their faults disclose You golden pleasures offer unto me But of a wounded mind can silent be Of momentany joys you glibly tell But leave untouch'd the future woes of Hell Though therefore thus you Chambering dalliance praise Within my breast yet this no lust can raise For sweet though these delights are to your mind Yet I therein much bitterness do find On which when I reflect from trembling then No stay I have as with an iron pen I find it in my fear-possessed mind Deeply engraven He who is inclin'd To acts adulterous with his neighbours wife Sports with his body Soul and future life Behold the evil Conscience that great Book Wherein vile deeds as black as Hell do look That memorable record where is writ All ill men do all goodness they omit If such mine be a tempest in my mind An ever-barking dog I there shall find Nor shall my fears my sorrows my affrightings My late-wish'd had I wists remorseful bitings From thence proceeding ever have an end But with those plagues for evermore contend Guilt makes us shake when ruffling leaves we hear When a light breath but moves the grass we fear Before the naked walls our looks grow pale Nor whilst the cause abides can help avail The Husbands fear both needs must overtake Who vengeance claims for his robb'd honours sake He will no bribe accept no gold will blind Or lay the rage of his incensed mind Pale jealousie with ever-waking eyes Will seek when once alarmed to surprize Both in the filthy act which when it shall One sate they both shall have and sink one fall Now think if Potiphar should once obtain Light of our practices my God! what pain What whips or wracks or cruel deaths should be Cruel enough for such a wretch as me No more then words but deeds would speak his mind Me on the slaughtering bank to sâ—ay he 'd bind And there begin where in a fatal time Began my so injurious mortal crime He 'd spit my Carcase then that roasted he Would throw to dogs for them to feed on me Nay whatsoever plagues might be devis'd Together should on me be exercis'd Nor yet should this at all his rage attone But unto more revenge he 'd seek each bone And them now bare together fitly knit As like a chair where you forlorn shall sit A chair so fram'd where days with panting breath You in the Ribs shall dwell as chain'd in death And where of life though I am dispossest Your guilty Limbs yet in my lap shall rest Shall rest said I O no! What thing can give Repose to you who but to grief shall live Shall live nor can that be what life is there Where death is found or ever-dying fear This tender skin which doth my face impale Shall then for yours become a Harlots veil Nay startle not for this is but the way Whereby your lips you to your Loves may lay This skul shall be your Cup whence you shall drink Which shall assist you on your joys to think These locks by you so comely deem'd to me Shall your bald Crown invest and border be My skin all day shall hang to intercept Your Limbs where you shall prisoner be kept And on the roof men so the same shall hasp As if it would you in its arms inclasp But when the pensive night her wings shall spread And drowziness in eyes of mortals shed When nothing's heard but now and then the howl Of some vile Cur or whooping of the Owl And when the horned Moon by her pale light The more shall raise the horrour of the night Then this same skin your limbs shall over-spread As burying you alive among the dead And why all this is done when you inquire Remember but the things you now desire No farther searching you shall need to make But for sufficient answer that may take O my good God! but what should I then do Heaped with plagues more dismal far then you Within whose mind a sorer load should dwell â—y how much more my guilt should yours excel â—magine I were taken in the fact â—nd forthwith so to deaths dominions packt â—urried away by a superiour hand â—hink how my case then in Gods sight should stand 〈◊〉 as the lofty Tree doth fall it lyes â—nd so doth earth-born man when once he dyes â—o as his dying flesh he puts off here â—o he before Gods judgment must appear â—nd as he doth unto his grave go down â—o he shall rise to shame or high renown The day doth come when all the world shall lye â—rying in flames and Time it self shall dye When seas with skies and skies with seas shall joyn â—nd stars with stars confounded loose their shine When the whole hinge of these inferiour things â—hall all be broke and run into their springs When the dread Tâ—ump shall thunder through the deep â—nd wake dead Mortals from their longest sleep And when the dreadful Judge in middle air â—hall summon Souls before him to appear O how wilt thou approach vile flesh that eye Of God who like the swine didst live and dye When he shall on his great Tribunal sit And judge the Trespasses thou didst commit 〈◊〉 thy past days of flesh when thy own breast Shall testifie against thee and infest â—hy soul with horrid fear whilst thou dost stand â— foul Contemner of Gods great Command When all thy works shall be disclos'd to thee â—ow vast how manifold how black they be â—â—d when thou shalt behold that all is known â—hatever thou hast evil thought and done Wilt thou be then as now so bold no fear Will make thy courage quickly disappear Cold sweat joynts knocking and stiff bristling hair Do plainly shew no courage to be there Fear is the palsie of the mind and soul A Tempest which no cunning can controul No bribes or blandishments or Charms its rage By guilt ingender'd ever can asswage But after Tryal then the Sentence flies Like thunder at which voice the sinner dyes Not mortally so horrible the tone Depart thou cursed whereupon a groan Far dolefuller than those in pangs of death Are fetcht by guilty hearts as in a breath When we depart from life to death we come And God once gone then Devils take his room Shut out from Heaven we must go to Hell There with our sins and their effects to dwell Ay me who can describe that place of woe But those that feel it by their feeling do They surely erre who dream there Hydra stands Or Scylla Briareus with his hundred hands Or flam'd Chimera's Harpies full of rape Or snaky Gorgons Gerions triple shape Or those three Furies daughters to old Night Implacable and hating all delight Who whilst before the flaming gates they sit With wrathful Combs their snaky curls unknit Or Dis with his fierce Daemons or the Host Of fleshly Ghosts in sensual flames that rost Or other fictions more but I am sure There sorrows dwell which evermore endure And an immortal God shall then
