with Disgrace Thy Saint that hour shall curse thee to thy Face Prove then his Truth said God this very hour All but his Life we leave within thy Power Hells Agent smil'd the Genial Day was set Once more when Job's glad Sons and Daughters met While to the Rev'rend Sire a Messenger Breathless with Haste and half expir'd with Fear These Tidings brought While we the Plow did ply Our Oxen york't the Asses grazing by Sabean Troops upon the Cattel fell And of thy Servants I survive to tell Imperfectly was this Relation told When heavier News a second does unfold Thy Flocks and Servants Fire from Heav'n has slain And I alone to tell their Fate remain While yet he spoke a third was heard to say The Camels are become the Chaldee's Prey On us thy Servants in three Bands they fell And I am scarce escap't with Breath to tell Nor had he finisht when the Fourth exprest The Loss that like a Sea devour'd the rest This day said he thy Sons and Daughters met With num'rous Trains about the Banquet set Thy Beds first Pledge the Eldest was their Host But Ah too dear the Entertainment cost For lo a Whirlwind from the Desart blew That at one Blast the Palace overthrew Beneath the Pile thy Off-spring all lie slain And of thy Servants I alone remain At this the Saint his Garment rent around And falling prostrate worshipt on the Ground Thus bare said he thus naked was I born And naked thus I shall to Earth return Heav'n gives and Heav'n with Justice may recall So Heav'n be prais'd whate'er to man befall In such Distress thus patient he remain'd Nor fondly once of Providence complain'd The Second Chapter THe solemn Time was now return'd once more When with the rest stood Satan as before From whence said God From ranging far and wide The spacious Globe the sullen Fiend reply'd And hast thou said th' Almighty hast thou found A Saint like Job in all thy spacious Round Who still our Laws and Service does attend Nor all his causeless Griefs have made offend To this th' Accuser slight is yet his Pain Nor would my Tribe for such Distress complain But touch his Flesh with thy afflicting Rod And to his Face the Saint shall curse his God Try said th' Almighty wreck thy Vengeance here Afflict his Body but his Life forbear Hell's Factor strikes him now with Boils all o'er His ulcer'd Flesh but one continued Sore The patient Saint in Ashes still remains And with a Potsheard scrapes his swelling Blanes Retain'st thou still thy found Integrity His Wife exclaims give o'er curse Heav'n and die Forbear said he such impious Blasphemies What blacker Guilt could Belial's self advise Ingrateful shall we from the Pow'r Divine Receive Life's Sweets and at its Griefs repine From both our Duties Tribute let him raise For these our Patience and for those our Praise Thus far the utmost Rage of Hell was vain For still his Vertue triumpht o'er his Pain This wondrous Change fill'd every Breath of Fame And to his Friends in distant Regions came Who Thunder-struck by joint Consent repair To comfort or at least his Trouble share Far off a mournful Spectacle they view Three Friends but none his Old Acquaintance knew At last when Job appear'd through Griefs disguise Each rent his Garment and the Air with Cries With Dust they strew'd their Heads and seated round Seven Suns beheld them weeping on the Ground All speechless for they fear'd to urge the Grief They saw too mighty to admit Relief The Third Chapter PARAPHRAS'D I. LEt the Day perish let it perish quite That brought a wretch like me to light Infernal Vapors blast the Morn In which 't was said behold a Man-child born The Night that did me first to Life betray The Night that usher'd in that fatal Day Infernal Horrors overtake that Night Let dismal Shades the Day o'ergrow More black than Darkness let it prove Let Hell confound it from below And let not God relieve it from above Deepest Sables shroud the Earth And Death possess the Day that gave me Birth Amongst his Brethren let not that appear Nor have a place within the circ'ling Year The Night that for the wretched Birth made way The Night that usher'd in the fatal Day All solitary let it be No Sound of Joy be heard therein Let Mourners curse it all that mourn like me From its own Darkness let it ne'er be free But ever wait the Dawn that never shall begin II. Because it did assist the lab'ring Womb And to these Sorrows me betray'd Why was I not from Birth to Death convey'd And why was not my