orient is thy beautie How diuine How darke's the glorie of the earth to Thine 6. MY dearest Spouse I 'll hye me to my home And till that long-expected Day shall come The light whereof shall chace the night that showdes Thy vailed beautie in these enuious Clowdes Till then I goe and in my Throne prouide A glorious welcome for my fairest Bride Chapplets of conqu'ring Palme and Laurell boughs Shall crowne thy Temples and adorne thy browes 7. VVOuld beautie fayne be flatter'd with a grace Shee neuer had May shee behold thy face Enuie would burst had shee no other taske Then to behold this face without a Maske No spot no veniall blemish could shee finde To feede the famin of her ranc'rous minde Thou art the flowre of beauties Crowne and thay're Much worse then foule that thinke thee lesse then fayre 8. FEare not my Loue for when those sacred bands Of wedlock shall conjoyne our promis'd hands I 'll come and quit thee from this redious place Where thou art forc'd to sojourne for a space No forrein Angle of the vtmost Lands Nor seas Abysse shall hide thee from my hands No night shall shade thee from my curious eye I 'll rowze the graues although grim Death stand by 9. ILlustrious beames shot from thy flaming eye Made fierce with zeale and soueraigne Majestie Haue scorcht my soule and like a fierie dart Transfixt the Center of my wounded heart The Virgin sweetnesse of thy heauenly grace Hath made mine eyes glad pris'ners to thy face The beautie of thine eye-balls hath bereft Me of my heart O sweet ô sacred theft 10. O Thou the deare Inflamer of mine eyes Life of my soule and hearts eternall prize How delectable is thy loue How pure How apt to rauish able to allure A frozen soule and with thy secret fire T' affect dull spirits with extreame desire How doe thy ioyes though in their greatest dearth Transcend the proudest pleasures of the earth 11. THy lips my dearest Spouse are the full treasures Of sacred Poesie whose heauenly measures Rauish with joy the willing heart that heares But strike a deafnesse in rebellious eares Thy wordes like Milke and Honie doe requite The season'd soule with profit and delight Heauens higher Palace and those lower places Of dungeon-earth are sweetned with thy graces 12. MY Loue is like a Garden full of flowres Whose sunny bankes and choice of shadie bowres Giue change of pleasures pleasures wall'd about With armed Angels to keepe Ruine out And from her Brests enclosed from the ill Of looser eyes pure Crystall drops distill The fruitfull sweetnesse of whose gentle showres Inrich her flowres with beautie ' and banks with flowres 13. MY loue is like a Paradise a beset With rarest grifts whose fruits but tender yet The world nere tasted dainties farre more rare Then Edens tempting Apple and more faire Myrhe Alloes Incese and the Cypresse tree Can boast no sweetnesse but is breath'd from thee Dainties for taste and flowers for the smell Spring all from Thee whose sweets all sweets excell BRIDE SONET XIII O Thou my deare whose sweets all sweets excell Frō whom my fruits receiue their tast their smel How can my thriuing Plants refuse to grow Thus quickned with so sweet a Sun as thou How can my flowers which thy Ewers nourish With showers of liuing waters choose but flourish O thou the Spring from whence these waters burst Did euer any taste thy streames and thurst 2. AM I a Garden May my Flowers be So highly honour'd to bee smelt by Thee Inspire them with thy sacred breath and then Receiue from them thy borrowed breath agen Frequent thy Garden whose rare fruit inuites Thy welcome presence to his choise Delights Taste where thou list and take thy full repaste Here 's that will please thy smell thine eye thy taste BRIDEGROOME SONET XIIII THou sacred Center of my soule in whome I rest behold thy wisht-for Loue is come Refresht with thy delights I haue repasted Vpon thy pleasures my full soule hath tasted Thy rip'ned dainties and hath freely beene Pleas'd with those Fruits that are as yet but greene All you that loue the honour of my Bride Come taste her Vyands and bee diefide BRIDE SONET XV. IT was a night a night as darke as foule As that blacke Errour that entraunc'd my Soule When as my best beloued came and knoct At my dull gates too too securely lockt Vnbolt said hee these churlish doores my Doue Let not false slumbers bribe thee from thy loue Heare him that for thy gentle sake came hither Long iniur'd by this nights vngentle wether 2. I