its too strong dispute In this Lot fail'd for which God on him sent Judicial Judgments of a large extent So that enthral'd therewith he then knew not Wherein so greatly he himself forgot Thus when Temptations do our Souls surprize With false delight and season the disguise Unto our time of grief scarce the sincere Can then consider what they see or hear Beyond their griefs desire and then the heart Who knows forgives and heals the tempted part For he the Will considers if upright Or Minde that erres if but by oversight And cancels those transgressions as not done By him that did them through surprize led on Though for example and for his behoof If lov'd by him he frees not from reproof But with premeditated lust to rage The flesh by provocation to engage In those unruly obscene flames ah me How should this justify'd in this case be You unsurpriz'd have time to weigh your case Yet obstinate no Counsel will embrace Lot knew not what he did by 's Cups abus'd Your guilt you see is therefore unexcus'd O how your mind is bound in Chains of error To think no time the great Jehovah's terror Against lusts fire in judgments did make known Although as yours so formidable grown Lo Wedlocks Ordinance as soon was laid As the fair Female for the Man was made Who though but one yet so sufficient known For help to him with her becoming one God's Spirit by each Vice to hate 's alarm'd But chiefly he his wrath with fury arm'd Brings on hot lust and that doth swiftly turn In showrs on those who in such flameâ— do burn This caus'd of old those floods o'r Hills to flow Where flocks once graz'd where feet of men did go The skies themselves were threatned what before Was Land for this lo Sea without all Shoar Nor any thing that breath'd would God then spare But onely of each kind one single pair Of Male and Female other unpair'd heaps Th' floods Pris'ners were and perish'd in those deeps If this suffice not then I more can shew Once Abram came with Sarah here who grew Soon famous at this Court which entertain'd Him better for her sake there both remain'd As of one womb she being sister call'd By him until her beauty high extoll'd Saluted Pharaohs ears whose heart in flame Of growing lust by that report became Yet when with her this lust he did intend To cool see how God on his house did send Unusual judgments punishments unknown Till he restor'd to Abraham his own And thus if God a fault of ignorance In Princes plagues for lust he 'll sure advance Worse on that slave that boldly dare defile His Masters bed and know his guilt the while When Abram afterwards did steer about His course to Gerar though it fell not out Yet did not God that Prince to death assign Told in a Dream because he did incline In lust to wise Mark but what words severe Abimilech thou' rt dead except my fear Constrain thee straight the Marry'd to restore Untouch'd unduely as she was before Thus lust by God abhorr'd we by this time May learn and held by men a heinous crime For hereupon Abimelech we see Declaring this alike most vile to be And if you look where our large flocks do feed And where our Herdsmen them to Pasture lead You shall not shew that yet at any time Our Hebron left unpunish'd such a crime How very nigh had Thamar been expos'd To cruel flames if she had not disclos'd Then Judah's pledge by whom with child she went And doom'd for that to this fierce punishment Nor think that Judah first that Law did make As if design'd alone for Thamar's sake He was nor Head nor Judge within that Land Nor doom could give but as those Laws did stand But why our Maids behaviour bring you here Since nothing there can for your Cause appear What Sarah erst and Rachel since did do Were different ways from these now chose by you Withal your Husband if not once content Sure hereunto you never will consent To lend him to anothers bed you who To two at once with heated lust now glow And yet withal how vainly you uphold This evil Cause from Tales by Courtiers told As if the wanton Court should Precepts give To honest minds for Guidance how to live But that man in best things who would excel Must shun the Court there doth no Virtue dwell And they who listen to unchast discourse Though well inclin'd are made thereby the worse So it provokes lewd thoughts and to impure Desires unwary minds it doth allure But what comes here should Rest in Pain be plac'd Or things sweet held for being sowre of taste With labour hazardous what will be gain'd Shall that the more with love be entertain'd Because forbid on pain of death shall we Love what 's forbid and Rebels choose to be Sure that man's mad whose principle's so vain To place his Ease in Danger Rest in Pain So Flies corruption love there build their Cell Nor can those humming Insects elsewhere dwell So Fenny Leeks refection find in blood And bruitish Asses thistles make their food O praise no things as sweet that are thus sowre We love no summers