Psyche, or, Loves mysterie in XX canto's, displaying the intercourse betwixt Christ and the soule / by Joseph Beaumont ...

Author: Beaumont, Joseph, 1616-1699.1648

PSYCHE: OR LOVES MYSTERIE In XX. CANTO'S: Displaying the Intercourse Betwixt CHRIST, and the SOULE.

[...]

S. Greg. Naz. in de Carminib. suis.

By JOSEPH BEAUMONT, Mr. in Arts and Ejected Fellow of S. Peters College in Cambridge.

LONDON, Printed by John Dawson for George Boddington, and are to be sold at his Shop in Chancery-lain neer Serjants-lnn.

M. D. C. XL. VIII.

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INTO THE MOST SACRED TREASURIE OF THE Praise and Glorie OF Incarnate GOD, The Worlds most Mercifull REDEEMER; THE Vnworthiest of His Majesties CREATURES, in all possible Prostrate VENERATION, Beggs Leave to Cast This His DEDICATED MITE.

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The AUTHOR to the READER.

THE Turbulence of these Times having deprived mee of my wonted Accommodations of Study; I deliberated, For the avoyding of meer Idlenesse, what Task I might safelyest presume upon, without the Society of Books: And concluded upon Composing this Poem. In which I endeavour to represent a Soule led by divine Grace, and her Guardian Angel, (in fervent Devotion,) through the difficult Temptations and Assaults of Lust, of Pride, of Heresie, of Persecution, and of Spiritual Dereliction, to a holy and happy Departure from temporal Life, to heavenly Felicitie: Displaying by the way, the Magnalia Christi, his Incarnation and Nativitie; his Flight into AEgypt, his Fasting and Temptation, his chief Miracles, his being Sold and Betrayed, his Institution of the Holy Eucharist, his Passion, his Resurrection and Ascension; Which were his mighty Testimonies of his Love, to the Soule.

I am not ignorant, that very few Men are competent Readers of Poems, the true Genius of Poetrie being little regarded, or rather not subject at all to common Capacities: so that a discourse upon this Theam would bee to smal purpose. I know also, how little Prefacing Apologies use to be credited: Wherefore, though I had much (very much) to say, and justly, in this kinde, I will [Page] venture to cast my selfupon thy Ingenuitie, with this onely Protestation, that If any thing throughout this whol Poem, happen [against my intention] to prove Discord to the Concent of Christs Catholicke Church, I here Recant it aforehand.

My Defire is, That this Book may prompt better Wits to believe, that a Divine Theam is as capable and happy a Subject of Poetical Ornament, as any Pagan or Humane Device whatsoever. Which if I can obtain,and (into the Bargain,) Charm my Readers into any true degree of Devotion, I shall be bold to hope that I have partly reached my proposed Mark, and not continued meerly Idle.

J. B.

A Syllable of the CANTO'S.

1. The Preparative
2. Lust Conquered
3. The Girdle, or Love-token
4. The Rebellion
5. The Pacification
6. The Humiliation
7. The Great Little one
8. The Pilgrimage
9. The Temptation
10. The Marveils
11. The Traytor
12. The Banquet
13. The Death of Love
14. The Triumph of Love
15. The Poyson
16. The Antidote
17. The Mortification
18. The Persecution
19. The Dereliction
20. The Consummation.

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PSYCHE: OR LOVES MYSTERIE, In XX. Canto's; CANTO 1. The Preparative.

ARGUMENT.

INrag'd at Heav'n and Psyche, Satan lay's
His plots how to beguile the tender Mayd.
Phylax mean while a contrework doth raise,
And mustereth Joseph's Legend to her ayde;
That strengthned by this chaste example, shee
To lusts Assaults impregnable might bee.

1.ETernal Love, of sweetest Poetrie
The sweeter King, before thy gentle throne
Deign to behold prostrate Vow, and mee:
No Muse, no Gods, but thy sweet power alone
I invocate; for both his heads full low
Parnassus to thy Paradise doth bow.

2.Thy Paradise, amongst whose Hils of Joy
Those Springs of everlasting Vigour run
Which makes souls drunk with heav'n, clensing away
All earth from Dust, and angelizing men.
Great David and his Son, drench'd in these streams,
With Poets wreaths did crown their Diadems.

3.Defiance other Helicons! O may
These pretious founts my Vow and heart refine!
Deare Love, thou art my task: If ever bay
Hereafter court my Muse, it shall be thine.
My soule untun'd, unstrung doth waite on thee
To teach her how to sing thy MYSTERIE.

4.A MYSTERIE wrapp'd in so close a cloud
That the Soul.
Psyches young and well-acquainted eye
Staggers about it: yet more shades do croud
And heap their night upon its secrisie:
Feirce Belzebub, who doth in blacknesse dwell,
Would fain have all things else as dark as Hell.

5.For He th' immortall Prince of equall spight
Abhorr's all Love in every name and kinde;
But chiefely that which burn's with flames as bright
As his are dark, and which as long shall finde
Their living fuell: These enrage Him so,
That all Hel's Furies must to councell go.

6.For as the wounded Lyon in his Den
Roar's out his griefe; so from his boyling heart
A hideous groan broke forth, which thundering in
His hollow Realm, bellow'd to every Part
The frightfull summons: All the Peers below.
Their Kings voice by its soveraign stink did know.

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7.Nor dar'd they stay, by kembing to make neat
Their snarled Snakes, or draw their Tails huge trains
Into a knot, or trim their cloven feet
With iron shoes, or gather up their Chains:
Onely their hands they fill with Rage, and bring
That common Subsidie unto their King.

8.Hel's Court is built deep in a gloomie Vale,
High wall'd with strong Damnation, moated round
With flaming Brimstone: right against the Hall
Burn's a black bridge of brasse; the yards abound
With all invenom'd Herbs and Trees, more rank
And fruitlesse than on Asphaltite's bank.

9.The Gate, where fire and smoak the Porters be,
Stands alwayes ope to them that be without:
Hither flock'd all the states of miserie,
As younger Snakes, though crawling far about,
When the old Serpent's hisses summon them,
Into her patent mouth of poyson stream.

10.The Hall was roof'd with everlasting Pride,
Deep paved with Dispaire, checker'd with spight.
The Hangings were of Torments fair and wide:
The upper end presented to their sight
Great Satans Arms, drawn in an iron sheild,
A Crowned Dragon Gules in sable field.

11.On his immortall throne of Death they see
Their mounted Lord, who in one hand did bear
His Globe, (for all the world He take's to bee
By right his own,) and in the other wear
His Mace, on which ten thousand Serpents knit,
With restlesse madnesse, gnaw'd themselves and it.

12.His awfull Horns above his Crown did rise,
And made them shrink in theirs; his Forehead Was
Plated with triple Impudence; his Eyes
Were Hell reflected in a double Glasse,
Two Comets stareing in their bloody stream;
Two Beacons boyling with their pitch and flame.

13.His Mouth well-neer as wide's his Palace Door,
But much more black: his Cheeks which never could
Blush in their own, had rak'd the world for store,
And deeply dy'd their guilt in humane Blood.
His griezly Beard all singed, did confesse
What kinde of Breath us'd through his lips to presse.

14.Which as he op'd, the Centre, on whose back
His Chair of ever-fretting Pain was set,
Frighted beside it self began to quake:
Throughout all Hell the barking Hydra's shut
Their awed mouths: The silent Peers in fear
Hung down their tailes, and to their Lord gave eare.

15.Three times he shak'd his Horns; three times his Mace
He brandish'd towards Heaven; three times he spew'd
Live sulphure upward, which when on his face
It soused back, foul Blasphemy ensu'd,
So big, so loud, that his huge Mouth was split
To make a passage to his Rage and it.

16.I yeild not yet; Defiance Heaven, said He,
And though I cannot reach thee with my fier,
Or scepter, yet my Brain shall able bee
To grapple with thee, nor canst thou be higher
Than my brave spight: Know, though below I dwel,
Heaven has no stouter hearts than live in Hell.

17.For all thy confident Promise to the Seed
Of Dust-begotten Man, my Head is here
Unbroken still: When thy proud foot did tread
Me down from my own sphears, my Forehead there
Both met and scorn'd the Blow; and thou at first
(What e'r thou talk'st to Man) did'st do thy worst.

18.Courage my Lords; ye are the same who once
Ventur'd upon that high Designe with me
Against the Tyrant, call'd Heavens righteous Prince,
What though Chance stole from us the Victory?
'Twas the first time we fought; and he being in
His own Dominion might more easily win.

19.How often since have we met him mid way,
And in th' indifferent World not vainly fought!
Witnesse those Prisons where our numerous Prey
Lie's chained up, which we from Earth have brought.
Are they not Men of the same flesh and blood,
With that same Christ, who needs would be a God?

20.A pretty God, whom easily, I of late
Caus'd to be fairly hangd. Indeed he came
By stealth, and in the night broke ope Hel's gate:
But snatch'd he any Captive hence, that Fame
Might speak him valiant? No, he knew too well
That I was King, and you the Peers of Hell.

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21.But yet to save his wretched credit, He
Hi'd him beyond that Gulfe to Abraham's Den,
Who for his ready inhumanitie
Was dubb'd the Father of all faithfull Men:
How much lesse, Pilat, was thy crime I yet thou
(O righteous Heav'n!) now yellest here below.

22.His willing Captives thence He wun; (but how
Forlorn a Prize, by Lazarus you may see,
Who the late pittie of vile Dogs, was now
A speciall Saint:) And this vain victorie
Homeward He bore, with Banner proudly spred,
As if with his own Bloodt' had not been red.

23.Me think's I could permit him to possesse
That sneaking honour, so he strove not how
My Subjects from their loyaltie to presse,
And mortall Men to his obedience draw.
But, by my wrath I swear, I'le make him know
That of the Air I am the soveraign too,

24.Was't not enough, against the righteous Law
Of Primogeniture, to throw Us down
From that bright home, which all the world do's know
Was by confest inheritance our own:
But, to our shame, Man, that vile worm, must dwell
In our fair Orbs, and Heav'n with Vermin fill?

25.Ten thousand tricks and charms and mystick arts,
With all the blandishments of his sweet things,
He doth imploy, to woe these silly hearts:
Doubtlesse much like a God his Powers he brings
Into the field to gain his victorie;
Yet who, forsooth, the tempters are, but We?

26.Psyche, a simple thing, I wot, and one
Whom I as deeply scorn, as Him I spight,
He seek's to make his Prize; Psyche alone
Take's up his amorous thoughts both day and night.
Wer't not our wrong, I could contented be
The King of Heaven had such a Spouse as She.

27.But She is ours; I have design'd a Place
That must be hers, amid'st you brimstone lake,
Which shall revenge whatever in her face
Do's now her lustie God a wooer make.
He promis'd her that with the Angels shee
Should live; and so she shall, but those are We,

28.Lust, thou shalt give the Onset: Quickly dresse
Thy self with every bravery that my
Aerial kingdome yeelds, and subt'lie presse
Our contreplot: Remember but how thy
Sweet powers did once a mighty King subvert,
However fam'd to be After God's heart.

29.Then Philautie and Pride, her breast shall fill
With swelling poyson, and make her disdain
Heav'ns narrow gate, whil'st wealth it self doth spill
Into her bosome in a golden rain,
That she may seem too rich to match with One
Of a poore Carpenter the poorer Son.

30.If still demure and godly she will be;
Let Heresie teach her to grow too wise
To take up points on trust, and fooled be
By saucy Faith plainly against her eys.
Then let despaire, my dear despaire, not faile
Her Soule with Hell aforehand to assaile.

31.Nor shall the service unrewarded be,
Checking my royall bounty, as grown poor;
The Feind who captive Psyche bring's to me,
Shall her sole torturer be, and twenty more
I'l to his jurisdiction add, that yee
May know your Soveraign scorn's in debt to be.

32.Nay, for his greater honor, every night
Seven lashes he shall have at Cain's fell heart
And seven at Judas his; nor from my sight
Henceforth on any work shall he depart,
But here at my right hand shall seated bee
For ever, and blaspheam the next to mee.

33.Go then, in god's name, but that god am I,
And may my blessing go along with you:
If we that wench can catch, our subtletie
Will torture Christ, though all Heav'ns joys do flow
About him, and we shall revenge this pain
In which the tyrant doth all Us detain.

34.This said: the Senate with an hideous Roar
Applaud their Prince, and the designed Feinds
Their snakey heads thrice bowing to the floore
Take their damn'd leave. With that a tempest rends
Hel's wide mouth wider ope, that through the gate
Their cursed Progresse they may make in state.

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35.Old Tellus wonder'd what the treason was
Which then tore up her bowels; for as from
The monstrous Canons thundring mouth of brass
A sudden cloud of rage, and death doth foam,
So from beneath these hasty Furies broke;
Such was the flashing fire, and such the smoak.

36.But greater was the stink: the flowers, they say,
Frighted from their own sweets, grew faint and di'd;
Stout trees which had endured many a day
The worst of blasts, could not this breath abide;
Only some venomous weeds, whose roots from hell
Suck in their deadly living, lik'd it well.

37.Lust goes to work the first: a Spirit as foule
As he's ambitious beautifull to seem.
Uncleanesse keep's her Court amid'st his Soul,
And Poison at his mouth her breath doth stream.
Black is the fire that burneth in his eye,
Diseases thick in every member lye.

38.But Circe's and Medea's arts he knew;
For hee their tutor was The purest aire
Which on mount Liban virgin sweetnes blew
With magick nimblenes hee doth prepare,
And mould's it up so close, that it can take
The shape of any Lye he's pleas'd to make,

39.And thus the Nimph which was so loose before,
And at the mercy of each busie blast,
Become's a stiff stout man: whose face to store
With beauties purest charm's, unto the East
The spirit flyes, and in Aurora's cheeks
The best of orientall sweetnesse seek's.

40.But knowing that his breath was rank, and spoke
The place from whence he came; he turn's his flight
Into Arabia's gardens, whence he took
The flower of every flower, and spice which might
Perfume his words, that from that double bed
Of his soft lips, hee vocall Balm might shed.

41.The silk worm's wealth, the dainty ermin's skin,
And every thing that makes young Princes fine,
Into one gorgeous suit hee crouds; and in
Each seam and jag doth gold and pearl in twine.
For in his passage, as through earth he broke,
Great store of these hee from her bowels took.

42.But for the fashion, he was fain to run
To Court, and see how gallants there were drest,
Men of more various transformations, than
In Proteus wit and fiction e'r exprest.
Thus at the last accoutred to his minde
He plots where Psyche hee may safest sinde.

43.Sheeall the morning was retir'd at home
Close in the sweets of his dear companie
Who from her Lord, the King of Soules, was come
His restlesse but delicious suit to plye,
And, with exact attendance see the maid
Might to no sudden danger be betray'd.

44.In his al-ravishing looks you might descry
More reall sweets than Lust in his had fain'd;
Heav'n clearly looked out at either ey,
And in his cheeks ten thousand graces reign'd;
As many little loves their nests had made
In the curl'd amber of his daintie head.

45.He from the Rainbow, as he came that way,
Borrow'd the best of all that gorgeous store
Which after gloominesse doth make heav'n gay,
And it about his mantles border wore:
A mantle spun of milkie down which from
The Birds of his own Paradise did come.

46.Upon his lovely shoulders dwel't a pair
Of correspondent wings; the driven snow
On Scythian mountains doth in vain compare
Its virgin plum's with these, which feare no thaw:
Lesse white, lesse soft are they, and will at last
In melting tears confesse they are surpast.

47.High is his great extraction, full as high
As is the loftiest and the purest sphear:
There dwels his father Prince of Majesty;
And millions of his Bretheren are there,
Who all are Princes too: that land alone
Numberlesse Kingdoms doth contain in one.

48.When Psyche first was born, his wing he spred
With ready tendernes her to imbrace,
That she might rest in that delicious Bed,
To which all other Feathers must give place:
Great was the Mother's care and love, but yet
The Infant was to * Phylax more in debt.

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49.That was his Name; and sure he made it good:
No tutor ever spent more learned care,
The stoutest Champion never bravelier stood
For those who under his protection were,
Than Phylax did for Psyche, being able
To prove himself as strong, as she was feeble.

50.No Danger ever drew its forces neer,
But he was neerer still, and did withstand
All plots of mischeif that incounter'd her,
Arming her feebler Arm with his strong hand:
While she was weak and knew not how to goe,
He flew about, her businesse to doe.

51.As she grew greater, so his care did grow:
Her weaning time being come, he spends his art
To make her quite disrellish things below,
Which likelier were to cheat and choak the heart,
Then make it live its proper life; for she
Was born to live unto eternitie.

52.When she had learn'd to build a word aright,
He taught her heav'ns high language, and the song
Which lately in the quire of soveraign light
Incessantly dwelt upon his own tongue;
Desiring virtue might be her first growth,
And Halalujah broach her holy mouth.

53.But when she well could goe, and well discern
The way she went; he spred before her eye
Ten goodly Paths; and these you needs must learn
Say's he, to trace, as leading to the high
Gate of beatitude; God's own hand did
Draw all these tracts upon mount Sina's head.

54.Lo here is room enough: the King's high-way
Lesse kingly is then this; All Hero's who
Have climb'd above the world, wish'd not to stray
Beyond these bounds: Be but content to go
Where Saints, and where thy Lord before hath gone,
That thou mayest overtake him at his throne.

55.Thus did he gently grave upon her heart
The Characters of blisse; thus every day
He reads some lecture, least the tempters art
Her young and pliant Soule should make his prey:
But they this morning being all alone,
She beg'd a story, and he told her one.

56.My Dear, said hee, there was a youth of old
Almost as young, and no lesse faire then thou;
Upon his head smil'd a soft grove of gold,
Two small half-heav'ns were bent in either Brow;
Nor were those Hemisphears sham'd by his eys
Which the best stars above dar'd not despise.

57.All Roses blush'd when neer his lips they came,
Whose purer crimson, and whose sweeter breath
They thought (and well they might) their double shame:
No Lily ever met him in his path,
But if his hand did touch it, straight in spight
'Twas pale to see it self out-vi'd in white.

58.Faire was his stock, his sire great Jacob was,
Not by the wife whose blear and waterie eye
Did its dim self bewaile, and was the glasse
In which the world read her deformitie;
But by that Queen of Sweets, whose price seven  [...]
Doubled in service, was, yet seem'd not dear.

59.He Rachel's son, and her best beauties heire,
For her dear sake, and no lesse for his own,
Sate pretious next his Fathers soule; whose Care
Was bent his own Delights in Him to crown.
He lov'd his children all, yet far above
The rest, his Joseph he did love to love.

60.He hunts about the proudest world to buy
The choise of purest and of brightest cloth
Brisk in the Tyrian and Sidonian die,
With which he cloth's his darling, being loth
That fewer colours should adorn his coat
Than all the world in him did beauties note.

61.As when the gallant Peacock doth display
His starry Train, the winged People all
In shame and discontent do sneak away
Letting their plumes (now all our-sparkled) fall:
So Joseph's Roab by which himself did seem
So fair, his Brethren cloth's with wrath and shame.

62.'Tis true, said they, our Father, though hee were
The puny Brother, yet he ssiely did
Incroach upon the Blessing which the Heir
Was doubtlesse borne unto: But yet He sped
Onely by Craft: had Jsaac had his eys
As Jacob now, hee would have been more wise,

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63.But though the old Man lov's his luckie Cheat
So well, that hee upon his younger Son
Throw's all his Heart: We hope, no want of meat
Shall force Us willingly to be undone.
Nor any Pottage that this Boy can make
From the least He of Us our Birthright take.

64.Thus they repin'd; (not knowing there was writ
Upon Heav'ns adamantine leaves a Law
By which this scorned Youth at length should sit
In Reuben's senioritie, and grow
Like an Imperiall Branch, whose teeming Root
Set's in a living Fount its blessed Foot.)

65.Yet, in the sweetnesse of Simplicity,
Ingenuous hee relates to them his Dream:
From of my bed light Fancy carried mee
Into the field, where I with you did seem
To fall a reaping, and our sheaves binde up;
When loe, says he, to mine all yours did stoop.

66.Proud Brat, cry they, know'st thou what stooping is?
How dares thy upstart Insolence but dream
That wee thy Elders must bow down and kisse
Thy boyish foot, and tremble at thy Name?
Beleeve it Childe, tis not thy gewgaw Coat
(Though too too princely for thy back,) can doe't.

67.But hee, not knowing what their Anger ment,
Whose Breast was calme as is the upper Air,
His second Vision thus doth represent:
Last night, when all the face of heav'n was fair
And trimm'd with every Star, on his soft wings
A softer Dream mee thither gently brings.

68.Quite through the storehouse of the Air I past,
Where choise of every kinde of Weather lies;
Here Rains are bottled up, there Hail is cast
In mighty Heaps; here Banks of Snow do rise,
There furnaces of Lightning burn, and those
Long-bearded Stars which light Us to our Woes.

69.Hence came I to a dainty World: the Air
Was sweet and calme, much like my Mothers Ey,
Whom if I might, I would have sought for there:
No more of Chanaan now could I descry;
The Earth was shrunk so small, me thought I read
By that due prospect, what it was indeed.

70.But then approaching to an Orb whose flames
Like to a boundlesse Ocean flow'd about,
Foole as I was, I quak'd, untill its beams
Gave me an harmlesse kisse: I little thought
Fire could have been so milde; but surely heer
It rageth cause wee keep it from its sphear,

71.It flamed, reverend Sire, but with as sweet
An ardency as in your noble Heart
That heav'nly Zeale doth burn, whose sacred heat
Make's you Heav'ns living Holocaust; no part
Of my Dream's tender Wing felt any harme,
Our journey, not the fire, did keep Us warm.

72.But here my Guide, before I was aware,
On the Moon's lower Horne clapp'd her right hand,
And pull'd me up into a place as fair
Above this World in Worth, as it doth stand
In situation: liquid Christall here
Is the tralucid matter of of each spheare.

73.The Moon was kinde, and as wee passed by
Shew'd Us the Deed whereby the great Creator
Instated her in that large Monarchie
Shee holdeth over all the Ocean's Water;
To which a schedule was annex'd, which all
Moist Bodies too under her power doth call.

74.Now complementall Mercurie was come
As far as to the margin of his spheare,
And bid Us eloquent welcome to his Home:
Scarce could We passe, so great a crowd was there
Of Points and Lines; and nimble Wit beside
Upon the backs of thousand shapes did ride.

75.Next, matchlesse Venus her sweet face did shew,
(Bringing again my Mother to my minde,)
Which Us into her Region quickly drew:
This strew'd with youth, and smiles, and love we find;
And those all chast: 'tis this foule world below
Adulterates what from thence doth spotlesse flow.

76.Then into Phebu's Orb all pav'd with gold,
The rich reflection of his own fair Eye,
I was advanc'd; and faine I would have told
How many Crowns and scepters there did lie,
What Life, what Verdure, what Heroik Might,
What perly Spirits what sonnes of active Light:

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77.But I was hurried into Mars his spheare,
Where Envy (ô how cursed was its face!)
And Jealousie, and Feare, and Wrath, and War,
Could scarcely well agree about their place:
Yea, Engins there to vomit Fire I saw,
Whose flame & thunder Earth at length must know.

78.Welcome was Jupiter's Dominion, where
Illustrious Mildnesse round about did flow;
Religion had built her Temple there,
And Sacred Honours on its Walks did grow;
No Dignity Priests Heads shall ever crown
Which in those mysuck Gardens was not sown.

79.At length wee found old Saturn in his Bed;
 [...] much I wonder'd how an He so dull
Could  [...] thus high: His house was built of Lead,
Of dark and solitarie corners full;
Where Discontent, and Sicknesse dwellers be,
Grim Melancholie, and dead Lethargie.

80.Passing from hence into a boundlesse field,
Innumerable starrs wee Marshall'd found
In faire at ray: This earth did never yeild
Such choice of flowrie Pride, when she had crown'd
The Plains of Shechem, though the gaudy Spring
Did all its smiling Beauties thither bring.

81.A knot of Lights constellated into
A radiant Throne, on which my selfe was set.
When loe the Sun and Moon themselves did throw
Into submiss obeisance at my feet;
And then eleven great Starrs thought it no shame
To come before me, and to do like them.

82.But sure I thought it shame for mee to take
Homage of them, who was but Dust and Clay;
Big with excuse I grew, and 'gan to speak,
But then my Dream took wing and fled away.
And fly thou after it, bold Dreamer cri'd
His Brethren, who in Dreams do'st mask thy Pride.

83.Old Jacob, though he ponder'd every word
In's own prophetick Heart, and judg'd the Dream
Was not by Joseph fram'd, but by his Lord;
Thought it expedient something wroth to seem,
Having no other way that Rage to smother
He saw smoke from his Sons against their Brother.

84.But Childe, said hee, where is that Blush of thine
Which us'd to paint meek Virtue on thy face?
How dar'st thou tell a Dream which doth designe
Unto thy punie selfe such Soveraign place?
Think'st thou thy Brethren and thy Parents too
Unto the younger son must homage do?

85.Or dream no more, or else thy dream conceale
If any fancy rise which may offend:
On this condition I thy pardon seal,
And these thy Brethren shall their quarrell end.
Goe you my sons, be carefull of my sheep;
This Boy at home as meek as them I'le keep.

86.And so hee did: though with as bad successe,
As his intention was sincere and good;
Take heed how thou thy Brethrens wrath do'st presse
Said he, least it do squeaze out thine own blood.
I know their furies, and from whence they move:
O that their ground of Hate should be my Love!

87.Hast thou not mark'd how if a Flint we lay
Soft on a downie Bed, and gently smite,
Forth with its conquer'd stubbornesse gives away;
But if wee use it harshly, it will fight
Again, and spit its rage in fire, nor shall
The stoutest Hammer cool its Wrath at all.

88.Surely thy Brethrens bosoms cannot be
More hard then Hardnesse, and the Flints stiff heart:
Or if my Charity deceiveth mee,
Thy Mildnesse must be temper'd with such art
As may the softnesse of that Down exceed
Which on the Cygnet's daintie neck doth breed.

89.When they begin to bluster, give them way;
'T has often cost the boldest Cedar dear
To grapple with a storm; whilst Flowrs which lay
Themselves full low in trembling and in fear,
Waiting the leisure of the Winde, again
Rise up unbruised, and in peace remain.

90.Thus I of late thy furious Unkle met,
One who had vow'd to tear his Birthright back
And my poor life with it: I Presents set
Thick in his way, gently to him I spake,
And by submission grew superior so
That from the jaws of Wrath in peace I goe.

[Page 8]
91.And now because thy Brethren have been gone
Abroad these many dayes, least they surmise
I take no pleasure but in thee alone;
Feasting mine own on thy all-lovely eyes,
To morrow thou unto their folds shalt goe,
And in their Fathers name see how they doe.

92.Long e'r the Morn her ey-lids had with-drawn
And op'd the East into its hopes of Day,
Joseph was up and dre'st, and by his own
Fair eyes being lighted, well on in his way.
A thousand gentle phrases, as he went,
He studied how his Brethren to content.

93.But by the various beauties of his Coat
Discerning him from farre, behold said they
The saucie Dreamer comes; now we have got
So faire an opportunity to slay
Our foe, tis wisdome to prevent in time
That tyranny to which his Pride doth climbe.

94.O no, cryes Ruben, one within whose heart
More genuine drops of Jacob's blood did thrill,
He is a Childe, and acts but his own part:
Dreams are but flitting toies, but if wee spill
His harmlesse blood, the spot upon our head
Will be no Dream, beleeve't, but Guilt indeed.

95.O rather cast him into yonder pit
That hee from you may onely have his grave;
Let any other wrath that think's it fit
Give him his Death, and bury in that Cave
Your lesse offence: doubtlesse nostars will bow
To him whom from the sight of heav'n you throw.

96.As hungry Wolves upon the helplesse Lamb,
So they on Joseph fall: in vain had hee
Studied the sweetest Blandishments to frame
Of gentlest words, and meekest modestie:
With loud revilings all his prayers they drown
And stripp'd into the deep Pit throw him down.

97.When loe, a troop of Merchants passing by,
They money of their richer Brother make;
The thrifty Ismaelites admired why
For such rich ware they would so little take:
No new-dug Pearl so fair did ever look
As he, when him up from the Pit they took.

98.Yet twenty silver pieces was the price,
Which soon they paid; and now were sure they bore
To Memphi's Mart more pretious Merchandise
Than all their swelling Packs of Midian store.
And thus a Slave to strangers Joseph is,
As were his Brethren unto Avarice.

99.But yet his Coat they kept: with this, said they
Jacob vex'd us, and wee'l vex him again.
A Kid they take, as innocent a prey
As Joseph was, and with its Blood they stain
The Roab; which they unto their Father sent
Blushing for them whose own shame all was spent.

100.And well he knew't. O me the good Man cryes,
It is my Ioseph's Coat, all torn and rent,
And bloody too: Be free my weeping eyes,
Y' have nothing now to doe but to lament.
That onely day which joy'd and blest your sight,
My darlings face, lyes buried in night.

101.Dear Coat, behold I rend mine own with thee,
Which is lesse worthy to be whole than thou.
Sure some wilde Beast thy Master tore, and me
Together with him, though I felt not how.
(It did indeed, for it was spight, a Beast
Of all inhumane things the salvagest.)

102.Sweet Childe, I hop'd to have prevented thee
In seeing Rachel thy departed Mother:
But surely long behinde I will not bee,
Thy death brings grief enough my life to smother;
I'l come as fast as an old Man can doe,
And see you Both: Peace friends, it must be so.

103.But Ioseph now was into Egypt brought
And set to sale: One Potiphar, by place
Captain of Pharaoh's guard, the strippling bought;
And reading plain in his ingenuous face
Pure characters of worth, hee doubted not
Some more than common trust in him to put.

104.Nor did the issue ever flag below
His expectation; for fidelitie,
For care, for prudence, his example now
The onely Rule unto the rest must bee:
No task was set, but every servant bid
To minde his severall Charge as Ioseph did.

[Page 9]
105.But how could they keep pace with him who was
Both led and hastned on by Heavn's high hand,
And made through all Successe's Paths to passe;
Which when his Master 'gan to understand
With pious wisdome, thus concluded hee:
My servant has some greater Lord than me.

106.Wherefore contented only with the name
Of Master, him he trust's with every Key
Of highest care and charge, and bids him frame
As he thought best all his Oeconomy.
Thus did this unknown slave the Lord become
Though not of his owne Lord, yet, of his Home.

107.But whil'st this honoured Steward doth allure.
All other eys to reverentiall Love;
His Mistresse's grew sick of an impure
And black disease; which did it self improve
Unto that strength, that now abroad it fly's
Like Basilisk's beams, to poyson neighbour eys.

108.At first it slept in that invenom'd lake
Which in Hell's bottome stink's; from whence a feind
It in a red hot viall up did take,
And flying thither, b [...] soft degrees did blend
It with Potiphera's blood, whose tainted veins
Were strait made Chanels of Lust's boyling pains.

109.Though Ioseph's Uirtue might aforehand be
Assurance of deniall, yet her flame
With such impatient fury burnt, that she
All amorous enchantments tries, to tame
His rigid heart. (and Lust too oft we see
In point of wit's too hard for Chastity.)

110.What ever Word is spoke to Ioseph's praise
Her echo doubles it, and doth supply
Some more pathetike and transcendent phrase
To raise his merit to a pitch so high,
That He oblig'd in modestie might seem
To render back that honour done to him.

111.If any Bit were choise, she thought it due
To Ioseph's palate more than to her owne;
The rarest flow'r which in her garden grew
Must be cull'd out, and wreath'd into a Crown,
Or some quaint posie which her self invents,
And every Morning unto him presents.

