show They go backward into the Tent and cover him then return Shem. Now to our Labours let us haste away The Sun 's already past Meridian day And make an end of th' Task we have begun And finish all with the declining Sun Exeunt Here a sumptuous Banquet of all sort of Fruits especially of Grapes rise up out of the Earth Sin Enters in a rich gaudy loose Attire and after her several Devils in the shapes of Men and Women who make their obeysance to her then greet one another with profound Salutations after which a symphony of Musick is heard to which they all dance after which a fair Vineyard arises loaden with beautiful Grapes Being all placed round the Banquet and Sin at the upper end She Sings Sin Behold a Vineyard big with juice Divine Like to the Firr and stately Pine Drops forth its Balmy juice As Nature silently should say This was the only way To make it fit for use 1. Man Since then Nature doth show Which may we must go We 'l squeeze out the Liquor and call the Juice Wine Sin Though flat on the Grape though thick on the Vine See here it doth sparkle see here it doth shine Shews a cup of Wine then drinks they all pledg her 1. Man How dull and insipid would every man be If it were not for this to make the heart free It doth ravish the Soul and transport the mind It teacheth to love to be gentle and kind It doth sharpen our wits and our fancies refine Then how pleasant how pleasant's the Juice of the Vine Chorus It doth sharpen c. Sin Here 's a Palm for those Souls That drink off most Bowls And so let the Goblet go round For he that drinks most Shall the Victory boast When his head with this Garland is crown'd Incircled with Charms holds forth a Garland in her hand He shall lie in my Arms And his Head in my Bosom I 'le lay We 'l sport all the Night In joys and delight But in Drink we 'l carouse all the day Chorus We 'l sport c. After several Healths are gone round they all quarrel for the Garland The Women vanish away Death rises with a Dart in his hand moving it by turns at every one of them They all draw and fight and mortally wound each other then reel to several places and on a sudden sink Death and the Banquet sinks presently after them Sin takes the Garland and places it on her own Head Musick is heard to which she Dances then vanisheth away Noah awaking from sleep comes out of his Tent. Noah In what deep Visions gloomy Scene I 've lain A kind of Death has seiu'd my Opiate Brain Where have I been methinks I 've slept an Age And in my sleep have been a Pilgrimage Rapt in the Spirit over all I flew Did Sea and Land Rocks Mountains Deserts view Survey'd the World each Covert and each Cell And as I think too I have traverst Hell Sure 't was no Heavenly ravishment for I Bright Heaven in my vast progress could not spy But an Infernal Vision that arose From the black sumes of sin There in a Pageant Mask I did behold A Vineyard rise with Grapes that shone like Gold Nay they so beautiful so fair did seem Methoughts I took and eat 'em in my Dream Then a bright Maid did of the juice begin A Health to th' rest I judg'd her to be Sin For the effects the causes do declare Among themselves began a Civil War For on a sudden each his Weapon drew And in the fatal feud each other flew And what confirms that she was there her Son Grim Death appear'd before the broil begun Though in his Looks a deadly paleness lies Yet I methoughts saw bloodshots in his eyes He grimly glar'd around I judg to see Whether he 'd made a perfect Victory Then gazing round again he found out me And with a ghastly Visage shook his Dart And as I guest 't was level'd at my heart But as he went to strike I gave a groan Leapt up amaz'd and found my self alone I lookt to view the Tragick Scene but they Vanish'd like Night at the approaching Day My eyes those Harbingers of th' mind can spy Things only present or a Land-skip nigh But my Prophetick Soul foresees the Doom And all these direful mischiefs are to come But what doth rack my tortur'd Soul 't is I Must be the Author of this Misery Posterity will curse my Art my name confound Wishing I were in th' Drink or Deluge drown'd But pardon me O future Age for you Mayn't only learn the sin but danger too And how to shun that which I never knew A trembling terror does my heart surround And I am loth the Spirit to expound It is a Curse against my younger Son For his contempt and his derision Servant of Servants a most wretched Slave He shall for ever live so pass to 's Grave And like a Pestilence this Curse shall be Spreading Infection through his Progeny But blest be Shem his Race shall be Divine For from his Stock shall spring the Holy Line And blest be Japhet's Off-spring Heav'n will them Inlarge and they shall live in th' Tents with Shem Now may my Age in rest and peace repose And fall like dew upon an Evening