dearest limbs well sold Yea and their Hearts and Lives if so they may Upon their Herses wear triumphant Bay 395. But now as in the Fornace of his Pain This helplesse Victor fries he cryes I thirst For sure He longed to drink up and drain The dregs of grief that none of the accurs'd And deadly draught he might behinde him leave His mortall Brethren evermore to grieve 396. Yet they unkindly on a Reed present Him Vinagre who broach'd the Wine for them The Wine of his dear Blood all which He spent To wash and cheer their hearts Does he not seem O salvage Jews without the help of this Your gift to have enough of bitternes 397. Is this your thanks to Him who every year Your stream of harvest-pleasures poures on you Who to compleat your Banquet doth prepare Those soveraign dainties which in Eden grow And who mean while hath with his bounteous hand Giv'n you your milk and honcy slowing Land 398. Yet Jesus takes it kindly Psyche He Knew well this knawing draught would best besit The dying King of greif whose miserie So dear and pretious on his Soule did sit That He their wine aromatiz'd with Myrrh Thought far lesse pleasant then this Vinagre 399. Besides that Poison he remembred well Which from th' enchanting apples sweets did flow By wholsome Bitternes he means to heal Ev's liquorish Luxury His Palate now Doth expiate Hers and nobly teacheth it That apples fatall rellish to forget 400. And now the Tragedie began to draw To its sad end for Jesus having by Immortall patience undergone the Law And curse and grappled with the monstrous frie Of all the Worlds Transgressions lifts his head In triumphup and cryes T is finished 401. O that it were said Mary who stood by So should my Soule live still with my dear Lord. If he has found a way how not to die Why does sweet Jesus not make good his Word By coming down So sighed pious she But he made haste to his Catastrophe 402. For Justice now had nothing more to say Since by the streams which down the Cross did slow All her Objections were wash'd away And every Page of her black book did grow As pure and faire as the serenest skies When rescued from the gloomy clouds disguise 403. Wherefore she straight dismiss'd her horrid train And then withdrew her self These being gone Jesus look'd up into his Heav'n again And saw the veil which dwelt till now upon His Fathers face remov'd O 〈◊〉 sight O cheerly morning after heavy night 404. He saw his everlasting Arms as wide Stretch'd out as his were on the Cross He saw His blessed bosome ope which seem'd to bid Him to his nest of bliss return and grow His happy self again He saw his eye Flaming in pittying Loves extremitie 405. An everlasting Laurell in his hand He saw designed to confute the shame Of his own thorny crown He saw the grand Cherubick quire ambitious to proclaim His Conquests in their songs And at the sight Resolv'd to die he cryes with all his might 406. Father into thine hands I here commit My Spirit which thou woo'st to come to thee Up flew that mightie word and after it Out brake his blessed Soule for strait way he Bow'd down his Head submitting sweetly to That will he came by life and death to doe 407. The holy Temple heard his dying cry And as it could its Clothes tore for loe Its veil in sunder rent and seemed by That ruptures mouth to say I must let goe My priviledge and Jewish rites must be Resigned unto Christianitie 408. Earth heard it too and quaked at the noise Her rocks did rend her sepulchres did ope And many sleeping Saints wak'd at the voice Russled their dust together and gat up Natures commotion was so great and strange That in the guard it strait begot a Change 409. The bold Centurion with the Earth did quake So did the Soldiers with the rocks and cry Surely the World slept in a deep mistake Whilst it perceiv'd not Jesu's Deitie His Father now has owned Him and He Did when himself was pleas'd in blisse to be 410. For still his vitals in their strength remain d And he had force enough a while to live Witnesse that finall Blast for which he strain'd When He that strong and thundering cry did give These wretched theives we see still in their Pain 〈◊〉 he in his own rest is gone to reign 411. Nay ev'n on salvage and obdurate Jews So far can guilty Fear prevail that now The danger-stricken People could not chuse But grant their Hearts did feel this Terrors Blow For though their sullen Tongue would not their Fist Confest their fright upon their beaten Breast 412. Here Psyche whose soft Heart had come and gone A thousand times as he the Story told Now yeilded unto Griefs Dominion And e'r her Guardian spi'd it down she roll'd Joyning her Passion to her Lords and trying To live with Him who di'd for Her by dying 413. But Phylax by his heav'nly tender Art Soon cheer'd and rais'd her up and told her She Must 〈◊〉 now unto the other Part Which of this Sadnesse made a Comedie She look'd and sigh'd and cri'd All Joyes are dead When Jesus dies and yet dear Sir proceed 414. Know then said He this Passion and Death Hath