112.If he be well, she dares not but be so;
If he be sick, she scorneth to be well,
And yet about him will be busie too
To hold his head, or hand, his cup to fill,
His meat to dresse, yea and his bed to warm,
And watch all night that Ioseph takes no harm.

113.Whate'r she sees or sweet, or rich, or rare,
She something in his Body findeth still
To which those pretious things she may compare:
With his own praises she his ears doth fil,
And often cries, How blessed should I be,
If Potiphar were such an one as Thee.

114.He kend that craftie Language for a while
No more than doe's the Lark the fowlers Pipe:
But when he 'gan to smell her dangerous Wile,
Whose own stink did betray't; He strove to wipe
Away those praises she so thick did strow,
And by his own Blush reach her what to doe.

115.Oft would he take occasion to proclaim
How sweet, how brave a man his Master was;
And never fail to blesse Potiphera's Name
And praise her fortunes, who for husband has
Virtue's own Spouse: But most he lov'd to tell
How for his Chastity he did excell.

116.This Word of all the rest, most deeply stung
Her unchast heart: She now resolv's no more
To rack her self within, but plainly bring
To light her darksome torment, and before
Ioseph's own face her wounded bosome ope
That so the wound in pitty he might stop.

117.Sweet Sir, said she, (when both alone they were,)
In our Egyptian Hieroglyphicks You
Seem to be little studied; wherefore here
I'm come to be your Tutoresse, and bestow
My dearest skill, being greived much to see
You in the best of Arts unlearn'd should bee.

118.The language of that Love, and of that praise
I showred thick upon you day by day,
You understood not, though ten thousand ways
I tri'd to write it plain: And what I pray,
Meant all that sweet adoe, but onely this,
Potiphera in love with Joseph is?

[Page 10]
119.Nay start not at the Word, but hear how I
With solid arguments can make it good:
'Tis sacriledge to let Divinity
Passe by unlov'd: you' banks of Nilu's flood
Nee'r saw Serapis half so God-like, as
Thou in this garden up and down do'st passe.

120.Thou passest up and down, and in thy way
The choisest flow'rs instructest with thine eye
How to look brisk and brave, how to display
Some pritty beam of amorous Majesty.
Thou passest up and down, and with thy feet
Teachest the beds of Spices to grow sweet.

121.When on yon' christall fountain thou do'st look
The Nimph cannot but smile to think that she
Is by thy self each Evening made the book
Where thy sweet face thou printest. Wo is me
Why was I not a fountain too, that thou
Thy dear impression might'st on me bestow!

122.The  [...] betimes repaireth to thine eye
And asks what weather Heav'n shall have that day:
In vaine the Clouds combine to damp the skie
If thou thy beams with freedom dost display:
If thou but lowr'st, in vain the foolish Aire
Forceth her self to smile and to look faire,

123.What fooles are our Egyptians to spend
Their time and brains upon the stars above,
To finde what kinde of seasons they will send?
'Tis Heresie, say I, but to remove
Above the Orb of thine illustrious eye.
The fairest book of best Astronomie.

124.As from Arabia windes this way doe blow,
From thy fair mouth they suatch thy balmie breath
Into their own; and as they forward flie
With gallant odours they perfume their path:
The world admires whence such rich blasts should file,
But none the sweet Originall know but I.

125.For strange unto thy self thou need's wilt be,
And take no notice of all excellence
Which in thy heart doth hold its Monarchie.
I tell thee sweet, 'tis but a fond pretence
Which thou call'st modestie, and might undoe thee
If Providence had not sent me unto thee.

126.Can'st thou imagin nature ever meant
To plant the best of all her store in thee
There to lie hid and die, and not be spent
In the free course of naturall charitie?
Let those be chaste who can no love invite,
'Twere sin in thee, who art made for delight.

127.Indeed the other Phoenix having none
Of his own feathered kinde, is fain to spend
His virgin love upon himself alone,
And 'gin his life again by its strange end:
His amorous flames kill and revive him so
That to himself he's Son and Father too.

128.But thou, as rich and faire a thing as hee,
Hast other fuell for thy fire: loe here
I ready dryed am with thirst to be
Its Sacrifice: I will thy bed prepare
With such abundant sweets as shall contest
With all the spices of the Phoenix nest.

129.Why stay wee then? The good man's now from home
As he is from my heart; which both are thine.
No matter for this Day, I'l make Night come,
(If thou wilt go,) and cloud up our design:
Close are my curtains, and no tales they tell:
Come then my dearer selfe, all shall be well.

130.No haste, cryes he; but if thou lov'st me so,
Hear me a little as I thee have done;
Haste very seldome with successe doth go,
But doth all fortune but the bad out-run.
How then can headlong Lust a good end finde
When both it self and its fond God are blinde?

131.Were they not so, how could'st thou me invite
To those strange joyes which must lie sneaking in
Thy guilty curtains, and avoid the light
As one too faire a witnesse for a sin
So foule and black! By this, aforehand thou
Ashamed art of what thou fain would'st doe.

132.I was a Slave unto my Master brought,
And unto you, in him; but not to Lust:
Yet my desert, or his mistake hath wrought
So great a change, that hee puts mee in trust
Withall the care of his large familie,
Whereof he Father, I must Ruler be.

[Page 11]
133.Thus did He give me fredome from the bands
Of servitude, but not of Virtue too:
O no, this obligation stricter stands,
And Joseph must more hearty homage doe
To Potiphar, than those who still doe ly
Bound in the bottom of their slavery.

134.Himself He never gave into my hand,
Therefore not Thee, who art all one with Him:
Nor could He doe it: for so close a Band
Does cement you together, that no lim
Of his own body Natur's hand did joyn
Neerer unto himself, than is all thine.

135.And though He be not here, God's round about
And in the mid'st between ev'n Me and Thee;
His eye needs make no search to finde Us out,
Which Us, before we were at all, did see.
I would not wrong my Master, but much lesse
Offend that God, who is my Lord and his.

136.A Lord so pure that wee may safelier gaze
Upon the burnish'd sun's meridian beams,
Than hee can fix his eye upon God's face;
A face whence such excesse of Lustre streams,
That hee in mercy casts on us below
A veil, which, though wee cannot, he look's through.

137.He looks through that, and through all Curtains too
Which we our selves upon our sins would draw.
Far be that fondnes then, that wee should goe
And seek some secret place to break his Law,
Exposing to his most refined eye
The foulest of all spotts, Adultery.

138.A spot which would make mee so black, that thou
Who now both lov'st me and admirst' me so,
For meer deformity would'st never know
Me more, but scorn'd and hated let me goe:
So would I do my self, and never stay
With Joseph, knew I how to run away,

139.Ask or command me any thing beside:
If you will send me to the farthest Sea
To fetch you pearls, the Sun shall not out-ride
My restlesse course, nor any Jewels bee
Treasur'd so deep in the profoundest Main,
But I will dig them thence, and come again.

140.Or if you please I will revenge your wrong
Upon these sweets of my inchanting face,
Which have abus'd and tempted you so long:
These nailes of mine shall all those Charms erase
And cut such ghastly wounds as soon shall cure
Those which my beautie made your heart endure,

141.I will transform my self into a State
Which more your Pittie, than your love, shall crave;
Or if this love of mine must reap your hate,
Somewhere or other I shall finde a grave,
And there with greater comfort rest my head,
Than if I slept on your delicious bed,

142.As when a mighty torrent hasting on,
Is by some sturdy bank forc'd back again,
The waters roar and foam and swell upon
Themselves for spight to see their strength was vain;
So did Potiphera's heart, whose lustfull course
Unshaken Joseph back again did force.

143.A thousand Passions boiling in her breast
Raise up a tempest of impatient flames.
Still night, which to all others sealeth rest,
Waken her cares; Her bed with torments streams
'Cause Joseph is not there. (O where may we
With heav'nly love a Soule thus wounded see!)

144.She has no rellish of the dàintiest meat,
But onely on distracted thoughts she feeds;
The spiced wine to other palates sweet
Mocks hers alone, and odious loathing breeds:
Thick sighs and tears from her own mouth and eys
Echo the storm which in her heart did rise.

145.Oft she renewed her suit, but su'd in vain:
At last grown faint and sick, she ask's him how
He would her Murder answer? Such a stain
Will ill become, said she, thy dainty brow;
In the unnaturall furrows of whose frown
The seeds of my unhappy death are sown.

146.But when this mov'd him not, who like a Rock
Stood firm upon his solid Chastitie:
Her finall resolution she awoke,
And all her strength with it, that she might be
Provided to correct her loves mishap
By valiant managing her plotted Rape.

[Page 12]
147.Watching her time she takes him all alone,
And harpy-like, one Tallon clapping fast
Upon his Clothes, least hee away should run,
Her other Arm about his neck she cast:
Loose was her Coat, and shewed her more full
Then he desir d to see, or I to tell.

148.Thou art my prisoner now, said she, as I
Have long bin thine, though thou did'st scorn thy prize;
But I'm resolv'd of thy Captivitie
To make some use: Thou shalt no more despise
My prayers, for I command thee now to be
Whither thou wilt or no, happy with Mee.

149.Perhaps thy needles Maiden modesty
Stay'd, by thy Lover to be ravished:
Then be it so; But if thou still deny
My loyall Love; I swear by thine own Head
(Which yet I onely worship,) that no blood
But from, thy Heart shall these my Wrongs make good.

150.I will exclaim, and tell the houshold how
With lustfull force thou here surprised'st Me:
This monstrous Crime will cost thy life: for know
My Ly can soon out-face thy Veritie.
Had'st thou not better take thy pleasure here
Than be for nothing thought a Ravisher?

151.Whil'st thus Her lust foam'd: Joseph makes all haste
How to escape; and loosning secretly
His upper garment, which she grasp'd so fast,
Leaves that to Her, and out himself doth flye.
Wise Serpents thus their Ears against the Charm
Do stop, and cast their skins to scape the harm.

152.Potiphera an hideous out-cry  [...];
Her Handmaid first, then the whole familie
Scar'd with the noise, into her Chamber breaks;
Where on her Bed, hearing a wofull sigh,
Behold, said she, this garment: Which of you
Would think the Hebrew slave so bold should grow?

153.He thought, because his Master was from home,
My faith had been so too: He thought that he
Might as his Lords Vice-gerent, freely come
And challenge right unto my chastitie.
'Twas time to cry: which I no sooner did,
But hee, the guilty Hypocrite, was fled.

154.He fled, but left for fearfull haste, behinde,
That Pledge of his unfort'nate impudence:
For, confident he me should willing finde,
He gun to doff his Cloths: Come bear me hence
From this curs'd place; but bring the Cloak with me
That Potiphar his Dailings Badge may see.

155.When he came home she met him with this Lye
And threw the garment to Him for her proof.
He took no time the businesse to try,
But judg'd that argument more than enough.
Joseph's to Prison sent, a place lesse warm
To him, but sweeter than his Mistresse arm.

156.He lay not long oppressed with his Chain,
But ev'n the Jaylor He his Prisoner takes:
Such pow'rfull sweetnes doth in Virtue reign
That all Spectators she her subjects makes.
Heav'n would not suffer other Bonds to hold
Him whom Lust's Chains and Charms could not in­fold.

157.The Keeper now keeps nothing but his name.
The Keys at Joseph's girdle hang, and He
Is in this closer Stewardship the same
He was in Potiphar's large familie:
Yet has no Mistresse which might make him be
As ill in Prison, as when He was free.

158.At length the guerdon of his worth drew neer,
And dreams which had occasion'd his low state
Help him to climbe up into glories sphear:
The great designs which uncontrolled Fate
Was into Egypt ready now to bring
Are in a mystick vision shew'd the King.

159.Their curious brains the old Magitians beat
About the Riddle, but were all too weak
To peirce that mighty cloud wherein the great
Secret inshrined lay: The King must seek
Some wiser Head; and whod'yee think was hee
But this young Hebrew? this the Man must be.

160.He teacheth Pharaoh what the Kine did mean
Heav'n shew'd him feeding upon Nilu's shore;
Why sev'n were wonderous fat, and sev'n as Lean,
Which did portend the famine, Which the store,
What both the kindes of Corn foretold, what cares
Were requisite against the following years.

[Page 13]
161.First, thanks to Heav'n cryes Pharaoh, then to thee
In whom its Spirit I so plain descrie:
And who can better my assistant be,
Then he who holds all wisdom's Monarchy?
The throne and scepter shall continue mine,
But all the rest of Egypt shall be thine.

162.Then his own Ring, his royall Love to seale,
On Joseph's hand he puts, and him invest's
With purest Linnen: on his neck, which steel
Had lately gall'd, a golden chain he cast's;
And his own second Chariot to him gave,
Who lately into Egypt trudg'd a slave.

163.Thus what hee was to Potiphar before,
What to the Taylor, now hee's to the King;
The soveraign Steward and the Governour
(Set but his Prince aside,) of every thing.
And here at length, to justifie his dream,
His Father and his Bretheren reverenc'd him.

164.Thus Chastitie's pure King his Champion sees
Amply repaid, who having got Command
Of his own flesh and blood, can rule with ease
A Kingdoms reins in his unspotted Hand.
Take notice Psyche, and remember this:
The Case may once be thine, which here was His.

PSYCHE: OR LOVES MYSTERIE. CANTO II. Lust Conquered.

ARGUMENT.

Lust, who in ambush lay, the On-set gives
To carelesse Psyche, as she gad's abroad:
Charis the over-powred Maid reliev's;
Phvlax unmask's the Feind: Her penitent flood
Psyche pour's out, and is encourag'd by
An heav'nly Dream to honour Chastity.

1.NO foolish Tinder ever yet did catch
In its soft amorous Arms the straggling, spark,
And with such desperate zeale make haste to hatch
Its own destruction; as fond Man doth mark
And treasure up those fair-fac'd Counsels which
With fatall Charm's his heedlesse heart bewitch.

2.No wretched Adder ever sealed up
His wary eare with trustier Cement; than
With wretchlesse obstinacy He doth stop
His memories unhappy Portalls, when
Wholesome Advise with sweetnes woo's it, and
Long knocking for admission doth stand.

[Page 14]
3.Or, if at length a wicket  [...] he sets,
His sleighted guest in some our-roome he lay's:
But when vain fancie or seduction beats
Summons upon his gates, He them display's,
And let's these strangers thrust quite out of door
The former, who were scarcely in before.

4.For as the Honey of Heav'ns dainty Hives,
The summer Clouds, snugging in laps of flow'rs,
That correspondent Dwelling quickly leaves
To churlish drops of lesse deserving show'rs,
Or rankling Mil-dew, which such venome shed's
As soon deflow'reth all those Virgin Beds:

5.So far'd it now with Psyche's carelesse Breast
On which more dainties drop'd from Phylax tongue
Than on Hyblean hils e'r made its nest.
Abroad she will, and please her selfe among
The fields wide sweets, forgeting that some winde
Might steale upon, and blast her honyed minde.

6.The sportfull Twins of heav'n now 'gan to reign,
And brought a season fitting for their play;
Thick did they scatter upon every Plain
A flowry verdure and dishevell May
Round about Tellu's face, who now beguiles
Her Winters sadnesse with this moneth of smiles.

7.Psyche would fain have wander'd out alone,
But that Conscience.
Syneidesis her trustie Maid
Hunted out every step where she had gone;
And divine grace.
Charis an old friend of hers, afrayd
What might befall the Virgin, follow'd too,
Yet in her company forbore to goe.

8.As pleasures paths she in the fields did trace,
It joy'd her much the tender lambs to see
Skipping in harmlesse sport from place to place;
And who would be so sad and dull, said she
To  [...] at home, when thus abroad we may
Behold how sweetly Innocence doth play.

9.No smiling flow'r could meet her as she went,
But gathering it, she with a kisse would pay
The courteous price of that delicious scent
It had so freely pow'red in her way:
And still cryes out, how poore a place is home
Which for such pleasure, can afford no room!

10.Thus loosely tripping on, she came at last
Through pathlesse Paths unto a pleasant Grove;
The gentle Windes through the faire Trees made haste,
And in her face a gale of Odours drove.
Needs would she enter, and see whither this
Were not the Copy of old Paradise.

11.The courteous Boughs laden with generous spice
Stoop'd to salute her as she enter'd in,
And bid her pluck what Fruit best pleas'd her eys;
But there was none but did amazement win:
Shee looks about, yet know's not which to choose,
And in those sweets her sweeter self doth loose.

12.When on the sudden from a neighbour tree
Her ears were captiv'd, as before her eyes:
The mystick Chains of purest Harmonie
Did with a soft inchantment her surprise:
A winged Quire having new tun'd their throats,
Were running over their exactest notes.

13.Divided thus with Pleasures, she does look
Where she may sit her self to recollect:
Close by, she gliding spies a silver Brook
Whose gorgecus bank with golden flow'rs was deckt.
There sitting down, once more, adieu, said she,
Dull home, which no such seat could'st spread for me.

14.Syneidesis, her Mistresse being set,
Pitch'd down behinde her, and fell fast asleep.
Old * Charis kept aloof, resolv'd to let
The venturous Virgin some experience reap
Of her fond confidence, who needs would stray
Like some vain Childe, so far from home, to play.

15.When loe into the Grove a monstrous Boar
Wilder than was that place, did roaring come,
And brought more terrour thither, than before
Appear'd delight. Never did whiter foam
Smoke on the Oceans stormy face, than now
This hideous Beast about his own did throw.

16.As are the Comet's, feirce with ominous light,
Such were his eyes compos'd of fire and blood:
His dreadfull tusks, the engins of his spight,
Held forth their greedy heads, and ready stood
To tear their Prey; stern bristles hedg'd up high
His back, which did all wrath of thorns defie.

[Page 15]
17.Straight startled out of her unfortunate pleasure
Away flies Psyche on the wings of fear;
Whose steps the hungry Beast as fast did measure,
And swallow'd up the way, to tear down her.
Loud were his roars, yet her shreeks did transcend,
Which heav'n and earth and her own throat did rend.

18.Phylax her ever trustie friend was neer,
Flying from tree to tree still as she ran,
But was by heav'n forbidden to appear
And reskew her who needs would be undone.
He was forbid to reskew her till shee
Had deeper felt her dangerous vanitie.

19.Her long flight having now shortned her breath,
Which 'twixt her trembling lips lay strugling, she
Cryes out, dear Phylax from these jaws of death
The monster opes so wide, deliver mee.
Where is thy God and mine, which loves me so,
Where is he now? O what shall Psyche doe!

20.Here helplesse feare and fainting threw her down
Unto the ready Beast an easie prey,
Whose hasty tusk had through her dainty gown
Unto her softer body tore its way:
When loe a sudden speare flew through his neck,
And frighted on the ground return'd him back.

21.A lusty gallant, the Spirit of Lust.
Aphrodisius hight,
Who in that luckie instant thither came,
Directed it; and straight, with equall might
Drew out his glittering blade; whose dreadfull flame
A forehand strook the dazeled mouster dead,
Whose edge took from him both his prey and head.

22.This done, he gently takes the virgin up;
Then with a courtly kisse he give's her joy
That she was safe. She scarce had power to ope
Her eyes, seal'd close with desperate dismay;
But when she saw the slaughter'd Boar, and him
As sweet and faire, as that was foule and grim;

23.I see there are more Phylaxes than one
Cryes she: This life, dear sir, which heretofore
Was mine, your love hath now made yours alone:
For my part, I had left it to that Boar,
And laid me down to measure out my grave;
Whence you to me this resurrection gave.

24.Yet trust me sir, a life you have not given
To one who can forget by whom she lives:
Whether you come from earth, or rather heav'n,
(For seldome earth such strange salvation gives,)
My soule, big with just thanks, would learn and see
Whether my debt divine or humane bee.

25.Lady, say's Aphrodisius, first repose
Your selfe a while; a little way from hence,
(For well I know this place) a Current goes
Between two flowrie banks: there will I rinse
My bloody hands; there shall you sit and hear
A wounderous story, and due to your ear.

26.It was the place where she before had been:
Thither they go; and thither Phylax flyes,
Perching upon a neighbour tree unseen:
The gallant wash'd his hands; and she her eyes,
But in her own soft tears of joy, to think
How she had com from death's to that brook's brink.

27.Then on the flowry Couch by her he sits,
And ushers in his talk with cunning sighs,
His feigned cheeks with lying tears he wets,
Three times he strikes his breast, three times his eyes
He casts up to wards heav'n, three times he smiles,
And sigh's again, and her as oft beguiles.

28.At length: I am said he, a man who by
My birth as deep ingag'd to fortune stand
As any hee that lives, if Majestie
Crown not his head, and Scepter load his hand.
My stock's the noblest in this land but one,
Nor bears it any branch but me alone.

29.This made my loving Lord and Father spare
No pains or cost which might his Son adorn:
From learned Athens tutors hired were
Whom first the wings of fame had hither born:
Athens they left, but brought with them to me
From thence the truer Universitie.

30.Thus did the curious wit of Greece become
A member of our private family,
And I with all the world convers'd at home;
Yea in their dialects too, as fast as I
Could my young breath transform: nor was it long
E'r many sate upon my single tongue.

[Page 16]
31.A quick survey of all those steps I took
By which Philosophers have Nature traced;
Then Mathematicks were my busie books;
A thousand lines I placed and displaced:
To Heav'n upon the Artists Staff I went,
And studied round about the firmament.

32.Of Optick lines and rays the powers I saw;
In Musicks mystick sweets unwearied Pains
I spent long nights and dayes, and strove to know
What reason married concording strains,
What divorc'd discords: never, I confesse,
Did any knot so pose my brains, as this.

33.The treasures of Antiquity, laid up
In old Historick leav's I opened:
How Kingdoms sprung, and how they made their stop
I well observ'd; with what brave Spirits did,
How they their honours managed, and what
The beams of their nobility did blot.

34.My recreations were those which some
Made their whole work, and it was noble too:
When weary from my  [...] I was come,
To practise martiall feats I went, and so
In both her brave professions I strove
To follow Pallas, whom I most did love.

35.Oft have I been abroad, and seen the field
With streaming ensigns goodly terror spred;
Where how much more I lov'd to die, than yeild,
Upon my breast good witnesse you may read,
Ev'n these sev'n wounds, whose mouths, once open wide,
In mine own blood my virtue testifi'd.

36.Oft have I rode alone into the Wood
To finde some wilde Antagonist, some Bear,
Some Boar, some Lyon, the accustomed foode
Wherewith I diet this my hungry speare:
You well may gather by the certain Blow
I gave yon' Beast, I am no Learner now.

37.And will you think Pride speaks the word, if here
I tell you that my Fame swell'd great and high?
In  [...], in City, Country, every where,
Reports of Aphrodisiu's Worth did flie:
No high strain'd Parallel was made, but thus,
As good, or brave, as Aphrodisius.

38.To Court I never went, but fewer eyes
Paid homage to the King's, than unto Mine:
Devoutly did the Ladies sacrifice
Their Looks, and Sighs, and Languors, at my shrine;
Oft has the Queen gone out alone, whilst they
Forgot to follow Her, if I did stay.

39.How many a prettie Embasie have I
Receiv'd from them, which put me to my Wit
How not to understand! but by and by
Some Comment would come smiling after it.
But I had other thoughts to fill my head,
Books call'd Me up, and Books put Me to bed.

40.This my Disease being known, a Lady sped
To me an handfull of conceit, cloth'd in
So quaint a Cover, that on it I read
Full half an houre before I could begin
To ope the book: and what did that contain,
But a discourse to prove all Learning vain.

41.Bold Title, then said I, if thou can'st make
Thy Promise good, by learning thou must do it.
With that, I threw't aside: but could not slake
My curious fond desire to look into it.
I look'd and read, and saw how finely wit
Had whip'd it self: and then grew freinds with it.

42.Then summon'd by Civility I went
To court the Giver, and my thanks repay.
Look not, said I, for polish'd complement,
I came not hither Madame to gain-say,
But thank you for your book: if learning be
So vain a thing, Wit would prove foolerie.

43.Between a blush and smile, she welcome gave
To her new Convert. But, sweet sir, said she,
I sent another book, in which you have
More of my minde than in those leaves can be;
A faire-writ book, if you it please to prove,
In rubrick lines, and characters of love.

44.I gave not that: O no, it was a Debt
Which I did to all sweetnes pay in you.
How could I choose? for had I more than it,
They would be more than due: but having now
But onely one poore heart, your praise must be
Not to disdain my helplesse povertie.

[Page 17]
45.I would not for a thousand Worlds receive
It back again: How delicate a Nest
In your all-lovely bosome shall it have,
If by that favour you will make it blest!
If thence you cast it, take't who will, for Me,
Ine'r shall love what hated is by thee.

46.Yet give Me leave to ask what Lady 'tis
Thou wilt exalt to sit Queen in thy Heart:
Whether her face more gracefull be than this
Which blusheth heer in pleading its own part:
Whether her Stock or her Estate afford
More arguments than mine, to wooe my Lord.

47.If not: then by these loyall Tears I shed
Before thy feet, this my bold Truth forgive;
Thy love is due to me. Heav'n never did
Make such a Man, for nothing but to Live.
Thou ow'st an Off-spring to the World which may
With Hero's furnish it another day.

48.As when the Pris'ner at the Barre has done
His  [...] storie; he does fix his eye
Upon the Judge, and from his mouth alone
In hopes and fears expects his Destiny:
So look'd the Lady, with prepared eyes
To see her Joys, or weep her Obsequies.

49.Full loth was I to speak; but lother by
Inhumane lingring Silence to torment
Her most suspended soul, and make her dy
Without her Sentence. Many a sigh I sent
Before, to tell what Words were comming out;
At last, this labouring Answer forth I brought.

50.How wretched is his Blisse, upon whose Heart
Whil'st divers Ladies of choise Worth attend
With Loyall passion; He must either part,
And so destroy, his own; or empty send
Them all away but One, and thus be fain
By many a losse, to make one single Gain!

51.Had I as many bosomes as I owe
To such sweet Creditors as Thou, with speed
I would discharge my scores; but first, I vow
To thee, dear Lady, in whose Worth I read
Such sweet Attraction, that were I to choose
My Heav'n, for Thee I would all other loose.

52.But now my choise is made, and long agoe
Unto another I affianc'd was:
But who's that Lady, is a secret so
Divine, that from these Lipps it ne'r did passe:
My reverend Mother oft with tears hath sought,
But never could prevail to wring it out.

53.Yet I thy noble Bosome honour so,
That I dare trust it there: onely be sure
To keep this Jewell close, as thou would'st doe
My Heart, a thing lesse pretious and lesse pure.
Yet give me leave to cast this Charm about,
For fear thou lett'st it and my Life slip out.

54.So may thy Heart-strings hold thy Heart, as Thou
This Mysterie of mine: so may thy Love
Be true to Thee, and to thy Wishes bow,
As to my secret Thou shalt trusty prove:
So may thine Angell hugg thy soul, and keep
It close, as in thy Breast this Thing shall sleep:

55.A Thing which mine own Guardian Angell did
Acquaint and blesse Me with. When through mine Eys
Love first began his amorous beams to shed
And with his soft Desires my Heart surprise;
This winged Friend of mine look'd through a frown,
And told me that my Heart was not mine own.

56.It is, said he, thy priviledge (and see
Thou thank Heav'n for it,) not to run and spend
Thy Youth upon this wanton Mysterie:
Let Others study how to Walk, to Bend,
To Vault, to Dance, to Kisse, to Wooe; For thee
More sweet and generous Arts reserved be.

57.Goe court thy Books, and gaine such Treasure there
As may inhance thy worth, and make thee be
A fitting Match for Her whom Heav'ns prepare
To be thy Spouse: whose face when thou shalt see,
The reading on that fair-writ Book of Love,
For all thy studies ample Pay will prove.

58.Yet to yon' southern Grove thou every Day
Must Pilgrim goe, where thou thy Saint shalt meet,
And of a Monsters make her thine own Prey;
That with no other Word she thee may greet
But plain Confession that thine is her Life:
Thus Heav'n contriv's that thou shalt win thy Wife.

[Page 18]
59.These are my Fortunes, Madam, yet unknown
Ev'n by the sweeter Half unto my Self:
And sure your hand would help to thrust me down
Into the bottom of all torments gulph,
Should Wantonnesse invite Me to despise
A Blessing higher than my Pride could rise.

60.Then happy She, the Lady crie's, who e'r
She be, that must hugg Happines in you.
And yet permit mine Eye one other Teare:
'Tis not of Envy; No: Deare Sir, Adieu.
It pittied me to see this gentle fashion
Of her sincere, but unsuccesfull Passion,

61.We parting thus; I hasted to this Grove,
Amongst whose spicy trees I knew would grow
My sweeter Hopes. But Heav'n it seems, would prove
The valour of my Patience, and throw
Procrastinations in my way, that I
Might earne its favour by my Constancy.

62.How often came I, and with bended knee
On every flowrie Cushion of the Grove
Implor'd the speed of my Felicity!
How oft in this sweet Temple has great Love
Receiv'd mine Heart an Off'ring all on Fire
With flames of soft but vehement desire!

63.At length my Prayers were heard, and this deare day
Did in that blessed Moment send mee hither,
Which shew'd mee that my long expected Joy
Was now full grown and ripe enough to gather.
Had I not pluck'd it streight, the Monster had
Of all its Sweetnes his foule Booty made.

64.First then to Heav'n my full-tide thanks I pay:
And next, to Thee my noble Guardian, who
Before my hopes no forged Bait did'st lay:
Each smallest Circumstance agreeth so,
That this the Lady is, and none but She
Design'd by Heav'n to crown my joys, and Me.

65.All Blessings on thy head my Psyche: that
I know for certain needs must be thy Name;
That Angell told me it, whose counsell put
Me on this bless'd adventure, when I came
To save thy life both for thy self and mee,
And make of thine my joynt Felicity.

66.Heer then my Heart I give thee, and I seal
The Deed with this true Kisse: May Curses rain
Thick on my head, if ever I repeal
What I have done, or challenge back again
This gift of mine, whose fault is onely this,
Of thy Desert it to unworthy is.

67.The Seaman by some furious Tempest thrown
Into the seeming Depth of roaring Death,
If he by suddaine Fortune back be blowne
Into the gentle Harbour; wondereth
At his strange safety, and scarce trusts his eys;
But doubts a long time whither he live's or die's:

68.So Psyche snatch'd from Dangers desperate jaws
Into the Arms of this illustrious Lover,
The truth of her condition hardly knows,
But in suspensive thoughts a while doth hover.
Deceive me not, saith she, a frighted Mayd,
To poore, great Sir, by you to be betray'd.

69.If still I live, and all this be no Dream,
(For sure your story's such an heavn'ly thing,
That simple I, alas, unworthy seeme
To be concern'd in it.) Be pleas'd to bring
Some further proof: Where Miracles are done,
Faith must have open Helps to bring her on.

70.Then be the first proof, Aphrodisius cries,
This Diamond Ring, in which thy self mayst see
The radiant Copy of thine owne fair eys:
The next this Jewell; what thou art to Me
Let that attest: yet pardon me, that I
Gave it that pretious Name, now thou art by.

71.The third that delicate Imbrace shall be
For which all Loves are kindled: that which will
The sweetest of Assurance give to thee,
And my great Guardians Prophesie fulfill.
Come, I can give thee leave to blush; a Maid
Of what she loves most, must be most afraid.

72.Were not our Case Divine, awhile I'd stay,
And by our Humane Ceremonies marry:
But we did Wed above; and what can they
Add to Heavn's Rites? O no: 'tis sinne to tarrie:
My Angell would have told me, (never feare,)
Had it been otherwise; Come then my Deare.

[Page 19]
73.Forgetfull Psyche now enchanted quite
By these his glorious Wiles, set ope her Breast
Unto the Fancies of unclean Delight;
Forthwith a Knot of unseen Serpents prest
Into her heart, and set it so on fire,
That straight it flamed out with foul Desire.

