yet amazed stood belowe With eyes cast vp as greedie to be sed And hands vpheld themselues to ground did throwe So when the Troian boy was rauished As through th'Idalian woods they saie he fled His aged Gardians stood all dismai'd Some least he should haue fallen back afraid And some their hasty vowes and timely prayers said 15 Tosse vp your heads ye euerlasting gates And let the Prince of glorie enter in At whose braue voly of sideriall States The Sunne to blush and starres growe pale wear seene When leaping first from earth he did begin To climbe his Angells wings then open hang Your christall doores so all the chorus sang Of heau'nly birds as to the starres they nimbly sprang 16 Hearke how the floods clap their applauding hands The pleasant valleyes singing for delight And wanton Mountaines daunce about the Lands The while the fieldes struck with the heau'nly light Set all their flowr's a smiling at the sight The trees laugh with their blossoms and the sound Of the triumphant shout of praise that crown'd The flaming Lambe breaking through heau'n hath passage found 17 Out leap the antique Patriarchs all in hast To see the powr's of Hell in triumph lead And with small starres a garland intercha'st Of oliue leaues they bore to crowne his head That was before with thornes degloried After them flewe the Prophets brightly stol'd In shining lawne and wimpled manifold Striking their yuorie harpes strung all in chords of gold 18 To which the Saints victorious carolls sung Ten thousand Saints atonce that with the sound The hollow vaults of heau'n for triumph rung The Cherubins their clamours did confound With all the rest and clapt their wings around Downe from their thrones the Dominations flowe And at his feet their crownes and scepters throwe And all the princely Soules fell on their faces lowe 19 Nor can the Martyrs wounds them stay behind But out they rush among the heau'nly crowd Seeking their hean'n out of their heau'n to find Sounding their siluer trumpets out so loude That the shrill noise broke through the starrie cloude And all the virgin Soules in pure araie Came dauncing forth and making ioyeous plaie So him they lead along into the courts of day 20 So him they lead into the courts of day Whear neuer warre nor wounds abide him more But in that house eternall peace doth plaie Acquieting the soules that newe before Their way to heav'n through their owne blood did skore But now estranged from all miserie As farre as heau'n and earth discoasted lie Swelter in quiet waues of immortalitie 20 And if great things by smaller may be ghuest So in the mid'st of Neptunes angrie tide Our Britan Island like the weedie nest Of true Haleyon on the waues doth ride And softly sayling skornes the waters pride While all the rest drown'd on the continent And tost in bloodie waues their wounds lament And stand to see our peace as struck with woonderment 21 The Ship of France religious waues doe tosse And Greec it selfe is now growne barbarous Spains Children hardly dare the Ocean crosse And Belges field lies wast and ruinous That vnto those the heau'ns ar invious And vnto them themselues ar strangers growne And vnto these the Seas ar faithles knowne And vnto her alas her owne is not her owne 22 Here onely shut we Ianus yron gates And call the welcome Muses to our springs And ar but Pilgrims from our heav'nly states The while the trusty Earth sure plentie brings And Ships through Neptune safely spread their wings Goe blessed Island wander whear thou please Vnto thy God or men heau'n lands or seas Thou canst not loose thy way thy King with all hath peace 23 Deere Prince thy Subiects ioy hope of their heirs Picture of peace or breathing Image rather The certaine argument of all our pray'rs Thy Harries and thy Countries louely Father Let Peace in endles ioyes for euer bath her Within thy sacred brest that at thy birth Brought'st her with thee from heau'n to dwell on earth Making our earth a heav'n and paradise of mirth 24 Let not my Liege misdeem these humble laies As lick't with soft and supple blandishment Or spoken to disparagon his praise For though pale Cynthia neere her brothers tent Soone disappeares in the white firmament And giues him back the beames before wear his Yet when he verges or is hardly ris She the viue image of her absent brother is 25 Nor let the Prince of peace his beadsman blame That with his Stewart dares his Lord compare And heau'nly peace with earthly quiet shame So