pu chas'd all the Joyes that Heav'n can breed And cancell'd every fatal Bond of Wrath Which Sin had drawn against old Adams Seed All Jesu's Wounds are Gates by which Man may Take freely into Paradise his way 415. All sort of Pains and Shames and Sorrows he With matchlesse valour did monopolize The spightfull Wit of all Hells Treachery He vanquished by being made its Prize And yeilding up his meritorious Breath Blew down the Power ev'n of prevailing Death 416. Which when fell Satan saw it him repented Of this great bus'nesse he had brought about And at his Den in Paxis he lamented His undermin'd Designe when Crying out Great Pan is dead he made confession how He had projected his own Overthrow 417. For this was Pan indeed the God of Sheep Who held his tender Flock so dear that He From Wolves and Lyons it secure to keep Expos'd Himselfe to all Extremity And for the Fold found a sure Rampart out When with his Blood He moated it about 418. But now a Soldier he whose onely Heart Was harder than those Rocks which Griefe did burst Boldly took on him Cruelties last Part For into Jesu's side his Sphear he thrust Deep in his Heart the Iron div'd and brought The finall Stream of Blood and Water out 419. That Water which the Pericardium bound About the Heart that Blood which in it dwelt Thus all that in thy Saviour was found To feed and feast his Friends He freely spilt The Pelican so with her dearest Blood Diets and fattens up her dearer Brood 420. This done the Sun unveild his Clouded Eye And joyed the Redeemed World to see Forthwith the monstrous Shades away
Proving that every Eye was worse then blinde Which no discoverie in Her could make Of richer Beauties then those faint and thin Graces which hover in a polish'd Skin 45. 'T is true She 's pale so is the Lilie too So is her heav'nly Daughter Chastitie So is the Milk so is the virgin Snow And yet when Modestie would dressed be In her brave Scarlet She doth raise a Flood Of Purple and shine fair in Blushing Blood 46. She is contented to be lank and lean As one who counts it Martiall Policie To keep her Amunition close within The better to confront the Seige for She Laughs at those plump and boasting Gallants who Can nothing but their swelling Outworks show 47. For whilst her Walls are lesse she hath lesse need Of numerous Powers to maintain the fight But being Mistresse of all active Heed She stands upon her guard both day and night Being of creacherous ease and sleep afraid By which fat lazie bulwarks are betrai'd 48. She knows what ballast will her Bulk suffice To keep her steady in this dangerous Sea And layes in but enough The Merchandise Which fraughts her stowage pretious virtues be And provident she no bigger than her self Securely sails by every Rock and Shelf 49. Her Parts and Passions all their duties know And she as little fears a storm within As from without her humble flesh doth bow To all Commands no Officers repine What course so e'r she steers but all conspire To make their own still saile with her desire 50. Thus she does safely at that Port arrive Which leads into the Continent of Blisse The Port at which her restlesse aym did drive The onely Key and Gate of Paradise For Paradise's sweets her stomack she Reserv'd which there at length shall filled be 51. This difficult but advantageous Grace Was that which Jesus strove on earth to sow But most ungratefull Earth so shamelesse was As not to suffer the faire seed to grow Though a few honest beds did entertain it The most part of the Garden did disdain it 52. Those who unto the King of Abstinence Have sworn Allegiance blush not to enrole Themselves the servants of Intemperance And the mad virtue of their Revelling Bowle More sacred and obligatory count Then the bless'd Streams of the Baptismal Fount 53. Else how comes that abominable Trade Of daily turning swine to be profest With most applans not where the Pagan shade Upon prevented Reasons eyes hath east Blinde irreligions night but where the Rayes Of most revealed heav'n gild Christian dayes 54. Else how cam'st thou unhappy Britaih which Barr'st out all other Oceans by thy shore To let the Sea of Drunkennes with such Unrulie fury in thy bowels roar O that thy feeble Sands should stronger be Then is thy Reason or thy Pietie 55. How has this deluge drown'd in Sottishnesse Thy once renouned sense of Braverie Since in thy Helmeti Swords and Bucklers place A cowardly succession we see Of Pots and Glasses and ô valours shame 〈◊〉 drinker turned into Credits name 56. How come those Bacchanalian wars so dear In thy Repute who prid'st thy self that thou So well appointed art as not to fear Or Dutch or Danish bowls but knowest how Foes and friends lives by the Grapes blood to shed And though not strike yet surely drink them dead 57. How comes the Name of Cynik or of Clown To dwell on them who never learn'd the Arts Of roaring Revels How is goodnes grown No more by virtues standard but by quarts And Pottles to be measured whil'st alas Carousers for the good