right path guide Least my proud enemyes should thee deride Nor yeeld me to the willes of raging foes For periurd witnesses against me rose And sin hath tyed t'it self I shal I trust Thy ioyes see in the region of the iust Expect our lord and manfully defend Thy self take comfort and our lord attend Amen Amen sung lowde the psalme concludes Amen The ecchôing hilles and dales intone agen When they at Iordans bankes arriued and stood Musing awhile vpon the sacred flood The zealous troope with ioy recalles to mind Those wondrous signes of loue which to mankind God there had shewd salutes with humble vowes The place it's tutelar Genius and bowes In memôrye of it 's saints fome grouesing lye Kisse th' hallôwed bankes and streames as they slip by Some gladly vnder the blest current falle Some wash their heads their handes and faces all Then ferryîng ouer to the farther side They into seueral pathes themselues deuide Al to the desart tending none can stray Vnlesse he meeffe his fellowe in the way For then who first the other coming spyes Leauing that walke to thickes and couerts flyes Least the shye enemye with secret pride Should blast their better actions When discryed By more eyes then their owne Oh that we could Those glorious conquests to the world vnfold which these religious fathers dayly gaind In their vnboasted conflicts whiles restraind From mutual consolations oft assayld By visible spirits they as oft praeuayld Against their fyery legiôns restlesse griefe Furious assaults fresh combats no relief No hope but from aboue oh tho the height Of self-contempt haue left in clowdes of night Their memoryes obscured yet their fame Characterd in wide heauen 's immortal frame Shal euer liue and they for euer rest In the triumphant mansions of the blest Mongst althese fathers which euen then prepard Their soules to their not rashly hopd reward Not least in goodnesse tho in order last The late checkt Zozimus with zealous hast Enters the solitude spends nights and dayes In heauenly contemplations duely prayes At his accustomd howers neuer eateâ— But when with famin forc't and then such meates As the wild wood afforded neuer sleepes But when stolne slumbers through the entries creepes Of his watcht soule then some knobd tree in stead Of pillow serues the earth his natiue bed Wide heauen his canopye his rugge and sheetes The frost 's pearld deawe cold rines and piercing fleetes Where with his long white haire and hoarye beard Intangled oft in icye knots appeard When some times guided by the morning star Some times the slowe-pacd waine-mans stooping car His weake legs prompted by a strong desire Where with it seemes the willing heaueus inspire His forward soule resume their dayly toyle Wading through thicke and thin new longings boyle In 's flaming breast new thoughts infusd from heauen Make the rough wayes seeme smooth the mountains euen Whiles daylight serues his iourney neuer ends When night comes on the night in tears he spends His truely humbled soule now onely blind To see it's owne perfections earnes to find Some saint-like father in that desart place Who may instruct him in the waye of grace For this he makes reiterated vowes To heauen for this to earth his knees he bowes And strong in faith tho for a time delayed Persists stil praying hopes stil hoping prayed The twentyeth day night's foggye damps had cleard And brighter sun vpon the heights appeard When he his howers ending with the day Renewed his taske and westward tooke his way West-ward far of vpon a plaine he spyes Amoouing bulke of what his fayling eyes Cannot yet iudge but towards it he makes Doubling his pace and at the nearest takes Thwarting the spatious plaine nor long it was Ere he a doleful wretch and naked as Simplicitye it self discernd whose face Tho black and old yet wanted not it's grace Which in a count'nance graue and wel composd Tho to al weathers and al suns exposd Held good against the iniuryes of time Of place of griefe and of the open clyme He stood aloofe and viewed hir whiles hir eye Fixt on a higher obiect past him by Hir age hir naked chin and vnshorne head Whence white crispe lockes in frosty curles were spred Ouer hir blacker necke strait made hir knowne A woman or th' anatomye of one Long abstinence and pennance hauing brought Hir body to a leannesse beyond thought Pale trembling fear the monke's whole body shakes And he his owne long-wished hopes mistakes Thinkes that he sees some ghost or Hellish fiend To Torments in that wildernesse confind Yet curbes his fear and bold in his owne right Prepares him not vnused to such fight The crosse it's signe he formes first on himself Then on the ayre and the supposed elfe Whose much consid'ring eye had neyther seen Him nor his crosse but stil held on the green The monke strait by a better thought inspird Conceaues his happinesse so long desyrd For which he oft had sighd and oftimes prayd Whiles in that tedious solitude he straid His sudden fear to sudden ioy giues place And he pursues hir steppes whose saint-like face Already he