beawties indeflourishing abide And as to passe his fellowe either seekes Seemes both doe blush at one anothers pride And on thine eyelids waiting thee beside Ten thousand Graces sit and when they mooue To earth their amourous belgards from aboue They flie from heau'n and on their wings conuey thy loue 47 All of discolour'd plumes their wings aâ— made And with so wondrous art the quills aâ— wrought That whensoere they cut the ayrie glade The winde into their hollowe pipes is caught As seemes the spheres with them they down haue brought Like to the seauen-fold reede of Arcadie Which Pan of Syriux made when she did flie To Ladon sands and at his sighs sung mâ—…ly 48 As melting hony dropping from the combe So still the words that spring between thy lipps Thy lippes whear smiling sweetnesse keepes her home And heau'nly Eloquence pure manna sipps He that his pen but in that fountaine dipps How nimbly will the golden phrases flie And shed forth streames of choycest rhetorie Welling celestiall torrents out of poësie 49 Like as the thirstie land in summers heat Calls to the cloudes and gapes at euerie showre As though her hungry clifts all heau'n would eat Which if high God into her bosome powre Though much refresht yet more she could deuoure So hang the greedie ears of Angels sweete And euery breath a thousand cupids meete Some flying in some out and all about her fleet 50 Vpon her breast Delight doth softly sleepe And of eternall ioy is brought abed Those snowie mountelets through which doe creepe The milkie riuers that ar inly bred In siluer cesternes and themselues doe shed To wearie Trauailers in heat of day To quench their fierie thrist and to allay With dropping nectar floods the furie of their way 51 If any wander thou doest call him backe If any be not forward thou incit'st him Thou doest expect if any should growe slacke If any seeme but willing thou inuit'st him Or if he doe offend thee thou acquit'st him Thou find'st the lost and follow'st him that flies Healing the sicke and quickning him that dies Thou art the lame mans friendly staffe the blind mans eyes 52 So faire thou art that all would thee behold But none can thee behold thou art so faire Pardon O pardon then thy Vassall bold That with poore shadowes striues thee to compare And match the things which he knowes matchlesse are O thou vive mirrhour of celestiall grace How can fraile colours pourtraict out thy face Or paint in flesh thy beawtie in such semblance base 53 Her vpper garment was a silken lawne With needle-woorke richly embroidered Which she her selfe with her owne hand had drawne And all the world therein had pourtrayed With threads so fresh and liuely coloured That seem'd the world she newe created thear And the mistaken eye would rashly swear The silken trees did growe and the beasts liuing wear 54 Low at her feet the Earth was cast alone As though to kisse her foot it did aspire And gaue it selfe for her to tread vpon With so vnlike and different attire That euery one that sawe it did admire What it might be was of so various hewe For to it selfe it oft so diuerse grewe That still it seem'd the same and still it seem'd a newe 55 And here and there few men she scattered That in their thought the world esteeme but small And themselues great but she with one fine thread So short and small and slender woue them all That like a sort of busie ants that crawle About some molehill so they wandered And round about the wauing Sea was shed But for the siluer sands small pearls were sprinkled 56 So curiously the vnderworke did creepe And curling circlets so well shadowed lay That afar off the waters seem'd to sleepe But those that neere the margin pearle did play Hoarcely enwaued wear with hastie sway As though they meant to rocke the gentle eare And hush the former that enslumbred wear And here a dangerous rocke the flying ships did fear 57 High in the ayrie element there hung Another clowdy sea that did disdaine As though his purer waues from heauen sprung To crawle on earth as doth the sluggish maine But it the earth would water with his raine That eb'd and flow'd as winde and season would And oft the Sun would cleaue the limber mould To alabaster rockes that in the liquid rowl'd 58 Beneath those sunny banks a darker cloud Dropping with thicker deaw did melt apace And bent it selfe into a hollowe shroude On which if Mercy did but cast her face A thousand colours did the bowe-enchace That wonder was