As Waging War against thine own Mistake What pitty 't is to see thou art so fair And well-appointed when no Fear is near 177. And You my Fellow-subjects all whom I Have often heard our gratious Soveraign praise For humble Duty and Fidelity O why must groundless Rashness now erase Your noble Character and print upon Your Heads the foule Blot of Rebellion 178. By your Allegiance and ingenerate Worth By your own dearest Lives and Safety By Psyche's royall head by Heav'n and Earth By every thing I you conjure to be True to your Selves The Queen desires but this Who by your peace wealth counts her own Bliss 179. She is as ready to forget as you Can be your hasty Error to lay down She on your Necks by Me her arms doth throw And by my Tongue she calls you still her own Behold the Seal of her Embraces here A Generall Pardon all your Doubts to clear 180. As when upon a raging Fire you throw Soft oile the fretfull Flames incensed by Its gentlenesse more fierce and rampant grow So here the unrelenting Mutinous Frie Storm'd at persuasive Logos and to new Impatience at his sweet Oration grew 181. He 's an Enchanter Anger cri'd and by These Blandishments hath oft bewitched Us But now our just and ripe Conspiracy Scorns to be Fooled and confuted thus 'T is time to act our Resolutions now That Reasons may no longer Us undoe 182. Then clapping her right Paw upon his Throat And stopping with her left his Mouth she drew Him to Agenor And now we have got Our subtlest Foe Sir let him have his due Cri'd she We never shall our businesse doe If to the Tyrant back in peace He goe 183. The other Passions all rebounded that Rebellious Word whose Generall glad to see Their Madness compass what his Pride could not Gave Order Logos should close Pris'ner be They hallow'd first then in tumultuous haste Two Chains upon his Mouth and Neck they cast 184. And here I challenge any Heart to read This woe full Story and forbear to sigh Seeing the Feet thus trample on the Head And common Slaves with insolent licence Flie Upon their Lord O who secure can be When Reason must be bound and Passion free 185. Psyche whom all this while Suspition had Held at the window of her lofty Tower When she descri'd from thence how fiercely mad And confident of their outrageous power The Rebells were and that in foule disdain Her Messenger they did in Bonds detain 186. She fetch'd a mighty sigh and though with Him Her selfe and all her honour Pris'ners were Between Dispairs and Hopes she long did swim Waiting if any Harbour would appear But her own Fancies to such tumults rose As almost copied out her mutinous Foes 187. Thus by that Noise without and this within She summon'd was unto the Top of feares Charis was stepp'd aside and lay unseen And now her trusty Phylax disappears No Friend was left but Thelema and she Was thought but wavering in fidelity 188. But as the shipwrack'd Man toss'd up and down Between high and low Deaths amongst the Waves Clapps fast on any glimpse of help and grown Bold by Dispaire nor hold nor comfort leaves As long 's his plank doth float So Psyche now On Thelema her sinking Arms doth throw 189. And O cri'd she my onely Refuge I Conjure thee well to mark thy Hap and mine The Tempest of my Woes is swoll'n so high That now all Bridles it doth scorn but thine And 't is thy Priviledge that I to thee Must owe my Life for thy sake dear to Me. 190. At what a price would'st thou this Day have bought Which can so deep engage thy Queen to thee Yet it had been thy sin if thou had'st sought This sad unnaturall opportunitie But now their Disobedience opes the way For thy Desert if thou wilt Me obey 191. Logos had prov'd himselfe both wise and strong Had obstinate Madnesse not damm'd up their Ears But all his Powers fighting from his Tongue Their deaf Rebellion his strength out-dares His Arguments confuted are with Chains And I in Fear in Prison he remains 192. But thy brave Valour in thine Hand doth dwell And reign incomparable Amazon Thine Acts are Conquests all which who would tell Must call the World to count Thy Nodd alone Points out thy Victories Fresh groves of Bays And Palms thy Footsteps every where doe raise 193. By softnesse fain I would have conquered them No Blast of whose Rebellion could blow out My royall Loue which toward them did flame But now Necessity calls for a stout And corsive Cure thy Hand must doe the deed And in their Wounds teach this my heart to bleed 194. Goe then my faithfull Champion and may Blessed Successe goe in thy company I from this Window will waite on thy way By my observing and well-wishing Eye Which shall the Witnesse of thy Valour be And what reward it shall deserve from Me. 195. But fail not to revenge the proud intrusion Of yon' ignoble stranger who may be Perhaps the Firebrand of all this Confusion Which threatens to burn up both thee and mee If his blood will suffice to quench his Fire Spare all the rest they will no more conspire 196. Stout Thelema with this Commission goes And with imperious Looks builds up her brow At her commanding Presence all her Foes Their Eyes and Arms and Courage down did throw Onely Agenor's stomack rose to see Himselfe out-look'd in high-swoll'n Majesty 197. But knowing his own Weaknesse and her Might And seeing all the Passions turn'd to Fear He thought it safest now to change the Fight Of Arms to that of Wit For in Love's eare He whisper'd his device and straight-way she At Thelema let flie this Fallacy 198. Illustrious Lady you to day might spare Those irefull lookes with which Mistake hath plowd Your awfull face How can you thinke We dare So farre forget what Might is as with proud Madnesse to whet our Sword and bend our Bow To make War with Omnipotence and You 199. But as your strength is great so is your love Whom we have always found our noble Friend But though with loyall Service we have strove To win our Soveraigns favour she will lend No pitty to our fainting Soules but still With lingering Death delighteth us to kill 200. Arms are our onely forced Refuge now For though your brawnie Might knows how to beat The Injuries she poureth upon You Our Shoulders of a weaker Temper are Nor can you judge it guilt in Us if We Shrink more than you under her Tyrannie 201. You know what constant Slavery she heap'd On our poor backs who yet were all free-born This noble Stranger when He saw Us wep'd And thought it Honours duty not to scorn Our sad condition How then can You Except a Friend should more than stranger grow 202. If We must perish Let our Miseries Beg but this wofull courtesie of You Return Us not to Psyche who denies Us brevity
thick the Waiters stand whose Dignity Shines next the Glories of their royall Lord No Prince was on his Coronation Day E'r honored by such Servitors as They. 153. The gallant Cherubs and the Seraphs here With legions of fairest Angels meet And in all awfull Reverence draw neer Ravish'd at what you Mortals Drink and Eat Here royall Principalities attend Here Thrones bowe down heer Dominions bend 154. For when they are above in their bright sphear The glorious Ocean of eternal Sweets Their blessed Eyes behold no richer Cheer Than Mercy on this noble Table sets Nor did the Cherubs which kept Paradise Finde there such glorious Varieties 155. Pure are their Eyes and they can easily passe Through the thick Veil which on the Feast doth lie A Veil which in profound Compassion was Thrown on the Count'nance of this Mystery Which darts more glories from its naked face Than ever did great Mose's Temples grace 156. So long as mortall Grossenesse sticks upon The Brows of Man and cloggs his feeble Sight One glimpse of heav'nly Majesty alone Would seal his eyes up with eternall Night For what exceedeth doth corrupt their reach Transcendent Lustre prov's as dark as Pitch 157. When Batts may venture to the Eagles Nest And full against the Suns their own eyes set When blear-ey'd Owles may leave their gloomie Roost And with safe Looks the Face of High-noon met When Midnight dares throw off her sable Cloke And into bright Aurora's Wardrobe look 158. Then may dim-sighted Men with safety gaze Upon their Lords unveiled Brightnesse then May they directly to his royall Face Without a Perspectives Assistance run Then may they boldly scorn their Eyes to shrowd Under the moderate Shaddow of a Cloud 159. But Jesus who full well their Weaknesse knew Did in the Shelter of plain Wine and Bread Accommodate his Goodnesse to their View That in Familiar Elements they might read The hidden Mystery and happy be Above all that their Mortal eyes could see 160. The time shall come when the dull Dust shall be By the brisk Virtue of the Resurrection Resin'd and rais'd to a Capacity Of radiant and spiritual Perfection When faithfull Soules in their celestial Rest Shall at the Lambs unvciled Supper feast 161. Mean while it is their Priviledge that they May freely in the Shade enjoy the Sun That in the Darknesse they may meet the Day And in Hopes Region finde Fruition But who sweet Psyche would beleeve that hence Man should draw reason of Irreverence 162. Alas when Time shall old and doting grow And Christian Spirits sympathize with it 〈◊〉 will be bold to make this Banquet know That by its Out-side They doe square and fit Their estimation of it and that there Their Faith admits no more than doth appear 163. It must be Superstition if they Should think Gods Table holier than their own If of this Cup and Patin they bewray An higher thought than of those all the Town Use in the publick Inns when e'r they keep Their free Communion of Good-Fellow ship 164. Nor Jove nor Juno nor the silliest He Or She of all that Rabble who were made Gods by vain Man found such impiety In those their Makers as to be betray'd To slovenish Altars and to 〈◊〉 Rites By fained Zeal's irreverent Deceits 165. Must Rudenesse onely be permitted to Attend on Jesu's noblest 〈◊〉 And must it for most pure 〈◊〉 goe Because so grosse and 〈◊〉 Surely We Are much too blanie in Heav'n who never knew Such kinde of 〈◊〉 to our God was due 166. Is this the Thanks for keeping in his flames Of most intolefable Majesty Which once unveild by its immortal streams Would them devour and all their slovenrie Alas that Love should thus neglected be And for no cause but mighty Charity 167. But those brave Lovers of whose generous breast Jesus intire possession has took Are so inamored of this royal Feast That with all humble Reverence they look Upon it and in faithfull pure desire After Angelick Complements aspire 168. Their Hearts beat high with that illustrious Zeal Which fires our Breasts and fain would stoop as low As doe the Seraphs when this Miracle Of Love invites their reverent knees to bow Fain would they have their passionate Piety As infinite as is this Mystery 169. For infinite it is and gladly I Would its Infinitude to Thee display No Theem with such delight could sit on my Admiring Tongue But Angels must give way To ecstacies in such vast Deeps where Love Himselfe the utmost of his Power doth prove 170. Here Phylax ended and observed how The Bait would operate which He had cast To Psyches heart which being captiv'd now By his Discourses Charms and chained fast Unto the Tables foot which He set out This pious answer gently forth she brought 171. My Soules sweet Friend what thanks can I repay For all this honey which thy Tongue hath shed Into my ears and heart 〈◊〉 Phylax may He whom Thou praisedst poure upon thy head Thy full Requitall As for sunple Me What can the poor Worme Psyche give to Thee 172. She can give nothing but 〈◊〉 still A begger 〈◊〉 for further Favours sues Yet not for Cates my stomacks mouth to fill 〈◊〉 No Famins Power could make me chuse My other Diet if at this sweet 〈◊〉 Of Love and Heav'n my Soul may now be Guest 173. And if it be not so I am undone Such Hunger knaws such Thirst does burn my heart That by that Banquets Comfort I alone Can rescued be from this impatient Smart And 't is thy courteous fault dear Phylax who With its Description Me hast ravish'd so 174. The sickly what but Health can satisfie And what but Balsame can desired be To stop the Wounds wide Mouth and bloody Crie What does the hunted Deer so pant to see But some coole Fount or soveraign Ditany What can the Captive wish but Liberty 175. My Health my Balsame and my Liberty My Dear 〈◊〉 and my Fount of Blisse My onely Nectur and Ambrosia lie Treasur'd up in this Banquet If I misse Of this my Wish alas what shall I doe What hope what helpe for my encreasing Woe 176. She fainted here But Phylax reach'd his hand Unto her Arm and Comfort to her Heart I like said He thy noble Ardour and Its fuell 〈◊〉 unto 〈◊〉 Fire impart In yonder House there lives a reverend Priest 〈◊〉 for thy pious foule will dresse this Feast 177. This said He leads 〈◊〉 Virgin thither where In 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 room a 〈◊〉 of Faithfull Hearts 〈◊〉 that great Bus'nesse early did prepare For 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 forc'd them to all Arts Of 〈◊〉 and glad they were to choose Such Temples as were hidden from their Foes 178. There in a Chalice and a Dish of Wood The 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 Poverty The wonder of their Saviours Flesh and Blood With golden Hearts they waited on But We Alas in Patins and in Cups of Plate With Hearts of Wood this Banquet celebrate 179. They in the Strangers Zeal-inflamed eye
And that he ment upon the Aires high back To shew himselfe in State to Us but now His Crosse is all the Chariot he can show 316. He often bragg'd that God was his great Sire How is it then his Father owns Him not Sure were He worth the owning all the Quire Of Heav'n would hither Flock to hide this Blot Of his broad Shame with their pure Wings bear Him hence in triumph to his native Sphear 317. Shame on your Blasphemies you shamelesse Rout Of Priests and People Jesus aimeth not To save Himselfe but You who sting and flout His noble Patience He has not forgot That in his Soveraign Hands and Fingers still The whole Train of Omnipotence doth dwell 318. For those Almighty Hands he stretcheth out And busie is in working your Salvation He could Come down but stayes till he has wrought That mighty Act of his victorious Passion He could come down but stayes till he may draw Up after Him this groveling World below 319. He could come down did you not fix Him there Not with your Nails but with your stronger Sins He could come down were his own Life as dear To him as yours But on his Wrongs he winns And by all resolute Love strives to prevail Against all Spight and Rage which him 〈◊〉 320. O Psyche cruell were those Scoffs but yet More stinging Scorn then this is still behinde For now the very Theeves upon him spit Their odious Taunts and seem in Him to finde What their vile Soules amidst the Miseries Of their own cursed Crosses dare despise 321. Ink scorns the Snow foule Night accuseth Day The dirty Puddle mocks the virgin Spring Dark Shades contemn the Suns meridian Ray Black Night-ravens call the Swan a swarthy Thing Ignoble Bats revile the Eagles Eyes And Hell it selfe insults o'r Paradise 322. Art thou that mighty Christ said they and yet Hang'st here the Game of all Contempt and Spight Can Heav'ns great Son his Selfe so far forget As rather to endure to Die then fight Discredit not by yeilding cowardly The Lord of Hosts if he thy Father be 323. Come justifie that royal Title there Which now but laughs at thine ignoble Head Approve thy Selfe King of the Jews and fear Not to redeem thy Fame and Life But spread Thy Favour too on Us that under Thee The Soveraign We may glorious Nobles be 324. For since in these thy deep Misfortunes We Of all thy World thy sole Companions are We well in your restor'd Prosperity May promise our Desert the deepest share So spake the Theeves and then they roar'd for Pain But quickly fell to scoffe and curse again 325. And shall not Heav'ns Artillery now attend Its wronged King and vindicate his Cause Can Earth hear this and not in sunder rend Snatching these Elves into her deepest Jaws No Jesus now no Veng'ance doth approve But that of patient and Silent Love 326. Sweet Veng'ance which so strongly wrought upon One of this loud blaspheming Pair that he Converts his Curses to Devotion And prompts his Fellow unto Piety Rebuking sharply his malitious Tongue Which still persu'd his Lord with shameless Wrong 327. Then like a wise and sober Theif indeed He seeks to steal into his Saviours grace O King of Heav'n he cries I plainly read Thy Majesty though in thy clounded Face Sure Thou hast taught mine Eyes this skill ô then Compleat this Mercy which Thou hast begun 328. When in thy Kingdome Thou shalt mounted be Upon thy Throne of Glory ô forger Those Wrongs which ignorant I did poure on Thee On Thee the God of Innocence but yet Forget not Me who must for ever die Unlesse repreived by thy Clemencie 329. Jesus whose Goodnesse never did disdain 〈◊〉 hear and answer a meek Sinners Crie Though his provoked Lips he did refrain Amidst those thick Storms of loud Blasphemie With gracious Sweetnes doth Assurance give Unto the Dying Theif that he shall live 330. Fear not said He thy Death is drawing nie But it shall prove the Gate of Life to Thee My Word the Pillar of all Certainty I freely pass Thou from that cursed Tree Shalt step this Day to Paradise and there Under the Bowers of Blisse with Me appear 331. The Preists and People laugh'd and scoff'd to hear Him talk of giving Blisse who hung in Pain Blinde Fools who could not now discern how clear His Power shin'd which thus its Prize could gain Out of Hells Mouth with Loves sweet constreint Make of a Cursing Theif a Praying Saint 332. By this deer Token He to every one Of them aforehand did their Pardon seal If they would doe what the meeke Theif had done And to his Grace with penitent hearts appeal But most unhappy They this deep Designe Of Love did obstinately countremine 333. Profoundly did this Scorn of Mercy tear Thy Spouses most compassionate Breast But He Observing now his dearest Followers there The Mother of Him and Virginitie With faithfull John a keen and double Dart Of fresh Greif shot quite through his bleeding Heart 334. For in his Mothers tender Soule he saw That cruel Sword stuck deep which Simeon Foretold so long agoe The Virgin now Who at the first brought forth her blessed Son Whithout all Pangs doth in hard Labour strein And pays her Debt of puerperiall Pain 335. O how the Bowels of her yearning Heart Are tent and torn her hands her feet her head All bear their proper Torments and no Part Can say To me these Sorrows doe not spread For from her Sons deer Body every Wound Doth on her sympathetik Self rebound 336. Her Temples are with thick-set Thorns hedg'd in Nail'd unto Tortures are Her dainty Feet Tatter'd and mangled is Her tender Skin Her Flesh plow'd up Her veins wide open set And all her modest Body to the view Exposed is of every shameless Jew 337. On Her those Jeers and Taunts and Blasphemies Their venome pour and swell with Greif her Breast That Breast which noble Love so straitly ties And coments to her Sons that not the least Division can interpose nor make This Double One themselves for single take 338. If She had in her other Self if she In Mary had been Crucifi'd the Crosse Had tolerable been but thus to be Destroy'd in Jesus is so vast a Loss That Mari's swallow'd up in it and this Calamitie becomes both Hers and His. 339. Her Hope her Joy her Life her Love her Blisse Her Heav'n her Son her God all these She now Beholds betrayed to her Enemies And what has Mary more How shall she row Through this vast Sea which in each gaping Wave Presents her ô how much more than a Grave 340. As oft as to the Crosse she opes her Eyes Death rusheth in Yet she as oft doth Die As unto their Compassion she denies That ruefull Spectacle If Psyche I Or Thou or any Seraph had been so Beseig'd with Soveraign Griess What could We do 341. What could we doe but sink Yet noble she Struggling amidst a
