odorous Combs XCV So full of Joy and from their Bodies free Those happy souls towards Heav'n take their flight And visibly to some appear'd to be Wrap'd up within a glorious cloud of Light A joyful Troop a beautious company All crown'd with flaming Diadems most bright And in a Circle which they largely spread They starry Garlands weave and Dances lead XCVI The Sky was most serene all clouds gave way And brightest Stars upon their triumphs wait The South and Northern Winds their rage allay And calm to see their pleasant Dances sate The air and gentle Breezes sport and play And early birds with Songs congratulate Of Crimson dew the Morn did then prepare Gems for her breasts and Roses for her hair XCVII The vast Abysses and death's Prison where The shades of ancient Heroes dwell then smil'd While those so bright and glorious Lamps appear And the dark Iron gates with lustre guild The Royal Poet and stout Shepherd there Was seen who when a Boy the Gyant kill'd His Sling his Harp and Scepter on the Shore Of Lethe lay not us'd as heretofore XCVIII But then the dusky fields that border near Where mournful birds on barren boughs reside And never silent are impoverish'd were While with fresh flow'rs to braid his hair he try'd When a new light struck through the gloomy air His eyes and he their shining Ensignes spy'd His Harp resum'd he from his sacred breast Inspir'd with holy Fire this Song exprest XCIX Glad tidings see those Messengers of Joy Which unto us were promis'd long ago Behold those pure forerunners of the Day Who with Vermilion rays approach us so Now whatsoe're of old did us annoy Shall cease and we full liberty shall know The Sun is up which guilds our dark shades o're Let 's kneel and all at once his Rise adore C. To you most long'd-for Angels to you Peace And Glory who have that salvation gain'd Which we long long have hop'd But who are these Who are with wounds and bloud so strangely stain'd Who cut those throats Whence did that Rage encrease That on their Heads so cruel mischief rain d What heart ' gainst pity could so harden'd be What hand what Sword so fir'd with cruelty CI. And you that in your selves your selves retain Destructive storms what then did you repress What bridled you ye winds What did restrain Thunder and clouds Your rage from its excess So that this act unpunish'd did remain And God s most just revenge seem'd to be less An Act that ' midst eternal Hate and Ire Furies amaz'd and made Hell blush like fire CII O sacred holy O most bless'd and dear Triumphant Martyrs whom nought could subdue Heroes who by your Captain chosen were To die for him before he dies for you Imbitter'd Apples pull'd by hands severe Flow'rs that unblown in his own garden grew Sweet Roses dy'd in your own bloud and born To be cut off with wounds in groves of thorn CIII Most tender Lillie s untouch'd Jessimine Wherein sweet'st streams of purple Nectar flow Preserv'd in Gods own Garden made divine T' enrich those Feasts he does in Heav'n bestow Fair branches that on earth did glorious shine Torn from the trunks whereon you once did grow Small broken stones on which the Church will lay Its new Foundation and its Honours pay CIV To us here languishing our Saviours name Upon your Virgin Foreheads writ you bear Sweet sheep whose looks your Innocence proclaim Immaculate and whitest Doves you are Purg'd Holocausts bright Off'rings free from blame Wash'd in the Lamb's and your own bloud most fair First Victims that to th' King of Saints were pay'd And by the cruel sword were open layd CV Welcome Illustrious Sp'rits souls clear and fair Most happy Bades who to us certain news Of our approaching Jubilee now bear And long-expected Joys through all diffuse O sacred Drops and every drop a Star Bloud which than Rubies Christ doth rather chuse As richest Gems selected for his own T' enrich his Diadem and his Spouses Crown CVI. O happy wounds and signs that now declare Past Martyrdom with great'st Veracity Of Glory and Honour surest Pledges are That Grace and Love can loudest magnifie Now who is he who will not tears prepare To bath you and with kisses wipe you dry Or who is he whom pity will not move To drink those streams are shed for wounded Love CVII With sprinklings of your bloud even Heaven desires It self t' adorn instead of its own Light The moon in such sine Purple now aspires To paint her Face and mix it with her white In such pure rivolets Angels and those Fires That shine above to view themselves delight The Sun 's ambitious in so fair a Sea Himself t' impurple and to drown the Day CVIII O most delightful O most charming tears O dearest Sighs and Groans that pleasures move From sound of which the most harmonious Spheares Make their high Consort as they turn above O sweetest Grief which the lov'd Martyr bears