Fortune their foe did whilome smiling stand These who but late unjustly doom'd the just Iustly are now condemn'd and die they must No follower of theirs but nimbly flees Away from them as Cattell flie from trees Strucken by stones of thunder's potent 〈◊〉 Which splinter tallest 〈…〉 Now are they prison'd in a common Iayle Where they accusing stars of heav'n raile On one another Fortune they do ban Blaming themselves cursing the foe of man Dog-like they grin and grovell on the ground Uâ—-lockt in chains in darkest dungeons bound Their friends forsook them not the gentlest eye One dropling spill'd at their just misery Soon they became a scorning block of men Th'out-scouring refuse of all Nations thâ—â— Ballads were soon compos'd of them and sung By squallid Rag-men in the vulgar-thâ—ong Drunkards with Mâ—â—â—call Pantamini Begot pastime to act 〈◊〉 â—â—famy They were entangled in the private 〈◊〉 Which for Susanna's soule they did prepare And unto desperation busie Devils Tormented them with their internall evils Iaylors of ornaments did quite deprive them Out-bringing them for hangmen to unlive them The vulgar multitudes unpave the streets Arming their fury with what e're it meets They raye with vengeance running to and fro 〈…〉 Wolves and â—â—gers wont to do Rending the Purple garments from their backs They drag them to the execution stakes Where their high fury soon descend's upon Their spightfull Muâ—â—ians in a storm of stone Which battred them to pieces flesh and bones Their bâ—oâ—d and marrow did besmear the stones 〈◊〉 of their dismemberd limbes were thrown For portion to the Dogs of Babylon So diâ—de these men in never dying â—hame Yeelding their soules to never-ending â—lame Leaving behind abominable stories Of barb'rous actions and foolisht glories And frends 〈◊〉 do haunt they say The lodging chambers where those Elders lay MEDIT. XV. Par nulla figura Gehennae HEll and her torment is no fained thing Though some suppose it but a conscience-sting Aegypt where plagues and darknesse cover'd all Was but a shadow of infernall vale Which Tophet is of old ordain'd for them That shall be banisht new Hierusalem Out of whose torment there is no exemption Of soules condemn'd in Hell is no redemption Some men of all vocations barr'd from blisse Of heav'n descend unto the courts of Dis. There mightiest tyrants with their vilest groomes Keepe company there are no changing roomes Iudges and Catch-poles in infernall Iayle Conchain'd together thence expect no baile The complementall Courtier with the Clown In nakednesse there wanders up and down There triple-crowned Popes in sable Cell With shaveling Priests and cowled Friers dweâ—â— There Cardinals and Bald-pate-Iesuits barke In thickest darknesse whose designes were darke There Politicians with Buffoones shake hands Rich money-mongers enter into bands With broaking Scriv'nors Mountebanks renown'd Who send old Charon soules in potions drown'd And law-concealers with their client-clowns Compleat the cry with Dogs on Stygian downs The Prince and peazant pomplesse there remayn The mightiest Monarch like the meanest swaine Ione and her painted Lady there may well Be equall'd by comparison in Hell Lais and the low-priz'd Harlot life being done Are there incloystred with the Roman Nun. Where wicked people of what ere professions All in confusion suffer for transgressions More horrid torments then as Poets faine Doth ever-pining Tantalus sustaine Or Ixion turn'd upon a running wheele Whose giddy brain persues his flying heele Or Sisyphus though he etern'ly growne Vnder the burden of a falling stone Or liver-gnawâ— Prometheus or all legions Tortur'd by Furies in their Stygian regions O dreadfull Hell in thy Chimerian wombe Shall never true-repentant sinners come Nor into Limbo nor in Purgatory For Sion's Lambe hath them redeem'd to glory Glory to him be giv'n that will not make The wicked innocent nor Saints forsake Be blest th' eternall Shepheard which doth keepe From Wolves infernall his elected sheepe And from this wildernesse of sin them brings To heav'nly Canaan's ever-living springs Sect XVI ARGUMENT For Susan's sake a gen'rall joy In Babylon 't is holy day The Nobles of the City come To comfort her and bring her home THe Sun that whisome hid his shining face With gladning beames illumines ev'ry place The noblest of the Babylonian trains Deck her with Orient stones with golden chains With Gems and Iewels that belong to honour Princes like servants did attend upon her And as they went the goodly streets along The wondring people to behold her throng Such cheerfull vigour hath not since been seen In eyes of mortals nor before had been Her way with flowers joyfull Virgins strew Envy might burst at such a pompous crew From window-tops and tops of houses came Glad acclamations to Susanna's name The people climb'd on high and ev'ry thing Seem'd chast Susanna's victory to sing All men for her deliverance gave glory To him that raignes in heav'ns supernall story The gen'rall gladnesse of that day proclaime Bonfires at ev'ry Townsman's doore that flame They made the solemne-tuned Cymbals round About the City give harmonious sound The Hebrewes did exult with Harpe and voice Rebecks and Timbrels ratifi'd their joyes The Provinces did of her honour ring The merry people tosse