more than Hell Did now in his tormented bosome dwell 53. Three times He 〈◊〉 his Pride upon the back And cheer'd his everlasting stomack up But strait his swelling Heart-strings gan to crack And fail'd the courage of his insolent hope Three times his Furic strove to chide his 〈◊〉 And yet this terror still did 〈◊〉 54. But Jesus marching on in conquering might Pitch d his brave foot upon the Monsters head All thunders thoats did never yet affright The Aire with such a Roar as bellowed From Satans mouth when crushed by the load Of that strong foot he yeelded to his God 55. For as the surly Lyon wounded by Some noble Hero's might in his own den Rends all the cave with his impatient cry And makes his frighted neighbours further run So 〈◊〉 loud shreik tore all his deep And forc'd the Elves into their holes to creep 56. Had the whole world been heav'd upon his Head And thousands more upon the back of this A tolerable burden it had made But all the weight of weight meer lightnes 〈◊〉 To this inestimable load which now Lay full and sure upon his squeased 〈◊〉 57. His squeased Brow for both his Horns were broke So was his Scull from whence a Stream did burst Of ranker Poisons than did ever look Forth untill now a Stream of all accurst Designes of Blasphemie of Rage of Pride And every Qualitie of Hells King beside 58. Thus did the first and noblest promise prove Compleatly good thus did the womans seed The seed of blessed Mary get above The wiley Serpents most envenomed head And bruise it withfull vengeance for that 〈◊〉 With which he us'd the heel of Man to bite 59. This done learn now the mighty victor cri'd That as above so I am King below What you have gained by your spight and 〈◊〉 Your own Elves now may read upon your Brow Deep-grav'd the lesson is and yet I know Not deep enough to mend or 〈◊〉 or yen 60. For deeper printed is your desperate 〈◊〉 On your obdurate hearts and though by me Their head you might be warned not to 〈◊〉 Against my 〈◊〉 yet were you left 〈◊〉 To your own 〈◊〉 you all your 〈◊〉 would 〈◊〉 To broach and 〈◊〉 their 〈◊〉 〈…〉 61. With that an adamantine Chain about The Dragons neck the Conqueror did throw A Chain which though the Monster 's Teeth be stout As hardest Steel yet He in vain doth knaw Henceforth He lies fast pris'ner and can rove Onely where Jesus gives Him leave to move 62. Judas who neer this place did frying lie With unconceived anguish gnash'd his Teeth Being tormented at his Master's Eye Whom He so wretchedly had sold to Death He sold his Master but the Bargain on Himself return'd and He did die alone 63. He look'd the next Stepp on his woefull Head With equal pressure surely fix'd should be His Head which next to crushed Satans did Deserve preheminence in Miserie Yet the kind Conquerour meant not Him to burn Ev'n with his Eye but it away did turn 64. Him He reserved to his other Day Of Triumph when both Caiaphas and He And all that cruel Rout which made their Prey Of his most innocent Humilitie Shall looke on Him whom they have peirc'd with Thorns And Whips and Spears and Blasphemies and Scorns 65. Yet He an uniuersal Prospect took With princely Awfulness about the Deep The radiant Dint of which triumphant Look Scorch'd all the feinds and fires which there did keep With greater torment than when He at first Thorough their brazen Gates did thither burst 66. What glimpse of Hopes can cheer the Whelps when They Have seen the Father Lyon trampled down Alas the head of every Devill lay Bruised in Satans and they count their own No longer so since He could not maintain With all his Wit and Policy his own Brain 67. But whilst themselves They with this Horror slew Jesus did for another Foe prepare In royall State He marched back and flew To a new Conquest in his Sepulchre Where shivering and couching close lay Death Astonish'd at the dismal noise beneath 68. She heard the ruine of the Brazen Door She heard the yelling of each frighted feind She heard opprested Satans soveraign Roar And felt a sudden fatal Terror rend Her late triumphant Heart which suffered by Its sympathie with Hells Calamity 69. Arrived heer this Monster He descri'd With more than deadly Paleness in her face Striving her guilty Head in vain to hide From the dread Brightness which surpriz'd the place For now none of her wonted loved Shade To muffle up her gastly Self she had 70. Such streams of living Light from JESV'S eys Broke forth as with more splendor stuff'd the Toomb Than dwells in Phoebu's globe Death scalded flies About the Cave and hunts to finde some room Where she may scape that parching Lustres ire Whose bus'nes seem'd to light her funeral Fire 71. When loe thy Spouse his foot already red With Hells best Blood upon her Bosome set And cri'd foule Monster whom I never did Create but Pride and Insolence begat 'T is time thou feel that yet I have to doe With Thee both Mine and all my Subjects foe 72. Thy hideous most accursed Mother Sinne Due Veng'ance from this righteous Hand has felt And thou Her Bratt in vain dost nestle in This gloomy Rock in hopes to hide thy Guilt The whole Worlds Graves which by thy Tyrannie Alone are fill'd proclaime one due to thee 73. Ev'n from thy Birth Destruction was thy Trade And thou didst traffik the whole Earth about All Generations thy prize were made And yet thy Stomach still new Booties sought Hell which I plumm'd but now less bottomiesie Than that strange Gulfe of thy lank belly is 74. The stoutest Kings no favour found with Thee But at thy stouter feet Thou mad'st them bow Thy shameless Worms thou gav'st authoritie On Prince's noble Breasts to crawle and knaw Saucie Corruption thou command'st to tread And trample upon every laureat Head 75. My dearest Saints Thou mingled'st with thy prey And deep into their graves didst trample them Had I not with mine own hand snatch'd away That Pair which I too pretious did esteem To be devour'd by thee Elias now And Enoch had in dust been trodeu low 76. By this thine uncontrolled crueltie Thou to the top of insolence didst rise And ventured'st to throw thy Dart at me That Dart which in my slaugh tred body lyes And if I die shalt thou exempted be Forbid it all my might and Majestie 77. At this the Monster fetch'd an hideous groan So great that all the dying cryes which she Throughout the world had caused seem'd in one Huge ejulation moulded up to be All deadly Agonies that ever were With just requitall bounded now on her 78. But Jesus strait broke every fatal chain In which she us d her conquerd Preys to tie And now the Fates themselves seem'd to complain That their grand Law groand under injury That Law which Heav'n it self
as she 20. But irefull Haphe less could rule her pride Imperious Dame cri'd she how darest thou Who in two little tender Cells are ti'd Such saucie scorn on all thy Sisters throw Dost thou not plainly see my Empire spred Through all the Body ev'n from Foot to Head 21. Doe I not domineer in and about Thy totall selfe would not this single Naile Sufficient be to tear your Queenship out From both your Thrones Alas should I assaile Thee with two wretched Motes they would suffice To damp that Day in which thou prid'st thine Eyes 22. Thus is Rebellion alwaies Quarrelsome Ev'n with it selfe Had not their Judge made haste To stifle their Contention in the womb Flat Warre had been brought forth But in hee cast His peremptory Sentence Hold said He I in my House must have you all agree 23. This is the Main how small so e'r it seems Whether all your severall winding Courses tend Here doe you poure in your concurrent streams And in this Sea of Sense your Rivers blend A Sea where never storm arose as yet Farre be it then I now should suffer it 24. I love you All and if it could but be Would wish that every One might be supream 'T is true what noble Haphe sayes and she Most like my selfe doth Universall seem Yet she is of a courser mixture and As well as highest does the lowest stand 25. But gallant Opsis sprightfull is and bright The glass or Heav'n above and Heav'n below Her seat's compleatly highest and the Right Of her Precedency her Beams do show She 's all your Candle and before must goe Ev'n your own Interest requires it so 26. Condemned Haphe to this Sentence paid Scornfull obedience vowing not to speak At all or be the last But straight array'd In joyous Aspect Opsis did awak Her richest sweets to let her sisters see What cause she had to scorn their Poverty 27. Yet what means Joy to smile in these mine Eyes Said she so long as Psyche Domineers And makes them worse than Blinde Could it suffice Her now and then to set abroach my Teares 'T were tolerable but alas poor I Must in my sorrows alway steeping lie 28. The Ocean with lesse Constancie doth throw Its Tide of Salt upon the troubled shore Than from my Springs the streames are forc'd to flow And down my scalded Cheeks their Billows poure O why must here be everlasting Brine Whil'st all Tides else doe know an Ebb but mine 29. Yet were these Floods found needfull to make clean Mine Eyes and mee I would not think them dear But what Crime stains Us Is 't that we have seene All Beauties round about the Hemispheer What were We made for else Alas that we For our Creations End must guilty be 30. More justly Psyche Articles might draw Against that God on whom she fawneth so Is 't not by His irrefragable Law That through all Visibility wee goe Bold Hypocrite who her own faults doth thus Reveng upon her God by torturing Us. 31. Are not the Eyes those universall Glasses In which the World doth fairly copied lie Man for a Microcosme by favour passes But in a blinde and duskie Mystery I am the onely faithfull Mirrour where All things in their true colours painted are 32. Nay Psyche too although her mixture be Pure and spirituall knows not how to hide Her subtile self from my Discovery She by these Windows eas'ly is descri'd Whether she wakes or sleeps or rests or moves Whether she sighs or smiles or hates or loves 33. Sure would proud she deign to observe how I Am fram'd and seated she could not despise The manifest and secret Majesty Which doth both compasse and compose mine Eyes But she is angry and doth plainly prove That Hate is also blind as well as Love 34. Were it not so she might discern this Brow The princely Arch which roofs my Habitation In which as resolute Disdain doth grow As she can dart at it This is the fashion Of the fair world above whose radiant Eye The upper Orbs have arch'd with Majesty 35. Those double Doors whose hinges are my Will Both shut and open without pain and noise Else could they not catch tender Sleep which still Is coy and shie and flies from every Voice These are my East and West My Day by these Doth rise and set as often as I please 36. At either Gate a double Guard of Pikes With prest attendance stands both night and day Which gives admission unto those it likes But to injurious Guests shuts up the way Right trusty Hairs whose faithfull Fear to Me Breeds no Dishonour but Security 37. Full is my House of nimble Servants who Their diligent selves in all my Businesse stretch Which way soever I desire to goe With sweet activity they thither reach No Princes steeds with greater speed or ease Devoure their way than I am roll'd by these 38. Six pretious Curtains close imbrace my Bed Where I in dainty state inshrined lie The Adnate Tunicle is outmost spred Which doth protection to the rest supply And in her bosome shrowd both them and mee From hasty Motions importunity 39. The next a Corneous Veil both firm and bright My naturall Lanthorne whose diaphanous side As it transmits so it preserves the Light By which the Body and my selfe I guide No Time can spend this Lamp no boistrous storm Can puff it out or breath it any harm 40. The third of Grapes soft polish'd Coat is made Yet with a gentle Roughnesse lin'd within Through which all kindes and tribes of Colours trade And traffick with the inner Chrystalline The doubtfull skin of Polypus did ne'r Slide through such various Looks as sport it here 41. This opes a Casement to the Pupil which My gaudy Iris round about doth dresse With perfect beauties shaming all those rich Streaks of the Heav'n above which can expresse Onely the semi-glories of a Bow Mine doth a faire and totall Circle show 42. The fourth 's that tender Membran which doth kisse And hugg the tenderer Pupil when the Light Looks with full court'sie on the Eye then this Opes wide to meet and drink it in when Night Doth draw her sable Curtains over Heav'n This doth the Pupill shrink into its Ev'n 43. The fift of Chrystall is soft warm and thin Found no where but in my rich Treasury This is that noblest Glasse of Life wherein Things living live again and things which lie Dead every where beside enlivened be And trip about with brisk activity 44. The sixt's a Texture of so fine a threed That neat Arachne did the Spinster seem Whose matchlesse Artifice so clear is read In every Line that thence it takes its name We call 't Aranea a Net whereby I catch the purest-winged Beams that flie 45. Besides such pretious Humors I contain As mee adorn with richer puritie Than does the boundlesse jewell-paved Main Its Empresse Thetis She in all her Sea Is but of one salt-roy'led liquor Queen But I of
slake 15. Both Psyche and her Steeds did soon recover Some sense and spirits of their boiling Pride When the first glimpse of those new Beams was over But chiefly she swell'd to so high a Tide Of Confidence as to presume Her Streams Would now repulse the Torrent of their Beams 16. To both her reverend Friends she doth dispense Her frowns and lowring-loathing Looks and by That silent Language of Impatience Her changed Minde and sullen Thoughts descrie But when she saw them full resolv'd she cries I thought you would have understood mine Eyes 17. Loe here my Tongue interprets them You are As much mistaken now in Psyche as She heretofore in You I must and dare Tell you your own Your treacherous Counsell has Too long bewitch'd my tender credulous Heart Henceforth you may for evermore depart 18. The saucy Coursers with ears prick'd up high Caught that proud Answer as from her it flew And neighing in tumultuous jollity With aggravation of Defiance threw It in the faces of the heav'nly Pair And then they kick'd and flung and snuff'd the Air. 19. But Phylax standing in Her Coache's way Lift up his Hand and Wing and kep't her back Crying much louder than her Steeds could neigh Yet e'r you goe vouchsafe to hear me speak Though I your Enemie be you need not fear Now you have learned that my Words to hear 20. This netled Thelema who Postillion was And had inflam'd the Coursers all the way She bent her scornfull Brow and cri'd Alas Can Phylax think I will his Rub obey Who ride where e'r I list and never meet With Mount or World which stops my Horses feet 21. With that she check'd her Fierie courser and This Anger was the most outrageous Steed Who with curvets strait answered her Hand And aim'd to snatch her way o'r Phylax's head Three times she leap'd as often falling back Till with her Bones she heard the Chariot Crack 22. For Phylax having thither reach'd a Ray Of mystick power seiz'd on the Axel-tree Which with a splitting groan at length gave way And by the voice of its fragility Admonish d all the Coach that Ruine now Meant to ride there and Psyche out would throw 23. And true the warning was for either Wheel The Barrs the Pillars Seat Side Back and Head Shatter'd forth with into confusion feel How 〈◊〉 the Axels Fatall preface led Them to their Tragedy which now no more Can own their severall Names as heretofore 24. 