With all delight and makes his Joys improve O pleasing Death that does more glorious seem Than Life it self in honour and esteem CIX Lov'd Spirits beautious Souls how great how fair Immortal Arches now doth God for you I' th' Empyraean Capitol prepare With Palms and Crowns and Blisses that ensue What greater glory then when Hell a War Designs their King and Armies to subdue With naked Champions who so took the field Unarm'd and thus were made your Saviour's shield CX In that high starry Court where now he reigns In triumph and from whence he sent you there With Angels your Companions the Remains And spoils of his great Victory you shall share The Standard there of Death with bloudy stains And that of Innocence all white appear There for a Trophy ' mids those Troops displai'd Large Banners your torn Swathbands shall be made CXI Even in your torments O most happy you Who rather more of milk than bloud did spend In your first day your last night did ensue One day gave your Beginning and your End Yet was it fit before you either knew That you with Death and Sorrow should contend And with torn Sails your weak Barks first effort Scarce made into the Sea should gain your Port. CXII We infirm Wrestlers we you now may say Faln in the Lists up to God's bosome rise From bloudy Paths we now the Milky way New Stars with purer white shall signalize Our Feet which now no weakness can betray Tread on the highest Spheres and Earth despise We from a loose and little Veil begun To survey Heav'n before we saw the Sun CXIII As thus he sung those glorious souls his Lays Abruptly stop'd the shades straight vanish quite To Heav'n their hands the Ancient Fathers raise Hoping a Period of so long a Night And through the horrours of those gloomy ways The welcom Children now a Burthen Light Bear in their Arms and iterate upon Their holy checks their kisses and their moan Notes upon the Fourth Book Stanza LXXXIV Herod had married this Doris of his own Country on whom he begat this Alexander whose death among these Innocents when reported to Augustus I had rather said he be Herod's Swine than his Son because as a Jew he would let the Swine live but jealous of his Son would murther him FINIS Errata Page 36. Stanza 47. for stocks read shocks pag. 55. Stanza 112. for spise r. Spyes
obtain The Faith and Worship that 's indeed Divine But dear to Heav'n Joseph his holy Train After that Light that did before him shine Leads only from frauds and danger wholly free And far remov'd from Herod's Treachery CXLI Yet nor in such remote and distant ways Could he his apprehensions lay aside Not stately Thebes whose hundred Gates did praise Her wealth and for her Walls was magnifi'd Nor yet Hermopolis his fears allays O' th' Sword so much that he would there abide But black Siene left he forward past To Memphis that 's in Egypt's Center plac't CXLII Nor did the good Old man from thence remove Till Heav'n recall'd him to his Home again But with his Spouse and Pledge of Heav'nly love In a poor Cottage with a Friend remain And there the skill of 's aged Hand to prove He could not from his former Trade refrain But more than one Piece of his glorious Art Rarely engrav'd did to the world impart CXLIII He was an exc'llent Artist and in high Designs could well express his Art and Skill In Silver Gold in Wood or Ivory His Stile was always ready as his Will And now grown old a strong Necessity Rouzâ—d up his wits again made cold and chill Necessity which often counsels well And makes her Daughter Industry excell CXLIV Of Cedar Ebony and other rare And high-priz'd Woods he ample Tables made Great Ptolomy's long Line in Figures were Rarely express'd and his vast Wealth display'd The Pilot's Lamp and Urns of Kings were there And Nile in all his Fertile Robes array'd And by his labour thus to gain his Food Engrav'd in all its Glories Egypt stood CXLV Of these so celebrated Works which Fame Through all the Cities had dispers'd and told He with much sweat and study had the same For the most part before engrav'd in Gold But scorning Fortunes Crosses and the Shame Turn'd to this Art its secrets to unfold And what by his care Industry was gain'd His sweetest Consort and dear Pledge sustain'd Notes upon the Second Book Stanza II. Mariamne was Herod's most beloved Wife of whom at length through many instigations of his Sister Salome and her own insolent humour he became so jealous that she had a design to poison him that at a Council he condemned her and put her to death which she suffered with great constancy and courage Vide Jos Antiq. Jud. l 15. Stanza XI Antigonus of whom before was the last of the Asamenaean Family who had enjoyed that Crown one hundred and twenty years his Army commanded by Pappus Herod in person defeated slew Pappus and sent his head as a