Heard the voice but the perfidious pleasure Of my sweet slumbers could not finde the leasure To ope my drowsie doores My Spirit could speake Words faire enough but ah my flesh was weake And fond excuses taught me to betray My sacred vowes to a secure delay Perfidious slumbers how haue you the might To blind true Pleasures with a false delight 3. WHen as my Loue with oft repeated knocks Could not auaile shaking his dewie locks Highly displeas'd he could no longer bide My sleight neglect but went away denyde No sooner gone but my dull soule discern'd Her drowzie error my grieu'd spirit yearn'd To finde him out these seiled eyes that slept So soundly fast awak'd much faster wept 4. THus rays'd and rowz'd from my deceitfull rest I op'd my doores where my departed Guest Had beene I thrust the churlish Portalls from me That so denyde my dearest Bridegroome to me But when I smelt of my returned hand My soule was rapt my powers all did stand Amazed as the sweetnesse they did finde Which my neglected Loue had left behinde 5. I Op'd my doore my Myrrhe-distilling doore But ah my Guest was gone had giuen me o're What curious Pen what Artist can define A matelesse sorrow Such ah such was mine Doubts and despaire had of my life depriu'd mee Had not strong hopes of his returne reuiu'd mee I sought but he refused to appeare I call'd but he would nor be heard nor heare 6. THus with the Tyrannie of griefe distraught I rang'd around no place I left vnsought No eare vnask'd The Watchmen of the Citie Wounded my soule without remorse or pitie To Virgin teares They taught my feet to stay Whose steps were apt enough to lose their way With taunts and scornes they check me and derided And call'd me Whoore because I walkt vnguided 7. YOu hallowed Virgins you whose tender hearts Ere felt th' impression of loues secret darts I charge you all by the deare faith you owe To Virgin purenesse and your Vestall vow Commend me to my Loue if ere you meet him O tell him that his loue-sicke Spouse doth greet him O let him know I languish with desire T' enjoy that heart that sets this heart on fire VIRGINS SONET XVI O Thou the
SIONS SONETS Sung By SOLOMON the King And PERIPHRAS'D By FRA. QVARLES LONDON Printed by W. Stansby for Thomas Dewe and are to bee sold at his shoppe in Saint Dunstanes Church-yard 1625. TO THE TRVLY NOBLE AND NO LESSE GOOD THEN GREAT LORD IAMES MARQVES Hamleton SIR HAd these Lines beene loose and lasciuious I had either pickt out a lesse honorable Patron or stood to the courtesie of euery wanton Reader But being as they are of a diuine subiect therefore subiect to the ill-digested humours of light heads by your fauour thrice noble Lord you are bound to protect it being the knowne Patron to goodnesse There are too few such This makes glorious Vice so bold and bashfull Vertue so inglorious You are a bright Starre in our Orbe on which all good eyes are fixt and by the speciall influence of which these presented Lines had their conception their birth their being and now crept forth repay themselues to You hope to receiue honour from You and sue for protection vnder You. So I commit them to the honour of so great a fortune SIR The true honourer of your admired worth FRANCIS QVARLES To the Readers REaders now you haue them May the end of my paines be the beginning of your pleasures Excuse me for soaring so high else giue me leaue to excuse my selfe Indeed I flue with Eagles feathers otherwise I had not flowne or falne It is the Song of Songs I here present you with The Author King SOLOMON the wisest of Kings The matter mysticall the diuinest of subiects The Speakers CHRIST the Bridegroome the CHVRCH the Bride The end to invite you all to the weddïng Farewell AN EPITHALME TO THE BRIDEGROOME HOSANNA to the Highest Ioy betide The heauenly Bridegroome and his holy Bride Let Heauen aboue be fill'd with songs Let Earth triumph below For euer silent be those tongues That can be silent now You Rocks and Stones I charge you all to breake Your flintie silence if men cease to speake You that professe that sacred Art Or now or neuer show it Pleade not your Muse is out of heart Here 's that creates a Poet. Be rauish'd Earth to see this contract driuen 'Twixt sinfull Man and reconciled Heauen Dismount you Quire of Angels come With Men your joyes diuide Heauen neuer show'd so sweet a GROOME Nor Earth so faire a BRIDE SIONS SONETS BRIDE SONET I. 1. O That the bountie of those lips diuine Would