'T is all but one rude Heap upon whose back Lies Psyche something bruised with the Fall But wounded more to see who made that Crack And rais'd that Pile as for her funerall She scorns to take Him for an equall Foe But swells and puffs and knows not what to doe 25. He in her sullen Eye observing well The troubled Motions of 〈◊〉 smoking Heart And more than her own Tongue knew how to tell Pitti'd the sadnesse of her wilfull Smart And for compliance her own course he took Speaking not by his Mouth but by his Look 26. This is the Dialect of strongest Love Which when the fruitlesse Tongue had said her Say With soule-commanding Power doth plead and prove That Eloquence doth reign in Eyes that they Who to the bottom of the Heart would speak In Looking Lines must their Orations make 27. His serious Aspect upon Her was bent Compos'd of angry love and milde disdain Expressive were the Glances which He sent And every Word that darted forth was plain Some Rayes grew hot and stoutly chid but others With melting Pittie mollifi'd their Brothers 28. O what a long long Story ran He over In this short ocular Discourse how fast Did He her bosome and his own discover And what of old and what of late had past And what was dawning if she still went on With obstinate confidence to be undone 29. But she would not this language understand Because the Speaker she before despis'd She proudly look'd and coyly wav'd her hand Telling him by those signes she was advis'd So well of what she did that He might goe And somewhere else his scorned Pains bestow 30. Mean while as Thelema and her bruis'd Steed Biteing their own lips and the ground did lie Charis her sweetest Powers had mustered To force the Damsell from her Miserie And See said she when it was grown so tall How suddenly your Pride hath caught a Fall 31. Yet this is not the Bottome but a Step Unto that Ruine whither you did ride O did you know how black and vast a Deep Gapes in your Journeyes End you would have di'd A thousand other Deaths much rather than Have posted thus to plunge into that one 32. Here with her Wand she stroke upon the Earth Straight Tellus heard the Knock and op'd her Door When loe a Night of Smoke came stinking forth And then a duskie Day of Fire the Roar Of that great Crack made surly Thelema start And summon'd Psyche too to see her part 33. For though Dread shook their Soules They deemed it Scorn to confesse their fear and run away Their adamantine stomack will not let Their lives be longer pretious still they stay Not out of curious Desire to see But to out-face the hideous Prodigie 34. The monstrous Jaws of the wide-gaping Pit With banefull soot were lined thick Beneath Incensed Sulphure flashing Wrath did spit From whence a Cloud of heavie Groans did breath Forth sad confession Who below did dwell These Proofs authentik were to speak it Hell 35. Plung'd in the gloomie Caverns Centre were A woefull Rout mingled with smoke and Fire Abiram Corah Dathan fried there With Peleths venturous Sonn who did conspire To raise that old Combustion which now Concluded is in their own Flames below 36. Their howling Wives and shreiking Children lay Broiling about them and desir'd in vain One drop of Water after dying They Had burn'd so long in their still-living Pain Their Tears drop'd thick but mock'd them by their store And onely scal'd their Cheeks which flam'd before 37. As The lema stood doubting at the sight Behold this last Preferment Charis cri'd To which Ambition doth fond men invite Is it not petty that thou didst not ride Thy Journey out and am not I thy Foe Who down this fair Hill would not let thee goe 38 Thou seest that arrogant Brood of Rebells there Who were too high to stoop to heavenly law Yet to their wretchlesse Passions lent their Ear And rather then to God to them would bow Moses and Aaron whom they kick'd at there Nothing but Phylax are and Charis here 39. Moses and Aaron did usurp too much And bare their tyrannizing Heads too high And was not our Inditement onely such When Love drew up our Charge We were not by I grant but yet He was whose Vengance now Feeds on your proud Agenors heart below 40. Observe that Feind who holds fell Chorah's chain Himselfe bound in a greater He knows why He gathers up his Tails ashamed Train And steals it
sweet Sir will have it so content Said she and meekly blushing in she went 39. Up flew Devotion and Chastitie The gallant Steeds which did the Chariot draw Her native Albion soon began to be Lost in a Sea of Air and now she saw The wealthy Fields of Gallia which as fast Behinde her fled as she did forward post 40. Then climbing higher in her yeilding Way Eternall Banks of obstinate Frost and Snow Which Winter on the Alps high back did lay Spight of the nearer Sun she leaves below And through the tumult of the justling Clouds Down into the Italian Heav'n she crouds 41. From thence she launch'd into that Region Which by the Adriatick Storms doth frown And sped her course above that Ocean About whose sides the Mid-land shores are thrown So well did Phylax steer that to a Port So far off ne'r was made a Cut so short 42. For having reach'd blest Palestine she flew Over the groveling Towns of Galile Untill the Steeds as if the place they knew At Nazareth brake off their Course where she Viewing the simple Village wondered why Her Convoy thither took such pains to flie 43. But Phylax having led her by the Hand To the unlikliest House Behold said hee This pretious Monument which still doth stand To chide their Arrogance who needs will be Immur'd in Cedar and roof'd o'r with Gold O who would think poor Dust should be so bold 44. This silly Mansion though it scarce would win Ev'n Poverty it selfe in it to dwell Was once the House Home where the bright Queen Of Glories kept her Court in this mean Cell Dwelt She in whose illustrious Family All Heav'n desir'd a Sojourner to be 45. She the transcendent Crown of Females She Great Jacobs Ladder Aarons budding Rod The Chrystall Princess of Virginity Davids fair Tower the Mother of her God Mary her selfe O may that lovely Name Be Blessings Nest and the dear Theam of Fame 46. There her plain Cates she eat or rather kept Her healthfull Rules of sober Abstinence There did she plie her Prayers and there she slept When midnight Zeal had tir'd her mortall Sense No Corner was in all this House but she Did dedicate it unto Piety 47. How many Temples in this narrow Room Erected were by her Devotion Who taught all Virtues here to take their Home But if Sin knock'd She bid it straight be gone For at her Door Humility she set A Potter which would no such Guests admit 48. Here on her pious knees she wept one day In wondring Meditation of that She Whom God would chuse to make the noble Way Unto his own fore-told Humanity O how she blest that Soule who ever was To be advanced to that matchlesse Grace 49. Not for a thousand Worlds would she have thought Her Selfe the long-designed She but rather Would with a thousand thousand more have bought An Hand-mayds place to wait upon that Mother To kisse her blessed feet or bear her Train In whom all Excellence rejoyc'd to reign 50. But whil'st her meek admiring Fancie flies Through this high Contemplation which drew Applauding joyous Christall from her Eyes A bright and gallant Stranger hither flew One who from Heav'n her sweet reflection brings Looking almost like Her but for his Wings 51. Youth bloomed in his Face the blessed Throne Where purest Beauties in fair Triumph sate Their brisk and sparkling Combination All ravishing Joyes into his Eyes had put His Looks commanded Love but did withall By potent Purity all Lust fore-stall 52. His Head was crown'd with its own golden Hair Which down his back its dainty Wealth did shed The Alabaster of his Neck was bare Sweetly betraying what below was hid In the green ambush of his Robe of Silk The Curtain drawn upon his Fleshie Milk 53. That Robe was guarded with the orient Lace Which on Aurora's Virgin Coat you see Neglect seem'd to have put it on yet Grace And Comelinesse would not prevented be But did in every carelesse fold and pleit To catch Spectators Wonder lie in wait 54. A silver Girdle did his Loins imbrace With the prest fashion of Travellers Like Loves sweet Bow his left Arm bended was Upon his Side whil'st high his Right Hand bears A Lillie which from thence received more Sweetnesse and Whitenesse than it had before 55. The Candor of his Wings was no such kinde Of glaring thing as in the Alpine Snow Or on the purest Cygnets neck we finde Or on the soft face of new Milk doth flow But a celestiall Tincture pure and bright Made not by scorching but by whitening Light 56. He was an heav'nly Citizen and one Whose place is in an higher form than mine In neer attendance on his Makers Throne He with his Archangelick beams doth shine Whence he when Heav'n has greatest businesse here Dispatched is the choise Ambassadour 57. But though his Eyes their education had Amongst those Claritudes which gild the skies They never yet at Home did seem to read So much of Heav'n at large as here he spies Epitomized in the lovely Glass Of Maryes modestly-illustrious face 58. And Hail said He Thou dearest Favorite Of our great King in whose selected Breast His Majesty with singular delight Doth take his private and mysterious rest Hail thou the Crown of Females on whose Head Their best exuberance all Blessings shed 59. The humble Virgin started at the sight But much more at the Salutation The complementall Youth did her affright Who us'd such charming Companie to shun Untill his Wings admonish'd her that he One of her wonted heav'nly Guests might be 60. But yet her lowly Soul could not digest The tumor of that strange Hyperbole Which still she boulted in her thought-full Breast Being suspitious least some Flattery Had borrow'd an Angelike shape by which A Woman it more easily might bewitch 61. O strange but nobly-pretious Jealonsie Which onely dost in holy Bosoms rest Thou art the Bar which dost accesse deny To whatsoever might an Heart molest Pride Usher to all Sins comes not neer thee So low thou liest so high strutteth hee 62. When Gabriel observ'd her doubtfull Look Where Blushes and where Palenesse mutually Their fearfull and their modest Stations took Mary said He thy meek Anxiety May spare its pains No Danger dares draw neer Her whom the Prince of Power doth hold so dear 63. He who is Lord of Love hath seal'd on thee His amorous Heart the choisest of his Graces The flowre of all his Sweets th' Immensitie Of his best Favours and his Joyes he places On thee alone whom he exalts as high As thou art sunk in thy Humility 64. Witnesse this Message I have now to tell How much too glorious for Me to bring The onely Message which could parallel The boundlesse Love of Heav'ns inamored King A Message which the World hath long expected But fit to thee alone to be directed 65. Behold thy blessed Womb shall Fertile be With a more blessed Son whom at the due And wonted Season
to be whate'r His most victorious Love would make of Her 92. Behold said she The Handmayd of the Lord For he hath given Me leave to use that Stile Since Heav'n will have it so may thy great Word My worthless Bowells with Performance fill To Him who made Me I my Selfe resign 'T is fit His Pleasure and not mine be Mine 93. This blessed Word no sooner brake from her Sweet Lipps but to the Top of Heav'n it flew Where in the Mouthes of all the winged Quire It found its Echo and was made a new And pretious Anthem for the Sphears that Day Measur'd their high Dance by this onely Lay. 94. All Nature heard the Sound which in her Eare Spake Life and Joy and Restauration O blessed Musick which so cheared Her That her old Wrinkles into Smiles did run Fresh Fire she glowing felt in every Vein And briskly thought of growing young again 95. For now that Spirit which first quickned her Return'd again and flew to Maryes breast O what Excesse of Sweets and Joyes did bear Him company unto his Virgin Nest O what pure streams of Light what glorious showrs Of most enlivening and prolifick Powers 96. With these flew down Enternities great Son To be a Son of Time and parting from His Fathers Bosome Glories sweetest Throne Chose Ashes for his House Dust for his Home Having taught Exaltation to bow And of the Most High made Himselfe Most Low 97. In vain should I or all the Angells strive To reach at that impossible Eloquence Which might a paralled Description weave For that immense mysterious Confluence Of purest Joyes with which in this Imbrace The most enobled Virgin ravish'd was 98. Onely her spatious Soul the blessed Sea Where all those Floods of pretious Things did meet Knew what it comprehended Glorious She Did taste the rellish of each mystick Sweet In one miraculous Instant and did trie The various Dainties of Divinity 99. For though this Generation had been The deepest Project of Eternity Yet were its Wonders all transacted in Durations most concise Epitomie One single Moment crowned was with this Exploit of most unbounded Power and Bliss 100. O mighty Moment at whose feet all Dayes And Moneths and Years and Ages homage pay Upon whose Head Time all its Glories lays Wishing that thou migt'st never slide away Eternity holds it selfe deep in debt To thee in whom its sweetest Wonders meet 101. This Universe for ever thou dost tie Close to its greater Maker Thou dost join These Mortall Things to Immortality And in one Knot both Heav'n and Earth combine Thou giv'st Fertility a new-found Home And bid'st it flourish in a Virgin-Womb 102. For Mary now the Mansion-house became Of her conceived God who deign'd to take His Pattern from her reverend Bodies frame And borrow part of Her thereby to make A Garment for himselfe that hee might be As true and genuine Flesh and Blood as she 103. O Paradise how poore a Soile art Thou To the rare Richnes of this Virgin Bed That Tree of Life which in thy Heart did grow It self but as the shade of this was spread Here is the Garden where the noble Tree Of everlasting Life would planted be 104. Blush all yee Heav'ns the gallant Virgins Wombe Hath left no Looks but those of shame for You All Glories here have chose their dearer Home And fairer shine because They make no show Here dwells a Sunn whose Count ' nance is a Book So bright your Phebus dares not on it look 105. The most resplendent equall Character The flaming Brightnes of the Fathers Face Hath now vouchsafed to exchange his Sphear And in this lesser Heav'n to plant his Rays Which yet He hath so sweetned and allayd That He consumeth not the tender Mayd 106. Thus when to Moses He came down of old Arrayed all in fire and took his Seat Upon a simple Bush his flaming Gold In mercie to the shrubb reind in its Heat And all the leaves with harmlesse Brightnes fill'd Which He was pleased not to Burn but Gild. 107. When Gabriell had seen this wonderous sight He bow'd his holy Head first to adore His new-conceived Lord wishing he might Have made his dwelling on this blessed Floor And then to take his reverent leave of Her Whom yet to Heav'n He in his mind did bear 108. Whether as He mounted up the News He tells To every Orb and Star but cheifly to Th' inquisitive Spirits whose ears and hearts he fils With all the Wonders He had seen below Till with applause from every Angels Tongue The pretious Name or humble Mary rung 109. Thus Phylax spake When Psyche fill'd with Joy And Admiration cri'd Why may not I Have leave in this dear Mansion to stay Where can I better live or sweetlier die Humilities own Palace best will fit Me who through Pride stand most in need of it 110. If that be thy Desire thou strait shalt see Phylax reply'd a fairer House than this Fairer in more transcendent Poverty And nobler farr in higher Lowlines With that into the Chariot again He takes her up and gently moves the Rein. 111. The ready steeds no more Monition needed For through the Ayr they Snatch'd their greedy way And o're the Galilean Regions speeded No Hills were high enough to bid them stay No windes out-ran them but to Bethlehem Well neer as soon's their Drivers thought they came 112. There lighting down Behold this Town my Dear The Guardian cri'd where Fame once lov'd to grow Jesse's illustrious Sonn was nurtured here Here reverend Samuell did prepare his Brow For royall Honour when upon his Head The Crowns rich Ernest holy Oile he shed 113. This chosen Root in Kings was fertile whose Successive Hands through many Ages bore The Jewish Sceptre till with other Foes Sin stronger than the rest combin'd and tore It from its guilty Owners farr from Home First unto Babylon and next to Rome 114. Rome holds it still and makes this wretched Land Pay that sad Debt its Wickednes contracted How oft has an imperious Command Heavy blood-squeazing Taxes here exacted Drowning in Gall this servile Country now Which did of old with Milk and Honey flow 115. Such miserable Gains fond wilfull Men Condemned are to reap who needs will be Driving the self-destoying Trade of sin To such heart-galling Bonds of Tyranny All those unhappy Nations make haste Who from their Necks Heav'ns gentle Yoke do cast 116. This golden Trick Augustus learned and Summon'd the People to a generall Taxe The Warrants strait awak'ned all the Land And every One to pay his Homage packs To his Parentall Town the Register Of Tribes and Kindreds being setled there 117. This cost good Joseph and his blessed Spouse A tedious journey for the Way was long But short the Days in Winters inmost House Cold churlish Capricorne the Sunn had clung The Morning and the Ev'n so close together That there was left no room for cheerly Wether 118. The holy Travellers through Cold and Frost And