Present to his Brother Pheroras the Governour of Galile in memory of their Brother Joseph whom Pappus killed near Jericho Atemion was Leader of a strong body of Thieves who lurked in Caves near Arbella a City in Galile against whom Herod himself led some Troope and after a stout resistance for his Van was defeated by them he routed them and brought all Galile under his Obedience Pacorus was Lieutenant to the Parthian King sent to the Assistance of Antigonus and the Arabians whom Herod subdued Hircanus was a Prince of the Jewish Nation who when once in Antigonus his power by means of the Parthian he procured his ears to be cut off that so mutilated he might be incapable to be chosen High Priest should he recover his liberty and return to Jerusalem Herod procuring his liberty from the Parthian took him into his protection but fearing his popularity and designing a Foreign Expedition unwilling to leave him behind or take him with him got some to accuse him as a Correspondent with the King of Arabia and so put him to death Stanza CXXIII Nile at whose Original most Writers only guess having as Strabo affirms in its Course in Ethiopia the addition of several other Rivers hath two Cataracts The first after it hath passed Meroe at the entrance of Egypt some miles and the other near Syene both falling with that violence that strangers are deafned by the noise and conclude the Inhabitants likewise deaf because they take little notice of it It s Canopaean Mouth passeth by the Affrican and by the Asian shore that of Pelusium Stanza CXXIV Among the many Pyramids three were most celebrated the chief situate on the South-side of the City Memphis on the Western Banks of Nile the Foundation taking up eight Acres of Ground and growing narrower by degrees ascended by two hundred fifty five steps each step three foot high till the Top consisted only of three stones yet so broad that sixty persons might stand upon them By what Engines raised to that height how brought thither from the Arabian Mountains is difficult to discover These were built by several Kings but by which of them and when is best determined by the learned Sir John Marsham in his late excellent Work Chron. Canon Egypt pag. 47. Stanza CXXV The Pharos was a Watch-Tower of prodigious height built at the expence of Ptolomy Philadelphus by Sostratus of Guidos all of white Marble with many Lanthorns for Lights on the Top to guide Sailers by night over the dangerous Sands and the Bar of Alexandria This Sphynxes Image was carved on a Rock not far from Cairo of a vast bigness The head breast and back were to be distinguished when Christoph Furerus was there An. 1575. The head adorned with many Hieroglyphical Figures was in compass 53 Paces and near the Navil of it was a great Hole in which the Priests of old concealed themselves and gave answers to Votaries which the people believed Oracular The Labyrinth was built by Psamnitius and contained within one continued Wall a thousand Houses and twenty two Palaces some say more than as many more of white Marble into which was one entrance only and so many turnings and returnings that they were impassable without a Guide Pelusium as the learned Sir John Marsham observes was the most ancient Fortification of Egypt Erected by Sesostris after he had expelled the Shepherds and brought the whole Country under his sole subjection to secure himself from the Incursions of Syrians and Arabians he made this vast Wall extending from Pelusium to Heliopolis the Metropolis of that Division near 1500 Furlongs which the Prophet Ezekiel Chap 30.15 calleth the strength of Egypt in whose time the Guards upon it consisted of 240000 men Stanza CXXVI The Lake Mareotis of a strange bigness and profundity supposed to be made by Art because in the midst of it were two Pyramids of fifty â—aces in height above water and as many under built by King Maeris to be epulchres for himself and his Wife The Lake conjectured the rather to be artificial because the ground about it is very dry and no Springs near it but the water conveyed into it by Pipes and Conduits answerable to the prodigious Labours of Egypt Among the Schooles of Egypt those of Alexandria were the most eminent where Ptolomy Philadelphus erected his famous Library consisting of