Rose Exit Enter Shem and Japhet Shem. Like Heav'ns Inhabitants my Life appears Repleat with joys and free from cares and fears Some Cherub sure does in my soul reside And to Seraphick Bliss my Spirit guide For such transporting extasies I find Does to immortal Glory lead my mind I on an Angels Wing do clip my way Leaving the dregs of Life this clod of Clay And mount to Heaven to an Eternal Day Japh Like you a mighty joy does through me run But all my Bliss is by reflection As the Moons Light is borrow'd of the Sun So would my Life wear an Eternal shrowd But that your Beams do gild the sable Cloud So in your Tent I shall desire to stay And in soft peace to pass my time away That when my circl'd years have gone their round I may like Fleecy Snow fall gently to the ground Exeunt Enter Ham. Ham. Since I am curst and curst a Slave to be I 'le reign a Royal one with Majesty He is a Slave that hath an abject Soul That dares not fortunes frowns with frowns controul I do despise her and contemn my Fate 'T is brave to live Magnificently great So though a Slave yet I will rule in State There 's no such thing as Slavery can be I 'm under them they under him and he Is unto Heaven as great a Slave as we We all pay Homage and who Homage give Is mark'd a Slave to that Prerogative So we must all as Slaves or Equals be Or else each man alone 's a Monarchy But since nor one nor t'other it implies That he that dares do most should highest rise By which it follows that the bravest Man
ev'ry Insect ev'ry Creature can This great Plenipotentiary unman Nay through our veins such killing poysons pass Each small Distemper breaks the brittle Glass But these we fear not though pernitious they Too often take our pretious Lives away A greater Plague is come a Draught that will Not only Man and Beast but even Nature kill 3. Man Vain mis-believing Man Can't death be found Nor learnt but when he 's striking of the Wound Can't we believe his mighty piercing Steel Nor know his Dart before its point we feel But now too late we see our dreadful Foe And strive to shun what we are sure to know He stalks along with a Majestick pace With direful Desolation in his Face Castles and Tow'rs Rocks Mountains all are vain All are o're-whelm'd all cover'd by the Rain And only this doth 'bove the Waves remain Too late we now believe our Reverend Sire Too late we know his truths and worth admire Now his Prophetick raging Judgment 's come And in the rapid Waves we find our Tomb. In vain he preach'd in vain good manners taught Him and his Precepts both we set at naught Which has this dire Destruction on us brought Exeunt Enter a Woman with several Children hanging about her some in her Arms c. 1. Chil. O my dear Mother how the Waves do roar Moth. My aid Dear Children you in vain implore I 've given you all and now can give no more Unless I do anticipate your fears And Drown you all in Deluges of Tears Like to a harmless Herd that hasts away From a fierce Tyger that would on 'em prey And to some safe retiring Covert fly Where they in vain their small Defiance try Till the poor Dams do with their young ones die But I 'm afraid so faint my Spirits grow And grief 's so great I shall prevent the blow 2. Chil. Will you then die and leave us here alone To all things but to misery unknown Strangers to all where e're we walk or go Companions only to sad grief and woe We their acquaintance in all places find Marching before or tracing us behind 3. Chil. What shall we do if we stay here we die To yonder higher Mountain let us fly It is some ease to prolong misery Moth. Chear up my Infants since no hopes remain But that together we must all be slain And in one Dismal Grave Intomb'd must lie Thus hand in hand we will prepare to die And launch from hence into Eternity 1. Chil. Here I will grasp Hangs on the Mother 2. Chil. Here I 'le for ever stay Till Desolation hurries me away Moth. Thus then let 's go let each one take their hold And Miser-like I 'le perish with my Gold So desp'rate Souls that on their Deaths bed lie Take their last Cordial and then faint and die Exeunt The Scene changes and discovers a throng of men Women and Children on the highest Mountains who on a sudden are all overwhelm'd with the Waves The Scene changes again and represents Hell with Lucifer Sathan Beelzebub Asmoday and Belial sitting in Council in their Pandaemonium Moloch swiftly flying down to them Mol. Hell and Damnation seize this mystick sense And Curse upon the eye of Providence Such a design so close so surely laid One should have thought would all Heav'ns watch evade Hid ev'n to all but Gabriels searching eyes Who soon discover'd me through this Disguise Those piercing eyes that penetrate all bars And shine far brighter than the clearest Stars From his Transcendent Beams I stole away And swift