their caps and sing The Princes vow'd to have her noble name Written in Books of sempiternall Fame The thrice three sisters of the holy Mountains Were invocated from Hyantian Fountains To tune her laud unto mellifluous strains Of Dulcimer and Viols twined veins Black Cypres from her fairnes froÌ„t was thrown In place whereof flourisht the Daphnean Crown Chaplets of conqu'ring palm she wore upon her Temples Maidens caroll'd forth her honour The honour'd Crowns of Olive Palme Bay Never more honour'd then upon that day The Hebrew-singing Damsels warbled forth Renowned songs of her triumphant worth Upon Shosannim they excellâ—d indeed And unto Susan's sweeter praise agreed Apollo's heires with odour'd garlands drest In decent-maner marcht before the rest Them leading on and with their fluent tongues They chaunted forth Pierian maiden-maiden-songs Who in her Bay-strow'n circuit did bestrew Her prayse in papers for the world to view The best Musicians of those times did bring Their better skill Susanna's prayse to sing And her thanksgiving parents full of mirth Triumphed in the Lord of heav'n and earth Had I an hundred tongues I could not tell What joyfulnesse her noble friends befell Whose dancing hearts and hands with gladnesse stir When no dishonesty was found in her Her happy selfe freed from inhumane wrongs Prays'd God in Psalmes in Hymnes in Saintly Songs MEDIT. XVI Indomita virtus WIth crowns adorn'd bedeckt with jewels rare Mocking Death-jawes and conquering despaire Triumphing on her child-confounded foes Out-wearing Infamy o'recomming woes Doth Susan so returning mock the grave Such honour all the Saints of heaven have Earth's golden crowns are earnest unto them Of glorie 's crowns in new Hierusalem For unto Saints on earth is vertue given To be their conduct in the way of Heaven The deare memoriall of vertue sure
May'st o'recome Danae in her brazen towre Nations in blinded times of old bare love To Heaven when they deâ—sied Iove But now-adayes no Iupiter iâ— found For in all lands Pluto a god is 〈…〉 And through the Christian world in moderâ—â— times In female-hearts god Mammoâ— highly climbes Gold is a Load-starre to their loves it can Draw them to fancy any wealthy man To winne a golden Husband some devise To cover all Natures informities If fairnesse dwindles in their cheekes they will Water't with Clarets and bestow their skill Lest Titan's kisses staine their painted skin Their fannes and veiles shall mew their beauties in If they have bouncing limbs the same are pennd In leatherne prisons proportion to amend If they want grace by art in facâ— they bring Of white and red a second beauty's Spring Such when I see Lord how compleatly vaine Thinke I is all god Mammon's following traine Such yeeld's this world affording other some Contemning gold which covet wealth to come Not in this world whose parents that did breed them With blessed food Helcias-like did feed them And they not worldly minded never marry But where they find the feare of Heaven tarry Slighting Earth-treasures they will not approve Mortals for mortall riches worthy love They with Susannan vertues are endiâ—â—ae Of them iâ— but a slender multitude Who haply train'd in faintly education Can joyne their love with Christian moderation With so much comelinesse as their complexions A man would deeme full of divine perfections And such like Capharean Lanternes give Them light which in nocturnall darknesse live Such when I see I seeme to see the graces Of heav'nly Angels shrin'd in humanâ— faces And then I thinke if such perfection dwels With Saints abiding in terrestriall cell In mortall mansions of flesh what stories Can shew the heav'nly ones supernall glories Sect III. ARGUMENT Ioachim to Helcias â—oes His love unto Susanna showes Her Sire assents his speeches â—â—ines Her heart and marriage-day obtaines NOw when Susanna's beauty through the towne And Provinces was bâ—azon'd up and downe Some Noble Lords who liv'd in Babylon Sought her in marriage 〈◊〉 her Paragon Of fairest beauties so all tongues agreed Who her in wooing had as haplesse speed As those gay Dames that whilome but in vaine Suppos'd the yong Lord Ioachims love to gaine For old Helâ—ias though his daughter could Not fancy them fearing in time she would Susanna listning to her constant Lover Her whisp'ring friends in corners do discover A glorious combat in her countenance By all the Graces fought in puissance A pleasant battle none of them would yeild To lose the glory of that honour'd field Aurora's blush of ruby countenance Nor Maiden Cynthia's silver-radiance Nor deawly Vesper's Crimson-colour'd skie Nor via lactea's heavenly milken die Nor Doves nor Roses could such colours show As in her countenance did come and goe It seems her judgment wisely did approve His Courtly learning in the schoole of Love For yer Titania with her horned brow WaÌ„dred on high 12 heav'nly mansions through She was affianc'd at her father's booâ—d To Ioachim her overjoyfull Lord. Glad as our Lovers were their friends and they Prefixt the wedding's ceremoniall day Which soon expires and in his nuptiall bands The mariage-god conjoyns them heart hands Glad Io-Peans Hymen then did sing And to their wedding pompe and glory bring What shall I say such mariage unbereaven Of happinesse was