youth Wisely hast shun'd the broad way and the green And with those few art eminently seen That labour up the Hill of heav'nly Truth The better part with Mary and with Ruth Chosen thou hast and they that overween And at thy growing vertues fret their splee◠No anger find in thee but pity and ruth Thy care is fixt and zealously attends To fill thy odorous Lamp with deeds of light And Hope that reaps not shame Therefore be sure Thou when the Bridegroom with his feastfull friends Passes to bliss at the mid hour of night Hast gain'd thy entrance Virgin wise and pure X. Daughter to that good Earl once President Of Englands Counsel and her Treasury Who liv'd in both unstain'd with gold or fee. And left them both more in himself content Till the sad breaking of that Parlament Broke him as that dishonest victory At Chaeronea fatal to liberty Kill'd with report that Old man eloquent Though later born then to have known the dayes Wherin your Father flourisht yet by you Madam me thinks I see him living yet So well your words his noble vertues praise That all both judge you to relate them true And to possess them Honour'd Margaret XI A Book was was writ of late call'd Tetrachordon And wov'n close both matter form and stile The Subject new it walk'd the Town a while Numbring good intellects now seldom por'd on Cries the stall-reader bless us what a word on A title page is this and some in file Stand spelling fals while one might walk to Mile End Green Why is harder Sirs then Gordon Coliktto or Macdonnel or Galasp Those rugged names to our like mouths grow sleek That would have made Quintilian stare and gasp Thy age like ours O Soul of Sir John Cheek Hated not Learning wors then Toad or Asp When thou taught'st Cambridge and King Edward Greek XII On the same I did but prompt the age to quit their cloggs By the known rules of antient libertie When strait a barbarous noise environs me Of Owles and Cuckoes Asses Apes and Doggs As when those Hinds that were transform'd to Froggs Raild at Latona's twin-born progenie Which after held the Sun and Moon in fee. But this is got by casting Pearl to Hoggs That bawle for freedom in their senceless mood And still revolt when truth would set them 〈◊〉 Licence they mean when they cry libertie For who loves that must first be wife and good But from that mark how far they roave we see For all this wast of wealth and loss of blood To Mr. H. Lawes on his Aires XIII Harry whose tuneful and well measur'd Song First taught our English Musick how to span Words with just note and accent not to scan With Midas Ears committing short and long Thy worth and skill exempts thee from the throng With praise enough for Envy to look wan To after age thou shalt be writ the man That with smooth aire couldst humor best our tongu Thou honour'st Verse and Verse must send her wing To honour thee the Priest of Phoebus Quire That tun'st their happiest lines in Hymn or Story Dante shall give Fame leave to set thee higher Then his Casella whom he woo'd to sing Met in the milder shades of Purgatory XIV When Faith and Love which parted from thee never Had ripen'd thy just soul to dwell with God Meekly thou didst resign this earthy load Of Death call'd Life which us from Life doth sever Thy Works and Alms and all thy good Endeavour Staid not behind nor in the grave were trod But as Faith pointed with her golden rod Follow'd thee up to joy and bliss for ever Love led them on and Faith who knew them best Thy hand-maids clad them o're with purple beams And azure wings that up they flew so drest And speak the truth of thee on glorious Theams Before the Judge who thenceforth bid thee rest And drink thy fill of pure immortal streams On the late Massacher in Piemont XV. Avenge O Lord thy slaughter'd Saints whose bones Lie scatter'd on the Alpine mountains cold Ev'n them who kept thy truth so pure of old When all our Fathers worship't Stocks and Stones Forget not in thy book record their groanes Who were thy Sheep and in their antient Fold Slayn by the bloody Piemontese that roll'd Mother with Infant down the Rocks Their 〈◊〉 is The Vales redoubl'd to the Hills and they To Heav'n Their martyr'd blood and ashes so O're all th' Italian fields where still doth sway The triple Tyrant that from these may grow A hunder'd-fold who having learnt thy way Early may fly the Babylonian wo. XVI When I consider how my light is spent E're half my days in this dark world and wide And that one Talent which is death to hide Lodg'd with me useless though my Soul more bent To serve therewith my Maker and present My true account least he returning chide Doth God exact day labour light deny'd I fondly ask But patience to prevent That murmur soon replies God doth not need Either man's work or his own gifts who best Bear his milde yoak they