frost nor winters flower Who with allowed food cann't nature still Hath an unnatural appetite to ill Who hath so gormandizers greedy seen That Meats by others which bespew'd have been Yet have devour'd Not any sure 's so wild To creep in beds whose sheets he knows defil'd The flower when dreined of its Virgin smells And grape of liquor which dull grief repels Nothing is left but that which none will use Sapless unsavory relicks all refuse The sick of youth who hates a single life A Maid befits not any husbands wife For him a Nosegay's good fresh pluckt not one In other's hands whence all the strength is gone Methinks in spotless love where of one mind In Hymen's band two are for ever joyn'd Whom except death no evil can divide There sure serenest comfort must reside O in our primier years what sweet is there Where such agreeing minds together pair Who in their chast delight withal obtain This added peace that this God did ordain But where lewd wives inclin'd to nought but ill Their bodies prostitute to strangers will There is no true delight for joy cann't â—e Whence chastity disgrac'd is made to flee SEPHYRA THou hast a fluent tongue for Virtu's praise And still injoyn'st unimitable ways But of those many things thou dost rehearse Unjustest Doctrine dost with all disperse What shall men onely their refection have Of dalliance and shall the Wife be slave Since as thou sayst she 's made for his delight Who yields her due when powerless to deny 't It will not hold when Souls of men we see Incline to lust that women yet should be From those sweet joys debarr'd why should not pleasure As well as grief to both be shar'd like measure Lo when a Father from a single
he for love who no return will give And thus unworthy you 'l your self approve If all my kindness you to none may move Though here you came an ignominious slave Yet as at home all liberty you have And by my means from Potiphar you see Large signs of love but larger far from me On our best things to put you 't is our strife He works of honour gives I of sweet life So that no greater evil here you find Except to you perchance we are too kind He with affairs that takes away at night Your rest employs you I with soft delight With ponderous things your care he loads where I Bid you but fix on me a courteous eye No day doth pass wherein I don't accost You in some place or other where I 'm lost In sighs unutterable looking so As sad dejected lovers use to do If then alone I find you language sweet Which but for Husbands not for slaves is meet I give By your neglect if ought is mist I calmly take it nor on pay insist Amongst our Nobles are you introduc'd That my good will alone for you produc'd When in Apparel any dress that 's new Arises that 's procur'd forthwith for you Though seemingly to honour Potiphar Because his Steward and with him you are But ah how far from that is the design To which my soul so strongly doth incline How I revive within this Court to view A youth of Body and of Limbs like you As sprightly lordly and so courtly clad The bare remembrance makes my fancy glad Rich presents wheresoere they may be gain'd I thenceforth plot how they may be obtain'd Best for you onely so that none may be Dividers with you but the whole for thee If tidings for my Lord for some to tell Falls out and know I it may please him well I charge you with it mournful tydings are For common wretches not for you to bear Bestows my Lord upon our Family A new-years-gift or what may th'like imply You both at first with them alike do fare And after get from me a nobler share If of my Gentlewomen 't is desir'd One may the errand bear of you requir'd 'T is first of all for nothing's good esteem'd Not good or pertinent by Joseph deem'd But why thus heap I words on every side Thus you through me surcharg'd with love abide But where 's my lone how are you grateful seen When one hand washes tother both's made clean Can he with Reason although scarce upright Her for her love with sullen hate requite Nay and resist it too has he the face To meet his Ladies suit will foul disgrace Lo Discipline and common Brotherhood Teacheth us love for love to render good For good and should you not that love which I Have shewn you yield me back with usury Ingrate so be thou call'd for favours sake So num'rous which of me thou didst partake Since all no one return again can move How are those looks though lovely void of love My sweetest hopes to this disastrous day As with swift winds I see are snatch'd away From thee nor languid sighs lamenting moans Once notice move nor yet my dying groans To Court I sent thee there some time to spend By which I so thy breeding did intend But that it seems with thee found favour small For where it should be shown there 's none at all But stay forgetful I too far advance I know this flows not from dull ignorance The will 's perverse Cann't Joseph if he would O yes but fancy doth his power withhold JOSEPH to himself A Harlots favours like gilt Pills appear Which please the eye but eat the bowels â—ear Disgust the palate like to filthiest drink Gripe the faint stomack and depart with stink This now I plainly see Seph What 's that you say What is 't you in those murmurs overlay I must not hear How will you in a Cloud Abscond your reasons now reply aloud How with your mind did my last reasons speed Prevail'd they ought Jos Not any thing indeed Seph Can kindness gain from you then no return Jos Yes but in you that grace I cann't discern Seph Is this my lone then I my pains may blame Jos Self-interest favours none will kindness name Seph But what unkindness have I shewn you say Jos What e're you could to steal my heart away Ah me when men false baits to fishes hold Freighted