Phebus throw And at high noon with Midnight choke the Skie But I will be reveng'd for you and make Though they be all the World your Enemies quake 159. Here the black foam stopp'd up his Mouth and He With griezly ghastly face with staring Eyes With Breast tormented by Anxiety With languid Arms and Hands with quivering Thighs Expect the Issue of his Charms to see And what his Oracles Reply would be 160. When loe for then thy Spouse was comming nigh That very place a hideous Groan did fill The mourning Vault which was rebounded by So strong an Earthquake that the Idolls fell And by their prostrate fragments in the Cave Did their own Temple turn into their Grave 161. Scarcely had Jannes and his frighted Crew Time to escape the Rume of their Gods But being out their Books away they threw In indignation and brake their Rods And having nothing else whereon to poure Their Spight their lipps they bit their hair they tore 162. His secret Vengance thus thy Little Lord Sheath'd in the Bowells of Idolatry Whil'st puzzeld Egypt never saw the Sword Nor knew for whom it reap'd this Victory The Angel thus of old their First-born slew When undiscerned through the Land He flew 163. Mean while fell Herod busie was about The matchless Master-peice of Tyranny Which how it was Conceived and how Brought Forth the dull Vulgar's Ey 's too dim to see For it was hatch'd as low as Hell But I To thee will ope all the black Mystery 164. Mischievous were that Prince's Counsells But Proud Lucifer had deeper Plots than He And fear'd his Crown more than did Herod at The new-born Kings high-fam'd Discovery For in his ears the Shepheards Storie rung And the strange Musick of the Christmas Song 165. The Mouth of Thunder never yet had spoke Such Terror to his Soul as those soft Notes Which tun'd to Joy's and Peace's Key had broke From the sweet Nests of those bright Angels Throats Nor was this Omen all for He had spi'd That Eastern Star which did the Wisemen guide 166. No Light did ever fright Him so but that Whose Darts did throw him headlong from the Top Of Heav'ns sublimest Pinnacle and shut Him up in deepest Night where He keep'd shop And every sort of sinfull Wares did sell To those who with their Soules will purchase Hell 167. For now he knew his Trade would never thrive And that few Chapmen would delight to buy So long as that great Infant was alive With whose more profitable Diety Shepheards and Kings to traffick had begun And taught the World which way for Gains to run 168. Ten thousand Spawns of his deep plotting Brain He tumbles o'r yet none could please his Eye Again hee Thinks and yet Dislikes again But Vow 's at last how e'r thy Spouse shall die He Vow 's by his own Head and seeks some Fiend Who might dispatch the Businesse to his minde 169. A Rock there stands neer to Cocytu's Bank Which to the River opes its monstrous Jaws Sucking no other Breath but what the rank And Sulphury Vapour of that Water throws Into its Mouth which far more venomous makes The steaming Poyson that from thence it takes 170. In winding Holes and ragged Corners there Whole Families of Adders Vipers Snakes Asps Basilisks and Dragons dwelling are Whose constant and confounding Hissing makes The Language of that Mouth and plainly tells What kinde of Prodigie beyond them dwells 171. The Throat sticks thick with bones of Leggs and Arms Which ravenous Haste had there left by the Way With undigested Heaps the Stomack swarms Which in that Sink and Den of Murder lay In whose immeasurable Bottome stood A reeking Lake of young and guiltless Blood 172. But at the Cavern where the Heart should lie Was hung a sevenfold Door of massie Brass Plated with Adamant and conjur'd by A thousand Bars and Locks to let no crosse Mischance peep in besides as many Seals Treading on one anothers crowded heels 173. Above a Watch-tower was erected high Windows full where Linx stood night and day Before the Door an hundred Doggs did lie Upon whose ears no sleep did ever prey Next them as many Cocks and next to these A vigilant Company of trusty Geese 174. Within were dark Meanders dammed up By frequent Doors and by their Porters too Whose office never was to set them ope But see that not so much as Thought should goe That way They oft put out their Lights for fear Some cunning Beam might spie a Cranny there 175. Before the inmost Gate a mighty Moat The Palace far from Dangers did divide No Bridge it knew and but one single Boat In which no more than one at once could ride And this unto the shore fast Pris'ner was Under a Chain of Steel and Lock of Brasse 176. Upon that shore in due Array was set With Weapons ready drawn a treble Watch That no Disturbance might presume to put Its finger forth or touch the jealous Latch They with a loud alarm all roused were If but the Image of a Noise came there 177. But in that House so dark and so profound That Hell it selfe seems there sunk down in Hell A Thing ô how much more than Monster drown'd Yet deeper in torturings did dwell One who had chose Disquiet for her Rest One who all Furies is to her own breast 178. Suspition is her Name Full is her Head Of thoughtfull Eyes which alwaies learning seem And alwaies wide ope for they know no Lid Which might twixt Labour interpose and them They look on Sleep as on a treacherous Thing Who might bring Dangers under his black Wing 179. But chiefly upon One Another they Their jealous and misgiving Glances throw And 'cause they can no grounds of fear bewray Of the more deep-layd Dangers fearfull grow And whil'st they all thus mutually stare Each bids his brother of himselfe beware 180. Her large thin Ear stood always prick'd upright To catch each Sound and Whisper that came neer Sometimes as her own Fancie took its flight But through her head she thought some Noise was there Her hollow Cheeks had gaped long for meat But Doubts and Fears forbad her still to eat 181. In every Dish and Cup she seem'd to see Some Poysonsliely laid in Ambushment Alas and could there any Venome be So venomous as she who might have lent New power to Dragons stings and mad each field Of Thessaly fairer Cropps of Poyson yeild 182. Her Garments were inpenetrable Steel Of the same Temper with great Satans shield A brazen Buckler did her left Hand fill And in her right a mighty Sword she held Weapons with which she never did entend To fight but onely her own Head defend 183. Her Chair had fourty iron Feet which all Where double nayled to the ground Yet she Beleeved not but still the Seat might fall By sudden undermining Treachery This made her seldome sit and when she did Over her shoulder still she turn'd her Head 184. No Morning
sad Tragedie which prov'd at last The Theatre of his triumphant Fast. 28. Before I tell thee who did first appeare In these strange Lists observe that parched Hill That Throne of Barrennefle and Squallour there Against the hungry North thou see'st a Cell Which long hath gaped but could never finde Any Reliefe as yet but saplesse Winde 29. That Den's the Dwelling of that Champion who First ventur'd on a Combat face to face With God Incarnate one as like to doe The Feat of Spight as any of the Race Of hell-begotten Fiends yet prov'd to weak To manage what she here did undertake 30. Our Noise now calls her forth dost thou not see Her goodly Ushers those seven horned Things Though like to Nothing but themselves they be Must goe for Kine spermatick Nile which brings Forth choise of Monsters in their birth alone Hath all his other Prodigies out-gone 31. Nile brought them forth and shew'd them to the King Whom through Fates Closets a strange Dream did bring Pharaoh awoke affrighted at the Thing But knew not how its Characters to read Nor why those sharp-set Portents which had clean Devour'd seaven fat Kine still should grow more lean 32. Till Joseph clear'd the mist and taught him what By those new Hieroglyphicks Destiny Decyphered had But when the Beasts had got Malgrè those fair Banks of Fertility Their seaven years Conquest to this Cave they came To serve a Monster neer of kin to them 33. Behold their Hair is shrivell'd up and drie Their hides aforehand tann'd but chapp'd withall Their sharp affrighted Bones stand staring high The Reliques of their flesh as low doe fall Their Bellies to their Backs full close are ti'd And one does kisse the other starved side 34. All Shape is shrunk to such Deformitie That did their horns not point them out nor Thou Nor Pharaoh could have dreamed they should be Descended from a Bull and honest Cow And yet well-favour'd Beasts are these to Her Their dismall Soveraign who commeth there 35. Just at the Word the Hagge appear'd with Look More keen than Januaries breath or than The edge of Rasors or the piercing stroke Of barbarous North-begotten Boreas when He his most massie chains of Ice hath hurl'd O'r Sea and Land and stupifi'd the World 36. The sudden Dint shot into Psyche's Heart Such deep Dread and Amazement that it slew Her Spirits and Courage But with Heav'nly Art Her ready Guardian strait did both renew And suppling her cold Breast with soft and warme Comforts proceeded thus her Soul to arme 37. Dost thou not see what makes the Furies Train Mark well and read thine owne Securitie How heavy at her heels she draws a Chain Of Adamant whose other End is by That hand of Providence which doth all things guide Unto thy mighty Spouse's Foot-stool ti'd 38. At first her self she fiercely darted out But now her curbed Pace is tame and slow She knows ' her Compass having often fought In vain to break her Chain 's Eternall Law So be assur'd she now cannot come hither No she has stretch'd the utmost of her Tether 39. Thus when the greedy Mastiffe leapeth from His kennell all in hungry hast and wrath The sullen chain which will not goe from home Checks his adventure and cuts off his Path At which the wretched Curre le ts fall his Ears And tail and spirit and then he grinns and lears 40. Upon the Head of every wretched Fiend Sure sits this curse that they cannot forbear Their spight and indignation to grinde And in all furie for the fight prepare When ever any Prey their Eyes have found Although mad fools they know their feet are bound 41. Look how her Eyes are fled into her head As if ashamed on her self to look For in that leafe alas what could she read But what would seem transcrib'd from Terror's book Her skin 's the Paper ô how ghastly white Where Pain and Horror their black Legends write 42. All upright staring stand her startled Hairs Of one anothers touch in jealous fear Two close shrunk knots of Gristles are her Ears Her forehead nothing but its skin doth wear Her keeness fully is displayed in Her pinched Nose and her sharp-pointed Chinne 43. Like a deep Pit of Chalk is either Cheek Her sapless Lipps are parch'd and shrivell'd up Showing her Ivory Teeth all white and sleek But long and hideous These stand alway ope That her dire Tongue may ever dangle out To catch the Rain and quench its burning Drought 44. Her starv'd and clung-up Neck has much adoe To bear the slender burden of her head The Stalk quite famished and withered so Under its nodding floure doth bend Instead Of Arms She shows two Yards of Skin and Bone Oppress'd and tir'd with their own Weight alone 45. Her fleshless Hands like feete of Vultures seeme Nor are her nails so lately prun'd But they May pass for Tallons what she grasps in them Is sentenc'd by that Touch to be her Prey Her Leggs are two drie crazie stakes her Feet Already mouldering their Grave doe meet 46. That fatall bunch of Corn which fills her Hand O no! which makes Vacuitie be there Are those seav'n Ears which upon Nilus strand To Pharaoh with those Oxen did appear And now becomes her Rod for on it grows No Grain nor any other fruit but Blows 47. Was ever such Contraction seen as there About a Waste whose Girdle Thinnesse is The strait-lac'd Insects slender Brood did ne'r Shrink up themselves into a scanter Dresse Her Bellie's sunk and gone and shee could spare It well who nothing had to lay up there 48. See'st thou her Shoulders and her Thighs all gnawn Imagine not that any Beast but she Her selfe was guilty of the Fact her own Keen Tuskes have grav'd those lines of Crueltie And when she wanted other Cates to eate Did prick her on to make her selfe her Meat 49. Little it was she from her selfe could tear But yet where Nothing else was to be had That Little seemed full and dainty Cheere And to she fell But as she 'gan to feed Her Banquet fail'd between her Teeth and she In stead of Flesh chew'd meer Vacuitie 50. This rais'd that Storm which in her bosome reigns And could'st thou hear it would amaze thine eare Her Stomack roars and teares and pricks and strains And all its Misery objects to Her So doe her Bowells bound in their own Chains And ti'd and twisted up in Knots of Pains 51. Three Fiends of choisest Power and spight there are Whome Veng'ance doth imploy to lash the Earth The hidden Pestilence wide open War And Famin this fell Hag whose Drought and Dearth Burn with more Poyson than the Plague wound With sharper engins than in War are found 52. This is that living Death by which poor Man Is forc'd himselfe his funerall to begin Whil'st wandring up and down all faint and wan Wrapp'd in the winding sheet of his pale skin He seeks his grave that through that door He
Oaths and Cries Tumbled and toss'd themselves from place to place And sought Lots Door in one anothers face 324. As Jesus spi'd this helplesse Wight for He Warch'd to surprise all Objects of Compassion Speeded by his own heav'nly Charity He to his Succour flies Such is the fashion Of generous Love which never stayes to be Woo'd and importun'd to a Courtesie 325. The simple Man perceiving one draw nigh Fell to the Beggers covetous Dialect Craving for Money Friend that is not my Largise thy Lord repli'd which doth infect Those who desire it Surely Thou would'st finde What Bane thou begg'st wert thou not double Blind 326. Money is that unhappy Dust which flies Full in the face of undiscerning Man And heaps such Mists of Blindnesse on his eyes That Heav'n He cannot see If thou did'st skan Thy state aright Thou might'st thy Blindness blesse Who seest not how monstrous money is 327. I l'e make a thinner Clay than Money which Shall far exceed the Worth of Gold to Thee They are not moneys beams which doe inrich The World with Light and Glory but from Me Alone flow forth those clear and genuine Raies Which blesse the Age with sweet and golden Days 328. This said three times He spit upon the ground And temper'd with his Hand a Soveraign Clay No Salve by deepest Art was ever found Which could so sure all Maladies allay Should pretious Balsame now prove sick and die This Ointment could work its Recovery 329. With this the Blinde Mans Eyes He Oynted yet Was pleased not forthwith to give them sight First an experiment He meant to get Whether his inner Eyes of Faith were bright Then with his Favour to reward and grace The Pool which long before so pious was 330. Bethesda Waters swell'd with full-tide Fame Wherefore though apt Occasion Him invited Time was when He refus'd to honor Them But pour'd his royall love into this sleighted Though worthy Pool which as his Partner He In this his Miracle vouchsaf'd to be 341. To Siloam goe said He and wash thine Eyes And thou shalt see what I to thee have given The joyfull Man with holy Credence hies Him to the Place No Hart was ever driven By scalding Thirst more greedily unto The Rivers than He to this Spring did goe 342. He went to drink not with his Mouth but Eyes Which as He washed loe they 'gan to ope Out flew black Night and all those duskie Ties By which his Sense before was chained up Straight his released sparkling Pupills show'd Like sprightfull Lightning from the broken Cloud 343. And now he lives and sees that he does live And Heav'n and Earth more than by hear-say knows Now every Parcell of the World doth give Him a Remembrance unto whom He owes His power of seeing it O happy hee Who must in every Thing his Saviour see 344. Since from the Darknesse of the first Abysse The Universe was wakened unto light Ne'r was atcheiv'd so strange a Cure as this Which on condemned Eyes bestowed fight In spight of Nature who had put them out Before she gave them leave to look about 345. Now Psyche turn thine Eye to yonder Town Great Salems little Neighbour Bethany A place of dear Remembrance to thine own Beloved Lord from Salems tumults He Would oft retire into that calmy place And still as oft's He came He welcome was 346. For there two Sisters dwelt an holy Pair Industrious Martha who the World did love Yet not so much but Jesus was more dear Although the practick Trade of Life she drove The Cream of her Solicitude she spent To purchase more than secular Content 347. Pathetick Mary one whom Mercy made Her chosen triumph This was 〈◊〉 She Who in the hottest Troop of Sinners had A leading Place such stout Impiety Incouraged her Heart that Hell could not Put her on any Task but she would do 't 348. For seav'n foule Devills had themselves possest Of all her Soule and with imperious Port In the usurped Palace of her Breast Their throne erected and maintain'd their Court What Proclamations or Warrants They So ever issu'd she did straight obey 349. But Jesus who did square his Pitty by No Merit hee in Mortall Man could read But for his Rule took their Capacity Of Succour found how much this Heart did need His potent Help which He forthwith applied And made her Live who now seav'n times had died 350. For from the bottome of Her poys'ned Breast Seav'n hideous Deadly Sins she vomited And having thus disgorged Hell which prest Her down so low to Heav'n she rais d her head Flaming with purest fire of Love as she Before had smoak'd in Lusts Impurity 351. Her brave Devotion she did measure now By the Large Size of Mercy she had gained For as that Mercy did no limits know So to Infinitude her Love she strained She strained hard and would have reach'd the Top If Mortall Passion could so high climb up 352. O Psyche hadst Thou but been by when She Unto her Lord upon Loves Errand came Thou might'st have seen impatient Piety Mount in the boldnesse of its noble Flame First at his Feet it 'gan and then it spred With fair and liberall Fulnesse to his Head 353. That fragrant Ointment which she us'd before To her own lustfull Skin to sacrifice She now on Jesu's sweeter Feet doth poure And adds another showre from her own eyes Then wiping them with her late crisped Tresses She offers there her consecrated Kisses 354. She mindes not what Spectators think or say Love is secnre and carelesse She does mean E'r from her Lovers Feet she goe away To oint or weep or wipe or kisse them clean And by this generous Zeal she Sanctifies Her Locks her Lips her Ointment and her Eyes 355. But as the sprightfull Flame disdains to stay Below and with undaunted Ardor strives To reach its lofty Sphear So she one Day The Reins unto her gallant Passion gives And takes aime at the Top of Heav'n for this I 'm sure said she on Jesu's Temples is 356. She had a Box of Ointment of high price Yet not so pretious as her loving Lord Could the Worlds wealth meet in one Sacrifice All this She freely could to him afford And now unbrideled Love such haste did make That straight the Box or her own Heart must break 357. Indeed both brake and both she poured on His Head who is of Sweets and Hearts the King Straight through both Heav'n Earth the Odours ran Which shall for ever with their Praises ring For now't has lost its Alabaster Cell The glorious Nard in all the World doth dwell 358. Thrift grumbled at the Cost but Jesus who Excessive in his Love to Mary was Vouchsaf'd her generous Soule free leave to goe In the same princely and licentious pace He knows the heats of this unweildy Passion And will allow it brave Immoderation 359. All other Passions eas'ly bounded are Because their Objects are in limits ti'd But Love alone