forecontriv'd in heaven To tell the Bride and Bridegroom's going forth With various musick quaintest songs of mirth When spangled anadems bedeckt the brow Of Madam Bride time scanteth me to show Suffice it you she was attended on By all the stately trains of Babylon And through that town to honour Susan's name Loud Cymbals ring out Naptha bonfires flame Tilts Tournaments and great triumphant sport Honour'd her Nuptials in great Babels Court. MEDIT. III. Verus amor odit moras THe best love-potion is whoever prove Vertuous affection it obtaineth love True love resembling unction powr'd upon The Crown of Aaron thence descending on His beard and garment-skirts that left behind Odours which to devotion mov'd the mind 'T is like the fine dew of Hermoniâ—â—-fountains Gently distilling upon Sion-mountains 'T is purest fire extracted from the Pole Surpassing that that fond Prometheus stole It being enkindled by Celestiall breath Burns till extinguisht by the hand of death In vertuous soules of men Beauty alone â—nâ—ends it not it dures when beauty's gone 〈◊〉 profit not on pleasure it depend's Pleasure and profit on true love attends True love disdaineth all ignoble ends It 〈…〉 hearts in that contentive chaiâ— Which World 's great builder did for man ordain Not in the earth where bloud and wrong abounds But in the bosome of Elizian grounds By love and wedlock highest God who then Made two of one made them two one agen Leaving the same for signals to abide Of Heavens bridegroome and his holy bride Could men of such a Theme no verses make Mountains and Rocks would warblings undertake Lowd eccho answ'ring them again would sing And shame upon unthankfull men would bring Our soules Redeemer by his 〈◊〉 divine To honour these turn'd water into wine At Galilean Canaan God declar'd Heav'n-joyes unto a wedding feast compar'd But for true-love and marriage-propagation The World had still remain'd in desolation O love and wedlock chasing wanton fires Which in our soules the Paphian god inspires In you the poore man's joyes 〈◊〉 abound As his whose browes with fined gold are 〈◊〉 You empty dwellings fill and are a signe Of Sions bridegroome and his love diviâ—â— Your praise alas my Muse too saintly sings Let some good Angell spread his shining wings Descending on them from supernall Quire And bring with him some sempiternall Lyre To strike with aires of Heav'n the eares of men And shew how much indebted mortals been To Heav'n for these let duller worldlings be Ravisht to heare celestiall melody When he shall strike his more than Orphean string Stones streames and woods will dance about and sing Sect. IV. ARGUMENT Ioachim and Susann's love Crown'd with blessings from above They have beauteous children faire Mansions and Gardens rare OVr married Lovers full of high content Live merry lives in Fortune's blandishment God showr's abundant blessings on them down Giving them children wedlock joyes to crown In whose composure Elements conspire To turn themselves into eternall fire The vertuous Of-spring of the patient Ioh For beauty famous in this earthen Globe Whose fairnes sham'd the finest flowres of May Were not more amiably faire then they Lord Ioachim and Lady Susan were When ever nam'd Musick to ev'ry eare Their joy abound's on earth Fortune's Sunne With golden-beames on them serenely shone No sadning want no sorrow-bringing strife Was known to burthen their good mariage-life But in their bosome dwell'd a purer love Then what the Turâ—le beareâ—s his fellow-dove Their dwellings for the years bine seazoÌ„s stand Like little Temples in a holy Land Within
adorn'd with polisht Iv'ry posts And with refined gold of Ophir-coasts Gardens and Orchards they had many a one And such as then were parallel'd by none Surrounded with Bitumen'd walls of stone Gardens they had in ev'ry moneth were green Where trees and herbs were still in glory seen Where Nightingales continuall songs did sing Because they found there a continuall spring There you in winter-gardens might behold Sweeâ— Marjorams some green some like gold There Lavender and full-blown Daffadill Purple-vein'd Vi'lets Couslips Cammomill There verdant herbs there blossom'd Rosemary Flourisht with the immortall Daphnean tree In Winter-moneths there might you gather posies Of Gillowâ—â—â—w is and pretty Prime-â—oses There plushen-pasies woodbine-double flowers And brables sweet deckt Flora's winter-bowers There Periwincles Germander and Lillies With Flags aspir'd behind Nardissâ—â— Dillies There lofty Firre-trees Pink like leaved Pine Pomecitron-trees and trees which Ivâ—es twine There berrâ—â—d Hollyes Iuniper and Ew With neverâ—more decaying Boxtrees grew There Orenge Limon Palm Pomegâ—anad 〈◊〉 Cypresse and shady Mirtle-trees were seen There many plants bearing no fruit but flowres By art were chang'd to eye contenting bowres There Labyrinths and many Mazes were A little Wildernesse of trees was there All which in Winter-gardens seemed gay As greenest Elme-trees in the moneth of May. There the Mezerion-plants on high did bloome From plants and hearbs such spicy winds would come That you would think had you been there there moves Autumnall ayres of blest Arabian groves To say what hearbs what plants and odours fill Their Summer-grounds 〈◊〉 my weaker The Graciâ—◠〈…〉 of the glories