with sweetness but which death infold Is this a kindness flows this from good will The very love pretended 't is doth kill And such your favours are so they abuse The Soul with lyes and certain death produce But I of other favours too can sing Than yours more real far and great which bring Upon their wings Salvation and intend A love indelible that hath no end That God it is in whom I boast this love Who in these ways you run forbids me move Whos 's so great favours I should ill repay If that were all if I should disobey He from my Bretherens Blood-thirsty-hands From a deep Dungeon fierce enslaving bands Inevitable death prepar'd for me Hath rescu'd and from danger set me free At length me in this happy state hath plac'd And therein with high honours greatly grac'd Affording me conduct in that affair Committed to my charge and to my care Thus hath God done and shall I him offend And draw his wrath upon me without end For such unstable flitting joys shall I Chuse lasting woe and from my blessing fly To Carnal loves shall I my self betake And foolishly the love of God forsake Then lead my future days in grief of heart Where nothing earthly comfort can impart If kindnesses should hearts morosest tame And to the Donor with kind love inflame Sure then I ought to yield my God this mind Who has to me beyond you far been kind SEPHYRA TUsh what has God to do with me or you Our good adds not to him nor is it true That he fond man regards for him be griev'd Whose trouble in his thoughts he ne're receiv'd 'T is madness what of Gods fierce plagues is said Serves but to make the Vulgar sort afraid And that th'unlearned rabble of a Land Might by such means be kept in strait command In Heav'nly Altitudes God dwells to know For us too high what should he do below Amongst such clods of earth or mortals mind Who in his Image his delight doth find Should that great Prince that 's Father of the Light That boundless power judge man's vain works of night Here on this dreary dale should his great Soul Consider silly worms in dust that roul He in high Paradise 'bove Angels ken Triumphant sits and rules whence ways of men He cann't survey As that abode is great Ev'n so contemptible's this lower state My house is stor'd with most retir'd Alcoves Fitted to entertain us in our loves Profoundly hid they cunningly lye clos'd In ambages perplexing where expos'd No part is to the Sun to this I ways Have
and these joys reject But why should we that have not reach'd our Noon Think on the period of our days so soon Disturb by thoughts of other worlds our rest And flee those joys of which we are possest Age blith like Youth like hoary age Youth grave Things more discording not on earth we have Dalliance becomes best Youth as hand in hand With joy Youth couples knits in am'rous band Both their designs is Mirth and soft delight As doth their Names their humour 's so unite And both one soul so they agree possess What the one covets t'other craves no less Hymen in stricter union never joyn'd Two pleasant pairs of more agreeing mind Youth in his bloom and now when South inspires Life in the Spring and gathers into quires The scatter'd Nightingales and decks the Hills With cheerful green and Banks of gliding Rills When Gardens re-assume their Summers pride Where Art and Nature both in triumph ride Whose various Flowers deceive the rasher eye In taking them for curious Tapistry Then three chief pleasures he to him assumes With which the hasty minutes he consumes Jocundity the first compos'd of air That knows no sadness nor doth laughter spare Who not on Earth but as on Air doth tread Each step he makes with eâ—eâ— tossing head Next Play whose fingers strike the warbling string Which moves the Soul and into tune doth bring Whose musick regulates dividing feet That move in dance and makes both fitly meet And lastly Chace to fallow-Deer inclin'd But which in Cities not in Woods we find Hotly pursuing till within his toyls He has obtain'd some of those beautious spoyls Then sweet-lip'd Joy attractively array'd With soft Habiliments whereon pourtray'd Are Loves inventions though her brighter air Plunge hearts far deeper into am'rous care The Onyx and the Jaspers various die And Diamonds darken at her brighter eye The Saphyr's blew by her more azure veins Seem to confess they serve but there for stains And blushing Rubies seem to loose their die When her more Ruby lips are moving by The curious Apples of her swelling breasts In which a Paradise of pleasure rests Surpass the whitest Syndon which she wears And gazing eyes to ravishment ensnares Thus clad and qualified likewise she For her diversion has made choice of three Song first with quavering throat who in soft lays Of moving Verse Loves mysteries displays Or of Salmacis streams a Song indites Which turns her listners to Hermaphrodites Loose Riot next to revelling inclin'd So to supply the concaves of her mind Which must by merry â—outs a vent obtain Of that light Spirit active in her brain And lastly Snap the belly-friend whose taste In well-fed flesh than fruit finds more repast Whose blood like Kids upon a moâ—y plain Doth skip and dance Levalâ—â—'s in each vein Lo what a jolly company is here Methinks my youthful Soul with new-born cheeâ— At their remembrance over-spread I feel Which in each faculty doth gently steal We both yet young now flourish in our prime You twenty seven scarce reckon of your time I not so much if now it may not be A time to love that time we ne're shall see Ah why should youth his sweet desires controul And with too pensive thoughts torment his Soul Just when the fragrant bloom of Youth would sprout But 't is in vain for youthful lust will out It will have all its due let th' aged grieve