seale their fauours on these lips of mine That by those welcome kisses I might see The mutuall loue betwixt my Loue and mee For truer blisse no worldly ioy allowes Then sacred Kisses from so sweet a Spouse With which no earthly pleasures may compare Riche Wines are not so delicate as thay're 2. NOr Myrrhe nor Cassia nor the choice perfumes Of vnctious Narde or Aromatick fumes Or hot Arabia doe enrich the aire With more delitious sweetnesse then the faire Reports that crowne the merits of thy Name With heauenly Laurels of eternall fame Which makes the Virgins fixe their eyes vpon thee And all that view thee are enamour'd on thee 3. O Let the beautie of thy Sunne-like face Inflame my soule and let thy glorie chace Disloyall thoughts Let not the World allure My chaste desires from a Spouse so pure But when as Time shall place me on thy Throne My feares will cease and interrupt by none I shall transcend the stile of Transitorie And full of glorie still be fill'd with glorie 4. BVt you my curious and too nice Allyes That view my fortunes with two narrow eyes You say my face is blacke and foule 't is true I 'm beauteous to my Loue though black to you My censure stands not vpon your esteeme He sees me as I am you as I seeme You see the Cloudes but he discernes the Skie Know 'T is my Maske that lookes so blacke not I. 5. VVHat if Afflictions doe dis-imbellish My naturall glorie and denie the rellish Of my adjourned beautie yet disdaine not Her by whose necessarie losse you gaine not I was enforc'd to swelter in the Sunne And keepe a strangers Vine left mine alone I left mine owne and kept a strangers Vine The fault was mine but was not onely mine 6. O Thou whose loue I prize aboue my life More worthy farre t' enjoy a fairer wife Tell mee to what coole shade dost thou resort Where graze thy Sheepe where doe thy Lambs disport Free from the scortching of this sowltrie weather O tell thy Loue and let thy Loue come thither Say gentle Shephard fits it thee to cherish Thy priuate Flocks and let thy true Loue perish BRIDEGROOME SONET II. ILlustrious Bride more radiant and more bright Then th' eye of Noone thrice fairer then the light Thou dearest off-spring of my dying blood And treasure of my soule why hast thou stood Parching so long in those ambitious beames Come come and coole thee in these siluer streames Vnshade thy Face cast backe those golden Locks And I will make thee Mistris of my Flocks 2. O Thou the Center of my choise desires In whom I rest in whom my soule respires Thou art the flowre of beautie and I prize thee Aboue the World how e're the World disprize thee The blinde imagins all things black by kinde Thou art as beautifull as they are blinde And as the fairest troopes of Pharoes Steeds Exceed the rest so Thou the rest exceeds 3. THy Cheeke the garden where fresh beautie plants Her choysest flowers no adorning wants There wants no relish of diuiner grace To summe compleatnesse in so sweet a face Thy Neck without a blemish without blot Then pearle's more orient cleare from staine or spot Thy Gemmes and Iewels full of curious art Imply the sacred treasures of thy heart 4. THe Sunne-bright glorie of thy resounding fame Addes glorie to the glorie of my Name The more 's thy honour Loue the more thou striu'st To honour me Thou gaynest what thou giu'st My Father whom our Contract hath made thine Will giue thee large endowments of diuine And euerlasting treasure Thus by mee Thou shalt be rich that am thus rich in Thee BRIDE SONET III. OH how my soule is rauisht with the joyes That spring like fountains frō my true loues voice How cordiall are his lips How sweet his tongue Each word he breathes is a melodious song Hee absent ah how is my glorie dimme I haue no beautie not deriu'd from Him What e're I haue from Him alone I haue And Hee takes pleasure in those gifts hee gaue 2. AS fragrant Myrrhe within the bosome hid Sents more delitious then before it did And yet receiues no sweetnesse from that brest That prooues the sweeter for so sweet a guest Euen so the fauour of my dearest Spouse Thus priz'd and placed in my heart endowes My ardent soule with sweetnesse and inspires With heauenly rauishment my rapt desires 3. VVHo
