Veins What canst thou offer now unto my EYE That will the GLORY of this WORLD outvie Wisdom Whilst thou a darksom RIDDLE this dost call Thou show'st thy woful Darkness since the fall For though an instinct still remains to BLISS Yet wantest Light to guide thee where it is But will the good things of this world content Then view what WISDOM doth of this present HONOUR and RICHES her left hand enfolds And in her right hand length of dayes she holds Which she gives forth to them that do her love So far as they may real blessings prove If what thou hast be mixed with a curse It will prove to thee VANITY nay worse That hand of Mercy that gives forth the Treasure To make it Mercy must give forth the Measure That hand must guide thee how it must be us'd MERCIES prove JVDGMENTS when they are abus'd Take all thy good things then from WISDOMS hand And use those good things as she doth command Youth Lady excuse me till another day There 's time enough hereafter for this way Let me my youthful dayes please in their choice And then I 'le pomise to obey thy VOICE When AGE hath quencht within this lustful fire And shall in private weary limbs retire This will a season be to bend my mind Unto those wayes where I may WISDOM find Wisd Vain YOVTH vain YOVTH hereafter is not thine He that hath now no heart may have no time That Captain which to day doth termes afford May storm to morrow and put all to 'th Sword And he that this day will not spread his sayl To morrow if he would may find no gale Or he that gives Grace to the penitent May not REPENTANCE give to 'th negligent But wilt thou in old AGE these wayes embrace Are weary limbs fit for to run a race And when the day is ready to shut in Is that a time this Great work to begin Shall SATAN be presented with the prime And WISDOM only have the Dregs of Time In depth of Winter when the Heavens are spred With a black Vail and all lights darkened When Clouds do thick return after the rain And their repeated showers pour down amain When that Tempestuous STORMS beat round about Is this the only Season to set out Surely if serious this thou wilt not say Why is it then vain YOUTH thou would'st delay Oh that there were within thee once a heart From all the wayes of FOLLY to depart Those gaudy things with which she takes thine eye Thou wilt be sure to find but VANITY Youth The WISE MAN though he said so yet would try Before he did believe it so will I. Wisd But having try'd it he hath fix'd a Buoy That others might not here themselves destroy His own EXPERIENCE he hangs out for light That thou may'st see to steer thy way aright He sets a mark upon this dangerous shoal That upon it thou might'st not wrack thy Soul By Cautions Warnings Tears and sad Remorse He shews the Hazard of this woful course If after all this when that thou hast seen Those tops of MASTS where sad shipwrack hath been Yet thou wilt venture foolishly to stray Though he was spar'd thou may'st be cast away But should'st thou spared be it hard would prove Fast rooted habits ever to remove For like the Leopards spots and NEGRO'S skin So Custom proveth in a way of sin Youth Well trouble me no more I must fulfill Those strong propensions that are in my Will Wisdom And wilt thou rush vain YOVTH without all fear Like to the Horse upon the charged Spear Is Life a Trifle Is a Future state Not worth the caring for and wilt thou hate Thy precious SOVL wilt thou inhumane be Unto thy self oh wretched CRVELTY Wilt thou the way of FOLLY now pursue And turn thy back on WISDOM then adieu But let me tell thee that another day Her path thou l't find like the Strange WOMANS way Who cometh forth with Smiles in rich attire And with her kisses YOVTHFVL LVST doth fire In her curl'd Tresses LETHAL NETS do lye And from her Eye-lids killing Darts do fly Between her breasts surprizing SNARES abide Under her Beauty Deadly VIPERS hide With honey strains her subtile lips doth court The SIMPLE one to her destructive sport With speeches smoother than the finest OYL She doth betray into her fatal TOYL. By wanton amorous glances she allures And with embracing arms her prey secures Thus by her flattering wayes the Captive's led Without all fear to her perfumed bed Not thinking that her woful Guests do dwell Within DEATHS chambers and the vaults of HELL But when a stranger 's filled with his wealth And when he hath consumed all his health When that his HONOUR and his LABOUR lies VVithin her House a slaughtered SACRIFICE VVhen ROTTENNESS enters into his bones And fills his flesh with pain his brest with groans How doth he deeply now reflect upon Those years he gave unto the cruel one How doth he find that burning COALS he plac'd VVithin his bosom whil'st he her embrac'd How doth he now from his EXPERIENCE cry He like a Bird unto the SNARE did fly And whilst unto her way his steps he bent He like an OX unto the slaughter went And that same pleasure