Who now of love have took eternal leave Let them with sighs converse and groan to know High things who with a third leg added go As to like years we to like mood incline Of Sex both fit in acts of love to joyn So kindly Nature hath our tempers wrought That whilst we 're two we 're made thus one in thought Well then cheer up dull Soul noâ— longer now To spend thy days in grief thy self allow O do but see how all these joys do move To serve thee in the practices of love When aged furrows once thy face shall plough No more then these delights will Love allow Of things uncomely we the chiefest find When age like youth to dalliance is inclin'd Come then to Nature Mother of each thing Let 's for an Offring our youths verdure bring Her Priests we are her Temple my rooms name My bed her Altar and her fire ouâ— flame Our days worst part is when declining age Suddenly takes us with a deaths presage Pluck therefore flowers my youth e're spring be past Let 's love that most which doth but shortly last Dost thou yet muse Or is it timerous fear Withholds thy hand Behold thy blooming year With speedy feet to falling Autumn hies And he who gets this fall no more doth rise JOSEPH NOr reason nor Religion 't is that I Should wast my youth in carnal luxury Too soon you judge it that with prudent care I for my hasting end should now prepare But is there any one or can you tell When death shall ring us our departing knell None can the measure of his days divine Or when his Sun shall in its grave decline Even now we by that Pursevant may be Hurried from hence to that Eternity Where no repentance is allowed more To us nor mercy which we scorn'd before And yet you think the shortness of our days To so much more industry in the ways Of lust should us elicite O much beguil'd Nor unto poorest reason reconcil'd Should he who shortly must account produce Of his led life be therefore more profuse Of his most precious minutes and excite His youthful vigor to obscene delight 'T is as unreasonable as t is sure By many sins we many plagues procure O think how oft we crimson cheeks do view Suddenly change into deaths bloodless hue How oft vermilion-lips have been surpriz'd With hue more pale than box and sacrific'd By deaths inevitable stroak to dwell With Spirits just or evermore in Hell Nay though as young as you yet have we seen â—risk morning looks at evening who have been Wrapt in a winding-sheet and oft at night Eyes shut to sleep that more ne're view'd this light We daily see nor is it more a wonder â—ans Sun at noon declining going under And that which we on others acted see â—orewarns may happen either you or me Gay youths as smoak that quickly fades away We as our last should therefore think each day And strive as that perswasion did require By setling things before it should expire To God the fattest of the fold we yield And so the first-fruits of the tilled field How should we dare then with our own refuse Of feeble age his Majesty abuse 〈◊〉 to the flesh our youth we give and bring To God a crazy stump for offering â—embers repleat by age with pains and akes Whose palsie joynts for deaths approaches shakes What will he say or how can we conceive 〈◊〉 our performances should then receive More wisely therefore let 's our time redeem Whilst youth remains which God doth most esteem The
lay on Plagues which both cannot and yet must be born He 'll plague then like a God whilst wretched we Must bear them though we cann't eternally O thou Eternity what great amaze Does thy reflection in my inwards raise Thy endless thought creates another Hell In midst of it if not its woes excel But these things in your thoughts are fond you shâ—w And I in your conceâ—t for simple go Well though I do yet the divine Beliefs Of God in simple uprightness consists Then as a dreamer you ' gainst me exclaim Although than this I have no greater name Nay whosoever for this cause may frown Yet on my head I 'll bear it as my Crown And for it praise my God hereby I see That in my ways his Spirit is with me When Sov'raign sleep descendeth from on high And on their Couch these members stretcht do lye My sprightly Soul that part of Heavenly fire Nor sleeps nor slumbers but remains entire In action By strange visions of the night I in my soul perceive the God of light Whose Spirit then whilst others slumbers bind Graciously communes with my ravish'd mind Plainly fore-shewing to my self what shall And mighty Realms in future days befal Though from my soil for dreams Hate banish'd me Again by dreams yet I shall raised be And those this evil who have wrought me shall With suppliant knee unto my mercy fall That seek with contrite tears deep groans and see Their hate then past shall be forgot by me Nor shall I seek revenge but they shall find To them I 'll bear a loving brothers mind But grant I had power and should with crafty wile The watchful eyes of Jealousie beguile Alas what help yet for me in that hour When guilty thoughts should all my peace devour Who knows not though with care by th'vicious sought Yet their own mind to peace cannot be bought That lowdly vengeance crying each vile heart So Condemnation must to 't self impart You may obscure your deeds in graves below Or in thick darkness them abscond but know Although the Conscience you may charm asleep That yet you never shall long silent keep O no your injur'd God while drowsie night Your eye-lids close your thoughts with shapes shall fright Resembling just your guilt and unto day Your works produce which in oblivion lay That there 's a God nor need you seek to find Turn but within and see him in your mind Examine there and you will quickly know That he 's above and in your thoughts below When heat of lust doth in the