Cradle made my Tomb Why did the careful Midwife close And mold this Head for such a Mass of Woes Why did the Knees prevent my Mother's Throws And when their Offices did cease When want of Food had soon restor'd my Peace Why did the Breast afford Relief And foster up the Drudge and Slave of Grief Who else had lain at Rest and found In common Earth my Sleep of Death as sound As Kings and Princes that in Wealth abound Who in the very Tomb a Palace have And lay whole Empires out upon a Grave In equal Quiet I had lain With things unborn and things retir'd With Babes by Death restor'd to Rest again Or such as on their way to Life expir'd Convey'd to Bliss before they tasted Pain O Grave O Mansion of the Dead Wondrous things of thee are said The wicked cease from troubling there And there the weary are at Rest Pris'ners of Liberty possest And Slaves th' Oppressor's Voice no longer hear Life's Tyrant there Distinctions took away And Servants mingle with their Master's Clay III. Why is the better Soul detain'd in Bands Of hateful Flesh why forc't to live Why shou'd the Sun to him his Lustre give Who at Defiance with all Comfort stands What does the Son of Ruin here Among the cheerful Race of Men A Wretch that ne'er must taste of Joy again Why shou'd he see the Changes of the Year Who in all Nature's Blessings has no Share Abandon'd and devoted to Despair He calls for Death his weary Lids to fold And courts the Terrour of Mankind He searches for him diggs more deep to find A Grave than Misers do for Gold Why does his rising Day the Beams renew On him that has no Comfort to pursue Why is he forc't to look abroad agen And meet the World where he has nought to do Cut off from all the cheerful ways of Men. With blackest Terrors hedg'd around Whose Doom is past his Ruin seald With Sentence ne'er to be repeal'd Whom God has left and last Destruction found My Sighing comes before I seed And Deluges of Tears succeed My roaring overcomes the Main And Seas are husht when I complain The Trouble which I fear'd without Controul Has seiz'd upon me the long-dreadful Ill The Thought whereof my Blood so oft did chill And shot with Midnight-Trembling through my Soul T
p. 136. l. 12. for from r. for p. 144. l. 5. for Crow r. Crowd p. 147. for Eye r. Eyes p. 148. l. 6 for seems r. teems p. 168. l. 6. for shor r. short p. 169. l. 9 for Fire r. Fires p. 170. l. 12. for Waters r. Wister's p. 171. l. 7. for on r. ours p. 172. l. 1. for moortal r. mortal p. 173. l. 16. for the r. thee p. 174. l. 2. for fac r. face POEMS c. On His Royal Highness's Deliverance from Shipwrack in the Gloucester the Sixth of May 1682. Jamque Dies ni fallor adest quem semper deerbum Semper honoratum sic Dir voluistis habebo NO Art no Change of Pencills can display The various Fate of this important Day Nor knows the Muse what Numbers to employ Sufficient for its Grief and for its Joy Consulting Heav'n determin'd to restore Our Royal Heroe to the longing Shore Which fixt Decree no Chance cou'd countermand Nor Wind nor Wave nor more destructive Sand Nor all the crying Guilt and impious Rage Of a most Factious and ingrateful Age Which yet in part the Blessing did destroy Nor could our Crimes admit the perfect Joy For in our Triumphs at his wish'd Return His Followers most dismal Wreck we mourn In vain the Muse would labour to express That fatal Hour's unspeakable Distress Besides if any Words such Grief could fit At best 't were impious Art and cruel Wit 'T were Sin to bring the mournful Scene in view And wound our pious Heroes Heart anew Too much the Pangs that then did rend his Breast By his most Savage Foes must be confest Such Agony that Minute seiz'd his Mind He thought the Care that sav'd his Life unkind Ye mighty Spirits You that then expir'd With Hearts for any brave Adventure fir'd Let not your Ghosts repine that you did yield To such tame Fate without a Foe in Field Without a Price for such Heroick Breath And Standards seiz'd to signalize your Death Without the Trophies of the Souldiers Toil Whole Groves of Ensigns gain'd and Hills of Spoll Let no such Thought your rising Joys suppress Or make the happy Fields delight you less Such Honours were to former Worthies known And ev'ry Age has Spoils and Trophies shown But this new silent Method of your Fate Renown yet un-recorded does create While you from thence unequall'd Glory claim And stand unrivall'd in the Roll of Fame Then let