Pines to lowely plants compared ar And lightning Phoebus to a little starre And well I wot my rime albee vnsmooth Ne saies but what it meanes ne meanes but sooth Ne harmes the good ne good to harmefull person doth 26 Gaze but vpon the house whear Man embowr's With flowr's and rushes paued is his way Whear all the Creatures at his Seruitours The windes doe sweepe his chambers euery day And cloudes doe wash his rooms the seeling gay Starred aloft the guilded knobâ— embraue If such a house God to another gaue How shine those glittering courts he for himselfe will haue 27 And if a sullen cloud as sad as night In which the Sunne may seeme embodied Depur'd of all his drosse we see so white Burning in melted gold his warrie head Or round with yuorie edges siluered What lustre superexcellent will he Lighten on those that shall his sunneshine see In that all-glorious court in which all glories be 28 If but one Sunne whith his diffusiue fires Can paint the starres and the whole world with light And ioy and life into each heart inspires And euery Saint shall shine in heau'n as bright As doth the Sunne in his transcendent might As faith may well beleeue what Truth once sayes What shall so many Sunnes vnited rayes But dazle all the eyes that nowe in heau'n we praise 29 Here let my Lord hang vp his conquering launce And bloody armour with late slaughter warme And looking downe on his weake Militants Behold his Saints mid'st of their hot alarme Hang all their golden hopes vpon his arme And in this lower field dispacing wide Through windie thoughts that would their sayles misguide Anchor their fleshly ships fast in his wounded side 30 Here may the Band that now in Tryumph shines And that before they wear inuested thus In earthly bodies carried heauenly mindes Pitcht round about in order glorious Their sunny Tents and houses luminous All their eternall day in songs employing Ioying their ende without ende of their ioying While their almightie Prince Destruction is destroying 31 Full yet without satietie of that Which whetts and quiets greedy Appetite Whear neuer Sunne did rise nor euer sat But one eternall day and endles light Giues time to those whose time is infinite Speaking with thought obtaining without see Beholding him whom neuer eye could see And magnifying him that cannot
What if this worldly Sea they haue not past Yet faine they would be brought into their hauen They are not here and yet we here them see For euery man is there where he would be Long may you wish and yet long wish in vaine Hence to depart and yet that wish obtaine Long may you here in heauen on earth remaine And yet a heauen in heauen hereafter gaine Go you to heauen but yet O make no hast Go slowly slowly but yet go at last But when the Nightingale so neere doth sit Silence the Titmouse better may befit F. Nethersole QVid ô quid Veneres Cupidinesque Turturesque iocosque passeresque Lascivi canitis greges poëtae Ettam languidulos amantum ocellos Et mox turgidulas sinu papillas Iam risus teneros lachrymulasque Mox suspiria morsiunculasque Mille basia mille mille nugas Et vultus pueri puellululaeve Heu fusci pueri puellulaeque Pingitis nivibus rosunculisque Mentitis nivibus rosunculisque Quae vel primo hyemis rigore torpent Vel Phaebi intuitu statim relanguent Heu stulti nimiùm greges poëtae Vt quas sic nimis ah nimis stupetis Nives candidulae rosae pudentes Sic vobis pereunt statim labores Et solem fugiunt severiorem Vel solem gelidà rigent senectâ At tu qui clypeo haud inane nomen Minervae clypeo Iovisque sumens Victrices resonas dei Triumphos Triumphos lachrymis metuque plenos Plenos laetitiae spei triumphos Dum rem carmine Pieroque dignam Aggrederis tibi res decora rebus Praebet carmina Pieroque digna Quin ille ipse tuos legens triumphos Plenoâ— militia labore plenos Tuo propitius parat labori Plenos laetitiae spec triumphos Phin. Fletcher Regal 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 BEatissima virginum Maria Sed materque simul beata per quam Qui semper fuit ille coepit esse Quae Vitae dederisque inire vitam Et Luci dederis videre lucem Quae fastidia morsiunculasque Passa es quas grauidae solent nec vnquam Audebas propier viro venire Dum clusus penetralibus latebat Matricis tunicâ vndique involutus Quem se posse negant tenere coeli Quae non virgineas premi papillas Passa virgineas tamen dedisti Lactandas puero tuo papillas Eia dic age dic beata virgo Cur piam abstineas manum timesque Sancta tangere