serve him best his State Is Kingly Thousands at his bidding speed And post o're Land and Ocean without rest They also serve who only stand and waite XVII I w 〈…〉 e of vertuous Father vertuous Son Now that the Fields are dank and ways are mire Where shall we sometimes meet and by the fire Help wast a sullen day what may be won From the hard Season gaining time will run On smoother till Favonius re-inspire The frozen earth and cloth in fresh attire The Lillie and Rose that neither sow'd nor spun What neat repast shall feast us light and choice Of Attick tast with Wine whence we may rise To hear the Lute well toucht or artfull voice Warble immortal Notes and Tuskan Ayre He who of those delights can judge And spare To interpose them oft is not unwise XVIII Cyriack whose Grandsire on the Royal Bench Of Brittish Themis with with no mean applause Pronounc't and in his volumes taught our Lawes Which others at their Barr so often wrench To day deep thoughts resolve with me to drench In mirth that after no repenting drawes Let Euclid rest and Archimedes pause And what the Swede intend and what the French To measure life learn thou betimes and know Toward solid good what leads the nearest way For other things mild Heav'n a time ordains And disapproves that care though wise in show That with superfluous burden loads the day And when God sends a cheerful hour refrains XIX Methought I saw my late espoused Saint Brought to me like Alcestis from the grave Whom Joves great Son to her glad Husband gave Rescu'd from death by force though pale and faint Mine as whom washt from spot of child-bed taint Purification in the old Law did save And such as yet once more I trust to have Full sight of her in Heaven without restraint Came vested all in white pure as her mind Her
O Lord of Hoasts how dear The pleasant Tabernacles are Where thou do'st dwell so near My Soul doth long and almost die Thy Courts O Lord to see My heart and flesh aloud do crie O living God for thee There ev'n the Sparrow freed from wrong Hath found a house of rest The Swallow there to lay her young Hath built her brooding nest Ev'n by thy Altars Lord of Hoasts They find their safe abode And home they fly from round the Coasts Toward thee My King my God Happy who in thy house reside Where thee they ever praise Happy whose strength in thee doth bide And in their hearts thy waies They pass through Baca's thirstie Vale That dry and barren ground As through a fruitfull watry Dale Where Springs and Showrs abound They journey on from strength to strength With joy and gladsom cheer Till all before our God at length In Sion do appear Lord God of Hoasts hear now my praier O Jacobs God give ear Thou God our shield look on the face Of thy anointed dear For one day in thy Courts to be Is better and more blest Then in the joyes of Vanity A thousand daies at best I in the temple of my God Had rather keep a dore Then dwell in Tents and rich abode With Sin for evermore For God the Lord both Sun and Shield Gives grace and glory bright No good from them shall be with-held Whose waies are just and right Lord God of Hoasts that raign'st on high That man is truly blest Who 〈…〉 ly on thee doth relie And in thee only rest PSAL. LXXXV THy Land to favour graciously Thou hast not Lord been slack Thou hast from hard Captivity Returned Jacob back Th' iniquity thou didst forgive That wrought thy people woe And all their Sin that did thee grieve Hast hid where none shall know Thine anger all thou hadst remov'd And calmly didst return From thy fierce wrath which we had prov'd Far worse then fire to burn God of our saving health and peace Turn us and us restore Thine indignation cause to cease Toward us and chide no more Wilt thou be angry without end For ever angry thus Wilt thou thy frowning ire extend From age to age on us Wilt thou not turn and hear our voice And us again * revive That so thy people may rejoyce By thee preserv'd alive Cause us to see thy goodness Lord To us thy mercy shew Thy saving health to us afford And life in us renew And now what God the Lord will speak I will go strait and hear For to his people he speaks peace And to his Saints full dear To his dear Saints he will speak peace But let them never more Return to folly but surcease To trespass as before Surely to such as do him sear Salvation is at hand And glory shall ere long appear To dwell within our Land Mercy and Truth that long were miss'd Now joyfully are met Sweet Peace and Righteousness have kiss'd And hand in hand are set Truth from the earth like to a flowr Shall bud and blossom then And Justice from her heavenly bowr look down on mortal men The Lord will also then bestow Whatever thing is good Our Land shall forth in plenty throw Her fruits to be our food Before him Righteousness shall go His