lean and hungry as before remains 42. If any thing but Money comming be The door is alway deaf for its strange ears Can apprehend no noise or harmonie But Monies chinking which as soon's it hears It flingeth ope its mouth as wide and fast As Tygers when their prey to them is cast 43. Six yellow springs before the threshold rise Infected by that Houses neighbour-hood Which creeping far through earths close cavities Poure out their wealthy but most dangerous flood On the condemned World devouring there More than in stormy Seas e're drowned were 44. Indus and Ganges rouled in the East Pactolus in the middle of the Earth But Tagus undertook to taint the West And spewd in Spain his glistering poison forth Rich Hebrus chose something more North to be And broke his way through Thracian Rhodope 45. Plate stole into the other World that He Might to some pains and cost put Covetousnesse But when her thirst grows hot impatient she Shall scorn th' Atlantik Ocean and presse Through unknow Monsters to finde out that stream Which yet shall not quench but augment her flame 46. The structure of the House is mean and poore And cals with many a mouth fot Reparation The Clowds when e're they weep do freely poure Through every rotten room an inundation The Windes come whistling at their pleasure in And every kinde of Weather there will Inn 47. A thousand Stilts and Propps their shoulders set Against the Walls where many a Wisp and Rag Into the weather-beaten Wounds were put Such is the Thrift of the old carking Hag Her Houses Fall she ventures but to spare The simple Cost ev'n of a patch'd Repair 48. Within lie Trunks and Chests along the Walls Pil'd to the roofe on one anothers backs Guarded with iron hoops and brazen nails And strongly fortifi'd with triple Locks As if indeed some Treasurers shrines they were When onely yellow Clay lay sleeping there 49. There lay all that the famous Lydian Prince Had rak'd up by his numerous Victories Unhappy Craesus who at such expence Of pains and time purchas'd so poor a prize Which as a load upon his Life was thrown And when He dyed press'd him deeper down 50. There lay the Phrygian Kings unweildy Masse Of wretched Gold whose rich Wish made him Poor Whose wealthy Priviledge his Confusion was And famish'd him amid'st his growing Store Sure for that Wish he more deserv'd those Ears Which by the Poets quaint Revenge he wears 51. Next them the other Phrygians Talents who By Pagans verdict is condemn'd to thirst Amidst the streams which on his lipps doe flow Unfortunate Tantalus how wert thou curst In life with Treasures which Thou could'st not use In death with Dainties which thy Mouth abuse 52. The cursed Heaps of stern Callicrates Were there who by Exuctions Hand did rake Them up and make th' Athenian Miseries The Fountain of his Richnes who did break The Laws in lawlesse Urging Them that He Owner of what He could not keep might be 53. The stuffed Coffers of rich Cinyras Which by his Cyprian Plenty He did fill Were there-congested in huge throngs so was The Wealth of Gyges which so high did swell That it alone sufficient might seem To choak or burden Millions more with Him 54. The teeming Baggs which Pelops brooded o'r The Wealth which Crassus upon heaps did heap Dariu's brave inestimable Store Here in their severall Sepulchres did sleep So did great Pharoabs into whose vast Barn A Crop of Gold was brought for that of Corn. 55. What-ever Rapine Fraud Oppression Lies Distrustfull Greedinesse vexatious Care Had snatch'd stole poll'd or scraped to suffice What could not filled be was crowded there Little think Men that all such Riches will Finde their way home and with their Plutus dwell 56. Nay here that vast accumulation lay Which dares call every other Treasure poor That Wealth which did the golden Age display When Solomon the Crown of Israel wore He who disgraced Silver so that it Like vulgar stones was kick'd about the street 57. Wise as He was that King well understood That amongst all those huge Vacuities Which puffe the World up with their froathy Flood Ev'n massie Gold must counted be which lies Men in more fruitlesse Care than any Thing That Fortune rouls in Vanities fine Ring 58. Alas as here in all its strength it lay Immur'd in thousand Chests it could not by Its power or its value keep away Vile Rust and Cankers which eternaly Did d well and feed upon it nor could all Those mighty Locks forbid their Festivall 59. But howling round about the woefull Room Were those unhappy Soules whose Thirst of Gold Had plunged Them in this eternal Doom Soules which to their own Baggs themselves had sold And bought their Prison from whose Misery Their uselesse Store could no Redemption buy 60. His mystick Wand old wrinckled Balaam broke And flung his wretched charmes about the floor Cursing the day when He to Balack took His voyage for vile love of Money more Than Heav'n and Truth and crying oft Why was I with my Wit lesse Wise than my plain Asse 61. There wretched Achan roar'd himselfe to see So gorgeous in his Babylonish Cloak Besides to make him rich in Misery Deep in his heart his golden Wedge was stuck And his two hundred silver shekels cast Into a Clog about his feet held fast 62. There cursed Ahab with eternall Fright Seem'd to see Naboths Ghost flash in his face Whose guiltlesse blood quite quenched that Delight With which the Vine's should have enflam'd his Glass Nay every causelesse Stone which had been thrown On Naboths head rebounded on his own 63. Gehazie there as white with Leprosie As he with guilt was odious and black His double Change of Garments hates which he Can for his stinking Soars no Cover make And still he starts and thinks his Masters eye Doth Him and his two Syrian Talents spie 64. There Dives rends his purple Robes and flings Away the bitter Sweets of his old Feasts Cursing his own but blessing his Doggs Tongues Which were so courteous to the poorest Guests Kissing and Licking Lazaru's Soars whilst He With 〈◊〉 Raylings griev'd his Poverty 65. But this Room onely was the Portall to The Chapell whose poor Architecture was Of equal Vilenesse had its Roof not so Been skrew'd up as to yeild convenient space For State and Majesty to stand upright And let the God appear in his own height 66. Hast Thou not heard how upon Dura's Plain Nebuchadnezzar made his Ovens wrath hot At those who fear'd Hells Fornace and the stain With which Idolatry their Soules would blot When he erected sixty Cubits high The Mountain of his golden Deity 67. The Copie of that Idoll hence He took For in this Temple its Originall stands Such is the massie Head such is the Look Such are the Leggs the Breast the Arms the Hands Such is its monstrous bulk and such the beams With which its pure and burnish'd Metall flames 68. His
them kinde welcome with his vocall cheer He smiles he bowes he fawns he knows the Name Of all the Guests and in he ushers them 95. The Hall with silken Carpets all is spred To court the Strangers feet with soft delight The dainty Roof is arched over head With checker'd Roses red and Lilies white Delicious Odours roule about the room Sweet entertainments unto all that come 96. But at the upper end upon a Throne Of moderate Height sits crafty Treachery A Feind more old then Hell it self and one Whose face would of her age clear witness be Had not Art interven'd and taught her how To make false spring upon true Winter grow 97. Old Jezabells lank and wrinckled Cheeks were not So out of shape as hers yet she had found A Paints hypocrisie for her faces Blot Which with a youthfull verdure cloth'd it round No Vallies did appear but either Cheek With beauteous Politure was plump and sleek 98. And though a thousand envious Frowns lay hid Her outward Aspect wore a gentle Guise Loves Joyes and Smiles weare sweetly marshalled About her Lips her Forehead and her Eyes Brave Judiths glances less alluring were Which conquered her Countries Conquerer 99. Her Tresses which indeed were Knots of Snakes She overlay'd with soft and dainty Hair Whose waving circling Net of Amber takes Spectators Hearts as well's the sporting Aire And works as many valiant Wonders as The mighty Locks of Samson brought to passe 100. An olive Branch in her right Hand she hel'd And in her left a wreath of Roses but The wreath within was all with Nettles fill'd The smiling Branch with lurking shorns beset For this was she who could teach Peace to fall To Massacres and make Sweets flow with Gall 101. Her Robe of state flow'd low beneath her Feet For such they were esteem'd while they lay hid But she had neither Feet nor Legs a great And knotty Taile was sweeping in their stead A taile which she about her round could winde And hug and kisse the sting she ware behinde 102. The Siren thus above the Water is As soft and smooth and cleer a Nymph as she But her Catastrophe of Monstrousnes Lurks un derneath with wise Hypocrisie For though not all the Sea can serve to wash It off each Wave can hide the ougly Fish 103. When e'r she speaks a flood of honey flows And with her breath a cloud of Odours breaks Yet in her Mouth a Crop of Poyson grows Under her Lips a Nest of Adders makes Its curs'd abode her Tongu's a mortall Spear And all her Teeth invenomed Arrows are 104. But in her desperate bosome treasured lies The fatall Pith and Marrow of all Hell Distractions Tumults Wars Spights Injuries Confusions Tortures Deaths O who can tell The Monsters of that black Abysse wherein There is full Room for the whole Sea of Sin 105. Her choise Attendants stood about her Throne Fair-faced Peace and buxome Courtesie Free-hearted Friendship milde Compassion Neat Complement and golden Flattery Nimble Officiousnesse large Promises Deep Oaths false Truthes deceitfull Faithfulnesse 106. Sweet angel-faced Things restored Lawes Reform'd Religion rescued Liberty For such the fondly-credulous World which knows Not what a Vizard means takes Them to be Admiring for an heav'nly Spirit of Light The masked Monarch of Infernall Night 107. But at her back behinde a Veil did lie A 〈◊〉 which she esteemed more than these Thefts Rapines Scoffs Reviling 〈◊〉 Plots Poysons Covenants and Conspiracies Right-down Rebellion Murdering of Kings And all that Ruine and Subversion brings 108. Beyond this Veil an Iron Door did lead Through a long Entrie stuff'd with fire and smoak Into a Dungeon replenished With every Shape of Horror whose fell Look With everlasting fright tormented all The Pris'ners which into that Pit did fall 109. Griefe liv'd in triumph there and all the Pains Profest Excesse the language of the Den Was Signs and Groans and noise of tumbled Chains Cries Yellings Curses Blasphemies of Men And God eternall Seizzing raised by The Soules and Bodies which in it doe frie. 110. There might you see upon Cains guilty face A deeper Mark than God upon it set His innocent Brothers Blood which scallt the place On which it lay His treacherous breast He beat And now with truer Reason cri'd my Pain Is greater than my Patience can sustain 111. No longer now He feared to be slain But wish'd to meet another Lamech who Might rid him of this dying Life In vain He gnash'd his teeth In vain he curs'd his Woe And Him who chain'd Him in it For his Griefe Sung now beneath the region of Reliefe 112. There 〈◊〉 lay tearing off her Hair To think of Samsons which her Falsehood cut The Withes and Ropes not halfe so sturdy were As those which now her Treason on her put Those Chains which bound her to her endlesse Rack Stronger than Samsons sinewie Arms could break 113. There lay fierce Joab with his woefull hand Upon his fift Rib for the treacherous Wound He thought he seal'd so sure on Abner and On Amasa did on himselfe rebound Just Davids legacie and his Sons Command Sent him this Veng'ance by Benaja's Hand 114. Insidious Rechab and Baanah there With everlasting Horror seem'd to see The righteous Head of Ishbosheth appear And check them with their trayterous Villany How gladly would They to buy off their Pain Give both their Heads that His were on again 115. There hung rebellious Absalom by the Head Not on an Oak but on a fierie Tree Whose Boughs of Torture round about him spred And shaddow d him with flaming Misery Three Darts stuck in his double Heart and made Way for the stinging Worme which there doth feed 116. His Tongue its Popular Blandishments forgets by which it stole the Peoples Loyalty And nothing now but pois nous Curses spits This made great David whose religious Eye Descri'd his desperate State be so extream In pittying and in lamenting Him 117. There Ziba detestation heaps upon That fawning Lie by which He did obtain Upright Mephibosheths Possession From which he reaps this crop of endlesse Pain There Shimei railes on his own Railing who Had pour'd his Curses on his Sove raigns Woe 118. The Pride of ready Wit Ahithophell With all his Plots about his Halter ti'd Hangs there and now the famous Oracle No Answers gives but hideous Roars and wide Yellings that He who had betrayd his King Himself more madly to these Flames did bring 119. There Zimri howl'd for greif that He was more With Treason drunk then Elah was with Wine And now more raging flaming Tortures bore Then when his Palace all one fire did shine For Zacharies death there Shallum waild in vain Who in his Soveraign his own self had slain 120. These and ten thousand Traytors more were there For deep and large the woefull Dungeon was Having for all their Heirs full Room to spare Choise Room for Those to whom the highest place Of most profound Damnation was due The Christian-seeming
Such thickning Clouds that Reasons Sun grew dim 18. And then infected with the pois'nous Sweet Alas no power was left him to abstein No more to quench his Thirst but that New Heat Which burnd his veins He takes his Bowle again Which to the brim in careless haste he fills And part on th' earth part in his mouth he spills 19. But now He Drunk no more the Wine Drunk Him His Sense his Judgement and his Soul and all For thus when in their own wilde Draughts they swim Our witty Language Men does Drunken call And did so thoroughly his Brain confound That Earth as well as Heav'n He thinks turns round 20. The Wine now sparkles in his eyes no lesse Than it did in the Bowl before He stares On every thing and yet he nothing sees He trips and staggers but no fall he fears Nor feels it when he falls for having let His Bowl drop down Himselfe fell after it 21. Thus he who in the universall Flood Escap'd the fury of the proudest Wave And on the Oceans back in triumph rode Seeing below the whole Worlds woefull Grave Alas was drowned in a silly Cup Which he himselfe unwittingly drunk up 22. No Ark above this Deluge Us can bear But Temperance which here the Saint forgot Who as he fell had neither thought nor care Of keeping on his modest Mantle but Quite destitute of Clothes and Senses lay And did his double Nakednesse display 23. But as the Traytor who has slain the King Speeds from the Court as soon's the Fact is done So now the treacherous Liquor back doth fling And from the Murder it committed run Besides a Rout of other Humors follows And slaughter'd Noah in his Vomit wallows 24. Slaughter'd indeed and now a Man no more For nothing is alive in Him but Beast Which speaks its kinde by its lowd Swinish Roar And thus he tumbling lies untill opprest With his most heavy Self he falls asleep And in that nasty Rest his brains doth steep 25. Thus as one part of Luxury did grow In Paradise the other planted was In Noahs Garden that the World might know Danger can breed and lurk in any place Alas the holiest Ground too often breeds As well as wholsome Floures invenomed Weeds 26. Heav'ns Bounty granted all Variety Of Meats to feast the Sober Appetite And added brisk and cheerfull Wine to be The active Soule of Moderate Delight But peevish Man abused by his grosse Ingratitude Heav'ns Grace to Wantonness 27. Neither by Eve's Example He would take Nor Noahs warning though their Sanctity Did them far more invulnerable make Then common Mortalls feeble Breasts could be Still He would needs goe dive to the profound Bottome of Pleasures though himselfe he drownd 28. And from that Bottome he fetch'd up at last Improved Fat and Full-grown Luxury Who ne'r appeared unto Ages past More than a tolerable Prodigie For she much cooler was and tamer then And did not banish Men quite out of Men 29. But now she an unruly Monster grew Being encourag'd by Wines rampant Flame And round about the World in Tryumph flew All which she shipwrack'd in her Pois'nous stream Raving and roaring Mad she was and made All so who practis'd her intemperate Trade 30. The Laws of God of Man of Nature were Vain feeble Bridles when-soever she Resolved in her furious Carreer To let the Circle of her Healths run free Oft has she mingled with her Wines mad flood Friends Brothers Parents Masters Princes blood 31. Strange was her Shape if yet Deformity May in Shapes Title share her parched Head Burns up all hopes of Hair and scorns to be By any thing but Baldnesse covered Her humorish Eyes all red and putrid seem In her own over-flowing Wine to swim 32. But yet her Nose more provident is for there The Wine is bottled up and runs not out Onely the Bottle being thin and clear Speaks what it holds and studded round about With fervent Rubies serveth her perhaps For a dear Item of a Bunch of Grapes 33. Wroth fiery Knots are marshalled upon Her Forehead and her Cheeks Had Sicilie Her Etna lost this sulphurie Region Would shew it her in multiplicitie Onely these Hills are something lesse then that Yet is their Horror and their Stink as great 34. Her Lips are alway crannied and drie Though every day a thousand times made wet For still her burning breath in passing by Makes them that Moisture instantly forget And by the Poison of its fulsome Stinks Taints all the aromatick Wines she drinks 35. But the vast storehouse of her Belly makes Her seem with Childe of Mountains for in this The dainties which from all the World she rakes In one prodigious Heap congested is Here Solomons brasen Sea it selfe might swimm And its twelve Oxen too and more with Them 36. This is the Sink where Surfet being bred Of all Diseases doth the Parent grow Which She distributing from Foot to Head Doth undigested Pleasures turn to Woe Thus though the Bee doth pleasing Hony bring She always endeth in a pois'nous Sting 37. Who knows not that Luxuriant Mortals eat The copious fuell of their Sicknesses And force their honest but abused Meat Not to feed Nature but her Maladies Who knows not that in Healths deceitfull Name They drink the Venome which destroieth Them 38. Themselves they diet thus with their own Death And to a Weapon of Destruction turn The Staff of Life In vain Heav'ns Mercy hath So bounteous been if Man himself can learn To pick out 〈◊〉 in it and through Its Sweetnesse work his bitter Overthrow 39. If Bacchus must be made a God and have His larger and more constant Sacrifice Than He who all their Vines to Mortals gave Whilst they the Gift more than the Giver prize If Ceres too a Goddesse grow and We All sworn Devoto's to the Belly be 40. Alas I and had not bold Mortalitie Commission large and full enough before To work our Ruine Was the Miserie Of Plagne of Famine and of War so poor And weak that We our Selves the help must lend Of Luxurie to hasten on our End 41. 'T was time high time for God himself to come And turn Physitian in this desperate Case Our Madnesse swell'd so wide that now no room For any Mortall helping Hand there was 'T was time to Come and blessed be His Name For his dear Coming for in time He came 42. Jesus himself came down and left the Feast Of all Delights which He above enjoy'd Into the Depth of Poverty He cast His life and taught the World how to avoyd Intemperanc's Baits which thick are set Onely where Riches the dominion get 43. Then by his practik Abstinence He shewed Those who his royall steps would not disdain How dangerous Luxurie might be subdued And healthfull Temperance the Sceptre gain Forty long dayes and nights at once he spent In Consecrating of his Servants Lent 44. To this Example He his Doctrine joyn'd And for his frequent Text did Fasting take