to see the silke distain'd With the resplendance from her beawtie gain'd And Iris paint her locks with beames so liuely feign'd 59 About her head a cyprus heau'n she wore Spread like a veile vpheld with siluer wire In which the starres so burn't in golden ore As seem'd the azure web was all on fire But hastily to quench their sparkling ire A flood of milke came rowling vp the shore That on his curded â—aue swift Argus bore And the immortall swan that did her life deplore 60 Yet strange it was so many starres to see Without a Sunne to giue their tapers light Yet strange it was not that it so should be For where the Sunne centers himselfe by right Her face and locks did flame that at the sight The heauenly veile that else should nimbly mooue Forgot his flight and all incens'd with loue With wonder and amazement did her beautie prooue 61 Ouer her hung a canopie of state Not of rich tissew nor of spangled gold But of a substance though not animate Yet of a heau'nly and spirituall mould That onely eyes of Spirits might behold Such light as from maine rocks of diamound Shooting their sparks at Phebus would rebound And little Angels holding hands daunc't all around 62 Seemed those little sprights through nimbless bold The stately canopy bore on their wings But them it selfe as pendants did vphold Besides the crownes of many famous kings Among the rest thear Dauid euer sings And now with yeares growne young renewes his layeâ— Vnto his golden harpe and ditties playes Psalming aloud in well tun'd songs his Makers prayse 63 Thou self-Idea of all ioyes to come Whose loue is such would make the rudest speake Whose loue is such would make the wisest dumbe O when wilt thou thy too long silence breake And ouercome the strong to saue the weake If thou no weapons hast thine eyes will wound Th' Almighties selfe that now sticke on the ground As though some blessed obiect thear did them empound 64 Ah miserable Abiect of disgrace What happines is in thy miserie I both must pittie and enuie thy case For she that is the glorie of the skie Leaues heauen blind to fix on thee her eye Yet her though Mercies selfe esteems not small The world despisd ' they her Repentance call And she her selfe
world which all in darkenesse lay Doth heau'ns bright face of his rayes disaray â—…d sads the smiling orient of the springing day 10 〈◊〉 was a Virgin of austere regard â—…t as the world esteemes her deafe and blind â—…t as the Eagle that hath oft compar'd 〈◊〉 eye with heau'ns so and more brightly shin'd Her lamping sight for she the same could winde Into the solid heart and with her eares The silence of the thought loude speaking heares And in one hand a paire of euen scoals she weares 11 No riot of affection reuell kept Within her brest but a still apathy Possessed all her soule which softly slept Securely without tempest no sad crie Awakes her pittie but wrong'd pouertie Sending his eyes to heau'n swimming in teares With hideous clamours euer struck her eares Whetting the blazing sword that in her hand she beares 12 The winged Lightning is her Mercury And round about her mightie thunders sound Impatient of himselfe lies pining by Pale Sicknes with his kercher'd head vpwound And thousand noysome plagues attend her round But if her clowdie browe but once growe foule The flints doe melt and rocks to water rowle And ayrie mountaines shake and frighted shadowes howâ—… 13 Famine and bloodles Care and bloodie Warre Want and the Want of knowledge how to vse Abundance Age and Feare that runnes afarre Before his fellowe Greefe that aye pursues His winged steps for who would not refuse Greefes companie a dull and rawebon'd spright That lankes the cheekes and pales the freshest sight Vnbosoming the cheerefull brest of all delight 14 Before this cursed throng goes Ignorance That needes will leade the way he cannot see And after all Death doeth his flag aduaunce And in the mid'st Strife still would roaguing be Whose ragged flesh and cloaths did well agree And round about amazed Horror flies And ouer all Shame veiles his guiltie eyes And vnderneth Hells hungrie throat still yawning lies 15 Vpon two stonie tables spread before her She lean'd her bosome more then stonie hard There slept th'vnpartiall iudge and strict restorer Of wrong or right with paine or with reward There hung the skore of all our debts the card Whear good and bad and life and death were painted Was neuer heart of mortall so vntainted But when that