Royal Harbinger Then * will he come and not be slow His footsteps cannot err * Heb. He will set his steps to the way PSAL. LXXXVI THy gracious ear O Lord encline O hear me I thee pray For I am poor and almost pine with need and sad decay Preserve my soul sor I have trod Thy waies and love the just Save thou thy servant O my God Who still in thee doth trust Pitty me Lord for daily thee I call O make rejoyce Thy Servants Soul for Lord to thee I lift my soul and voice For thou art good thou Lord art prone To pardon thou to all Art full of mercy thou alone To them that on thee call Unto my supplication Lord give ear and to the crie Of my incessant praiers afford Thy hearing graciously I in the day of my distress Will call on thee for aid For thou wilt grant me free access And answer what I pray'd Like thee among the gods is none O Lord nor any works Of all that other gods have done Like to thy glorious works The Nations all whom thou hast made Shall come and all shall frame To bow them low before thee Lord And glorifie thy name For great thou art and wonders great By thy strong hand are done Thou in thy everlasting Seat Remainest God alone Teach me O Lord thy way most right I in thy truth will bide To fear thy name my heart unite So shall it never slide Thee will I praise O Lord my God Thee honour and adore With my whole heart and blaze abroad Thy name for ever more For great thy mercy is toward me And thou hast free'd my Soul Eev'n from the lowest Hell set free From deepest darkness foul O God the proud against me rise And violent men are met To seek my life and in their eyes No fear of thee have set But thou Lord art the God most mild Readiest thy grace to shew Slow to be angry and art stil'd Most mercifull most true O turn to me thy face at length And me have mercy on Unto thy servant give thy strength And save thy hand-maids Son Some sign of good to me afford And let my foes then see And be asham'd because thou Lord Do'st help and comfort me PSAL. LXXXVII AMong the holy Mountains high Is his foundation fast There Seated in his Sanctuary His Temple there is plac't Sions fair Gates the Lord loves more Then all the dwellings faire Of Jacobs Land though there be store And all within his care City of God most glorious things Of thee abroad are spoke I mention Egypt where proud Kings Did our forefathers yoke I mention Babel to my friends Philistia full of scorn And Tyre with Ethiops utmost ends Lo this man there was born But twise that praise shall in our ear Be said of Sion last This and this man was born in her High God shall fix her fast The Lord shall write it in a Scrowle That ne're shall be out-worn When he the Nations doth enrowle That this man there was born Both they who sing and they who dance With sacred Songs are there In thee fresh brooks and soft streams glance And all my fountains clear PSAL. LXXXVIII LOrd God that dost me save and keep All day to thee I cry And all night long before thee weep Before thee prostrate lie Into thy presence let my praier With sighs devout ascend And to my cries that ceaseless are Thine ear with favour bend For cloy'd with woes and trouble store Surcharg'd my Soul doth lie My life at deaths uncherful dore Unto the grave draws nigh Reck'n'd I am with them that pass Down to the dismal pit I am a man
be black wheron I write And letters where my tears have washt a wannish white VI. See see the Chariot and those rushing wheels That whirl'd the Prophet up at Chebar flood My spirit som transporting Cherub feels To bear me where the Towers of Salem stood Once glorious Towers now sunk in guiltless blood There doth my soul in holy vision sit In pensive trance and anguish and ecstatick fit VII Mine eye hath found that sad Sepulchral rock That was the Casket of Heav'ns richest store And here though grief my feeble hands up lock Yet on the softned Quarry would I score My plaining vers as lively as before For sure so well instructed are my tears That they would fitly fall in order'd Characters VIII Or should I thence hurried on viewles wing Take up a weeping on the Mountains wilde The gentle neighbourhood of grove and spring Would soon unbosom all their Echoes mildè And I for grief is easily beguild Might think th' infection of my sorrows loud Had got a race of mourners on som pregnant cloud This Subject the Author finding to be above the yeers he had when he wrote it and nothing satisâ—â—'d with what was begun less it unfinisht On Time FLy envious Time till thou run out thy race Call on the lazy leaden-stepping hours Whose speed is but the heavy Plummets pace And glut thy self with what thy womb devours Which is no more then what is false and vain And meerly mortal dross So little is our loss So little is thy gain For when as each thing bad thou hast entomb'd And last of