lustful cease Strait deep remorse becomes their minds disease Pleasures once over-blown and youth decay'd Regret and Trembling doth the Soul invade Who 's pleas'd when he compares his short joys spent With lasting woes their purchase which torment The Mind and Body with far greater pain Than all those joys before did pleasure gain For seeds of pleasure we but ever find Are cowardise and horrour in the mind Do go enjoy your swing choose carnal things These are those soft delights with deadly stings The death of Souls confusion of all grace The worm that gnaws for never-ending space Well then O much deceiv'd if true delight You yet desire then bravely shew despight To lust deny your eyes superbly spurn At Love which doth in lust forbidden burn Alas and what 's these joys youth swiftly flies To hoary age and with it Pleasure dies Our day-sun set and sable night come on Our woes so come and so our joys are gone Still to do good and overcome the heart Doth evermore unto the Soul impart All comfort and thence grief compels to flye 'T is the best pleasure Pleasure to deny O thou transcendent joy celestial rest How happy are those Souls by thee possest No joy or pleasure like to that we find Whose fix'd abode is in a righteous mind SEPHYRA WEll then I see that kindness is too weak Thy savage temper to subdue or break Which since it cannot my great cause defend That then on other motives I must bend I know that slothful jades refuse to stir Till in their sides they feel the gauling spur If thou art such and such thou seem'st to be Expect the fruits then of my hate on thee Once when a woman prostrates her good 〈◊〉 Her Honour Vertue Chastity her Fame To him she loves if her designs she miss As one besides her self stark mad she is Big with revenge therein impatient grows And frantickly all hindrance overthrows Crossing her end no charms may her asswage Even friends she sacrifices to her rage The sweeter wine at first is found to be The tarter when corrupted proves we see Of once denyed curtesies we find The strongest malice ever left behind And these all menace thee if to that joy I kindly woe thee to thou wilt be coy Where know thou shalt no sooner this deny But in extreamest Tortures thou shalt dye Our passions to extremities dilate Flying the mean we over-love or hate Thou then who art resolv'd no love to show Know from this hour my hate on thee doth grow Fierce and implacable War I declare And what I can devise I shall prepare To work thy woe all mischief then on thee That falls be confident it comes from me In deeds of black revenge we ever see The womans faculties more pregnant be Than those of man for in profound deceit And wise conduct she is the most compleat Well what invented or perform'd can be Of fiercest plagues shall all be flung on thee Each act of thine or word thou shalt have said Shall kill thee such constructions shall be made Nor yet enough things worse I 'll do than these This crime of mine such are our practices I 'le turn on thee and stifly this to be A truth affirm Thou wouldst have ravish'd me This to effect my thoughts now in me frye No holding helps all my inventions flye Where anger leads for me there is no cure Thou must my love obey or rage endure Like a brave Soul who when in prison pent Then more than ever in desire is bent T' enjoy lost liberty 'T is sâ—arce believ'd What by extremities have been atchiev'd This dire affair I must and will conclude Though Earth Sea Fire and Air should be renew'd In their first Chaos And although thou art Ne'r so resolved against my raging smart Yet I 'll proceed and imitate the snake Whose head if catcht a tail-defence doth make So if I find there is no other way Thou thy denial with thy blood shalt pay Hereto I am arriv'd with stedfast mind As links in Chains so sinful deeds are joyn'd Who ill contrives he must proceed therein And for his cloak with nimble skill begin His false complaint they who first audience gain Though criminal the just mans right obtain He who a villany hath undertook Upon no lyes with tender thoughts must look A face of brass must his defence become Lest ignominious shame should prove his doom When potent
death will ease When rage has done its worst and us release Nor may the worst of tortures be compar'd Unto the future joys for us prepar'd Yea let your bloody Instruments with strict And cruel plagues my tender flesh afflict Beyond its strength this shall be my relief My breast shall chear me in the midst of grief Though on soft fires I should be laid to burn Or with red Tongs should be asunder torn Or dropt with scalding pitch whilst I am frying Or broken on the painful wheel or dying Through extream tortures long endur'd yet I To God with comfort would advance mine eye He will I know the force of these asswage Or strengthen me in their extreamest rage That whilst my hangmen in their malice toyl I in their looks in spight of them shall smile If then 't is ask'd why suffers thus this youth While I can speak I 'll answer Of a truth Because he rather chose this dismal end Than in foul pleasures all his days to spend But when my honest deed shall come to light Nor can truth long lye hid in envious night Then so much earth I would but onely crave Where rest at last my mangled bones might have Next that this Epitaph might likewise be On that black Marble rent which shadows me Hereunder lyes a slave in dismal grief who fell Because he lov'd his Mistriss and his Lord too well A little beast there is of snow-white skin Which placed down upon the ground within A ring of muck from whence it cannot flee Unless its Fur shall all-defiled be There shall it stand nay death much rather chuse Than the lest filth its pureness should abuse O if my Marble