fairest flowre of mortall birth If such a beautie may be borne of earth Angell or Virgin which or both in one Angell by beautie Virgin by the mone Say who is Hee that may deserue these teares These precious drops Who is 't can stop his eares At these faire lips Speake Lady speake at large Who is 't For whom giu'st thou so strict a Charge BRIDE SONET XVII MY Loue is the perfection of delight Roses and Doues are not so red so white Vnpattern'd beautie summon'd euery grace To the composure of so sweet a face His body is Heauen for in his brest The perfect Essence of a God doth rest The brighter eye of heauen did neuer shine Vpon an other glorie so diuine 2. HIs Head is farre more glorious to behold Then fruitfull Ophyres oft refined gold 'T is the rich Magazen of secret treasure Whence Graces spring in vnconfined measure His curl'd and dangling Tresses doe proclaime A Nazarite on whom ne're Rasor came Whose Rauen-black colour giues a curious rellish To that which beautie did so much imbellish 3. LIke to the eyes of Doues are his faire Eyes Wherein sterne Iustice mixt with Mercy lyes His eyes are simple yet Majesticall In motion nimble and yet chaste withall Flaming like fire and yet burne they not Vnblemisht vndistayned with a spot Blazing with pretious beames and to behold Like two rich Diamonds in a frame of gold 4. HIs Cheeks are like two fruitfull beds o're-growne With Aromatick flowers newly blowne Whose odours beautie please the smell the sight And doubling pleasures double the delight His lips are like a Crystall spring from whence Flow sweetned streames of sacred Eloquence Whose drops into the eare distill'd doe giue Life to the Dead true joyes to them that liue 5. HIs Hands are deckt with rings of gold the rings With costly Iewels fitting none but Kings Which of themselues though glorious yet receiue More glorie from those fingers then they gaue His Breast's like Iuorie circled round about With veines like Saphyres winding in and out Whose beautie is though darkned from the eye Full of diuine and secret Majestie 6. HIs Legs like purest Marble strong and white Of curious shape though quick vnapt for flight His Feet as gold that 's oft refined are Like his vpright proceedings pure and faire His Portis Princely and his Stature tall And like the Cedar stout yet sweet withall O who would not repose his life his blisse Vpon a Base so faire so firme as this 7. HIs Mouth-But stay What need my lips be lauish In choice of wordes when one alone will rauish But shall in briefe my ruder tongue discouer The speaking Image of my absent Louer Then let the curious hand of Art refine The race of Vertues morall and diuine From whence by heauen let there extracted bee A perfect Quintessence Euen such is Hee VIRGINS SONET XVIII THrice fairer then the fairest whose sad teares And smiling words haue charm'd our eies our eares Say whither is this prize of beautie gone More faire then kinde to let thee weepe alone Thy tempting lips haue whet our dull desire And till wee see Him wee are all on fire Wee 'le finde him out if thou wilt be our guide The next way to the Bridegroome is the Bride BRIDE SONET XIX IF Error leade not my dull thoughts amisse My Genius tells me where my true Loue is Hee 's busie lab'ring on his flowrie banks Inspiring sweetnesse and receiuing thanks Wat'ring those plants whose tender rootes are drie And pruning such whose Crests aspire too high Transplanting grafting reaping fruits from some And couering others that are newly come 2. VVHat if the frailtie of my feebler part Lockt vp the Portalls of my drowsie heart He knowes the weaknesse of the flesh incumbers Th' vnwilling spirit with sense-bereauing slumbers My hopes assure me in despight of this That my Beloued's mine and I am His My hopes are firme which Time shall ne're remoue That Hee is mine by Faith I His by loue BRIDEGROOME SONET XX. THy timely griefe my teares-baptized Loue Compels mine eares to heare thy teares to moue Thy blubber'd beautie to mine eye appeares More bright then 't was Such is the strength of Teares Beautie and Terror meeting in thine eye Haue made thy face the Throne of Majestie Whose awfull beames the proudest heart will moue To loue for feare vntill it feare for loue 2. REpresse those flames that furnace from thine eye They rauish with too bright a Tyrannie Thy fires are too too fierce O turne them from me They pierce my soule and with their rayes o'recome me Thy curious * Tresses dangle all vnbound With vnaffected order to the ground How orient is thy beautie How diuine How darke's the glorie of the earth to Thine 3. THy Iuorie Teeth in whitenesse doe out-goe The downe of Swans or Winters driuen snowe Whose