scroule was read with thousand terrors fainted 16 Witnes the thunder that mount Sinai heard When 〈◊〉 hill with firie clouds did flame And 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Israel with the sight afeard Blinded 〈◊〉 seeing durst not touch the same But like a wood of shaking leaues became On this dead Iustice she the Liuing Lawe Bowing herselfe with a maiestique awe All heau'n to heare her speech did into silence drawe 17 Dread Lord of Spirits well thou did'st deuise To fling the worlds rude dunghill and the drosse Of the ould Chaos farthest from the skies And thine owne seate that heare the child of losse Of all the lower heau'n the curse and crosse That wretch beast caytiue monster Man might spend Proude of the mire in which his soule is pend Clodded in lumps of clay his wearie life to end 18 His bodie dust whear grewe such cause of pride His soule thy Image what could he enuie Himselfe most happie if he so would bide Now grow'n most wretched who can remedie He slewe himselfe himselfe the enemie That his owne soule would her owne murder wreake If I were silent heau'n and earth would speake And if all fayl'd these stones would into clamours breake 19 How many darts made furrowes in his side When she that out of his owne side was made Gaue feathers to their flight whear was the pride Of their newe knowledge whither did it fade When running from thy voice into the shade He fled thy sight himselfe of sight bereau'd And for his shield a leauie armour weau'd With which vain maÌ„ he thought Gods eies to 〈…〉 20 And well he might delude those eyes that see And iudge by colours for who euer sawe A man of leaues a reasonable tree But those that from this stocke their life did drawe Soone made their Father godly and by lawe Proclaimed Trees almightie Gods of wood Of stocks and stones with crownes of laurell stood Templed and fed by fathers with their childrens blood 21 The sparkling fanes that burne in beaten gould And like the starres of heau'n in mid'st of night â—lacke Egypt as her mirrhours doth behould â—re but the denns whear idoll-snakes delight â—gaine to couer Satan from their sight Yet these are all their gods to whome they vie The Crocodile the Cock the Rat the Flie. 〈◊〉 gods indeede for such men to be serued by 22 â—…e Fire the winde the sea the sunne and moone â—…e flitting Aire and the swift-winged How'rs â—…d all the watchmen that so nimbly runne â—…d centinel about the walled towers 〈◊〉 the worlds citie in their heau'nly bowr's And least their pleasant gods should want delight Neptune spues out the Lady Aphrodite â—…d but in heauen proude Iunos peacocks skorne to lite 23 â—…e senselesse Earth the Serpent dog and catte â—…d woorse then all these Man and woorst of men â—…rping Ioue and swilling Bacchus fat â—…d drunke with the vines purple blood and then â—…e Fiend himselfe they coniure from his denne Because he onely yet remain'd to be Woorse then the worst of men they flie from thee â—…d weare his altar-stones out with their pliant knee 24 〈◊〉 that he speakes and all he speakes are lies â—…e oracles 't is he that wounded all â—…res all their wounds he that put out their eyes â—…at giues them light he that death first did call Into the world that with his orizall Inspirits earth he heau'ns al-seeing eye He earths great Prophet he whom rest doth flie That on salt billowes doth as pillowes sleeping lie 25 But let him in his cabin restles rest The dungeon of darke flames and freezing fire Iustice in heau'n against man makes request To God and of his Angels doth require Sinnes punishment if what I did desire Or who or against whome or why or whear Of or before whom ignorant I wear Then should my speech their sands of sins to mountaines â—eaâ— 26 Wear not the heau'ns pure in whose courts I sue The Iudge to whom I sue iust to requite him The cause for sinne the punishment most due Iustice her selfe the plaintiffe to endite him The Angells holy before whom I cite him He against whom wicked vniust impure Then might he sinnefull liue and die secure Or triall might escape of triall might endure 27 The Iudge might partiall be and ouer-pray'd The place appeald from in whose courts he sues The fault excus'd or punishment delayd The parties selfe accus'd that did accuse Angels for pardon might their praiers vse But now no starre can shine no hope be got Most wretched creature if he knewe his lot And yet more wretched farre because he knowes it not 28 What should I tell how barren earth is growne â—…ll for to
