steers his end 's attain'd By uncouth means with greater wonder gain'd Sometimes his high permission leaves opprest The Men most like him and that serve him best But still their Sufferings and severer Fate Prepare them for some glorious future state Invited by sad Britain's Prayers and Tears To save her State and ease her deadly Fears VVe arm'd depos'd Religion to enthrone T' enlarge the Christian Empire not our own VVe arm'd thus to restore in Hell's despight To Heav'n its VVorship and to Men their Right Resume your Courage then it can't be true That Heav'ns Revenge should Heav'n's own Cause pursue These Evils are not in displeasure meant Heav'n is too Just and you too Innocent Success and Triumph will our Arms attend And these rough ways lead to a glorious End VVith Pleasure we hereafter shall relate These suff'rings that will greater Joys create He said and all his anxious Cares supprest And kept conceal'd his trouble in his Breast VVith looks compos'd 'twixt pleasure and despair Grave but serene he bids them all repair Their strength exhausted with much toil and care Of Meats and Fruits part of their Naval Store That with them from their Ship they brought ashore Their weary Limbs repos'd beneath the shade Of well spread Trees a grateful Meal they made Rich VVine of Burgundy and choice Champaigne Relieve the toil they suffer'd on the Main But what more chear'd them than their Meats and VVine VVas wise Instruction and Discourse Divine From God-like Arthur's Mouth by Heav'n inspir'd That all their Breasts with sacred Passions fir'd Great were his Thoughts strong and sublime his Sense Of Heav'n's Decrees Foreknowledge Providence He reason'd deep of Heav'n's mysterious Ends And made stern Justice and fair Mercy Friends How high he soar'd how Noble was his flight Speaking of Truth divine and VVisdom infinite He opens all the Magazins above Of boundless Goodness and Eternal Love From these rich Stores of Heav'n these sacred Springs Of everlasting Joy and Peace he brings Ambrosial Food and rich Nectarean VVine That chear pure Souls and nourish Life Divine He then compar'd this transient mortal state To the fierce Tempest they escap'd so late That here is every great and good Mans Fate If God-like Men for Heav'n embark and stand Their Course direct to make the blissful Land Strait Hell the bloody signal gives to Arm Cain's cruel offspring takes the dire alarm And potent Fiends by Sea their Forces joyn T' obstruct their way and break their brave design All with consummate Malice furious Rage Against th' adventurous Voyagers engage Through all the Sky they raise outrageous Storms And Death stands threat'ning in a thousand Forms Clouds charg'd with loud Destruction drown the day And airy Daemons in wild VVhirlwinds play Thick Thunderclaps and Lightning's livid glare Disturb the Sky and trouble all the Air. Outrage Distraction Clamour Tumult Reign Through the Dominions of the unquiet Main The labouring Bark with Heav'nly Treasure fraught Now almost sunk now up in Tempests caught Near Sands and Rocks rides on the dark Abyss Long beaten off from the bright Coasts of Bliss At last calm Day succeeds this stormy Night And the glad Voyagers find in their sight The Realms of Peace and the blest Shores of Light Here they arrive and find a safe Retreat And all their pain and labours past forget There was a Cave hard by that Nature made In the hard Rock and cover'd with the shade Of spreading Trees that Day could not invade Hither the Pious British Prince retires To offer Praises up and pure desires Here rapt'rous Converse he with Heav'n maintains And aided by Devotion 's purest strains Combates Almighty Power and Conquest gains Devotion that oft binds th' Almighty's Arms And with her Prayers and Tears her powerful charms Of all its Thunder his right hand disarms She passes quick Heav'n's lofty Crystal Walls And the high Gates fly open when she calls The charming Goddess of Divine Address Has to th' Almighty's Presence free Access Her Power can sentenc'd Criminals Reprieve Judgment Arrest and bid the Rebel live Her Charms did once the Sun 's swift Chariot stay And on the Verge of Heav'n held back the falling Day She makes contentious Winds forget their Strife And calls back to the Dead departed Life Charm'd by her Voice Rivers have stop'd their Course And the chill'd Fire laid down its burning Force Such is Devotion 's Power which Arthur knew And when distress'd still to this Refuge flew Much to his Conduct he much to his Arms But more he trusted to Devotion 's Charms Of Triumph and Success he rarely fail'd For those on Earth and these in Heav'n prevail'd Now in the silent shady Cave retir'd He with her sacred Fury lay inspir'd The Prince being thus entranc'd a Heav'nly Light Shoots smiling through the Wood with silent flight The Trees admire the Glory on them shed And seem'd to start and humbly bow their Head When fresh arriv'd on Earth with Heav'n's Commands Great Raphael's glorious Form by Arthur stands Celestial Sweetness Mild and God-like Grace Ineffable sat on his blooming Face His Cheeks such Beauty shew'd such Light and Joy his Eyes As from full Bliss fresh Youth and Strength immortal rise The purest piece of Heav'n's Etherial Blue In a rich Mantle from his Shoulders flew Celestial Linnen finely Spun and Wove On Looms Divine by all the Skill above Bleach'd on th' Empyreal Plains till White as Snow Made the long Robe that to his Feet did flow Immortal Gold Illustrious as the Morn And dazling Gemms by high Arch Angels worn With pond'rous Pearl from Heav'n's bright Eastern Shore Adorn the shining Garments that he wore A Purple Girdle from the Morning Sky New rent does round his Starry Vesture tye Thus he appear'd and with the Light he gave And unknown Fragrancy fill'd all the Cave Then thus he spake Hail mine and Heav'n's kind Care Hither I come drawn by thy powerful Prayer Know Righteous Prince th' Almighty does approve Your firm Adhesion and unshaken Love Ends Great and Wise lodg'd in his secret Breast Obstruct your Wishes and your Course molest Yet still pursue your great and just Intent No Force or Arts shall your Design prevent Propitious Heav'n Decrees your wish'd Event You on these Coasts for happy Ends are thrown And after this expect the British Crown Your Friends and Navy on the Ocean lost Are all arriv'd safe on th' Armorie Coast By the impetuous Tempest beaten back But Men and Ships sav'd from the threaten'd Wreck You 're cast on Hoel's Lands amidst your Foes That hate your Cause and your just Arms Oppose But fear not Hoel's Power though now your Foe By Hell incens'd he will not long be so Go then directly to his Court for there A Glorious Work demands your Pious Care That said with outstretcht Wings he soars upright And through the Winds vast Empire takes his flight He cuts the Clouds and by the Planets flies Up the steep Crystal Mountains of the