euen proportions liuely represent Th' harmonious Musicke of vnite consent Whose perfect whitenesse Time could neuer blot Nor Age the enuious Worme of Ruine rot How orient is thy beautie How diuine How darke's the glorie of the earth to thine 4. THy Temples are the Temples of chaste loue Where beautie sacrifis'd her milke-white Doue Vpon whose Azure pathes are alwayes found The heauen-borne Graces dancing in a round Thy maiden Blushes gently doe proclaime A shame of guilt but not a guilt of shame How orient is thy beautie How diuine How darke's the glorie of the earth to thine 5. YOu you braue spirits whose emperiall hand Enforces what your lookes cannot command Bring forth your pamper'd Queenes the lustfull prize And curious wrecks of your imperious eyes Surround the Circle of the Earth and leuie The fairest Virgins in loues fairest beuie Then take from each to make one perfect Grace Yet would my Loue out shine that borrow'd face 6. I Thou art shee corriuall'd with no other Thou glorious Daughter of thy glorious Mother The new Ierusalem whose Virgin-birth Shall Diefie the Virgins of the earth The Virgins of the Earth haue seene thy beautie And stood amaz'd and in a prostrate dutie Haue sued to kisse thy hand making thine eyes Their Lampes to light them till the Bridegroome rise 7. HArke how the Virgins hallow'd with thy fire And wonder smitten with thy beames admire Who who is this say they whose cheekes resemble Aurora's blush whose Eye heauens lights dissemble Whose face is brighter then the silent Lampe That lights the earth to breathe her nightlie dampe Vpon whose brow sits dreadfull Majestie The frowne whereof commands a Victorie 8. FAire Bride why was thy troubled soule dejected When I was absent was my Faith suspected Which I so firmelie plighted Couldst thou thinke My loue could shake or such a Vow could shrinke I did but walke among my tender Plants To smell their Odours and supplie their wants To see my Stockes so latelie
his quiet slumbers lest You rouze a raging Lyon from his rest 9. WHo euer lou'd that euer lou'd as I That for his sake renounce my selfe denie The worlds best Ioyes and haue the world forgone Who euer lou'd so deare as I haue done I sought my Loue and found him lowly laide Beneath the tree of Loue in whose sweet shade Hee rested there his eye sent forth the fire That first enflam'd my amorous desire 10. MY dearest Spouse O seale me on thy heart So sure that enuious Earth may neuer part Our joyned Soules let not the world remoue My chaste desires from so choise a Loue For O my loue 's not sleight her flames are serious Was neuer Death so powerfull so imperious My jealous zeale is a consuming fire That burnes my soule through feare and fierce desire 11. FIres may be quencht and flames though ne'r so great With many drops shall faint and lose their heat But these quicke fires of loue the more supprest The more they flame in my inflamed brest How darke is Honour how obscure and dimme Is earths bright glorie but compar'd with Him How foule is Beautie what a toyle is Pleasure How base is Wealth how base a thing is Treasure 12. I Haue a Sister which by thy diuine And bounteous Grace our Marriage shall make thine Shee is mine owne myne onely Sister whome My mother bare the youngest of her Wombe Shee 's yet a Childe her beautie may improue Her brests and small and yet too greene for loue When Time and Yeares shall adde perfection to her Say dearest Loue what honour wilt thou doe her BRIDEGROOME SONET XXII IF shee be faire and with her beautie proue As chaste as loyall to her virgin-Loue As thou hast bin then in that high degree I 'le honour her as I haue honour'd thee Be shee as constant to her Vestall vow And true to her deuoted Faith as Thou I 'le Crowne her head and fill her hand with Power And giue a Kingdome to her for a Dower BRIDE SONET XXIII WHen Time shall ripen these her greene desires And holy Loue shall breath her heauenly fires Into her Virgin brest her heart shall bee As true to loue as I am true to thee O when thy boundlesse bountie shall conjoyne Her equall-glorious Maiestie with mine My joyes are perfect then in Sacred bands Wedlocke shall couple our espoused hands BRIDEGROOME SONET XXIIII I Am thy Gard'ner Thou my fruitfull Vine Whose rip'ned Clusters swell with richest Wine The vines of Solomon were not so faire His Grapes were not so precious as thine are His vines are subiect to the vulgar will Of hired hands and