companions pass 58. O how hast thou forgot what sumptuous Care Almighty Love hath taken to requite Thine Abstinence what Soule refreshing fare For Pieties untainted Appetite His bounteous hand prepares and proves how He Excessive is in hospitalitie 59. Heav'n stood amaz'd at the magnificence Of that high banquet nor could Phylax now Longer conceale the brave ecstatik sense He had of it for heav'nly bosoms glow So hot with Loves sublime exploits that they Must split did not their tongues their hearts display 60. The famous Traytors storie being done And Psyche having her short supper eat The 〈◊〉 Guardian thus again begun My Dear this Evening seaion and the 〈◊〉 Thou from thy Lords hand hast received be The items of a greater feast to Me. 61. He the sweet Doctor of chaste Abstinence Who taught his Servants not to clog their heart With corruptible Viands when from hence Already Sold he shortly was to part So great and rich a Banquet made as may The whole Worlds Temperance 〈◊〉 then 〈◊〉 62. A 〈◊〉 not of gross and earthly chear Where Birds or Beasts or Fish might convives be But of immortall Delicates so dear So sweet so pretious that onely He The God in whom all Power sweetnes live Could such Celestiall entertainment give 63. 'T was now the solemne time among the 〈◊〉 Their memorable Passover to ear Nor would thine inoffensive Lord refuie That grand solemnitie to celebrate And honour it which like the faithfull 〈◊〉 On Him the Sun so long attended had 64. With his Disciples down the Master sate And in the spotlesse and unblemish'd Lamb Beheld the Copy of his purer State In which no Criticks eye found room for blame Yet could not Innocence secure his life More than the Lamb it saved from the knife 65. The Lamb his tender fleece skin had lost And naked to the fire exposed was Where all its harmlesse helplesse flesh was roste And here he read atorehand his own case How to his Cross the Jewish furie tost him And how the flaming wrath of Heav'n did rost him 66. The sad attendance of that bitter sauce Which sourest Herbs about the Meat had thrown The dark resemblance of those torments was With which his Dish of deepest woe was strown The Weeds of humane sins which far exceed In bitternes all Herbs that earth can breed 67. The Haste which quickned on this transient feasi Was not so winged as the noble speed With which He posted in desire to rest Upon the cruel Cross his tender Head A wofull resting place was that and yet To Love no Pillow seem'd so soft as 68. But having 〈◊〉 this 〈◊〉 And with due honor brought it 〈◊〉 its geave He makes way for that tender 〈◊〉 Which as his finall favour he did save To print his dearest Memory most deep In the soft Sonles of his beloved Sheep 69. He with a Towel having laid aside His Mantle girds himself for humble he Would not the least impediment abide Of his officious Activitie With water then filling a Basin full Down at his own Disciples feet he fell 70. The Conscience of his own eternall worth And of his universall Soveraigntie The certain knowledge that He 〈◊〉 forth From his bright Fathers arms and was to be There re-inthroned could not hold him up All this he knew and yet he down did stoop 71. Stoop then prood Mortals whosoe'r yee be Who have
Company 223. With these sweet Plaints she measur'd her Return Till back unto the Chariot she came And well was Phylax pleass'd to hear her Mourn Judging by this how serious was the Flame Of her Affection to that Holy Place In which her Virgin Bosom fired was 224. Then mounting up and gently seating her At his right Hand his mighty Reins he shook And these could scarce before his Coursers stir For straight their leap into the Air they took Spreading their Wings wide Oars by which They through The Waves of that soft Ocean did row 225. For she remembring well what sad Event Plagu'd her affected Stay in Palestine By dear-bought Wisdome learn'd to be content To leave this reverend Place though more divine Temptations here invited her to stay Since wiser Phylax summon'd her away 226. So when a Childe woo'd by the sporting Flame Is once but scorch'd into a feeling Sense Of the fair-faced Danger Fear and Shame Bow him down to his Nurses ' Providence And make Him any 〈◊〉 Lustre shun If but her Nodd commandeth Him to run 227. But he to entertain her by the way With advantageous Discourse begun To reckon through what worthy Wonders They In their 〈◊〉 Pilgrimages Tract had run For Repetitions trusty hand doth grave A new Impression and the old one save 228. This rouz'd her Soule to recollect how she Had by the Conduct of Heav'ns special Grace Through thousand Dangers pass'd untouch'd and free Though Hell and all its Wit engaged was In open field to crosse or undermine By secret Wilinesse her brave Designe 229. A fresh her Minde did feast on every Sweet And Wonderous Thing which all the way she went With rich Varieties her Eyes did meet So clear the Angels Tongue did them present Drawing All out in ample Statelinesse By the fair Help of Eloquence's Dresse 