celebrated for any magnificent or stately building which the Poet here deseribes till the Birth of our Saviour gave it reputation and after his death stor'd it with many stately Edifices of Devotion through the Piety of several Princes as Constantine the Great his Mother Heâ—ena c. The End of the Third Book THE SLAUGHTER OF THE INNOCENTS BOOK IV. Limbus I. SUrcharg'd with storms such as were never known The dismal day a dismal night succeeds As if it had intended to bemoan The Infants Exequies in saddest weeds The rain in Cataracts was poured down With all the horrours that thick darkness breeds And from this mute Confusion every where Her sighs high winds her groans loud Thunder were II. Thus as content though not content within The King into his Palace goes again And in that Furnace where they did begin The furious flames doth still alive retein And ' gainst the Children his accurs'd design Keeps fresh within his heart and every vein Fearing that in some houses unreveal'd The Reliques of his Fear might be conceal'd III. He calls Malacche such a a villain none E'r knew of all Mankind the damnedst Knave More cruel then the cruell'st Lestrigon Should all that cursed Race rise from the Grave Born amongst Thieves a Jebusite and grown Up 'mong wild beasts which him their Nature gave So very ugly that if Likeness might Assume a Body 't would himself assright IV. Besides his thin-hair'd Chin and his bald Head His narrow Temples and thick bristled Brow Three Teeth a Nose that on his Face was spread A piercing look his eyes unequal throw The best of which by chance had perished O're which athwart an ample scarr did grow The stamp and Character of Jew and Greek In 's Forehead and his Face as Trophies stick V. Go seek said he through all and with thee take A Guard and if in any place you find Children alive a final slaughter make Do as thou' rt wont and follow thine own mind I 'le do 't reply'd the Villain for thy sake I scorn their loss and ne'r think Heav'n unkind For this sole cause that you would have it done To shew my obedience I 'le first kill my Son VI. While Herod thus within himself design'd A lasting Monument of his Rage to raise Malecche no less impiously inclin'd His Orders for the Fact no more delays A strict observer of his Masters mind To act their parts his Souldiers he conveys No Servant to so merciless a Lord So void of Pity could the world afford VII As when the burning Heats of Summer past The fair Astraea balances the year And Sol more temperate rays and just doth cast The days are mild and Trees ripe Apples bear To prey upon their Fruit the Sterlings haste And marshall'd in their several Troops appear And while far off they hover in the air The frighted Peasants for their grapes despair VIII So this perfidious and guilty Crew Where any Branches of the Hebrew stock They heard were hid the bloudy tract pursue Leaving the slain and to fresh slaughter flock As in th' Egaean when South winds renew The War the Palaces and every rock Eccho with noise so sad and doleful cries Of Women and of Children strike the Skies IX As if they now their Walls and lofty Gates Surpriz'd beheld and sinking all in flames While the proud Foe the Houses scales elates His Voice and bloud and death aloud proclaims Her breast afflicted Bethlem penetrates With strokes and her dire Fate lamenting blames And with so loud a voice to God she cries That Rama's Hill to the sad sound replies X. As trembling stems of Corn the Sickle reaps Or heavy ploughs tear up the tender flow'rs Innumerable Children so in heaps Fall near their Mothers side The Sword devours All that it finds through all insulting leaps And in full streams the bloud of Natives pours The miserable People cannot fly Their rage and know no Refuge but to die XI Into a little Cottage 'mong the rest The barbarous Malecche broke his way Where two sweet Boys he finds one at the breast Of 's Mother at her feet the other lay This with her foot she rock'd and lightly prest And would with pleasant Songs to sleep betray The other from white Springs suck'd milk and sound More than the milk kind kisses to abound XII Instead of a Salute the Traitor leapt To seize the Infant in the Cradle laid And with a dreadful voice as there he slept Awak'd him and most terribly dismay'd Nor long his murd'ring sword from 's throat he kept But to a lasting Lethargy betray'd And made him find alas how very near The confines betwixt Death and Sleep appear XIII Soon as this Trial on the first was found The Sword ' gainst t'other sucking was employ'd And in the Nape of 's neck inflicts a wound Which through his Jaws straight sent a purple tyde And with 't his Food His little soul is drown'd In bloud and milk that flows within beside While still the sharp and cruel point was press'd Forward and fix'd his Tongue unto his breast XIV The miserable Mother had of late Another Birth conceiv d within her Womb Tow'rds which the Suckling sunk as if with that He sought to joyn and find a living Tomb. One in her belly t'other in a strait Embrace she held till sharing in their doom She fell Strange Fate not to be seen again Three in one body by one stroke were slain XV. From thence into another house he made His way and there a fair young Lady found Where newly circumciz'd her Son was laid The bloud as yet