Sanctuariumque Insolens fugias an inquinari Contactu metuis tuo sacrata Contactu metuit suo sacrata Pollui pia cernis en ferentem Lenimenta Dei furentis illa Foedatas sibi ferre quae iubebat Sis felix noua virgo-mater opto Quae mollire Deum paras amicum Quin hic dona licet licet relinquas Agnellumque repone turturemque Audax ingrediare inanis aedes Dei tange Deo sacrata tange Quae non concubitu coinquinata Agnellum peperitque Turturemque Exclusit facili Deo litabit Agno cum Deus insit columbae NOr can I so much say as much I ought Nor yet so little can I say as nought â—raise of this thy worke so heauenly pend â—at sure the sacred Dove a quill did lend â—…m her high-soaring wing certes I know 〈◊〉 other plumes that makes man seeme so low â—…his owne eyes who to all others sight 〈◊〉 mounted to the highest pitch of height â—here if thou seeme to any of small price â—…e fault is not in thee but in his eyes â—…t what doe I thy flood of wit restreine â—…ithin the narrow bankes of my poore veyne â—…re I could say and would but that to praise â—…y verses is to keepe them from their praise 〈◊〉 them who reades and doth them not aduance 〈◊〉 envie doth it or of ignorance F. Nethersole CHRISTS VICTORIE in Heaven 1 THe birth of him that no beginning knewe Yet giues beginning to all that are borne And how the Infinite farre greater grewe By growing lesse and how the rising Morne â—hat shot from heau'n did backe to heauen retourne The obsequies of him that could not die And death of life ende of eternitie â—ow worthily he died that died vnworthily 2 â—ow God and Man did both embrace each other â—et in one person heau'n and earth did kiss â—nd how a Virgin did become a Mother â—nd bare that Sonne who the worlds Father is â—nd Maker of his mother and how Bliss Descended from the bosome of the High To cloath himselfe in naked miserie â—yling at length to heau'n in earth triumphantly 3 〈◊〉 the first flame wherewith my whiter Muse â—oth burne in heauenly loue such loue to tell 〈◊〉 thou that didst this holy fire infuse â—nd taught'st this brest but late the graue of hell Wherein a blind and dead heart liu'd to swell With better thoughts send downe those lights that lenâ— Knowledge how to begin and how to end The loue that neuer was nor euer can be pend 4 Ye sacred writings in whose antique leaues The memories of heau'n entreasur'd lie Say what might be the cause that Mercie heaues The dust of sinne aboue th' industrious skie And lets it not to dust and ashes flie Could Iustice be of sinne so ouer-wooed Or so great ill be cause of so great good That bloody man to saue mans Sauiour shed his blood 5 Or did the lips of Mercie droppe soft speech For traytrous man when at th'Eternalls throne Incensed Nemesis did heau'n beseech With thundring voice that iustice might be showne Against the Rebells that from God were flowne O say say how could Mercie plead for those That scarcely made against their Maker rose Will any slay his friend that he may spare his foes 6 There is a place beyond that flaming hill From whence the starres their thin apparance shed A place beyond all place where neuer ill Nor impure thought was euer harboured But Sainctly Heroes are for euer s'ed To keepe an euerlasting Sabbaoths rest Still wishing that of what th' ar still possest Enioying but one ioy but one of all ioyes best 7 â—ere when the ruine of that beauteous frame Whose golden building shin'd with euerie starre â—f excellence deform'd with age became MERCY remembring peace in midst of warre â—â—ft vp the musique of her voice to barre Eternall fate least it should quite erace That from the world which was the first worlds grace â—â—d all againe into their nothing Chaos chase 8 〈◊〉 what had all this All which Man in one â—…d not vnite the earth aire water fire â—…e sense and spirit nay the powrefull throne 〈◊〉 the diuinest Essence did retire â—…d his owne Image into clay inspire So that this Creature well might called be Of the great world the small epitomie 〈◊〉 the dead world the liue and quicke anatomie 9 â—…t Iustice had no sooner Mercy seene â—…oothing the wrinkles of her Fathers browe 〈◊〉 vp she starts and â—â—rowes her selfe betweene 〈◊〉 when a vapour from a moory slough â—…eting with fresh Eous that but now Open'd the
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