mercinarie skill Corrupted Carles are merrie with his Vines And at a price returne their batter'd Wines 2. BVt mine 's a Vineyard which no ruder hand Shall touch subjected to my sole command My selfe with this laborious arme will dresse it My presence with a busie eye shall blesse it O Princely Solomon thy thriuing vine Is not so faire so bountifull as mine Thy greedie sharers claime an earned hire But mine 's reseru'd and to my selfe entire 3. O Thou that dwellest where th' eternall fame Of my renowne so glorifies my name Illustrious Bride in whose coelestiall tongue Are Sacred spells t'enchaunt the ruder throng O let thy lippes like a perpetuall storie Diuulge my graces and declare my glorie Direct those hearts that Errour leades astray Dissolue the Waxe but make obdure the Clay BRIDE SONET XXV MOst glorious Loue and honourable Lord My heart 's the vowed Seruant of thy Word But I am weake and as a tender Vine Shall fall vnpropt by that deare hand of thine Assist me therefore that I may fulfill What thou command'st and then command thy will O leaue thy sacred Spirit in my brest As earnest of an euerlasting Rest FINIS CAP. 1. * Sensible graces * Pure in heart c The Kingdom of Heauen d Through apparant infirmities e Glorious in him f Weaknesse of the flesh g Afflictions h Forced to Idolatrous superstitions i By reason of my weaknesse k Being seduced by false prophets l Persecutions m By Idolatrie n Through my merits and thy sanctification o The doctrine of the true Prophets p Teacher of my Congregations q Thy most visable parts r Sanctification f The riebes of his holy Spirit t The holy Prophets * The holy Spirit * In giuing grace and receiuing glorie * The Congregation of Saints CAP. II. a Not in outward glorie b In inward graces * The holy Scriptures * Thy sweet Promises * Vexe not his Spirit with your sinnes * The imperfections of my present state * The weaknes of my flesh * The Elect. * Angels * The Congregation of the faithfull * To offer vp the frist fruits of obedience * Persecutions * The day of Iudgement * By sanctification CAP. III. * In my soule * By strict examination * Amongst the wisest worldlings * The Ministers of the Word * At the Resurrection * Through sanctification by my merits * By heauenly contemplation a Through the gifts of my Spirit CAP. IIII. b The modestie and puritie of thy iudgement * Ornaments of necessarie ceremonies d Sincere Ministers e Doctrine of thy holy Prephets f Modest graces of the Spirit * Magistrates * The old and new Testaments c The sanctified and zealous reader d The second Death e I will withdraw my bodily presence f The day of iudgement g Infirmities of the flesh * This vale of miserie * Thime eye of Faith * Diuine harmonie m The two Testaments n Riddles to prophane readers o Celestiall comforts p The Faithfull q The Sonne of righteousnesse CAP. V. r Obedience Å¿ Strong workes of Faith t The new born fruites of the Spirit u Too much securitie * My heart x The pleasures of the Flesh y Thy hardhearted vnkindnesse * Repented * The sweetnes of his graces * False teachers a With their false doctrines * Diuine loue * His Deitie * His Humanitie * His iudgment and care of his Church * The discouery of him in his Word * His promises q Those that die to sinne r That liue to righteousnesse f His actions t With purenes u His secret counsells x Inwardly glorious * His wayes constant firme and pure * His whole carriage * The Church is the way to Christ CAP. VI. * Congregation of the faithfull a Giuing graces b Receiuing glorie c Despairing soules d Not yet thorowly humbled * Strengthning the weake in spirit * The force of Repentance * Sincere Ministers * Thy visible parts * Modestie and zeale c The pure in heart f My Spirit g Securitie h Worldly pleasures CAP. VII i Thy wages h The girdle of truth I The precious guifts of the â—pirit m Wherby there is a receit of spirituall Conceptions n Increase of the Faithfull o The Old and New Testament p Magistrates q Teachers r Glorious in all parts Å¿ The Ceremonies of the Church t Despairing soules u Young Conuerts * Opposers of the Truth x Congregation of the Faithfull y By afliction z Yong Conuerts a Assemblies b Faithfull c Faith and good Workes CAP. VIII * The vniuersal Church * Teares and sorrowes * Not to vexe and grieue his holy Spirit * In humilitie h The Church of the Gentiles then vncalled i Vncall'd to the Truth k In the great Congregation l The penitent m The presumptious