which he did so like Now as a dart doth through his Liver strike This is the way of FOLLY this the end Her Feet to DEATH her steps to HELL do tend Like to those streams which through green Meadows glide Till in the Dead Sea they at last do slide So runs her Course through PLEASURE though it take It ends in JUDGMENT and a fiery LAKE YOVNG MAN farewell oh mind thy future state Take Counsel now before it be too late Oh now remember those invited GUESTS That being call'd slighted the Marriage Feast But for so great contempt did dearly pay VVhere MERCY could not gain there WRATH did slay YOVTH VVhat strange Impressions do my Spirits feel How do my former Resolutions reel VVhat strange CONVVLSIONS seize upon my Mind VVhat inward quick DISTORTIONS do I find How do my Thoughts press forth on every side And in two great BATTALIAS do divide Assaulting each the other with great Force Sometimes LVST gaining Ground sometimes REMORSE VVith armed troops the SENSUAL APPETITE Doth beat down all before it in the Fight Till CONSCIENCE with fresh succours doth oppose And by strong hand her Forces overthrows AFFECTIONS see it and do haste to bring Relief and Succour to the broken WING And so with furious rage they down do fell All that their fierce Impressions would repell The WILL well backed with the chiefest flower Or Veteran Souldiers with a mighty power Doth on the Gross of the Battalia fall And questions not but for to carry all And now the JVDGMENT with its utmost might Makes strong resistance and prevents a flight And with brave Courage and repeated blows Represseth the great fury of her Foes And whilst they thus engage with Warlike hands
Youths Tragedy A POEM Drawn up by way of Dialogue between Youth The Devil Wisdome The Nuncius Time Death The Soul For the Caution and Direction of the Younger Sort. Ex Martiali Frange toros pete vina rosas cape tingere nardo Ipse jubet mortis te meminisse Deus Ex Homero 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 By T. S. Licensed and Entred according to Order LONDON Printed for Joh. Starkey at the Mitre in Fleetstreet near Temple-Barr and Francis Smith at the Castle and Elephant without Temple-Barr 1671. The Speakers YOuth The Devil Wisdome The Nuncius Time Death The Soul Youths Tragedie A POEM Drawn up By way of Dialogue for the Caution and Direction of the younger sort The Prologue If thou art serious then attend and see If not yet stay that thou may'st serious bee YOVTH HOw pleasant is it when the Sun displayes From ARIES's Golden Fleece his Golden Rayes How do the Creatures triumph for to see Imprison'd NATVRE set at libertie How doth the EARTH rejoyce that she is seen Cloath'd in a rich imbroid'red VEST of Green FLORA now smiles to see her self so fair And comes abroad for to perfume the Air. The Heavens are pleasant darksome Clouds do flie And give a Prospect of an Azur'd Skie The pretty winged Quire from their sweet Throats Fill every place with their Melodious Notes And what is YOVTH but like another Spring And therefore Young man now rejoyce and sing Discharge sad Thoughts follow thy Recreation Whil'st that thy Blood hath a free circulation Let Old BARZILLAIES now refuse the Court Thy nimble parts adapted are for sport Let thy heart chear thee and now chuse delight According as thine Eye shall thee invite The DEVIL and YOVTH Devil Bravely resolv'd give up thy strength and time To please thy self and all things shall be thine Goe view from SOVTHERN to the ARCTICK Pole The glory over which the Heavens do role And make thy choice when done put forth thy hand And please thy self it 's all at thy command RICHES shall at thy Feet full Bags fling down And give a Golden Chain and Scarlet Gown HONOUR will quickly court thee and shall set Upon thy Head a Golden Corroner PLEASURE shall strow thy paths with Fragrant Flowers And Solace thee within her Shady Bowers Only this word of Counsel must thee guide Trouble thy Head with nothing else beside Youth I 'le take thy Counsel CONSCIENCE now adiew I see I shall have little need of you I am resolv'd to suffer no controul But to pursue these things with all my SOUL WISDOM and YOVTH Wisdom Pursue with all thy SOVL nay fond YOVTH stand And view the Lie that 's lodg'd in thy right hand He that these great things to thee doth propose Is free to promise what he can't dispose Neither canst thou acquire with all thy haste Far lesser things if GOD endeavours blast But grant thou had'st what 's promis'd yet thy mind Instead of JOY would but VEXATION find Inlarg'd desires will keep thee from CONTENT And what can't satisfie will but TORMENT But could the WORLD compleat JOY to thee bring Yet at the best it 's but a transient thing These WORLDLY things which thou enjoy'st to day To morrow may make Wings and fly away Thy Soul 's Immortal look what doth agree Unto its NATURE that must Satiate thee There 's naught but the great FOVNTAIN GOOD