skil Within those places wrote Elizian stories Where Pleiades celestiall influences Bred orient colour'd flowres to cheer the sences And to content the Spirits there did stand The owner's study on a knowle of land Where the desilience of argentine-streames Enlightned it with Sols reniding beames Thrice happy man he did enjoy the pleasure Of almost Eden in the highest measure That any man since Adam fell obtein'd In Regions where Eâ—an Monarchs raign'd Faire Stillatories he had builded there Where Flora's vertuall powers did appeare But beautifull Susanna Io chiâ—â— Erde More pleasant was then all the flowr's beside His Olive-orchards Parks and Vineyards all His bleating slocks which came at shepherds cal His corn his wine his plenteous Bahns Mirrh Were slender blessings all compar'd with herâ— For my Vrania in Queen Flora's bowres Dares sing Susanna fairer then earthly flowres MEDIT. IV. Bonis bona singula THus righteous soules are blest their God who guides The flouds of Heaven and the Ocean tydes Who fils the world with plenteousnesse and roules The rapid Spheeres on their unmoving Poles Doth send them comforts from his holy hill And the desires of their soules fulfill Their wives resemble Vine-trees on the house Their youthfull sonnes those pleasant Olive-boughes Abounding with the fattest dewes of Sion Their furnisht tables round about environ Their daughters faire of Vertue faire ensamples Like polisht pillars in the holy Temples Their eyes behold their childrens children in The land of grace when peace is crowned Queen On their inherâ—tance Heaven sendeth downe All promis'd blessings their desires to crowne With joyes beyond their wish no hail-stones shall No mildewes harme on their corn-acres fall Their land unlike unto Aegyptian grounds Which watring Nylus often starve's and drownd's Th' eternall send 's from his round running thron The former with the latter rain upon Their mountains vales and dales of corne shall bring With fruitfulnesse that they shall laugh and sing Their fertile Vines with clusters heauy loaden Shall almost burst before they can be trodden Into the painfull wine-presse they shall leave Behind enough for strangers to receive Their Garners shall with wheat be over-heel'd Their casks with wine with milk and oile be fill'd Their cattell fruitfull where the same abide Grasse shall up-spring like that on Iordan side Aspiring in the kindly moneth of May. Butter and Honey shall their stomacks stay Rivers anammell all their virid plaines Where milk and mel and Maja still remayn's Whose motley medow's pomp shall be maintain'd By Iris riches when the Heav'ns have rain'd Fishes shall multiplying fill their floods As greenest leaves replenish Summer 〈◊〉 Blessings shall streame unto them unto them Belong the joyes of new Hierusalem In terrene troubles wheresoe're they fall God their protector bring 's them out of all Confirm'd by God and man they stand belov'd Like Sion-mountains which are never mov'd These are their earthly blessings these in summe Fore type mans better heav'nly blisse tâ— come Sect. V. ARGUMENT Ioachim's frequented Feasts Princely fare for Princely guests Two lewd Elders most unjust To lie with Susan burne in lust LOrd Ioachim and his beloved Spouse To honest commers kept a bounteous house Unto their Lordly Palace ev'ry day Their Kinsmen came to banish dole away Somtime they spent their time in harmles mirth Sometimes in games the pleasures of the earth Lord Ioachim was niggard unto none His greatest comfort underneath the Sunne Was to bid strangers welcome to his table His pilgrimage of life was honorable Pilgrims about the World report his fame As Sidney's lines one Lord Kalander's name Princes and judges to their sumptuous Palace Would often journey for their better solace Where feasting dayes save Players made no sport Resembled grand dayes in a Princes court The captive Hebrewes that had long been sorry Without abuse would there be often merry To welcome them who thither would repaire The dainties of the Ocean Earth and Aire He wanted not of junckettings no dearth Hesperian gardens such things brought not forth The Manna that on Thisbe's tree distil's In Summer-mornings on Calabrian hils He counted but a drug his plenteous wines Equall'd the red juyce of Engeddian Vines He had Ambrozian junckets men did thinke Supernall Nectar had been there for drinke Abusive Bacchanalians which doe marre The blisse of man from him were banisht farre But if in Babylon liv'd any poore They were releev'd by his abundant store The Hebrew-Elders earnestly intreat Within his hall to build their judgment seat He granted their petition all and some Who had to doe in law did thither come Now were not any in more honour there Then Ioachim and his Susanna were Now Fortune's Sun as never 't would decline Upon Susanna smilingly did shine She found a Heav'n on Earth living a life Most Princesse like most worthy Ioâ—chim's wife But mundane pleasures which doe flatter soules May in one moment all be turn'd to doles Behold you that beheld the splendent light Of Susan's vertue with your mentall sight What Hel-born darknes would defile her fame And with reproach intombe her honor'd name In Babylon an annuall custome was To change their Iudges as the yeares did passe Iudicious Princes once a yeare did chuse A paire of Elders fit to doome the Iewes Who now mistaken had selected forth Two sonnes of Belial men of seeming worth Dissembling Lawyers such as all their lives