disdaines not to implore But hastning after sends these wordes before O stay thou blessed soule by heauens beloud And be not at a sinner's presence moud The solitary saint whose long-closd ears Had heard no voice in seuen and forty years Nor doleful eyes yet met with any face Of mortal creature in that forlorne place Amazed and blushing at hir naked plight Borne on the wings of shame takes speedy flight And in those long knowne woodes a skilful guide Striues in the depth of them hir shame to hide The aged father strengthned with desyre Flying with equal speed pursues the flyer She fast he faster runs she prayes he cryes And when his feet fayle followes with his eyes A wondrous race fole angels looking on Fittest spectatours when such angels run But Zozimus winnes ground and gets so near As she he thought these breathlesse words might heare Oh stay by his great name I thee coniure For whom thou liuêst in solitude obscure Take pitty of mine aage my siluer haires Whose frosty white the markes of reuêrence beares Hear me a doleful sinner ah regard These flowing tears euen as thou hopes reward After so strange a pennance doe not flye Not crüel to a dying man denye Thy prâyer and blessing for his loue I say Who flighteth none that with true feruour pray Thus praying th' old man ran and running prayd Hyr answer shame and inward griefe delayed He vext with labour much more vext in mind Stil begs stil cryes stil 's answerd with the wind A pâ—â—ne there was where in some winter-torrent Had left the vast print of it 's elder current The shiuerd rockes and rent vp oakes yet showd How dreadfully it earst had ouer flowed Now a drye channel hollow empty wide Through which a litle brooke did stealing glide Amongst the crags and logges which since that aage The swelling flood
portal fayle Now th out commers th' incommers now preuayle My self like to a bowe-shot arrow flew And borne with equal speed through eyther crow Which way or how I past I can not tell Prostrat before the signe of triumph fel Here feare and horrour springing from the tyde Of ouer-flowing ioye my soule deuide Guilty of it's owne sins a flood of teares Badges of inward sorrow drowne my feares In seas of true content no ioye hath life Compard to this sad ioye this ioye-ful griefe Hence springs true hatred of my former sins Hence heauenly loue with better hopes begins To spreade pure flames and my best part inspires O that a streame of tears should rayse such fyers The marbled flooër groueling I embrac't And cleansd the checkerd flags with kisses chast Then crawling on and kneeling at the foote Of th' holy crosse I bathd it's sacred roote With flowing tears and empty hoales adord Yet with the blood of my redeemer goard Oh what a full content what seas of blisse My soule swam in lost in the vast abysse Of that vnmeasurd loue which for our good Left these sad markes of his much-wasted blood Vnworthy I my sexes shame the worst Of Aegipt's monsters and the most accurst Led by so great a patronesse was free To kisse the foote of his blood-honourd tree And through her fauour made my guilty eyes Partakers of it's glorious misteryes And oh such sweetnesse there such odours felt As none can ghesse the same who haue not smelt A heauenly sent the like no flowrye field Perfumd panchaia nor Sabaea yeeld My harder hart now in warme tears distilles And inward comfort my whole senses thrilles O may al such as are opprest in mind The like relief in true repentance find The brazen gates no-sooner had I past When my whole burden on the green I cast Before the image where I first had prayd And mindful of my former promise sayd Mother of God who doest to none refuse Mercy vnlesse thy mercyes they abuse Through thee I haue this glorious sight obtained Not with a wicked eye to be prophand Through thee I 'le glorifye my God who saues The sinner which through thee his mercy craues What can a wretch say more or more requyre Hauing from thee obtained her hearts desire T' is now my turne blest virgin here I stand Ready t' obserue my vow and thy command O teach me heauen's path yet vnknowne to tread And in the way of truth thy pupil leade This said as I was rising from my prayêr A heauenly voice came through the open ayre Flye to the desart there sad soule repent Beyond the Iordan there find true content My trembling knees on earth againe I fold And out-stretcht hands to heauen's bright arches hold Alme virgin loe here once more I abiure The world and sin thou which art euer pure Mother and mayd if gladly all I leaue And naked to thy dear protection cleaue If readily I follow thy command O doe not thou with-draw thy helping hand But thy poore creature guide preserue defend Til in thy son my selfe and vowes both end Here-with I rose as I departed thence Some charitable man stopt three smal pence In to my hand with which in hast I bought Three penny loafes and by the baker taught The way to Iordan which I was to take With teares the holy citty I forsake The fayling sun yet with a ruddy light I could see glimring on mount Carmel's