and worne with Paines And yet it last which ail this Trouble wrought From molten Mountaines shall ou'rflow the Plaines Ah ah curst Gold what mak'st thou not Men doe Being sought ouer all the Earth and in it to 24 Fond Coueting made our first Parents fall And since the same hath still held downe their Race Whose Iudgements were to senslesse things made thrall Which GOD most low and they most high do place Nought in themselues to vs by vs made All The which we first and then they all things grace But straight dissolu'd they shall to Hell repaire To braue a Multitude by them drawn th aire 25 At Heauen when hence if certaine to arriue These barbarous Soules were well who free from Noy Walke naked feede on Herbes and for Nought striue But scorne our Toyles whose Treasure is their Toy As Adam first when innocent they liue And goldlesse thus the golden Age enjoy We barbarous are in Deedes and they in Show Too litle they and ah too much we know 26 What huge Deluge of Flames enflames my Mind Whilst inward Ardour that without endeeres A Light ou'rflowing Light doth make me blind The Sea a Lanterne Earth a Lampe appeares That crystall Couering burn'd which it confin'd The Way to Ruine fatall Lightning cleares Dust equalls all which vnto it returne All Creatures now one funerall Fire doth burne 27 The stately Birds which sacred were to Ioue Whos 's Pourtraits did great Emprours Powers adorne Whilst generously their Race they striu'd to proue Which Titans Beames with bended Eyes had borne Shall fall down headlongs burning from aboue As Phaeton was faind Ambitions scorne As fit to fall who of themselues presume Those raging Wrath doth at the first consume 28 The sixt and last of that vnmatched Kind If each of them doth liue a thousand Yeeres Shall Sabboth haue in Ashes still confin'd Whose Birth Death Nest and Tombe all one appeares That only Bird which ouer all others shin'd As ouer all Lights that which Nights Darkenesse cleares He from renuing of his Age by Fire Shall be preuented ere that it exspire 29 The Salamander which still Vulcan lou'd And those small Wormes which in hote Waters dwell This liues in Fire that dies from it remou'd But those last Flames shall both from Breath expell Those Creatures thus by burning Heat oft prou'd Show tortur'd Soules may pine yet breath in Hell If those in Fire and with Delight remaine May not the Wicked liue in Fire with Paine 30 That pompous Bird which still in Triumph beares Rould in a Circle his ostentiue Taile With Starres as if to braue the starrie Spheares Then seemes at once to walke to flie to saile His Flesh which kept nought to Corruption weares Against Destruction shall not now preuaile Those painted Fowles shall then be Baites for Fire As painted Fooles be now for endlesse Ire 31 The Indian Griphon Terrour of all Eyes That flying Giant Nimbrod of the Air The scalie Dragon which in Ambush lyes To watch his Enemie with a Martiall Care Though breathing Flames touch'd by a Flame straight dies And all wing'd Monsters made since hurtfull rare Types of strong Tyrants which the Weake oppresse Those rauenous great Ones Prey vpon the Lesse 32 Their nimble Feathers then shall nought import Which with their Wings both leuell Sea and Land The Faulcon fierce and all that actiue Sort Which by their Burden grace a Princes Hand And they for Prey their Bearers bent for Sport Do thrall great Monarches which euen Men command Ere fallen on Earth their Ashes quenshed be Whom soard of late aloft Men scarse could see 33 Those Birds but turn'd to Dust againe shall raine Which mutinous Israel with a Curse receau'd And those for Sport so prodigally slaine For which what shame some Belly-monsters crau'd Long Necks like Crans their Tastes to entertaine From which the PHENIX hardly can be sau'd In Bodies base whose Bellies still are full The Soules are made choak'd with grosse Vapours dull 34 The feathred Flockes which by a Notion strange I know not how inspir'd or what they see Or if their inward Following outward Change As true Astrologues gathering Stormes foresee In quaking Cloudes their murmuring Troupes which