74.But Phylax instantly descry'd the flame,
And wakeing up Syneidesis, He cries,
Run run, and help to save your dying Dame:
Look how her funerall flames already rise.
Up gets the Mayd, and instantly thrusts in
Between the Lovers and their ready sin.

75.Psyche starts back, whil st shame so heavy sate
Upon her Eyes, that down it pressed them.
 [...] Wretch, cries Aphrodifius, what
Has made thy Life so vile, that thou dost come
To forfeit it to me? I prithee goe,
Die somewhere else; I'd be no Womans Foe.

76.O then, says she, Forbear to stain my pure
And spotlesse Mistris. Fie, cries Psyche, fie,
I know her not: My Lord, will you indure
I should such saucie Servants own, as she?
Be it another proof of your strong Love,
From Me this troublesome Creature to remove.

77.He, having sleeping in a Box of Jett
A blacker Liquor drawn from Lethe lake,
Upon Syneidesis straight emptied it.
She rubb'd her eyes: but found her selfe too weak
To grapple with that stupor which did creep
Upon her Brow, and down she fell asleep.

78.As when the Childe first venturing on his feet,
Carelesly stumbles to some Precipice.
His tender Nurse, more griev'd, than hee, to see't,
Makes on amain, with most intentive Eyes
Not on her way, but Him, who now she knows
Is stepping into Deaths wide open Jaws:

79.So watchfull Charis, who did distance keep,
Till her Assistance might most usefull be,
Now put on speed, and rowsing from her sleep
Syneidesis,, Be not dismay'd, said she,
Come, you and I will trie what We can doe
To stop Her who so faine to Hell would goe.

80.With that, as Phebus steals his subtile Ray
Through Virgin Chrystall; so through Psyche's breast
She thrusts her hand, and strives to take away
That poysnous Brood which there had made its Nest,
Yet she flings back, and casts disloyall scorn
On Her who griev'd to finde her so forlorn.

81.But Aphrodisius amazed now
To see a Beauty which straight damp'd his eyes,
A Beauty which on Psyche's face did throw
Unlovely blacknesse, and monopolize
All Heav'n within it selfe: recoyled back
Some Counsell in his troubled Brain to take.

82.Mean while Syneidesis aloud does cry
In Psyche's ear: Mistris, beleeve it now
I am a wake, and see your Misery:
But ô how foule a sleep possesses you!
What monstrous Apparitions are these
Which your enchanted dreaming soul do please!

83.Home, home, I pray: This Grove grows thick with Charms,
And will be witch you from your self, untill
All Help proves tardie for your ripened Harms
Home soon will cure you, and your Bosome fill
With better Flames than these, which onely be
Kindled to make an end of You and Me.

84.Why stay We here! See see, your Lover's gone;
Perhaps to fetch more Poyson for your Heart,
And double on you your Destruction.
This unexpected News made Psyche start:
She turn'd her head, and saw 'twas so indeed,
Charis had forc'd Him back, and He was fled.

85.Yet after Him a heavy sigh she sent,
And more would have dispatch'd: But tugged by
Syneidesis, at last she homeward went
Her feet went homeward, but her Heart did fly
Much faster back, which Charis, as she came
Behinde, did meet with, and brought safely home.

86.But Aphrodisius could not make such hafte
As to outrun the Angels nimbler hand;
Half-way the cursed Grove he had not past,
But Phylax lighted down, and bid Him stand.
Stand Fiend, says He; Thy punishment shall be
Upon this sceen of thine own Treacherie.

[Page 20]
87.Faire hideous sir, how has your wretched spight
Clouded your memory? Do you not know
How mine and my illustrious Brethrens Might
You and your fellow fiends to Hell did throw?
Did that fall bruise your Heart so little, that
It, and our Victory you have forgot?

88.Was't not enough, that in your burning Home
Hot Blasphemies you day by day did spit
At Heav'n and God: but you to Earth must come
And all your trains and slie delusions set
To ravish his own Spouse, for whose deare sake
I here his Leiger lie the Match to make?

89.Poore harmelesse Psyche, how did Shee offend!
Did Shee incroach upon your Realmes below?
Did Shee e'r envie Hell to any Fiend,
Or strive to snatch Damnation from You?
Sure you have injur'd Her, yea Phylax too;
For She's my Charge, and you shall finde it so.

90.With that, He from his holy Bosome drew
A golden Banner, in whose silken Lap
His Lords allmighty Name wide open flew,
Of hell-confounding Majestie made up:
The Fiend no sooner Iesus there did read,
But Shame pull'd down his Eys, and Fear his Head.

91.For as the Lightning darts on Mortall Sight
Dazeling confusion: So the flashing Rays
Of this bright Name the Furie did affright:
When Phylax on his throat his left hand lays,
And draws him to the Tree whose shade did cover
The green stage where just now he play'd the Lover.

92.So have I seen a leering Curr brought back
Unto the feild where He did hunt the Lambs,
With guiltie ears thrown flat upon his neck,
With woefull Tail sneaking between his hamms;
With grinning Chapps, whose whineing Dialect
Speaks both what He hath done, and doth expect.

93.In vain He struggls: For the nearest Bough
Phylax with potent Art twines round about
Its own tough self, and teaches how to grow
Into a Band more obstinate and stout
 [...] was his Pris'ner; whom forthwith He ties
Fast to the Tree; and home to Psyche Flies

94.Poor Psyche; who no sooner was come home
But Charis hasts her to her Closet, where
The holy Furniture which trimm'd the Room
Wide open Prayer-books, and Bibles were.
But she so strange, an Eye now casteth on them
As if her soul had never dwelt upon them.

95.Her tainted soul grown squeamish now, no more
Such serious Acquaintance would imbrace:
But loving Charis found a private door
Into her Heart, and from th' usurped place
Cast out that knot of Serpents on the ground
Which round about her soul themselves had wound.

96.And see, says she, the token that your Love
Hath hung about your Heart, and judge, I pray,
What kinde of Favours His were like to prove
Which by inchanting Poyson ope their way.
If Heav'n with fouler things than these doth fill
Your bosome, then love Aphrodisius still.

97.The hissing Serpents roll'd about the floore
Which, and their shamed selves, they gnaw'd for spight,
Amazed Psyche starts back to the doore,
Afraid of what but now was her Delight:
Till Charis with her valiant hand did throw
Them, whence they came, home to their Hell below.

98.And now the Virgin falling on her face
With lamentable Cry: Forbear, said she,
My shamefull presence maketh any place
Unworthy for such noble Company;
For bear dear Charis, let me blush alone,
Left fouler here, than those Snakes which are gone.

99.And you, my reverend Books, your leavs shut up,
Where my Confusion frowns in every line.
When holy Eys draw neer, then freely ope,
But ô, you are too pure and chaste for mine:
Mine, which let out my soul, and in its place
Receiv'd all Hell, which close I did imbrace.

100.They nothing else can doe but blurr you now
with those perpetuall streams of bounden Teares
Which for my wilfull Miserie I owe.
O Eys, if ever your salt spring forbears,
May you fail too: such is my state, that I
Unlesse you drown me, cannot chuse but dy.

[Page 21]
101.Shine not on Me fair Sun, although thy Ray
With safety can the foulest Dunghills Kiste:
I am a filthier thing than those, and may
Taint thy sweet Lustre by my ouglinesse.
Black Night will tell no tales; O may she roul
Up in her veil my correspondent soul!

102.What have vile I to do with noble Day
Which shews Us Heavens fair face? that face which I
Wantonly scorn'd, and cast my love away
Upon impostur'd Lusts foule Mystery,
O Me! was ever Heart so mad as mine,
Which would be divelish rather than divine.

103.Surely I will revenge my self on Her:
I will a Tempest raise of Sighs and Groans,
To scourge that Gale which blew so soft and fair
To steal a shipwrack on Me: With rude stones
$$Work$$ make this harder Breast without appear
As black as 'twas within when Hell dwelt there

104.I with my Howlings will these Ears torment
Which were intentive to the Cheaters Charms:
These Lipps which lov'd his Kisses, shall be spent
In courting nasty Dust: these lustfull Arms
Which hugg'd His Body, shall mine own chastise,
Which now I hate, more than I loved His.

105.O all ye Griefs which ever fix'd your sting
Upon a guilty treacherous Bosome, hear
Unhappie Psyche's earnest Prayers, and bring
Your stoutest Powers: my Heart has room to spare
For your full Train; (Adieu all Loves,) I now
Must onely study to wooe Hate, and You.

106.Why was I born! (may Darknesse choke that Day
Which lighted Me into the World.) Or why
When, in the Boars, my Death its mouth did lay
Upon my throat, had I not leave to dy!
Why did I scape that Monster, to be thrown
To fouler ones, Hells Treason, and mine own.

107.Why dwelt such flaming Beauties in mine Eye.
As might allure, and shew to Lust its way!
Why smil'd my face with such sweet Majesty
As bade false Love, be bold Me to betray.
Why rather was I not so vile, that in
Safe scorn I might have scap'd the Gallant's sin.

108.The universall Worlds Contempt could not
Have wrong'd or wounded Me so deep, nor thrown
Upon my Beauties such a fatall Blot,
As they upon themselves and Me have drawn.
I  [...] not now been Heir to all Heav'ns scorn,
If in Earths Eye, I Had but been forlorn.

109.O righteous Profit, of unrighteous Pleasure,
Whose Totall summ's made up of desperate Losse,
How justly, when We trade away our Treasure,
Requit'st thou Us with rusty fretfull Drosse!
For all the Gains that Wantonnesfe brings in,
Prove but a Bank of Veng'ance on the sin.

110.Still still I burn, my Fire but changed is,
And though my Lust be cool'd my Guilt is hot,
And belks, and boils: for wroth Syneidesis
Blows up its more incensed Coals. O what
Can help my enigmatick sorrows, who
Thus on my selfe my execution do?

111.As thus she lay lamenting on the floor,
Which with her Tears was slubber'd: Charis who
Had all this while but stepp'd behinde the door,
Comes cheerly in, and cries, Break off thy Woe,
Dear Psyche, tis enough, thy hearty cry
Has pterc'd already, and appeas'd the skie.

112.The Copies of thy Tears which there ly shed
Upon the ground, reflected high, and are
Already in Heav'ns Casket botteled.
Thy griefes now smile above, and have made clear
Gods lowring face: look up and see how Day
Shines friendly on thee, and does bid thee Joy.

113.With that, she breath'd into her Breast the Powers
Of unconceived Sweets; the thirsty ground
Ne'r look'd so cheerfully when Summer showers
The deep Pains of its gasping Drought had drown'd;
As over-joyed Psyche, now she feeles
Warm in her bosome Grace's gentle Gales.

114.Gales, on whose dainty Wings Heav'ns Influence rides;
An Influence of such speedy Operation,
That though all Opposition's highest Tides
Roar in its way, through their proud Conjuration
With instant Might it flies, and every where
Findes Victory attending its Carrieer.

[Page 22]
115.To Heav'n, to Charis, to Syneidesis
Her thanks she mustereth; but all array'd
In scarlet from her cheeks: For still she is
Asham'd to have been lately so betray'd;
When Phylax flutters in, and, Come, said He
You to the Grove must back again with Me.

116.As when the place of Robberie you name
The Thiefe in White or Red betrays his fear:
So conscious Psyche's Heart shot through with shame
At that unlook'd for Word, makes it appear
In her apalled looks. Alas, said she
And com'st Thou to renue my Miserie!

117.Bid Me goe finde some desperate Rock from whence
I may plunge down into the deepest Maine:
Bid me post headlong to th' Infernall Prince
And covenant with him for eternall Paine:
Nay bid me do't; Or bid me not do this,
Which is, to goe where my far worse Hell is.

118.I like thine Anger well, says Phylax; but
The Grove is not the same 'twas yesterday:
Another Visage I on it have put,
Both chaste and safe, and so thy selfe wilt say.
No Boar, no Lover's there: come let Us goe,
Both Charis and thy Maid will with Us too.

119.This high Assurance cheer'd her timorous Heart
Which stood in reverentiall awe of Him:
Besides, her faithfull Consorts bore their Part
In this incouragement. Yet did there swim
About her brest some tender trembling Doubts
Which spred like Mist upon her cleerer Thoughts.

120.Along they went, but comming neer the Grove
Psyche began to quake, and closer cling
To Phylax, who reach'd out his shield of love,
The downie shelter of his heav'nly Wing,
Under whose cheerly shaddow her He led
Into the gloomy shades the Wood had spred.

121.For now those flattering Beauties which of late
Had made that Place a Temple to Delight,
Were all unmask'd; and Melancholy sate
Shrowding her  [...] selfe in mid-day night.
The heavy nodding Trees all languished,
And every sleepy Bough hung down its Head.

122.There Aphrodisius his best Teeth had tri'd
(And foure of them lay broken on the ground,)
With spightfull restlesse gnawing to divide
The Withe by which He to his shame was bound
More than unto the Tree: which He so shook,
That all its frighted Leaves their Boughs forsook.

123.But seeing that new Company, He bit
His Lipps and Tongue, and spit them in their face:
See, Psyche, Phylax cries, the Gallant's Wit,
Who hopes to scape confessing his Disgrace:
But by and by, I'le make him finde a tongue
To speak out his imposture and thy wrong.

124.With that he snatch'd from Him all He had stoln
From Earth from Water or from Aire before,
The beauteous Veil'no sooner off was faln
But Aphrodisius appears no more:
It proves an hideous Fiend, and Psyche cries,
Running behinde the Tree, God blesse mine Eyes.

125.Forthwith a poysnous stink seiz'd on the Aire;
But Phylax quickly blew it down to Hell:
And, Come, says He, come Psyche, ther's no fear,
Behold the Monster, and observe him well:
There hung his cursed Periwig, but now
Two coal-black Horns is all his Head can show.

126.The rest is Bald, or with soars over-grown,
With which his Forehead too rough-casted is;
Though over it He polish'd Flesh had drawn,
Too fair a Plaster for such Ouglinesse.
See how the Boils run down into his eye
To finde him fitting Tears when He would crie.

127.Like to some Ovens black Arch, so hang his Brows
Over the furnace of his Eyes, wherein
Delitious Flames did lately take up house,
But now the Fire's as dark as his own sin,
And being fed with sulphure, doth confesse
What is its work, and where it kindled was.

128.A double Alablaster Conduit hung
Down from his Forehead, where is nothing now
But those two rotten Pipes, not to be wrung
Least with the Moisture down the Nose do flow:
That banefull Moisture, which 'tis hard to say
Whether it be more Poyson than its Way.

[Page 23]
129.Two Rows of Roses on those Lipps did grow,
To sweeten every word that passed by:
But now scorch'd black as Hel's own mouth, they show
What kind of Breath is wont through them to flie;
A Breath like that which from the Chimneys topp
Speaks it owne stink by what it vomits up.

130.His Cheeks which lifted up but yesterday
Two Hills of Spices, now are sunk so low
That like two hollow untill'd valleys, they
With nothing else but Desolation grow.
Now grizly Haire has spoil'd. his polish'd skin,
Shewing what He to Satyrs is of kin.

131.His lovely Hands are now two monstrous Paws
Whose Nail's much longer than their Fingers be.
Sure his Imbrace is daintie, when he throws
Those Arms about his Love. But prithe see
What now behind the Gallants back doth trail,
His courtly Sword's turn'd to a dangling Tail.

132.Behold his goodly Feet, where one great Cleft
Davides two Toes, pointed with iron Claws.
The rest of his fine Body must be left,
Sealed up close by Modesties chast Laws:
Yet mayst thou safely look into his Breast,
And see what Treasures there have made their Nest.

133.Look where ten thousand Charmes and kisses lie,
And Complements of every garbe and kind,
With which He doth on herdlesse Virgins flie,
And Correspondent Entertainment find:
Look where upon the Topp those Courtships be
By which He wooed and inchanted Thee.

134.In that slie corner (and observe it well)
Lie various Shapes which alway changing be,
Shapes trim and smooth, and faire without, but full
Of inward Poyson, which industrious He
Subtlie improv'd and dayly did devise
Handsome Impostures and well-favoured lies.

135.See'st thou not there the model of the Beast,
That hideous Witchery which chased Thee;
With all the amorous Story fairely drest
To Court and cheat thy credulous Chastity!
Never did Cozenage with more lovely Art
Or Face more honest, act its divelish Part.

136.But there is something stranger yet behind:
See'st thou that Scroll? It is a full Commission
By which he made this Voyage, ready sign'd,
And strengthned by the broad Seal of Perdition.
Come, I'l untwine the knot of Snakes which tie
It up, and lay it open to thine Eye.

137.Loe here a scheem of such confounding Letters,
And scrambling Lines, as never Conjurer writt:
His Forks, Hooks, Prongs, Racks, Gibbets, Gridirons, Fetters,
And other Tools of his infernall spight
Are Belzebub's mad Alphabet; But hear
How well I ken his mystick Character:

138.Satan the great, by mine owne Power alone
God of Hell Earth and Aire: Immortall Foe
To Men, to Angels, to Heav'n, and Heavn's Son;
Monarch of Pride, Rage, Blasphemy, and Woe:
Out of our royall grace, to our right vicious
And trustie friend and Cosen Aphrodisius:

139.By these our Letters Patents We doe give
Thee full Authoritie the Souleto seize
Of hated Psyche, that she may receive
What share of Pangs our royall Self shall please
Given at our flaming Court of Desperation
This sixt Age of our Soveraigne Damnation.

140.This being read: He folds it up againe,
And thrusting it into the Furies breast;
Goe home, says He, and ask thy Soveraigne
A larger Patent: See thou art releas'd.
But here I hang the Withe; if ever thou
Returnst this Way, thou mayst this token know,

141.The loosned Fiend fetching a deep drawn Sigh,
And tearing his owne breast with helplesse wrath,
Flung downe his Patent, and away did flie.
The Grove smoak'd as He went: in all his Path
No Tree did meet him, (though the place were full)
But downe He tore it, and made hast to Hell.

142.This Spectacle so wrought on Psyche's Heart,
That fill'd brimme full of holy shame and Ioy,
Her equall thanks and blushes she doth part
Between he carefull friends. Never may Day
Shine on this face, if I forget, says she,
Your Loves, and mine own reskew'd Chastity.

[Page 24]
143.Farewell fond Passions. Heav'n above, I'm sure,
Is full as faire within, as 'tis without:
No Aphrodisius there; but all as pure
As is the spotlesse Chrystall, or your thought
Deare Phylax, which from thence its pattern takes,
And a new Heav'n in your sweet Bosome makes.

144.There will I fix my Heart: there dwells my Love,
My Life, my Lord, much purer than his Home:
Whose Paradise shall be the onely Grove
Henceforth, to which my soul shall strive to come.
Forbid it Jesu, any thing below
Be master of this Soule, whose Lord art thou.

145.Thus sweetly breathing out her holy Passion,
To ease her high-swolln, heart she homeward goes
With her dear Consorts: yet at every station
Renews her thanks, and her pathetike Vows.
At length got home, She to her Closet hasts
Where all her Soul at her Loves feet she casts.

146.What praiers were there, what thanks, what sighs, what tears,
What Languishments, what amorous extasies,
What confidence, what shame, what hopes, what fears,
What pains, what joys, what thoughts, what words! she dies
And yet she lives, and yet she dies againe,
And would for ever live so to be slain.

147.But fainting Nature (for 'twas midnight now,
And farr sh' had travell'd and wrought hard that day,)
Permitted sleep to grow upon her brow;
And, though unwilling, downe at last she lay.
Sweet was that rest; but yet much sweeter was
The Dream which now before her Soul did passe.

148.Imagination swiftlie carried Her
Into a Garden where more Beauties smil'd
Than did in Aphrodisiu's Grove appeare,
And gentler Gales the aire with odours fill'd.
Lillies alone on every bed did grow
Which scornd comparison with Northerne Snow.

149.The goodly Walks with Alablaster were
Pav'd all alone, whose smooth and spotlesse face
Layd fairlie ope unto the silver sphear
Which roll'd above, a comely looking glasse.
Whither upward she or downward turnd her Eye,
Still she  [...] the same Heaven's Majesty.

150.No Fountaine bubled there, but fed with springs
Of purest Milk; upon whose dainty shoare
Unsported Pidgeons sate and wash'd their wings,
Though full as white and pure as it, before.
But thus one Candor powr'd upon another,
Does kindely kiste and sport it with his brother.

151.High in the midst a princelie Castle stands
Invincible for strength, and for delight,
Built all of Virgin-christall, and by Hands
As pure as the Materials were bright.
A cleerer Court was ne'r by Poets braine
Built for Queen Thet is in her watery Main.

152.Ten thousand Blushes stood before the Gate,
With Magnanimities all hand in hand:
As many Purities behind them sate;
And after those as many Beauties, and
Young smiling Graces: whose sweet task it was
To be the Guard of that delicious Place.

153.As Psyche wonder'd at the stately sight,
She turns, and spies her Phylax standing by.
What Place is this, sayes she, so fair, so bright?
He smiling cries, My Dear, for Chastity
It was erected: Look and thou shalt see
What kinde of Princes here the Dwellers be.

154.Loe there comes One: Observe his royall Gate;
Majestick, yet not proud; about his brows
A glittering Coronet wreaths his princely state,
As in his Hand a Palm his triumph shows.
Large is his Roabe, and after him below
A Train imperiall on the ground doth flow.

155.This Pavement is lesse white, lesse sweet are those
Perfumed Lillies, than that roab of His
Th' Eternall Lamb from his owne fleece did choose
The richest Wooll where with to cloath and dresse
His spotlesse friends, and fellow-lambs; for the
Goe all invested with this bright Array.

156.Those gracefull Eyes in which Love's throne is set,
Are they which did Potiphera defie
(Thou know'st the story since I told thee it.)
This is that Joseph, though advanced high
In Pharaohs Realm, yet now more glorious grown,
And can a fairer Kingdome call his owne.

[Page 25]
157.The next's a Female, in the same Array:
For Sexes here no outward difference show,
But all like Angells live, since noble they
Strove to forget their He and She below,
And (though then earthly Pilgrims,) overtake
That Purity which Us doth equall make,

158.Susanna is her Name: That radiant Face
Which none but chaste and holy beams did shed,
Two lustfull Elders made their daily Glasse,
And with the Antidote invenomed
Their shamelesse Hearts. So bold is Lust that she
Dares hope to finde a Blot in Purity.

159.Cancer then scorch'd the World, when tender she
Into her Garden went, there in a spring
Almost as clear as her own Chastity
To coole her selfe: But they straight issuing
Out of their ambush, in their Clothes expresse,
More shame than did Susanna's Nakednesse.

160.We too are hot, cry they; but none but thou
Can quench the furie of our mighty Flames:
Thou art the Fountain where all Sweets do flow,
And We must bathe and coole Us in thy streams:
Yeild, as thou lov'st thy Life; else We will swear
That in Adulterie We caught thee heer.

161.Then welcome Death said she, thy face will be
Fairer than is the Count'nance of this sin:
Here she cri'd out aloud; and instantly
Her startled Hand-mayds all rush'd shreeking in,
Whom both the full-mouth'd Elders hastened
To catch th' Adulterer, who, said they, was sted.

162.Then haling her unto the Barre, their own
Guilt upon her they throw, and she must die:
But straight a Miracle crowds in to crown
The truth of her unconquer'd Chastity;
And turn the Sentence on the Elders, who
Whil'st she to Triumph, must to Stoning go.

163.There comes the second Joseph, but as farre
Before in honour as in time behind:
Little thought Men what kinde of Carpenter
Was this, whose noble Art a way could finde
To frame a life (and raise the building high,)
Both of Heroik Worth, and Poverty,

164.Mine and my Brethrens Office (though it be
Both sweet and glorious, yet) must stoope to His,
Who was the Guardian of Divinity,
And of the Mother of all sweetnesses.
And yet no Angell envy'd him his place
Who ever look'd upon his wonderous face.

165.What Gravity sits there, and what Delight,
What Tendernesse, and what Austerity!
How high and humble are his looks, how bright
And modest are his eyes! how sweetly He
Ev'n in this Glory seems not to forget
That Cloud which upon Him in earth did sit!

166.But look, and see thou start not at the sight,
Those Rays, though more than Sun-like, lovely be;
Here comes of Heav'n and Earth the choise Delight,
The Queen of Softnesse, and of Purity.
Millions of Loves come tripping in Her way,
Flown from her Eye in a fore-running Ray.

167.Behold Her face, and read all Paradise,
And more, in Flesh and Blood: In vain we seek
For flow'rs, for Gemms, for Starrs, to equalize
The gallantry of Her illustrious Cheek,
At whose sweet Composition, every Grace
Came running in, for fear to loose its place.

168.All Cherubs, and all Seraphs have I seen
In their high beauties on Heav'ns Holy-dayes,
But yet the gratious Glories of this Queen
Sweetly out-glitters their best tire of Rayes.
What studied scorn would Pagan wits have thrown
Upon their Venus, if they this had known,

169.This Mother of Divinest Love, as pure
As is that other putid! Noblest Tongues
When they triumphant are, and would be sure
With life and blisse and joy to grace their Songs,
First chant the Son, and then the Mother, He
Begins, and she makes up the Harmony.

170.Her Crown is full Imperiall, yet not deckt
With orientall Diamonds, but thick set
With purer Jewells: for the most select
Virtues (because her own) doe garnish it:
And yet all those but the faint Copies be
Of her rich Hearts Originall Treasurie.

[Page 26]
171.I need not tell thee Mary is her Name,
Who teacheth Majesty to be so milde:
This cold dead Pavement lively doth proclaim
Whose feet with new-born Lillies it have fill'd:
Whose but the Virgin-Mothers steps could blesse
A Soil so barren with such Fertilnesse?

172.Turn Psyche, and behold; Here comes the King
The King himselfe, of Royall Chastitie.
She turn'd: But as He forth was issuing,
Intolerable Beams from His did fly
Upon her face: she started at the stroke,
And rubb'd her dazeled eyes, and so awoke.

PSYCHE: OR LOVES MYSTERIE. CANTO III. The Girdle, or Love-Token.

ARGUMENT.

HEr Spouse in Token of His royall Love
A Girdle unto Psyche sends: wherein
The accurate works Historik Beauty strove
The radiant Materialls to out-shine.
The Rich Embroiderie Phylax doth expound,
And with the Token then the Mayd surround.

1.SHort Taste of Pleasures, how dost thou torment
A liquorish Soul when once inflam'd by Thee!
The edge of all Desire would soon be spent,
Did'st Thou not whett it to that keen degree
That nothing but compleat Fruition will
The longing of its wakened stomack fill.

2.The pined Man, on whom a thinner She
Insatiable Famine, long hath fed;
Desires no Heav'n or Paradise to see
But onely what lies moulded up in Bread.
One glimpse of this, bids Hope return, and light
Life in those Eyes which were bequeath'd to Night,

3.But if that Morn of Comfort damped be,
And his young Joys snatch'd from his Eyes again:
The fugitive Blessing mocks his Miserie,
And by rebound exalts it to a strain
Of higher Punishment; his Fancie more
Does gnaw him now, than Hunger did before.

4.So Psyche famished with strong Desire
Of her dear Spouse, no sooner fed her eyes
On his first Lustre, but that mystick Fire
Turn'd all her Heart into Joyes Sacrifice.
She 'gan to scorn all other Dayes but this
Whose Dawn had broach'd such golden Floods of Blisse.

[Page 27]
5.But when immensitie of Beams had cast
That cloud of Weaknesse on her Mortall Eye,
And she the long'd-for light it selfe had lost
In too much light; her Longing swell'd so high;
That did not sighs unload her Heart, and it,
Th' impatient Tumor would her bosome split.

6.She sighs, and thinks; and then she sighs again:
For every thought which labour'd to comprise
What she had but half-seen, makes her complain
Her thoughts were dazeled, as before her Eyes.
Yet still she thinks, and still she loves to be
Puzled in that delicious Miserie.

7.And, happy Yee, stout Eagles, happy Yee,
Crie's she, whose genuine Eyes are tempered
To  [...] brave pitch, that the full Majestie
Of your beloved Sun can never shed
Such  [...] extremities of Heav'n, but you
Can  [...] them in, as fast as they can flow.

8.You perch'd on some safe Rock, can sit and see
When the young East unlocks his rubie gate,
How from the  [...] bed of Roses hee
Sweeter than it, doth rise: what Robe of state
That Day He chooseth, and what Tire of light
He on his Temples bindes, there to grow bright.

9.Into his Chariot of flaming Gold
You see him mount, and give his purple Steeds
Leave to draw out the Day: You see him roll'd
Upon his diamond Wheels, whose Bounty breeds
That populous Family of Pearls which dwells
On eastern shoares close in their Mother-shells.

10.You see him climbe up to Heav'ns silver Hill,
And through crosse Cancer make the Houres run right.
There with his widest Looks your own you fill,
And ryot in that royall Feast of light,
Whil'st to your eyes your souls flie up and gaze
On every beauty of his high-noon Face.

11.You see him when into the steep-down West
He throws his course, and in th' Atlantick Deep
Washes the sweat from his  [...] Brow and Breast,
And cools his smoking  [...], and goes to sleep
Among the waterie Nymphs. who in his rest
Waft him through by-paths back into his East.

12.Thus the kinde Day makes all her houres attend
Your undisturbed Joys; But fainting Me
With one poor minute she will not befriend
That I my fairer, sweeter Sun may see.
Yet why blame I the Day? She's clear and fair:
But you, adulterate Eyes, too cloudy are.

13.Had you been constant, such had been my Blisse:
But you with faithlesse cowardize gave in.
Surely I'le be reveng'd on you for this,
Till you repent your Treachery in Brine.
Perhaps when Tears have wash'd you clean, the pure
And free face of my Spouse you may endure.

14.These querulous sighs, by their tempestuous Blast
Drove on the Cloud, and now the Rain began;
Dropps great and numerous down her Cheeks made haste
For more and greater still came crowding on;
 [...] either eye-lid sprinkled in the Crowd,
A living Rainbow on its margin show'd.

15.But as the Storm swell'd high in Phylax flies,
And much adoe his yearning sweetnesse had
To bridle in his sympathetick eyes
Seeing how great a flood Phyche's had made:
Were not eternall Joyes deep Printed on
Angelick Spirits, sure now his springs had run,

16.But with his Wing he wip'd her blubber'd face,
And fann'd fresh comfort on her fainting Minde:
Quairell not with thine Eyes, thy Vision was
Too visible, said hee, and they, though blinde,
Perform'd their duty, being clogg'd as yet
With lazie Dust, for sprightfull signts unfit.

17.Have patience, till that Dust be put to bed
And mixed with the grave; then shall thine Eye
With ample vigorous Beams imbellished,
Open into a full capacity
Of viewing Him, whose lovely Princely look
Shall be thy safe and everlasting Book.

18.Mean while, this Token He by me doth send
Hoping Thou'lt wear t for his sake next thine heart:
No Lover  [...] woo'd his adored Friend
With ticher Present; That thou ne'r may'st start
From his affection; with this Girdie hee
Desues to binde thee to Felicity.

[Page 28]
19.The Ground's a texture all of Turtles down
Which dares call Virgin-Snow both harsh and black:
For he himself deep dy'd it in his own
River of Whitenesse, which its Spring doth take
From under His great throne, where once when He
But dipp'd his hand, the Fount proov'd Puritie,

20.Unto a Grace to spin He put it out,
That the fine thread might answer her neat hand:
Then in the Jewell-house of Heav'n he sought
What Gems to Honour with this ground: The Strand
Of pretious India no such Treasure shows;
Above, the Ocean of true Jewells flows.

21.Ten thousand glittering things he turned o're,
And wish'd Thee every one, Yet if, said He
I on my Darling throw this massie store,
'Twill to a Burden swell my Courtesie:
She's tender, and I cannot but be so;
I wish her all, but these for all shall goe.