height When to a litle chappel of St. Ihon Ihon holy Zachary'es more holy son Weary and weake I came this chappel stood Vpon the bankes of the desired flood There as the sun euen hid his sea-drencht beames Handes face and feet I washe in liuing streames The night I spend in prayer and with teares Reade the blacke legend of my sinful yeares Preparing my staind soule with vnfaind griefe The next day to receaue the foode of life Iust heauens be merciful I know I went Vnworthily to this great sacrament O sacred manna fountaine of al good O deified bread o angel's foode Hide me in thy eternal mercyes from The dreadful iustice of thy threatned doome Neuer sicke soule presumd in house prophane So glorious o ghest to entertaine But oh vnsearched treasures boundlesse seas Of mercyes and of goodnesse when I cease Thy mercyes and thy grace to magnifie O let me without grace and mercy dye Neuer sicke soule so lame and impotent So full of horrours which durst yet present I'ts naked inside to that heauenly ghest Receaud more comfort in this sacred feast Than I poore sinher vndeserued grace Did neuer yet more amiably imbrace A leaprous soule restord with angel's foode And cleansed with my God's al-clensing blood The inward ioy and spiritual delight The peace of mind and comfortable light Which liberâlly infused from aboue Fierd my soule with euerlasting loue Were such as should my wordes hope to deliuer My wordes would wrong the bounty of the giuer Alas how oft to solitude confind Haue I since then with holy hungar pind After this blessed food how oft distrest And with the weight of mine owne woes opprest Haue I in agony and hellish dread Sighed for the comfort of this heauenly bread How oft in bitternesse and drought of heart Haue I aspird but to some litle part Of this oreflowing grace this tast of heauen Now to a wretch so prodigally giuen Ah I deserud it not my sinnes were such Rather what then I had was too too much Yet he who knowes both when and how to giue Will when his pleasd a famisht wretch relieue Oh father might a sinner euer pray With such full comfort as I did that day How should we beat our sin's deserued paine Without which heauenly ioyes are hopd in vaine But I the time in mine owne passions spend Wronging your eare which craues my story's end Yet as you see I can not wel let passe This pleasing memory so then I was No lesse vnwilling to forsake the place Wherein vnworthy I receaud such grace From hence about high noone though loth I part More strong more comforted and light of heârt Then euer I had been prone on the bankes Of siluer Iordan I yeeld humblest thankes To my great mistrisse for I must to her All fauours what so ere and guifts referre Her son at her intreatye shal bestowe For al through her that 's giuen to her I owe with tears I craue that she vouch safe t' abate My God's iust wrath whom in such wretched state I had presumd vnworthy to recêiue That he my faulty rashnesse would forgiue Then in his late-tryêd mercyâ—s confident My self and all t' his heauenly will present My prayer ended on the tufted grasse Earth's natif Carpet halfe a loafe I place And sitting downe on Iordan's flowry bed Praysing th' almighty's name I eate my bread My htirst I quench in the vndamagd flood For what I tooke in drinke my tears made good Contented with this sober fare I rise And to the orient skye
had left markes of it's rage Th' Aegiptian first to this drye gulfe attaind Slipt lightly through and further bank had gaignd When th' old man panting weake and wholy spent Fearful to venture on the rough descent Takes vp yet with his voice pursues the sainct Reiterates with tears his late complaint Coniures hir by hir self those caues that wood The witnesse of hir life by al that 's good In heauen or earth and finding all but vaine Howles and laments his vndeserued paine Then roaring out with doleful out cryes shrilles The channel 's concaue and the hanging hilles From whence redoubled they againe rebound Through ecchoes sad a lamentable sound The holy fugitif mou'd with his tears Replyed at last and thus made known hir fear Time-honourd Zozimas whose life and name I honour from my soule bear with my shame And nakednesse which shuns thy grauer eye And tho vnwilling yet is forc't to flye But if a caytif wretch thou needs wilt grace And longst to see a forlorne sinner's face Lend me thy cloake that clad therein I may Blest with thy blessing praying with thee pray The monke 's amazd to hear his name from one To whom he altogether was vnknowne Yet silently admiring that fore-sight Which he new came from more than human light His mantle throwes which whiles he walkt aside She taking vp about hir shoulders tyed Then to him came he at hir feet adores And benedictiön with teers implores She no lesse humbled prostrat also lyes And craues that which he both craues and denyes So whiles they for each other's blessing striue Both want what both would haue but neyther giue At last th Egiptian thus hir sute renewes And with fresh wonders his assent pursues Father denye