that will Suit with thy SOVL and thy vast SPIRIT fill Come then and tread those Paths that will thee bring Unto the everlasting flowing SPRING Of pure unmixed intellectual JOYES Why should'st thou cheat thy self with empty TOYES Youth The way is Long and Thornie that doth lead Unto these JOYES and those that do it tread Water their Steps with Tears and break their Rest With those sad Sighs and Groans which fill their Brest WORMWOOD and GALL on each side of it grow CROSSES and JEARS this dolorous way do strow And all along this Path you may espie Here scatt'red a right Hand there a right Eye Here a dear Lust there a dead Comfort lies By SELF-DENIAL made a Sacrifice And on the Hills do fired Beacons flame Which round about invading FOES proclaime To whom I either must become a Prey Or through their Hostile Troops must fight my way Pardon me then if that I doe refuse Such DOLEFVL WAYES of Trouble for to chuse Wisdom Though at the first this WAY may seem to be A Thornie Rough Unpleasant Path to thee Yet doe but trie it what at first seems hard Will easie prove unto thee afterward For when thy heart shall be enlarg'd with love Unto those glorious things which are above Then wilt thou run these Wayes with great delight For in them there is strength to the upright Let not those Tears affright thee that are spent The future FLOODS of sorrow to prevent No Wine so precious as what doth arise From the sweet springs of penetential eyes No frame like this where comfort doth so thrive For GOD the contrite spirit doth revive Nor let it daunt thee that thou must denye Thy YOVTHFVL LVSTS and dear self MORTIFIE The blessed end is that thou may'st DESTROY Those SVCCORS that would hinder thy true JOY And whil'st Thou Conflicts thus and giv'st the FOYL Thou l't sing with those that do divide the SPOYL Let not the CROSS dismay thee God will fit It to thy Back or thy Back unto it And what Affliction he doth to thee measure It 's for thy profit and not for his pleasure That with more even steps thy SOVL may press Forward unto its final happiness Fear not to Fight the Conquest shall be sure To him that doth unto the End endure For by a Hand of Strength he shall be led Ipon the Necks of all his FOES to tread And on a THRONE of GLORY shall fit down With songs of PRAISE and a triumphant CROWN Call not these Paths then DOLESOM YOVNGMAN cease All WISDOMS WAYS are PLEASANTNESS PEACE Whil'st a good CONSCIENCE lodgeth in thy Brest Thou need'st not doubt of a continual Feast Ask those that follow WISDOM and they 'l say They feed on hidden MANNA in their way By arts of FAITH and LOVE they now possess That inward Sweetness which they cann't express Strong CONSOLATIONS here do fill their CVP Whil'st with eternal LOVE their Souls do Sup. Youth I understand not how these JOYES commence YOVTH must have something that may please the sense Therefore forbear untill thou offer'st that Which may be suited to my present State Wisdom Fond YOVTH thou know'st not what is true delight It 's not to please the sensual APPETIT This will debase thy NATVRE and the FRVIT Will be to lay thee level with the BRVITE That which ennobles and doth truly raise Are VISIONS of those BEAMS which GOD displayes From his sweet reconciled FACE which make The SOVL of his bless'd NATVRE to partake Youth These are but darksom RIDDLES canting STREINS Fitted to suit with MELANCHOLY
VICTORIA now between them doubtful stands This is the War that gives my Mind no rest My JVDGMENT tells me WISDOM'S wayes are best My CONSCIENCE checks me that I don't obey And shews the danger if I do delay My WILL and my AFFECTIONS do oppose And would with Sensual Pleasure have me close Thus in sad Fears and Cares my thoughts do roul Whil'st that I have these workings in my Soul What I shall do I know not this I find That strong CONVICTIONS do assault my Mind The DEVIL YOVTH and the NVNCIVS Devil YOVTH What 's the matter wilt thou quit the field And to a Melancholy Fancy yield Wilt thou expose thy self to taunting JEARS Whil'st thus thou load'st thy brest with needless fears Go fill thy hand and head with those affairs That this WORLD calls for and so choak these cares Or take thy Pastime at some pleasant Play And with those streins of Wit drive FEAR away With Scenes and Objects go and feast thine EYES And feed thy LVSTS with great Varieties Or to thy old Companions straight resort And so divert thy self with YOVTHFVL SPORT Go pierce the choicest Liquors and drink down Full draughts thereof till thou these TROVBLES drown Or joyn thy self unto the Jovial Blades Who hunt forth Pleasure in their Maskarades Let those Cross-workings that thy Soul doth meet Be prostrate laid at some fair LADIES feet Why should thy Day be stained with a Cloud And all thy Comforts under Darkness shroud Nunc. The YOVNG MAN yields this Counsel he obeys And in the paths of FOLLY now he strayes And whil'st in PLEASVRE he