But now Aurora from the roseall East Had newly dressed and sent out the Day To finish his Designe of Night the Priest To Pilate doth dispatch thy Lord away Nor needs He teach his Miscreants what to doe Who Spights fell Trade had better learn'd than so 134. For strait the boistrous Rout with Cords and Chains Load JESU'S Hands and Feet and hurrie him To Pilat's Palace All the Streets and Lanes Sweat with tumultuous Crowds who pour'd their stream Of Scoffs of Curses and of Blasphemy Upon his innocent Head as He pass'd by 135. Hast Thou not seen how in a silver Night The mad-brain'd Doogs all gather in the Street Where with united Barkings at the Light Of beuteous Phebe Heav'n and Earth they beat Such and so causeless were the Clamors which Against thy Lord these railing Curs did stretch 136. Arrived thus at the Pretorium They In to the Governor the Pris'ner send For this with them was a Religious Day And no unholy Place forsooth could stand With their strict Pietie who clensed were To celebrate their reverend Passover 137. Shame on their foul Hypocrisie who in The midit of this their zealous Sanctitie With eager furie strive to act a Sinn To monstrous to be exprated by Their greatest Sacrifices Power and strain By this Lambs blood their Paschall Lamb to stain 138. But when the Judge came forth and ask'd them what Offence exposed Jesu's Life to Law The surly Priests grew insolently hot And cri'd We hop'd the Governor e'r now Had understood that our grave Sanhedrim No Malefactors makes without a Crime 139. Can it be thought that We would load a Lamb With chains and send Him for a Wolfe to Thee If so to Us his Censure and his Shame Is due and ours the Nails and Crosse must be O then release that righteous Soule and bid The slanderous Sanbedrim be Crucifi'd 140. To this bold Shift was Malice driven to make Meer Accusation for Conviction passe But then repli'd the Judge what made you take This pains since you have found the Pris'ners Case So fouly grosse you might and may doe now Goe sacrifice him unto your own Law 141. True said the Priests nor had our pious Zeal Loiter'd thus long did but out Law permit Our righteous Indignation to deal With such a Malefactor as is fit The Crosse is his high due and none but you That decent Doom can upon Him bestow 142. The generous Romane shak'd his head to see The Jewes so shamelesse in their bloody Hate And yet to coole their mutinous Spirits He Commands the Pris'ner to the Judgement Seat But first requir'd Them fairly to display What horrid Crimes they to his Charge could lay 143. Enforced heer Themselves to shelter in The Sanctuarie of some strong-built Lie If We said they by his outragious Sion Were able but to mould and tune our Crie The Noise not onely would amaze your Ear But rend all Heav'n and Veng'ance downward tear 144. For know just Sir that in profound Despight To Heav'n and that unspotted Truth which We Receiv'd from thence this hellish Brat of Night Blush'd not to broach his blasphemous Heresie But through the credulous Countrey Preaching ran Tainting the honest Commons with his Bane 145. Yet well it were if Heav'n alone had been The Butt of his bold sinne but traytorous He Endeavoured to work his dangerous teen On Earth and its Imperiall Majestie Great Caesars Tribute he deni'd as due And his vile self he for a King did shew 146. Thus roar'd the Priests But when the Judge had well The businesse weigh'd by grave Examination With Spight and not with Truth he found it swell And therefore made this honest Protestation Had I your Eyes I know not what might be But with mine own no fault in Him I see 147. As when the Flames are by the Winde beat back With boiling Murmure they their Wrath increase And a more violent Combustion make Strengthning themselves against the stoutest Trees So the repulsed Priests more hot did grow And with full mouth these Exclamations blow 148. 'T is strange wise Pilate should not cleerly see What all about our Nation is spred For all Samaria and Judea He Hath with this Heresie envenomed Which first he broach'd in Galile and thence Extended its pestiferous influence 149. But this defer'd their bloody Hopes for now The mention of Galile did put Pilate upon a further Search to know Whither the Pris'ner did belong or not To Antipas his power which when he found Unto the Tetrarch He dispatch'd Him bound 150. Thus through new Streets and new Revilings He To surly Herod's Lodging hurried is Herod could not conceal his Joy to see Him whom his unbeleeving Curiousnesse Had long desired since his Court did ring With Jesu's Acts which Fame did thither bring 151. And now he doubts not but the Pris'ner will In hopes to gain his Favour and good Word Strain to the utmost of his Power and skill And some Miraculous Spectacle afford But Herod knew not that this Man was He Who scorn'd to buy his life with flatterie 152. Thick were the Questions which He spurr'd to Him But Jesus would no idle Motions hear For with grave Silence still he answer'd them And though the Preists and Scribes all railed there He said as little to their shamelesse Lie As to the Tetrarchs Curiositie 153. Is this said Herod big with high disdain Great Caesar's Rival who is onely fit As King of sheepish stupid Fools to reign Is this that Wonder-working He who yet Has neither Hand nor Head nor Power nor Bâ—ain Himself accus'd and scorned to maintain 154. Is all the wide-spread Glorie of his Name Are all his Miracles shrunk in to this That he Himself with most ignoble shame Should prove a Miracle of Sottishnesse Is this the King to tear whose young heart out Through thousand Infants breasts my Father sought 155. How my fond fancy wrong'd brave John when I Dream'd this was he to life returned But Should it be Iohn his grosse Stupidity Assureth Me Revived He is not Come Souldiers use your antick Wits that so We may have sport at least before he goe 156. Glad were the Guard and ready equallie To mock at Iesus and to please their Lord About Him round They danc'd with hideous Crie And bid him still that Tempest with his Word And when He silent stood conjur'd Him to Cast that dumb Divell out which bound Him so 157. One limping comes and Him intreats to heal His withered Foot with which he kicks Him strait Another cries O make this Lame Hand well And then he beats Him with its brawnie weight A third desires Him to restore a dead Dog unto Life then throws it at his Head 158. But wearied with their scornfull sports at last Come dresse Him Like a Prince the Tesrarch cri'd And let the Iews return their King to taste What Banquet Pilate will for Him provide His entertainment surely must be high In Correspondence to his Royaltie 159.
haste should be Your prejudice 't was haste made you so hot Against your smother'd reason but free leave To choose again to all of you I give 186. For I would fain my 〈◊〉 should be True to its Name which sure cannot be so If none but foule Barabbas must be He Whom you will let me upon you bestow Consider well and you will finde it stand More with your 〈◊〉 Jesus to demand 187. Inraged at this Word they all renue Their former Clamor and Barabbas roar For none but for Barabbas We doe sue Grant now what thou hast granted heretofore Our wonted Boon We ask If you deny Barabbas to Us keep your Courtesie 188. Mov'd with their boistrous Madnesse Pilate cries If the seditious Murderer alone Can seem to you to be a worthy Prize Tell Me what must with Innocence be done Both cannot be Repreeved therefore speak What kinde of course with Jesus I shall take 189. Well-pleas'd were they that He had giv'n Them leave To name the Way of their own Cruelty A 〈◊〉 Exclamation they heave Crying the Case is plain Let Jesus die 〈◊〉 Him but unto the Crosse and We At charge of Executing Him will be 190. Then as an Army with impatient Shout Rends the wide Field when most intaged They Flie to their Work of Blood So the whole Rout 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Pilates Ear and all they say Up in this most 〈◊〉 Word is tied Away with Him let Him be Crucified 191. O more than hellish Impudence and Spight Is this the People whose high Estimation Of Jesus did the High-priests Plots affright And force them to a secret Conjuration The People who some Prophet at the least Forc'd by his mighty Miracles Him confest 192. The People who to pave his welcome Way Stripp'd the Trees Bodies and their own and spred That princely entertainment to display How ev'n his Asses feet they honored The People who did brave Hosanna crie A Word ô how unlike to Crucifie 193. How well sage Heads have fix'd the odious Brand Of Ficklenesse upon the Vulgars face For safeher may you on the Lybian Sand Or on the Adriatick Billows place A Palaces Foundation than relie Upon the Peoples best Fidelity 194. The horror of that Word made Pilate start Who stepping back and holding up his Hands Cri'd out O far far be it from my Heart To think of such Injustice I your Demands Should not be Trapps nor is it fit that I Should Tyrant prove your Wills to satisfie 195. Bears He the Stain of Murder or of Treason To mark Him out for Death Can any Eye Barabbas finde in Him Or is it reason That He because He has no Crime must Dye And can you choose no other Man but Me The Pander of your bloody Lust to be 196. Great Cesar thinks Me wise enough to hear And judge of Cases and why should not you Jesus I have examin'd whom as clear And pure I finde as is the Virgin Snow As clear of capital Crimes for these alone Come in the compasse of this Question 197. Wherefore no Tongue shall e'r have Cause to say To the confusion of my Honor that Pilate bow'd down his Conscience to obey A lawlesse Motion Henceforth urge Me not Some reasonable Castigation I Will. lay on Jesus but He must not die 198. As when a Knot of eager Hornets are Repulsed by a wary Hand they flie About with doubled Rage their Foe they dare With irefull Buzzings and more furiously Give a fresh Onset So in louder Cries The Peoples Spight at this Repulse did rise 199. The Cataracts of Nile or those which fall Down headlong from the steepest Alps make not Such an intolerable Noise as all Their yelling Mouthes resolv'd no more to shut Till they can conquer by impetuousnesse And Crucifie Him still their Clamor is 200. The Palace trembled at the hideous Noise Whose fragor thence unto the Temple flew Nor could the Temple hold it for the Voice It selfe through all the startled City threw It shak'd the Judge and almost turn'd him over Yet he his strength and spirits did recover 201. And wisely pondering that the Highpriest's spight The coals of this combustion did blow And that they on the mad-braind vulgars might Had built their Salvage hopes He studies how To frustrate their malitious designe By a severe yet tender Countremina 202. For in he takes thy Lord and yeilds Him to The cruell whip that by that crueltie Way to his Pitty he might make and so With blood the bloody people satisfie He hop'd if once they saw him all in gore Their thirstiest malice would not wish for more 203. The surly Beadles fetch'd their strongest Tew And having strip'd their patient prey of all His raiment with rude churlish twitches drew Him to the stoutest Pillar of the Hall To which they bound him fast for fear that He Should sink down under their strokes crueltie 204. With iron whips then to their Work they fall And plow the dainty Garden of his back The furrows neither shallow were nor small But long and wide and deep which they did make Yet all were quickly filled by the flood Of their own most inestimable blood 205. For to the bottome of each tender 〈◊〉 The cruel engines div'd and toare from thence The pretious purple springs which in disdain They toss'd about till their mad violence In too too pretious colours painted thick Upon the Pillar and the floor did stick 206. The Pillar and the Floor now blush'd to see How those remorselesse blood-heunds knew no shame For still they prosecute their Tyrannie Untill their wearinesse prevails with them As lately with the servants of the Priest In mercy to their own selves to desist 207. But then the Soldiers take their cruell cue And come to ven him with more witty spight A Crown of thorns the sharpest things they knew Yet things of delicacie and delight If with their Hearts compar'd they wreath and it On Jesu's tender Head with violence set 208. And thus the Curse which Heav'n injoyn'd to grow On sin-condemned Earth removed is And deep engrafted into Jesu's Brow Whose Temples well contented wefe with this Sharp Crown and envied not their dainty Pride Whose tresses were in roseal chaplets ty'd 209. Then on his back for alwayes with disdain Their Rage was swell'd a Purple robe they throw Alas how needlesse now in richer grain His native Scarlat doth about him flow Whilst all his Body is arrayed round In one expanded universall wound 210. And having put a Reed into his hand A silly Sceptre and which well comply'd With his vile Crown about him round they stand To act their Pageantrie and to deride This patient and miserable thing Whom of contempt they had created King 211. May the great Soveraign of the jews said they Ou-tlive the Harts the Ravens the Eagles years May his victorious Engines He display Throughout the World affrighted at his wars Thus may He thresh all nations and here They beat him and went to another
Gods own enshrined Beauties heer inrich 237. At the shrill whistle of each busie Winde All other Clouds in this inferior skie Are faine to runne about But this doth finde An undisturbed passage fair and high And strait to Heav'ns illustrious Roof doth haste Without the helping Wheels of any Blast 238. Earth was in debt unto those Clouds till now Which op d Heav'ns Pantrie and raind Manna down But this full Payment doth to Heav'n allow Whilst to the Angels it bears home their own Diviner Bread and by restoring more Than Earth receiv'd doth nobely quit the Score 239. That Israel-conducting Cloud which through The tedious Wildernesse of old did take So patient a Pilgrimage must bow Its famous head to This That did but make Way to the earthly Canaan but this Unto the Heav'nly the brave Convoy is 240. As Jesus thus soard through the Aire he saw The Treasuries of every kinde of Wether Of fair of foule of Rain of Hail of Snow Which did their homage unto Him as thither His Coach arriv'd He bad Them gently fall Upon his Earth and then He bless'd them all 241. So did He too that sweet and loyall Quire Of Larks which with applauding Songs and Wings In delicate attendance did aspire After his mounting Train Goe gentle Things Said He and rest your weary pinions I My other Choristers approaching spie 242. Loe at the Word the Winged Legions who Flutter about the everlasting Sphear And on the great Creators bus'nes goe Throughout the World appeared hovering there Great was their number and their Glory great If they with Jesu's Lustre had not met 243. Before his Feet their gracefull Heads they bow 〈◊〉 down with sweet Extremities of Joy That they without a Veils Assistance now On his dear Eyes may look which till to day Lay hid to them in too much light but heer Dressed in Humane Mitigation were 244. For though some of our Quire had long before Enjoy'd the blessed Priviledge to see His the anthropick face though All did poure Their high Applause on his Nativity This was the time when Heavns Whole Hoste to fair And plenall view of Him advanced were 245. A dainty and long-studied Song They had Compos'd and tuned to a ge ntle Key But this excessive Sight of Sweetness made Their Acclamations correspondent be Their Wings and Hands aloud they clapp'd and rent With louder Paeans all the Element 246. But seing then his bright Retinue who About Him shin'd like his reflected Raies They to their new Acquaintance smiling goe And in their faces read their Soveraigns Praise For Gratitude had deep imprinted there Their glorious Redemptions Character 247. These were those holy Soules who long had layn On the soft Pillows of great Abrahams breast Looking and longing when their Lord would deign To bring them to his sweeter nobler Rest To chase their Mists and Shades with his own Ray And turn their doubtfull Dawn to High-noon Day 248. Great Abraham himselfe was there with them And shined with a choise and leading Grace The Patriarchs and Prophets next to Him Each in their proper Dignitie and Place Then every pious Man and Woman who Ventur'd in his hard Steps on earth to goe 249. Their Charges many Guardian Angells saw And highly triumph'd to behold them there So when the Ship which long hath labour'd through The Seas proud Wrath unto the haven draws neer The Pilots Eys and Heart with Joy are sill'd No less than with the Wind the Sails are swell'd 250. But all the Quire beheld the blest Supply Of their own Companies which robbed were Of no small Part of their Fraternitie When sullen Pride upon Heav'ns face made warr And many Empyraean 〈◊〉 fell From their fair Day into the Night of Hell 251. But ô what Torrents of divine Delight Through these Saints Bosomes ran with full Carreer To see how neer of kin unto the bright And new apparent King of Heav'n they were They envy not the Angels radiant Dresses Nor wish their silver Wings or golden Tresses 252. And that their Triumph might be sweetned by Harmonious Joy before the Masculine Troop David did with his learned Fingers flie About his Harp and beat those Accents up Which with her Timbrel Miriam before The Female Squadrons did to him restore 253. But Jesus now to his officious Cloud Dismission gave ambitious of whose Place A Knot of gallant Seraphs came and bow'd Their youthfull Shoulders that their Lord might passe To Heav'n upon the best of Heav'n and be Drawn to his Palace in due Majesty 254. Then Michael taking up the Standard which With the Heart-blood of Death and Hell was red And charged with the glorious Crosse did stretch It towards Heav'n and forward fluttered In this Array the Triumph marched on Abashing Day and dazzelling the Sun 255. Thus He who lately that Procession went Where Spight and Shame and Scorn did Him attend When He through Salems Steeets was kick'd and rent And through a thousand Deaths led to his End Is now tequited by a March whose Glorie Gilds the Disgraces of his Passions Storie 256. As to the Confines of the Sphears they drew David his Harp and Throat did strein 〈◊〉 high That ancient Song of Glory to renew Which He had in Prophetik ecstasie Tun'd to a special and illustrious Lay And sung aforehand to this noble Day 257. Bright and eternall gates of heav'n lift up Your cheerly Heads and know your 〈◊〉 As mine is now so let your mouths be ope To entertain our universall joy It is the King of glory who doth come That and the sweeter heav'n now to bring home 258. It is the King of War whose matchlesse strength Hath trode down our and your fell enemy Read but his Banner where are writ at length The rubie tokens of his victory Ope ope as wide's your Heav'n can give you leave And Him much greater 〈◊〉 all it receive 259. The Chrystall doors no sooner heard the song But in obedience they echoed it Their everlasting bars aside they flung And their resplendent 〈◊〉 open set Strait through the mighty gap a flood of gold Soft as the locks of 〈◊〉 downward roll'd 260. With that the Musick of the sphears burst out High were the streins and delicate the layes And though a while sweet Davids fingers fought His mortall strings to them He could not raise My harp must yeeld He cry'd but yet my heart Shall in your loftiest accents bear her 〈◊〉 261. Indeed those aires are so refin'd and high Onely the Hearts spirituall strings can stretch To the full compasse of their Harmony To whose pure chords those Compositions which You with the Name of Musick honor heer Are onely learned gratings of the ear 262. Thus to the silver Orbs they came When loe The Stars all trip'd about and danc'd for joy And as the Triumph through the sphear did go Phoebus unto his Lord resign'd the day His brighter Lord from whose originall beam He takes his light as all the stars from him