range To waile or warne the World hiu'd on some Tree Nought vnto them this Generall Wracke fore-showes Men Angels no not CHRIST as Man fore-knowes 35 The rage of Tyme those Changelings to appease Like fained Friends who Fortune only wooe Which haunt each soyle whilst there they find their Ease Though I confesse this showes their Greatnesse too Who at their Will vse Kingdomes as they please Euen more then Monarches with great Hostes can do But yet where ere they be they then shall fall GODS Armie I his Arme doth stretch ouer All. 36 Those which themselues in Ciuill Warres do match Whose sound triumphall Lyons puts to flight The Mornings Vshers vrging Sleepes dispatch Whose Wings applaud their Voyce saluting Light The Labourers Horloge ordinarie Watch Whose Course by Nature rul'd goes alwayes right Those Trumpeters dissoluing many Dreame May then not see the Day which they proclaime 37 So suddainlie all shall with Ruine meet That euen the Fowle which still doth streames pursue As if to wash or hyde her loath'd black Feet Then swimmes in state proud of her snowie hue Who vs'd with Tragick Notes though sad yet sweet To mak Meanders Nymphes her dying rue She being surprys'd not dreaming of her death Shall not haue time to tune her plaintiue Breath 38 The winged Squadrons which by feeling find A Body though Inuisible of Aire Both solid waste clos'd open free confin'd Whilst weigh'd by lightnesse stayes by mouing there As Swimmers Waues those Fliers beat the Wind Borne by their Burdens Miracles if rare The Feathers fyr'd their stretched Armes do shrink And by being lighter heauier down they sinke 39 That sort which diuing deep and soaring hie Lyke some too subtill trusting double wayes Which swimme with Fishes and with Fowles do flie Whilst still their course the present Fortune swayes At last in vaine their liquid Fortresse trie Of Wrath the Weapons nought saue Ruine stayes To flie the Aire down in the Depthes they bend For want of Aire down in the Depthes they end 40 Wing'd Alchimists which quintessence the Flowres As oft-tymes drown'd before then burn'd shall be Then measuring Artists by their nombrous Powers Whose workes proportions better do agree Which do by Colonies vncharge their Bowres Kill Idle one sting Foes what needs fore-see Men talke of Vertue Bees do practise it Euen Iustice Temperance Fortitude and Wit 41 What Agonie doth thus my Soule inuest I thinke I see Heauen burne Hells Gulfes all gape My panting Heart doth beat vpon my Brest As vrging Passage that it thence may scape Reft from my selfe yet no where else I rest Of what I was reseruing but the shape My Haires are bended vp swolne are mine Eyes My Tongue in silence Myndes amazement tyes 42 Who can but dreame what Furies plague
we should alwayes fight the Heauen to gaine By Prayers Plaintes and charitable Deedes To raise vp Earth on Earth our Strength we straine So base a Courage worldly Honour breedes This doth prouoke the Darts of GODS Disdaine By which of some the wounded Conscience bleedes All headlongs runne to Hell whose Way is euen But by a narrow Path are drawn to Heauen 77 Of Vengeance now the Store-house opned stands O what a Weight of Wrath the World now beares Through Terrour straight why tremble not all Lands When GOD in Rage aThrone of Iustice reares And pours down Plagues whilst brandishing his Brands The Pest being past the World next Famine feares Still thinke that Mischiefe neuer comes alone Those who feare more what is the lesse doe moue 78 Since that the World doth loath celestiall Food That spirituall MANNA which Soules Nectar proues By Grace drawn forth from the Redeemers Blood A Gift no Guerdoun giuen to whom he loues Those who terrestriall things thinke only good Them Want shall trie whom no Aboundance moues For Ah of some so fat the Bodies be That of their Soules they not the Leannesse see 79 GODS Creatures oft condemn'd shall once accuse Those who in VVantonnesse them vainly spent And justly what vnjustly they abuse Shall vnto them more sparingly be lent That which they now superfluously vse Shall made a Curse not Natures Neede content A barren