not to a wretch that grace Which is most proper to your years and place Your sanctitye and habit your pure hand Which dayly toucheth and hath at command Our God and maker is it self thereby Most blest and'ts blessing should to none denye Zozim abasht replyes with sobs and tears Most blessed mother ah it wel appears That nothing from your knowledge is conceald To whom 〈◊〉 in spirit these things are reueald Happy whose better part to this world dead Is to the bosom of it's maker fled Where your pure soule in his bright eye discouers Those secrets which are onely giuen to louers O since our merits are not iugd by place But by the guifts of his effectual grace Let not your sanctity disdaine to blesse Our more in dignity in goodnesse lesse The Father thus importunately prayed She with compassion moud kneeld vp and sayd Blessed be God who saues the soules of men Then rose and Zozim rising cryed Amen Father saith she loe you haue found at last After much toyle and many labours past A most infortunate creature and one Whose litle goodnesse had you sooner knowne You would not with such earnest zeale haue sought Nor a poore sinner's sight so dearly bought Yet since I thinke you onely were designd By heauens high will these silent shades to find T' impart some pious help which wel I know Your charitable hand is sent to doe About this wretched carcasse pray relate How things are swayd abroad say in what state Th' affaires of Emperours and Christians are How th' holy church and our brethren fare He answer made our mother church long tost With Arrîan stormes long by bad princes crost At last inioyes a calme of wished peace Whiles heresyes and ciuil tumults cease Through your good prayers wherefore let me craue Some part in them since they such power haue Oh if directed by the powérs aboue I hither came nor my poore presence moue Your soule to iust contempt be pleasd to pray For me staind sinner that this tedious way May not be wholy fruitlesse which I tread Ready to make my passage to the dead Pray for the churche whole world and for me craue That I may part securely to my graue Father sayd she not I a sinful wretch But you your purer hands to heauen should stretch For al distressed soules this as our due We from your orders challenge and from you Yet since obedience bids me to fulfil Not what I think most fit but what you wil Loe I obay this sayd she humbly folds Her much-worne knees hir naked hands she holds Stretcht at their ful length to the Orient skye Her soule euen swimming in her fixëd eye Silent she prayes the cause her tears must gaigne Dumb oratours which neuer pleade in vain Vneuitable charmes al-forcing streames Which heauen delighting in with powêrful beames Attracts vnto it self and with such force As euen the compound of hir heauier corse Followes her melting soule and fixt remaines Betwixt heauen's bright arche and earth's spatious plaines Whiles it more light the whirling orbes transcends And to the bosom of it's maker tends Zozim thewhile admiring that high grace And feruour which appeared in her face Now lost in wonder to the low earth sinkes And at his owne lamented coldnesse shrinkes Thumps his bare breast and as he groueling lyes Deplores his owne sinnes and for mercy cryes When loe the slye-fiend prompts him that this might Be some illusion some infernal spright And stickes not wrongfully himself t' accuse Who iustly would not th' old man to abuse Poore man he doubts and whiles he feares deceat Is cosend Satan smiling at his cheate When she whose soule had strayd aboue the sphaeres Retourning to her place perceaud his feares Through the clear glasse of that eternal light Through which al see but see not with such sight Father sayth she what troubled thought is this Which makes you iudge of me and iudge amisse As though I onely made à showe to pray A stumbling-blocke of scandal in your way I am no spirit but true flesh and blood Once white as snow washt in th' al-clensing flood Of holy baptisme now as blacke as shame And sin can dye an euer-tainted fame Here-with her forhead eyes her lips and brest Signing them with a reddy hand she blest Saying o father may our lord preserue Al these poore soules which him would trulye serue From Satan and his sleights Whose hopelesse state Doth not a little grudge our better fate He falling at her feet his owne breast beates And her whole life's relation thus intreates Blest saint whose soule from worldly noyse deuided Is in this wildernesse by angels guided Euen for his sake who for our sakes was borne Of virgin's spotlesse wombe whom raggd and torne The Angels in mount Calûrye saw amazd And on his wounds with admiration gazd For his dear sake I say for whom thou bearst These markes of pennance for whose loue thou wearst This glorious nakednesse oh let-me know What whence thou art and how long t is agoe Since first thou hither camest a heauenly ghest Leauing the world impou'risht of it 's best Oh say and nothing in darke silence fold Which to God's holy honour may be told For this it seemes this tedious