Saladines Decease invited thither Fierce Conquest with their Landing Armies went But strait their Sunshine turn'd to lowrie Weather For loe the Austrian Duke and Saxon too Untimely Death would let no further goe 29. And yet undaunted Montfort with his brave Selected French disdained back to start Till He good reason to the Pagans gave To grow so same and kinde as to impart Peace to the Christians which without annoy In Prolemais and Tyre they did enjoy 30. Mean while a glorious Conspiracy Of Western Princes to their Standards stream Henry Count of St. Paul of Campanie Theobald of Flanders Baldwin and of Breme Gualter with Henrie Duke of Lovanes State And Boniface Marquess of Monferrate 31. These to the Holy Land their course did bend But by the Graecian Quarrells turn'd aside Their Martial Zeal on Ducas they did spend And finding then fit Feuel for their Pride Forgot the Butt of their devout Designe And took no longer aime at Palestine 32. But Montforts Truce expired Germanie Conjur'd again into the Holy Warr Of which stout Brennus had the Conduct He Whose comeing through the Pagans shot such 〈◊〉 That they to buy it off are willing to Whate'r they held in Palestine forgoe 33. But vain Ambition lost this offerd Prize And swelling Hope of conquering AEgypt throws So thick a Mist before the Christian Eys That unto Cair the blinded Army goes Where they with Nilu's floods besieged round Their sacred Enterprize untimely drown'd 34. Yet Frederik his German Eagles spred Again and bravely into Syria flew Which in the Pagan Sultan rais'd such Dread That all his Turkish Confidence it slew He hasts to yeild and freely does resigne Unto the Christians their deer Palestine 35. Thus when to his Imperial Diademe This conquering Prince had joyned Salems Crown He Raynold leaves to manage it for Him And brings his Triumph home But strait the Frown Of Fortune or of Fate did blast what He Had nobly brought unto Maturitie 36. For when the Heav'ns had roll'd five years about Loe Raynold dies and Salems Fortune too The Templars Insolence such falshood wrought As generous Christians least of all should doe Their breach of Truce did their own Selves deceive And Salem unto AEgypts Sultan give 37. Yet holy Lewis with his Frenchmen strook Into the Pagans such deep Fright that they At his illustrious Oriflambes Look Unto his Victories gave willing way Offring Him Salem Palestine and more Than Christians own'd in Syria long before 38. But he by fatal Counsel it denied And then to Egypts Sultan prov'd a Prey The good King grieved and in vain he tried His new Adventures Strength for by the way A sudden and contagious Disease Both on his Army and on Him did seize 39. His quarrel Edward Englands sprightfull Prince Took up and lost none of the English Fame What Palmes had this brave Hero pluck'd from thence Had his conjur'd Allies but timely came But whilst unworthily They linger'd he Return'd and left behinde Ripe 〈◊〉 40. To gather which Imperial Rodolph sent Henry the Prince of Megalopo is A noble General he and bravely bent But yet against the bold impetuousnesse Of the stern Mameluhes too weak to stand He yeilds his Neck to wear a Captives Band. 41. These unsuccessefull Expeditions Shame A wak'd the Christians utmost Indignation Who in religious Throngs to Syria came High were their Hopes and great their Preparation But both by banefull Pride invenomed were Which brought to passe more than the Turks could dare 42. As when the Huntsmen going to the Chase Wrangle and quarrel who shall bear away The Lyons Skin untill their strife increcse To such Intemperance that it does betray Their whole Designe and make them readier to Chase one another than that Common Foe 43. So here the Christians who a hunting came For Salems Crown before they it obtain Divided are and quarrel which of Them Had fairest Right and Title their to reign All pleaded hard and at the Septre catch'd As if it now had from the Turk been snatch'd 44. The Kings of England Cyprus Sicilie And France the Pisans Florentines and Pope The Prince of Antioch Count of Tripolie The Genouese and the Venetians hope So did the Hospitals and Templars too That in the Diademe they had to doe 45. Thus while this cursed War of Contestation Protracts the Holy one the 〈◊〉 who Like their own Swords grow 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Finding no Businesse now at all to doe But to be wicked through each neighbour Town Run 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 up and down 46. At these 〈◊〉 Wrongs the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Both in their Rage and in their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And 〈◊〉 joyned with their 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 Upon their 〈…〉 Till by a quick and general 〈◊〉 All 〈◊〉 out of 〈◊〉 beat 47. They beat them out of Syria and 〈◊〉 Of all that nsuall Braveric whereby Their frequent Armies they to Salem brought With fresh Reeruits of Zealous Pietic Their Courage now lies dead and cold at home Which us'd to live about their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 48. Yet not so dead but it revives again Into a Life much worse than Death for they Since that with most unchristian 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Their swords in one anothers blood and 〈◊〉 The Turks among themselves whom they were wont More nobly from their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to hunt 49. The Crosse must now against the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 spreo Blush all yee Heav'ns at this and they who are Under the King of Peace all marshalles Be bararized by a mutual War Tearing that pretious gentle 〈◊〉 Their Lord bequeathed to their Custody 50. They who by mystick Union are knit Under one Head no other Foes doe seel But their 〈◊〉 Members and forge That whilst on them their Salvage spight they wreak The tender Head feels every wouno and will Score up drop which of His blood they 〈◊〉 51. Weep all good eyes which see this dreadfull shame Of Christians digging Christian Bowells up Sure that of blood deserv's your briney stream Weep then and let your Bottles never stop Till you have wash'd away this Purple stain 'Gainst which all powers but those of Tears are vair 52. Had but the thousand part of this dear blood Adventur'd to be broach'd in Palestins Quite overwhelm'd by its exuberant 〈◊〉 Had Manomets wide spred contagion been And wofull Greece had not ensiaved 〈◊〉 Under the burden or a Pagan Chain 53. Or had that Power of Policie or 〈◊〉 Of Arms of Horse of Men and stronger Gold Which in our 〈◊〉 aestroying Britain 〈◊〉 Of late been livisn'd out when Engiana 〈◊〉 Her 〈◊〉 Miserie with provident And pious zeal in Syria been spent 54. Our guilty words had now not blushed in 〈◊〉 blood nor had our Palms and Bays With any English curse destoured been But Salem her sad Head ' gun to raise Feeling from her long pressed neck the yoke Of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 broke 55. As 〈◊〉 was 〈◊〉 Salem to forsake As are our 〈◊〉 thither to advance Oft She looked hack and many a view did take With weeping eyes and blubber'd
Daughter and thou dost resist The course of thy Designe whilst thou dost shut Out Arts and Sciences the Wings whereby Proud Spirits as well as Generous soar high 33. But if thou choosest Virtues craggie Way And dar'st despise whate'r Thou see'st beneath If thy dull Bodies Burden cannot sway Thee downward if this Life to thee be Death If high thine Aim if heav'nly be the Heat Which doth in thy Heroick Bosome beat 34. Right generous is thy Enterprise but yet Strong Difficulties throng about it thick Bold inbred Dangers will encounter it Whilst thy wilde Passions all against it kick Nay thine own Heart unlesse thy Care be great Will Traytor prove and its own Plots defeat 35. Besides All They whose Bosomes tainted be With banefull Sins Contagion will joyn Their malice in a fell conspiracie Thy single Piety to undermine For all thy Virtue checks and chides their Vice And Thy fair Glories shame their Villanies 36. Thou art their Scandal and their Fame doth call Upon their deepest wariest Cares for aid Against that Blot thy Beauty throwss on all Those who of Virtues Hardship are afraid What Weapons wilt thou finde to force back them How shall thy Vessell strive against the Stream 37. Yet through this rampant Sea of Opposition Couldst Thou force ope thy way What wouldst Thou doe Against those stouter Billows of Perdition Which foam and roar wherever Thou dost goe Hell and its Prince their utmost Powers combine To terrifie and to enervate thine 38. And sure this Tempest would effect its Spight On thy weak Bark did not kinde Heav'n descend In pare aforehand did not Grace's light With cordial Assistance Thee befriend Did she not steer thy course and bid thee ride Secure upon the most outrageous Tide 39. Thy Life is nothing but a Tragick Sceen Of most inevitable Death if she By seasonable Help comes not between Thy faint Soule and its dire Catastrophe Grace onely doth condemned Man reprieve From fatall Woes and teach his Life to live 40. T was blessed Charis who so fast did move Phylax his Wings when He to Psyche flew And with the wholsome speed of heav'nly Love Her from the Jaws of the Cerinthians drew By shewing her the horror of that Pit Where Heresie and all her Brood did sit 41. But Phylax from that Grotreturned now His Chariot takes again and her with it Straight Gitton and Samaria sunk below For warned by the motion of their Bit The lusty Coursers took their sprightful wing And justling through the Clouds away did fling 42. As Psyche wonder'd whether they would flie She found her Selfe rapt to a gentle Sphear No Winde durst ever venture up so high Nor blow up any Tempests tumults there The onely Gales which in this Orb did move Were the delicious Breaths of Heav'n and Love 43. The onely Clouds which there did meet her Eye Thick Volumes of religious Ineense were The onely Noise which rooled through that skie Were holy Echo's that to her did bear The sweet Resounds of those rich Anthems which The Throats and Hearts of joyfull Saints did stretch 44. She mused much to think what Creatures were Inhabitants in that calm Sea of Blisse When loe a Troop of glistering Towers drew neer As her swift Chariot further on did presse And straight a goodly Palace fill'd her Eye With large and high-erected Majesty 45. Directly thither for they knew the way The Coursers speeded neighing as they slew But Phylax pluck'd the Reins to bid them stay When neer unto the outer Gate they drew Then lighting with his Virgin-pupill He Warnd her to ponder well what She did see 46. Never said he my Dear those Eyes of thine Though they have travell'd through the World so far Were honored with Object so divine As these with which they now saluted are No Pile e'r swell'd to such bright statelinesse All Princes Courts are Cottages to this 47. That pompous Fabrick which great Davids Son Built for a greater King was poor and plain If it be brought into comparison With this Magnificence which here doth reign As Shaddows doe the Substance so does that But blindly intimate this Temples state 48. The Gold which shin'd the Stones which sparkled there Were all th' ignoble Sons of dirty Earth But these substantial Glories flaming here Owe to Heav'ns Wombe their most illustrious Birth Nor was the Work atcheiv'd by Mortal Hand Which firm as Immortality doth stand 49. Hadst Thou my Wings and through the Sphears couldst flie Heav'ns most imperial Palace there to read That Spectacle would onely feast thine Eye With a more ample Copie wider spred And fuller drawn a Copie of what here Is written in a smaller Character 50. Mark well its Situation Caucasus The Alps th' Athlantick Mountains Ararat Noble Olympus nobler Lybanus Are in their highest exaltations not Halfe so sublime as is this royal Hill Which almost in both Worlds at once doth dwell 51. It s Head thou see'st to Heav'n next Neighbour is And upon Hell its Foot is surely set On Hell which often has repin'd at this Oppressing Burden and oft strove to get Its neck from under it but still in vain The Powers of all that vexed Pit did strein 52. For loe the Mountain's all one solid Rock Compacted in the Strength of Unity Though Hills of Brasse should yeild unto the shock Of Violence though Earths vast Base should be Shouldred out of its place this Mount would stand And laugh to scorn them who against it band 53. So stands the craggie Promontory sure With head erected high above the Storme When all the Windes against its Site conjure And thousand Waves with high-swolln fury arme It stands and sees the Blasts blown out of breath And all the 〈◊〉 shattered beneath 54. But mark the fabrick of this outer Gate And tell me if thou ever saw'st a more Unlikely Passage to a Court of State Strong the Materialls are but yet the Door Is built so low and so extreemly narrow That Worms not Men seem fit to scramble thorow 55. And Worms indeed the Passengers must be Poor thin and humble Things which enter here Big puffing Pride must never hope that She Shall through this Portal crowd or Worldly Care Swelld with Incumbrances and lagg'd with Sin At this small mystick Needles Eye thrust in 56. He whose unhappy Bosome 's stuff'd with Gold Whilst all his Baggs lie heaped in his Heart He who in Fat and Ease himselfe doth fold And never was shrunk up by any Smart Too burlie is to enter here and fit Through Hells wide-gaping Jaws alone to get 57. All secular Impostumes which doe rise From any Humors Superfluity From any Lusts or any Vanities From inward or from outward Luxury Can at this humble Passage finde no room But damm the Way to all that Laden come 58. This said He led the 〈◊〉 to the Gate Where though she shrunk and closely gatherd up Her selfe within her Selfe yet still to great She found her bulk that she was 〈◊〉 to stoop