to her father's house Commanding upon pain of fines that none Should speak with her til morning Phoebus shone Where she good heart lie's pickled up in teares While to her parents she her conscience cleeres The vulgar people these aspersions cast Susanna is more beautifull then chast And as Diana kist with loving skill Shepheard Endimion upon Latmos hill Susanna so in wanton-bowers did spend Her houres in dalliance with a nimble friend These torrents of unjust defame and wrongs Of derogating vulgar-taunting tongues Like swelling flouds that to the Ocean roule Adde fresher troubles to her vexed soule Some men of Babylon begin to scorn Lord Ioachim pointing at him the horn But his true friends coÌ„joyn'd with him in prayer Knowing Susanna chast as she is faire They in compassion of this Innocent A silver-sea in brinish showers spent Till sable night had with her Ebon-robe Darkned the surface of this earthen Globe And drowsie Morpheus with his leaden key Had lockt the doores of many a mortall eye Night being waxen old and drunk with teares No golden star was seen to gild the Spheares Titan to their Antipodites being gone To luminate another Horizon Now did these Elders hold a parolment To practise mischiefe ' gainst this innocent Where they determin'd when the morning came They would condemne this good distressed dame So they departed bed-wards guilty feares Ringing like larums in their frightned eares In them the terrours of th' internall worme Ten thousand kinds of living deaths did forme Dissembling Satan tempting them 'till day To have them take Susannas life away Which they resolv'd yet did their bosomes quake Fearing of men whom they afraid should make MEDIT. IX Ludit in humanis divina potentia rebus WHat shall I laugh that Fortune like a ball Bandies the Globe of this inconstant All Shall loud Abderian laughter fill my tongue Or shall I sing Ephesian mourning song Because the world 's a wel concordant jarre Like fained Perseus wedding bringing warre Nothing subsists beneath the Cynthian flame But somewhat live's to terrifie the same The Emperour and Peazant have their foes Aswell as friends world's Epidemick woee And casuall joyes denoting great men know Few reall friends from friends in fained show Too day unconstant worldlings will dispraise Whom they to morrow to the Heavens raise And presently their judgements will condemne The persons whilome in esteeme of them 'T is necessary that offences come But woe and many woes to them by whom 'T were better they with milstones heavy tied About their necks had in the Ocean died 'T is necessary that offences come To make us mindfull of supernall home Should be continuall Summer all things faire And plentifull few soules for heav'n would care Should Fortune cheere us with still smiling eye We should condoat on this vain world and die Therefore all things beneath-expansed Heaven God hath to change and revolution given The Sun attain'd to his Meridian throne Declines again till he from thence be gone The gentle calmes bring rougher stormes and all Hot gleames of Titan cause cold showers to fall Mild Zeph'ry Summer partâ—s in Summers roome I hill Winter with Aeolian rufflers come Age follow 's youth death life night followes day So vanisheth world's glory clean away Calamity and comfort comes and goes From man to man like Neptune's ebbe and flowes Now caroll we like Nightingales of May Anon like Pellicans we pine away In humane things a pow'r divine doth play This changfull world attend's her changing day We prostrate lie on dunghils and anon Ascend in triumph upon Honour's throne Earth-joyes are false they bid us soon adue Her during-sorrowes are most certain true Our wise forefathers doted not on this Deceitfull round where Satan's kingdome is Though living in the golden age of joy Hundreds of yeeres they counted earth a toy But in these Iron-generations some Prize it on whom world's worser ends are come My soule contemnes this world which over flowes Me like a Sea with tydes of briny woes Where griefe 's Vorago's upon either hand Worser then Scylla with Charybdis stand Lord daigne we may by trouble-stormes 〈◊〉 Hence to our soule-contenting rest in heaven Sith we to Eden must through Bochim goe Thy will be done deere God that wil 's it so For one sweet day within the Courts of Heaven Will recompence all torts on earth receiven Sect. X. ARGUMENT Susan arraign'd the Bench before Falsly accus'd to be a whore Iudgment against her rashly given She prayes unto the Iudge of Heaven WHen day had with his early dawning light Earth uninvelopt from the cloudy night And rising Titan gloriously had shon Upon the golden Tow'rs of Babylon Firing the pine-trees on the Eastern Mountains Dancing a while on warme Eoan Fountains These scarlet-judges with their purple-brothers With swarmes of Babylonians Iewes and others Assemble in Lord Ioachim's great Hall Where to the Bar Susanna they do call Who thither comes and on her train attends 〈…〉 friends 〈…〉 in that place to wrong That places Owner whose mild kindnesse long There suffred them to make a Senat-roome O Devillish to pronounce a murdrous doome