seems It self a Heav'n with dazling Lustre bright Pours out pure Floods of overflowing Light Here as in Furnaces of boiling Gold Stars dipt come back full as their Orbs can hold Of glitt'ring Light here too the Moon all drown'd Does with the Golden Metal fill her Round Sometimes half dipt it but in part adorns Her Face and shines with Blunt Refulgent Horns Th' Etherial Plain now cultivated bears A shining Harvest of Illustrious Stars That at a distance seem small Lights but near Capacious Realms and glorious VVorlds appear The Sphears spread forth their Bosoms now refin'd And Belly out like Sails swoln big with Wind. The Air beat out and purify'd does lye A Crystal deep between the Earth and Sky Through this thin Void the Sun 's indulgent Beams Flow gently on the Earth in Golden Streams That kindly steal away the Watry Store And rob the Earth but to enrich it more The Earth with its own Burden tir'd and prest Down with its weight lies in the midst at rest A Deep broke up God calls the Waters they Feel the Command and with quick flight Obey In mighty Heaps the foaming Deluge flows High liquid Walls and curling Ridges shows Some Waters with a smooth and gentle Tyde On the Earth's plain and level Surface glide Others that meet a Steep abrupt Descent Roll down in Floods more loud and turbulent At last they fall from the high Precipice In noisy Floods into the dark Abyss Till the vast Deluge with its liquid Stone Fills up the Deep and Crowns the Ambient Shore Now their tall Heads the rising Mountains show And wide mouth'd Vallies sink themselves as low The Earth as yet all bare and naked lay For Heav'n's Command th' imprison'd Spirits stay God spake and straight a lovely Spring appears And every Field fresh verdant Cloathing wears Green Herbs adorn the Hills aspiring Heads And smiling Flowers paint the Enamell'd Meads Trees starting up lifted their Heads so high They met the Clouds descending from the Sky Some rang'd in beauteous Order Stately stood Others press'd close and throng'd into a Wood. Some where the Sun gives more indulgent Heat Transparent Gums and Od'rous Juices Sweat The fragrant Balsom-Tree distills around Her healing Riches on the neighbouring Ground The humble Jess ' mine breaths Perfumes abroad And wanton Zephyrs bear the balmy Load Pure Crystal Rivers through the Meadows flow Their flowry Banks smile on them as they go Their watry Train in Snaky Windings slides And in their Streams the scaly Nation glides Birds glad to try their Wings rise from the Earth And with their Songs they Celebrate their Birth Beasts in their various Kinds all Mild and Tame Stood gazing round and wonder'd whence they came The Bleating Flocks wander on every Hill And lowing Herds the Ecchoing Vallies fill The sporting Lyon Paws the wanton Bear Wolves seek the Woods the Lawns the timorous Deer The Crested Snake rolls on the flowry Plain The shining Volumes of his Spiral Train Leviathan in th' Ocean takes his place Prince of the Waters and the Finny Race Rolling amidst the Waves he takes his Sport As a great Sea-God in his watry Court. Swimming to Land he drives high Seas before Like a great Island floating near the Shore In wanton pastime he sucks in with Ease Then spouts against the Skies th' exhausted Seas Like some prodigious Water-Engine made To play on Heav'n if Fires should Heav'n invade So fair so rich a Paradise as this Almighty Power call'd from the dark Abyss To keep the Birth-day of the World the Spring Does all her Joys and fragrant Riches bring Nature appearing in her brightest Dress Does all her Sweets and Heav'nly Charms express The Sphears in tuneful Measures Roll above And Heav'n's bright Orbs in beauteous Order move The smiling Earth discovers perfect Joy Where nothing noxious can its Peace annoy The Air 's so soft such balmy Odours fly So sweet the Fruits so pure and mild the Sky The Blissful States too great to be exprest By all the Pleasures of the wanton East By th' Arab's Sweets from Zephirs tender VVings Gently shook off or what the Merchant brings Of Forreign Luxury with tedious Toil From Asia's Coast or soft Campania's Soil Thus after five days Labour Nature stood God view'd his Creatures and pronounc'd them Good But still there wanted one that might adore Divine Perfections and Heav'n's Gifts implore That might himself and his great Author know Obey his God and rule as God below Then Man was made the Author fram'd and wrought The purer Mould with more Concern and Thought His Mind made up of pure Etherial Air Came from the Hands Divine all Bright and Fair. And lodg'd in Clay did at its Entrance give So quick a touch as made that Clay to live And both united with such wondrous Art In part he 's Angel Animal in part In whom the Bounds of both the Worlds are seen Where Earth does terminate and Heav'n begin One part like sprightly Flames will upward move Kin to the blest unbody'd Minds above The other only shap'd and quicken'd Earth From moulded Dust receives its humble Birth Yet Life divine and high Perfection gains Ennobled by the Guest it entertains His Form erect and Cherub-like his Face Where Sweetness