happy Souls shoot swiftly thro' the Sky And to the Graves and Sepulchers they fly Where they their long forsaken Bodies greet Which like old Friends they with fresh Pleasure meet Bodies that seem they are so Pure and Bright All thicken'd Glory close compacted Light Purg'd and refin'd from all that 's course and gross As melted Gold throws off the baser Dross Smiling they rise such Charms so sweet a Grace They shew as dwell not on a Mortal Face These rising Stars their Heav'nly Beams display Bright Harbingers of Everlasting Day Such Beauties such mild Glories shall we see In the glad Spring of Immortality Yet these blest Sons of Light that Angel-like Would mortal Eyes with deadly Lustre strike Were those that once their Excellence disguis'd Liv'd here oppress'd and like their Lord despis'd Welcom to them this long expected Hour Safe by their Judge's Favour from his Power High Tides of Joy into their Bosoms run And Everlasting Life they feel begun This shall past Griefs in deep Oblivion drown Compleat their Triumphs and their Virtues Crown These in the Spring great Care and Toil bestow'd And water'd with their Tears the Seed they sow'd The Harvest now their happy Hours employs In reaping Pleasures and Immortal Joys Bright Cherubims descending thro' the Air To these blest Men with speedy Flight Repair Then to the gen'ral Doom aloft they fly And on their Wings convey them thro' the Sky In all the way encouraging their Charge Telling of all the Joys of Heav'n at large Plac'd in the Presence of their Lord they stand In their appointed Seats at his Right-hand VVhilst other Angels from the Deep of Hell Drive up the Fiends that in those Regions dwell VVith Swords of keenest Flame compelling some And dragging others to the gen'ral Doom In Anguish and Despair the yelling Fiends Curse Gnash and Bite th' Eternal Chain that binds So close and strait then turn their Heads away From the fierce Terrour of so bright a Day And impious Men in no less Horror fly To all the Shades and Coverts they descry Mountains and Rocks their fruitless Cries invite To fall and hide them from the Judge's Sight For rise they must and lose their vain Desire Caught up in Whirlwinds and in Storms of Fire Before the Judge the Pris'ners stand in Sight And take the Left-hand as the Just the Right Th' Eternal Books before the Judge are brought Where all Mens long forgotten Deeds are wrote And first are read the Vertues of the Just Their Zeal for Heav'n their Courage Hope and Trust. The Prayers the Tears the Alms themselves conceal'd Before applauding Angels are reveal'd The righteous Judge their Innocence declar'd Allots the glorious Kingdom he prepar'd For pure and holy Minds a blest Reward Their Guardian Angels at their Lord's Command Crown the glad Saints with an Officious Hand Who now in perfect Bliss their time employ Discoursing to promote their mutual Joy How first they left the pleasurable way Where wanton Streams of soft Delights convey Charm'd Souls that with the treach'rous Tyde must go To the dead Lake of Pain and endless VVo. How first they lik'd the dark and lonesom Road That leads to Bliss and the blest Minds Abode How when in Shades they mourn'd a Heav'nly Ray Darted a welcome tho imperfect Day How Vertue 's guidance they implor'd and gain'd And what blest Converse with her they maintain'd How thro' dark Paths she did their Feet conduct Correct the wanderers and the rest instruct How by her Aids they bore tempestuous Shocks Climb'd o'er opposing Hills and hanging Rocks Till they at length the Peaceful Realms did gain VVhere Joys Divine and endless Transports Reign How sweet and fair Crown'd Innocence appears No more tost on the VVaves of Hopes and Fears On mortal Face such Beauties never shone Like those of Virtue seated on her Throne Next this th' Apostate Angels are accus'd That open Force or secret Arts they us'd To set their Leader on th' Eternal's Throne Subvert Christ's Empire and advance their own That Man by them seduc'd did first Rebel Relinquish'd Heav'n and to their Party fell That they the curst Defection did support And new Born Men to new Rebellions Court That they with indefatigable Care Fresh Heats fomented and renew'd the War Whence Plagues and Desolation wide and vast And uncontroll'd Destruction laid all wast Hence Noah's universal Deluge came And hence the World lies now o'erwhelm'd in Flame For these black Crimes they 're sentenc'd to the pains Of fiercer Fire and doom'd to heavier Chains Next Cain's Rebellious Offspring are accus'd As Heav'n's inveterate Foes that long abus'd Goodness