all thy greedy self consum'd Then long Eternity shall greet our bliss With an individual kiss And Joy shall overtake us as a flood When every thing that is sincerely good And perfectly divine With Truth and Peace and Love shall ever shine About the supreme Throne Of him t'whose happy-making sight alone When once our heav'nly-guided soul shall clime Then all this Earthy grosness quit Attir'd with Stars we shall for ever sit Triumphing over Death and Chance and thee O Time Upon the Circumcision YE flaming Powers and winged Warriours bright That erst with Musick and triumphant song First heard by happy watchful Shepherds ear So sweetly sung your Joy the Clouds along Through the soft silence of the list'ning night Now mourn and if sad share with us to bear Your fiery essence can distill no tear Burn in your sighs and borrow Seas wept from our deep sorrow He who with all Heav'ns heraldry whilear Enter'd the world now bleeds to give us ease Alas how soon our sin Sore doth begin His Infancy to sease O more exceeding love or law more just Just law indeed but more exceeding love For we by rightful doom remediles Were lost in death till he that dwelt above High thron'd in secret bliss for us frail dust Emptied his glory ev'n to nakednes And that great Cov'nant which we still transgress Intirely satisfi'd And the full wrath beside Of vengeful Justice bore for our excess And seals obedience first with wounding smart This day but O ere long Huge pangs and strong Will pierce more near his heart At a solemn Musick BLest pair of Sirens pledges of Heav'ns joy Sphear-born harmonious Sisters Voice and Vers Wed your divine sounds and mixt power employ Dead things with inbreath'd sense able to pierce And to our high-rais'd phantasie present That undisturbed Song of pure concent Ay sung before the saphire-colour'd throne To him that sits thereon With Saintly shout and solemn Jubily Where the bright Seraphim in burning row Their loud up-lifted Angel trumpets blow And the Cherubick host in thousand quires Touch their immortal Harps of golden wires With those just Spirits that wear victorious Palms Hymns devout and holy Psalms Singing everlastingly That we on Earth with undiscording voice May rightly answer that melodious noise As once we did till disproportion'd sin Jarr'd against natures chime and with harsh din Broke the fair musick that all creatures made To their great Lord whose love their motion sway'd In perfet Diapason whilst they stood In first obedience and their state of good O may we soon again renew that Song And keep in tune with Heav'n till God ere long To his celestial consort us unite To live with him and sing in endles morn of light An Epitaph on the Marchioness of Winchester THis rich Marble doth enterr The honour'd Wife of Winchester A Vicounts daughter an Ealrs heir Besides what her vertues fair Added to her noble birth More then she could own from Earth Summers three times eight save one She had told 〈◊〉 too soon After so short time of breath To house with darkness and with death Yet had the number of her days Bin as compleat as was her praise Nature and fate had had no strife In giving limit to her life Her high birth and her graces sweet Quickly found a lover meet The Virgin quire for her request The God that sits at marriage feast He at their invoking came But with a scarce-wel-lighted flame And in his Garland as he stood Ye might discern a Cypress bud Once had the early Matrons run To greet her of a lovely son And now with second hope she goes And calls Lucina to her throws But whether by mischance or blame Atropos for Lucina came And with remorsles cruelty Spoil'd at once both fruit and tree The haples Babe before his birth Had burial yet not laid in earth And the languisht Mothers Womb Was not long a living Tomb. So have I seen some tender slip Sav'd with care from Winters nip The pride of her carnation train Pluck't up by som unheedy swain Who onely thought to crop the flowr New shot up from vernal showr But the fair blossom hangs the head Side-ways as on a dying bed And those Pearls of dew she wears Prove to be presaging tears Which the sad morn had let fall On her hast'ning funerall Gentle Lady may thy grave Peace and quiet ever have After this thy travel sore Sweet rest sease thee evermore That to give the world encrease Shortned hast thy own lives lease Here besides the sorrowing That thy noble House doth bring Here be tears of perfect moan Weept for thee in Helicon And som Flowers and some Bays For thy Hears to strew the ways Sent thee from the banks of Came Devoted to thy vertuous name Whilst thou bright Saint high sit'st in glory Next her much like to thee in story That fair Syrian Shepherdess Who after yeers of barrenness The highly favour'd Joseph bore To him that serv'd for her before And at her next birth much like thee Through pangs fled to felicity Far within the boosom bright Of blazing Majesty and Light There with thee new welcom Saint Like fortunes may her soul acquaint With thee there clad in radiant sheen No Marchioness but now a Queen SONG On May Morning NOw the bright morning Star Dayes harbinger Comes dancing from the East and leads with her The Flowry May