22.And those were Jaspers, Diamonds, Onyxes,
Topazes, Berylls, Rubies, Amethysts;
All ready fitted for imbroyderies,
But richer farr than ever flam'd on Priests
Or Princes Crown: which as he sending was
To set on work another curious Grace,

23.His Snowie Mother, waiting all that while
At his right hand, melted down on her knee,
And sweetly begg'd that Office. In a smile,
(His usuall visage toward her and Thee,)
He grants her kind request. Yet stay, says He,
And let thy Needle of my choosing be.

24.A Twist of Glories o'r his shoulders thrown
About his back a sportfull Qniver roll'd,
Of metall in this grosser World unknown,
The thrice-refined Quintessence of Gold.
Yet was the splendid House lesse pure and fine
Than were the sweet Inhabitants within.

25.No sooner He unlock'd the glorious Lid,
But a pure Cloud of living Joys and Smiles
Which in that merry Region had been bred,
Breaths out it self, and the Spectators fills
With vigorous Pleasures, and with fresh Desires
To view that Fountain whence such Blisse expires

26.Innumerable arrows there doe lie
Keeping each other warm with mutuall flames;
For mystick Ardor is the metall they
Are made of, metall purer than those Beams
Which play about the starrs, or those which flow
From Phebu's eys, when they in High-noone glow.

27.The finest Rays which darted purest light,
From his owne crown great Love himself did cull
And these said He, shall be my Arms in fight;
With this Artillery I'l my Qaiver fill:
The Heavn's already bent from East to West,
And that's the Bow by which my darts I'l cast.

28.Ther's no such thing, beleeve it Psyche, there,
As leaden Arrows, steep't in Scorn and Hate:
Each Dart's a sonn of splendor, and does wear
A rich remembrance of its Masters fate,
For in his blood, the blood of Love, dy'd deep,
Its tincture and its virtue it doth keep.

29.With these he wounds his best beloved Hearts,
And by the wound sets ope to Life its way:
Life is the point of these mysterious Darts
Which with pure Joy and dainty Vigor slay.
They slay indeed, yet still reviving be;
They nothing murther but Mortality.

30.The Hairs of softest Flax grow grosse and course
When these draw neer, so delicare are they:
Yet cruell steel strikes with lesse boysterous force,
And with lesse fatall certainty doth slay.
Immortall Eys alone can see them, but
Not fence the Blow, if they at them beshot.

31.Love choosing one of these from its bright Nest,
Applies it towards his all-peircing eye,
From whose acute intention there prest
A Ray so potent, that immediately
The yeelding Dart does answer it, and now
Becomes a Needle, and its Eye can show.

32.Then from his golden Locks, that curled Grove
Where thousand little Loves for ever play,
He pluck'd an Haire: and this, said He will prove
Sufficient Thred to finish all thy gay
Imbroyderie; 'twill stretch and alwaies be
Longer and longer to Eternity.

[Page 29]
33.Heer take thy Tools, and let th' Invention be
Thine owne Conceit: for who can better fitt
The Emblematick gift of Chastitie,
Than thou the Mother both of Me and it:
She bowing low, her thanks and Dutie throws
Before his feet, and to her work she goes.

34.Millions of Graces tripped after h [...]r,
The fair attendants on her  [...] rain,
Unto that Tower of living Chrystall where
Thy Vision lately Thee did entertaine:
That Mi [...]ie Way which downe Heavn's Mountain flows
Its beauteous smoothnes to her footsteps ows.

35.Oft had she trac'd it; (for you see the Way
Is broad, and Heavn's faire amplitude doth suit.)
Yet ne'r with cheerlier Count'nance than that Day,
 [...] the decotum she did well compute,
Rejoycing that this Virgin-work should be
 [...] to the Mother of Virginity.

36.The Castle Gares did in a smile stand ope
To see their Queen, and bid her wellcome in.
She looks about her in that curious shop
Of Purities, uncertain where to 'gin.
Nothing dislikes Her, but she spends her care
Among so many Bests, which to preferre.

37.The lofty Roofe of the illustrious Hall
With Sighs and amorous Languishment was seel'd,
From whence upon the princely floor did fall
Full many an hearty Teare, which there did yeeld
A  [...] Pavement, which the cool Grounds Kisse
Into chast firmitude did chrystalize,

38.The Twilights teares  [...] in the Laps of flowers
Reflected not so  [...] Heavn's rising Eye,
When Phebus let in the diurnall Howres,
And trimm'd his face upon the Morning skie,
As these reverberated that fair Look
Which from the Virgins entring face they took.

39.The Walls impeopled were with all the stories
Of those whom Chastity had cloth'd in White,
From antient Abels most unspotted Glories,
Unto the latest Beames of Virgin-light:
That Abel, who first to his  [...] tied
Martyrdomes  [...], in whose Bed he died,

40.But at the upper end a Table hung
All of one sparkling Diamond, faire and high,
Whose brighter lines can by no Angells tongue
Be fully read. It was the History
Of Love himself, crav'd by art so divine
That every Word the Table did out shine.

41.Long look'd shee on this pourtract, and forgot
By looking long, almost for what shee came:
The Sight  [...] her eys that shee had not
Her wonted power to be Queen of them.
At  [...] shee calls them home, and bids withall
Her heart come back, which out with them had stole.

42.Then, ô. cries shee, that this unworthy Hand
Could draw those lines of Blisse, of Life, of Love!
A thousand yeares I d be content to stand
And practise heer, so I at length might prove
Artist enough to forme one Copy, which
With more than all Heav'n would the Earth inrich.

43.But my Almighty Lord and Sonne who did
React his stories on this diamond sceen
By his owne finger, can be copied
Onely by it: Though He would make a Queen
Of worthlesse Me, yet He was pleased still
In his poor Handmaid some defect should dwell.

44.This Word straight summoned into the Cheek
Of all the Graces which about her prest
An universall Blush, to see how meek
Their Empresse was: And give us leave at least
Say they, to copy this Humility
More due to Us, than unto royall Thee.

45.But, turning to the next her studious eye,
And reading in that Table fairely drawn
The sweet Exploits of her Virginitie,
She blushed more than they, and of their owne
Blush made them all asham'd, to see how farr
It was out-blushed and out-grain'd by her.

46.What help, cries she, for He is Lord and King,
What help if he be pleas'd to have it so!
If He my Memorie next his owne will bring,
And print it in a Book of Diamond too!
'Tis not the picture of what I did merit,
But what his love hath made me to inherit.

[Page 30]
47.With that the Graces all upon their knecs
In a conspiracy of reverend Love
Assault her thus: Seek no more stories; these
Of thine, the best imbroyderie will prove.
Degrade not what thy Son preferres, nor be
Because he loves thee, thine owne Enemie.

48.Nay gentle Sisters, sweetly she replies,
I, love my selfe too well to be so proud:
Let other Hands applaud my Victories,
But to mine own it must not be allow'd,
Were that my Work, this Needle at each letter
Would prick my Heart, because I was no better.

49.Loe in that Rubie Table there I see
A heav'nly Storie: well the Man I know,
A pretious Friend both to my Lord and Me
When We with Him were Sojourners below.
Pure was his Life, pure was his Office too,
Cleansing the Way where Purenesse was to goe.

50.Whil'st on the noble Baptist thus her Eye
And Praises dwelt: a Grace had fill d in haste
Her lappe with Lilies, and the mayden prize
Into a Chair of Alablaster cast.
The gentle Virgin smil'd at first to see't,
Then down she sate, and made her Cushion sweet.

51.Her diligent Maydens compasse Her about,
And with a Jewell each one ready stands.
To her pure Work she falls; and as she wrought
A sweet Creation followed her Hands:
Upon her Knee apace the Table grew,
And every Figure to the Texture flew.

52.As active Fancy in a Midnights Dream
With strange extemporall dexterity
What Sceens, what Throngs, what Worlds she lists, doth frame,
Making the most divided things agree,
And most united quarrell; though one Cell
Be all the room for this vast spectacle:

53.So wrought the nimble Artist, and admired
Her selfe, to see the Work go on so fast.
Sure the ambitious Historie desired
To this its own new honour to make haste,
And purchase to its single Rubie Beams
The various Lustres of ten thousand gems.

54.The forward Figures crowded close, for all
Would needs come in, and rather chose to be
Justled and throng'd, and nipp'd into a small
(Yet a well ordered) Epitomie,
Than in that little Dwelling loose their seat,
Where sweet Contraction would make them more great

55.And now the Girdle proves a Multitude
Of sundry things made friends and tied in one:
But eminent among the rest is shew'd
The lovely Master of the businesse John,
One-different John, who, as the Work doth rise,
Lives, preaches, washes, suffers prison, dies.

56.Th' Imbroyderie finish'd thus: that with more speed
She might present it to her mighty Sonne,
She gives command her Birds be harnested:
Quick as the Word her ready Maydens run,
And from the milkie shore of the next spring
Five Paire of her immortall Pidgeons bring.

57.Her Coach was double gilt with that pure Light
Whose grosser part fills Phebu's face with glory:
Not glaring like his Eyes, but Milde and White,
Shining much like its Owners Virgin-storie.
Her Coursers take their place, and she the Reins
Almost as soft's the Hand which them contains.

58.As through the whirling Orbs she faster flies,
The new Imbroyderie to the Starrs she shows:
They twinckled all, asham'd of their own Eyes;
So was the splendid Zodiak which throws
His spangled Girdle round about the Sphears
To keep in order and gird up the years.

59.Orions Blush confess'd how much this sight
Outvied all the glories hee could show:
His yeilding Count'nance fell, and to the bright
Triumphant Apparition did bow;
Three times hee tri'd, and faine hee would have  [...]
How to unbuckle his out-shined Belt.

60.But comming to the Soveraign Palace, she
Hasts in to her expecting Lord and layes
Her Face, and Work upon his Footstool; He
Her dainty pains with high Approofe repayes;
Yet, On this Ground had thine own Storie grown,
The Girdle would, said hee, have fairer shown.

[Page 31]
61.With that, unto his Cabinet hee goes,
Where Spirits of purest Gemms extracted lie:
Out of which Heart of Richnesse hee did choose
The softest Dropps, and in one Jewell tie
Such Rarities as my Tongue cannot tell:
But thy dear Soul their ravishments shall feel.

62.For to the Girdle having linked it,
He deign'd to grace Me who stood wondering by;
Take this, said he, and see how it will fit
Thy Psyche, but more mine: Be sure to tie
It close and straight, that by this Token she
May understand how neer she is to Me.

63.The second Houre's scarce entring since I took
It, and my leave: and heer the Present is.
Come wipe thine Eyes, a purified Look
Is  [...] due  [...] where the sight is Blisse.
 [...] Phylax op'd the Girdle, whence such beams
Broke loose, as drowned Psyche in their streams.

64.For as the rurall Swain, whose courser Eyes
Ne'r star'd on other beauteous things than what
Begay the simple Fields: when first hee spies
A Princes Wardrobe open, straight is shot
Quite through with Wonder, and in fear doth deem
The sight is too too glorious for Him:

65.So mortall Psyche was at first dismayd
At the immortall Spectacle: When hee
Cries out, What Error makes thee thus afraid:
This Zon's not torrid, though it flaming be;
Nor sent thy Spouse this Token to destroy
Thine Eyes, but diet them with sparkling Joy.

66.See'st thou that Building there, which lifteth high
Its shining Head, and scorns to pay the Sun
Homage for any beams, (for sanctity
Glitters about it, and 'twixt every stone
Lies thicker than the Cement,) know that this
Illustrious Pile, the Jewish Temple is.

67.Many long years had run their Round, and spent
Their own upon Heav'ns lasting Orbs, before
This Fabrick first grew to its Complement:
But here a moment raisd it, and to more
Magnificence than it at first could shew;
Such potent Art from Maries fingers flew,

68.That reverend Senior whose high-mitered Head
Points out his princely Office, is the Priest.
You in his awfull Count'nance might have read
What his Attire proclaims: Were he undrest,
He still with Virtues would arrayed be,
Who now clothes holy Robes with Sanctity.

69.His left Hand on his Sealed Mouth he lays,
Back to the Altar hee his right doth stretch:
His Eyes are full of talke, and trie alwayes
How they without a Tongue his Minde may preach,
At length that Throng of People there began
To guesse the Sense, and what befell the Man.

70.Whil'st hee did on the Incense Altar place
Its aromatick Fuell, and supply
What Heat or sweetnesse there deficient was
By many a fervent Vow, and pretious Sigh:
His Clowd flew highest, for the Incense smoke
Soon fainted, but his sighs through all Heav'n broke.

71.And being there, upon their odorous Back
An Angell gets: whence posting down to Earth
Unto the Temple hee his way doth take:
Where standing by the Altar, hee breaths forth
A sweet repayment unto Zachary
Of what his Soul had panted out so high.

72.Behold, sayes he, thy Vows and Prayers are
Come back to fill thy bosome with Successe:
I am no Messenger, great Saint, of Fear,
Trust Me, and trust thy priviledged Blisse:
Thine Heart so fruitfull in sublime Affection
Hath for thy Body earn'd an high production.

73.Thy dear Eliza, whom thy Piety
As neer in Virtue as in Wedlock ties,
Shall have a son in whom thine Eyes shall see
The fruit of both those Knots; whom Heav'n doth prize
So high, that I aforehand must with thee
Bargain about his Name, John it must be.

74.A Son of Smiles and Gladnesse hee shall prove.
And make thine aged Heart young with Delight,
The Morning he is born, shall Joy and Love
Together spring, and take their blessed flight
To thousand Soules, where they shall sit and tell
What Hopes, what Wonders in thy John do dwell.

[Page 32]
75.Never did friendly Starrs conspire to frame
So Fortunate a Birth for Noblest Kings:
In Gods own Eye, wherein the World doth seem
Lesse than these Atoms on the Airs light wings,
Great shall thy Sonne appear: Let Doubting go,
Immensitie resolves to make him so.

76.For whil'st hee nestls in the narrow Cell
Of thine Eliza's Womb, the Spirit of Heav'n
(O how much vaster than all it!) shall fill
His breeding Heart: which, when it once is thriven
Unto a pitch mature, shall nobly prove
To Earth, how it by Heav'n alone doth move.

77.No boist'rous roaring Wine, or rampant Drink
Shall his sweet Lipp defloure: His cup must be
Fill'd at some Virgin-Fountains Chrystall brink,
And teach his Palate too Virginitie:
For in his sacred Veins no fire must flow
But what Heav'ns Spirit pleaseth there to blow.

78.And with that fire He Israel must refine,
Israel o'r-grown with rust and filth; that so
He may make clean the Way where his divine
Redeemer means close after Him to go.
For braver Flames ne'r warm'd Elia's breast
Than in thy Sons shall make their gallant Nest.

79.Alas, the Priest replies, decayed I
Want Blood enough to paint a Blush at this
Too worthy News: Can fifty Summers fly
Back, and with Youth my withered Spirits blesse!
Frost in my Veins, and Snow upon my Head
Bid me already write More than halfe dead.

80.Nor in Eliza doth less deadnesse Live:
How then in two such Winters can there grow
A Spring whose sudden Vigorousnesse may give
New Lives to Us, and make them over-flow
Into a third? Sweet Angell thy strange Word
May well some sign unto my Faith afford.

81.Sure then thou know'st me not, the Angell cries:
For had'st thou known that Gabriel I am,
Who in the Presence-Chamber of the skies
Give high attendance to God and the Lamb,
Thou might'st have well presum'd no fraud could come
From purest Verities eternall Home,

82.Yet shalt thou have a sign, and I will fast
Seal't on thy faithlesse Tongue which asked it.
Henceforth thou shalt be Mute; untill thou hast
Seen what thou would'st not credit: Then I'le let
Thy Tongue be loose again, that it may sing
A Benedictus to thy gratious King.

83.The Angells Word full in the Priests face flew,
And fastned mystick Chains upon his Tongue.
He soon perceiv'd how strong it was and true:
And with his Eyes and Heart fore-stall'd his Song.
He thinks and Looks his earnest Hymn, and pays
For his kinde Censure correspondent Praise.

84.This put Him in that posture there. But now
Behold that sober Matron in whose Eye
Sage Chastitie her reverend looks doth show.
Loe how the Promise in her Womb grows high,
And by its Silent swelling doth confesse
The same her Husbands mutnesse doth expresse.

85.Observe that gentle Stranger hither come
To see her pregnant Cosen: Her array
Is plain and poor; her Looks still seem at Home
Though she be stepp'd abroad, so closely they
Are shrowded in this Veil; and Modest she
Ev'n in this Girdle would not veiwed be.

86.'Tis she whose Handy-work the Girdle is,
And who upon her self least cost bestows,
Whose sweet Salute, with ravishment did seize
Eliza's Heart. See how her Arms she throws
In wide amazement; See how fain would those
Perls which have ope'd her mouth, her words disclose.

87.All Glories which our Female Tribe have crownd
Cri'd she, shrink in their da'zled Eyes to see
Those brighter Blessings which in thee abound
Thou Wonder of pregnant Virginity:
All happinesse dwells in thy God, yet He
Hath now his Mansion taken up in thee.

88.For when thy Salutation through mine Eare
Stroke Heav'n into my Heart: the Childe which lay
Listning within me, prov'd that He did hear
And ken the Language too; nor would he stay
To act his triumph in some larger room,
But For his dancing house leap'd in my Womb.

[Page 33]
89.He by thy sound knew what within thee was,
And understanding that his Lord was near,
Thought it high time to be at work, and as
He might, begin his active office heer:
A true Fore-runner, who doth leap unborn;
Unto his Lords strange Day, a wonderous Morn.

90.But mark that Knot of buisie Jewells there,
Whose cheerly Looks doe some good News proclaim:
The Infant's born, and those his Kinstolks are,
At's Circumcision. But about his Name
A kinde dispute arose what it should be:
All these will have it none but Zachary.

91.His holy Fathers Name will sit most fair
Upon the Son, say they, who now doth rise
The long expected and miraculous Heir,
From whom may flow a Brood of Zacharies.
Whence should a princely Eaglets title be
Drawn, but from his own noble Family.

92.O no, the Mother cries, mis-call him not,
His Name, before himself, conceived was:
 [...] wise Heav'n best understandeth what
Title will fit its Gifts: For mee, alas,
So much my Spouses Name I love, that none
I would preferre, But Heav'n hath chosen John,

93.So hot the loving quarrell grew, that now
To Zacharies decision they runne.
See where he writes: that golden leaf doth show
The Oracles Resolve, His Name is John.
In what faire equipage those Letters stand!
For Maries fingers here did guide his hand.

94.No sooner had his Pen dropp'd that sweet Name
But his long-froazen Tongue again was thawn:
For Gabriel (though undiscerned) came
And loos'd the chain which hee on it had thrown.
The Pris'ner glad of this Release, does dance,
And with inspired Lays his Joyes advance.

95.Behold his Friends in that admiring Throng,
Whose Eyes and Hands Amazement lifts so high,
To see at length his dead and burted Tongue
Revive, and yeild a vocall Progente
Of holy Praise: thus strangely answering
That Birth which did from his  [...] Body spring.

96.That fethered, and parti-coloured Thing
Who at her big-swolln Mouth a Trump doth hold,
And hastens hence with ready stretched Wing,
Is noble Fame, which posteth to unfold
These Miracles in such commanding sound
As may both through all ears and hearts rebound.

97.Look where she's perch'd now upon yonder Hill,
And from that loftie Pulpit round about
Doth all the Quarters of Judea fill
With stranger News than thither e'r was brought.
Thus John, who came to be a Voice, speaks high
First in his Flathers Tongue, then in Flames Crie.

98.But there the sceen is chang'd, where Desolation
The sole Inhabitant is, except that one
Poor Ermite, who chose his tame Habitation
Amid'st its Wildnesse: that plain thing is John.
'Tis strange how Mary Jewells taught to seem
So vile a Garb, as she hath put on him.

99.That Cincture stands but for a lethern Thong,
That Vestment for a Coat of Camells hair:
No other Wardrobe did to Him belong
But what upon his simple selfe he bare.
No other riches will I own, said hee,
But onely to be rich in Poverty.

100.I'le rob no Ermyn of its dainty skin
To make mine own grow proud: No Cloth of gold
To me shall dangerous emulation win;
I live to live, I live not to be sold,
And therefore shall be fine enough if I
Be drest but in the robes of Modesty.

101.Let scarlets Blush the guilty Court array,
Let wanton silke smile on the Gallants back;
Let linnen soft and pure as snow, go lay
Its own on those who other Whitnesse lack;
My Bravery must be, an Eye to please
Which sees no beauty in such things as these.

102.Let gaudy Fashion-mongers every day
Mis-shape themselves, and vexe their giddy Brain
To see some novell Cut or Garb which they
Were never yet disfigured with: in vain
Striving to catch the Fashion, which is still
Like Phebe's face, but one day at the full.

[Page 34]
103.My Fashion constant as my Nature is,
Which taught me it: Nor is the Sun mid-way
His Race, e'r I have travell'd through my Dresse,
That East does ope mine Eyes, which opes the Day,
And I arrayed am as soon's the Sun
Who have none but my Bed-cloaths to put on.

104.This hairie Covering is my onely Bed,
My shirt, my cloake, my gown, my every-thing.
When over it these severall Names I read,
His furniture I well can spare the King,
The tumult of whose store doth scarce supply
All things so fit as my Epitomy.

105.See'st thou that bubling Chrystall Psyche, there?
That spring's the living Cellar of the Saint,
Thence daily does he draw his Virgin-beer,
And makes his Blood with those coole streams acquaint.
Coole streames indeed, yet such as best agree
With the most fervent Flames of Piety.

106.His common Diet those poor Locusts are;
And when hee feasts, his Mouth hee lifts but up
And straight those courteous Trees,  [...] mend his Fare,
Sincerest Honey into it doe drop:
And dining thus, he holds not down his face,
Till hee to Heav'n has paid his sweeter Grace.

107.Here with himselfe He did converse: a rare
And painfull thing when Men in Crowds doe dwell,
Where upon those who crowd them still they stare
Having no space to see themselves, untill,
Well skill'd in all their Neighbour-company,
But unacquainted with themselves, they die.

108.The rest of his Acquaintance all were high,
Beyond his Eyes reach, but within his Hearts:
For with what speed the Lightning down doth flie
Through every stage of Heav'n this upward darts
Nor will its sprightfull journey bounded be
By any Rampart but Immensitie.

109.At God it  [...], nor ever failes to hit
Its blessed Marke, whither on Prayers Wings
Or Contemplation's it takes its flight:
And there with busie Angels rank'd, it sings,
Admires, adores, and studies to forget
There is a Breast below which look's for it.

110.How often has his fainting Body made
Complaint of his injurious Piety!
How often has it cri'd, I am betrayd,
My life and spirits all away do flie,
And smile in Heav'n, whilst I below am left
To live this Death, of death and life bereft.

111.That Cave his Palace was, both safe and strong
Because not kept by jealous Door nor Barr:
Those Groves his Gardens, where hee walk'd among
The Family of Dread, yet knew no feare.
Fear's proper Region and Dominion is
A guilty Breast, more than a Wildernesse.

112.Those Bears, those Boars, those Wolves, whose irefull face
Strikes Terror into other Mortall Eyes,
With friendly Mildnesse upon him did gaze,
As on old Adam in calme Paradise.
They slandered are with Salvagenesse; No spleer
They owe to Man, but onely unto Sinne.

113.So wilde, so black, and so mis-shap'd a Beast
Is Sinne, that other Monsters it doe hate
As a more monstrous thing then they, and cast
About how to revenge it: But the Gate
And Looks of Purity so reverend are,
That dreadfull Beasts wait upon it with feare.

114.The beams of this Angelick Life at last
Broke out and summon'd in the Admiration
Of all the Countrey: Man, that runder Beast,
Convinc d by these Examples, learn'd their fashion.
Behold that thronging Rout which hither flies;
See how they stare, and scarce beleeve their Eyes.

115.These Deserts nothing lesse than such do seeme,
Being crowded from themselves, and now become
Judea's Towns, and fair Jerusalem
Which hither have remov'd their populous Home.
What now has John lost by his private Cell,
To which whole Towns and Cities flock to dwell?

116.And having now so fair an Auditory,
The noble Ermite is resolv'd to Preach
Behold, sayes, hee, the Dawn of that great Glory
Which to behold, the Patriarks did reach
Their Necks and Eyes through many a shady thing
In your Horizon, now begins to spring,

[Page 35]
117.O faile ye not to meet his spotlesse Beams
With undefiled Hearts, for such is He,
And will Baptize you with refined streams
Of searching Fire. Then first be Wash'd by Me;
My Water for His Fire will you prepare,
As must your Tears for this my Water here.

118.Observ'st thou Psyche, how that silver stream
Its limpid selfe doth through the Girdle winde:
This Jordan is, looke how the People seem
At strife who first should enter in, to finde
A better Baptism in those floods, which may
Their fruitlesse Legall Washings wash away.

119.But mark Who standeth there: how sweet his Eye,
How delicate and how divine his Face
Embellish'd with heart-conquering Majesty!
Wert thou to choose thy Spouse, would'st thou not place
Thy soul on Him? 'Tis He: ô no, it is
As much of him as Jewells can expresse,

120.To be Baptiz'd, but not made clean, comes He
Who is more spotlesse than that living Light
Which gilds the Crest of Heav'ns Sublimity:
He comes to be Baptized, and wash white
Baptism it selfe, that it henceforth from Him
And his pure Touch, with Puritie may swim.

121.As when amongst a grosse ignoble Croud
Of Flints and Pebles, and such earth-bred Stones,
An heav'n-descended Diamond doth shroud
Its Lustres brave ejaculations.
Although it scapes the test of Vulgar Eyes,
Yet a wise Jeweller the Gem descries:

122.So John his Master straight discovered;
And Heav'n forbid that worthless I, cries He,
Should wash a thing more bright then it, and shed
These lesse clean Waters upon mighty Thee.
Dear Lord, my great Pollutions bid Me fall
Prostrate, and unto thee for Baptism call.

123.If I be Lord thy gentle Spouse replies,
Pay then thy Duty to my first Injunction,
It must be so. This Mandate did suffice
The Saint, and He submits to his high Function.
Cast but thine Eye a little up the stream,
Wading in Chrystall there thou seest them.

124.Old Jordan smil'd receiving such high Pay
For those small Pains obedient hee had spent
Making his pliant Waves ope a drie Way
When numerous Israel into Canaan went.
Nor does he envy now Pactolu's streams,
Nor Eastern Floods, whose Paths are pav'd with Gems.

125.The Waves came crowding one upon another
Unto their Lord their chaste Salute to give:
Each one did chide and justle back his Brother,
And with contentious foaming murmur strive
To kisse its Maker, and more spotless grow
Than from its Virgin spring it first did flow.

126.But those most happy Drops the Baptist cast
Upon his Saviours head, return'd with Joy,
And to the Wealthy Ocean making haste,
Amaz'd the Treasures which there heaped lay.
The Deeps look'd up, and op'd their richest Breast
To make these Guests a correspondent Nest.

127.See there thy Spouse is on the Bank, and more
Than Heav'n come down, and pitch'd upon his Head:
That snowie Dove which perched heretofore
High on the all-illustrious Throne of God,
Hath chose this seat, nor thinks it a Descent
Upon such tearms to leave the Firmament.

128.And Heav'n well witness'd this strange truth, which at
That wonderous instant op'd its mouth, and cri'd,
This is my Darling Son, in whom are set
All my Joyes Jewells. O how farre and wide
That Voice did flie, on which each Wind caught hold
And round about the World the Wonder told.

129.This businesse done, to Court the Baptist goes,
Where lusty Sinnes, as well as Herod reign:
Long Sanctity had made him fit with those
Proud Enemies a Combat to maintain.
He who does nothing but his Maker fear,
Against all Monsters may proclaim a War.

130.Behold how Pomp besots great Herod there:
O what impostumes of fond Majesty
Pride puffs into his face! Dares there appeare
A Censor now a just Truth to apply
Home to the King, and tell him that his Eyes
Should rather swell with Tears, his Breast with sighs?

[Page 36]
131.Yes: there the Heav'n-embraved Baptist is,
Who feareth not, but pittieth to see
A Prince made subject to vile Wickednesse.
Great Sir, the Match unlawfull is, cries He:
O farre be it from Kings to break the Law
For whose Defence so strong their Scepters grow.

132.Since to thine own Commands just duty Thou
Expect'st from these thy subjects; Let thy Neck
Not scorn to thine own Makers yoak to bow.
The Precedent may dangerous prove, and wrack
Thy Throne and Kingdome, if thy People read
Such stat and high Rebellion in their Head.

133.Thy Brothers Wife to Him as neer is ti'd,
As He himselfe: ô teare Him not in sunder:
You murder Him alive if you divide
His Heart, all one with Hers: The worst of Plunder
Is Mercy if compar'd with this, which doth
By tearing off one Halfe, unravell both.

134.God, who has this Enclosure made, and Her
To Philip given, still hath left to thee
And thy free choise, an open Champain, where
Millions of sweet and Virgin Beauties be.
Adorn thy Bed with any one beside,
Onely thy Brothers must not be thy Bride,

135.Must not! th' Adulteresse cri'd (for she was by)
Whither is Herod, or that Youngling King!
And shall the Acts of awfull Majesty
Be flouted by this upstart pratling Thing?
O that my bodkin had his Tongue to bore!
I'd make it sure for preaching me a Whore.

136.Be thou content, my Dear, the King replies,
I will reveng thy Wrong, for 'tis mine own.
Rebellions fiery Boils may likelier rise
From his envenomed Words, against my Crown,
Then from our spotlesse Match; which Heav'n long blesse!
Hale him to prison, he shall smart for this.

137.(Unhappy Truth, how comes vain Flattery
To be more gratious at Court then thou,
Who might'st secure and prosper Majesty,
Whil'st that doth Lies, and Trapps, and Poysons strow!
Is it because sometimes thou rubb'st the sore,
Or, that thou naked art, and meek, and Poor?)

138.Deep in the Cities Bottome sunk there was
A Goale where Darknesse dwelt, and Desolation:
Through all the Towns proud Taunts enforc'd to passe
The Saint is thrust into this Habitation:
Where strait the noisome Mire doth him begirt,
Much like a Gem, by Swine trode in the Dirt.

139.Yet these dead Walls, with stones almost as hard
As that which for a Heart did serve the King,
Him onely in a straiter Desert barr'd,
For his high Contemplation still did bring
Heav'ns latitude into those straits, and swell
With Angells and with God, that lesser Hell.

140.This is his noble Companie, and He
In his strict Goale more freedome doth enjoy
Than follish Herod, though his Tetrarchie
To all his loose Desires wide opes a Way.
Sin is the foulest Prison, and in this
Not John, but Herod the close Pris'ner is.

141.Yet Herod thinks not so: (what pitty 'tis
That Thought and Fancy thus the scale should sway.
And ponderous Reasons sober solidnesse
Cast as a light and frothie thing away!)
For rid of this same galling Preacher, He
Judges himselfe and all his Pleasures free,

142.And in that freedom means to celebrate
That Day which Him releas'd from Mothers Womb:
To crown the Meeting with majestick State,
His glistering Nobles all to Court must come,
That Men might in the splendor of each Guest
Read his magnificence who makes the Feast.

143.Luxurious choise of every kinde of Beast
Was hither brought: No Bird so dear and rare,
But it was fetched from its highest Nest,
To build in some quaint Pie or Platter here.
To Noahs Ark scarce came a thicker Crowd
For life, then to be slain there hither flow'd.

144.With Earth and Aire, the Sea must help to trimme
A more than Spring-tide superfluity:
Large shoals of wanton Fishes here must swimme
In aromatick ponds of Spicerie;
That Herods ominous Birth-day forth may bring
Death unto almost every kinde of Thing.