Soule should haue a barren Earth Oft temporall Plentie breedes a spirituall Dearth 80 Those in the Dust who still prophanely roule Whose thornie Thoughts do chock that heauenly Seede Which by the Word was sown in euery Soule Shall likewise want what should their Bodies feede What Most they trust shall once their Hopes controule By earthly Hunger heauenly Thirst to breede Thus those like Babes whose Iudgement is not deepe VVho scorn'd a Treasure shall for Triffles weepe 81 What Sauces strange a Fault which Custome clokes To vrge the Bodies Appetit are made Which Natures selfe sufficiently prouokes But of the Soule when carnall Cates it leade The Appetite which Ah euen Nature chokes What Art is vs'd to quicken it when deade VVhen Bodies do too much Soules nought disgest But when the Others fast are fit to feast 82 Base Belly-gods whose Boord is Sathans Bate Whose Iudgements to your Taste rest only thrall The LORD in wrath shall cut away your Meate And for your Honny furnish you with Gall Like lothsome Beasts since you the Acornes eate Yet looke not vp to see from whence they fall Sonnes prodigall who from your Father swerue You keeping worse then Swine shall justly sterue 83 To waken some which sleepe in Sinne as dead The LORD ere CHRIST do come all States to try Since being abus'd shall breake the Staffe of Bread And as we him make Earth vs fruits deny The Corne shall wither and the Grasse shall fade Then to nurce Men being rather bent to die As dutifull to him by whom they breed GODS Creatures pure his Rebels scorne to feed 84 Now in this Tyme which is the last esteem'd The Spirits impure do all in one conspyre And worke that GOD by Men may be blasphem'd To purchase partners of eternall Fire That who should them condemne hath vs redeem'd Makes Enuie blow the Bellowes of their Ire The wicked Angells irritated thus Not seeke their safetie but to ruine vs. 85 More neere doth draw Saluation to the Iust The more the Dragons Mind doth Fnuie wound That Men the Slaues of Death the Sonnes of Dust As Heires of Heauen with Glory should be crown'd And that perpetuall paines they suffer must Though all Immortall to no Bodies bound Nought true repose to the enuious brings Whom their owne harme or others good still stings 86 Mans Foe who first Confusion did deuise By long Experience grown profound in skill Through strength oft try'd our Weaknesse doth despise And knowes what best may serue each Soule to kill He to his part our Passions doth entise And to betray our Wit corrupts out Will Whom GOD not guardes those Satan soone may winne Whilst Force doth charge without and Fraud within 87 That Heire of Hell whom justlie GOD rejects Who sought by subtiltie all Soules to blind Not onely Shafts in secret now directs By Inspirations poysoning the Mind But euen a Banner boldly he erects As this Worlds Prince by publick power design'd From shape to shape this Proteus thus remoues Who first a Foxe and last a Lyon proues 88 He since his Kingdome now should end so soone Doth many Circes and Medeas make That can obscure the Sunne and charme the Moone Raise vp the Dead and make the Liuing quake Whilst they by Pictures persons haue vndone Do giue to some from others substance take Three Elements their tyrannie doth thrall But oft the fourth takes Vengeance of them all 89 Whilst in his Hand the Bolts of Death he beares Still watching Soules the craftie Hunter lyes With inward Fancies and with outward feares Whom he may tempt continuallie he tryes Whyles rumbling Horrour sounds assault the eares Whyles Monstrous Formes paint Terrour in the Eyes He who with GOD euen in the Heauen durst striue Thinkes soone on Earth Mens Ruine to contriue 90 As many did possess'd by Spirits remaine When first CHRIST came Saluation to beginne So lykewise now before he come againe Some Bodies daylie which they enter in By desp'rat meanes would be dispatch'd of paine Else bound in Body loose their Soules to Sinne And if that GOD not interpos'd his Power Straight euery Soule Hells Tyrant would deuoure 91 In some whom GOD permits him to abuse The Lord of Darkenesse doth at diuerse