temper'd Stern and Manly Grace Mil'd to be lov'd and awful to be fear'd He like some new discover'd God appear'd Then did th' Almighty to his Bosom give To bless him perfectly his Consort Eve Of a more soft and nicely temper'd Mould Her strokes were tender his more strong and bold Sweetness that ravish'd milder than the Morn And perfect Beauty did her Looks adorn She like a Goddess with the Heav'nly Charms Of blushing Innocence comes to his Arms. What Joys Divine did on the Fav'rite wait These happy Hours that knew his Native State His Work thus finish'd and Creation done Th' Almighty rests on his Eternal Throne Straight the loud Shouts and Acclamations giv'n Shook the high Towers and jarring Gates of Heav'n There stood an Alabaster Mount that shone In th' Air sublime from the Imperial Throne Remov'd at distance and between them lay All pav'd with Stars a broad frequented way Hither for great Assemblies they repair From all the Regions of the Etherial Air. Here they in perfect Love and Peace debate Th' Affairs that most affect their sacred State Hither the Princes of the Heav'nly Court Follow'd with Throngs unnumber'd now resort There met a solemn Jubilee they Vote In Honour of the Wonders lately wrought Straight a Procession publick was enjoyn'd And thus perform'd t' adore th' Eternal Mind Trumpets march'd first and chiefly that whose Sound Shall strike Convulsions through the trembling ground Break their dark Prisons down and call away Th' awaken'd Dead on the great Judgment Day Next Heav'nly Viols soft harmonious Flutes Resounding Dulcimers and tuneful Lutes And Harps like that which hangs the glitt'ring Pride As Poets feign of young Apollo's side With perfect Skill here chosen Cherubs play And Celebrate th'
God The Precipice was hid on which he trod The splendid Phantome now advances nigh And in his reach appears Divinity Which straight he grasps at and to hold the more Empties his Hand of what it held before But sooner might he grasp unbody'd Minds And with clos'd Arms clasp in the raging Winds The glorious Shadow from his Hands does slide Mocks his Embraces and defeats his Pride He Eat but did no other Pleasures find Than the sad Terrors of a guilty Mind His cheated Hopes can no new Knowledge boast But of the Ill he feels and Good he lost Thus fell lost Man straight troubled Nature moan'd And shaking with a strong Convulsion groan'd Ev'n Paradise look'd Sad the Herds repin'd And lofty Cedars shook without a Wind. The Roses fade the Golden Apples turn'd Pallid and all the Sick Creation mourn'd To the thick Trees in vain fall'n Adam made To hide his blacker Guilt beneath their Shade Close Trees may so their well mixt Branches spread That Sun-beams cannot pierce their shady Head But God's clear Eye needs not so gross a Ray His Glory sheds a more Illustrious Day But had he been from his bright Eye conceal'd The crying Guilt had to his Ear reveal'd Apostate Man that Voice to Heav'n does rise Loud as the Thunder-claps for which it cries What a black Train of VVoes and hideous Fears Headed by one bold Crime to Man appears The Serpent's Venom spreads through all his Veins And Sin 's Contagion unresisted Reigns A Death-like Damp shoots through his poison'd Blood And fears cold Chains Arrest the beating Flood A dreadful Face of Things confounds his Eye He cannot stay secure nor can he fly Black thoughts of Vengeance seize his guilty Heart And Conscience wounds him with her poison'd Dart. Amidst the Trees he starts at every Noise Grows pale and thinks he hears th' Almighty's Voice The trembling Branches make him tremble more Now feebler than the Fig-leaves which he wore Man's Soul by this rude Shock from 's Center driv'n Stands so a-skaunt and so remote from Heav'n 'T is scarcely warm'd by its weak Oblique Ray And has at best but a cold darksome Day Fall'n from its bright Etherial Seat on high Down to the lowest Regions of the Sky It feels th' attractive Earth's Magnetick Force And round this low-hung Ball directs its Course As when a Planet once all fair and bright Sickens and shines with pale and faded Light By some fierce Storm bred in its Bowels rent As Clouds are by the Thunder in 'em pent The mighty Orb disjoynted cracks and all The broken Parts in Noisy Ruin fall The hideous Burning Hull does floating lie And with the wondrous Wreck affrights the Sky Sometimes it blazes with a dismal Light And then grown dim seems lost and drown'd in Night Then sinking does the Starry Sky forsake Contented some inferior Seat to take Where Heav'n new moulds the Heap and from th' Abyss Calls forth perhaps a Moon or Earth like this So Man seduc'd by the Impostor fell From Heav'n's bright Coasts to the black Verge of Hell There he his Lustre lost and God-like Grace Shews the sad Ruins of a Heav'nly Face Where Peace dwelt undisturb'd and smiling Light Confusion now Chaos and horrid Night Black frowning Clouds and murmuring Thunder rose O'er the vext Region of his guilty Soul Fierce driving Storms and bleak Tempestuous Wind Beat on the wasteful Desart of his Mind Revenge Despair Grief Jealousie and Fear Have in their Turns supreme Dominion here Reason dethron'd must the Commands obey Of this wild Rout that holds the Sovereign Sway. Mean Time th' Almighty does his Summons send Thro' Heav'n for all his Angels to attend High in the Midst of the Etherial Skies A Mount of rocky Diamond did rise Insuperably steep and too sublime For the tir'd Wings of Cherubims to climb O'er-looking Heav'n's wide Vales and spacious Plains It stands and unmolested Peace maintains Here the Almighty's bright Tribunal stands Whence his Decrees are sent and high Commands Hence he gives Laws to all the Worlds below And hence eternal Right and Justice flow Hence Punishments proceed and just Rewards Hence Orders come to all th' Angelick Guards To keep the Peace of Heav'n and next secure On Earth th' afflicted from th' Oppressor's Power And now the Thrones and Pow'rs the Vally fill And stand adoring round the sacred Hill Adam's