agen agen and neer Best draw and stand upon our guard Eld. Bro. I le hallow If he be friendly he comes well if not Defence is a good cause and Heav'n be for us The attendant Spirit habited like a Shepherd That hallow I should know what are you speak Com not too neer you fall on iron stakes else Spir. What voice is that my young Lord speak agen 2. Bro. O brother 't is my father Shepherd sure Eld. Bro. Thyrsis Whose artful strains have oft delaid The hudling brook to hear his madrigal And sweetn'd every muskrose of the dale How cam'st thou here good Swain hath any Ram slipt from the fold or young Kid lost his dam Or straggling Weather the pen't flock forsook How couldst thou find this dark sequester'd nook Spir. O my lov'd Masters heir and his next joy I came not here on such a trivial toy As a stray'd Ewe or to pursue the stealth Of pilfering Woolf not all the fleecy wealth That doth enrich these Downs is worth a thought To this my errand and the care it brought But O my Virgin Lady where is she How chance she is not in your company Eld. Bro. To tell thee sadly Shepherd without blame Or our neglect we lost her as we came Spir. Ay me unhappy then my fears are true El. Bro. What fears good Thyrsis Prethee briefly shew Spir. I le tell ye 't is not vain or fabulous Though so esteem'd by shallow ignorance What the sage Poets taught by th' heav'nly Muse Storied of old in high immortal vers Of dire Chimera's and inchanted Iles And rifted Rocks whose entrance leads to Hell For such there be but unbelief is blind Within the navil of this hideous Wood Immur'd in cypress shades a Sorcerer dwels Of Bacchus and of Circe born great Comus Deep skill'd in all his mothers witcheries And here to every thirsty wanderer By sly enticement gives his baneful cup With many murmurs mixt whose pleasing poison The visage quite transforms of him that drinks And the inglorious likenes of a beast Fixes instead unmoulding reasons mintage Character'd in the face this have I learn't Tending my flocks hard by i' th hilly crofts That brow this bottom glade whence night by night He and his monstrous rout are heard to howl Like stabl'd wolves or tigers at their prey Doing abhorred rites to Hecate In their obscured haunts of inmost bowres Yet have they many baits and guileful spells To inveigle and invite th' unwary sense Of them that pass unweeting by the way This evening late by then the chewing flocks Had ta'n their supper on the savoury Herb Of Knot-grass dew-besprent and were in fold I sate me down to watch upon a bank With Ivy canopied and interwove With flaunting Hony-suckle and began Wrapt in a pleasing fit of melancholy To meditate upon my rural minstrelsie Till fancy had her fill but ere a close The wonted roar was up amidst the Woods And fill'd the Air with barbarous dissonance At which I ceas't and listen'd them a while Till an unusual stop of sudden silence Gave respit to the drowsie frighted steeds That draw the litter of close curtain'd sleep At last a soft and solemn breathing sound Rose like a stream of rich distill'd perfumes And stole upon the Air that even Silence Was took e're she was ware and wisht she might Deny her nature and be never more Still to be so displac't I was all ear And took in strains that might create a soul Under the ribs of Death but O ere long Too well I did perceive it was the voice Of my most honour'd Lady your dear sister Amaz'd I stood harrow'd with grief and fear And O poor hapless Nightingale thought I How sweet thou sing'st how near the deadly snare Then down the Lawns I ran with headlong hast Through paths and turnings oft'n trod by day Till guided by mine ear I found the place Where that damn'd wisard hid in sly disguise For so by certain signes I knew had met Already ere my best speed could prevent The aidless innocent Lady his wish't prey Who gently ask't if he had seen such two Supposing him som neighbour villager Longer I durst not stay but soon I guess't Ye were the two she mean't with that I sprung Into swift flight till I had found you here But further know I not 2. Bro. O night and shades How are ye joyn'd with Hell in tripple knot Against th' unarmed weakness of one Virgin Alone and helpless is this the confidence You gave me Brother Eld. Bro. Yes and keep it still Lean on it safely not a period Shall be unsaid for me against the threats Of malice or of sorcery or that power Which erring men