A sentence there to rifle her of Fame And in the Scroll of death describe her name Which in life's golden roll Angels on high Fore-registred above the shining skie Hence gentle eyes your teares again will drown Her story teer-already overflown The veile which modest Hebrew-women weare They gave command should be ta'ne from her there Forgetting all humanity and duty To glut their wicked eyes upon her beauty The sight whereof transpierced soules so deep All her spectators could not choose but weep The most obdurate Hinds in all that Nation Shed plenteous teares in this collachrimation Such sighes and grones came from her kindred pale As once were heard in Hadadeimmon-vale When as she heav'nwards looking Elders lai'd Their cursed hands upon her head and said Her accusation and condemnation AS we two were in Ioachim's garden-places One to another putting doubtfull cases Susanna with two Damsels yesterday Came there to walk sending her Maids away Who shut her Garden-dores and inwards went Then came a young man from enambushment Unto Susanna we beheld them in The Goatish action of Venerian sinne Which thing perceiving gently we drew neere If possibly to apprehend him there But the young Ruffian spying us forsook His Paramour and to his heels betook Him suddenly whom we persu'd a main With loudest hubbubs that he might be tane For he was lusty nimbler far then we And from us through the upper doore went he So he escapt this apprehended woman Deni'd the Fact affirming there was no man And urg'd by us disdained to confesse The runnaway's Name unto which wickednes She multiplieth more saying to wit We two with her Adult'ry would commit Thus scandall bringing on us but my Lords As there 's a powre divine discerning words And deeds of Mortals we prolate no lies T' is true so doom us he that fram'd the skies Here at the
over-credent bench and all Assembled Senators in the sabled hall With teares in their impartiall eyes that came Past dismall doom on this unguilty dame Susanna heare's which sentence of her doome Yet no cold faintnesse in her heart doth come Till when her friends like Conduits standing by Water'd their garments that no thread was dry Then Susan most abundantly did steep Her selfe in teares and Mirrha-like did weep Her teare-besprinkled countenance did shew Like Damask-roses deckt with morning-dew Her faith was firme in heaven thus she praid That scant might speak to mortall men and said Eternall Iudge Discerner of all things That shelter under gloomy darknesse wings Who rightly dooming from supernall throne The dwellers of this world dost look upon Who yer they come to passe dost truly know All thoughts and actions that are done below Know'st thy wrong'd handmaid's innocence and how These sinfull Elders seek mine overthrow Without my fault how wanting heav'nly grace They forge untrue tales on the judgment-place Lord that defended'st me reposing trust In thy protection from undoing lust To me be gracious from thine holy hill Protect me with paternall kindnesse still From malice and confusion so may I Survive my foes thy name to magnifie MEDIT. X. An terras Astraea reliquit IS faire Susanna so condemn'd will none Paroll in her defence in Babylon Must she expire according to her doome Return grim Death into the silent tombs Or charnel house unto thy dusty dwelling Reduce poore chained bondmen ever yelling In recent pains whose bones fell Tyrants grinde Fetch them away that are with famine pinde Take sickly people to thee which endure Torments that Aesculapius cannot cure But meager death if thou wilt feed thy fill On brawny hearts a slender while be still Death spare the innocent and let thy frowne Divine Astraea hurle delinquents downe But what is sin-confounding Iustice gone From Earth and seated in Syderian throne Among the number of imagin'd signes Or is she blinded in terrene designes Where is becomming Mercie that should rest Aswell as judgement in the Iudges brest Is Mercie counted but a foolish pittie For ever banisht from the sinfull Citie Where are the Wisemen telling things to come And by-past secrets to reverse a doome If they could guesse by countenance-guessing skill And artfull rules she was unguilty still But wisdome never dwelt on Shinar-plains Where nothing but unrighteousnesse remayns How long almighty Lord shall Iudah dwell In Babylon the sonnes of Israel Heires of thy promis'd Canaan be a scorn To Katife-Nations shall thine eldest born Thy sole-begotten thy most ardent lover Abandon'd be for ever bounden over Into the hands of Infidels how long Shall they complain yer thou avenge their wrong How long shall Foxes of the Deserts prove To spill the spirit of thy Turtle-dove How long shall wicked men like Palme-trees flourish Shall them the land with fatnesse ever nourish Shall wronged Hebrewes pine away and die From Aegypt quit by Babel's tyranny Are thy sweet mercie 's golden Fountains poore Or faileth Lord thy promise evermore Hast thou forgotten to be gracious hath Thy wonted favour lost it selfe in wrath Harken'st thou not unto the fervent prayers Of injur'd pris'ners pittiest not their teares How long shall Babylonian tyrants say The Lord regard's not what his servants pray Shall in the tombe thy faithfulnesse be known Thy loving kindnesse in destruction shown Shall sinners