[Page 37]
145.Ambition was the Steward of the Feast.
The Cook and Cater both, was Luxurie:
Lust tempered the gallant Sauce, and drest
The choise inflaming Dainties of the Sea.
Loe there the King is with his Nobles set,
And all the crowded Table smokes with meat.

146.Intemperance attended on the Bord,
And crown'd with sparkling Wine the foaming Cup.
The Kings Health first went round, which every Lord
Drowning his own in it, hasts to drink up;
And prayes, He may behold as many years,
As Dishes on the Bord, or in Heav'n Starrs.

147The next's the Queens. But then Bowle after Bowle
They to their femall Idolls poured down,
So monstrous were those Draughts, that the Wines Soule
Had now all theirs subdued, and was grown
King of them and their Prince: who, belching, cries,
Enough of this: Come now lets feast our Eyes.

148.For hee the young Herodias had spi'd;
Whose face no sooner dawned in the Hall,
But an enchanting meretricious Tide
Of Sweets and Graces overflow'd them all.
Her beauteous Looks and Dresse redoubled be,
Because her fond Spectators double see.

149.No Syren ever on the waterie Stage
Did act so true a false but lovely part
The gazeing carelesse Sea-man to ingage
In the delicious shipwrack of his heart:
Nor e're was Sea so dangerous and deep
As in this Damsells treacherous Breast did sleep.

150.Behold her there: What studied Neglect
Upon her shoulders pours her Tresses down:
How is her Breast with Gems allurements deckt,
Yet winns more eyes and wishes by its own:
That speaking Nakednesse, if selfe commends,
And lustfull Fancies something further sends.

151.The rest of her Attire, so thin and light,
With gorgeous hypocrisie doth lay
More open what it would deny the sight,
And whilst it stopps, invites into, the way.
About she swimms; and by a courtly Dance,
Her other beauties price she doth enhance.

152.All eyes and hearts tripp'd after Her, as she
About the Hall her gracefull motions measures.
No nimble Turn could in the  [...] be
But Herods brains turn'd too: who by these pleasures
Again grown drunk, unto his  [...] doth
Give ease, by vomiting a full-mouth'd oath.

153.By Heav'n, and my own Majesty, he cries,
This Dance, sweet Daughter must not want reward:
For never Venus traversed the skies
With a more soule-commanding Galiard.
Let thy Demand be high; for though it be
Half of my throne, I hold it due to thee.

154.But then the Queen, whose thirst not all the Wine
At that great Feast could quench, unlesse it were
Brew'd with the Blood of John,  [...] soon incline
Her Daughter to request this Boon for her.
I ne'r shall think, said the, that Herod is
Mine, or his Kingdoms Head, whilst John wears his.

155.Thou know'st my Wrongs, and with what pain I wear
The name of Whore, which He hath on me pinn'd:
Help then my righteous Vengance on, and tear
Away this Griefe which gnaws thy Mothers minde.
This was enough: back flies the Damsell, and
Thus sweetens o'r her barbarous Demand.

156.O may the King for ever live, and reign,
And blessed be this undeserved Day
Wherein thine Handmaid doth such favour gain,
That halfe thy Kingdom shall not say me nay;
For reall is thy royall Word: But why
Should a poor Maids ambition towre so high?

157.Indeed that Promise did become the King,
That like thy selfe thy Bountie might appear.
But Heav'n forbid that I, so vile a thing,
Thy scepters Glories should in sunder tear,
And break mine Arm with halfe of that Command
Whose Totall is too little for thy Hand,

158.A slender Gift more equall Pay will be
To my Desert: Let me but have my Will
Over one wretched Worm, which gnaweth thee
And thy whole Stock: So let the King fulfill
His royall Word, by giving Me that Head
Whose Tongue deflour'd yours and my Mothers Bed.

[Page 38]
159.Alas, the King replies, what have I done!
O that my Kingdome might my Word recall!
How shall I help thee now, unhappy John,
Who in my Promise preach'd thy Funerall!
Thy carelesse Tongue at first thee Pris'ner made,
And my rash lipps have thee to death be trayd.

160.O that to day my Lords had not been here
The solemne Witnesses of my great Vow!
Must Death intrude, and its sad Warrant bear
Date upon this my joyous Birth-day! How
Shall Lun-snarle my Promise, and contrive
That both mine Honor and the Saint may live!

161.Both cannot live, I see; O that I were
Some private Man, that so I might be free
Of my repute! but Princes Honors are
The Peoples too, and by Community
I should make all the Body perjured
If I my selfe prove so, who am their Head.

162.And must John die? Bear witnesse All how loth
This Word doth fall from my constrained Lip,
To recompence the too too hasty Oath
Which from Imprudence, not from Me, did slip.
Then take his Head: Yet never say that I
Issu'd this Warrant, but Necessitie.

163.Thus strove the Tyrant by a comely Lie
To veile the Visage of his hideous Hate,
For fear the Damsell by his privity
Might seeme to have contriv'd the Baptists fate:
Whil'st dreading his unlawfull Vow to break,
Adultery He doth with Murder back.

164.Was it not plain that his outragious Vow
Did prostitute but halfe his Realm? and why
Must the blood thirstie Hypocrite bestow
More than the Whole? What Prodigalitie
Is this, mad Herod? For Johns Head alone
Is worth more than thy Kingdome, or thine own.

165.Loe there the last Dish of great Herods Feast,
The Martyrs Head in a faire Charger laid:
He smiles within, though clouds his face o'r-cast,
And feeds his soul on it. But the proud Maid
Knowing her Mother by this Death would live,
In triumph takes the Dish, and takes her leave.

166.The Royall Beldame in suspence did wait
To reape her spightfull Stratagems event.
But when she saw the bloody Present, straight
Grown young with Salvage Joy, hir high Content
She to her dancing Daughter does display
In her own tripping and lascivious way.

167.Then much like some she-Bear, whose long-wish'd Prey
Is faln at last into her hungry Paws:
She tears the sacred Lips, and rends a Way
Unto the reverend Tongue; which our she draws,
And then with peevish Wounds and scornfull Jests
Her Womanish Revenge on it she Feasts.

168.But mark that Convoy of illustrious Light
Which seems from this low World to make such haste:
The better part of John there takes its flight
Unto a greater Kings than Herod's Feast:
That Goale, his Body, and this World, were three
Prisons to Him, who now from all is free.

169.The Patriarks and Prophets all gave way
When they this greater Saint approaching saw,
Who now his blessed Harbour doth enjoy
For those fierce Storms he grappled with below;
And sweetlier rests in Abrahams bosome, then
In the adulterous Kings the lustfull Queen.

170.This is the Story which the Virgin Mother
Hath round about thy Girdle made to live.
But mark this well, my Psyche, 'tis that other
Selected Jewell which thy Spouse did give
To crown the rest, and tie up all the story
In one divine Epitomie of glory.

171.Divided 'twixt amazement and delight,
The Virgin read the strange Embroyderie:
But when on that last Gem she fix'd her sight,
Immortall Joyes so swell'd her soul, that she
Runs over with delicious Teares, and cries,
Come Phylax come, gird me with Paradise.

172.Content, said He, but then be sure to shrink
And hugg your self alone within your selfe:
The Girdle's wonderous strait, nor must you think
That any supernumerary Pelf
Can finde a room in this rich mansion, where
The outward Walls of solid Jewells are.

[Page 39]
173.This said: before her self was well a ware,
He closely buckled it about her Heart.
Straight she complains: Oh, spare me Phylax spare
My squeased soul, least from her self she start.
O loose the Buckle! if the time be come
That I must die, at least afford me roome.

174.Must I be girt to death, and not have space
To fetch one parting sigh before I die?
O me, whose sins have made my Spouse imbrace
Me with imbroidered Tortures, so that I
The riddle of unhappy Maids, must goe
In travell with more than a Mothers Woe.

175.And so shee did indeede: Such matchlesse Throws
And Pangs did sting her in her straitned Heart;
Till at the length she bringeth forth, and shows
Her wondering selfe the reason of her smart,
Whil'st from her labouring Breast she pressed sees
A shapelesse Lump of foule Deformities.

176.Imperfect Embryo's, unformed Lust,
Pin-fethered Fancies, and halfe-shap'd Desires,
Dim Dawns of Fondnesse, doubtfull seeds of Rust,
Glimmering Embers of corruptive Fires,
Scarce something, and yet more than Nothing, was
That mystick Chaos, that dead-living Masse.

177.O how tormenting is the Parturition
Of tender souls, when they unload themselves
Of their blinde night-conceiv'd Bratts of perdition!
How doe the peevish and reluctant Elves
(Mad with their own birth,) viperously contend
The labouring bowells of the Heart to rend!

178.This makes Faint-hearted Mortalls oft preferre
The sad Reversion of eternall Pain
Before this Conflicts Pangs: So they may hear
A quiet Truce with all their sinnes maintain,
They are content, though Hell must with their Grave
Set ope its Mouth, and Them as sure receive.

179.Psyche deliver'd of that monstrous Birth
Now findes her Girdle fit and easie grown,
Affording roome for all the Train of Mirth,
With which her Bosome now was over-flown.
She view'd the Newborn Thing, and viewing smil'd
Not out of love, but hate unto the Childe.

180.As one from blinde Cimmeria newly come,
Beyond his own ambition, into
Arabia's blessed Fields, and finding room
Both for his eyes and joyes, doth wondering goe
Over those spicely Paths, and thinks that hee
Doth now no lesse begin to live, then see.

181.So overjoyed she admired now
The glorious Day new risen in her Breast,
Where carnall Clowds before would not allow
A constant beam to dwell; but over-cast
Her so, that labouring she had much adoe
To spie her Heav'n, and see which way to goe.

182.For now her soul was clearer than the face
Of faire Aurora wash'd in Eastern streams:
Unspotted Thoughts flock'd in to take their place
In her pure Heart, which now a Garden seemes
Of Lilies planted on warm Bedds of Snow,
Through which Gods Spirit doth gales of Odours blow.

183.All Sublunary Sweets she has forgot,
Nor thinks this bitter World can breed such things.
All Beauties to her Eye are but one Blot:
The Bees to her are nothing else but stings:
All Loves are Hate; all Dalliance, Vexation;
All Blandishments, but Poyson in the Fashion.

184.For by this Girdle she his Pris'ner is
In whose alone she reads the Name of Love;
And in the Languishments of softest Blisse,
By dainty Torments doth her patience prove,
Crying at every sigh, O Jesu when
Shall I have liv'd this Death, and Life begin!

185.What further businesse have I here below
With flesh and Blood, whose joyes I relish not!
Who is the Conquerour of my Heart, but thou?
And since thy love this Victory hath got,
Why must thy Captive not permitted be
To wait on thy triumphant Coach, and thee?

186.Though for thy Royall Scorn I fitting be,
Yet why wilt thou thine own Choise disallow?
If I had still neglected been by thee,
This Body had not seem'd my Dungeon now:
But why's this taste of Heav'n unto me deign'd,
If still to this dull Earth I must be chain'd?

[...]

[Page 38]

[...]

[Page 39]

[Page 40]
187.O that some courteous Dove to me would lend
Its fethered oars, that I my soul might row
Unto the Port of my Desires, and blend
It with the Tide of Blisse which there doth flow!
I never thought that Earth so low did lie,
Or that the Heav'ns till now were halfe so high.

188.O why art thou so lovely, if poore I
Must still live Exile from thy dearest sight!
This Token, Jesu, makes me lowder crie
For thee thy selfe, who art more sweet and bright:
O what will thy Supream Imbraces be,
If this small Cincture thus has ravish'd me.

189.I yeild, I yeild, great Lord: Why must thy Dart
Be alwayes killing Me, yet never slay
My ever-dying still-surviving Heart!
Why must thy Flames which on my Bosome prey,
Still burn, but not consume; O why must I
Too, be no Mortall here, but with them vie?

190.O Absence, never was there Present Hell
So true as thou unto its dismall Name!
O cruell Hope, which onely do'st reveal
A tempting glimpse of light, but hid'st the Fame;
That so the sweetly-mocked Eye may be
Assur'd by that short sight, she does not see.

191.Intolerable Joys why smart you so,
Pricking on my impatient Desires!
O Sighs, what means your Breath my Flames to blow!
O Tears, why must your Waters quench my Fires!
Dear Girdle help Me: If thou should'st be slack,
Soon would my over-burdned Heart-strings crack.

[Page 41]

PSYCHE: OR LOVES MYSTERIE. CANTO IV. The Rebellion.

ARGUMENT.

GAll'd with severe Devotions constant Yoak
The Senses, and the Passions rebell:
Having the Spirit of Pride for Generall took,
By fair-tongu'd Treason they with Psyche deal.
Reason's surpris'd and into Prison thrown.
The Will revolts, and Psyche's left alone.

1.PRosperity, how false art thou unto
Thy blessed Name, who with a comely Cheat
Unwary Hearts so potently do'st wooe
That thine all-rotten Bottome they forget,
And thinke thy Foot sure on a Rock doth stand,
Whil'st thy Foundation is the fruitlesse sand.

2.The Day which smil'd so briskly in the Morn
And left no frown in all the face of Heav'n,
E'r night hath oft been made the Prey and Scorn
 [...] swarthy Clouds, so furiously driven,
That Phebu's stoutest help was all in vain
When he the gaudie skie strove to maintain.

3.The Sea, in looks demure, and pleasant dress,
Hath often bid the Mariner been bold:
When straight an unsuspected storm doth press
Through the lamenting Aire, till having roll'd
Into a foaming Mount the monstrous Deep,
In brine it buries the presumptious ship.

4.Eternall Change doth wheel all Heav'n about:
What Patent then can seal Security
To things below? How doth proud Fortune flout
The gayest Confidence which foolish We
Are not afraid to build: but vainly trust
Our Hopes are firm, whil'st we our selves are Dust.

[Page 42]
5.Weak Dust, on which the least Winde domineers
Which through this Clime of mortall Life doth blow:
A life, which if not fortifi'd by Fears
And wise suspitions, to all storms doth bowe:
A life so treacherous in its friendliest Hue,
That Saints themselves have found its falsensse true.

6.Whil'st Psyche feasteth her luxuriant Heart
With amorous Tortures, and does day by day
Riot and surfet in delicious smart,
Which rellish sweeter to her soule than they,
Who both their late and early studies spent
To cherrish Her with Naturall Content.

7.A knot of Friends with Her together born,
And under one soft Roof of the same skin
Tenderly nourish'd, stomack'd much the scorn
She heap'd on them, who thought their onely sin
Was too much love to her; a Crime which might
More pardon challenge than Revenge invite.

8.'Tis true, said they, that we her servants be:
And yet as truely are her sisters too:
Had our originall Seniorite
Its native priviledge, We all should go
Before, and she the Youngling, come behinde:
Sure she should not have found Us so unkinde.

9.But now sh' has chanc'd to get the upper Hand,
She makes Us feele it in her Tyrannie.
So Upstarts use to doe where they command,
Being to weak to weild their Royaltie.
Like paltrie Currents, which swoll'n high, do poure
More Rage than sober streams about the shore.

10.We must not eat, nor drink, nor sleep, nor play,
But when she lists: and ô how seldom's that!
Great bus'nesse she pretends both night and day,
Imploy'd about nor We nor She knows what.
It tickles Her, but hard on Us doth grate,
She calls it Love, but wee all finde it Hate,

11.Yet be it what it will, what's that to Us
Who are not bound Her humors to fulfill
With our own Ruine? Since Her stomack thus
Is wild and rampant, why should wee sit still
With desperate Patience, till wee be undone?
What need wee fear Her? We are Five to One.

12.As when th' imprison'd Fire in earth below
Vex'd with those straits, begins to move and swell,
Its dungeon first it shakes, then forth doth blow
Its full-mouth'd indignation, and fill
The World with Tumult, tearing down the Trees,
Dismounting Mountains, plowing up the Seas:

13.So did their sullen murmur gather strength
Still day by day, by mutinous degrees,
Boyling to such impatience, that at length
By flat Rebellion they resolve to ease
Their over-charged stomacks; and one day
All met at Councell, thus their Griefs display:

14.'Twas in an upper Chamber, dark and close,
Arch'd with thin Ivorie: For their common seat
A white and soft and living Counch they chose,
And there the The Common Sense,
Master of the House intreat
To hear their publike Case. Content, said he,
'Tis just I to my Friends should friendly be.

15.The large Supplies of all my store I owe
To your unwearied Care and Pains, which bring
Plenty of all Varieties that grow
In Heav'n, or Earth, or Sea: the welthiest King
Could not out-vie that furniture which You
To crown my Table daily did allow.

16.But now, alas, I see my Tribut's thin:
Some Lazie sullen melancholick things
Doe now and then come hither sneaking in;
But all your brisk and cheerly Offerings
Are intercepted; and 'tis well that you
Begin, else I had been the Plantiff now.

17.They all were glad to hear their Censor speak
In their own discontented Dialect:
But straight their fond Ambitions did awake
A strife who should begin: In high neglect
Of all her Sisters, The Sense of Seeing
Opsis knits her brows
And darts of indignation on them throws.

18.Who is your Queen but I, who sit, said she,
Exalted high upon my double Throne,
Whilst all your Motions regulated be
By my Imperiall Direction:
Blinde Fools, what could you do, wer't not for Me,
In setting on our brave Conspiracie?

[Page 43]
19.That proud Word from her Mouth no sooner flew,
But Of Smelling.
Osphresis in scorn did snuff it up:
Inraged Of Tasting
Geusis bit her lips, which grew
So big with boiling wrath, she scarce could stop
Her Tongue from railing Vengance: Of Hearing.
Acoe
Prick'd up her ears, and look'd as big as she.

20.But irefull Of Touching
Haphe less could rule her pride,
Imperious Dame, cri'd she, how darest thou
Who in two little tender Cells are ti'd,
Such saucie scorn on all thy Sisters throw?
Dost thou not plainly see my Empire spred
Through all the Body, ev'n from Foot to Head?

21.Doe I not domineer in and about
Thy totall selfe? would not this single Naile
Sufficient be to tear your Queenship out
From both your Thrones? Alas, should I assaile
Thee with two wretched Motes, they would suffice
To damp that Day in which thou prid'st thine Eyes,

22.Thus is Rebellion alwaies Quarrelsome
Ev'n with it selfe. Had not their Judge made haste
To stifle their Contention in the womb,
Flat Warre had been brought forth: But in hee cast
His peremptory Sentence: Hold, said He,
I in my House must have you all agree.

23.This is the Main, how small so e'r it seems, :
Whether all your severall winding Courses tend:
Here doe you poure in your concurrent streams,
And in this Sea of Sense your Rivers blend:
A Sea where never storm arose as yet,
Farre be it then, I now should suffer it.

24.I love you All, and if it could but be,
Would wish that every One might be supream.
'Tis true what noble Haphe sayes, and she
Most like my selfe doth Universall seem:
Yet she is of a courser mixture, and
As well as highest, does the lowest stand.

25.But gallant Opsis sprightfull is, and bright,
The glass or Heav'n above, and Heav'n below.
Her seat's compleatly highest, and the Right
Of her Precedency her Beams do show.
She's all your Candle, and before must goe:
Ev'n your own Interest requires it so.

26.Condemned Haphe to this Sentence paid
Scornfull obedience, vowing not to speak
At all, or be the last. But straight array'd
In joyous Aspect, Opsis did awak
Her richest sweets, to let her sisters see
What cause she had to scorn their Poverty.

27.Yet what means Joy to smile in these mine Eyes
Said she, so long as Psyche Domineers
And makes them worse than Blinde? Could it suffice
Her now and then to set abroach my Teares,
'Twere tolerable: but alas poor I
Must in my sorrows alway steeping lie.

28.The Ocean with lesse Constancie doth throw
Its Tide of Salt upon the troubled shore,
Than from my Springs the streames are forc'd to flow
And down my scalded Cheeks their Billows poure.
O why must here be everlasting Brine,
Whil'st all Tides else doe know an Ebb but mine!

29.Yet were these Floods found needfull to make clean
Mine Eyes and mee, I would not think them dear:
But what Crime stains Us? Is't that we have seene
All Beauties round about the Hemispheer?
What were We made for else? Alas that we
For our Creations End must guilty be.

30.More justly Psyche Articles might draw
Against that God on whom she fawneth so.
Is't not by His irrefragable Law,
That through all Visibility wee goe?
Bold Hypocrite who her own faults doth thus
Reveng upon her God by torturing Us.

31.Are not the Eyes those universall Glasses
In which the World doth fairly copied lie?
Man for a Microcosme by favour passes,
But in a blinde and duskie Mystery:
I am the onely faithfull Mirrour, where
All things in their true colours painted are.

32.Nay Psyche too, although her mixture be
Pure and spirituall, knows not how to hide
Her subtile self from my Discovery:
She by these Windows eas'ly is descri'd,
Whether she wakes or sleeps, or rests or moves,
Whether she sighs or smiles, or hates or loves.

[Page 44]
33.Sure would proud she deign to observe how I
Am fram'd and seated, she could not despise
The manifest and secret Majesty
Which doth both compasse, and compose mine Eyes.
But she is angry, and doth plainly prove
That Hate is also blind, as well as Love.

34.Were it not so, she might discern this Brow,
The princely Arch which roofs my Habitation:
In which as resolute Disdain doth grow
As she can dart at it: This is the fashion
Of the fair world above, whose radiant Eye
The upper Orbs have arch'd with Majesty.

35.Those double Doors, whose hinges are my Will,
Both shut and open without pain and noise:
Else could they not catch tender Sleep, which still
Is coy and shie, and flies from every Voice.
These are my East and West; My Day by these
Doth rise and set, as often as I please.

36.At either Gate a double Guard of Pikes
With prest attendance stands both night and day,
Which gives admission unto those it likes,
But to injurious Guests shuts up the way.
Right trusty Hairs; whose faithfull Fear, to Me
Breeds no Dishonour, but Security.

37.Full is my House of nimble Servants, who
Their diligent selves in all my Businesse stretch,
Which way soever I desire to goe
With sweet activity they thither reach.
No Princes steeds with greater speed or ease
Devoure their way, than I am roll'd by these.

38.Six pretious Curtains close imbrace my Bed
Where I in dainty state inshrined lie:
The Adnate Tunicle is outmost spred
Which doth protection to the rest supply,
And in her bosome shrowd both them and mee
From hasty Motions importunity.

39.The next, a Corneous Veil, both firm and bright;
My naturall Lanthorne, whose diaphanous side
As it transmits, so it preserves the Light
By which the Body and my selfe I guide.
No Time can spend this Lamp, no boistrous storm
Can puff it out, or breath it any harm.

40.The third of Grapes, soft polish'd Coat is made,
Yet with a gentle Roughnesse lin'd within,
Through which all kindes and tribes of Colours trade
And traffick with the inner Chrystalline:
The doubtfull skin of Polypus did ne'r
Slide through such various Looks as sport it here.

41.This opes a Casement to the Pupil, which
My gaudy Iris round about doth dresse
With perfect beauties, shaming all those rich
Streaks of the Heav'n above, which can expresse
Onely the semi-glories of a Bow,
Mine doth a faire and totall Circle show.

42.The fourth's that tender Membran which doth kisse
And hugg the tenderer Pupil: when the Light
Looks with full court'sie on the Eye, then this
Opes wide to meet and drink it in: when Night
Doth draw her sable Curtains over Heav'n,
This doth the Pupill shrink into its Ev'n,

43.The fift of Chrystall is, soft, warm, and thin,
Found no where but in my rich Treasury;
This is that noblest Glasse of Life, wherein
Things living live again, and things which lie
Dead every where beside, enlivened be,
And trip about with brisk activity.

44.The sixt's a Texture of so fine a threed
That neat Arachne did the Spinster seem,
Whose matchlesse Artifice so clear is read
In every Line, that thence it takes its name:
We call't Aranea, a Net whereby
I catch the purest-winged Beams that flie.

45.Besides, such pretious Humors I contain
As mee adorn with richer puritie,
Than does the boundlesse jewell-paved Main
Its Empresse Thetis: She in all her Sea
Is but of one salt-roy'led liquor Queen,
But I of three, all thrice-refin'd and clean.

46.That which does outmost smile, is Waterie,
The spotlesse Cover of a purer thing,
For under it doth liquid Chrystall lie
Couch'd on a Bed almost as ravishing
As its illustrious Selfe, a molten Bed
Of gentle Glasse, upon the bottome spred.

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47.And in the Mirrour of this triple Spring
All sorts of sprightfull formes delight to play;
The mystick shapes of every kind of Thing
Close moulded in a soft and unseen Ray
On Instant's posting wings doe hither flie
And dive into these Deeps of Purity.

48.Who knows not that great Love tak's from the Eye
His Ammunition, Qaiver, Bow, and Darts,
And winns by that soft-fierce Artillery
His mighty Principalitie of Hearts!
Had He himselfe had Eys, what might He not
Have done who has such power by others got?

49.These my domestike Beauties are But see
My outward equal Store: With that she bid
Her Princely Traine march forth, When instantlie
A silver Globe roll'd in, embellished
With gilded starrs, which round about did turne,
And wheel from Ev'n through all the Night to Morn.

50.This done: a dusky Veil she threw aside
And through a roseall East let ope the Day:
The Sun gat up, and as the Globe did glide,
Speeded into the West his Golden way:
Where red and hot with his long journey, He
Entred the coole Bath of th' Atlantick Sea.

51.Then came the blustring Winds, & on their back
Brought labouring Clouds: some pour'd out Haile and Snow,
Some spit forth Lightning through a thundering Crack,
Some with more peacefull showres of Rain did flow,
Some dropp'd down monstrous Vermin, some a stood
Of not-desired Corn, some squeas'd out blood.

52.But then the Spring came blooming in, array'd
With fragrant Green, whose sweet Embroidery
Were Budds of Virgin smiles, which there display'd
A sceen of living Joys, all echoed by
Ten thousand Birds which perch'd on every Tree
Tun'd their soft Pipes to Natures harmonie.

53.Yet underneath, with higher gallantry,
The Peacock strutted, whose expanded Train
Enammelled with gorgeous Majesty
Did Heav'ns bright Modell represent again:
Yet that Bowles wincking Eyes could not express
So full a Proof of Heav'n, as flam'd in these.

54.Summer came next with her own Riches crown'd
A wreath of Flowers upon her goodly Head;
Full sheaves of golden store did her surround
And all her way with wholesome Plenty spread,
Where as she went, no Tree but reach'd his At
(For it was hot) to shade her Head from harm.

55.Then follow'd Autumn, with her Bosome full
Of every Fruit which either tempts the Eye
Or charms the Taste: Here Wantonnesse might cull
And weary grow: Here wide-mouth'd Luxury
Might gormandize her fill, and with farre more
Ease her own Lust devour, than spend this store.

56.At last came drooping Winter slowly on,
For Frost hung heavy on his heels; the Year
Look'd old and pale in him, and almost gone.
He quak'd and shiver'd through his triple Furr,
For still what way soever He did creep
He's to the knees in Snow at every step.

57.For snow was all things now: and in this White,
The wanton World which all this while made sport
In Autumus, Summers, and in Springs delight,
Must (girded up by Ice) doe penance for't.
This cold chaste strait-lac'd Garb will best repell
The Faults which those hot Seasons taught to swell

58.This Pageant being past: up leap'd upon
The stage a City, whose high-lifted Head
Threatned the Clouds with interruption:
What Art was here to Riches married!
How thick the Marble Spires and Towers stood
Shading the Houses with a stoney Wood;

59.But like an awfull Crown to all the rest
The Princes Palace mounted fair and high
Proclaimed by its double gilded Crest
Its own and its great Owners Majestie:
Yet was this outward Pomp but a course skin
To those rare Wonders which did shine within,

60.Heere was the Jewell-house, where naked lay
Such store of Gemms as might enrich the Sea:
There in the Wardrobe, in well-wrought array
Their sparkling Bretheren were taught to be
The clothing of those Cloths Embroyderers had
To pride the backe of scornfull Courtship made.

[Page 46]
61.Here stood the Chequer, that great Temple where
The Worlds dear Idoll in huge heaps did lie:
There was a Store-house of the choise and rare
Productions found by Opticks Industry:
The schoole of Admiration, and the shop
Of Miracles in Glasses treasured up.

62.Heer Men and Beasts and Birds were all of kin,
Being extracted from one common Womb,
Of the brave Proconnesian Marble Mine:
And where the Statuary wanted roome,
The Painters livelier Lies did wooe the Sight
To sport in his lesse cumbersome Delight.

63.But in the Presence-chambers Ocean mett
The Confluence of every royall thing:
A golden Throne on silver floore was sett,
Which took new lustre from the gorgeous King,
Who with his glittering Court surrounded was
As Phebus with the rays of his owne face.

64.The Queen, both of his Kingdome and his Heart,
Beauties bright Triumph show'd at his right Hand,
And did her sweet exuberance impart
Unto that mayden Circle which did stand
To wait and gaze on her, whose goodly Face
Was Wonders fairer Heav'n, and Pleasures Glasse.

65.When Opsis by this pompous sight had drawn
Admiring smiles from her Spectators: I
A thousand such, said she, could soone have shown,
Had I ripp'd up my totall Treasurie.
And these those Offrings are my scorned Eyes
To Psyche gave, who them and me defies.

66.Unto some blurred Prayer-book she ties
My spotlesse sight with endlesse slavery:
Or makes me stare so long upon the skies
That with dull seeing I forget to see.
She some pretence or other still doth finde
In meere devotion to make me blinde

67.The other Sunn when He has look'd his Day,
Can goe to bed and rest himself in Night:
But I, forsooth, at Ev'n must goe to Pray,
And watch her Candle till the Morning light.
Some comfort 'twere if I might but obtaine
By all those Prayers, reliefe for my owne pain.

68.But since nor She, nor Heav'n will Pitty take,
What could oppressed, dying Opsis doe
But force her finall gasping Sighs to break
Into these just Complaints, great Sir, to you?
To which may you be deaf, if I appeare
A Rebell still, and not Defendant heer,

69.She ending thus, impatient Acoe
Who thought her Sisters speech was much to long,
Stepp'd back unto their common Treasurie
Kep't by The Memory
Anamnesis, (where lay the Throng
Of all their wealth) and bad her ready make
Her richest Train, whil'st She its Prologe spake.

70.Hear Me, said She; and be this my reward
For hearing all things else: though many a Sound
Upon mine Eares hath most unkindly jarr'd
Yet courteous entertainment still it found:
The like I crave; and doe not you repine,
The first was Opsi's place, the next is mine.

71.My House is secret; cautious winding ways
And privy Galleries lead into it:
By which abstruse state I my fame doe raise
Higher than if my palace ope were set.
Thus Jewells dwell within the Cavitie
Of Mother-Perl, and thus dwells Acoe.

72.The outward Room's oblique, that violent Sounds
May manners learn, and not rush in too fast;
And narrow too, so to protect my Bounds
Which by no stealing Uermin must be pass't
Yet if they venture, I have lime-twiggs there
To make them sure, tenacious Wax and Haire.

73.And at this Chambers end doth stand my Drumm
Made of a Parchment soft and thin and dry,
And ready corded. But the second Room
Is of my active Tools the Treasury:
My Hammers and my Anvils place is there,
By which I Forge all sounds I please to hear.

74.By them three little busie Bones do lie,
Which when my Drumm is beat, articulate
Each breeding Noise and Voice which that way flie,
Just as the Teeth at prattling Lingua's Gate.
Indeed she onely would be thought to make
The shapes of Words, but Acoe too can speak.

[Page 47]
75.Behind these two, a Third is built, whose frame
So busie is, and dubious, and full
Of Labyrinths, that thence it takes its Name:
Six Semicircles there hook in and pull
The Sound to every corner, that it may
Grow well acquainted e're it pass away.