not stanch'd but fresh the Wound He lifting up his armed hand the Blade I' th' blood which she would wipe away was drown'd And to the Wound was given by Heav'ns Edict His cruel Arm doth that of death inflict XVI She that she might a little life restore As he then languish d straight the Teat applies But he his mothers milk all turns to gore And her white bosom with deep purple dies His bloud to water then is turn'd by store Of tears which she pours on him from her eyes And while her breasts the crimson liquor dash'd Her Son 's sweet face the candid humour wash'd XVII This done he left her and goes boldly through All rooms in places most retir'd he pries Searcheth all Cabinets and with his Crew Turns up the Beds and all that on them lies At length within a little Couch where two Fair Twins were laid the lovely Pair he spies In Beauty and in Form so like they were That like the Twins of Heav'n they did appear XVIII Born so unhappy and preserv'd so Ill Alike in Form in Sex they diff'rent are One Soul two several Bodies seems to fill And in two Hearts a single life they share Nature to make them like us'd all her skill And by simplicity they coupled were And this new Janus made in Two one bed In common shar'd as they one Aspect had XIX But that
dear Union fierce Malecche broke And quite dissolv'd Oh happy chance said he That love which you does now so strictly yoake So sweet in Life in Death your Tye shall be Nor would I 'twixt you envy now provoke Since Heav'n your likeness made to this Degree But as the world you enter'd at your Birth Fair Twins such Twins you now shall quit the earth XX. His Irresistable strong hand upon The nearest to him seiz'd as this he said Thence through a lofty Window threw him down Which light and air into the room convey'd The other down the stairs was headlong thrown By 's Foot the stairs of rocky stone were made So that all bruis'd and broken every stair An ample Tribute of his bloud did share XXI Each of them seem'd with mutual sighs to mourn And their own Exequies accompany As two fair branches from one Cyontorn She for him languishing and for her he So guiltless both and both so lately born By stones they dy'd as for Adultery For Fate ordain'd they at their birth should have One womb one Bed and at their Death one Grave XXII Thence where he sound a poor and modest Maid Who as a guard did on two children wait The one was slumbring in a Cradle laid The other in a Bathing Vessel sate This with the Linnen often laughing play'd Nought could the others forward moan abate Born of two Venters but one Father One A living Mother had the other none XXIII Soon as the Assailer their poor Mother spy'd So suddenly within the room arrive The Son-in law she quits her self employ'd to her own Son to keep him still alive She takes him in her arms and terrifi'd First thought how she might his escape contrive But an Humane though not maternal Love To th' other would not suffer her to move XXIV With her own Son tow'rds him whom she desir'd To save she runs and poor Fool in her way Met them who him whom she had safe retir'd Out of the water did to th' Sword betray Bald Barabasso and Malecche fir'd With rage on her kind Folly torments lay And in her sight to one the Vessel there Is made his Coffin t'others Bed his Bier XXV O'recome with this surprizing Message cold Seizeth her trembling heart her looks grow pale To th' earth she falls and what she did behold So cruel was her life and spirits fail Some strangled in the bands that them enfold Struggle and strive for life till Death prevail While these in water milk and tears and bloud Sink and are suffocated in the floud XXVI From thence away with like impetuous rage Into an house of Citizens he broke 'Mong whom one married in her tender age Was newly then freed from the Nuptial Yoke Yet some fair branches still her love engage Two at one birth from her Lucina took But now she saw her self made in one year Wife Mother Widow and without an Heir XXVII Of these by th' Neck Malecche seizeth two Another by the feet by th' arm the last One with his Lance into the fire he threw His feet the second squeez'd to death then past To a third whom unto a Beam he drew And hang'd into a Well the fourth he chac'd By several torments thus they murder'd were That every Element a Death might share XXVIII The various spoils alas who can relate With which death seem'd so rich so full of pride This from the Trunk the head doth separate That from the shoulder doth the arm divide By strangling this gives the last stroke of Fate That with his Sword transfix'd a trembling side And amidst rage ' midst terrour grief and thrall Fury with all the Sisters runs through all XXIX The armless Trunks a dismal sight afford And strangled Bodies that the ground o'respread Heads gasping