sterue her children didst not thou â—…ater with heau'nly showers her wombe vnsowne â—…nd drop downe cloudes of flow'rs didst not thou bowe â—…ine easie eare vnto the plowmans vowe Long might he looke and looke and long in vaine Might load his haruest in an emptie wayne â—…d beat the woods to finde the poore okes hungrie graine 29 â—…he swelling sea seethes in his angrie waues â—…d smites the earth that dares the traytors nourish â—…t oft his thunder their light corke outbraues â—…owing the mountaines on whose temples flourish â—…hole woods of garlands and their pride to cherish Plowe through the seaes greene fields and nets display To catch the flying winds and steale away â—…oozning the greedie sea prisning their nimble prey 30 â—…w often haue I seene the wauing pine â—…st on a watrie mountaine knocke his head 〈◊〉 heau'ns too patient gates and with salt brine â—…ench the Moones burning hornes and safely fled â—…m heau'ns reuenge her passengers all dead With stiffe astonishment tumble to hell How oft the sea all earth would ouerswell â—…d not thy sandie girdle binde the mightie well 31 â—…ould not the aire be fill'd with steames of death 〈◊〉 poyson the quicke riuers of their blood â—…d not thy windes fan with their panting breath â—…e flitting region would not the hastie flood Emptie it selfe into the seas wide wood Did'st not thou leade it wandring from his way To giue men drinke and make his waters strey To fresh the flowrie medowes through whose fields they playâ—… 32 Who makes the sources of the siluer fountaines From the flints mouth and rocky valleis slide Thickning the ayrie bowells of the mountaines Who hath the wilde heards of the forrest tide In their cold denns making them hungrie bide Till man to rest be laid can beastly he That should haue most sense onely senseles be And all things else beside himselfe so awefull see 33 Wear he not wilder then the saluage beast Prowder then haughty hills harder then rocks Colder then fountaines from their springs releast Lighter then aire blinder then senseles stocks More changing then the riuers curling locks If reason would not sense would soone reprooue him And vnto shame if not to sorrow mooue him To see cold floods wild beasts dul stocks hard stones out-lâ—… 34 Vnder the weight of sinne the earth did fall And swallowed Dathan and the raging winde And stormie sea and gaping Whale did call For Ionas and the aire did bullets finde And shot from heau'n a stony showre to grinde The fiue proud Kings that for their idols fought The Sunne it selfe stood still to fight it out And fire froÌ„ heau'n slew downe when sin to heau'n did 〈◊〉 35 â—…hould any to himselfe for safety flie The way to saue himselfe if any were â—ear to flie from himselfe should he relie Vpon the promise of his wife but there â—hat can he see but that he most may feare A Syren sweete to death vpon his friends Who that he needs or that he hath not lends â—…r wanting aide himselfe ayde to another sends 36 â—is strength but duft his pleasure cause of paine â—s hope false courtier youth or beawtie brittle â—…treatie fond repentance late and vaine â—…st recompence the world wear all too little â—…y loue he hath no title to a tittle Hells force in vaine her furies hell shall gather His Seruants Kinsmen or his children rather â—…is child if good shall iudge if bad shall curse his father 37 â—is life that brings him to his end and leaues him â—is ende that leaues him to beginne his woe â—s goods what good in that that so deceaues him â—s gods of wood their feete alas are slowe 〈◊〉 goe to helpe that must be help't to goe Honour great woorth ah little woorth they be Vnto their owners wit that makes him see 〈◊〉 wanted wit that thought he had it wanting thee 38 â—e sea to drinke him quicke that casts his dead â—ngells to spare they punish night to hide â—e world shall burne in light the heau'ns to spread â—heir wings to saue him heau'n it selfe shall slide And rowle away like melting starres that glide Along their oylie threads his minde pursues him His house to shrowde or hills to fall and bruse him As Seargeants both attache and witnesses accuse him 39 What need I vrge what they must needs confesse Sentence on them condemn'd by their owne lust I craue no more and thou canst giue no lesse Then death to dead men iustice to vniust Shame to most shamefull and most shameles dust But if thy Mercie needs will spare her friends Let Mercie there begin where Iustice endes T is cruell Mercie that the wrong from right defends 40 She ended and the heau'nly Hierarchies Burning in zeale thickly imbranded weare Like to an armie