as wind I div'd beneath the day But his more swifter eyes trac'd all my way I grinning turn'd me round and saw the Door Of th' Ark made fast he standing just before With his bright Flaming sword so now we are Compel'd by Force to proclaim open War By this time too the Waters so prevail They o're the tops o' th' highest Mountains scale That fifteen Cubits 'bove the Earth they rise And by their height they seem to touch the Skies So to our War a stop may soon be giv'n Unless we hast the Ark so high is driv'n I fear before we go 't will sail to Heav'n Luc. Then let us haste with all our Banners spread Blazon'd with all the Trophies of the Dead With a large Deluge that to Heav'n does flow A Shipwrack'd Ark half sinking down below And all our Legions following their blow Thus let us pass and through the Deluge glide Springing like thought above the swelling Tide They all fly out of fight The Scene changes Representing all destroy'd but the Ark which is swimming on the Surface of the Waters All the Devils appear again Luc. Ho Moloch loose the Eastern Wind let go Belial the West both shall together blow You Asmoday must rule the Southern Wind Ho Beelzebub the stubborn North unbind Whilst I and Satan like two mighty Whales Toss up the Ark with our impetuous Tails And beat and bandy it from Wave to Wave Till 't is impossible for Heav'n to save Let us all Charge and with one dreadful Shock Sink down this floating World this swimming Rock Which though through Dangers it doth safely ride And boldly with its Prow doth sweep the Tide Yet not so safe but that no doubt we may Make it a brave and a Triumphant day Here they all assault the Ark and almost overturn it Several Flaming Chariots full of Angels fly down from whence breaks Thunder and Lightning which drives them headlong into the Deep The Scene changes and represents Noah in the Ark. Noah What dreadful noise and roarings round us move Far be 't that we have sin'd to lose Heav'ns Love To feel his Wrath making our bliss become A Curse our Sanctuary turn our Tomb. Escaping Rocks and Shipwracks now to find His Goodness Infinite to be unkind But far be 't too I should his Love mistrust Who is all Mercy all Divine all Just Who from his word doth never go away His Cov'nant is Eternal as the Day For he protecting Rocks nor Gulphs avail Through Seas of Storms we shall in safety sail Exit Enter Sin and Death Sin appearing upward like a fair Beautiful Woman but ending in a Serpentine Scaly Tail Death wearing a Crown of Gold upon his Head Sin What glorious Trophies ought t' adorn my Head Since I have Crown'd you Lord o're all the Dead Dea. It was from you that I did first begin My Father Satan but my Mother Sin So for my b'ing I 'm ready to obey And wait your strict Commands both Night and Day Where e're you go I will your train attend To see your Enemies or dearest Friend Sin For thy great Love I 've had thee to the Court My chief delight where all my Friends resort Envy Ambition Malice Hatred Pride Lust Flattery and all the rest beside Too tedious to account by whose sly ways And guiles we 've gain'd our selves Immortal praise Dea. There I did first grow great I was before Naked and starv'd and miserably
sins blasts and Hurricanes prevail'd At length behold is fall'n The Guardian senses were surpriz'd by sin She undermin'd the Tower then enter'd in And seiz'd on mighty Reason's Magazine Hell silence kept when she her Speech began And all rejoyc'd this second fall of Man I was my self strook with amazement too And I am glad I find the Scene prove true But why should I admire that he should be So much o're-seen since 't was the same with me Drunk with Ambition down from Heav'n I fell And like a Blazing Comet shot to Hell This sin must surely pleasant be like mine That should o'recome a Man so much Divine The Art I will promote I plainly see 'T is good without the gift of Prophesie Mankind most Novelties desires to know Therefore in method I this way will show First to compound from Simples then to make The Compound stronger they strong drugs shall take Then teach to Still which they shall Spirits call A Liquor that shall fatal prove to all Nay some shall drink at their own Funeral This Art I 'le raise so high till men aspire Like us to drink up Liquid Flames of Fire But whilst he sleeps I 'le to his fancy show What direful Tragedies from hence shall flow Hence shall such deeds proceed shall Nature fright Make her start back and sicken at the sight Hence shall the Father with his Off-springs lie Pollute the intestine Veils of Chastity Incest it self is here too good a sound We want a word should with its accent wound Hence shall the Child all bonds of duty shun The Mother shall be ravish'd by the Son In carnal act lie twin'd within her bed Nay this lewd Sin shall such contagion spread