Divine whom Everlasting Love And Life Eternal had no Charms to move They would no reconciling Terms embrace Alike by Threats unchang'd or Acts of Grace They did with Wine and Noise the Method find To Calm a Conscious self-revenging Mind To lay asleep th' uneasie Judge within Till they with Care and Pains grew bold in Sin For when the sacred Spirit did convey Into their Breasts a secret Heav'nly Ray That did where cherish'd soon bring on the Day With hasty Care they choak'd the new sprung Light Calling to Aid the Shades of Hell and Night Divine Compassion's Force they never felt Nor would in Flames of Love Eternal melt Their Hearts untouch'd did all Heav'n's strokes repel Temper'd and harden'd in the Forge of Hell No Overtures of Peace no Offers made Tho' of an endless Kingdom could perswade The unrelenting Rebels to lay down Their impious Arms to take a Heav'nly Crown They still asserted with their latest Breath Their fixt Confed'racy with Hell and Death 'T is on them charg'd that others too that fell Drawn by their Arts embark'd for Death and Hell They led them to the flowry Banks and show'd The flatt'ring Tide where smiling Pleasures flow'd Where the charm'd Voyagers did careless ride Bewitching Syren's singing on their side Till the false Flood betray'd them thither where It falls into the Gulph of black Despair Here secret Crimes are publish'd and his Name That lov'd the Sin but fear'd th' attendant Shame The sly Adulterer that til the late Approach of Night and silent Shades did wait For the Caresses of the Harlot's Fed And at the early dawn of Twilight fled Is here upbraided for his careful flight Of Mens whilst he contemn'd th' Almighty's sight Th' audacious Wretch that did Heav'n's Laws deride And all its Thunder and dire Threats defy'd That did cloy'd Nature to fresh Guilt excite Beyond her own ev'n Vicious Appetite Anti-Platonic that could pleasure take In naked Vice and sinn'd for sinning's sake That could abstracted from Enjoyment sport With Guilt and Vice ev'n in Idea court That did himself so much he lov'd the Fame The secret Triumphs of his Lusts proclaim Strives in the Crowd to hide his guilty Head Whilst his high Charge and black Indictment's read Th' astonish'd Wretch Sinks Trembles Dies to see Enrag'd Omnipotence and frowning Majesty Such deadly Torments on his Bowels feed
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
on his Way but sent before Embassadors to Hoel to explore His temper and the Genius of his Court That he just steps might take by their Report He chose out to discharge this weighty Trust Valiant Pollador Roderick the Just And Faithful Galbut Friends that in distress A thing unknown to Courts their Love express Soon after Hoel had his Entrance made At the same City they arriv'd and staid But little for th' admission which they pray'd Then Hoel first the Britons thus addrest Let no sad Thought your pious Prince molest A Message sent from Heav'n preventing yours To me great Joy Safety to him procures Friendship and Love fill my enlighten'd Mind From Hatred purg'd from Treachery refin'd Return and let your Valiant Leader know His God has to a Friend transform'd his Foe Tell him he 's safe from all intended Harms And that I hast t' Embrace him in my Arms. With Regal Bounty he to all presents Rich Swords and various splendid Ornaments To Arthur sends a Chariot dazling bright That to the Sun return'd redoubled Light And Horses of th' Iberian Noble Race That right Descent from the swift Eurus trace Bold Gen'rous Sprightly as th' Illustrious Breed That in th' Etherial blue Enclosures Feed That thro Heav'n's Wast with the Sun's Chariot play And govern Time by carrying round the Day Their Furniture of Gold their Bridles Gold And golden Bits their champing Mouths did hold They hast and all their Diligence employ To fill Just Arthur's Mind with Peace and Joy To him returning they impart at large The kind endearing Things they had in Charge As when his Sons to Iacob did relate That Ioseph liv'd and liv'd in Regal State Telling of all his Riches Power Renown Egypt's Support and Prop to Pharoah's Crown Resistless Floods of sudden Pleasure Roll Along his Veins and break in on his Soul He sinks beneath the pressure of his Joy And Ioseph's Life does almost his destroy Then Doubts and Fears his Joys high Tyde oppose From which Contention fiercer Tempests rose While his cross Passions fight with equal Power Each Triumphs in his turn as Conquerour The Patriarch in this Distraction lost Is in each Storm with equal Danger tost But when the Chariots and rich Train