look and swore that there She 〈◊〉 The true and faithfull Image of her Face But yet the shamelesse Est as oftenlyed That trusty Glasse will no false Colours shew But unto 〈◊〉 and Truth alone is true 197. But mark what clings about the Virgins 〈◊〉 A Knot of Things whose Lustre bids 〈◊〉 Eye Be with a glimpse content and not 〈◊〉 With that which blindes bold 〈◊〉 Faiths Mysteries they are which by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Excesse of their own Beams 〈◊〉 and from 〈◊〉 198. In vain Thou seekst these 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 By any Beauty which e r 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Eye Soule which in most 〈◊〉 Worth 〈◊〉 Cannot 〈◊〉 their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 But happy count 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they can 〈◊〉 199. And happy Thou my Psyche who art hither By Heav'ns indulgence and my Conduct brought If Thou that Happinesse scornst not to gather Which now is ripe and woo's thee to reach out Thy Hand and Heart that both may filled be At highest heav'nliest Wealths own Treasury 200. Thus Phylax spake but Psyche all the while Rap'd with these several Glories of the Court Did with as many Satisfactions Fill Her wondering Soule and make Luxuriant sport In her new Blisse untill Truths Contemplation Monopolized all her Admiration 201. For as the noble Eaglet perched high In a fair prospect to the naked Sun Doth feast and not with her ravish'd Eye In that bright Sea of Beauty where alone Her genuine Sight meets with its flaming Love And by his soveraign Beams its own doth prove 202. So She with strong impatient Ardour here Stood feeding upon Truthes all-glorious Face Yet still with that most satisfying Cheer Remain'd unsatisfi'd cause such it was Till lost in amorous Greedines she cries Sweet Guardian help Me or thy Psyche dies 203. Phylax who knew the Soule of that Complaint For on his own it beat with tender Hand Relev'd his Pupill as He saw her faint And well said He thy Greif I understand I understand it well and love it too Thy Joyes had did hadst thou not Greived so 204. The Image of thy late Acquaintance and Newly ambibed Doctrines in the Eye Of thy now selfe-revenged Heart doth stand Checking thy venturous Credulity Which durst embrace such Monsters and dismisse A Beauty so divinely Bright as this 205. Yet let not Sorrow quench thy Hopes for She All Injuries rejoyceth to forget And never yet laugh'd at the Misery Of any Heart which would to her submit Revenge indeed but soft and sweet she takes Her Foes to Liberty She Captives makes 206. This said unto the Virgin Her He led Whom by their old Acquaintance He desired Her favour on this begging 〈◊〉 to spread Who with her lustre was already fired Truth gently smiled at his sweet Request And by her Looks her forwardnesse confest 207. Then stooping down where Psyche trembling lay Powring her Tears and Heart before her feet She mildly took her up and gave her Joy That She with Her so happily had met That word she clos'd with an Embrace and this With the deer Blessing of an heav'nly Kisse 208. As when the courteous vernal Sun draw's neer And with his tender Raies doth Earth imbrace Her cold and 〈◊〉 Veins begin to cheer New Life and Verdure smile in all her Face Inriched and arrayd She gins to be With her bie and with floury gailantrie 209. So Psyche hugg'd and gently warmed by The Arms and Lips of Truth soon felt her breast Before invelopp'd in Obscurity Now by a pure and pretious Light possest She felt her inward mystick Day arise Which gently flourish'd through her wondering Eys 210. Logos who had so pert and busy been Was strangely startled at the sudden Sight And now to see his Blindnesse did begin By the sweet Dawn of this all-opening Light He saw his Blindnes and in seeing this Descri'd withall a thousand Mysteries 211. And that so clearly that He fear'd no more What Mists Authades in his Way could throw Agyrtes Charms He scorned which before Into the pathes of Darknesse him did draw This happy Morn He bless'd and kissed which His Eyes with Heav'ns fair Prospect did enrich 212. For here far more convincing Things He read Than were his late-adored Demonstrations No brisk Distinction here durst show her Head Or hope to damp those glorious Probations Which on Syneidesis her selfe did get Such power that unto Them her Seal she set 213. Nor lesse on Thelema this Wonder wrought For with intire and free Submission she Bow'd down her mighty Neck and low did lout To every Thing which Logo's eye did see And then she hugg'd them fast within her Heart Resolved never more with them to part 214. With high and holy Joy replenished Was humble Psyche at this happy Sight All Catholik Verities at large were spred In her bright Soule whence Scruples took their flight Resigning all that Region to be Possest by Satisfactions Clarity 215. Ten thousand Thanks to courteous Truth she paid And would as many times have paid them o'r But Phylax her excesse of Passion staid Telling her she must now imploy that Store She here had gain'd where need call'd for it and Study how to enrich her native Land 216. With that she Rose but strait fell down again Before the Throne to pay her Homage to The Queen who now high in her Heart did reign And then with sweeter Cheer prepar'd to goe Having receiv'd a Benediction from Ecclesia for her dear Viaticum 217. But as she went she bless'd the blessed Place And ô how happy are the Soules said she Who in this Holy Courts illustrious Face May be Attendants and these Glories see With constant freedome which all Heav'n can dart With one short glimpse on the Spectators Heart 218. O happy They who in this Hall may live Perpetualy these noble Spoiles to read And Acclamations of Honor give To Her who all these Monsters Blood did shed To Her whom all the World doth yeild to be As large as is it Selfe in Victory 219. O happy They who have but leave to dwell Here in this Praeface to that larger Blisse This noble Portch alone doth far excell The fulnesse of all other Palaces This is the Morning unto Glories Day The Brink of Joy the Top of Heav'ns High-way 220. O happy They who in this beauteous Court May wait upon the Portch and feed their Eyes And with their Eyes their Hearts in any Sort Upon this House and Home of Mysteries This Neighbourhood to Blisse would serve to be Sufficient Felicity for Me. 221. O happy They who may permitted be Ev'n in this Realm of Thorns and craggie Waies This Field of Hardship and Perplexity This Maze of Fears and Snares to spend their Days The Prospect to yon' Palace would suffice To blesse and sweeten all Anxieties 222. O happy They who may remain with Thee Disconsolate Mayd ev'n at this outmost Gate The Comfort but of such Vicinity To yon' fair Towers would easily abate The trouble of thy Sighs and ne'r would I Repent of Panance's sad
flames without delay So did the fervor of this Prayer flie And snatch'd from earth to Heav'n its sudden way Nor made it there a stop at any Sphear But scour'd through all and reached Jesus ear 381. Propitious He straight yeilded his Consent And opening wide his blessed Arms embraced The dear Oblation with as high Content As if He more than Psyche had ben graced O King of Sweetest Love who would not bring To such a God as Thee his Offering 382. But now as zealous Psyche thought to send Her Altar up after her Sacrifice Behold a sudden Fulnesse did extend Her bosome with such ravishing Rarities That she perplex'd with unknown Sweets 〈◊〉 With what strange Paradise she was inspired 383. At length examining her encroaching Blisse Another Thelema in her Heart she spied But in so lovely and majestick Dresse That by her Looks she instantly descryed From whence she came and that she needs must be One of her heav'nly Spouse's familie 384. His Will it was indeed for Noble He Disdaineth not to give more than he takes No sooner Psyches Offring He did see But he this greater Present ready makes Then with innumerable Blessings drest Shoots it into her soft and pious Breast 385. This grasp'd her Soule so fast and knit it so Intirely to her Spouse's Heart that she Forthwith seem'd to have nothing more to doe With what she was her self since potent He Was seized of her and her Will being gone She to Loves Tyranny was left alone 386. Nor did Love loose his time but domineer'd In her subdued heart with full carreer And she as glad to be his Slave appear'd As he rejoyced to triumph on her For by his Conquests she did count her own Being by every fall far higher thrown 387. Thrown up into new stages of Delight And fresh Excesse of those immortal things Which never were debas'd to mortal sight Nor stoop'd to please the Ears of proudest Kings Things which the Heart of Man doth pant in vain When it doth stretch and struggle to contain 388. And now her Soule like a new weaned Childe Which wholly hangs upon its Nurses Will It self not by it self did move and weild But absolutely resting on the skill And care of her dear Lord who tutor'd it Was carried wheresoever he thought fit 389. This made all Sweets and Dainties here below For with these names our fond mistakes doe grace them Disrellish in her accurate Taste and grow Truly themselves which was enough to chase them From wise acceptance for their borrow'd shape Is that alone which doth our love entrap 390. On God and onely him her joyes did feast His royall Pleasure was her pretious Blisse So well did all his Laws and Statutes taste To her Hearts palate that the Pleasantnesse Both of the Honey and the Honey-combe Had in her approbation no room 391. What grated hard upon her Soule before Wrongs Slanders Pains Distresse Calamities Mishaps and Sicknesse tortur'd her no more For on her Spouses Will she fix'd her Eyes And still embraced as the best what he Did either order or permit to be 392. This kindled such a Bonfire of Delight Throughout her Breast that had she been invited Ev'n by all Paradise to yeild her right In this Possession she would have sleighted The mighty Bait and triumph'd still to be The Holocaust of Loves Extremitie 393. Yet was her Passions wonderous violence Sweetned with such divine serenitie That with lesse undisturbed influence The Suns full Beams through all the World doe flie To light the day then did these flames of Love Through all her calm hearts blessed Regions move 394. In dainty silence she her Soule possest With firm Adhaesion unto her Blisse Ev'n all her Motions mingled were with rest Because they did concentricate with his Whose Actions though all infinite they be Their number is ty'd up in Unitie 395. Indeed the World whom her Austeritie Seveerly chode and stung by peevish scorn Reveng'd themselves for lo said they how she By Melancholies blacknesse grown forlorn Esteems her self as fair as if the best Of heav'ns bright beauties had her count'nance 〈◊〉 396. She from her self by wilfull Robberie Plunders those honest Sweets which courteous heav'n To check Lifes tide of infelicitie Hath into Moderations Bosome given And taxeth Gods own bounty by refusing What we cannot approve but by our 〈◊〉 397. Should any paltry Begger serve Her so Sure she would not believe He did despise Her Almes alone but was contemptuous too Against her self Nor would his humble guise Perswade her that his stomacks inward Pride Was by Devotions fervor Mortifi'd 398. Thus did the Ravens against the Swan inveigh But now no seeds of Discontent remaind In Psyche's heart she let them say their say And from their Envie a new Laurel gaind Her silent Patience answerd all their scorn And to her Crown their Calumnies did turn 399. But as she rested in this mystick Peace Hers and all pious Soules eternal Foe Who counted his own trouble by her ease Tore his fell heart with studying what to doe Atlength resolved haste he makes to dress In a faire vizard his foule wickednesse 400. Time was when he Precentor of that quire Which all the Sphears with Hallelujahs fill Arrayed was in glorious attire Whose gallantry did then become him well But when a monstrous Rebell He became The Crime invested him with hideous shame 401. Yet He remembring his original guise And being well skil'd in Hypocrisie Patch'd up himself a coat of gorgeous Lies Wherein to shelter his Doformitie That though he were the King of blackest night He might an Angel seem of fairest light 402. His ragged Horns of steel He pulled in And on his rustie brazen looks he spred A soft a ruddy and well polish'd skin His front with envious wrinkles furrowed He planed over sweetning all his face With blooming youthfulnes and smiling grace 403. Into a Knot he gather'd up his Taile And ty'd it at his back of every Toe And Finger carefully he cut the Naile And then his Hands and Feet he painted so That what before was harsh and footie now Did cleanly delicate and beauteous grow 404. His bushie snarled Locks of fretfull Snakes He shaved off for which to shade his Head Into the new-erected Tombe he breaks Of an embalmed Virgin lately dead And stealing thence her fresh perfumed Tresses His Baldnes he with Curles of Amber dresses 405. An hundred Swans then having plundered Their fairest and their softest feathers he In two brave Combinations marshalled And measured and poised equalie Then to his shoulders them he fitted and A Pair of goodly Wings had at Command 406. A Roab he chose whose colour scorn'd the Milk And with his wings did correspondence hold Its texture was of light and pliant Silk Belac'd and fring'd with oriental Gold That both its Purenesse and its Splendor might Profess that down from Heav'n he took his flight 407. Accouter'd thus as Psyche wearied by Her holy Vigils yeelded unto Sleep The
she ended Began her Praises and Congratulation Joy joy deer Pupill of this Morn said he Which hath dispell'd thy Night of Misery 51. I see what reason thou hadst to be sad Beyond my Comforts reach because I see The sweet Occasion which hath made thee glad Such mighty Greif could onely chased be By that Meridian Almighty Ray Which drives the Life of Woe ev'n Death away 52. The high Excesse of his 〈◊〉 Joy Would let him speak no more but spuir'd him on With Kisses and Embraces to allay The dainty Wrath of his strong Passion Full close he chain'd her in the tender Bands Of zealous Love his blessed Arms and Hands 53. 〈◊〉 Mayd who would not to this 〈◊〉 Belong in debt thus in a snnle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 begging of my 〈◊〉 you 〈◊〉 But for my Thanks they must 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hence to be full and 〈…〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 best he 〈…〉 54. Surely the other Day you were the same Which you are now in every Ornament Of gratious Sweetnesse when you hither came And your best Cordials did to Me present But clownish Senselesse I could not embrace You 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 landy r offred Grace 55. Had this Behaviour quench'd your Love to Me. To none but my rude Selfe had Blame been due Yet you with faithfull patient fervencie More carefull still and still more render grew My Greif you to your Selfe assum'd as you Were able 〈◊〉 for Me with Tears did slow 56. Though Thy Heav'n and Earth abandon was And psung'd into the Cull of Desolation To own Me in 〈◊〉 despicable Case You blushed not but by your high Narration Of what Love 〈◊〉 to releive my mart Endeavored to cheer my drooping Heart 57. Well I remember how I then forgot My selfe and you how dead and cold I lay Before that flaming News which might have shot Life into any Soule but mine away I turn'd my foolish head from that which through A thousand Deaths would run after now 58. For ô my indefatigable Friend I feel your sweetnesse thrilling in my Heart Which there with Charis Intluence doth blend And a new Soule unto my Soule impart Forbid it Heav n my Mind should e'r forget Thee who hast help'd to raise and double it 59. When Earth denies her Vapours to repay To Heav'n whose Bounty sent her down the 〈◊〉 When Fountains bid their posting Curronts stay Whose Thanks were slowing to their mother 〈◊〉 When Building scorn their freindly 〈◊〉 Will then neglect thy 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 In this 〈…〉 Then Words and Killes sweetly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Till the 〈…〉 Which common Mortals 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 61. And now her high and holy busines she Perform'd no more with cold and fruitlesse pains But mounting up with cheerly Fervencie Reap'd in the middle of her Work its Gains For now she knew her Prayers welcom'd were Into her Spouse's ready open Ear. 62. Phylax mean while by Heav'ns appointment flew To learn her Parents fortunes out which He No sooner full sow but fir'd with new Excess of Joy he back return'd when she From her Devotions rose and thus display'd His blessed Message to the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 63. News Psyche happy News for now I come From holy Valours Sceen that signal Place Where thy Uranius his brave Martyrdome Of late atcheiv'd and finished his Race That Race thou fear'dst had been too hard for thy 〈◊〉 Parents limping 〈◊〉 64. But at the Stake I found them Bothe where they Before the face of Heav'n and Earth to thy Sole charge that Resolution did lay Which fir'd them to contemn those Flames for by Our Daughters Zeal said they this sacred heat In our old froazen fearfull Veins doth beat 65. That heav'nly Answer from the Dungeon she Gave to our cruel kindenes though with shame It sent Us weeping home yet instantlie Those causeless tears it dried by this flame Of Christian courage whil'st admonish'd by Our second thoughts our first we did defie 66. And Heav'n require her wheresoe'r she be Who whil'st we tempted her idolize Did nobley fright Us from Idolatrie And reach Us how We safelier might 〈◊〉 Both Life and Death than Jesus who alone Holds over both supream Dominion 67. Then let Him shew it now the Solaiers 〈◊〉 Kindling the Pile and shouting loud that they In spight or Darknesse thus could turn the Tide Of Night by Christian Bonfires into Day O Blessed pair said I who in a new Marriage thus joyned are and hither 〈◊〉 68. So Phylax spake When Psyche ravish'd by This unexpected Bliss could not contain The pious Fountain of her joyfull Eye Nor her Tongues sweeter stronger streams restrain Abundant Tears she shed yet larger far Her thanks to Jesus and her Praises were 69. But as she oft had wearied been before With heavinesses mighty Burden so Surcharged now with joys exuberant store She laid her down in sweet submission to This pleasing load and sunk into the deep But soft untroubled Gulfe of do why sleep 70. When Charis upon whose eternal Eye No Slumber ever creeps begun a new And heav'nly work for with Activity About Imaginations Orb she flew And cull'd and cropp'd those Fancies here and there Which for her purpose serviceable were 71. Thus furnished with all Materials she In the fair Theatre of Psyche's Breast By orderly Degrees the Gallantrie Of her incomparable Pageant drest She first reard up a goodly Throne which might Out-vie the Hyperborean Snow in White 72. Forthwith she placed on this royal Seat A Prince who gave more Beauty unto it No Monark ever in more awfull State On his imperial Chair of Gold did sit Indeed all Potentates but shaddows be To this authentick Soveraigns Majestie 73. His copious Robe down from his Shoulders flow'd Unto his Feet with streams of gracefulnesse A Girdle of illustrious Gold which ow'd Its birth not unto Earth but Heav'n did kiss And closely hug his blessed Paps which yet In goodly Richnes far outshined it 74. No 〈◊〉 labour ever made so white The finest Wool as was his daintier Hair Which poured down the 〈◊〉 of its bright And Silken Curles with curious careless Care About his Alabaster Neck which stood Like a white Pillar in that Snowie 〈◊〉 75. As in their venerable Sockets on The sacred Altar glorious Tapers flame So look'd his Eys whose reverend Beams alone About the Temple of his Face did stream And made his Countnance like the Suns when he Is a wfull in his High-noon Claritie 76. The most resin'd Corinthian Brass which in The bosome of the slaming Furnace lies Doth not with more illustrious l error shine Than from his burning Feet of Glorie sties Thus was this radiant King from Foot to Head With supream Majestie embellished 77. Innumerable Angels then she brought To furnish out his Court and fill his Train These all their Stations took as quick as Thought And with their golden Trumpets in a strein Which through the roused Universe rebounded The glory of their mighty Soveraign founded 78. But his bright Standard to the open Air She poured out in