The Living shall enjoy the very Dead With unchast looks the Mother shall behold Her Virgin child and learn him to be bold With her false Charms she shall his Soul betray To stain the sacred Temple where he lay And soil the sheets of Natures secret frame But conscious of his guilt and Mothers shame He shall at once both Murther and Defile And on th' adulterate Bed his Mother kill But when he shall behold her panting bleed He shall cry out Oh cursed Matricide Was 't not enough thy Mother to pollute But thy curst Hands must add her Murther to 't Then in despair like Death shall ghastly stand Grasping his bloody Dagger in his hand Then stab his heart let out the crimson flood And doubly stain his Mother with his blood This dismal Prologue shall be spoke by Sin She shall with Death the Tragick Mask begin And to his slumbring fancy draw the Scene Enter Ham as out of his Fathers Tent. The Scene the Vineyard with diversity of Fruit-Trees Ham. In vain I come the Prophets Art to try He and his Soul are in a Lethargie Visions and Dreams the Magick Charmers are That to the World these wondrous things declare But his inchanted Soul is chain'd in sleep To wake him the loud roarings of the Deep And Thunders of the Sky would prove in vain So stupid is his Soul so sensless is his brain Some conjuring spell has seiz'd upon his mind His sense is blasted with a mildew wind But see here stands the Necromantick bowl Has drown'd the active Spirits of his Soul It is a Maxim that proves always true Inventions do th' inventer still undoe Yet what to him doth poysonous prove may be To future times a Soveraign remedie But such a Project few would ever try To kill themselves to learn the way to die And how ridiculous 't would prove to see One drown himself to know the depth of th' Sea To tell this news I 'le to my Brothers hast But see they 'r here Enter Japhet and Shem. Shem. Whither away so fast Ham. To tell you a strange miracle of Fate Japh To free us of our fears the thing relate Ham. Our Father as I guess by what I find Hath a new Art discover'd to Mankind It is an excellent and rare device A new-found way how you should Sacrifice But not of Oxen nor of tender Lambs Not of male Kids young Heifers nor of Rams No no he scorns the common path that 's trod Wine is his Sacrifice and he 's the God And when he 'd offer'd what he did require The Sacrifice did set the Priest on fire Shem. This intricate discourse that you declare Shews you a base and vile contemner are Therefore expound this strange Aenigma right Ham. Then View him drunk and naked to your sight Going to draw the Curtain of the Tent. Come and behold how strange his eyes are swoln His blubber'd face with bloated rubies grown See how his head hangs drooping to the ground Like founder'd Vessels ready to be drown'd Shem. Hold back your impious hands rather than I Would view this sight I would this minute die Japh It is as dangerous as Heavens decree That Man shall die who does his Maker see Ham. 'T is folly all and grand stupidity As in a Maze I round the Vineyard went And little thought to find him here in 's Tent I wondred where he was for e're 't was Noon He us'd the Vines luxuriant Springs to Prune And he has Prun'd 'em fair Look look and see They 'r in the same disorder just as he They sympathize with him look dull and are Even drunk themselves with their own juice they bear Shem. Is this the duty of a Son you ought Rather to pity him than judg't a fault To laugh and jear at Mans misfortunes is An ill Prognostick to a future Bliss To mock at others harms deserves a curse Then to deride a Father sure is worse And though the Wine his senses drowsie makes His Visionary Soul within awakes Therefore take heed for that views all that 's done And will remember a contemning Son Ham. Away away with this Philosophy You talk as you were drunk as well as he All danger I despise Eve though she saw The Tree of Knowledg never broke the Law Until she eat that did contract the crime If any then 's in fault it must be him Shem. Be your own judg and you 'l be guilty made For as you saw you likewise did upbraid Ham. To view th' unseemly posture he is in Would make an Angel sure commit the sin If 't be a sin to laugh but see the Sun Unto the Zenith of the World hath run And like to him I will my task pursue And leave our Holy Father here with you Who with the World a mighty Name will gain For the contrivance of a subtle brain When all his Off-springs shall like Pilgrims come To see the superscription of his Tomb Oh praise His Epitaph must thus begin Here lies the Aged Monument of sin Exit Shem. And on your Tomb these Lines ingrav'd may be Here lies one curst all his Posterity Japh Come Brother to his Tent let 's backward go And o're his Nakedness this Garment throw By which we shall our Love and Duty