call Chance this I hold firm Vertue may be assail'd but never hurt Surpriz'd by unjust force but not enthrall'd Yea even that which mischief meant most harm Shall in the happy trial prove most glory But evil on it self shall back recoyl And mix no more with goodness when at last Gather'd like scum and setl'd to it self It shall be in eternal restless change Self-fed and self-consum'd if this fail The pillar'd firmament is rott'nness And earths base built on stubble But com let 's on Against th'opposing will and arm of Heav'n May never this just sword be lifted up But for that damn'd Magician let him be girt With all the greisly legions that troop Under the sooty flag of Acheron Harpyes and Hydra's or all the monstrous forms 'Twixt Africa and Inde I le find him out And force him to restore his purchase back Or drag him by the curls to a foul death Curs'd as his life Spir. Alas good ventrous youth I love thy courage yet and bold Emprise But here thy sword can do thee little stead Far other arms and other weapons must Be those that quell the might of hellish charms He with his bare wand can unthred thy joynts And crumble all thy sinew Eld. Bro. Why prethee Shepherd How durst thou then thy self approach so neer As to make this Relation Spir. Care and utmost shifts How to secure the Lady from surprisal Brought to my mind a certain Shepherd Lad Of small regard to see to yet well skill'd In every vertuous plant and healing herb That spreds her verdant leaf to th' morning ray He lov'd me well and oft would beg me sing Which when I did he on the tender grass Would sit and hearken even to extasie And in requital ope his leathern scrip And shew me simples of a thousand names Telling their strange and vigorous faculties Amongst the rest a small unsightly root But of divine effect he cull'd me out The leaf was darkish and had prickles on it But in another Countrey as he said Bore a bright golden flowre but not in this soyl Unknown and like esteem'd and the dull swain Treads on it daily with his clouted shoon And yet more med'cinal is it then that Moly That Hermes once to wise Ulysses gave He call'd it Haemony
that speak a ly The bloodi ' and guileful man God doth detest But I will in thy mercies dear Thy numerous mercies go Into thy house I in thy fear Will towards thy holy temple worship low Lord lead me in thy righteousness Lead me because of those That do observe If I transgress Set thy wayes right before where my step goes For in his faltring mouth unstable No word is firm or sooth Their inside troubles miserable An open grave their throat their tongue they s 〈…〉 God find them guilty let them fall By their own counsels quell'd Push them in their rebellions all Still on for against thee they have rebell'd Then all who trust in thee shall bring Their joy while thou from blame Defend'st them they shall ever sing d shall triumph in thee who love thy name For thou Jehovah wilt be found To bless the just man still As with a shield thou wilt surround Him with thy lasting favour and good wil PSAL. VI. Aug. 13. 1653. LOrd in thine anger do not reprehend me Nor in thy hot displeasure me correct Pity me Lord for I am much deject Am very weak and faint heal and amend me For all my bones that even with anguish ake Are troubled yea my soul is troubled sore And thou O Lord how long turn Lord restore My soul O save me for thy goodness sake For in death no remembrance is of thee Who in the grave can celebrate thy praise Wearied I am with sighing out my dayes Nightly my Couch I make a kind of Sea My Bed I water with my tears mine Eie Through grief consumes is waxen old and dark i th' mid'st of all mine enemies that mark Depart all ye that work iniquitie Depart from me for the voice of my weeping The Lord hath heard the Lord hath heard my prai'r My supplication with acceptance fair The Lord will own and have me in his keeping Mine enemies shall all be blank and dash't With much confusion then grow red with shame They shall return in hast the way they came And in a moment shall be quite abash't PSAL. VII Aug. 14. 1653. Upon the words of Chush the Benjamite against him LOrd my God to thee I flie Save me and secure me under Thy protection while I crie Least as a Lion and no wonder He hast to tear my Soul asunder Tearing and no rescue nigh Lord my God if I have thought Or done this if wickedness Be in my hands if I have wrought Ill to him that meant me peace Or to him have render'd less And not fre'd my foe for naught Let th' enemy pursue my soul And overtake it let him tread My life down to the earth and roul In the dust my glory dead In the dust and there out spread Lodge it with dishonour foul Rise Jehovah in thine ire Rouze thy self amidst the rage Of my foes that urge like fire And wake for me their furi ' asswage Judgment