Applause so vast so just as This Reach to your World of Joy and raise your Bliss Rest pleas'd that e'er you perisht you could see Your Royal Master from the Danger free That you his Safety hail'd with latest Breath And had his Tears to consecrate your Death Next for the scatter'd Remnant scarce secur'd From that sad Lot their noble Mates endur'd While lab'ring Heav'n no Miracles did spare To second their indulgent Master's Care Let Angels sing the Goodness he exprest Condol'd their Susserings and their Wants redrest While such Supplies his Bounty did convey As almost heal'd the Ruines of the day Such Vertue did Aeneas Breast employ Once more preserving the Remains of Troy His scatter'd Troop collecting on the Shore Sav'd now from Floods as from the Flames before O for a Maro of this Age to raise With equal Verse our equal Hero's Praise Nor shall succeeding Times the Work disclaim That speak Great James his Suff'rings and his Fames How do I curse the Muse my Youth withdrew From gainful Science to the chiming Crew Yet when on his lov'd Name she lends her Aid I bless my Lot and think my Grief 's repaid Soon as you please ye Pow'rs my Frame consound Blend me with Brother Insects in the Ground Dissolve a Wretch the Times and Fortune's Slave O'represt with Wrongs and stretching for the Grave For ever shroud me in the peaceful Clay No more the Scorn of Fools and Villains Prey Forgetting and forgotten by Mankind Giv'n all to Fate no Atom left behind But Oh! whatever Songs of mine are grac't With James his Deeds let their Remembrance last To them kind Heav'n immortal Ages give Let me be lost but let those Numbers live Indisposed I. WHat tho' the restless Sun Already has his Race begun Already summon'd to their pleasant Toyl The peaceful Tillers of the Soil What Comfort in his Lustre can I find If yet no chearful Glimpse begin A glorious Morn within But Mists and Darkness still oppress my Mind II. What Entertainment can it be To hear the tuneful Birds from ev'ry Tree With grateful Songs the rising day salute Unless my Fancy with the Musick suit If in my Thoughts I find no Harmony I shall Alass as soon rejoyce To hear the Raven 's doleful Volce Or be diverted with the Bell That Rings my dearest Friends untimely Knell III. Whilst in my Breast the Weather 's Fair I ne're enquire the Temper of the Air So Reason o're my Appetites bear sway I 'm unconcern'd what Planet Rules the Day If husht and silent all my Passions lye The loudest Storms that rend the Sky Invite Repose and make my Sleep more sound The Tempest in my Brest Alone can break my Rest From Hurricanes abroad less harm is found Than from the smallest Winds lodg'd Vnder-ground On a Diseased Old Man who Wept at thought of leaving the World I. SHame on thy Beard That thou canst Bug-bears dread Fear Death whom thou so oft I ast seen So oft his Guest at Funerals hast been Thy self I mean thy Better Half already Dead The Tears were just which at thy Birth did flow For then Alass thou cam'st t' engage The Miseries of Life but now Thou art allow'd to quit the Tragick Stage Now to be careful to prolong the Scene And act thy Troubles o'er agen Is Folly not to be forgiv'n ev'n in thy doating Age. II. Full Fourscore Years bless us a dreadful space The World has us'd thee ill Abus'd thee to thy Face And Doatard canst thou still Solicite her Embrace In vain thou covet'st to enjoy The haughty Dame when Age and Pains Have shrunk thy Nerves and chill'd thy Veins Who to thy flourishing Years was so reserv'd and coy III. Can Cramps Catarrhs and Palsies be Such charming Company What Pleasures can the Grave deprive Thy Senses of What Inconvenience give From which thou art exempted while alive At worst thou canst but have Cold Lodging in the Grave Nor ly'st thou warmer now tho' cover'd o'er In Furr till thy faint Limbs can bear no more Thou sleep'st each Night in so much Sear-Cloth bound thou 'dst need no more to lodge thee under-gruond IV. Go lay thy senseless Hopes of Health aside No longer Potions take No more Incisions make Let thy dull Flesh no more be scarify'd Resign resign thy tainted Breath Consult with no Physician more but Death When all thy Surgeons Instruments prove vain His never-failing Dart Will bleed thee gently at thy Heart And let out Life the Sourse of all thy Pain Let then thy Funeral Pile be made With Rosemary and