he saw He did from thence fresh Life and Vigour draw His Breast from all contending Passions freed Calm Joy and unmolested Peace succeed Enough the Patriarch was heard to Cry I 'll hast to Ioseph's Arms and in them Dye So when Just Arthur heard the Message first His wavering Mind with Fears and wise Distrust And rising Tydes of suddain Joy was tost Uncertain which strong Passion press'd him most But when he saw the Presents Hoel sent His Doubts suppress'd he grew more Confident And his calm Mind eas'd of his anxious Cares T' embrace his new and generous Friend prepares And now advancing Night the Sky invades While close pursu'd by the Victorious Shades The Rayes that faintly from the Ground recoil On the green Fields let fall their pearly spoil When Arthur to his secret Joys retires Where his exhaling Soul to Heav'n aspires In sacred Anhelations and inflam'd Desires Fixt Contemplation feeds his Hope and Love With rapt'rous Preludes to the Joys above His ravish'd Eyes view the unmeasur'd Bliss In the next Life enjoy'd believ'd in this So David often pass'd the silent Night And in his Transports felt sublime Delight Surpassing all that mighty Monarchs have That his own Crown and all his Triumphs gave While baser Birds the humble Vally love And sing contented with their little Grove The Eagle's generous Pride does nobly rise To Heav'n and thence does this low World despise Scorning a Vulgar Bough he thinks he sees Woods in the Clouds and hanging Groves of Trees Thither he hasts and leaves th' ignoble Brood That aim no higher to their Shrubs and Wood. If to his Prey he stoops ashamed he flies Back to his airy Dwelling in the Skies Where in the Clouds he hides his Royal Head Safe from the Snares that watchful Fowlers spread So Men of courser Mould and baser Birth Pleas'd with the Dust lye grov'ling on the Earth For Food their Souls all foul and bloated seek The Damps and Steams that from its Bowels reek While Men divinely Born still upwards move And scorn this World that courts in vain their Love In Flames of Zeal and Pangs of pure Desire These to the Seats of Light and Peace aspire Where they converse with the blest Minds above And wonder what on Earth invites Mens Love This Molehill Earth has lost its former Charms Molehill for Bulk and Stings wherewith it swarms With Wonder they observe how Mortals Pride Can into Kingdoms this small Heap divide How one t' enlarge the Empire he has got Invades the Borders of his Neighbour's spot How this proud Monarch of a Turf is vext With restless cares to dispossess the next As Heav'n's vast Globes that fill the World with Light Seem little Balls to distant Mortals sight That in the most capacious Planets we No room for States and large Dominions see So these more noble Minds advanc'd so high Believe the same of us that from the Sky The low-hung Earth's contracted Body Spy They keep above free from the fatal Nets That for unwary Feet the Tempter sets Free from the Earth's dark smoke and endless Noise They dwell in Peace and feed on Heav'nly Joys Such Pleasures Arthur while retir'd enjoy'd And wish'd he ever might be thus employ'd And now th' radiant Gates of th' Eastern Sky Unbar'd by bright Aurora open fly Strait issues out the Sun with mighty Force As Gyants do prepar'd to run his Course The joyful Britons all things ready make And their new Friend to meet their Journy take Scarce had the Sun his glitt'ring Chariot driv'n Up the steep Brow and sharp Ascent of Heav'n When the glad Princes did each other meet And Hoel thus did first the Stranger greet As a faint Traveller in Arabian Sands Scorcht with the burning Sun-beams panting stands Views the dry Desart with despairing Eyes And for the Springs and distant Rivers Sighs As Sailers long for Land Heav'n's Aid implore And with their greedy wishes grasp the Shore When beaten from the hospitable Coast And in loud Storms upon the Ocean tost Where Ruin in so many Shapes appears They scarcely can attend to all their Fears I 've wish'd to see you with the like desire The Oracle of whom I must enquire The way to Peace and Everlasting Bliss Which lost in Night and unknown Paths I miss When first I set out with an hostile Mind And Evils which I dread to name design'd The Powers that guard your sacred Life alarm'd Soon interpos'd and my wild Hand disarm'd Kind Heav'n that both our Safeties did design Turn'd from your Head the Blow the Guilt from mine For on the way a Glory dreadful Bright Around me shone and with excessive Light As they do Stars the weaker Sun-beams drown'd I as transfixt fell headlong to the