Houres His subtill Substance fraudfullie infuse Till they his Spirit his Spirit their Soules deuoures He as his owne doth all their Members vse And they as Babes with Kniues worke with his Powers O monstrous Vnion Miracle of Euils Which thus with Men incorporates the Deuills 92 When earst in Delphos after vglie cryes The Priestresse Pithia seeming to be sage Big by the Deuill delyuered was of Lies She to the Terrour of that senselesse Age Still panting swolne Hell flamming through her Eyes Roar'd forth Responses by Prophetick Rage She to her LORD whilst prostituted thus An Image was of whom he filles with vs. 93 Of those who are possess'd in such a sort Some to themselues whom Sathan doth accuse They Mad or He in them whyles brag whyles sport And whilst they would the Lookers on abuse Do secrets to themselues not known report And of all Tongues the Eloquence can vse All what each Age deuis'd obseruing still The Deuill knowes much but bends it all to ill 94 O Heauens be hid and lose thy Light O Sunne Since in the World O what a fearefull thing The Deuill of some so great a power hath wonne That what was theirs he doth in bondage bring Then from their Bodie speakes as from a Tunne As sounds from Bells or Floods through Rockes do ring Deare Sauiour ryse and in a Iust disdaine
thy Soule Poore sinfull Wretch who then art toss'd with Breath Whilst desp'rat Anguish no way can controule The raging Torrent of consuming Wrath In euery Corner where thy Eyes can roule Their sweetest showes more bitter are then Death Who can expresse thy Feelings or thy Feares Which euen Repentance can not helpe with Teares 43 To looke aloft if thou dare raise thy Sight Weigh'd down as damn'd by guiltie actions gone What Horrour Terrour Errour all affright Thee trembling thee who out of tyme do'st grone Oft shall thou wish that thee falne Mountaines might Hyde from his Face who sittes vpon the Throne But ah in vaine a lurking Place is sought Nought can be couered now no not one Thought 44 The dreadfull Noyse which that great Day proclaimes When mix'd with Sighes and Shouts from Mortalls here O how deform'd a Forme Confusion frames None can well thinke till that it selfe appeare Whilst Clouds of Smoake deliuered are of Flames They darken would their Birth it them would cleare But whilst Both striue None Victorie attaines This endlesse Darkenesse bodes that endlesse Paines 45 If seeking Helpe from thy first Parent slyme Lo Plutoes Palace Dongeons of Despaire As fyr'd by Furies kindled by thy Cryme Ben to encroach on interdicted Aire Do gape to swallow thee before the tyme Whom they foresee damn'd for a Dweller there Heauen ouer thy Head Hell burnes beneath thy Feet As both in Rage to fight with Flammes would meet 46 With Owlie Eyes which horride Lightnings blind This to admire the Reprobat not neede Match'd with the Horrours of a guiltie Mind Nought from without but Pleasure can proceed Sinke in their Bosomes Hells and they shall find More vglie things a Iuster feare to breed Of all most loath'd since first the World began No greater Monster then a Wicked Man 47 All sorts of Creatures soone consum'd remaine Crush'd by their death whose lyues on them depend Their treasons partners whom they entertaine Mans Forfeiture doth too towards them extend Whom since they can no further serue againe True Vassalls thus they with their Lords will end Though oft they them like Tyrants did abuse Whom as Ingrate their Dusts that day accuse 48 Ere it we can call com'd that which is past Charg'd with Corruption flowlie I pursue Since without Hope to reach though following fast That which like lightning quickly scapes the view I where I cannot walke a compasse cast And must seeke wayes to common knowledge due For Mortalls eares my Muse tunes what she sings With earthly Colours painting Heauenly things 49 The last Deluge of Vniuerfall Wrath To wash the Earth defiled all with Sinne So to prolong their litle pufts of Breath High Mountaines Tops both Sexes striu'd to winne But of accesse what Fort can frustrat death Death did attend them there where they did runne With Paine and