was Knowledge first to Ruine led us on For with this mortal Itch possest The happy Pair transgrest Needs must they know they knew and were undone Then plodding Mortal cease To boast your dear bought Faculties For since with Knowledge Sorrow must encrease Let such as on those Terms can Science prize Improve in Science but for me So I may ignorant and happy be I 'll ne'er repine or look with envious Eyes On the unhappy learn'd and miserable wise The Beldam's Song APpear my Kib welkin dear Spirit appear In the Shape Of an Ape A Fire-spitting Dragon or Clump footed Bear Madge has whoopt me twice from her Ivy-bound Oak And twice have I heard the dull Night-raven croak Let me stride thee my Welkin and post it away E'er the Moon Reach her Noon For the Night is the Way-ward Sisters Day Through the Air let us take our fantastical Round And sip of the Dew While 't is new E'er the Honey-drops fall to the Ground But when we are mounted and in our Career Make neither Hault nor Stay And to none give the way Tho Hecat her self should be rounding the Air. For once I 'll encounter And try to dismount her Pitch her Heels over Head To some Quag-mire below and reign Queen in her stead Bustle bustle my Kib and be sure e'er we part Thou shalt suck at the Dugg that is next to my Heart The Inconstant A Paraphrase on the XV. Epod of Horace PRecisely I remember all 't was Night Calm Sky and the Full Moon shone bright When first you swore that bleating Flocks shou'd feed With Wolves no other Keepers need That boystrous Winds husht in Eternal Sleep Shou'd cease to revel on the Deep You vow'd that these and Prodigies more strange Shou'd falle'er your sixt Heart cou'd change Yet Woman-like to your new Fav'rite now Unswear as oft as you did vow Ah! if I cou'd and sure if half a Man Or somewhat less than half I can Cou'd I in just Resentment quit your Chain And with more Caution chuse again Nymph you 'd repent my Wrongs when flying Fame Shou'd publish to your Grief and Shame How your wrong'd Swain had found a Nymph more true And equal in her Charms to you But treach'rous Rival you that reap my Toils And pride your self in my stol'n Spoils The Time shall come and to encrease your Fear Know Wretch that fatal Time is near When you shall perish by th' Inconstancy Of her that first learn'd perjur'd Faith from thee Whilst from the safe Shore your sad Wreek I see Of the Ape and the Fox A Paraphrase on one of the Centum Fabulae TO his four footed Subjects through the Nation The King of Bruits thus issues Proclamation Being well informed we have incurr'd Disgrace By harb'ring in our Realm a scandalous Race A Sect that have no Tails these Presents are Te'njoyn such Miscreants All and singular Strait to depart our Land or on demurr The Penalties of Treason to incurr Sly Reynard strait sifts out this State-Design Turns Goods and Chattels All to ready Coyn. The unprojecting Neighbour-hood Admire And Flock th' Occasion of his March t' Enquire Where ' mongst the Rest the ceremoneous Ape Accosts him with Grimmace and formal Scrape Bon jour Monsieur You pass for a prime Witt But in this Project give small Proof of it We of the Curtail'd-Tribe by strict Command Of our great Cham prepare to quit the Land But why Sir shou'd you Budge Whose Posterns bear A Swashing Train well furrd to guard your Rear Had Nature lent me but an Inch of Dock A Tuft to shade or Scutt to grace my Nock I shou'd Presume I had no Obligation From the late Act to take this Peregrination Then thus the Fox You 've spoke an Oracle Doubtless your Gravity reads Machiavill I must Confess I 've no pretence to rail Or Curse my stars for stinting me in Tail But grant my Train might with a Commet's measure Suppose withal that 't were his Highness Pleasure To say I 've None which if he once Assert Nere doubt but he has Sycophants will swear 't Thus charg'd shou'd I attempt my own Defence To give his Lawless Tyranny Pretence 'T is Odds but I am Dockt upon the Spott And then for want of Tail poor Reynard goes to Pot. The Round HOw Vain a thing is Man whom Toyes Delight And shadows Fright Variety of Impertinence Might give our Dotage some Pretence But to a Circle bound We Toil in a dull Round We sit move Eat and Drink We Dress Undress Discourse and Think By the same Passions hurri'd on Imposing or Impos'd upon We pass the time in Sport or Toil We Plow the Seas or Safer Soil Thus all that we Project and Do We did it many a year agoe We Travel still a beaten way And yet how eager rise we to pursue Th' affairs