newly sever'd by the Sword Some are wrung off some trampled on till dead Even ruthless Cruelty her self abhorr'd While Death in various shapes such Triumphs led And yet her Fury was too great to cease But malice made the pois'nous gall encrease XXX The Morn was risen from the Indian Sea And by her blushes shew'd th' approaching Sun While Heav'n the shades had mix'd with every Ray And Day late married to the Night begun Herod perplex'd and troubled with delay His heart enflam'd until the deed was done He rose and 's Royal Ornaments resum'd His Scepter and his Purple Robes perfum'd XXXI Streight through the lofty Palace dismal crys Sad houlings and most loud complaints were heard Women and Men with all the Extasies Of grief and sorrow every where appear'd When see a Messenger in doleful guise Pale in his looks and all with bloud besmear'd Came breathless and while sweat his face bedews Bows to the King and thus relates the news XXXII I am Sir an unworthy Instrument Of that dire Massacre which was last night By your command perform'd and now am sent To tell a message neither of delight Nor happiness to you if each event I should distinctly as 't was done recite 'T would be a memorable story and I must speak truth much done by this my hand XXXIII Under your Royal Ensigns as enjoyn'd By you most readily we went away Under Malecche's conduct all inclin'd Your Orders to perform without delay None of us though a Father but design'd To his own loss your pleasure to obey On then we silent march'd conceal'd from sight Of all by th' shades and horrour of the night XXXIV The Market-place first seiz'd and both the gates All Streets and Avenues blockt up and barr'd On every side enclos'd in greatest straits Each place so well our faithful Souldiers guard That no way open Fortune or the Fates â—ould find to make escape or death retard Our Captain gave the word through all around To give the Signal to the Trumpet 's sound XXXV By vertue of your Royal Edict he Commands that all who arms for use could bear Their houses and the City instantly â—hould quit and a strong Guard without prepare That so the wicked Traytor might not flie Our search and none t' assist his flight should dare A Traitor who there and inclin'd To mischief something ' gainst the King design'd XXXVI The Citizens all promptly straight compli'd With your command none backward to obey And in a moment from all streets we spi'd Children through the dark shades to fly away For we believ'd the number less that did Than those who yet conceal'd in secret lay 'T was so and then a thousand Infants slain By several sorts of wounds our Weapons stain XXXVII Nothing but sighs deep groans complaints and cries From every place on every side we hear With horrour in all houses 'fore their eyes Murder and Death triumphant now appear Here scatter'd Swaths and broken Limbs arise In heaps in bloud warm Intrails swimming there Should I what then I did my self conceal 'T were vain Sir since my Acts themselves reveal XXXVIII When thus in slaughter we the night had spent And were upon return at break of day
A sad but unexpected Accident Dire chance unheard of intercepts our way O could your Majesty have been content That we had been less ready to obey But what do silly People know What ill Can give them blame that 's done against their will XXXIX Our hands too ready were alas too prone All our desires to satisfie you were With bloud rage shame our hearts were drunk and none Saw what they did dark and obscure the air The Fault might be excus'd but it is done This said his Tongue did farther speech forbear But Herod urg'd him on and he again Begun and thus the King did entertain XL. While we as I have said your high command Had thus perform'd resolving to be gone A cunning Souldier of Malecche's Band His Spy who all his secrets knew alone Met us in haste to let him understand That he a woman saw to him unknown Who with two Children in her garment wrap'd Fled thence and to a secret place escap'd XLI Then not far distant from the Palace where From the soft stream the Royal Garden sees With such delight proud Libanus to rear His head led on by cruel destinies A Postern door our Guide approach'd and there 〈◊〉 While he desir'd to act all by surprize Through crannies of the broken posts appeard A little light and streight a voice was heard XLII Within a Woman was whose looks put on All that of fear or sorrow could be found Solicitous for her two Sons the one Lay'd in her bosom t' other on the ground With sighs mix'd with a sad and trembling tone Drawn from her heart where doubtful thoughts abound To one dear Child where shall I save or hide Thee in th' Abyss of deepest seas she cry'd XLIII Samaria once had Women as 't is said By Fame so cruel that with hunger prest Flesh born of