And almes and fasts and churches discipline And dead might rest his bones vnder the holy shrine 17 But when he neerer came he lowted lowe With prone obeysance and with curt'sie kinde That at his feete his head he seemd to throwe What needs him now another Saint to finde Affections are the sailes and faith the wind That to this Saint a thousand soules conueigh Each hour ' O happy Pilgrims thither strey What caren they for beasts or for the wearie way 18 Soone the old Palmer his deuotions sung Like pleasing anthems moduled in time For well that aged Syre could tip his tongue With golden foyle of eloquence and lime And licke his rugged speech with phrases prime Ay me quoth he how many yeares haue beene Since these old eyes the Sunne of heau'n haue seene Certes the Sonne of heau'n they now behold I weene 19 Ah mote my humble cell so blessed be As heau'n to welcome in his lowely roose And be the Temple for thy deitie Loe how my cottage worships thee aloofe That vnder ground hath hid his head in proofe It doth adore thee with the seeling lowe Here honie milke and chesnuts wild doe growe The boughs a bed of leaues vpon thee shall bestowe 20 But oh he said and therewith sigh't full deepe The heau'ns alas too enuious are growne Because our fields thy presence from them keepe â—or stones doe growe where corne was lately sowne So stooping downe he gather'd vp a stone But thou with corne canst make this stone to eare What needen we the angrie heau'ns to feare Let them enuie vs still so we enioy thee here 21 Thus on they wandred but those holy weeds A monstrous Serpent and no man did couer So vnder greenest hearbs the Addes feeds And round about that stinking corps did houer The dismall Prince of gloomie night and ouer His euer-damned head the Shadowes err'd Of thousand peccant ghosts vnseene vnheard And all the Tyrant feares and all the Tyrant fear'd 22 He was the Sonne of blackest Acheron Whear many frozen soules doe chattring lie And rul'd the burning waues of Phlegethon Whear many more in flaming sulphur frie At once compel'd to liue and forc't to die Whear nothing can be heard for the loud crie Of oh and ah and out alas that I Or once againe might liue or once at length might die 23 Ere long they came neere to a balefull bowre Much like the mouth of that infernall caue That gaping stood all Commers to deuoure Darke dolefull dreary like a greedy graue That still for carrion carkasses doth craue The ground no hearbs but venomous did beare Nor ragged trees did leaue but euery whear Dead bones and skulls wear cast and bodies hanged wear 24 Vpon the roofe the bird of sorrowe sat Elonging ioyfull day with her sad note And through the shady aire the fluttring bat Did waâ—e her leather sayles and blindely flote While with her wings the fatall Shreechowle smote Th' vnblessed house thear on a craggy stone Celeno hung and made his direfull mone And all about the murdered ghosts did shreek and grone 25 Like clowdie moonshine in some shadowie groue Such was the light in which DESPAIRE did dwell But he himselfe with night for darkenesse stroue His blacke vncombed locks dishevell'd fell About his face through which as brands of hell Sunk in his skull his staring eyes did glowe That made him deadly looke their glimpse did showe Like Cockatrices eyes that sparks of poyson throwe 26 His cloaths wear ragged clouts with thornes pind fast And as he musing lay to stonie fright A thousand wilde Chimera's would him cast As when a fearefull dreame in mid'st of night Skips to the braine and phansies to the sight Some winged furie strait the hasty foot Eger to flie cannot plucke vp his root The voyce dies in the tongue and mouth gapes without boot 27 Now he would dreame that he from heauen fell And then would snatch the ayre afraid to fall And now he thought he sinking was to hell And then would grasp the earth and now his stall Him seemed hell and then he out would crawle And euer as he crept would squint aside Lest him perhaps some Furie had espide And then alas he should in chaines for euer bide 28 Therefore he softly shrunke and stole away Ne euer durst to drawe his breath for feare Till to the doore he came and thear he lay Panting for breath as though he dying were And still he thought he felt their craples teare Him by the heels backe to his ougly denne Out faine he would haue leapt abroad but then The heau'n as hell he fear'd that punish