feare choak'd dash'd ere dying dead Death doubled so was but more grieuous made 50 So when the flamming waues of wasting Fyre Ouer all the World do riotouslie rage Some to the Depths for safetie shall retire As Thetis kisse could Vulcans Wrath asswage But that Lieutenant of his Makers Ire Makes all the Elements straight beare his Badge Scorch'd Earth being op'ned swallowes Thousands down Aire thickned choakes with smoake and Waters drown 51 The halting Lemnian highly shall reuenge The ancient Scorne of other equall Powers Both strong and swift though lame what Wonder strange He in his Madnesse all the Rest deuoures His Fiercenesse first his Mother toyles to change But hauing him embrac'd she likewise lours And with her Sonne doth furiously conspire Straight from pure Air being All transform'd in Fire 52 This Heat with Horrour may congeale all Harts Lifes Bellowes toss'd by Breath which still doth moue That Fanne which doth refresh the inward Parts Euen it shall make the Brest a Fornace proue That Signe of Life which oft arriues and partes Boyles all within else burnes it selfe aboue At that dread Day denouncing endlesse Night All smoake not breath whilst Flames giue only Light 53 That stormie Tyrant which vsurpes the Air Whilst Woll rain'd downe from Heauen doth him enfold A liquid Pillar hinging at each Hair Sneez'd fiercely forth when shaking all for Cold He clad with Flames a firie Leader thair Makes feeble Vulcan by his Aide more bold Whose Bellowes fostred by the Others Blast May soone forge Ruine Instruments to wast 54 The Lands Great Creature Nurceling of the East Which Ioues extreamely and with Zeale adores In Spirit and Nature both aboue a Beast Whilst charg'd with Men he through the Battell roares And his arm'd Match of Monsters not the least Whose Scales defensiue Horne inuasiue gores Whilst foming Flames as other to prouoke Straight joyn'd in Dust their Battell ends in Smoke 55 The craftie Foxe which Numbers doth deceaue To get not be a Prey shall be a Prey The Embrions Enemie Womens that conceaue As who might giue him Death their Birth to stay That rauenous Wolfe which Blood would alwayes haue All then a Thought more quickly shall decay No Strength then stands such Weaknesse went before Nor yet base Slight meere Foolishnesse and more 56 The Hart whose Hornes as Greatnesse is to all Do seeme to grace are Burdens to his Head With swift though slender Legges when Wounds appall Which cures himselfe where Nature doth him lead And with great Eyes weake Heart oft Dangers Thrall The warie Hare whose Feare oft Sport hath made Do seeke by Swiftnesse Death in vaine to shunne As if a Flight of Flames could be outrunne 57 The painted Panther which not fear'd doth gore Like some whose beauteous Face foule Minds defame The Tiger Tigrish past expressing more Since crueltie is noted by his Name The able Ounce strong Beare and fooming Bore Mans Rebells since GOD did Man his proclaime Though fierce all faint and know not where to turne They see their old Refuge the Forrests burne 58 The mildest Beasts importing greatest Gaine Which others Crimes made Altars only touch By whom they cloth and feede not crying slaine The Christians Image only true when such Their growing Snowes which Arts fraile Colours staine Was wrong'd when faind of Gold since worth more much But precious things the Owners Harmes oft breede The Fleeces Flames the Bodies doe succede 59 The Flocks for Profite vs'd in euery Part Though them to serue they make their Masters bow And are the Idoles of a greedy Hart Which as old Egypt doth adore a Cow Like Hannibals which Fabius mock'd by Art As walking Torches all runne madding now By Phoebus tickled they to startle vs'd But Vulcan ruder makes them rage confus'd 60 Their Martiall Cheiftan Mastiues Rage to stay Pasiphaes Louer Venus dayly Slaue With brandish'd Hornes as mustering first doth stray Then throwes them downe in Guard a Match to craue Straight like the Colchian Bulles ere Iasons Prey He Flames not fain'd doth breath but not to braue Like that of Phalaris whom one did fill He tortur'd bellowing doth ly bullering still