Rebellion they had newly heard And God's fierce Wrath in dreadful Signs appear'd Lightnings and Thunders issue from his Throne Lightnings scarce heard of Thunder seldom known Tremendous Murmurs and a mighty Sound Of wondrous Ruine from the Hill rebound T' express incens'd Omnipotence conspire Whirlwinds thick Darkness and consuming Fire United Terrors that with Fury broke From the blest Mount whence thus th' Almighty spoke The Man I made and with my Image grac'd And next to your Angelick Order plac'd Revolting to th' Apostate Prince of Hell Against my Throne has yielded to Rebel The Death I threaten'd now I must inflict So Justice bids nor is its Rule too strict You 're here from all the Regions of the Sky To hear the Rebel doom'd and see him Dye He spake and thro' all Heav'n a Terror strook The Sphears and all the Frame of Nature shook The Moon grew Pale the Sun all Dim appear'd And all the Sons of God stood Mute and fear'd Th' Almighty his Vindictive Arm makes bare Stretch'd out his Hand and did for Death prepare Mercy Shreek'd out and trembling on her Face Fell down and did with Tears his Feet Embrace Offspring Divine in Heav'n the most belov'd By whom ev'n Fate unchangeable is mov'd Her Looks so moving such Celestial Grace So mild and sweet an Air dwell on her Face So tender and engaging all her Charms That oft th' Almighty's Fury she disarms Her Language melts Omnipotence arrests His Hand and thence his Vengeful Lightning wrests Then thus she spake Shall the successful sly Impostor boast That by his Power the new Creation's lost Shall he thus Triumph in his impious Deed And all our Hopes defeat from Adam's Seed Must this fair Race be lost so lately made And Hell made Bold your Empire to invade Adam has sinn'd and Heav'n's high Grace abus'd But sinn'd betray'd and by Hell's Fraud seduc'd Can't Wisdom Infinite Expedients find To punish Guilt and yet preserve Mankind Compassion with stern Justice mixt will draw Honour to Heav'n's just Government and Awe All from offending the Establish'd Law At this the Eternal Son rose from his Place The bright Effulgence of his Father's Face His fair and express Image full of Grace In whom Divine Substantial Glory dwelt And who Almighty Life and Vigour felt Th' Essential Wisdom th' Everlasting Word The Universal Heir and Soveraign Lord. And thus he Silence broke mine be the Task To do what Justice and Compassion ask To rescue Man my self will Man become Assuming Substance from a Virgin 's Womb. A willing Sacrifice I 'll Death Embrace Justice t' attone and Ransom Adam's
Force appoints And with strong Nerves new-brac'd their wither'd Joynts His Breath oft cool'd fierce Feavers raging Flames And his sole VVord the deadly Poyson tames Round him in Crowds the sick and feeble throng The sick grow easie and the feeble strong Fresh healing Vertue he diffus'd around And dying Men rose leaping from the ground The Languishing reviv'd th' Afflicted cheer'd Took healthful Looks and smil'd when he appear'd Demons at his Command vext Men forsake And to th' Infernal Caves and burning Lake Their hasty Flight with piercing Screeches take Such Miracles did his high Office prove And Universal Admiration move Of all the chiefest was his wondrous Love He whom rebellious Men might justly fear In all his chosen Terrors would appear With Military Pomp and Trumpets Sound His shining Host of Cherubs pour'd around Arm'd with keen Lightning and the sharpest Sword That all his Magazins of Wrath afford To lay all Wast before him and Efface All Footsteps of Apostate Adam's Race He unexampl'd Love Attempts to win Man from the Curse of Death and Curse of Sin With Pity more than that of Mothers Hearts With Mercy 's Charms and Love's perswasive Arts. His high design was with his Heav'nly Light To chase away th' Impenetrable Night That cover'd this lost World and re-inspire Man's Frozen Breast with fresh Celestial Fire Th' Almighty's faded Image to repair That its bright Lines might shine distinct and fair To raise laps'd Minds to that high State of Love Of Light and Bliss the Blest enjoy above To pull all bold Usurping Passions down And settle Reason in its ancient Throne To break Sins heavy Chains its Slaves release And fix 'twixt Earth and Heav'n a lasting Peace The Jews amus'd with Worldly Empire's Charms Hoping some Monarch with Victorious Arms With Roman Pomp and Grandeur would arise The great Redeemer's humble State despise Inspir'd from Hell his Message they refuse Deride his Person and his Deeds accuse He that Supplies on all in want bestow'd Feasting with Miracles the hungry Crowd Finds from th' obdurate Hebrew no relief But with the Twelve Companions of his Grief He walk'd on his Eternal Purpose bent Scatt'ring his Heav'nly Gifts where'er he went Yet did unwelcom through their Regions stray From those ungrateful Cities thrust away Whence he had Devils and Diseases cast Him and his proffer'd Heav'n they from them chas'd At last his spotless Innocence traduc'd He stands before the Roman Throne accus'd On Caesar's King Pilate in Judgment sits Condemns him yet his Innocence acquits To please th' inexorable Jews he sheds Blood and Heav'n's dreadful Curses on their Heads That done he wash'd his guilty Hands in vain The Blood he spilt alone could Purge that Stain No Form of Cruelty his Foes omit They give sharp Stripes and on his Face they Spit Which now adoring Angels blush to see Not for its Splendor but Deformity To please united Cruelty and Scorn On 's wounded Head they fix a Crown of Thorn They dress him in a Purple Robe that gone His Blood with richer Purple dyes his own A Reed his Hand must for a Scepter sway Which with a Rod of Ir'n shall that Contempt repay They bow in Scorn before him whilst he sate A Pageant Prince the mockery of State What various Shapes of Cruelty are shewn Under and on his Cross he 's made to groan And yet he bears a heavier Load within The pressure of the World 's united Sin Stretcht on the cursed Tree his Body hangs Groaning its Life away