here thou didst ingage And command which I desire So th' assemblies of each Nation Will surround thee seeking right Thence to thy glorious habitation Return on high and in their sight Jehovah judgeth most upright All people from the worlds foundation Judge me Lord be judge in this According to my righteousness And the innocence which is Upon me cause at length to cease Of evil men the wickedness And their power that do amiss But the just establish fast Since thou art the just God that tries Hearts and reins On God is cast My defence and in him lies In him who both just and wise Saves th' upright of Heart at last God is a just Judge and severe And God is every day offended If th' unjust will not forbear His Sword he whets his Bow hath bended Already and for him intended The tools of death that waits him near His arrows purposely made he For them that persecute Behold He travels big with vanitie Trouble he hath conceav'd of old As in a womb and from that mould Hath at length brought forth a Lie He dig'd a pit and delv'd it deep And fell into the pit he made His mischief that due course doth keep Turns on his head and his ill trade Of violence will undelay'd Fall on his crown with ruine steep Then will I Jehovah's praise According to his justice raise And sing the Name and Deitie Of Jehovah the most high PSAL. VIII Aug. 14. 1653. O Jehovah our Lord how wondrous great And glorious is thy name through all the earth So as above the Heavens thy praise to set Out of the tender mouths of latest bearth Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings thou Hast founded strength because of all thy foes To stint th' enemy and slack th'avengers brow That bends his rage thy providence to oppose When I behold thy Heavens thy Fingers art The Moon and Starrs which thou so bright hast set In the pure firmament then saith my heart O what is man that thou remembrest yet And think'st upon him or of man begot That him thou visit'st and of him art found Scarce to be less then Gods thou mad'st his lot With honour and with state thou hast him crown'd O're the works of thy hand thou mad'st him Lord Thou hast put all under his lordly feet All Flocks and Herds by thy commanding word All beasts that in the field or forrest meet Fowl of the Heavens and Fish that through the wet Sea-paths in shoals do slide And know no dearth O Jehovah our Lord how wondrous great And glorious is thy name through all the earth April 1648. J. M. Nine of the Psalms done into Metre wherein all but what is in a different Character are the very words of the Text translated from the Original PSAL. LXXX THou Shepherd that dost Israel keep Give ear in time of need Who leadest like a flock of sheep Thy loved Josephs seed That sitt'st between the Cherubs bright Between their wings out-spread Shine forth and from thy cloud give light And on our foes thy dread In Ephraims view and Benjamins And in Manasse's sight Awake thy strength come and be seen To save us by thy might Turn us again thy grace divine To us O God vouchsafe Cause thou thy face on us to shine And then we shall be safe Lord God of Hosts how long wilt thou How long wilt thou declare Thy smoaking wrath and angry brow Against thy peoples praire Thou feed'st them with the bread of tears Their bread with tears they eat And mak'st them largely drink the tears Wherwith their cheeks are wet A strife thou mak'st us and a prey To every neighbour foe Among themselves they laugh they And flouts at us they throw Return us and thy grace divine O God of Hosts vouchsafe Cause thou thy face on us to shine And then we shall be safe A Vine from Aegypt thou hast brought Thy free love made it thine And drov'st out Nations proud and haut To plant this lovely Vine
but weak alas And for that name unfit From life discharg'd and parted quite Among the dead to sleep And like the slain in bloody fight That in the grave lie deep Whom thou rememberest no more Dost never more regard Them from thy hand deliver'd o're Deaths hideous house hath barr'd Thou in the lowest pit profound Hast set me all forlorn Where thickest darkness hovers round In horrid deeps to mourn Thy wrath from which no shelter saves Full sore doth press on me Thou break'st upon me all thy waves * And all thy waves break me Thou dost my friends from me estrange And mak'st me odious Me to them odious for they change And I here pent up thus Through sorrow and affliction great Mine eye grows dim and dead Lord all the day I thee entreat My hands to thee I spread Wilt thou do wonders on the dead Shall the deceas'd arise And praise thee from their loathsom bed With pale and hollow eyes Shall they thy loving kindness tell On whom the grave hath hold Or they who in perdition dwell Thy faithfulness unfold In darkness can thy mighty hand Or wondrous acts