likewise this exprest In life-like action 't were my third request Thus then at least I shall this rest obtain Where such as you no more shall grieve again My persecuted Soul and this same thing Among my bones shall make my spirit sing Adieu vain world alas how vain to me That wouldst not yield me one days rest from woe My days though but span-long yet in them be A world of griefs which me did over-flow Now they are done and with them done my fears Of restless evils with my restless tears When in the world I liv'd with wordly men Their wicked Souls deep stain'd in sinful spot Would either stain me too or grieve me then Nor might I ' scape their scourge if so their blot But now I 'm there where wicked numbers cease From troubling more and where I rest in peace Because affliction sat upon my brow And was my mate how men did chase my life Nor Goal nor Prison could suffice for how Men most might plague me was their manly strife But now their rage is done no more I hear The fierce Oppressors voice far off or near How have I groan'd beneath the toylsome yoak Of sin and woes which sinful deeds infold How have I wept my sins which God provoke So wearyed out till all my days were told Now my tir'd bones this grave which doth receive From all these toyls gives me a safe reprieve And while I thus rejoyce here yet will be Those that will bless my happy memory In Sacred Hymns composed for this sake When in their hearts chast melody they make Thus I shall ever live though dead when you In infamy shall live for ever too Whose memory will but exalt my name And infamy encrease my greater fame From which of your perswasions then should I Fear all your deaths since I can never dye No since my death will be a gain to me And by your rage from trouble set me free Well I 'm resolv'd death then I 'll rather chuse Than my chast body with vile lust abuse Think not I shall relent I 'm fix'd herein As much as you are to commit the sin Alas you 're still deceiv'd not pleasures past Shall the tormented then with ease repast If the effects of sin 't is guiltlesness Shall comfort such in their extream distress 'T is known they who are plagu'd for sin do dwell That while as in the dismal woes of Hell On God 't is I depend he 'll make me tast Of his sweet life in death Methinks I hast Towards him with all joy though through the fire You threaten with insatiate desire O therefore think not I for fear of you Shall God offend and lust with you pursue SEPHYRA NOw must I say though sorry for thy sake Thou than to bend dost rather choose to break As clear as day I find it now most true What fancy will in sturdy humours do But what 's this Spirit thus that all things weighs That against every pleasure so inveighs Surely a sickness in the crazy mind When that to melancholy is inclin'd The lunatick of Castles in the air So dream and labour with ludibrious care Something they know not what to bring to pass So thou but dream'st of things that never was 'T is fumes of brain which in a foggy state Of weather cloud it and do dissipate When east-winds purge the air and skyes do smile This to regard I think not worth the while Shall I add more JOSEPH N No 't is enough forbear Nor may you say nor may I longer hear Such Blasphemies O thou long-suffering grace That such reproaches suffer'st to thy face You speak but by him yet that tongue employ To utter words that would himself destroy This Spirit is no dizziness of brain But what in flesh and blood no faith can gain I do not marvail you cannot conceive What in your thoughts you never did receive The Spiders cob-web can infold no winds Nor can the Spirit rest in carnal minds Night-Owls and twilight-Bats abhor the light And Sol's bright rays but chear the blest with sight The Spirit in our Souls from God above Is given as an earnest of his love This is our comforter our guide our light Our Sanctuary in this gloomy night Of grief of errour darkness and distress By this our wants in prayers we express Without it we 're unsafe nor can we say What 't is we want much less for blessings pray Hereby our heart 's celestially sublime And rais'd become above the Moon to climb Above the stars even to the sacred breast Of God the Summum bonum of our rest His hereby we are known this is his Seal Which us his own and him doth ours reveal It clears the clouds of ignorance away Us to our selves doth needfully display Begets all graces in us kindles love Within our breasts which towards God doth move Destroyeth then all wordly love from thence And shields us from its hurtful influence The flowing honey-combs delicious tast Is not comparable to the repast This gives the Soul in which its beams when shot It changes earthly pleasures into nought SEPHYRA NO way I see there 's for me to prevail This Spirit or I muâ—â— with might assail For all what I produce and oâ— thee gain This wind repels and renders