in dying Pangs Forsaken both of Earth and Heav'n his Breath He wasted in the pains of lingring Death Whilst on his Soul the blackest Horrors dwell That feels the Pains without the Guilt of Hell The Barb'rous Hebrews for whose sake he dy'd Stand by and see their Sov'raign Crucify'd Without the slight Compassion of a Tear Scarce in the Crowd does one sad Face appear Their Insolence dares mock his dying Moans Sport with his Torments and deride his Groans Though solid Rocks touch'd with Compassion rent The more obdurate Jew does not relent For Man he Dies that Heav'n may be aton'd He dies the Universe afflicted groan'd Heav'n's Everlasting Frame shook with the Fright And the scar'd Sun shrunk back and hid his Light Thro' th' Earth's dark Vaults a shiv'ring Horror fled That whilst Convuls'd threw up th' awaken'd Dead Thin pallid Ghosts come sweeping o'er the Grass And howling Wolves Glare on them as they pass Hoarse Thunder Rolls in Subterranean Caves Chaos to hearken stills his Raging Waves Ev'n Hell gap'd horribly such was the fright And thro' the Chasm let thro' prodigious Night Night that extinguish'd the Meridian Ray And with its gloomy Deluge choak'd the Day Sad Moans were heard Shreeks Howlings Midnight Cries And Globes of Fire hung Blazing in the Skies A fierce Convulsion thro' the Temple went The Pillars trembled and the Veil was Rent The Heav'n's and Earth both suffer'd when he dy'd As Nature's Self were with him Crucify'd Down by their Sides the silent Angels laid Their Golden Harps and neither Sung nor play'd Their drooping Wings and Looks dejected show Sadness as much as those blest Realms can know Thrice the swift Sun his radiant Chariot drove O'er the blue Hills and out-stretch'd Plains above As oft the Moon had shot her paler Light In silver Threads thro' the brown Vest of Night When the Reviving Saviour leaves his Tomb And as new-born breaks from the Earth's dark Womb The Chains of Death shook off he from the Ground Do's with new Force Anteus like rebound He comes in Triumph from the Conquer'd Grave And this blest proof of Resurrection gave Oft to his mournful Friends their Lord appear'd And their sad Minds with Heav'nly Pleasures cheer'd He then the Plan of his wise Kingdom laid Who should submit and who should be obey'd To these he gave a Power to loose and bind And with fixt Bounds that Sacred Power confin'd He set the Rights his Subjects should enjoy Which Princes must Protect but not Annoy And by wise Laws fix all things that relate To the Support of his new founded State That done pursu'd by their admiring Eyes Born on a shining Cloud he did arise In Heav'nly Pomp Triumphant thro' the Skys The Clouds dividing in Obsequious Haste Smil'd yielded by his Glory as he had pass'd Great Michael Raphael and the rest that boast The chief Commands in the Celestial Host Great Princes Thrones and high Seraphick States With splendid Equipage pour'd from the Gates Sublime in high Celestial Chariots rode Far out of Heav'n to meet th' ascending God The Pow'rs and high Dominions with their Train Shone glorious bright on all th' Etherial Plain On a fair Hill that the wide Vale commands The numberless angelick Army stands Drawn up in shining Lines and Warlike Bands The Trumpets all salute him passing by And in the Air display'd the Banners fly And now arriv'd at Heav'n's Eternal Gate Attended with his long Triumphal State The blest Inhabitants due Honours
shall Strangers fetch And taught by her their own rude Countries teach Th' admiring World shall Albion then adore Revere her Armies but her Learning more As when the Wisdom of th' Eternal Mind Rude Chaos labour'd and the Mass refin'd The scatter'd Rays that wander'd in the Air Did to the Sun 's capacious Orb repair The shining Colonies pour'd thick around Here fixt and did a glorious Empire Found So here the broken Beams of glimmering Arts Assembling all their Light from distant parts To make bright Oxford's Luminary stay That o'er the World shall spread Celestial Day Remark Elfeda there a Martial Dame That by her Arms shall win Immortal Fame At last the Princes of the Saxon Line From Heav'nly Love and Purity decline Their Christian Virtues and pure Zeal abate And with them sickens their decaying State With Christian Names their Pagan Crimes they keep And deaf to Heav'n's loud Threats securely sleep Till the fierce Dane sent by supream Command A vengeful Scourge does on their Borders Land The Saxon's Guardian Angels call'd away Leave them to hostile Arms an easie Prey Thus Heav'n afflicts a Land when Impious grown And from their Throne pulls haughty Monarchs down This dreadful Curse shall by relenting Heav'n Be soon from sad Britannia's Empire driv'n The Cruel slothful Dane shall soon decline To make way for a nobler Norman Line That Prince observe that moves with so much Grace Is the great William of the Norman Race A mighty Prince a Leader Brave and Wise Whose towring Fame shall soar above the Skies Heav'n does for him Britannia's Crown design From which great Stock shall branch a numerous Line Of mighty Princes that shall Rule this Isle Enriching it with Conquer'd Nations Spoil The Valiant second Henry see him there What Majesty does in his Looks appear Through wild Hibernia he shall force his way And add four Kingdoms to the British Sway. Brave Richard see who from the sacred Coast Shall drive the Barb'rous Unbelieving Host. In Gaul this Monarch's Arms shall be renown'd Dreaded in Battel and with Conquest Crown'd Long time in Peace his Crown might be enjoy'd Could he the Arrow at Chaluz avoid Now Son your Eye to that brave Warriour turn Whose Beams so much the Norman Line adorn How great a Presence what a Port he bears How much a mighty Conq'rour he appears That Prince is Edward whose Victorious Arms Iudea save from Pagan Foes Alarms How he returns thro' the Trinacrian Isle Thro' high Parthenope's delicious Soil Thro' loud Applauses of admiring Rome Reeking in hostile Blood triumphant home The beauteous Person next that Monarch