76.Next unto that, my most reserved Cell
Wreaths up its pliant selfe in privacy:
Have you not seen the Periwinkle shell
Roll'd up about it selfe? Such folds has my
Dark Closet: whence I by a private slit
To thee, grave Censor, all my News transmit.

77.If Psyche would but well consider this,
Sure she would deign me some respect: Yet I
Want not an ample Troop of Witnesses
To prove my Worth, With that she turn'd her Eye,
When strait-way in a decent equipage
Her train Anamnesis brought on the stage.

78.A sudden Grove sprung up, and every Tree
Impeopled was with Birds of softest throats;
With Boughs Qaires multipli'd, and Melody
As various was, as were the singers Notes,
Till Philomel's diviner Anthems sound
The rest in a full sea of Musick drown'd.

79.Beneath, a silver River stole, and by
Its gentle murmur did all Eares allure:
Amid'st whose streams, a swan, content to dy,
And at that price their further Joyes procure,
Tun'd her long Pipe to such an height, that she
Sung out her soule in her own Elegie.

80.Then came two golden Orators, the One
From Greece, from Rome the other, to lament
Her dainty Death: Demosthenes began,
And rap'd the Hearers with such full content,
That had not Tullie stretch'd his Tongue that day,
With Rhetoricks honor Greece had gone away.

81.But Tubal rushed in: and Room, said He,
For my prerogative who first did teach
Schollars both deaf and dumb, such Harmony
As overtopp'd short-winded Natures reach:
Rude things, the Hammer and the Anvil I
Learn'd how to Forge soul-charming Melody.

82.Behinde Him slowed in delicious throngs.
Of learned Instruments: the Harp, the Lute,
The Organ (moderator of all Songs)
The Violl, Cymball, Sackbut, Cornet, Flute,
The Harpsichon, Theorboe, and Bandore,
The galiant Trumpet, and a thousand more.

83.As they at this mute show stood wondering,
In came a goodly Man with gracefull pace:
His Robe and Crown did plainly speak him King;
But his sweet Art betray'd what Prince he was.
Who snatching up the Harp, did it awake,
And made it for its silent Brethren speak.

84.As to the Strings hee whisper'd with his Finger,
They all told tales, and with conspiring Noise
Professed freely, This is Israels Singer.
Discovered thus, He join'd with them his voice,
And as he sung, again the heav'nly Bowle
Which Opsis thither brought, began to roll.

85.But he leap'd into it, and in the Sphears
Withdrew himselfe. When loe an angry Sea
Comes foaming in, and on its proud waves bears
In dreadfull triumph a wrack'd Man: but hee
Caught up the Harp; a slender Bark, indeed,
Could Musicks powers not the storm's exceed.

86.No sooner borrow'd He the strings soft Crie,
But at the gentle Call a Dolphin came,
Which took him on his back and bore him high
Above the Wrath of the deluded stream.
Arion straight with all his fingers strove
To pay his fare and quit the Fishes love.

87.The Waves grew calm and smiled in his face,
The cheerly Nymphs look'd up, and joy'd to hear
Such charming Accents in that churlish place
Where onely Tempests us'd to beat their Ear:
The Windes came stealing close about Him, and
Catch'd every Note that dropped from his Hand.

88.The courteous Dolphin, who did all this while
Deeper in Pleasure swim than in the Sea,
And all the labour of his way beguile
By the Harp's sweet Discourse; was griev'd to see
The period of his journey now at hand,
And wish'd that hee might with Arion land.

[Page 48]
89.But on the shore a singing Troop appear'd,
Where Pindar first took up a Lute and plaid;
All Ears were ravish't which his Numbers heard,
And had not Flaccus, though at first afraid,
Fir'd by a furious bravery stretch'd his skill,
Pindar had been sole Lord of Lyricks still.

90.Above upon a Mountain Homer sate,
And to a Trumpet tun'd his nobler Lays:
Which Fame, who thither flutter'd, having got,
Through all the wondering World she them displaies;
Till princely Maro with an equall strain
Embrav'd his voice, and echoed them again.

91.Which at the second Bound reflected be
By Tasso's Muse, but in an holier Tune:
The Muse which taught her sober Tuscanie
The Greek and Roman Poetry to prune,
And rescu'd Godfree from Oblivion,
As hee from Pagan Hands had Salem done.

92.(Not farre from whom, though in a lower clime,
Yet with a goodly Train doth Colin sweep:
Though manacled in thick and peevish Rhyme,
A decent pace his painfull Verse doth keepe.
Well limm'd and featur'd is his mystick Queen,
Yet, being mask'd, her beauties less are seen.)

93.But ô, how low all these do bow before
Nazianzum's, and the Worlds immortall Glory,
Him, whose Heav'n-tuned soul did sweetly soar
Unto the top of every stage and story
Of Poetry; through which, as hee did pass,
He all the Muses made Urania's.

94.And by this soul-attracting Pattern, Thou,
My onely worthy self, thy Songs didst frame:
Witnesse those polish'd Temple-Steps, which now
Whether thou wilt or no, this Truth proclaim,
And, spight of all thy Travels, make't appear
Th' art more in England, than when thou wert here.

95.More unto Others; but not so to Me
Of old acquainted with thy secret worth:
What half-lost I endure for want of Thee
The World will read in this mis-shapen Birth:
Fair had my Psyche been, had she at first
By thy kinde-censuring hand been dress'd and nurst.

96.Some distance thence, in floury wanton Groves
Luxurious Amoroso's sate, who by
The gentle key of Sports and Smiles and Loves
Did regulate their thrilling Melody.
Nimble Theocritus and Naso were
The cheif: but thousands more beside were there.

97.Whose Consort to compleat, afore-hand came
Marino's Genius, with a voice so high,
That straight the world rung with Adonis name
Unhappie man and Choise! ô what would thy
Brave Muse have done in such a Theme as mine,
Which makes Profanenesse almost seem Divine!

98.These apparitions sweetly passing by
This vocall Honey, and much more than this,
Cri'd Acoe, to solace Psyche I
Would gladly dropp: but she so sullen is,
That what doth make Rocks move, and Tempests rest,
In foule Disdain she in my face doth cast.

99.In hideous sighs she smothers up my Ears,
And with lank hollow Groans still diets Me.
Liv'd I a Subject in the Realm of Fears
Where raving Desperations chained be,
I would not murmur if the Monsters there
Did tender me with yelling Torments tear.

100.But must proud Psyche here a Fury be
In spight of all the sweetest sweets I throw
Thick in her way? must her fell Tyranny
Such uncontroll'd Injustice on Us throw?
For bid it righteous Sir, and lend some aid
Before to ruine We be all betraid.

101.The next place Ospheresis challeng'd as due
Unto her fair and eminent situation:
Yet stepping up into more open View,
She first her Count'nance, then her speech did fashion,
Seeking for both no other Ornament,
But wrinkles of disdainfull Discontent.

102.My Wrongs, said she, although I third must speak
Too well deserv'd to have been told the first.
You all know where I dwell; my House doth make
No gaudie show, indeed, yet at the worst
Dame Acoe, its structure is as fair
As your, however young, yet, wrinkled Eare.

[Page 49]
103.It like some Alabaster Propp sustains
The fore-heads load, (yet doth its firmnesse owe
Unto no Basis:) It within contains
Two Galleries, about whose Walls doe grow
Quick watchfull Hairs, which brush the entring Aire
That to my Presence it may come more fair.

104.In these opens a Back-doore whereby
I send cool gales to fan and cheere the Heart:
But by the Mammillar Processions I
Imbrace the Pleasures which my Sweets impart
And then through them the Soul of odours strain
And with pure vigorous Spirits befriend the Braine.

105.What kind of tribute I was wont to yield
Coy Psyche, let Anamnesis confesse.
She had no sooner spake, but a faire Field
Smiled upon the Stage, whose youthfull Dresse
Did all that Summer represent, and more,
Which Opsis had displayed there before.

106.Thick Beds of Majoram, of Thyme, of Myrth,
Of Primroses, Violets, and Rosemary,
Of Saffron, Marigolds, and Lavender,
Of Iulie-flowers, Flower-gentles, Piony,
Of Hyssop, Balm, and Sage, of Roses, Lilies,
Of Honey succkles, and of Daffadillies.

107.These were beset with many a spicy Tree,
Sweetly embraced by the Eglantine,
Who joying in their fragrant Companie
Among their Odours did his owne entwine.
And heer the ravish'd Senses ask'd their Eys
Whither this were Arabie or Paradise.

108.Their Eys in wonder looking up, espied
Upon a Cedar what more rap'd their sight,
A Phenix Tomb and Cradle dignified
With richer sweets than was the Garden dight.
The flames rose up to kill and to revive
The Bird which sweetly teacheth Death to live.

109.And from the odorous Cloud which rolled there
They smelt such sprightfull powers of quickning Joy
That now they wonder not a Bird should dare
To die a death which could such life display.
And if the smoke alone, say they, can stream
With such refreshment, ô what is the flame!

110.Their extasie contented O sphresis
More than the sweets did them: And why, crid She,
Must I who pay such dainty rent as this,
By most ingratefull Psyche tortured be?
If she would slay Me quite, there were an end:
But cruell She my Murder does extend.

111.For on the Rack She holds Me night and day
And ties Me Pris'ner to a Dead Mans Skull,
On which whilst She doth rest her Hands to pray,
The stink of Death doth both my Nostrills fill;
Worse is my State than theirs who buried lie
In death, and smell not the Graves Miserie.

112.If We must die, 'tis reason We by some
Worthy Adventure merit that our Death:
Impartiall Sir, what better can become
Your injur'd Senses, than by generous Wrath
To shew their Sensibility belongs
As well's to all things else, to their owne Wrongs?

113.Geusis, whose mouth before stood ready ope,
Rejoyc'd to heare her Sister end her speech.
And now, said shee, my Tongue, enjoy thy scope,
And in thine owne defence thy powers stretch.
Psyche regards not what I say: but you
Grave Judge will just Apologies allow.

114.Then since 'tis prov'd the fashion to display
The severall Beauties of our Habitation,
My words shall travell in this beaten Way:
Though for my House, it might be Commendation
Sufficient, what the whole world doth express
By its ambition its Door to kiss.

115.That Doore is of two leaves, two Roses leaves,
Whose tenderness the in ward Guard supplies,
A strong and double Guard, which there receives
With sharp examination, and tries
The burliest Guests: which, if it finds them rude,
It sends into my Mill to be subdu'd.

116.There are they press'd, and grown'd, and gentle made
And so upon my ruby Table set:
Where, with a Canopy of Purple spread
Over my Head, Prince-like alone I eat;
And dining with the Creame of all the Feast
I unto my Attendants leave the rest.

[Page 50]
117.They, in the Kitchin meeting at the Fire,
Sit down and pick what Pieces like them best:
Where every One stuffing his own Desire,
Grows fat and merry: Then the Scraps they cast
Into the sink, which by a private spout
Behinde the House it selfe does empty out.

118.Nor has Anamnesis a thinner show
Of Rarities which unto me belong
Than those my Sister's Pride display'd to you.
Consult your Eyes on that delicious throng
She ushers in: If any thing does want,
Say then, the World's, and not my store is scant.

119.Straight-way a golden Table marched in
All sweating under a farre richer Feast:
A Feast which Heliogabalus might win
To loath his Empires Borde, and here be Guest.
A Feast whose strange Varietie and store
Dar'd call great Solomons Provision Poor.

120.The Vangard ranked by a skilfull Hand
Was fruitfull Summer fairly dish'd and drest:
For Apples, Pears and Plums in order stand,
Choise Quinces, Wardens, Figgs, Dates, Grapes, the best
Pomgranats, Citrons, Oranges, and Cherries,
Apricots, Almonds, Straw-Rasp-Mirtle-berries.

121.Besides selected Herbs, and Flowres, which might
Build up the Bord with Sallads Pageantry,
And send a challenge to the Appetite
From those stout Troops which now were marching nie:
This was the second ranged Squadron, whither
All Nations of the Aire were flock'd together.

122.The Pheasant, Partridge, Plover, Bustard, Quail,
The Wood cock, Capon, Cygnet, Chicken, Dove,
The Snipe, Lark, Godwit, Turkie, Peacock, Teal,
With thousand winged Dainties, which might move
Ev'n Luxury her selfe, the Dieties
Now plain and course Ambrosia to despise.

123.Next these, a large Brigade was marshelled,
The brawnie Boar did in the Front appear,
And then the Bull, the Veal, the Goat, the Kid,
The Sheep, the Lamb, the Coney and the Hare,
The Hart, and every wholsome thing that feeds
Upon the Hills, the Vallies or the Meads.

124.But from the Sea and Rivers, in the Rear,
A finnie Ocean on the Borde did stream,
The Smelt, the Perch, the Ruff, the Roche, the Dare,
The Carp, Pike, Tench, Lump, Gurnet, Hering, Bream,
The Mullet, Baible, Codfish, Conger, Trout,
Plaise, Salmon, Lamprey, Sturgeon, Sole, Elepout.

125.The Turbet, Cuttle, Flounder, Mackerill,
The Lobster, Oyster, and all kinde of Fishes
Which Lusts soft Fuell treasure in their shell;
Had left their troubled Deeps to swim in Dishes.
Earth never yet such store of Fish could shew
But when the Flood on it the Sea did spew.

126.But all this while the sparkling Bouls were crown'd
With living Nectar round about the Table:
Such pretious Liquor never yet was found
To drop from Poets Brain, a Liquor able
To make th' Egyptian Queen disdain her Cup
In which her liquid Gem did courther Lip.

127.For the Reserve, a Ladies dainty Hand,
Th' ambitious Cater of her own Delight,
Had curiously rais'd an antick Band
Of Banquet Powers, in which the wanton Might
Of confectory Art indeavoured how
To charm all Tasts to their sweet Overthrow.

128.These having feasted the Spectators Eyes,
Geusis but nodds, and all was tane away.
And is this Homage to be scorn'd, she cries,
Which copious I alone to Psyche pay?
Must the dry Supper of the simple Lamb
Of which she talks so much, these Dainties shame?

129.These Dainties whose soft but victorious Bait
Hath many a sturdy Stoick captive led:
And with whose various pretious Deceit
The liquorish World aspireth to be fed,
Though crude Distempers, Surfets, Sickness, Pain,
And immature Death be its dreadfull Train.

130.Must I be fed with Hope? Or what is more
Jejune than that, vile Roots, and course dry Bread?
Must I be ravish'd from my naturall store
Of sprightfull Wines, and forc'd to drink the dead
Could puddle Water, or the Tears which from
Her briney Springs to scald my Mouth doe come?

[Page 51]
131.Must I endure my woefull Bellies crie,
And of self-murder guiltie prove; whilst she
Labours her peevish selfe to Mortifie
Without the least remorse of killing Me?
Must I be patient till my starv'd lank skin
Proves a white funerall sheet to wrap Me in?

132.Though Justice, righteous Sir, might you perswade
To lend aide to our common Mutiny,
Yet Pitty too on Geusi's part doth plead
For necessary succoure'r I die.
O had these Teeth their Will. how they would tear
Psyche, and their owne Wrongs revenge on Her!

133.She closing heer her Lips, and champing them,
Ev'n in her Silence still spoke Spight and Rage.
When after a long pause proud Haphe came
And shew'd her sullen face upon the Stage.
With mute Disdaine shee did her Preface make,
And having look'd Contempt, Contempt she spake.

134.'Tis well you'l deigne me leave to be the last:
Yet when I pray, proud Sisters when would you
Have felt those wrongs of yours, had I not past
Through all your Lodgings and inform'd you how!
'Tis by my touch alone that you perceive
What Object does delight, and what does grieve.

135.You to your proper Cells confined are,
And those too stand in my Dominions,
Whose limits are extended neer and farr
Through flesh and Blood and Skin: indeed some Bones
Are obstinate; but to thy teeth I tell
Thee Geusis, they my power sometimes doe feel.

136.What hast Anamnesis? Yet I'm contented,
Bless their Eyes with my Treasures. At the Word
She on the Sceen her Tactile Sweets presented:
With curious Ermins stately Mantles furr'd,
Illustrious Robes of Sattin and of Silk,
And wanton Lawns more soft and white than milk.

137.Delicious Beds of Cygnets purest Down,
Cushions of Roses and of Violets,
Baths of perfumed Oile, Foot-paths thick strown
With budding Summers undefloured Sweets.
Stoves which could Autumne of cold Winter make,
Fountains, in Autumne to bring Winter back:

138.Soft Ticklings, Courtings, Kisses, Dalliance,
Secret Imbraces, which I must not tell:
For all the Company at their first glance
Started and turn'd from the bold Spectacle.
In good time, Haphe cri'd, is't shame to see
What All doe covet to enjoy with Me?

139.Yet though this feeling and substantiall Joy
I can to Psyche yield, ingratefull She
Starts more than you, and barbarously coy
Makes Warre upon my solid Love, and Me.
The Clownish Rock thus doth in pieces dash
The Streams which gentlie comes its sides to wash.

140.On the cold ground whole Nights she makes Me lie,
There to corrupt my flesh, and suck Diseases,
And measure out my Grave before I die:
Some cloth of Hemp or Haire, or what shee pleases,
Must those Furrs place usurp: I never doe
Peep out of doors, yet Pilgrim-like must goe.

141.With churlish strokes upon my tender Breast
As on some Anvill shee does dayly beat,
And for her Hammer snatches mine owne Fist.
She scornes, grave Sir, the service of my Feet,
And, dwelling alwaies on my wearied Knee,
Remorsless Tyrant, lames her self and Me.

142.And though my tedious Soreness now be spred
About Me round, shee still regardless goes;
And will goe on, till Force her spight forbid.
This has confederated Me with those
My injur'd Sisters, all resolv'd to trie
The strength ofRight, against her Tyrannie.

143.The Plantiffs thus their severall Cases spred
Open before their Common Censor: He
With serious Look shaking his thoughtfull Head
Allow'd some pause unto his Gravity.
At length he cri'd, The Matter's foule I see,
And doth include with Yours my Injury.

144.Your Resolution's Just and Noble too:
Onely be sure you never disagree,
Least you by partiall Jelousie undoe
The Nerves and Joints of your conspiracy.
An Army once grown mutinous, does yeild
Before the Fight, unto its Foes the Field.

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145.But more Confederates were not amiss
The casier to dispatch your great Designe:
About the Heart a lustie Troop their is
Which, well I know, will in your Plot combine:
My Sister Fancie is the trustiest Friend
Whom with the Bus'ness We can thither send.

146.She all this while behind them sate, and as
Their severall Complaints and shows came out,
Strait caught them Pris'ners in her Christall Glass,
And then their figures in her sampler wrought:
She needed no Instructions what to say,
But being ask'd to goe, she flies away.

147.For mounted on the nimble Wings of Thought
She strait arriv'd at the designed Place,
Where, in the Lodgings scattered round about
The Court of Psyche, she unveils her face.
The Passions flock'd to Kiss her, and to know
Whither from abroad she any News could show.

148.The News is this, said she, and and instantly
In fine aeriall Figures did present
All that was spoke, or she wed, or plotted by
The angrie Senses; and for what intent
She thither posted. They awhile amaz'd,
Upon the guilefull Apparition gaz'd,

149.Then taking fire, and being unable to
Bridle their flames, they belch'd their furie out:
Surely, said they, this Psyche will undoe
Her trustiest Friends: We see'twas not for nought
That We our selves complain'd; tis certain now
She means to rage, and open Tyrant grow.

150.If their great distance cannot Them remove
From her Injustice, then no wonder We
Who live more in her reach, so often prove
The Prey whereon she feasts her Crueltie.
We like the Plot against our common Foe,
We think it just to joyne; and tell them so.

151.Let them be sure to watch their ports without,
And leave the busines within for Us:
We are not now to learne how to be stout
And stomackfull and rude and mutinous.
Fancie smil'd, and returned, glad to see
Successe so quickly crown her Embassie.

152.Whose Issue when she to the Senses told,
They all would in Devotion needs blaspheme,
Paying loud thanks to Heav'n which did behold
Their Wrongs, & mov'd these frends to succour them.
And now with traiterous expectation swell'd
They wait to see the Passions take the Field.

153.But Hope, Love, Hatred, Anger, and the rest
Of that impatient Crew, had forthwith been
In open Arms, had cautious Feare not prest
For some demurr. He Jelousie did win
To side with him; and then, 'tis best, said He,
That of some valiant Leader We agree.

154.Psyche is strong and sober: If we fight
Without due Discipline, that Rashness will
Help her to put our foolish Pow'rs to flight:
But if we make some expert Generall's skill
Our owne by following it, the Victorie
Will be ambitious on our side to be.

155.That Word, a new confusion broach'd: for All
Reach'd at the Generall's place, excepting Feare
And Jelousie; yet these were loth to fall
Under the absolute power of any there.
At length, they vote to step abroad, and trie
Who skilled best Feats of Activity.

156.When loe (so well Hells plots were laid,) they met
A goodly person taller by the Head
Than any of themselves: Disdaine did sit
High on his Brows, his awfull Limbs were spred
To such extent of Gallantry, that there
Seem'd ample roome for every thing but Feare.

157.His first glimpse all their wishes did concentre
Upon himself. Love forthwith is design'd
To break unto the Knight their bold Adventure
And with her wily Sweetness sift his Mind.
She hastens to her Task: and bowing low,
Opes her Mouths fountain, whence this Charm did flow.

158.Mights goodly Mirrour, whosoe'r you be
Whom blessed Fortune shews Us heer alone,
Surely such fair and ample Majestie
Deserves by thousands to be waited on:
And, if such honor you this Troop will deign,
We shall have found a Lord, and you a Traine.

[Page 53]
159.A brave Designe has fir'd Us now, which may
Your Might and Soveraign Command become:
Upon a War wee have resolv'd to day
With Psyche; but good Chance has kept Us from
Choosing our Generall, and we hope our stay
Was but for You, whom Heav'n puts in our way.

160.Necessity made this Conspiracy
To break that Yoak which else our Necks would break:
Would Psyche suffer Us our Selves to be,
No mutinie of ours her Throne should shake:
But wee, though Passions, calme and quiet must lie,
Whil'st she proves Passionate ev'n to Tyranny.

161.We must not Hope, nor Fear, nor Love, nor Hate,
Nor nothing else, whil'st she does all these things:
If fouler Slavery e'r did violate
Free-Subjects Birth-right, scorn our sufferings:
If not; O may the safetie be ours,
Great Sir, by your stout Hand, the Glory Yours.

162.Agenor glad such punctuall successe
Did on his own Designe it selfe obtrude:
Swelling his Looks to bigger statelinesse,
Three turns he stalk'd, three times he proudly view'd
The Company, three times he snuff'd, and then
Opening his Mouth at leisure, thus began:

163.Now by my Might and Worth I know you all,
But silly Worms, I see you know not Me,
Whom to so vile a piece of Work you call
As brideling wretched Psyche's Tyrannie.
Must I whom Lyons, Tigres, Dragons fear,
Debase my strength, and stoop to conquer Her?

164.If of the great Kinde she a Monster were,
If she had made distressed Countries Flie
To the next Oracle on wings of Fear,
To summon to their help a Dietie;
If she could prove a Thirteenth Task for Him
Who Twelve perform'd, the work would me beseem.

165.And yet because I your Oppression see,
I'le win so much of my high-practis'd Might
To make it bowe to your delivery:
Yet never say Agenor came to fight;
I scorn the Match, this Finger will be strong
Enough to shew my Pittie of your Wrong.

166.This said; He march'd in more than warlike state
Unto the House where thought-full Psyche lay:
And thundering imperiously at the Gate
Unto the Rebells Rage burst ope the way;
Filling her outward Court with Noise and Fear,
Whose echo revell'd in her frighted Eare.

167.As when the Windes let loose upon the Sea
Tear up the Deeps and fling them at the Stars,
Chasing away unarm'd Serenity
At the first blast of those unlook'd for Wars,
Each startled Nymph her fearfull  [...] shrinks in,
And to the bottom of the World doth run:

168.So Psyche trembling at the furious Crie
Retreated to her inmost Fort; a place
High built and strong, and yeilding to her Eye
Full view of all the Rebells: Time it was
To call her Counseller, whom to the Rout
With these instructions she sendeth out:

169.Run Logos run, and know what mad mistake
Has hurl'd my subjects into tumult: Trie
(For well thou skill'st that gentle Might) to break
Their furies Torrent by the lenitie
Of wise Persuasion: Pardon, of all Charms
The best, proclaim to them who lay down Arms.

170.The News made Logos shake his Head: but yet
With pleasant Gravity to them He goes:
And, friends, said He, if you be in a fit
Of fighting, goe in God's name, seek your Foes.
This is your peacefull Home; ô be it farr
From you to ruine your owne Rest by Warre.

171.If you had any reason to rebell,
Sure I should guesse at it, but I know none:
What boots it you our Empresse to expell,
Who needs must fall in her confusion!
What gains the Madman, who through jealous fears
Pulls his own house, and death, about his ears!

172.What means sweet Love to rob her selfe of all
Her selfe, and unto Discord it impart?
Must th' universall Glue which bindes the Ball
Of the whole World so close, in pieces start?
Shall your dear Bands serve onely now to tie
Confusion fast to your Conspiracy?

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173.Stern Hatred, could the copious World afford
No other food whereon to feast thy Spight,
But thou against thy selfe must draw thy Sword,
Whil'st with thine Empresse thou prepar'st to fight?
Hate whom thou wilt besides, but hate not her
Whose Love gives thee thy life and dwelling here.

174.What strange Enchantments lured thee, fond Hope,
To this Designe of Self-destruction? Who
Abus'd thy credulous Soul, and puff'd thee up
With this vain fancie, that the Ladder to
Climbe higher, must be Ruine? Thus art thou
Of Hope become plain Desperation now.

175.Unhappy Fear, and what makes thee afraid
Longer to dwell with thine own Safety?
What monstrous Witcherie hath here betray'd
Thy trembling Heart to this bold mutinie?
What hardneth thee, who quak'st at every frown
Of other Princes, to despise thine own?

176.Brave Anger, shall the scoffing World at last
Have cause to mock thy Valour, which doth make
Such earnest haste unto so mad a Jest
As Waging War against thine own Mistake?
What pitty 'tis to see thou art so fair
And well-appointed, when no Fear is near!

177.And You my Fellow-subjects all, whom I
Have often heard our gratious Soveraign praise,
For humble Duty and Fidelity:
O why must groundless Rashness now erase
Your noble Character, and print upon
Your Heads the foule Blot of Rebellion!

178.By your Allegiance, and ingenerate Worth,
By your own dearest Lives and Safety,
By Psyche's royall head, by Heav'n and Earth,
By every thing I you conjure to be
True to your Selves: The Queen desires but this,
Who by your peace & wealth counts her own Bliss.

179.She is as ready to forget, as you
Can be your hasty Error to lay down:
She on your Necks, by Me her arms doth throw,
And by my Tongue she calls you still her own:
Behold the Seal of her Embraces here,
A Generall Pardon, all your Doubts to clear.

180.As when upon a raging Fire you throw
Soft oile, the fretfull Flames incensed by
Its gentlenesse, more fierce and rampant grow;
So here the unrelenting Mutinous Frie
Storm'd at persuasive Logos, and to new
Impatience at his sweet Oration grew.

181.He's an Enchanter, Anger cri'd, and by
These Blandishments hath oft bewitched Us:
But now our just and ripe Conspiracy
Scorns to be Fooled and confuted thus:
'Tis time to act our Resolutions now,
That Reasons may no longer Us undoe.

182.Then clapping her right Paw upon his Throat,
And stopping with her left his Mouth, she drew
Him to Agenor: And now we have got
Our subtlest Foe, Sir, let him have his due,
Cri'd she; We never shall our businesse doe
If to the Tyrant back in peace He goe.

183.The other Passions all rebounded that
Rebellious Word: whose Generall glad to see
Their Madness compass, what his Pride could not,
Gave Order Logos should close Pris'ner be:
They hallow'd first, then in tumultuous haste
Two Chains upon his Mouth and Neck they cast.

184.And here I challenge any Heart to read
This woe full Story, and forbear to sigh:
Seeing the Feet thus trample on the Head,
And common Slaves with insolent licence Flie
Upon their Lord: O who secure can be
When Reason must be bound, and Passion free.

185.Psyche, whom all this while Suspition had
Held at the window of her lofty Tower,
When she descri'd from thence how fiercely mad
And confident of their outrageous power
The Rebells were; and that in foule disdain
Her Messenger they did in Bonds detain,

186.She fetch'd a mighty sigh; and though with Him
Her selfe, and all her honour Pris'ners were,
Between Dispairs and Hopes she long did swim,
Waiting if any Harbour would appear:
But her own Fancies to such tumults rose,
As almost copied out her mutinous Foes.

[Page 55]
187.Thus by that Noise without, and this within,
She summon'd was unto the Top of feares:
Charis was stepp'd aside, and lay unseen,
And now her trusty Phylax disappears:
No Friend was left but Thelema, and she
Was thought but wavering in fidelity.

188.But as the shipwrack'd Man toss'd up and down
Between high and low Deaths amongst the Waves,
Clapps fast on any glimpse of help, and grown
Bold by Dispaire, nor hold nor comfort leaves
As long's his plank doth float: So Psyche now
On Thelema her sinking Arms doth throw.

189.And, O, cri'd she, my onely Refuge, I
Conjure thee well to mark thy Hap, and mine:
The Tempest of my Woes is swoll'n so high,
That now all Bridles it doth scorn, but thine;
And 'tis thy Priviledge that I to thee
Must owe my Life, for thy sake, dear to Me.

190.At what a price would'st thou this Day have bought
Which can so deep engage thy Queen to thee!
Yet it had been thy sin, if thou had'st sought
This sad unnaturall opportunitie.
But now their Disobedience opes the way
For thy Desert, if thou wilt Me obey.

191.Logos had prov'd himselfe both wise and strong
Had obstinate Madnesse not damm'd up their Ears:
But all his Powers fighting from his Tongue
Their deaf Rebellion his strength out-dares:
His Arguments confuted are with Chains.
And I in Fear, in Prison he remains.

192.But thy brave Valour in thine Hand doth dwell
And reign, incomparable Amazon;
Thine Acts are Conquests all: which who would tell,
Must call the World to count: Thy Nodd alone
Points out thy Victories: Fresh groves of Bays
And Palms thy Footsteps every, where doe raise.

193.By softnesse fain I would have conquered them,
No Blast of whose Rebellion could blow out
My royall Loue which toward them did flame:
But now Necessity calls for a stout
And corsive Cure, thy Hand must doe the deed,
And in their Wounds teach this my heart to bleed.

194.Goe then my faithfull Champion, and may
Blessed Successe goe in thy company:
I from this Window will waite on thy way
By my observing and well-wishing Eye,
Which shall the Witnesse of thy Valour be,
And what reward it shall deserve from Me.

195.But fail not to revenge the proud intrusion
Of yon' ignoble stranger, who may be
Perhaps, the Firebrand of all this Confusion
Which threatens to burn up both thee and mee.
If his blood will suffice to quench his Fire,
Spare all the rest; they will no more conspire,

196.Stout Thelema with this Commission goes,
And with imperious Looks builds up her brow.
At her commanding Presence, all her Foes
Their Eyes, and Arms, and Courage down did throw:
Onely Agenor's stomack rose to see
Himselfe out-look'd in high-swoll'n Majesty.

197.But knowing his own Weaknesse, and her Might,
And seeing all the Passions turn'd to Fear;
He thought it safest now to change the Fight
Of Arms to that of Wit: For in Love's eare
He whisper'd his device, and straight-way she
At Thelema let flie this Fallacy.