Though against me your utmost you engage Yet I 'll oppose but with a juster rage Blest he who in this quarrel doth persist With sin its cursed dictates to resist Happy that mind which evermore doth fight With its own lusts and contradicts their might There is a blest contest a holy war An upright enmity a gainful jar Again there is a peace a rest a joy Which doth our Souls of all its peace destroy 'T is not our loss that lusts a war maintain Within our Souls and put our flesh to pain Our sins to see doth not proceed from sin To feel sins evil doth from good begin Though this seems strange and wounds you to the Soul Yet it is true our lusts we must controul That evil which our certain death will prove We by its death should surely first remove Our most beloved lusts our dearest pleasures Our carnal comforts all our earthly Treasures We in our hearts must not endure to dwell Or else their fierce allurements there repel The most occult recesses of our mind That whereunto our nature is inclin'd Our frame our constitution we in chains Must bind as Rebels and afflict with pains For by the Fall so hapless man declin'd That all was spoylt within his heedless mind And since so totally did sin deprave His Off-spring that 't is onely sin they crave Would it were with me as I 'd wish to be Both from this world and from my self I 'd flee Such treacherous Companions do I find Remaining in my bones and in my mind Why hug we thus this world and worldly things Which no content but sour vexation brings How is it that our Heaven-born Souls so prone Are unto Earth and not to God alone They that for Heaven intend of Heaven must speak Heaven-wards must look and through Heavens gates must break And they by constant labour must outdo The restless malice of the Tempter too But why thus heap I words where words are vain Briefly Heavens road not easie is or plain A thorny way and through a thorny gate It is that leads unto that blissful state Our hearts I know are full of crook'd desires In our best duties much of sin suspires Yet comfort we unspeakable may find That are his Children for our troubled mind 'T is beyond doubt the blessed Prince of peace Shall come and make our expectations cease His day I saw already in my mind And press'd his lips with salutation kind Long since I have beheld as from afar A strange far-blazing glory a bright star Boding great light prepar'd for Zeb'luns day To visit those who in deep darkness lay Behold the wonder which on earth is done A Maid conceives and doth bring forth a Son A Child a wondrous Child Heav'n us doth grant Emanuel call'd Prince o' th' new-Covenant He was a man of grief by 's own neglected Despis'd abus'd defamed mockt rejected Patiently he upon his own self brought Our shame for sins which we had onely wrought His Soul God fill'd with plagues his Limbs were rent With wounds he by himself our punishment Sustain'd and we are by his stripes his pain To God aton'd and wholly heal'd again In unknown paths we wander'd from our way As scatter'd sheep without their shepherd stray But by the blessing of his Spirits guide Thenceforth a better way he doth provide As like a Lamb he 's to the slaughter brought There as dumb sheep when by the shearers caught He opens not his mouth himself prepares For greatest plagues and all with patience bears For our cause he to our Tribunal went There sentence took and thence to death was sent Whom when they first with bitter scoffs revil'd They from the living to the dead eâ—il'd But when his blood he shall for offering give His seed shall rise and through him ever live For by his sufferings as our debt he paid So shall the Fathers wrath then quite be laid Well cheer up then my Soul noâ— now give way To thy corruptions or their laws obey Though thou by nature wast in lust conceiv'd Yet from this Fall thou art by grace up heav'd God gives his Spirit which with might assails Our lusts and with sure victory prevails Which sanctifies the feeble Soul withal That else would down to each temptation fall SEPHYRA NOw I shall loose my wits Preposterous fool Am I no neerer all this while my goal Still so unmov'd no Songs but of constraint Come 't is enough this is the old complaint Base is that mind that quiet peace disturbs To freedome that prefers enslaving curbs Withhold thou cry'st afflict deny restrain Force over-rule suppress torment with pain Banish nay kill out-right Great Nile what 's here Unheard of Prodigies by humane ear Ah slave how well the ornament of chains Befits thee who delight'st in slavish pains But thou'dst enslave us too through sly advise Fool didst thou then believe us so unwise My blood now rises into scornful spite To see thee in such follies take delight At once thou subject of all scorn and hate Methinks I in thy looks now read thy fate Fantastick sop that tak'st delight in woe Besotted friend of Tears soft pleasures foe Rebellious-minded soul at rest in jars In peace as restless friend to cruel wars Thou perfect Bugbear to refining love Who ominous against thy self dost prove Mankinds misfortune in a hapless time Who sure wast born and in a fatal clime Thou neither must nor wilt resolv'd thou arâ— But unto what thy riddle pray impart Forsooth a strange conceit within thy mind There is of lagging miseries behind Didst ever feel them fool who told thee so O grave Tradition whether true or no. But thou shalt feel them now thy self then tell If greater this or thy conceited Hell I 'll now conclude nor think that I 'll regard Compassion more let death be thy reward Or happy life as thou shalt yield or chuse Yield to my passions or that love refuse Fool thou' rt too frail thy passions to defie To a fierce conflict or thy flesh deny Who with too rigid force his youth constrains Provokes his mind to break with-holding reyns Jos Since now you have been pleas'd with snaky guile As for the flesh to argue stiff some while I pray permit me then accordingly That for the Spirit I may make reply Seph No Joseph time will thus be spent in vain What I have said I now repeat again To my request if thou no ear wilt give Thou shalt repent that thou on earth didst live Observe it well Yet how can I believe That Joseph should himself of Bliss bereave Sure if I 'm right more wit doth in him dwell And he 'll be wise when he considers well Thus by these things thou mayst behold my heart How thou most truly there beloved art Accept my caution Joseph have a care Embrace thy fortune and of woe beware That which by th'chiefest Nobles of the Land Hath been pursu'd now thou hast in thy hand What erewhiles Potiphar