seen Is Eleonora his Illustrious Queen In Storms she 's with him on the Ocean tost To seek out horrid War on Asia's Coast. Midst barbarous Arms his Wife Adviser Friend She his prodigious Labours shall attend And when her Lord so Heav'n permits shall feel Within his Veins the Murd'rer's poison'd Steel She to the spreading Plague her Lips applies And gives that Ease which Asia's Balm denies Invading Death her healing Kisses charm And with new Life the sinking Monarch warm No other Prince that in this Age shall reign Shall equal Honour to brave Edward's Gain But great Adolphus of th' Illustrious Race Of Heros which the House of Nassau Grace This mighty Prince shall gain th' Imperial Sway And wide Germania shall his Laws obey The God-like Virtues and Heroick Fire That shall the brave Nassovian House inspire Shall make Adolphus shine in this high Sphear Preluding to the great Deliverer The pious William yonder he 's in Sight In whom Nassovian Blood and ours unite There war-like Edward stands that with his Host Shall cross the Ocean to the Gallick Coast. Where he his Conquering Ensigns shall display And make the haughty Franks his Laws obey There Queen Philippa shines th' Albanians Dread Worthy of Britain's Crown and Edward's Bed While Forraign Kingdoms Edward's Arms subdue Hers thro' the North the vanquish'd Seats pursue See the Black Prince in Armour by her side Proud Gallia's Terrour and fair Albion's Pride What Triumphs wait him in Pictavian Fields What never-fading Laurels Croissy yields That Henry mark the glorious Conquerour That Gallia shall reduce by Albion's Power Immortal Prince if Arms can make thee so For thee in Norman Fields what Laurels grow How great he 'll seem his Arms distain'd with Blood Chasing the Franks o'er Sein's affrighted Flood At Agencourt what Wonders shall be done What Towns of Force what Battels shall be won Before in Triumph he ascends their Throne Our Blood the Royal Channel now regains Deriv'd thro' Tudor our brave Offspring's Veins Which with the Norman joyn'd the Confluent Tide As long as that of Time shall downward glide From their Embrace to rule Britannia springs A glorious Race of Queens and potent Kings See the first Tudor that ascends the Throne After the glorious Field at Bosworth won The Scepter he shall sway with great Applause And Rule the Isle with Wise and Equal Laws Young Edward there Albion's Delight appears Learn'd Pious Manly Wise above his years Then Liberty in all her lovely Charms Shall sit secure from Tyranny's Alarms Religion purg'd from Rome's Adulterous Stain Shall in her pure and Native Splendor Reign No greater Mind to Albion's Crown succeeds Rever'd for Brave and lov'd for Pious Deeds Blest Albion if kind Heav'n would long permit So great a Monarch on thy Throne to sit But oh how short Delights attend him here Such Heav'nly Guests are shown and disappear Dear both to Earth and Heav'n he 'll soon remove His Throne from hence to Reign in Bliss above With what Complaints with what despairing Cries Shall sad Britannia Mourn his Obsequies There see the bright Elizabetha rise Inlightning with her Rays the British Skies Th' Indulgent Parent of her People she Loves Feeds and Guards Britannia's Family Heav'n's and her People's Rights she shall protect And for Britannia's Ease her own neglect Her Sons she shall embrace with pious Care And from her Coasts send back th' Iberian War Blest times when she that wears th' Imperial Crown Regards her Peoples Safety as her own Intently now on that great Monarch gaze So much distinguish'd by his brighter Rays This is the Man the brave Nassovian whom I nam'd the great Deliverer to come Succeeding Prophets under your great Name This our great Offspring shall aloud proclaim Rais'd from a noble Branch of Tudor's Line From Thamisis transplanted to the Rhine Amaz'd Posterity will scarce believe The wond'rous Deeds this Hero shall atchieve The European World by Rome and Gaul opprest By his long-wish'd-for Arms shall be releast He 'll far outshine his own Heroick Race Europe's Protectors who shall Tyrants chase And Monsters vanquish with Herculean Toil And rescue from their bloody Jaws their Spoil The beardless Hero's first victorious Arms Shall free his Country from the Gauls Alarms As he advances Seas of Gallick Blood Shall with red Streams swell Mosa's wondring Flood Their slaughter'd Ranks shall lie along the Rhine
Ground 'T was then a wondrous Heav'nly Voice I heard The words were these but no blest Face appear'd 'Gainst me what Fury does thy Arms engage What moves thee with inexorable Rage Vain Man to persecute my Saints and me In vain thou striv'st to baffle Heav'n's Decree Vain is thy Force and Impotent thy Hate Too weak thy Arms to stem the Tide of Fate The Torrent bears thy faint Resistance down Retire or in Eternal Ruin drown I strait cry'd out O tell me who thou art Great Spirit and thy Will to me impart Tell me if Error has my Feet misled What safer Paths I may hereafter tread The Voice reply'd I am the Christians God whom you pursue Go find my Servant Arthur he shall shew At large what thou hast to believe what do Prince Arthur paus'd a while then Silence broke And friendly thus th' Armoric King bespoke Th' Eternal's Providence I must adore That has compell'd me to th' Armoric Shore That I might here serve such a glorious End And to the Christian Cause gain such a Friend Goodness Divine King Hoel does invite By Miracles t' enjoy Celestial Light Cast on your Coasts with Pleasure I will stay To aid and guide you in your Heav'nly way To whom th' Armoric Monarch thus Reply'd VVhile we to Nannetum together ride Instruct O Pious Prince my willing Mind It is a task your God has you design'd Unfold his Heav'nly Will and let me know What Worship to him what Belief I owe. To whom the Prince this favour must I ask Before I undertake the pious Task That you 'll dispatch your Servants to the Coast To seek my Friends out in the Tempest lost And if by chance cast on th' Armoric Shore They wander up and