be known Thy justice in the gloomy land Of dark oblivion But I to thee O Lord do cry E're yet my life be spent And up to thee my praier doth hie Each morn and thee prevent Why wilt thou Lord my soul forsake And hide thy face from me That am already bruis'd and shake With terror sent from thee Bruz'd and afflicted and so low As ready to expire While I thy terrors undergo Astonish'd with thine ire Thy fierce wrath over me doth flow Thy threatnings cut me through All day they round about me go Like waves they me persue Lover and friend thou hast remov'd And fever'd from me far They fly me now whom I have lov'd And as in darkness are FINIS Joannis Miltoni LONDINENSIS POEMATA Quorum pleraque intra Annum aetatis Vigesimum Conscripsit Nunc primum Edita LONDINI Excudebat W. R. Anno 1673 HAec quae sequuntur de Authore testimonia tametsi ipse intelligebat non tam de se quam supra se esse dicta eo quod praeclaro ingenio viri nec non amici ita fere solent laudare ut omnia suis potius virtutibus quam veritati congruentia nimis cupide affingant noluit tamen horum egregiam in se voluntatem non esse notam Cum alii praesertim ut id faceret magnopere suaderent Dum enim nimiae laudis invidiam totis ab se viribus amolitur sibique quod plus aequo est non attributum esse mavult judicium interim hominum cordatorum atque illustrium quin summo sibi honori ducat negare non potest Joannes Baptista Mansus Marchio Villensis Neapolitanus ad Joannem Miltonium Anglum VT mens forma decor facies mos si pietas sic Non Anglus verùm herclè Angelus ipse sores Ad Joannem Miltonem Anglum triplici poeseos laurea coronandum Graeca nimirum Latina atque Hetrusca Epigramma Joannis Salsilli Romani CEde Meles cedat depressa Mincius urna Sebetus Tassum desinat usque loqui At Thamesis victor cunctis ferat altior undas Nam per te Milto par tribus unus erit Ad Joannem Miltonum GRaecia Maeonidem jactet sibi Roma Maronem Anglia Miltonum jactat utrique parem Selvaggi Al Signor Gio. Miltoni Nobile Inglese O D E. ERgimi all' Etra o Clio Perche di stelle intrecciero corona Non piu del Biondo Dio La Fronde eterna in Pindo e in Elicona Diensi a merto maggior maggiori i fregi A' celeste virtu celesti pregi Non puo del tempo edace Rimaner preda eterno alto valore Non puo l'oblio rapace Furar dalle memorie eccelso onore Su l'arco di mia cetra un dardo forte Virtu m'addatti e feriro la morte Del Ocean profondo Cinta dagli ampi gorghi Anglia risiede Separata dal mondo Pero che il suo valor l'umano eccede Questa feconda sa produrre Eroi Ch' hanno a ragion del sovruman tra noi Alla virtu sbandita Danno ne i petti lor fido ricetto Quella gli e sol gradita Perche in lei santrovar gioia e diletto Ridillo tu Giovanni e mostra in tanto Con tua vera virtu vero il mio Canto Lungi dal Patrio lido Spinse Zeusi l'industre ardente brama Ch' udio d' Helena il grido Con aurea tromba rimbombar la fama E per poterla effigiare al paro Dalle piu belle Idee trasse il priu raro Cosi l' Ape Ingegnosa Trae con industria il suo liquor pregiato Dal giglio e dalla rosa E quanti vaghi fiori ornano il prato Formano un dolce suon diverse Chorde Fan varie voci melodia concorde Di bella gloria amante Milton dal Ciel natio per varie parti Le peregrine piante Volgesti a ricercar scienze ed arti Del Gallo regnator vedesti i Regni E dell ' Italia ancor gl' Eroi piu degni Fabro quasi divino Sol virtu rintracciando il tuo pensiero Vide in ogni confino Chi di nobil valor calca il sentiero L' ottimo dal miglior dopo scegliea Per fabbricar d'ogni virtu l' Idea Quanti nacquero in Flora O in lei del parlar Tosco appreser l' arte La cui memoria onora Il mondo fatta eterna in dotte carte Volesti ricercar per tuo tesoro E parlasti con lor nell ' opre loro Nell ' altera Babelle Per te il parlar confuse Giove in vano Che per varie favelle Di se stessa trofeo cadde su'l piano Ch' Ode oltr ' all Anglia il suo piu degno Idioma Spagna Francia Toscana e Grecia e Roma I piu profondi arcani Ch' occulta la natura e in cielo e in terra Ch' a Ingegni sovrumani Troppo avara tal ' hor gli chiude e serra Chiaramente conosci e giungi al fine Della moral virtude al gran confine Non batta il Tempo l' ale Fermisi immoto e in un fermin si gl' anni Che di virtu immortale Scorron di troppo ingiuriosi a i danni Che s' opre degne di Poema e storia Furon gia l' hai presenti alla memoria Dammi tua dolce Cetra Se vuoi ch'io dica del tuo dolce canto Ch' inalz indoti all' Etra Di farti huomo celeste ottiene il vanto Il Tamigi il dira che gl' e concesso Per te suo cigno pareggiar Permesso Io che in riva del Arno Tento spiegar tuo merto alto e preclaro So che fatico indarno E ad ammirar non a lodarlo imparo Freno dunque la lingua e ascolto il core Che ti prende a lodar con lo stupore Del sig Antonio Francini gentilhuomo Fiorentino