triumph Saints by sinner's doome Against thy promise to confusion come Shall sooner hils and bulky Mountains fly Like Atomies about the shining sky Sooner the Earth and Heaven melt away Then shall one title of thy words decay I know petitions of the faithfull break The doores of Heaven and in thy presence speake I know thy mercies and thy judgments will Be ever certain as they have been still And wicked men before they die shall know Thou from on high govern'st the World below Sect. XI ARGUMENT By leave Susanna speaks to both Her enemies and after doth In open Court traverse th' offence She glories in her innocence GOd heard those holy pray'rs Susanna praide And at the Barre shee to her Iudges said O you mistaken Lords grant Susan leave To answere them your judgments who deceive Though silence in a woman vertue be 'T would at this time confirme a crime in me Now let a woman speak sith innocent From what these men of emnitie invent She licenc'd speaks the Senat lend their eares The guilty twain shed crafty union-teares With smilings inter-mingled oftentimes While thus Susanna cleer's her self from crimes You my allurers yerst with oily words Whose tongues convulnerate like Drusian swords Your conscience knowes heaven at that time No young man in my Gardens acted crime But you whose bosomes are infectious roomes Of noysome Feinds whose throats opprobrious tombes Thought to defile my body to have stole By violence a jewell from my soule Which you suppos'd t' have purchased with gold Or rifled that that never would be sold Me think 's your cheeks should knowing you too blame Out-blush the Crimson of your gowns for shame You are more cruell then the Crocodile That mangle's Memphians on the banks of Nile That kil 's with weeping teares for hungers need But you can smile and murder for no meed Goat's bloud dissolveth Adamantine stones My heart-bloud breaks not your hearts harder onâ—â— Her speech to the Princes Although mistaken yet impartiall Lords You may doe well to listen to my words Sith untill now no vapour of defame Clouded the little splendour of my Name I cannot but your sudden sentence blame But Elders witnesse you presume is true As I my selfe would if I a Iudge like you By justest law I am adoom'd to be The child of death in your unjust decree But mine eternall portion stands in God Whose judgment breaks and burns the wicked rod Whose eye transpierceth like his lightning daâ—â—s The darkest corners of dissembling hearts Discerning innocence when I do make Complaint to him he doth me not forsake Now I implore my God of Light in Time Bring to detection my accusers crime For by the slender'st means he can defend Out of your pow'r me from untimely end But otherwise if pleaseth him that I By shortest pain shall winne eternall joy His blessed will be done whose mercy still Remayn's for ever and for ever ' twill For as I am to his tribunall throne I have appeal'd from your polluted one When my profuâ—ed bloud like Abel's crie's To Heaven my glory like the Sun shall rise Above false Elder 's carnall shame and then Shall their memoriall clean depart from men No Nilus Tanais Rhene nor Tagus-â—â—oud Where men of Spain allay their burning bloud Nor the whole Ocean drained from her sands Can swil my bloud froÌ„ their bloud-guilty hands My soule forgives me they can never come To prosp'rous ends nor stain a peacefull tombe But grant when they expire their lives and lust Men could upâ—reare on their dissolved dust Mausolean Monuments of Iasper-stone High
not an Appian-way Whereof on one hand seas of fire slay The falling passenger on t'other side A watry Ocean with a swelling tide The sins of Adam made which entrance narrow And Nature's progresse fill'd with plenteous sorrow Though righteous men find very slender pleasure In cursed earth they are Iehovah's treasure Though Saints in prisons be compell'd to eat Reversions of wealthy foemen's meat Though from distressed Sion led in chains Of captive thraldome unto Shinar-plains They sitting on way-crossing tâ—rrent's brink Constrain'd by thirst the running streames do drink They are God's children heires unto a Crown In new Hierusalem Heav'ns eternall town How long shall tyrants triumph mighty God While Sion's children under foot be 〈◊〉 How long shall they suspend their Harps upon The willowes of the brooks of Babylon They mourn like dolefull Pellicans and houle In desart-places like Minerva's foule As solitary Sparrowes sate alone On houses tops thy drooping servants mone Their enemies are mighty men combin'd To their destruction Lord hast thou confin'd Thy sonnes unto affliction fires to see How fine a sort of holy gold they be Refine them from earth dâ—oâ—fulnesse and soon Their splendour shall shine like the radiant noon In gloomy darknesse though y'have mourned long Though fainty layne Aegyptian pots among Though ye by madnesse of a tyrants 〈◊〉 Abjected were in Babylonian fire You shall in triumph ride like socâ—â—d Kings Your rayment shall surpasse the snowy wings Of silver-doves whose garland feathers would ' Gainst Titan's beames out-shine refulgent gold Lord thy corrections ever taken rightly Are cordials to make our soules more sprightly Our Saviours Crosse â—nto the Saints becomes A ladder leading to Heav'n glorious 〈◊〉 Sect XIII ARGUMENT Mournfull