that allarum cries And euery one shakes his ydraded speare And the Almighties selfe as he would teare The earth and her firme basis quite in sunder Flam'd all in iust reuenge and mightie thunder Heau'n stole it selfe from earth by clouds that moisterd vndâ—… 41 As when the cheerfull Sunne elamping wide Glads all the world with his vprising raye And wooes the widow'd earth afresh to pride And paint her bosome with the flowrie Maye His silent sister steales him quite away Wrap't in a sable clowde from mortall eyes The hastie starres at noone begin to rise And headlong to his early roost the sparrowe flies 42 But soone as he againe dishadowed â—is Restoring the blind world his blemish't sight As though another day wear newely ris The cooz'ned birds busily take their flight And wonder at the shortnesse of the night So Mercie once againe her selfe displayes Out from her sisters cloud and open layes Those sunshine lookes whose beames would dim a thousand dayes 43 How may a worme that crawles along the dust Clamber the azure mountaines thrown so high And fetch from thence they faire Idea iust That in those sunny courts doth hidden lie Cloath'd with such light as blinds the Angels eye How may weake mortall euer hope to file His vnsmooth tongue and his deprostrate stile 〈◊〉 raise thou from his corse thy now entomb'd exile 44 One touch would rouze me from my sluggish hearse One word would call me to my wished home One looke would polish my afflicted verse One thought would steale my soule from her thicke lome And force it wandring vp to heau'n to come Thear to importune and to beg apace One happy fauour of thy sacred grace To see what though it loose her eyes to see thy face 45 If any aske why roses please the sight Because their leaues vpon thy cheelâ—es doe bowre If any aske why lillies are so white Because their blossoms in thy hand doe flowre Or why sweet plants so gratefull odours shoure It is because thy breath so like they be Or why the Orient Sunne so bright we see What reason can we giue but from thine eies and thee 46 Ros'd all in liuely crimsin ar thy cheeks Whear
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
greater be 32 How can such ioy as this want words to speake And yet what words can speake such ioy as this Far from the world that might their quiet breake Here the glad Soules the face of beauty kisse Powr'd out in pleasure on their beds of blisse And drunke with nectar torrents euer hold Their eyes on him whose graces manifold The more they doe behold the more they would behold 33 Their sight drinkes louely fires in at their eyes Their braine sweete incense with fine breath accloyes That on Gods sweating altar burning lies Their hungrie eares feede on their heau'nly noyse That Angels sing to tell their vntould ioyes Their vnderstanding naked Truth their wills The all and selfe-sufficient Goodnesse fills That nothing here is wanting but the want of ills 34 No Sorrowe nowe hangs clowding on their browe No bloodles Maladie empales their face No Age drops on their hayrs his siluer snowe No Nakednesse their bodies doeth embase No Pouertie themselues and theirs disgrace No feare of death the ioy of life deuours No vnchast sleepe their precious time deflowrs No losse no griefe no change waite on their winged hour's 35 But now their naked bodies skorne the cold And from their eyes ioy lookes and laughs at paine The Infant wonders how he came so old And old man how he came so young againe Still resting though from sleepe they stiil refraine Whear all are rich and yet no gold they owe And all are Kings and yet no Subiects knowe All full and yet no time on foode they doe bestowe 36 For things that passe are past and in this field The indeficient Spring no Winter feares The Trees together fruit and blossome yeild Th'vnfading Lilly leaues of siluer beares And crimson rose a skarlet garment weares And all of these on the Saints bodies growe Not as they woont on baser earth belowe Three riuers heer of milke and wine and honie flowe 37 About the holy Cittie rowles a flood Of moulten chrystall like a sea of glasse On which weake streame a strong foundation â—â—ood Of liuing Diamounds the building 〈◊〉 That all things else besides it selfe did passe Her streetes in stead of stones the starres did paue And little pearles for dust it seem'd to haue On which soft-streaming Manna like pure snowe did â—… 38 In mid'st of this Citie coelestiall Wheat the eternall Temple should haue