his SOVL doth drench All his CONVICTIONS he at last doth quench And so his Heart grows hard his CONSCIENCE sear'd And now he mocks at that which once he fear'd From frequent ACTS he comes for to Devise That against which at first his heart did rise He that will venture on a way of sin Many a dreadful step may take therein His Time it is but short for you may see In the next Scene his sad CATASTROPHE YOVTH Youth How do I now in Pleasures bosom rest Whil'st Checks and Fears are banisht from my brest Those MENACES that on my THOVGHTS did throng I have repuls'd the threatned man lives long Is not this better than to whine away With pensive pewling MOPES my pleasant day How joyful is it now unto my sight To see my self adrift in all delight And as this is a day of mirth to me So shall to morrow more abundant be NVNCIVS Nun. Like to the Poste that swiftly passeth by Or like the SLAVE that doth from bondage fly Or like a nimble Ship that with full sayl Doth run her course before a prosperous gale Or as the Eagle that her Prey espies Like Lightning with swift wings unto it flyes So TIME now speeds to let the YOVNG MAN know That all his way and walks are a vain show TIME and YOVTH Time With winged swiftness I do hither flye To let thee know thy fatal end draws nigh Like to the Grass or like the fading Flower So withereth all thy Glory in an hour Too late EXPERIENCE now must teach thee this Thy life a SHADOW and a VAPOVR is I shall no more turn thy neglected Glass A few sands only now remain to pass My vvhetted Sythe comes next for to be us'd To let thee know TIME vvill not be abus'd Youth My aged Father turn thy Sythe avvay Cut dovvn the ripened Ears let green ones stay Go vvhere the Fields are vvhite vvhose stalks do bend Under their burden and there put an end Unto those pressures but vvith-hold thy hand From the green Blades let immature ones stand I am too young yet for the Sythe of TIME Come vvhen my Locks shall be as white as thine Time Forbear fond YOVTH TIME 's not at thy command The tender bud oft feeels my cropping hand Hast thou not often read Elegiack Verse Compos'd to celebrate a VIRGIN Herse Hast thou not seen the Mother with wet eyes Sprinkle the dust wherein her Young Son lies How oft hath DEATH white Trophies to declare Those he leads captive forth they young ones are I know where lies my Work advice pray spare Where I should reap and where I should forbear I count thy SANDS and when the last I see Fly to it's heap thou' rt ripe enough for me TIME vvill not stay look here thy Glass is broke And novv comes Death to give the Fatal stroke DEATH NVNCIVS and YOVTH Death YOVTH come away for thou must with me go To the dark REGIONS that do lye below Come this same hand must seize upon thy breath And lead thee dovvn into the shades of DEATH Here is no dvvelling for thee but thou must Take up thy lodging vvith me in the Dust And in thick Darkness make thy dismal bed Whil'st cravvling WORMS under thy head are spread The pleasant light no more thine Eyes shall see But vvith CORRVPTION thou must cover'd be Those thoughts that are gone forth for to purvey To Feast thy LVSTS in this thy yonthful day And all those pleasing Hopes thou didst so cherish Of long continued Bliss must this day perish Nun. Whil'st that the YOVTH the King of TERROURS views His trembling limbs a cold sweat all bedevvs His Pulse beats quick his gashly Face looks pale His spirits sink and his stout heart doth fail As vvhen Defendants from out vvorks are beat They to their main strength make a swift retreat That by united Force they may oppose The fierce attempts of their approaching Foes So to the Heart his scattered Forces flow That there they may keep off the fatal blow But when this will not do a parley 's beat And now his Enemy he begins to treat Youth Oh DEATH forbear me but a little while Until my Vessel I provide with Oyl I am not yet prepared with a Light To comfort me in this same dismal Night Let not my Feet on the dark MOVNTAINS fall For lack of Light to guide my steps withall Oh let my naked SOVL put on her VEST Why should I fare like the unwelcome Guest In stormy weather pull not down my Tent Before I have a better Tenement Oh let me stay that I may make a FRIEND For to receive me at my JOVRNEYS end Oh let me truly LIVE before I DYE I want Provision for ETERNITY Devil Vain YOVTH already thou hast had thy Day But GRACE was slighted TIME was sinn'd away Could nothing waken but the MID-NIGHT Cry For to provide when 't is too late to buy Is it a time thy NAKED SOVL to dress When that the KING is come to view his GVESS Hast thou a Habitation still neglected Until the hour thou com'st to be ejected When thou art Harbourless and Storms begin Hast thou a Friend to seek to take thee in Ah careless SOVL how woful is thy state That know'st not how to want or I to wait Come come away I am not sent to treat But for to bring thee to the