of each returning day As if its Entertainments were all new The Male-Content MOngst winding Rocks his swelling griefs to lay The disappointed Thirsts took his way In whose Wild Clifts a nat'ral Uaut he found With Moss and Ivy Cheaply deckt around He rusht into the Solitary Nook Where into these Pathetick Sounds he broke Oh when will Nature take the life she gave And Lodge me free from Troubles in the Grave Sleep there alone deserves the Name of Rest No frightful Dreams the sleep of Death molest Whilst shrouded in this marble Cell I Lye What can be more Commodious than to Dye Each Object Here wears such a mournful Face That Dying seems the Business of the Place Here from the wrangling World I will Retire And as I Liv'd Unknown Unknown Expire Then let that hanging Rock that shades my Head Sink down and shut this Vaut when I am Dead Rude as it is this Marble Cell wou'd save Th' expensive Rites that formal Burials crave It self my Coffin Monument and Grave The Dream BEneath the Syc'more Shade Amintas ply'd his Tuneful Reed His Amaril beside him laid The listning Ewes forgat to Feed The sporting Lambs gave ore their Play And to their Masters Song attentive lay The Song as soft and Innocent as They. Mean while soft Slumbers did surprize The Nymph's more gentle Eyes 'Till with a Sigh and suddain start She woke and Cry'd Heav'n save my Swain Are you not hurt I will provide a Dart And if the Bruit approach again I 'le drench it in the Savage Monster 's Heart What means Amintas smiling said This Rage I dreamt said she a ruthful Bear Had broke into our Fold and slaughter'd there And while you ran t' Engage Ah! why were you so Rash th' unequal Foe The Rav'nous Monster Seiz'd on you At which my self between I threw And scarcely yet believe the Dream Untrue Amor Sepulchralis IN a Large stately Cave of old the Court Of Rural Gods as neigbouring Swains report Interr'd the dear Remains of Damon lay Converted now into their Native Clay Each wishing Nymph the living Swain approv'd The Shepherd fair Emmoria only Lov'd Their
mutual Passion 's Kindling Flame was more Then ere inspir'd Consenting Hearts before But was with time Improv'd to that Degree 'T was now no longer Love but Extasie Endearments such as Fate cou'd not divorce Nor Death it self restrain their Entercourse The Nymph to living Swains did still preferr Her Damon's Dust and ev'n that Dust Lov'd Her At Damon's Tomb the Chast Emmoria kept Perpetual Watch and ore his Ashes wept Fit emblem of her grief a sprigg of Yew She planted there the Branch took Root and grew The Sun to this close Cell no Beam cou'd guide No Rain or Dew the thirsting Leaves Supply'd Say then from whence the Growth and Verdure came The Ashes still retain'd their Masters Flame Whose Am'rous Warmth the absent Sun Supplies And never-ceasing Showrs Emmoria's Eyes This Heat and Moisture kept the Plant alive And Tempering still each other made it Thrive The three First Verses of the 46th Psalm Paraphas'd I. OUr Strength is the Omnipotent We cannot therefore condescend to Fear Tho danger in its gastliest shape appear Tho Mountains from their marble Roots were rent And Head-long to the Ocean hurl'd Their violent Career might shake the World But our fix'd Feet shou'd keep their Ground Our Heads shou'd o'er-look the Floods where Hills lay drown'd II. What tho the Sea whose most capacious Womb Gave the subverted Hills a Tomb What tho' its raging Waters roar And swell in Mountains vast as those Which their unfathom'd Depths had gorg'd before This most impertinently angry Main With its own Rocks fierce Combat may maintain But can no more our Passions discompose Than when some shallow Fountain we survey Contesting with each Pibble for its Way The Mid-Night Thought NOw that the twinkling Stars essay A faint Resemblance of the Day Shewn fairer now for being set In Night like Diamonds in Jett Let me repos'd within this Grove The solemn Season once improve Restless Alss from Sun to Sun A Round of Business I have run Whilst others slept projecting lay My Night as thoughtful as my Day Yet thought not once to what Account All those Thinkings did amount How long since I did meditate Of Life of Death and future State Approaching Fate his Pace will keep Let Mortals watch or let them sleep What Sound is that a Passing Bell Then to Eternity farewell Poor Soul whose Doom one Hour shall show Eternal Bliss or endless Woe If Vertues Laws thou hast