rose Light'ned th' Idea Beatificall End and beginning of each thing that growes Whose selfe no end nor yet beginning knowes That hath no eyes to see nor ears to heare Yet sees and heares and is all-eye all-eare That no wheat is contain'd and yet is euery whear 39 Changer of all things yet immutable Before and after all the first and last That moouing all is yet immoueable Great without quantitie in whose forecast Things past are present things to come are past Swift without motion to whose open eye The hearts of wicked men vnbrested lie At once absent and present to them farre and nigh 40 It is no flaming lustre made of light No sweet concent or well-tim'd harmonie Ambrosia for to feast the Appetite Or flowrie odour mixt with spicerie â—…o soft embrace or pleasure bodily And yet it is a kinde of inward feast A harmony that sounds within the brest â—…n odour light embrace in which the soule doth rest 41 A heav'nly feast no hunger can consume A light vnseene yet shines in euery place 〈◊〉 sound no time can steale a sweet perfume No windes can scatter an intire embrace That no satietie can ere vnlace Ingrac't into so â—igh a fauour thear The Saints with their Beaw-peers whole worlds out-wear And things vnseene doe see and things vnheard doe hear 42 Ye blessed soules growne richer by your spoile Whose losse though great is cause of greater gaines Here may your weary Spirits rest from toyle Spending your endlesse eav'ning that remaines Among those white flocks and celestiall traines That feed vpon their Sheapheards eyes and frame That heau'nly musique of so woondrous fame Psalming aloude the holy honours of his name 43 Had I a voice of steel to tune my song Wear euery verse as smoothly fil'd as glasse And euery member turned to a tongue And euery tongue wear made of sounding brasse Yet all that skill and all this strength alas Should it presume to guild wear misadvis'd The place wheat Dauid hath new songs devis'd As in his burning throne he sits emparadis'd 44 Most happie Prince whose eyes those starres behould Treading ours vnder feet now maist thou powre That ouerflowing skill whear with of ould Thou woont'st to combe rough speech now maist thou shoâ—… Fresh streames of praise vpon that holy bowre Which well we heaven call not that it rowles But that it is the hauen of our soules Most happie Prince whose â—ight so heav'nly â—ight beâ—… 45 Ah foolish Sheapheards that wear woont esteem Your God all rough and shaggy-hair'd to bee And yet farre wiser Sheapheards then ye deeme For who so poore though who so rich as hee When with vs hermiting in lowe degree He wash't his flocks in Iordans spotles tide And that his deere remembrance aie might bide Did to vs come and with vs liu'd and for vs di'd 46 But now so liuely colours did embeame His sparkling forehead and so shiny rayes Kindled his flaming locks that downe did streame In curies along his necke whear sweetly playes Singing his wounds of loue in sacred layes His deerest Spouse Spouse of the deerest Lover Knitting a thousand knots ouer and ouer And dying still for loue but they her still recover 47 Faire Egliset that at his eyes doth dresse Her glorious face those eyes from whence aâ— shed Infinite belamours wheat to expresse His loue high God all heav'n as captive leads And all the banners of his grace dispreads And in those windowes doth his armes englaze And on those eyes the Angels all doe gaze And from those eies the lights of heau'n do gleane their blaze 48 But let the Kentish lad that lately taught His oaten reed the trumpets siluer sound Young Thyâ—silis and for his musique brought The willing sphears from heav'n to lead a round Of dauncing Nymphs and Heards that sung and crown'd Eclectas hymen with ten thousand flowrs Of choycest prayse and hung her heav'nly bow'rs With saffron garlands drest for Nuptiall Paramours 49 Let his shrill trumpet with her siluer blast Of faire Eclecta and her Spousall bed Be the sweet pipe and smooth Encomiast But my greene Muse hiding her younger head Vnder old Chamus flaggy banks that spread Their willough locks abroad and all the day With their owne waâ—ry shadowes wanton play Dares not those high amours and loue-sick songs assay 50 Impotent words weake sides that striue in vaine In vaine alas to tell so heau'nly sight So heav'nly sight as none can greater â—eigne Feigne what he can that seemes of greatest might Might any yet compare with Infinite Infinite sure those ioyes my words but light