guilty men 29 Within the gloomie hole of this pale wight The Serpent woo'd him with his charmes to inne Thear he might baite the day and rest the night But vnder that same baite a fearefull grin Was readie to intangle him in sinne But he vpon ambrosia daily fed That grew in Eden thus he answered So both away wear caught and to the Temple fled 30 Well knewe our Sauiour this the Serpent was And the old Serpent knewe our Sauiour well Neuer did any this in falshood passe Neuer did any him in truth excell With him we fly to heau'n from heau'n we fell With him but nowe they both together met Vpon the sacred pinnacles that threat With their aspiring tops Astraeas starrie seat 31 Here did PRESVMPTION her paullion spread Ouer the Temple the bright startes among Ah that her foot should trample on the head Of that most reuerend place and a lewd throng Of wamon boyes sung her a pleasant song Of loue long life of mercie and of grace And euery one her deerely did embrace And she herselfe enamour'd was of her owne face 32 A painted face belied with vermeyl store Which light Eüëlpis euery day did trimme That in one hand a guilded anchor wore Not fixed on the rocke but on the brimme Of the wide aire she let it loosely swimme Her other hand a sprinkle carried And euer when her Ladie wauered Court-holy water all vpon her sprinkeled 33 Poore foole she thought herselfe in wondrous price With God as if in Paradise she wear But wear shee not in a fooles paradise She might haue seene more reason to despere But him she like some ghastly fiend did feare And therefore as that wretch hew'd out his cell Vnder the bowels in the heart of hell So she aboue the Moone amid the starres would dwell 34 Her Tent with sunny cloudes was seel'd aloft And so exceeding shone with a false light That heau'n it selfe to her it seemed oft Heau'n without cloudes to her deluded sight But cloudes withouten heau'n it was aright And as her house was built so did her braine Build castles in the aire with idle paine But heart she neuer had in all her body vaine 35 Like as a ship in which no ballance lies Without a Pilot on the sleeping waues Fairely along with winde and water flies And
myriads done And yet but now alas but now all is begunne 44 With that a flaming brand a Furie catch't And shooke and tost it round in his wilde thought So from his heart all ioy all comfort snatch't With euery starre of hope and as he sought With present feare and future griefe distâ—aught To flie from his owne heart and aide in plore Of him the more he giues that hath the more Whose storehouse is the heauens too little for his store 45 Stay wretch on earth â—…d Satan reâ—â—leâ— rest Know'st thou not Iustice liues in heau'nâ— or ean The worst of creatures liue among the best Among the blessed Angels cursed man Will Iudas now become a Christian Whither will hopes long wings transport thy minde Or canst thou not thy selfe a sinner finde Or cruell to thy selfe wouldst thou haue Mercie kinde 46 He gaue thee life why shouldst thou seeke to slay him He lent thee wealth to feed thy avarice He cal'd thee friend what that thou shouldst betray him He kist thee though he knew his life the price He washt thy feet should'st thou his sacrifice He gaue thee bread and wine his bodie blood And at thy heart to enter in he stood But then I entred in and all my snakie brood 47 As when wild Pentheus growne madde with fear Whole troups of hellish haggs about him spies Two bloodie Sunnes stalking the duskie sphear And twofold Thebes runs rowling in his eyes Or through the scene staring Orestes flies With eyes flung back vpon his Mothers ghost That with infernall serpents all embost And torches quencht in blood doth her stern sonne accost 48 Such horrid gorgons and misformed formes Of damned fiends flew dauncing in his heart That new vnable to endure their stormes Flie flie he cries thy selfe what ere thou art Hell hell alreadie burnes in euery part So downe into his Torturers armes he fell That readie stood his funeralls to yell And in a clowd of night to waâ—â— him quick to hell 49 Yet oft he snacht and started as he hung So when the senses halfe enslumb'red lie The headlong bodie readie to be flung By the deluding phanâ—â—e from some high And craggie rock recovers greedily And clasps the yeelding pillow halfe asleepe And as from heav'n it tombled to the deepe Feeles a cold sweat through euery trembling member creepe 50 Thear let him hang embowelled in blood