down distress'd and poor Your angry Subjects may not them annoy Nor with devouring Flames their Ships destroy This Friendship shewn I 'll with a cheerful Mind Attempt the Task by you and Heav'n enjoyn'd When the past Night did with her dusky Train Advance o'er shadowing all th' Aierial Plain A sudden Transport did my Soul engage And all my Limbs shook with the sacred Rage Straight caught up from the Body through the Skies To the third Heav'n my ravish'd Soul did rise Where Things ineffable I saw and heard Divine Instruction which my Mind prepar'd To aid you in your Heav'nly Way and shew What Worship to th' Eternal Mind is due Straight Hoel to the Shores his Servants sent Who might the Harms that Arthur fear'd prevent Who might the hapless Britons kindly treat And safe conduct them to his Royal Seat Such Love the King to Arthur's Friends exprest Who now prepar'd t' obey the King's Request Prince Arthur BOOK II. ATtentive Hoel's Eyes on Arthur's Face Were fixt who thus began with God-like grace Before th' unshaken Pillars of the Earth Were Reer'd before prolifick Nature's Birth Before the Register of Time begun Or Heav'n's bright Forces throng'd about the Sun Was a wild Void that no set Bounds restrain'd Where Silence Night and Desolation reign'd Where yet no glimmering track of Light appear'd No Discord yet or Harmony was heard From Ages past lay in th' Eternal's Mind A finish'd Model of a World design'd To be Erected by Almighty Hands VVhere now this Round Capacious Fabrick stands The deep Foundations laid in Heav'n they said A strange new World was making Fame soon spread The tydings through the Palaces of Bliss To see a work so wonderful as this Millions of Angels to Heav'n's Turrets fly And on the Crystal Terras of the Sky Stood in bright Throngs and on Creation gaz'd And at the Sight were ravish'd and amaz'd Almighty Vigour strove through all the Void And such prolifick Influence employ'd That ancient barren Night did pregnant grow And quicken'd with the World in Embrio The struggling Seeds of unshap'd Matter ly Contending in her Womb for Victory No Order Form or Parts distinct and clear Did in the Crude Conception yet appear Thick Darkness did the unripe Light Embrace That faintly glanc'd on Chaos shady Face The unfledg'd Fire has no bright Wings to rise But scarce distinguish'd with the Water lies It 's sprightly ruddy Youth not yet attain'd The glitt'ring Seeds Mother of Fire remain'd Like golden Sands thick scatter'd on the Shore Of the wild Deep and shone in burning Oar. In glowing Heaps the Stars lay dusky bright Rude and unpolish'd Balls of unwrought Light The Sphears pil'd up about their Poles were Furl'd Design'd the Swadling Bands of th' Infant World The Sky dispers'd lay in Etherial Oar And azure Veins betray'd th' Empyreal Store The watry Treasures in th' unfashion'd Birth Lay in the rough Embraces of the Earth But at the great Command will Thaw and throw The Dross off and like melted Metals flow Besides vast numbers of loose Atoms stray And in the restless Deep of Chaos play In dark Encounters they for Empire strive And gain what Chance and wild Confusion give Which joyntly here possess the Sov'raign Sway Pleas'd with those Subjects most that least Obey Order a banish'd Rebel flies the Place And Strife and Uproar fill the noisy Space Tumult and Misrule please at Chaos Court And everlasting Wars his Throne Support Troops arm'd with Heat have here a Battel won But Moist and Cold the Victor soon dethrone Here heavier Seeds rush on in numerous Swarms And crush their Lighter Foes with pond'rous Arms. The Lighter strait Command with equal Pride And on wild Whirlwinds in mad Triumph ride None long submits to a Superiour Power Each yields and in his turn is Conquerour If some grown mild from fierce Contention cease And with calm Neighbours court a separate Peace If Truce they make and in kind Leagues combine Their short Embraces some rude Shocks disjoyn Th' Eternal's Voice compos'd these Atoms jars And justling Elements intestine Wars He sets imprison'd Heat and Vigour free And suits and ranges Natures that agree He through the Mass a mighty Ferment spread And where it came mis-shap'd Confusion fled Dark Chaos now throws off his gloomy Face Puts on fresh Beauty and a Heav'nly Grace Th' Almighty spake and strait the Sprightly Light With lovely Looks broke from th' Abyss of Night On Golden Wings it mounts and in its way Its Smiles diffuse new Morn and unripe Day Aloft vast spreading Sheets of Ether rise Matter for Sphears and pure transparent Skies The Sky that for its Compass scarce finds room Spun thin and wove on Nature's finest Loom The new-born World in its soft Bosom wraps And all around its Starry Mantle laps The Sun 's vast Globe that till the Birth of Day All Rough and Cloudy in wild Chaos lay Well wrought and polish'd is advanc'd on high The vagrant Beams that stray'd about the Sky Now becken'd by Creating Power obey And the bright Forces hither hast away Then hov'ring on the Spungy Globe they wait And round their new appointed Mansion fate The thirsty Orb drinks in the liquid Beams And now but one vast Sea of Glory