198.Illustrious Lady, you to day might spare
Those irefull lookes, with which Mistake hath plowd
Your awfull face: How can you thinke We dare
So farre forget what Might is, as with proud
Madnesse to whet our Sword and bend our Bow
To make War with Omnipotence, and You?

199.But as your strength is great so is your love,
Whom we have always found our noble Friend:
But though with loyall Service we have strove
To win our Soveraigns favour, she will lend
No pitty to our fainting Soules, but still
With lingering Death delighteth us to kill.

200.Arms are our onely (forced) Refuge now:
For though your brawnie Might knows how to beat
The Injuries she poureth upon You;
Our Shoulders of a weaker Temper are:
Nor can you judge it guilt in Us, if We
Shrink more than you under her Tyrannie.

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201.You know what constant Slavery she heap'd
On our poor backs, who yet were all free-born:
This noble Stranger, when He saw Us, wep'd,
And thought it Honours duty not to scorn
Our sad condition: How then can You,
Except a Friend should more than stranger grow?

202.If We must perish, Let our Miseries
Beg but this wofull courtesie of You:
Return Us not to Psyche, who denies
Us brevity of Torments: Loe We throw
Our selves before your gentle feet, and pray
Our Lives and Griefs may see no other day,

203.Nay doubt not, We dare die; but dare not think
Of living in our former Death again:
If from the fatall blow our Necks but shrink,
Then say, we truly wish'd not to be slain:
Here take our Swords; at least they in your Hand
Though not in ours, our Servitude may end.

204.As when the cunning Reeds their heads doe bowe
In low submission to the boist'rous Winde,
And with their whining Pipe complaints doe blow
To every Blast, compassion to finde;
Way to their Charm the generous Tempest gives,
And passing forward, Them their Pardon leaves:

205.So portly Thelema allayed by
Their fawning Homage, bad them all arise:
They instantly unveiling Memorie,
In fraudulent thanks, presented to her Eyes
The stately Pageant Fancy thither brought,
With their own Treasures amplier furnish'd out.

206.She look'd and wonder'd, and let through her Eye
The soft Deceit get stealing to her Heart:
She never yet did at one time descrie
So huge an Armie of Delights, such Art
Of sweetnesse, such Magnificence of Pleasure,
Such equipage of Smiles, and Joyes, and Leisure.

207.Election who at her right hand did stand,
Was never at so dainty losse as here;
Ten thousand sweets her Eyes examin'd and
Stood gazing still, in doubt which to preferre:
So in the flowrie Mead fond Children loose
Their Eyes before they can resolve to choose.

208.The Rebells, now their crafty Bait went down
Without the least suspition of the Hook,
Bid Love drive home the Plot: She having thrown
Her selfe upon her knee, with flattering Look
And pliant Words, indeavored to make
Submission teach Rebellion how to speak.

209.Right gentle Thelema, since this our store,
Which thy fair Eyes are pleas'd not to disdain,
From cruel Psyche can deserve no more
Respect, than glances of Contempt; again
We beg that We may never live to see
Such Sweets betrayed to new Slavery.

210.The Heav'n, thou see'st the Earth, the Aire, the Sea,
By this their royall Contribution make
Our Treasury their own: And yet must We
From our Possession be beaten back,
And not enjoy what all the Worlds Consent
In this rich Mass heapes up for our Content.

211.Now by thy Mighty Goodnesse We implore
Reliefe for our loud-crying Injuries:
So to thy Service this exuberant Store
We sacrifice; no despicable Price
Of thy Compassion, if the totall gains
Of Natures wealth be worth thy smallest Pains.

212.So thy Desires shall be the Laws whereby
Obliged We our Lives will regulate:
So great Agenor will unite in thy
Acquaintance, and this Morning consecrate
To peacefull smiles, whose ominous Dawn was red
With flashes of fierce War, and streaks of Blood.

213.As when the Shepheard, loitering by the side
Of some soft-murmuring Current, lets his Eare
Drink the complaining story of the Tide;
That purling Language soon doth domineer
Over his charmed Spirits, and down he lies
Both to the Noise, and Sleep an easie Prize:

214.So Thelema, who linger'd all this while
In Fond attendance on Loves Blandishments,
Was now subdued by her glozing Guile,
And to the Rebells fair-tongu'd Plot consents:
Her hankering Arms she with their Treasures fills,
Her foolish Heart with Joy, her Face with Smiles.

[Page 57]
215.And, Well I see, she cries, how righteous is
Your Cause and Quarrell: Heav'n forbid that I
Unto your undeserved Miseries
The justice of Compassion should deny.
Yet Pittie is not all that I can show,
You know this Hand hath greater Worth than so.

216.Alas, it is not Psyche, though she be
My Soveraign Mistresse, that can make me bend:
 [...] doe I rush and range abroad, when she
Would lock me up; and oft when she would send
Me forth, except my Pleasure be to stirre,
I stay in spight of all her strength, and Her.

217.'Twas I first taught your Pris'ner Logos how
To bear a Chain: else you had strove in vain;
But I have long accustom'd Him to bowe
To my least Finger his strong-reaching Brain:
And though sometimes I let him wrangle, yet
Reason has no more power than I permit.

218.The universall Strength of all you see
Throughout the wide-spred World look big and high,
Ne'r yet made Combination which could be
Valid enough to binde my Potency:
Hence 'tis that stoutest Champions from their knee
By Prayers fight whene'r they deal with Me.

219.They talk of Sampson, one I must confesse
Fame hath not quite belyed: Yet we see
A Wenche's sheers clipp'd off his Mightinesse,
And trimm'd him fit for his Captivity:
Alas poor Gyant, all his strength hung loose
About his Ears; mine in my Heartlies close.

220.Nay Heav'n (without a Brag I speak't) doth know
My strength so well, that it would never trie
By force of Arms my  [...] Neck to bowe;
But by allurements strives to mollifie
My hardy Heart. And well it is that Ye
Have took that gentle onely course with Me.

221.This said: Agenor by the hand she takes
And bids him welcome with a courtly Kisse:
He like a Soldier, proud repayment make's
In arrogant high-languag'd Promises,
And swears, By all his Conquests, she shall finde,
That with a Man indeed sh'had now combin'd.

222.Then leading Her to his Pavilion,
His Soldiers He to Councell fummons: They
As proud's therr haughty Generall, thither run,
Rending, with Acclamations their Way,
And there contrive, by joynt deliberation,
The rest of their Adventure how to fashion.

[Page 58]

PSYCHE: OR LOVES MYSTERIE. CANTO V. The Pacification.

ARGUMENT.

LOve on the Rebells part, with Psyche treats,
Whose fair Tale The Will.
Thelema and The Spirit of Pride.
Agenor back:
Deluded Psyche yeildeth to their Cheats,
And with her fawning Foes a League doth make:
Then, on Synei 'esis a Veil she throws,
And wanton in her Pride, abroad she goes.

1.WHat boots it Man, that Natures Courtesie
Hath lift his awfull Looks high towards Heav'n,
And built his Temples up with Majestie,
And into's Hand imperiall Power given?
What royall Non-sense is a Diademe
Abroad, for One who's not at Home supream!

2.How does the whole World mock Him, when it lays
Its universall Homage at His Feet;
Whom whil'st the Aire, the Earth, the Sea obeys,
A sauc e pack of  [...] dare meet
With  [...] Defiance, and presume to hope
His Empire shall go down, their Pleasures up!

3.What Credit is't for Him to vaunt how He
On every Monstrous thing his Conquests builds;
That Tigres, Lyons, Dragons forced be
By Him, to learn submission: That He weilds
Inanimate Mountains, and through widest Seas
Commands his Ships to reach what World he please:

4.If his own Vessels helm unruely grow,
And into fatall Tempests hurrie Him;
If his domestick Slaves  [...] to bow
Their worthlesse Necks, when He commandeth them,
And fill his Palace with more furious Beasts
Then are the desert Mountains salvage Guests!

[Page 59]
5.Alas poor Prince, whose Soveraigntie
Can be the Game and Scoff of vilest Things!
How much are Worms, who of themselves can be
Intire Commanders, more Substantiall Kings!
Intestine Rebels never trouble Worms,
But Psyche's toss'd and torn with civill storms.

6.She from her Palace Window saw her Griefe
Must'red in terrible Battalia:
In vain. within, she looked for Reliefe
Where nought but empty Desolation lay:
The Intellect.
Logos and Thelema were absent; He
To Violence Pris'ner, to Enchantment She,

7.Syneidesis indeed stay'd still behinde,
But by her stay, made Tortures doe so too:
Full in the face of Psyche's wounded Minde
The guilt of this Rebellion she did throw.
Blame not the Passions, said the, if they
Revolt; Thou to their Treason op'dst the way.

8.Had'st thou been carefull how to weild thy Might,
And in due time approv'd thy self a Queen,
Strait had'st thou held the Reins, and driven right
Thy royall Chariot: Still your Beasts had been
Themselves, as loyall unto you and milde,
As now they salvage are become and wilde'

9.When in a stealing Preface to the Flood
The first streams sliely creep; with ease may We
Divert their course into some other road.
But if We sleight what seems so weak to be,
They grow upon Us strait, disdaining more
Our strength, than wee their Weakness did before.

10.You scorn'd the Passion's breeding Garboils: You
Forsooth, on Safetie's wings sate mounted high.
And, pray, what is that Rivulet come too now?
What wants it of a Sea's immensitie:
It is a Sea, which though perhaps it may
Not clense your Crime, can wash your Life away.

11.And where is Charis, where is Phylax now!
O, you were too secure their aid to need,
You well could lend them to poore Heav'n, I trow
A place which more did want their Help: Indeed
You'r a great Queen at Home, and can command;
Look how your Subjects your high will attend.

12.Unhappy Psyche stung by these Reproaches,
Receiv's the wound full deep into her Heart;
Which with her blood, her Lamentations broaches,
And thus she streameth out her double smart:
Nay then I pardon them without, if thou
Upon my heavy Griefe more load do'st throw.

13.Cruell Syneidesis, why staidst thou heer
To grind my dying Soul with neerer rage?
Why joyndst thou not with them who vex Me there
At distance? Must my bosome be the Stage
Of thy more dangerous undermining Wrath,
Which from my verie Heart diggs out my Death?

14.Are these thy thanks to Me, who alwaies kept
Thee next my self, and hugg'd thee in my Breast?
How little dream'd I that a Viper slept
In this my neerest and my dearest Nest!
Yet be assur'd, by gnawing out thy way
That thou thy self, as well as Me shalt slay.

15.The Priviledge of other Vipers, Thou
In vain expect'st, who art more Fell than they:
That decent Vengeance they their Damms do owe
Which by sage Natures righteous Law they pay.
But surely thou art of a kinder breed,
Thy Matricide all pardon must exceed.

16.Yet what gain I by thy Destruction?
Who thee, and all those Rebells deerly love?
Unfortunate Me, who cannot die alone,
But in my single Death all yours must prove:
And, which is worse than Death, betrayed I,
By your mad rage, thus oft at once must die.

17.But sterne Syneidesis, who knew full well
She on irrefragable Truth did lay
The ground of all her Actions, 'gan to swell
With confident Scorn: and yet awhile gave way
(Since She her Loyall Duties part had done,)
To see what Psyche meant: Who thus went on:

18.O Charis! would'st not thou bid Me Adieu,
But by discourteous parting, leave poore Me
Unwarned and unarmed? Grant it true
That my deserts could no invitement be
To stay Thee heer: My misery at least,
Might wooe thy Charity to be my Guest.

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19.O Phylax! Why wilt thou forsake Me, who
'Twixt Me and Danger hath so often spread
Thy Wings impenetrable sheild? That Foe
Who in the Grove under thy Conquest bled,
Was but a single Feind: Why then shall thy
Brave Hand not reap this fairer Victory.

20.How shall I grapple with this monstrous Crew
Confederate against my desolate Head,
Whom one Antagonist did then subdue?
What reason then soever made thee speed
Unto my Aid is multiplied now:
And how, how canst thou less Releif allow?

21.O Prince of this my consecrated Breast,
O thou whose Majestie did not disdaine
To make suit unto Me, but oft profest
By thy Ambassador thine amorous pain,
And sweet-tormenting Longings for my Love;
What makes thy tender Heart forgetfull prove!

22.Hadst thou for ever not remembred Me,
I had not been mock'd with a tast of Bliss.
Why did not Aprodisiu's Treacherie
Prevent the worse extremity of this?
That soft and single Death why dy'd not I,
But am reserv'd a thousand times to die?

23.What profit has to my soul's Treasurie
Accrew'd, that I so oft did Fast and Pray?
What brake the Bottle, wont of old to be
The trustie Store-house of our Teares? What Pay
Have all my faithfull amorous Groans and Sighs,
If I must proue mine own slaves Sacrifice?

24.What meant this Token which did gird my Heart
So close to Thee, if Me you cast away?
Was this the Farewell you did Me impart
When you some other Love had chose, which may
Monopolize your constant favours, and
In banish'd Psyche's place for ever stand.

25.No wonder if my Passions mutinous prove,
Breaking the Yoke which ti'd their faith to Me,
If blessed Jesus can forget his love
Knit in this spousall knot of Chastitie.
How can I longer be displeas'd with them,
Vnless I could and dar'd fall out with Him?

26.O all my Joyes, take Psyche's long Adieu;
Dwell somwhere else where you can finde a Room:
My tumid Griefs have left no place for you,
But made my whole usurped Heart their Home:
And more than so; Far, far must you flie hence
To scape my Sorrows vast Circumference.

27.And you, poor Hopes, your time why doe you loose
In hankering here in my unhappy Breast?
Goe, goe, I give you leave, goe forth and choose
In any place but this, a fortunate Nest.
Be confident, you cannot faile else-where,
For all Misfortunes are collected here.

28.But ô Disconsolations, be you free,
For I resign my selfe your totall Prey:
Why should I not embrace my Misery,
When still to look, and look in vain, for Joy,
Doubles self-torment: Why should I alone,
When all things hate me else, my selfe bemaone?

29.Whil'st thus she feeds on desolate Vexations,
The Rebells at their Councill busie were:
Where tir'd with hard and knotty Consultations
Which course was best to wreak their Wrath on Her,
Up rose Suspition, and, first looking over
Each shoulder, thus did her Advice discover:

30.Princely Agenor, and you Sisters all,
Great is the businesse We have now in hand,
And, Heav'n forbid our Caution should be small;
Haste may be good, when once wee understand
The way is clear: If otherwise; to run,
Is onely with more speed to be undone.

31.Anger's Advice were sound, if Psyche were
So weak a thing as her Opinion makes her:
But on what Rocks shall wee our Vessell steer
By this untried Card, if she mistakes her?
Fear, would she speak, could shew you such a List
Of Psyche's Powers, as soon would coole our Haste.

32.Alas, how can wee force the Queen, if she
Deny to yeild when wee our battery make?
Is not the Palace, and those Gates wee see
All of immortall Metall? We may break
Our Engins, and our Plots, and Furie too,
And, sooner than those Walls our selves undoe.

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33.A lingring Leaguer, what can that effect,
Unlesse we hope at length to starve her out?
But she long since all Dainties did neglect
With which the whole World had her Table fraught.
Her Prayers, and her Heav'n, her diet were;
And now she's all alone, she best doth fare.

34.But as for Us, who at the Siege must lie,
We, fed with Hope of Victory, must starve
Before we get it: For what will supply
Us daily with Provision to serve
So many Mouths, which Psyche fill'd till now;
And, if she be shut up, so must they too.

35.Besides; who knows but some of her Allies,
Phylax or Charis, or some such strong Friend,
May rush upon our backs, and by surprise
Both our Design and Us in pieces rend?
New is the Lesson in the Grove you read:
Can you forget how Aphrodisius sped?

36.Nay, you have heard of Heav'ns immortall Son
In whose vast hand Omnipotence doth reign:
That Hand, which when great Lucifer begun
To let his Eyes but glimmer with disdain;
Tumbled him headlong into Death and Hell:
I tell you Friends, this Christ loves Psyche well.

37.We cannot be too carefull: and for my
Own part, I judge the safest Way the best.
And this is by a present Embassie
With humble Lies, and Oaths, and Glozings drest
To cheat her from her strength: So we may gain
Our Ends, and seem to scape Rebellions stain.

38.But let a Vow of Perseverance first
Seal Us all sure to our Conspiracy,
That by her selfe that Passion may be curst
Afore-hand, who shall false or fearfull be.
If one should chance to fail, why may not two?
If two, why may the Summe not higher goe?

39.This said: An eye of Doubt and Fear she cast
Upon Agenor to observe how He
Rellish'd her Words: But soon she saw their Taste
 [...] welcome in his palate: Instantly,
I like her Counsell best. He cries, and You
Shall strengthen your Adventure, by this Vow,

40.Thus shall my Might escape, what I did Fear,
The vile Encounter with a Woman; and
My Pittie unto You no lesse declare,
Whil'st in your Front my Majesty doth stand
And strike such Terror, without any Blow,
Into your Queen, that she shall yeild to you.

41.Then calling for a Baçin and a Pin,
He prick'd his annular Finger, and let fall
Three Drops of Blood: And what He did begin,
As solemnly reacted was by All
The Company: Which done, again He takes
The Baçin, and three Elevations makes.

42.And, may that Blood which still remains behinde
Be forc'd to follow these Three Drops, He cri'd,
If ever I unbend my resolute Minde,
Or from this Wars stout Prosecution slide.
May this my present Poyson be, (and here
He dipped his Tongue,) if now I falsely swear.

43.Then sprinkling on the back of his Right Hand
Another Drop: This Martiall Mark, said He,
Shall for a Badge and Memorandum stand
Of our now sure and sacred Unity.
You see our Covenants Rites: Now every One
Doe what your willing Generall has done.

44.Never did Health more cheerly walk its Round
When lusty Wine and Mirth the Boule had fill'd,
Than did this bloody barbarous Baçin, crown'd
With Rage and Madness. Their Rebellion seal'd
Thus by this desperate Ceremony, They
To Psyche speed their Messenger away.

45.And this was Love, upon whose Tongue although
Perpetuall Sleights and Fallacies did dwell;
Yet with industrious Deceptions now,
And studied Flatteries she her Mouth did sill.
She knew the Queen was wise and strong, and would
With common known Delusions not be fool'd,

46.Thus to the Gate demurely come, She tri'd
It with a modest Knock, and paus'd a while:
Then strok again, a timorous Stroke; to hide
In this soft Preface her meek-insolent Guile.
The gentle Knock bad Psyche courage take
To come and see what it would further speak.

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47.No sooner had she op'd a Casement, and
Reach'd out her doubtfull Head the News to know,
But she beheld where Love did trembling stand
With weeping Eyes, and with dejected Brow.
She lik'd the Posture; yet demanded why
She thither came a false and fawning Spie?

48.Love, by that Word warn'd to skrew up her Art,
Fell on her knees, and three times smote her breast,
And, Woe is Me, she cri'd, whose loyall Heart
Can finde no milder Language from my best
And dearest Prince! What strange Mischance doth throw
This Wrong on Me, and that Mistake on You?

49.If to repair to You in humblest Guise
Who here immured d'well in Desolation,
If to discover where the Error lies
Whose secret Venome breeds this Perturbation
Of your whole Realm, deserve the Name of Spie,
I well can bear this glorious Infamy.

50.But if Misprision so doth cheat your Eyes,
That, looking with a jealous Glance on Me,
They in my Count'nance read an Enemies:
I must beg leave to tell your Majesty,
(For it concerns my Essence,) you forget
Your Creature, and take Love it selfe for Hate.

51.Yet your Mistake shall make no change in Me:
Use your vast Power in any thing but this.
I still am Love and so resolve to be,
Nor fear that false and envious Witnesses
Can swear Me from my selfe. Heav'n cannot frame
What I had rather be, than what I am.

52.Sure I, with that right genuine Love which You
Hugg next your Soule, have some Affinity:
Can that brave Passion adulterate grow,
And stain its spotlesse selfe with Treacherie?
Can Odours stinking, Honey bitter bee,
Silke harsh, Down hard, that thus you think of Me?

53.O no; dear Soveraign, I am hither sent
The soft Ambassadour of Peace to you:
Nor of my Office does it me repent
What wrath so e're stands bent in your stern brow.
And though I know not what will hence ensue,
I to my native sweetness must be true.

54.I see you thought you' Company had bent
Some treacherous Plot against your royall Head.
And is't nor likely they would all consent
Their own Life and Heart blood in yours to shed?
Madame, beleeve't, Selfe's not a dearer Name
To noble You, than to the worst of them.

55.'Tis true, a peice of Discontent has put
Them in that posture of Defence: But by
Your Majestie I swear,, they brew no Plot
But what becomes a Subjects Modesty.
If Mischeife their intention were: what Charms
Could dead their hands, & damp their glitt'ring Arms?

56.If strong-embattel'd injur'd Patience be
A Signe of Treason, they are Traytors all.
But sure this loyall kinde of Treacherie
Doth more for Thanks and Praise, than Anger, call.
O never be it said, that you alone
Could, in Arm'd Mecknesse, read Rebellion.

57.By me their homage they present to you,
Beseeching that with it you would embrace
Their humble Suit; and to their long night show
Their onely Day which riseth from your race:
That you would deign to goe and see how they
Their panting Soules before your Feet would lay.

58.Here breaking off in a deceitfull Sigh,
With cunning Tears she all her face bedew'd.
Toss'd too and fro in ambiguitie
Ten thousand severall thoughts poor Psyche chew'd.
Weeping at length, O that those Tears of thine
She cri'd, were as sinceer and true as mine!

59.If those my Subjects now would Suiters be,
What mean proud Arms, and warlike Preparation?
Petitions should from the bended knee,
Not from the Bow be shot: This sullen fashion
Stout Rogues brought up, who begging with one Hand,
A stone bear in the other to command.

60.In front why is that burly Stranger set
As Generall against your Soveraign?
One, whose heav'n-daring Looks bespeak Him fit
Not to Petition, but to disdain.
If I were longer to be trusted, why
Chose you His Banner for Security?

[Page 63]
61.Yet that the Progresse of your Treason may
Want all Pretence, as its Beginning did:
I'le condescend to hear what you can say,
Provided you your selves in quiet spread
Before my Window. I must parley here:
You know how you have us'd my Messenger.

62.Love stung by that last Word, and with fresh tears
Dissembling their true cause, took humble leave.
The News to her Confederates she bears,
Who it with doubtfull Countenance receive,
And boulting every Circumstance, conclude
That still the same Device must be persu'd.

63.Agenor straight resolv'd himselfe to shew
Inall his Pomp, and more than was his own;
 [...]  [...] might those brave Temptations view
Which swell'd so high onely to throw her down.
But none of all the Passions knew from whence
He beckned in his strange Magnificence.

64.The pompous Furniture in a full stream
Follow'd his Nod with like Facility
As in a dreaming Brain light Figures swim
Into a sudden Masque of Majesty.
Which Train He towards Psyche's Castle drew,
And there prepared for the Interview.

65.At length six golden Trumpets did proclaim
Their Masters Highnesse was at hand to treat.
To her balconey startled Psyche came,
And soon perceiv'd the sound was not so great
As the strange sight: She never though a Queen,
Such prodigality of State had seen.

66.In open Tent appear'd, whose Covering was
Sumptuously rugged with Embroydery
Of Perls and Jewels; in which orient Glasse
The Sun, who needs would peepe, had lost his Eye,
But yet ten thousand He receiv'd for one,
For every Perl did beat him back a Sun.

67.A fearfull Texture of strange Tapestrie
Pav'd the rich Floor with an historick Pride;
Where slaughter'd Lyons, Boars, and Bears did lie,
Confessing by whose  [...] Hand they di'd.
For every one had great Agenors dart
Deep sticking in his head, or in his heart.

68.The wall hung thick with War: the noblest Stories
Whose valiant Actors e're did honour Bays,
Were glistering there, not in unworthy Glories:
For all that Gold and Gems could do to raise
Them to their life again, was freely tried,
And Art as liberally her wealth supplied.

69.Th' obedient Sun rein'd in his posting Houres
By Heav'ns steep side, at Joshua's Command,
Where to attend and to admire his Powers,
This glorious Witnesse with fix'd Eye did stand.
The Moon keep'd in her Horns, and dared not
Push out the Night, till he the Day had got.

70.Close by, five prostrate Kings the ground did gnaw,
Feeling upon their Necks his Captains Feet:
And in a stately-miserable Row
Were six and twenty other Princes set,
Whose Crowns before his Helmet broken lay,
Whose lopped Scepters to his sword gave way.

71.There boistrous Sampson with his Asse's Jaw
(A wretched Weapon, could his sinews not
Amend his weak Toole by its potent Blow,)
A thousand Enemies devoureth: But
With statlier Might his brawnie shoulders here
Did Gaza's Gates up Hebron Mountain wear.

72.But yet his last Exploit crownd all the rest,
When to the Princes fatall Sport he shew'd,
Turning their Banquet to their funerall Feast,
Where with their Wine all their own Blood he brew'd,
As at the Pillars He did stand and pull,
The Hangings were with their own Ruines full.

73.Next him, a young and ruddy Champion flings
Into Goliahs Brow a shamefull Death,
There Isbibenob dread and terror brings
Upon the Sceen, shaking with monstrous Wrath
His barbarous Spear, till Abishai's brave Sword
Hew'd down this Mount, whose fall made Gath afeard

74.There Sibbechai on Saph's enormous Pride
Due vengance takes. There mighty Elbanan
Drowns stroming Lahmi in his own Bloods  [...].
There the undaunted Blade of Jonathan
Prunes the six-finger'd Gyant, and requites
The bold defiance He on Israel spits.

[Page 65]
75.An Army to himself, Adino there
Musters his Powers against eight hundred Foes:
Glad this brave Harvest He alone may shear,
About  [...] daring Work the Champion goes,
Nor stops his Conquest untill He has mown
This totall field of matchless Honor down.

76.There Dodo's Son; there Shammah keep their ground
Nor yeild one inch to all Philistia's Host:
Shame spurr'd the Armies on; but still they found
They ventur'd onely to their fatall cost:
For obstinate Victorie attended heer
On Shammah's sword, on Eleazr's there.

77.Benajab from th' Egyptian Heroe heer
Tears both his Speare and Life: There He divides
Destruction 'twixt a Lyon-faced Pair
Of Moabites: His Fauchion heer he guides
Into a reall Lyons Heart, whose Cave
In which He found him, soone He made his Grave.

78.To Bethleem there the danger-scorning Three
Through the Philistian Guards slash ope their way,
Fir'd with a stronger thirst of Victory,
Than was their Kings of Water: And their Prey
They fail not to obtaine, though through a flood
Going and comming, they must wade of blood.

79.The other Work did onely speak what He
Himselfe was pleas'd about himselfe to Lie.
How many gasping Gyants might you see
Yeilding Agenor strange-form'd Victory!
How many Palms and Bays about Him throw
Themselves, ambitious of his Hand and Brow!

80.Above, his Scutcheon hangs, In Azure field
A Lyon Or, with Lightning in his Paw,
The Crest was Fame, with Cheeks &  [...] swel'd,
And wings display'd: His Throne was built below
Of Perle, whose Lustre yet was conqaered
By those six steps which up to it did lead.

81.The first was Riches.
Plutus, of substantiall Price;
The next Nobility.
Eugenia, in fancy high:
Beauty.
Callos the third, the ravisher of Eyes;
The fourth Valour.
Andria full of Majesty;
The fift Learning.
Pedia, fairer than the rest;
Pietie.
Ensebia the sixt, of all the best.

82.There sate 'the Gallant. One whole Diamond made
His radiant Helmet, and in wanton pride
A knot of gorgeous Plumes about it playd,
Scorning all Winds that kiss'd them: Still afide
They wav'd their Heads when any Blast came neer
And coyly seem'd to aske, what make you heer?

83.A Mantle of Estate flow'd round about
Down from his wide-spred shoulders to his feet,
And cloth'd Him with all splendors that are brought
From Easterne shores the Westerne Perles to meet,
And by, a rich Conspiracy of Beams
Epitomize the Worlds estate of Gems.

84.His sword look'd Lightning through its chrystall sheath,
Whose round Hiltits Victorious blade did crown:
But yet his Scepter did more terrout breath,
Such Majestie about it he had thrown.
The Ball in's hand was swell'd to that Degree,
As if it meant indeed the World to be.

85.At his right Hand stood Scorn: turn'd was her Head
Over her shoulder: with contemptuous Eye
Through a thick frowne her fullen mind she spred,
And seeing, scorn'd to see, the Company.
Nor did she mend, or mollifie her Brow,
But when Agenor's growing rough she saw.

86.At his left hand stood gaudie Philautie,
But dwelt more on a Chrystall Glass she held
Eternally neer her admiring Eye;
In which her foolish self she read, and smil'd
On her faire lession, though the brittle Glass
Admonish'd her how vain her Beautie was.

87.Before him, on a golden Pillar, at
Whose foot a Laurell and a Palme did grow,
Upon the back of triumph glory sate;
Whose dazeling Robes did with more lustre flow
Than breaks from Phebu's furniture when He
Through Cancer rides in all June's gallantry.

88.About Him round his whole Retinue was
Dispos'd in royall equipage: His owne
Attendants had the credite of the place
Which glittered neerest his illustrious Throne:
Then stood the Passions, all admiring how
This Sceen of Wonders could so quickly grow.

[Page 65]
89.Crafty Agenor having paus'd a while
To give respect to his own State, and let
Psyche both bite and swallow down the Guile
About which He so fair a Bait had put:
By soft and proud degrees vouchsaf'd to stirre,
And being risen, thus accosted Her.

90.Did Pitties generous and Soveraign Law
All points of Ceremony not forbid,
Agenor must not have descended now
To stand at Psyche's Gate: But I am led
Below my selfe by Virtue, that my Might
May help these wronged Passions to their right.

91.'Tis Fortunes pleasure that casts me upon
These mercifull Designs, and I'm content;
The Honor's Gain enough: this Pay alone
My Pains expect: Indeed the common Rent
By which my most renowned Self I keepe,
Are the Revenues I from Glory reap.

92.And for these sillie Creatures sake, who thought
I had been but some single Errant Knight,
I let this glimpse of what I am break out,
To teach their Error my authentick Might
Needs no supplies from them: This Part of my
Ne'r-conquer'd Train dares Heav'n and Earth defie.

93.I was resolved by this Swords dread Flame
To sacrifice you to my Wrath: But now
You are a Female thing, I hold it shame
To make my Conquests honor stoop so low:
I'm loth the World should say Agenor drew
His Sword, and like a Man a Woman slew.

94.In Womans blood my Weapon never yet
Blush'd for its base Exploit: nor will it now
Begin its shame, and a vile Victory get,
Unlesse enforc'd by Fortune, Fate, and You.
But I forget my selfe through Courtesie:
Pretious are Princes Words, and few should be.

95.Love knew her Cue; and, stepping gently forth,
Great Queen, said she, I chosen am to be
My suppliant Sisters Mouth: And may this Earth
Ope hers to close up mine, if Falsitie
Break from my lipps, or any Fraud conceal
What They, and Truth, and Justice, bid me tell.

96.What Heav'n has made Us, 'tis our Blisse to be,
And that's your Subjects: Though cross Error now
A confident Blot throws on our Loyalty,
The lest of treacherous Thoughts We disavow:
Alas what would the Members gain if they
Combine their Wit and Strength their Head to slay.

97.Yet your wise Majesty full well doth know
That, as your Self a Free Prince are, so We
Are Free-born Subjects: Nature does allow
In our sweet Common-weal no Tyranny:
She knew this mutuall Freedome best would bless
Both Prince and People with joint Happiness.

98.But what broad Innovations rush'd of late
Into our State, justling out Liberty,
O that wee could not feel! Had it been  [...]
Which thrust on Us this boistrous Misery,
We had been silent: But wee know what Hand
Hath stoll n our Freedome, and by whose Command.

