Will Thou dragg'st me yet wilt not permit that I Should follow home to my Felicity 212. If thou wilt Kill Me loe I am Content But ô vouchsafe to let my Slaughter be By Death not by this breathing Banishment From my best Life most ameable Thee O pitty pitty thy poor Handmaids Crie Whose Tongue cleaves to her Mouth whose Throat is drie 213. Fain would she here have fainted but her Pain Whose load so heavy on her Shoulders lay With courteous Cruelty help'd to sustein Her parched Vigour that it still might prey Upon her Patience and consume her still O strange Disease which doth by Curing Kill 214. Phylax mean while unseen perceiv'd that she Unto Heav'ns Suburbs was arrived now And that the Springs of her Mortality By this high Stretch began to crack for though Her Selfe her Change's Dawn could not descry He saw her final Houre was drawing nigh 215. This rous'd his Love in due time to prepare For his dear Pupills neverending End About her funeral he took decent Care Because himselfe could not stay to attend Those Rites when she had once Expir'd for he Her noble Paranymphus was to be 216. He was to be her Convoy when she flew Unto her royal Spouses marriage Bed This made him dresse his Count nance with a new Festivity his Wings this made him spread With fresh and snowie Down that his Lords Bride In that soft Coach of triumph home might ride 217. And in this joyous Hue to her he came Yet his sweet Presence She regarded not For Burning in her more delicious flame She of all other Things the Sense forgot The Phaenix thus amidst her funeral fires See's nothing else and nothing else