Grace Thick Beams of Light stream out from every Head Each Saint does his own Heav'n about him spread His radiant Feet on pointed Glory tread Safe on the Shore with Pleasure they behold How the thick Waves are on each other rowl'd What Dangers of a strange amazing Shape What fatal Rocks they scarcely did escape They hear the Winds grow loud and turbulent See Clouds swoln big with Thunder in 'em pent With which the lowring Sky is over-cast Hang down upon the Seas that they have past Viewing these Woes themselves did once endure They stand surpriz'd as if not yet secure Amaz'd at all the Glory they possess Wonder almost suspends their Happiness They on so sweet and rich a Climate thrown Forget their Dangers now for ever gone Th' Almighty they enjoy at whose Right Hand Fulness of Joy and Life Eternal stand Down from his Throne as Light does from the Sun Rivers of fresh Delight for ever run With ravish'd Eyes they drink in Heav'nly Beams That from his Face flow down in Glorious Streams They gaze so on the Beatifick Sight Till they become all Intellectual Light So long they his substantial Brightness view Till they all grow Divine and God-like too So quick they feel the mighty Influx come The most Capacious thirsty Souls want room They widen and extend themselves to hold Those Floods of Joys that to their Breasts are roll'd Till they a vast unmeasur'd Bliss possess And strive beneath th' unweildy Happiness If but a Glimpse of Heav'n whose Glory streams Thro' the thick Clouds in weak refracted Beams Can please so much what Joys have those above Where perfect Knowledge kindles perfect Love Transports Ineffable their Minds employ Delug'd in Glory lost in Tides of Joy Here Innocence will all its Lustre show The mournful Looks thrown off it wore below Sorrows for ever banish'd hence repair To the low Guilty Regions of the Air. There no black Clouds of Discontent appear That spread themselves o'er these dark Vallies here No Groans are heard no Tears fall down the Face To interrupt the Joy of this blest Place No crossing Arms or sad dejected Eyes Seek out the secret Corners of the Skies If Course Terrestrial Pleasures court the Sense With such strong Charms that few can make Defence When backward Nature 's forc'd by Wit and Art All her delicious Treasures to impart When the short Days in all Delights are spent That soft Luxurious Asia can invent What are the Nobler Pleasures that transport The blest that reign in this Celestial Court That no Decay or Intermission know Debas'd when liken'd to the best below The Clouds all broke the Tempest chas'd away The Smiling Skies disclose a chearful Day They 've changed the Defart's dry and barren Sand For all the Riches of a fruitful Land Where with Immortal Food they ever fed And drink pure Pleasures at the Fountain's Head Hatred Distress and Grief are banish'd hence The sad Companions once of Innocence No dying Martyrs Flames or private Cries Of Innocents opprest disturb the Skies Here our Delights are mixt with base Allay We have at best but a Tempestuous Day Our Sweets are still attended with a Sting And great Enjoyments greater Sorrows bring Delights those Beautiful Illustrious play Around us and when grasp'd they glide away Here tempting Joys our fond Embraces fly Choice Forraign Flowers they only Blow and Die They shew themselves but will not with us dwell But like hot Gleams approaching Storms foretel Pure unmixt Pleasures on us never flow'd But Stream like watry Sun-beams thro' a Cloud But those above see no unlovely day Their Joys no mixture know nor fear Decay In those blest Realms they know no thoughtful Care Ever to Triumph is th' Employment there There no Vicissitude of Day and Night No Years or Ages measure Heav'n's Delight Time has quite finish'd and gone thro' its Round It did their Grief but can't their Pleasure Bound Its Streams here disembogued for ever ly Lost in th' Abyss of Immortality They no sad fears of future Sorrows know Compleatly Happy and for ever so For Ever We strive in vain to hold this Boundless Space Too wide and vast for Mortals to Embrace Our Arms may clasp the Earth with greater Ease And spread themselves ashore round all the Seas When Ages have their widest Circle run Heav'n wears not still its Joys are but begun The Heros here forget their toil and pain And in Eternal Peace and Triumph reign No more the Scoffer mocks their pious Care As Native Dulness and ungrounded Fear How different Fate he and the Impious Kind Chain'd in the dark Infernal Prisons find Near the wild Deep where restless Atoms fight And th' unfrequented Coasts of ancient Night Where Nature ne'er on Pregnant Matter fate To hatch warm Life and its straight Bounds dilate There stands the vast unbottom'd Gulph of Hell Where Sin and Death in all their Terrors dwell Beyond the Verge of Day these Regions ly As low and black as Heav'n is bright and high Horror and Night hang dismal o'er the place And grisly Forms fill all the gloomy space Dead Seas of pond'rous Darkness lie around And the sad Realms from Light 's grey Frontiers bound Darkness that blunts the sharpest pointed Ray And unannoy'd repels th' Invading Day The sluggish Air is choak'd with soultry Gleams With poisonous Damps and suffocating Steams That from wide Lakes of boiling Sulphur rise Laden with Groans and Everlasting Cries No such malignant Breaths such deadly Reeks The delving Miner that hid Treasure seeks E'er let out from a Subterranean Cell As those that break from the black mouth of Hell A fiery Sea burns fiercely all beneath Blown up and kindled by th' Almighty's Breath In flaming Heaps the livid Ocean rolls And scalding Waves involve despairing Souls The boiling Floods terrific Colours shew Some deeply Red and others faintly Blue These with the Shades contend but can't dispel The Darkness that surrounds the burning Cell Or if they do they dart pale dismal Light Worse than the Horrors of the blackest Night The troubled Whirlpool belches Burnings out And throws red Seas of Sulphur round about Columns of Smoke with spiral Flames of Fire Inwreatch'd from wide-mouth'd Furnaces aspire Hence the black Region is annoy'd with Fumes Stench Reeks and Flame that kills but not consumes So when a Mount hot with metallic Seeds In its rich Sides a secret Burning feeds Soultring within it casts up Pitchy Smoke And the dead Air ascending Vapours choak In mighty Floods the wide Volcano's throw Their melted Treasures out and overflow With glowing Torrents all the Neighbouring ground That lies beneath a burning Deluge drown'd Thro' all the Air the liquid Riches fly And Floods of Fire dash thick against the Sky All Hope for ever banish'd flies this place And fixt Despair sits Pale on every Face Grief Anguish Terrour Shame Confusion here In Forms more terrible than Death appear Here hateful Sin throws off its flatt'ring Charms And shews a Monster