Whear neuer any gentle Sheapheard feed His blessed flocks nor euer heav'nly flood Fall on the cursed ground nor holesome seed That may the least delight or pleasure breed Let neuer Spring visit his habitation But nettles kixe and all the weedie nation With emptie elders grow sad signes of desolation 51 Theaâ— let the Dragon keepe his habitance And stinking karcases be throwne avaunt Faunes Sylvans and deformed Saâ—yrs daunce Wild-cats wolues â—oadâ— and shreechowles direly chaunt Thear euer let some restles spirit haunt With hollow sound and clashing cheynes to scarr The passenger and eyes like to the starr That sparkles in the crest of angâ—iâ— Mars afaâ—â— 52 But let the blessed deawes for euer showr Vpon that ground in whose faire fields I spie The bloodie ensigne of our Sauiour Strange conquest whear the Conquerour must die And he is slaine that winns the victorie But he that liuing had no house to owe it Now had no graue but Ioseph must bestowe it O runne ye Saints apace and with sweete flowr's bestowe it 53 And ye glad Spirits that now sainted sit On your coelestiall thrones in beawtie drest Though I your teares recoumpt O let not it With after-sorrowe wound your tender brest Or with new griefe vnquiet your soft rest Inough is me your plaints to sound againe That neuer could inough my selfe complaine Sing then O sing aloude thou Arimathean Swaine 54 But long he stood in his faint armes vphoulding The fairest spoile heau'n euer forfeited With such a silent passion griefe vnfoulding That had the sheete but on himselfe beene spread He for the corse might haue beene buried And with him stood the happie theefe that stole By night his owne saluation and a shole Of Maries drowned round about him sat in dole 55 At length kissing his lipps before he spake As if from thence he fetcht againe his ghost To Mary thus with teares his silence brake Ah woefull soule what ioy in all our cost When him we hould we haue alreadie lost Once did'st thou loose thy Sonne but found'st againe Now find'st thy Sonne but find'st him lost and slaine Ay mee though he could death how canst thou life sustaine 56 Whear ere deere Lord thy Shadowe houereth Blessing the place wherein it deigns abide Looke how the earth darke horrour couereth Cloathing in mournfull black her naked side Willing her shadowe vp to heau'n to glide To see and if it meet thee wandring thear That so and if her selfe must misse thee hear At least her shadow may her dutie to thee bear 57 See how the Sunne in daytime cloudes his face And lagging Vesper loosing his late teame Forgets in heau'n to runne his nightly race But sleeping on bright Oetas top doeth dreame The world a Chaos is no ioyfull beame Looks from his starrie bowre the heau'ns doe moue And Trees drop teares least we should greeue alone The windes haue learnt to sigh and waters hoarcely grone 58 And you sweete flow'rs that in this garden growe Whose happie states a thousand soules enuie Did you your owne felicities but knowe Your selues vnpluckt would to his funerals hiâ— You neuer could in better season die O that I might into your places slide The gate of heau'n stands gaping in his side Thear in my soule should steale and all her faults should hide 59 Are theas the eyes that made all others blind Ah why ar they themselues now blemished Is this the face in which all beawtie shin'd What blast hath thus his flowers debellished At these the feete that on the watry head Of the vnfaithfull Ocean passage found Why goe they now so lowely vnder ground Wash't with our woorthles teares and their owne precious wound 60 One hem but of the garments that he wore Could medicine whole countries of their paine One touch of this pale hand could life restore One word of these cold lips reuiue the slaine Well the blinde man thy Godhead might maintaine What though the sullen Pharises repin'd He that should both compare at length would finde The blinde man onely sawe the Seers all wear blinde 61 Why should they thinke thee worthy to be slaine Was it because thou gau'st their blinde men eyes Or that thou mad'st their lame to walke againe Or for thou heal'dst their sick mens maladies Or mad'st their dumbe to speake and dead to rise O could all these but any grace haue woon What would they not to saue thy life haue done The dumb man would haue spoke and lame man would haue runne 62 Let mee O let me neere some fountaine lie That through the rocke heaues vp his sandie head Or let me