230. Thus in a double Chariot did she ride But yet in this of his Discourse she fiew With swifter speed out-running ev'n the tide Of Time it Selfe for still her Joies were new Cheating her Wearinesse as he along Through all her Journeys travell'd with his Tongue 231. This tun'd her Tongue by her Hearts dainty String To honest Gratitudes ingenuous Layes High was her Key and delicate the Song Composed to the sweetest Aire of Praise For ever may these Lips be seal'd said she When they suppresse the Thanks I owe to Thee 232. To Thee dear Pilot of my tender Bark Which many Rocks e'r this had dash'd in sunder Which oft had wander'd in the Deep and Dark Which many Storms proud feet had troden under Which many Sands into its Grave long since Had swallow'd up but for thy stout Defence 233. To Thee whom no Contempt of mine could drive To just Disdam of a vile Worme to Thee By whose dear Care my better Life I live If yet I live at all and rather be Not dead and buried in those Sins which I Prefert'd before the Life of Piety 234. Yet more I owe to Him and more must pay By whose Appointment I enjoyed Thee My faithfull Guide in this long perilous Way But thou must teach Me what those Thanks must be If they must be my Selfe I ready am This Sacrifice to offer to his Name 235. His Name in whose dear Syllables alone I read my Selfe intirely such For there Lives the sweet Soule of that Redemption Which snatch'd me from that 〈◊〉 Bondage where 〈◊〉 lay abandon'd to the tyrannous Will Of Error Madnesse wickednesse and Hell 236. His Name in which the Praise and Adoration Of the Seraphick and Cherubick Quire Rejoyce to meet His Name of every Nation The dearest Joy and soveraign Desire His Name which o'r the whole Worlds vanquish'd Pride Doth in sublime but gratious Triumph ride 237. His Name the onely Musick which mine Eare Can of no Jarrs accuse that lovely Name Which when Heav'ns most melodious Orbs doe heat They throw aside their other Songs and frame Their Tunes by Jesu's Sweets Here off she broke Lovingly ravish'd by the Name she spoke 238. And here the Steeds who all this while had flew With stout but silent fervor neigh'd aloud For now their Journey to its period drew And Albion her chalkie Forehead show'd Which with erected Ears and shaked Mains They doubled strait and scoured o'r the Plains 239. Forthwith all clouded in their smoaking Foam The Chariot they hurld to Psyche's door Where Phylax bid his Pupill welcome home Which She did on her Knee to Him restore And stroaking then her Steeds upon the Crest She for their faithfull Pains her Thanks profest PSYCHE OR LOVES MYSTERIE CANTO XVII The Mortification ARGUMENT PSyche embrav'd by Chari's generous Flames Strives in Devotions Furnace to refine Her pious self till with Perfections Beams Her pure Spiritualized Life might shine Then Satan she defies though crafly He Came clothed in Angelick Claritie 1. PEace gentle Queen of every Thing which makes Sweets acceptable Bliss delightfull be What satal Conjuration of Mistakes Inchanteth Mortal Hearts that they will see Thy Beauties not by their own Light but by The hideous Glass of Wars Deformity 2. They see the Sun is fair by his own Beams Gems by their proper Lustre them allure They taste the Fountains sweetnes by the streams The Roses 〈◊〉 Cheek does them assure The Floure is beautifull yet they will not Thy Graces read but by a Stain and 〈◊〉 3. Dear is this Learning and sometimes too late O how much sooner and much cheaper might They all Wars tedious costly studie bare If they to Thee would come to Schole and write From the Original of thy fair Eyes That Book which dims the Volums of the 〈◊〉 4. Thy Temper is all Musick never did The least of Jars thy sweet 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 From thine all Concords 〈◊〉 were copied Nor would the Centre on his 〈◊〉 8 back Agree to bear the World did it Thou noc by Thy 〈◊〉 Chains the Burden 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 5. For at the first when in th' untuned Deep Each Thing was wroth and snarled with his Brother When Heav'n and Earth tumbled in one blinde Heap Struggled and strove to stifle one Another When All Things with their peevish selves fell out And in their own Hearts for their Enemies sought 6. Then Thou with seasonable Love didst come And those wilde Tumults sweetly chase away These boistrous Pangs of the Worlds travelling Womb With happy Quietnesse thou didst allay Makeing those Embroy's Freinds who never since Have to that Knot of love done violence 7. All rest contented with the Stations Thou Appointedst Them and Earth is pleas'd as well With her poor Habitation here below As any Stars which in Heav'ns Roof doe dwell Nor will the Windes though big they be and proud Desire above the middle Aire to crowd 8. The sirly Sea who in his boiling Wrath Against the shore with mountainous Waves doth make Dreads the poor List of feeble Sand which hath No power that desperate Carreer to slake Because He reads in it thy potent Law Which back into