despis'd How wou'd that Vertue now be priz'd Or say thou didst in our loose Age On her forsaken Side engage Would'st thou the dear Remembrance now For the Worlds Monarchy forgoe What other Medicine canst thou sind T' asswage the Fever in thy Mind Now wakened Conscience speaks at large And envious Fiends enhaunce the Charge Let the bold Atheist now draw near And try thy drooping Heart to chear His briskest Wine and Wit to thee Will now alike inspiid be In Death's Arrest the Hector's Sword As little Service can afford Who hopes for Rescue here will fail And the grim Serjeant Takes no Bail The Counter-Turn BEhold that Pile of Skulls but chiefly there That Mossy Skull survey Observe if the Sage Front does now display Plots Projects and Nocturnal Care Methinks it shou'd for once it did belong To one whose Policy cou'd shake a State And trusted he cou'd baffle Fate Who wou'd have sought that Head-piece in this Through He promis'd once that Skull a Crown In lowest Earth he founded the Design With Heav'n the tow'ring Roof did joyn 'Till with a suddain Storm of Fate o'erthrown The Fabrick fell on the Contriver's Head And crusht th' aspiring Politician dead The Voyagers WHilst stemming Life's uncertain Tide Tost on the Waves of Doubts and Fears If to frail Reason's Conduct we confide We strive in vain The happy Port to gain For oft as clouded Reason disappears We cannot fail to rove afar Mistaking each false Meteor for our Star How dismal are the Perils we engage When grown t' a Hurricane Our boist'rous Passions rouze the sleeping Main But Ah! how few have perisht by the Rage Of Storms if numbred with the daily Throng Whom Syren pleasures as they sail along Seduce to that dead Shore Where they themselves saw others wreckt before The Choice GRant me indulgent Heav'n a rural Seat Rather contemptible than great Where though I taste Life's Sweets still I may be Athirst for Immortality I wou'd have Business but exempt from Strife A private but an active Life A Conscience bold and punctual to his Charge My Stock of Health or Patience large Some Books I 'd have and some Acquaintance too But very good and very few Then if one Mortal two such Grants may crave From silent Life I 'd steal into my Grave On Sight of some Martyrs Sepulchres HEre lies Dust confusedly hurl'd But Dust that once shall judge the World Blest Saints when Foes mistaken Rage Releas'd your Spirits from their Cage But can no more our Passions discompose Th' ambitious Fire strove to convey Your Souls on their triumphant way But wing'd with Glory they aspir'd And left the Flames behind them tir'd Of Vice and Vertue LEt Vice no more in her full Train take pride Who follow Vertue chuse a suff'ring Side She 's exil'd now and 't is not strange to see Mean Souls desert afflicted Majesty But when just Heav'n and sure that time draws on Restores this Empress to her Starry Throne With Crowns she will enrich her Loyal Few Whilst Shame and Vengeance crush the Rebel Crew To a Desponding Friend REpine not pensive Friend to meet A Thorn and Sting in every Sweet Think it not yours or my hard Fate But the fixt Lot of Humane State Since then this Portion is assign'd By the Great Patron of Mankind Though ne'er so darkly understood We shou'd presume the Method Good Heav'n does its rendrest Care express Conducting through a Wilderness Lest Sluggards we should take our Stand And stop short of the promis'd Land Disswasion of an Aged Friend from leaving his Retirement IN Life's unactive Wane your Shades forsake And into th' World a Sally make Deluded Friend what Surfeit have you tane Of Bliss that now you long for Pain The Favourites of this hard World are few And they have their Disasters too What therefore must your Entertainment be That have profest Hostility You have not learnt to slatter and caress The Great for faithless Promises When disappointed thankful to appear And say How much oblig'd you are For Lucre you must practise every Wile Defraud and do it with a Smile Worldlings with many Vices must be fraught Which you my Friend were never taught Well you may roam but soon return distrest Wounded and maim'd to your Old Nest Recovering from a Fit of Sickness I. WHen late the Fev'rish Malady With intermitted Rage And certain Symptoms did presage My suddain Health or Dissolution nigh False World said I that steal'st my real Joys And shufflest in their stead thy changeling Toys Begone I 'll not be brib'd at