Susan all bemon'd Led from prison to be ston'd The Heavens lowre a Prophetling Speak's from danger her to bring WHen short appointed time by Elders doome Was to an end for execution come Of this most amiable Lâ—dy thâ—â— She was produced by Centurion's men Scaffolds upbuilded were from Regions nigh Came sundry people to behold 〈◊〉 And Forreiners possest wâ—th honour'd â—ame Among them spreaded of Susanna's name Thither repair'd to be inform'd how brave Habiliments the Hebrew-women have But Susans wealthy garments by were thrown Veiling herselfe in Cyprâ—sse she 〈…〉 Her gorgeous Ruffs a Cambrick band she wore A piece of whitest Lawn upon her head With sable silken veilings overspred Wherein the lovely tresses of her haire In decent manner all intrammell'd were 'T is said her Cypresse-veiles did embleme dole Her Lawn the whitenesse of her heav'n-born soule Her trickling teares that on her trappings flow'd Unto the day like Orient Pearl 〈…〉 Through whose transparent films Moving to admiration lookers on Death's ready Scaffold dauntlesse While round about her flock assembled friends The people like Lepanthus shore was still In silence as before a storm it will Till she her solemne dying speeches spent But then the whole assembly did relent Her deeming innocent back-byting binds Concerning her chang'd their uncivill minds Her holy prayers arm'd her constant sp'rit With fervent faith for aâ— heav'n mounting flight Her harmlesse body was expos'd to dy Her purer soule with Dove-like wings would fly Unto the Rock of sempiternall rest In heav'nly Canaan to compose her nest She spoken had Vain mortall world adue And taken leave of ev'ry one she knew Expecting sudden speeding blowes that should Repose her limbs in quiet beds of mould But now her trembling Deaths-men could notstir Their barb'rous hands to fling a stone at her Titan behind a cloud of pitch withdrew His countenance as if asham'd to view Her tragick-murder Heav'n could not refrain To show'r down sorrow in a silveâ— rain The clouds disburst and lightning from the skie's Umbratilous obnubilation flies Heav'n thundred loudly earth did ecchoing make The stubborn hearts of trembling Pagans quake Then did astunn'd Chaldean Swains adore The God of Heav'n who never did before Many suppos'd supernall Gods were come To change 〈◊〉 sentence of Susanna's doome They wondred all Heav'n sent an Angell down Whom mortals saw noâ— Susan's brows to crown With palmes of triumph shee must winne renown And glory from the darkest den of shame All gazing Heathens must confesse the same Then wisdomes spirit possest a tender childe Whom Daniel the men of Iudah stilde And he inspir'd his voice advanc'd on high Thus prophesing Susanna must not die A lowdly crying no man him withstood I am unguilty of this woman's bloud Destroy not her who never hath done ill Whose soule is white as snow on Salmon-hill Up taintlesse Susan rise I now resummon Thy former glory let sweet comfort come on And dwell with thee for ever 't is a day To banish mourning hurle despaire away Abstain from sighing let the stormes of dole Be over-blown from thy becalmed soule Be dry thine eye-lids let thy teares no more Like blessed streames from holy wels run o're God will secure thee from false witnest crime Thy fame shall last till God dissolveth time And but I see thy sorrowâ—stormes are gone For thee my sorrowes would be never done MEDIT. XIII Dei de parviâ— magne 〈◊〉 THough Saints descend to desperations dore 'T is good to trust in God for evermore When men are â—ounden in affliction-bands 'T is God can ransome out of fâ—â—en's hands When worldlings think us past redemption quite His hand can shield from cruell tyrants might His staffe of providence â—â—girt with power Is to the Saints an Adamantine towre His providence proteâ—ts his people from All dangers which threaten on them to come When Iacob's sonnes were at Eâ—â—thian deep Impent with climblesse Rocks and Mountayns steep When Seas before them billow'd when behind The fierce Aegyptians like the stormy wind Menac'd confusion to them when Despaire Within their bosomes mounted on a chaire When death's cold Image did their hearts benumme For God's alâ— actions do abound with wonder He govern's Heav'n and all remayning under His words are puissant if he but say To feeble things be strong how strong are they The slender flies and bees at his command Drave armed Giants out of Canaan land His providence can by an Infant 's breath Or weaker means save dying Saints from death When potent tyrants practice weakling's wrong Gods saves the weak ones to confound the strong His might preserv'd within a reeden cage Young Moses from bloud-thirsty Pharoah's rage To drench with bloud and finally ov'rthrow In the Red-sea his cruell minded foe Making an Asse-bone in bound Samson's hands Confound the proud force of Philistine bands Allotting to a simple woman power To brain Abim'lech and defend a tower Weak Iudith's hand to kill and unrenown Th' unfamin'd Prophet in the time of 〈◊〉 A stripling child ordayning to become A learned judge and learned Iudges dumbe An infant to save Susan's life from harme And Senators in wisdome to informe Grave understanding hath not ever sate In sentences fram'd in an old man's pate To suckling babes God's quickning spâ—rit reveales