their own bowells re-conveyd To them and so on their own Issue feast And may not this that their Rage lawful made To Me in Pitty be allow'd at least And to conceal you from these Harpies Pride My dearest entrails in my entrails hide XLIV But after Patterns of such Ills so great I 've often opâ—d my bosom unto thee Dear Child that so thou might'st thy hopes repeat After my Death to have a Life from Me. Nay even my Soul thou mayst lay open yet If with my Soul thou mayst concealed be How greedily should I receive thee here Within my very Soul thou Soul more dear XLV Thus reas'ning with her self the child held in Her arms within a Vessel deep and wide That lately fill'd with Bacchus spoils had bin Not yet quite empty silent seeks to hide Then addes to thee O Vessel free from sin Of fraud I all my Joy and Peace confide And let me ' midst such Ruins thee a kind Depository of my Treasure find XLVI More she would say but at her back she hears Our Captain 's rage and voice who at the door Knock'd and streight in he breaks in pieces tears The locks and barres more furious then before One hidden in the Caske t'other her fears Snatching into her arms she flying bore Into the most remote and secret room Of all the house and waited there her doom XLVII She hid him there but might have with him fled From the dire mischief that was then so near Had she had time to leave there in his steed Some other Child that might like this appear But from this fatal Risque she hop d this Head First to secure which she esteem'd most dear Or with a wile so merciless and strange Make one to take the other 's sad revenge XLVIII 'T was wonderful she past thus undescry'd By Us but through the dark and gloomy aire And horrours that appear'd on every side None did consider what she acted there Besides our rage swell'd to so high a Tyde That we ran blind and madding every where And since she was not in the Palace seen None did suspect this chance could e're ha' been XLIX But our Malecche who exactly knew The place where this dear Theft then hidden lay To boast his power and his fierce rage pursue As he his furious humour would betray Still threatning and in 's actions dreadful too Would scofling with her sad misfortune play And with cruel cunning on her smil'd To cloak 's intent before her Sons were kil'd L. And now his hands then he his feet employ'd Against her now tares her Vest and then her hair Tell me said he where is it thou didst hide Thy two Sons tell me vile wretch where they are And thou said she whose hands with bloud are dy'd Where are those Babes whom thou hast murder'd where Eyes of so many wretched Mothers Thou While I of thousands speak seek'st onely two LI. Dear Children who to Me like Stars did show Whom I so fondly Nurst up and caresst What Nest protects you now did you but know What cruel talons snatch you from my brest That ' midst these wracks chains arms and dangers tho Torments of quickest flames did me invest This Heart which now no other light can see Robb'd of a Mother's faith shall never be LII Whither O whither can you now retire My hapless Babes what fortune can you save You are perhaps to Ashes turn'd by fire Or in deep waters now have found a Grave Food or for Dogs or Birds or Winds conspire With raging Seas and you for pastime have Or the dire thirst of barbarous swords late drench In bloud of Innocents perhaps have quench'd LIII Quench'd alass no there 's nothing can restrain This barbarous rage I see it flames so high To this Malceche says Thou dost in vain What cannot be deny'd to Me deny Fond Faith dull Piety mad Love to feign That as a Secret which must open ly The violence of the sword with quickest force Deprives a Mother's heart of all remorse LIV. Art thou the valiant Mother thou the wise Who wouldst conceal what is already known Who Life neglectest and do'st Death despise For Love of thy dear children this is done Like motions of Love in Herod rise And him invite too to preserve his own Thus menacing he spoke and she with brave And manly courage this stout answer gave LV. Plant Me 'mong swords or hottest flames if thou Know'st how to kill Death will great kindness be If thou desirest to terrify me now With Life and not with Death then threaten me Thus the brave Woman with a constant brow Her courage greater then before they see When the poor infant in the Vessel lay'd Himself with childish cryes alass betray'd LVI â—â—lecche seiz'd the Vessel which upon The floor he roll'd and with it laughing play'd But when with pointed steel nought could be done And that the poignard small impression made When all the strength and force of 's arm was gone What might be done by fire he then essay'd To th' flames he drives it and the hearth was fill'd With bloud wine through numerous holes distill'd LVII As