99.Nor I, nor any of my Sisters were
Suffer'd our Selves in quiet to possesse:
We could not Love, nor Hate, nor Hope, nor Fear,
We could not Sorrow know, nor Joyfulnesse,
Nor any thing that pleas'd not Them who had
A Prey of all our Priviledges made.

100.Surely wee had a legall Title to
What ours by reverend Natures bounty was.
Yet snatch'd from thence, wee must be press'd to goe
And serve abroad we knew not where, alas,
Nor e'r shall know; for how should wee comprise
Mysterious things, and Matters of the Skies?

101.Nor is this sad Case onely ours, who are
Inlanders here: Your Subjects too abroad
Who at your Cinque-ports with perpetuall care
In gathering your royall Customes stood,
Are loaded with like Grievances: and they
Pray'd Us, with our Complaints, theirs to display.

102.They have not leave, (poor leave!) to Hear, or See,
Or Smell, or Taste, or Feele, what is their own;
But chain'd up in unnaturall Slavery,
Of their starv d Lives and Selves are weary grown.
Yet this Griefe more than all, their hearts doth break,
That their Religion too lies at the Stake.

[Page 66]
103.They must a new Devotion learn, and be
Tortur'd with Watchings, Prayers, and Prostrations,
With Ceremonies of pale Piety,
With Fastings, and severe Mortifications:
And if this Superstition they refuse,
Some Mulct on the poor Confessors ensues.

104.And by what Law must either They, or We
Under this Arbitrary Power lie?
Where is the Free-born Subjects Liberty,
Who have no power at all, unlesse to Die?
And surely Death a greater Blessing were,
Than such a Life as We doe groan in here.

105.Mistake not gracious Soveraign, what I speak:
As if I charg'd the guilt of these our Woes
Upon your Soule: My heart-strings first should crack
With their own Torments loud, e'r I would loose
My Tongue in such a slaunder: you alas,
May with your Subjects for a Sufferer passe.

106.A Sufferer in that which nearest lies
And dearest unto every Princes Heart:
Your royall Honor in our Miseries
Is rack'd and tortur'd and torn part from part.
Ask not by Whom; but recollect who were
They whose bold Charms in Court did domineer.

107.Logos that wiley Fox Was never well
But when on you and Us, he made a prey.
Some hansome Tale or other He would tell
Whereby to your Mistake He might betray
Your unheard Subjects: From your Highness thus
He stole your Eare, onr Liberty from Us.

108.His Majors, Minors, Maxims, Demonstrations,
With most profound Deceit He gravely drest;
And by these sage and reverend Conjurations
Pour'd Cruelty into your Gentle Breast;
And made you count his Plots good sober Reason,
Which in the Passions must have gone for Treason.

109.Hence issued those Commands, which day by day
Illegall Burdens on our Backs did heap,
And to this sad Necessity betray
Our loth Soules, that they could no longer sleep
In patient Silence. Though all Warrants came
From his fell Hand, they wore your gentle Name.

110.Some woefull Comfort it had been if We
Had to one single Tyranny been damn'd:
But We at Home, in forrein slavery
Were held; A Grievance we would not have nam'd,
In reverence to your Credit, could the thing
Have easie grown by our long suffering.

111.What is that Charis unto Us, that she
In our Free State such arrogant sway must bear?
Or what made you so weak a Prince, that We
Must be Commanded by a Forreiner?
We grant She's brave and Princely: Yet wee know
We owe Allegiance to no Queen but You.

112.She came from Heav'n, if wee her Word may take:
But what woo'd Her from such a place as that,
To dwell in this ignoble World, and make
Her high Selfe stoop unto she knew not what?
I would be loth to wrong Her; Yet I fear
There's something in't, why Heav'n gatrid of Her

113.And being here, what-was the Trade she drove
But how to barbarize your gentle Breast
With strange Austerity; and to remove
Us from your love with which We once were blest?
Your smiles she all monopoliz'd, and left
Us quit of all things, but your Hate bereft,

114.If this Devotion be, and heav'nly Zeal,
What is Unnaturalnesse? Alas that We
None but destructive Piety must feel,
And by Religion consumed be!
Alas that Heav'n and Godliness must thus
Be forc'd to suffer injury with Us!

115.Nor is proud Phylax one who with less Art
Hath conzen'd you into this Tyrannie:
Soft are his Wings, but cruell is his Heart,
Sweets in his Looks, Gall in his Thoughts doth lie:
Fair does He speak you, but the bait is cheap:
His streams run smoothest, where the chanell's deep.

116.Were you a Youngling, and devoid of Friends
Whose riper Arms might help your tender Hand
To sway the Scepter: then, what he pretends
With tolerable Sense perhaps might stand:
But must your Nonage still goe on, and He
For evermore the Lord Protector be?

[Page 67]
117.Now by your honour, mighty queen, 'tis time
For you no more to think your self a Childe:
Know your own power, and loose it not in Him
Who has your credulous Love too long beguil'd.
'Tis no discredite for a Prince to throw
Away an Error, and with it a Foe.

118.Your Confidence in Him which flames so high,
Was kindled by his service in the Grove:
Yet what if that were but a Mysterie
Of deep deceir, and no exploit of Love?
If Phylax and not Aphrodisius were
In all that Sceen of Charms the Conjurer?

119.Who but the noble Aphrodisius there
Bravely forgetfull of his own life, from
Immediate Death wide-gaping in the Boar
Your helpless soul did reskew? And from whom
Did Phylax  [...] you, but from his Imbrace
Who your deliverer and your Lover was?

120.And then enrag'd With shameless spight, to see
You to another your protection owe,
Upon the courteous strasngers Piety
The powers of magick Malice He did throw:
How much more Monster was you Phylax there,
Who made the goodly Knight so foule appeare?

121.Yet well it were, if he would onely trie
His Charms on Aphrodisius, and for bear
To exercise on Us his Witcherie:
But We, alas, so Metamorphoz'd are
With that Rough-cast of shapes He on Us cleaves,
That you in your owne Subjects He deceives.

122.We seem like Fiends (for Rebells sure are so)
And monstrous things in your abused Eye:
Although ev'n Phylax in his Heart doth know
Our Lives are not so deare as Loyaltie
To honest-meaning Us: And whose was this
Desperate Enchantment if it were not his?

123.'Tis true, He talks of Love and needs will be
The Paranymphus of the heav'nly spouse:
But surely I should ken as well as He
All Mysteries of Love: The whole world knows
That my Creation onely aims at this:
And is my naturall Art less mine than His?

124.That the Etheriall Prince makes love to you
As to the dearest she that treads his Earth,
I easily grant, because so well I know
Your Majesties incomparable Worth.
But Heav'n forbid that I should Him esteeme
So strange a Spouse as Phylax maketh Him.

125.Sure He is King of sweetnesse and Delight,
And with more zeal abhorrs all Tyrannie,
Than Phylax loves it: Sure his gentle Might
Strives for a correspondent Victorie:
Not all the world shall make Me think that He
Will ever wooe his Spuose by Crueltie.

126.Lents, Embers, Vigils, Groans, Humi-cubations,
Tears, Pensiveness, disconsolate Privacie,
Severest Arts of all Mortifications
Are not conditions required by
An earthlie Suiter; and can Heavn'ly He
Imbitter thus his deare Suits Suavitie?

127.Can He expect his tender spouse should prove
Her Loyaltie pants with intire affection,
By nothing but self-hatred? can his Love
Finde no Security but your Destruction?
Pardon my fear, great Queen, you love not Him
Whom such a spightfull Lover you can deeme.

128.But farr be all such Omens hence: Had I
Or Nature any Glass which could present
Your totall self to your considering Eye;
The gallant sight would make your heart repent
This dangerous Heresie, that Heav'ns gentle King
Would use so harshly such a lovely thing.

129.What is there of Delight, of Love, of Joy,
Of Grace, of Beautie in this World below
Or that above, which did escape a way
From the Creator's fingers, when on you
Himself he wrote, and bade your Bosome be
The Vniverse's rich Epitomie?

130.But Phylax brews this cruell-flattering Plot,
Because it is his Rack and Hell to see
That Fate or Fortune Psyche should allot
To any Spouse but Him: This makes Him be
So subtly active in his secret Art
How he may you and your great Suiter part.

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131.O then, first for your own illustrious sake,
And next, for Us wrapp'd up in you, beware
Of his Designs in time: Just courage  [...]
In what deserves your speediest stoutest Care.
Nor you nor We can be secure winle He
Both from your Court and Favour  [...] be.

132.Nor can your Palace be a dwelling Place
For safety so long as Logos, or
Charis, thus revell in your Princely Grace:
One Edict may  [...] them all, and farr
From this their  [...] of  [...] Treachery
Pack them to that foule place where Trayters lie.

133.So shall your royall self securely dwell,
And your  [...] undeceived Hand
Sway its own Scepter: So shall We dispell
By prest obedience unto your Command
That caus lesse Error, which upon our Head
The foule Blot or Rebellion hath spred.

134.So shall our reskew'd Liberries appear
In their own Looks: So We by Love shall doe
More of your Will than disingenuous Fear
And lawlesse  [...] e'r hal'd Us to.
So you no more shall mark'd and dreaded be
For Rigor, but reign Queen of Clemencie.

135.So shall your sweetned Countenance proclaim
That you Lov's dear Adventure doe profess:
So shall you court with your Eys answering Flame
Your Spouse's beams: So shall His Tendernesse
A soft capacity find in your Heart
Of his destroying, yet enlivening Dart.

136.Here bowing low, Love sealed up her Lip
With a Kisse on the ground. But, all together
A thousand Doubts did rosse poore Psyche up
From one side of her thoughts unto another.
Three times she op'd her mouth; but jealous Feares
Would suffer Her to speak by nought but Teares.

137.Which when Arenor  [...]: he with his Eye
Gave  [...] Commission to speak.
She, marching forth with port and majesty,
Loves  [...] Deceit did somerhing greater make.
And, Well I know, great Queen, said she, that You
Much wonder I should come a Treater now.

138.Tis true, you sent me with expresse Command
To force the head-strong Rebells back againe,
And make them feel that your illustrious Hand
Is moderatrix of the  [...] Rein.
And I indeed took them for Rehells too;
So much your Error upon me could doe.

139.But when I found their Lovalty as clear
As Slander fain'd it blotted: I who was
Dispatch'd by You but as the Officer
Of Right and Justice, had no power to passe
My strict Commission: and what need I prove
What was so solidly confirm'd by Love?

140.I must confesse, when I had mark'd that Store
Of honest Bravery, of which poor they
Were, with the Senses, robb'd; I could no more
To their provok'd Impatience, Treason lay,
Than unto Tellus, if in chinks she ope
Her Mouth at Sirius who her flowres burns up.

141.Yet they were generous, and unto Me
The choise of all their choisest Wealth did profer
That by my hand it might commended be
To wait on you: And here their Gift I offer
If it and them you scorn, yet must not I
Be guilty of such Inhumanity.

142.Forth with she op'd the Scene, whence streamed out.
The confluence of that gorgeous Fallacy
Which on her heedlesse Selfe before had wrought.
Straight, as the sweetly-rolling Tide grew high,
The Stream bore Psyche down; as sudden Light
Instead of day, seizeth the Eyes with night.

143.Agenor seeing she was dazeled by
The flash of those Varieties, arose,
And, while she rubb'd and questioned her Eye,
To the Imposture adds this specious Close:
Wonder not Madame, but repent that you
Your Subjects goodly homage scorn'd till now.

144.I am content the weaknesse of your Sex
Be your excuse, if now you can relent
To ease the yoak which gaulls your Subjects Necks,
And crown their just Demands with your Consent;
That Pitty I unto their Wrongs did lend,
To your repented Error I'le extend

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145.The love which to mine own Queen feals my heart
Makes it unto all other Ladies kinde:
For her dear sake I will to you impart
Rich testimonies of my tender Minde:
I know she'l thank me when I come at home,
That in my Mercy I have made you room.

146.Behold my Mine of wealth: From hence will I
This Peace with pretious Tokens consecrate,
And will hereafter owne your Majesty
As my Confederate: Though prevailing Fate
Makes me a Martiall Prince, I'd rather win
By sweetnesse, than by churlish force, a Queen.

147.Then ope your Gates. Or if my Kindnesse be
A Price room an to buy our Acceptation,
Tell me but so: I can more easily
Force than Intreat: This warlike Preparation
Did with more pains win on it self to make
This Pause, than it will cost your Fort to take.

148.What help for Psyche now, whom Power drives,
And Charms allure to her Destruction?
With heart-misgiving Thoughts a while she strives,
And struggles how she may not fear the One,
Nor love the other: But away at last
Her Resolution, and her selfe she cast.

149.Vain Son of Dust pull down thy foolish Crest,
And in this Glasse thy feeble Wormship see:
Who will commit unto thy wavering trust
Another thing, when by Self-treachery
Thou yeildest up thy wretched Heart a Prize
To them whose Power in thy Concession lies?

150.I like the Terms, right noble Sir, she cries,
And must for ever in my high esteem
Inshrine and reverence these Courtesies
Which from your sweet Magnificence doe stream.
Then to the Gate she hasts, and, to begin
Her thanks, flings it wide ope, and calls them in.

151.Agenor sheath'd his mighty Sword, and bid
The Passions all perform what He had done.
 [...] Order they first entered;
 [...] with his swelling Train Himselfe drew on,
And seem'd to cast a sirly Look aside
 [...] the Castle Gate was not more wide.

152.With Princely slownesse thus march'd in at last.
Her royall Seal He Her desires to set
To those Conditions which before had past.
And in a gilded Scroll were ready writ.
She ran it over with a smiling Eye,
And straight set seal to her own Miserie.

153.Then unto Thelema the Instrument
She gave, with full Commission to shut
Her Ports when Charis or when Phylax bent
Their courses, or their projects thither. But
For Logos, she consented He should still
Remain a Pris'ner at the Passions Will.

154.With that: My seal to this Pacification
Agenor cries, this Friendly Kisse shall be:
Mean while the Passions with joynt Acclamation
Salute their Soveraigns Eare, as courtly He
Her Lip: And fond she joy'd their Noise to hear
Which all her freedome did in pieces tear.

155.By name she bad them welcome all: but on
Agenor dwelt her Thanks and Complement.
And, sure, said she, what you to day have done
Proves you to be of that sublime Descent
From which my Spouse was said alone to spring:
Who would not swear that you were Peace's King?

156.Power reigns in both His Hands: the Armory
Of Heav'n, where Thundering Ammunition lies
In dreadfull Store, is His; yet gentle He
By sweetnesse loves to gain his Victories.
And so doe you, who for His sake, to Me
The noblest Prince, and dearest are but He.

157.Agenor smil'd: And, Whosoe'r I be,
Repli'd, sweet Queen, I have no time to show
More than by this blest peace,  [...] what you see,
This  [...] of my royall Love to You.
The World may need Me some where else, and I
Must not by loytering here, my help deny.

158.Yet if my Aid you should hereafter want,
Send and enquire at any Prince's Court:
(And think not that Agenor now  [...] vaunt,)
Unto such Inns I make my chiefe resort.
Nor fail I of due welcome, for the best
And Noblest Place is proud of Me its Guest.

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159.His Present was two Cabinets: which when
His Pages had set down, He took his leave
From her soft lipp; through which He breathed in
What her unwary Heart did not perceive,
Slie Spirits of Self-love, and Foolish Pride,
And many mystick swelling things beside.

160.With earnest Courtesie she woo'd his Stay,
But now his deep Defign was compass'd, He
With all his gorgeous Train made haste away,
And leaves her more a Pris'ner, than when she
Was in her Castle close barr'd up by Fear
Of them, who now all play'd the Tyrants there.

161.Each Passion takes her swindge, and does appeal
To Thelema when any Doubts arise,
Boldly provoking to the Scroll and Seal
Which did this publike Freedome authorize.
Thus Noise and Tumult every corner fills
Of Psyche's court, which all with Revells swells.

162.So when fond Phebus doting on his Son,
Resign'd his Reins into his childish Hand,
Th'impatient  [...] cross the road did run,
And neither kept the way, nor his Command:
But in unbrideled Madness with their wheels
Drew on the Worlds Confusion at their heels.

163.The Senses too, first sticklers in the Treason,
Their share of its licentious fruit did reap,
Perceiving quickly that imprison'd Reason
No more his rigid Discipline could keep:
And proudly smiling, what tame Fools were wee
They cri'd, who did no sooner mutinie!

164.How strange a Monster doth a Kingdome grow
Where Laws and Soveraignty, the life and health
Of every heav'n-descended State, must bow
Unto  [...] Wills! What Common-wealth
Can justifie its Name, where Subjects may
Command, and Princes dare not but obey!

165.No Hydra's shape so shapeless is as this,
Which throws the World back to its breeding Heap,
The hideous Chaos of Preposterousnesse,
That tumbles All things in one monstrous Deep,
And in despight of the well-form'd Creation,
Disjoynts and scatters it quite out of Fashion,

166.Yet wretchlesse Psyche is content to see
This monstrous Soloecisme in her own Breast,
And thinks her Scepter and her Selfe more free,
Than when Obedience did her Subjects cast
Low at the Feet of her Commands, where they
With reverence and ready Service lay.

167.The silly Rose delighteth thus to be
Drest in her fairest Looks and best Attire,
When round about a churlish Companie
Of Thorns against her Tenderness conspire:
Upon that Seige of Pikes She smiles doth cast,
Not dreaming They will murder her at last.

168.Psyche's as jolly, as the Passions wilde,
And means her Joys with those Delights to feed
With which Agenor's Cabinets were fill'd:
Proud Expectation prompts Her there to read
The Lines of Fate against her selfe; For she
In opening them, broach'd her own Misery.

169.(With such unfortunate Curiosity
The fatall Box rash Epimetheus op'd:
The trembling Lid for-warn'd his Hand to be
Better advis'd; yet still the Fondling hop'd
For mighty Matters: But the Prize he found,
Himselfe, and all the World, in Sorrows drown'd.)

170.The first was full of Bracelets, Net-works, Tires,
Rings, Earings, Tablets, Wimples, Hoods, Veils, Laces,
Lawns, Crisping-pins, Chains, Bonnets, golden Wires,
Vermilion, Pencills, Smiles, Youth, blooming Faces,
Gloves, Sandalls, Girdles, Busks, Suffumigations,
Powders, Perls, Coronets High-looks, & New-fashi­ons.

171.Silks, Sattens, Purples, Sables, Ermyns, Gold
And Silver by the Loom and Needle taught
To wed and dwell with Silk which feels no cold.
Besides all that lay in the bottome fraught
In ready Coin to pave and make the floor
Fit for the Feet of that ambitious Store.

172.The next was nothing but th'inammeld Case
Of a large Mirror: Never Chrystall did
Smile with such pureness; Never Ladies Glasse
Its Owners face so sweetly flattered:
Narcissu's Fountain did with less Delight
Unto his fair Destruction Him invite.

[Page 71]
173.For He in that, and in self-love being drownd,
Agenor from him took his doting Eys:
Proud Jezabells he also scatter'd found
Amongst her fragments, and made them his prize.
Goliahs stareing Bagins too he got,
Which He with Pharaoh's all together put.

174.But these being not enough; from Phacton,
From  [...], Joab, Nebuchadnezzer,
From Philip and his World-devouring Son,
From Scylla, Cataline, Cicero, Pompey, Cesar,
From Herod, Cleopatra, and Sejanus,
From Agrippina, and Domitianus,

175.And many Stoiks: their high Eyes he pull'd;
Whose proudest Chrystall having drained out,
He blended it in a fair polish'd Mould;
Which He fill'd up with what from Heav'n he brought,
An Extract of those Looks of Lucifer
In which against his God he breathed Warre.

176.Then to the North, that glassie Kingdome, where
Establish'd Frost and Ice for ever reign,
He sped his course, and meeting Boreas there,
Pray'd Him this liquid Mixture to restrain.
When loe, as Boreas op'd his Mouth, and blew
Forth his Command, the Humor solid grew.

177.Thus was the Mirrour made: and did contain
The vigor of those selfe-admiring Eyes
Agenors witchcraft into it did straign:
A dangeroud Juncture of proud Fallacies,
Which did so highly please its Authors Eye,
That Kissing it, he nam'd it Philautie.

178.Unhappy Psyche ravish'd was to see
The Glass her selfe upon her selfe reflect
With trebled Majestie. The Sun when He
As by Aurora's roseal Fingers deckt,
Sees not his repercussed Selfe more fair
Upon the Eastern Main, then she did here.

179.New Flames were kindled in her sprightfull Eye,
New Roses on her smiling Cheeks were spred,
New Graces and new Loves did gently fly
Down with her golden Tresses from her Head,
New Lilies beautifi'd her dainty Hand,
New Goodliness her Person did commend.

180.Her cheated Soul sprang through her Eye, and dwelt
So long upon the Glass that it grew New:
Such mighty Thoughts, till now, she never felt,
As up and down her high-swoll'n Fancie flew;
Which breaking from her Mouth, at length, she cries,
How long have I been strange to mine own Eyes?

181.Am I that Worm, whom Phylax put in minde
So oft of Dust and Vileness! Could this face
These Eyes, these Locks, these Hands, this Person finde
No better credit? Surely now the Case
Is plain how Aphrodisius came to be
So hideous: Phylax makes the like of Me.

182.Foole that I was, to dream it could be true
Which proud He daily preach'd to my Disgrace:
Who could beleeve that I should never veiw
Till now, the Wonders of mine own bright face!
That this ingenuous Glass should tell me more
Then Phylax, or then Charis did before!

183.No marvell now if Heav'ns Apparent Heir
Disdains all Beauties that He findes above,
And, doing right to her that is most fair,
By stooping down to me exalts his Love:
I little thought I could so much have shown
Why this my Head should fit an heav'nly Crown

184.Pardon me, ô my Eyes that ignorant I
With brieney Tears so oft have soiled you;
Had not your Flames by their Divinity
Secured been, they had been quench'd e'r now.
And pardon Me, sweet Cheeks, I will no more
Blubber and scall'd your roses, as before.

185.And you all-lovely Lips no more shall kisse
The Dust, which foolish I took for your Mother.
The Tribe of Orientall Rubies is
Your pretious Kindred: nor must any other
Sip the soft Nectar which in you doth live
But that dear Kisse my Spouse to me shall give.

186.Nor shall rude Usage rob thee of thy due
My gentle Body; All Hair-cloths fare-well,
My liberall Tresses Hair enough can shew:
And by this Girdle Heav'n did plainly tell
What other Furniture would suit me best
When with this Seige of Gems it girt my Waste.

[Page 72]
187.And since thy Cabinets Wardrobe Challenges
My proudest choise, I wish thy selfe were here
Royall Agenor, to behold how these
Fair Limbs of mine would quit themselves, and wear
In worthy Triumph thy best Jewells, which
Shall by my purer beams themselves enrich.

188.This said: Love who stood fawning by her side,
Her delicate Service offered to dress
Her high-conceited Queen in equall Pride.
A purple Mantle, fring'd with Statelinesse,
Embroider'd with Ambition, laced round
With Vanity she in the Cabinet found:

189.About her this she casts; then for her neck
And wrists, three Bracelets of bright Gems she chose,
A sparkling Coronet her head to deck,
To trim her feet, a pair of silver shoes,
A Crisping-pin to multiplie her hair,
Spruce Lawn to make her breast, though clothed, bare.

190.Whil'st she with these and other Rarities
Builds up her Pomp: The gaudy Queen delights
To see by what rich steps her Beauties rise;
For to the Glasse whose multiplying sleights
Flatter'd her Error to so proud a pitch,
Her Joyous Folly still her Eyes did reach.

191.Then rising slowly up, as she before
Had seen Agenor move from his high throne;
She traversed, but scorn'd to see, the floor,
Or any of the Passions who look'd on.
Onely she turned her vain-glorious Head
Upon the Glasse her walking Selfe to read.

192.Which Lesson pleased Her so well, that she
Gat it by heart, and yet must read again,
Insatiably coveting to see
The Pomp in which her Looks and Clothes did reign:
And tickled with her selfe, she wish'd that now
Her Spouse would come and visit her below.

193.The cunning Passions seeing her inhance
Her looks and gate, did in compliance bowe,
Aud at the feet of her new Arrogance
Themselves and all their treacherous homage throw:
Which, though she liked, yet she scorned too,
And taught Acceptance with Disdain to goe.

194.But now her Home was grown too narrow to
Contein her Greatness; She abroad must ride,
That other Eys to her may reverence doe
Who now could prove her self Heav'ns worthy Bride,
And justly might display her beams in this
Low world, as in the upper He spreads His.

195.An open Chariot she calls for: and
That with due state and speed her wheels might run,
Eight of her stoutest Passions does command
To bend their Necks, and put the Harnesse on.
They soon obey'd, wishing no lesse to be
Abroad, and trot about the World, than she.

196.When loe Syneidesis, who all this while
Had in a silent Corner watch'd her Queen,
Accosts her in an unexpected Stile,
And catching fast hold on her Arm, What mean
You by this haste? Here is another Glasse
Said she, for you to view before you passe.

197.Behold these Eyes of mine: a Mirror where
Dwells no Deceit, nor Charm, nor Flattery:
You are true Psyche here, and onely here,
In this Reflection of Verity:
I never yet abused you; and why
Must that false Glass be trusted, and not I?

198.With indignation Psyche turn'd her head,
And left Scorn for Syneidesis; but she
Who knew not to be daunted, followed
Her Eye with faithfull Importunity;
And made her see, in spight of her Disdain,
How both It, and her selfe did strive in vain.

199.The Passions wonder'd at her Boldnesse; But
She is a Witch, impatient Psyche cries,
And hath the strength of all Enchantments set
Thick in the Glasses of her monstrous Eyes,
Which have such power on mine, that there's no gap
Where from their conjuring Circles I may scape.

200.Behold how grosse a Lie of Ougliness
They throw upon my Face, there to out-face
The truth of all those beauteous lines which dress
My royall Looks with Prince-becoming Grace.
Surely my selfe I would revenge upon.
My Selfe, if I indeed were such a One.

[Page 73]
201.Was Eye e'r frighted with so foule an Heap
Of angry Blisters, as those Starers make
O'r all my Skin! I challenge any Deep
Upon whose face the Windes most freedome take,
To shew so many Billows, as in Me,
O no; as in this lying Shape you see.

202.Improvident Witch, why could'st thou not as well
Have charm'd my Touch, as thou hast done mine Eyes?
Why didst thou leave these Fingers Power to feel
And to convict thee of thy Forgeries?
Their Tumors are not yet so sore, but still
Thy Witchery they can restrain, and will.

203.Upon her Throat forth-with her Left Hand flew,
Having with furious Veng'ance arm'd her Right,
With which upon the Maidens Eyes she threw
The vehemence of Her entended Spight;
Hoping to break her Classes, that their Crack
Might let these Blisters out they seem'd to make.

204.But stout Syneidesis composed was
Of Mettall as secure and brave as she;
And though her Eyes did wear the Looks of Glass
They borrow'd nothing but its Puritie:
Had they been brittle too, they had been broke;
But now they bore and smiled at the Stroke.

205.This fetch't a secret sigh from Psyche, who
Call d for a Veil as thick and black as Night.
And this at least; said she, the Deed shall doe,
And bury those bold Monsters from my sight:
Then on Syneidesis she cast it, and
Ti'd it full fast by an hard-hearted Band.

206.O miserable Priviledge, that Man
Should able be to muffle up that Sight
Which shews Him to Himselfe, and onely can
Through Rocks & Shelves point out his Course aright!
Unhappy strength! the feeblest Weaknesse is
Nothing so weak and faint a thing as this.

207.Proud of this self-destroying Conquest, to
Her Chariot Psyche hasts: whose Coursers from
Her scornfull Eyes their own inflamed so,
That they with correspondent Pride did foam:
With bended Necks, and sparkling Looks they ran,
Disdaining all the ground they trode upon.

208.Thus swimming over Hills and Dales and Plains,
She came unto a simple Ermites Cell:
There she pluck'd in her fierce Teemes looser Reins,
To see what Worme in that poor hole did dwell:
When busie at his Roots and Herbs close by
An aged Home-spun Man she did espy.

209.To whom she cries, Alas vain wretched thing,
Is this a time for thee to cultivate?
What has thy Winter now to doe with Spring,
Who art already bowing to thy Fate!
E'n delve no more for Roots: that labour save,
And for thy other foot goe dig the grave.

210.The honest Ermite when he well had view'd
Her scornfull Pittie, thus replied: I
For your Commiseration would have su'd,
Had I esteem'd my labour, Misery:
But I can well spare you your Pomp and Ease,
Me Poverty and Pains doe better please.

211.A Coach once waited on my Idlenesse,
Being my House abroad, when Home I left:
But now I travell farre enough on these
Old Feet, and fear no Fall: that stately shift
Of Borrowing Leggs of Beasts, to Me is grown
Needlesse, since Nature fits Me with mine own.

212.These Vanities, and all the rest, which are
Attendants on superfluous Wealth, I threw
A way, with it: and that in time, for fear
It would have serv'd Me so; for well I knew
That Riches were but glorious Vexations,
Sins catching Fuell, Plunders Invitations.

213.Then took I Sanctuary in that Cell,
Which has more room to spare for Heav'n and God,
Than had my spatious Pallace, which did swell
With secular burly Things. In this Abode
I finde my Haven, where un-disturbed I
Far from the Worlds loud Storms, at anchor lie.

214.This spot of Ground, the Scoff of your high Eyes,
By pleasant Pains I make restore to Me
What carelessenesse had lost, sweet Paradise:
No Bait smiles here on a forbidden Tree;
Nor in these Herbs doth any Serpent sneak
Them to enyenome, or my Safety check.

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215.My serious Labours and my ridgid Fear
Fright hence the tender Sons of Luxury,
Distempers and Diseases; Guests which are
Fed at the Bord of Superfluity.
In health and vigour I can night and day
Trade with my Maker, and my Prayers say.

216.He, though no wanton Bathes have softened
My carelesse Skin, which tann'd and rough you see;
Though all my weeds be of a rurall Thred,
Spun by Neglect, and by Simplicity;
Esteems nor Me, nor my Condition poor,
Because I build my Hopes upon his Store.

217.His royall Store, which (since this World below
So narrow was) fills Heav'ns vast Treasury:
And till the Sons of Dust and Ashes grow
As high as that, in vain they look to be
Enrich'd by it. But there's a Way by which
We Dwarfs to that Sublimity may reach.

218.A strange Way, which does by Desentions Wings
Teach Us to soar: These Contrarieties
Into the field not onely Nature brings,
But Grace with opposite Cures meets Maladies.
Pride threw Us down, when we were perched high,
Our ladder to get up's Humility.

219.Humility, that Art enobled by
His own Profession whom all Heav'ns adore:
Himselfe He Lowest made, who was most High,
And of the Richest King, became most Poor;
By his Example teaching Us that We
Must onely by Rebound exalted be.

220.Psyche with great contention deign'd to hear
Him hitherto, but could endure no more.
What Pitty'tis, said she, that now thy Beer
Hath long stood waiting for thee at thy Door,
Thou art no Wiser yet! this signe doth shew
Thy Dotage is past Help; Poor wretch, adeiu.

221.Then with relaxed Rein admonishing
Her smoaking Steeds; They snatch'd her Coach away
With sparkling foaming fervor, copying
Her hasty indignation, untill they
Drew neer the Citty; where their pace they bate,
Marching in statelier slownesse to the Gate.

222.The People gaz'd upon her as she past
And fill'd the Street with Wonder: Every Eye
Its foolish homage in her way did cast.
And by that Admiration raise more high
Her tumid Looks, who had the more to scorn,
The more Spectators did her way adorn.

223.For whilst some prais'd the Coach, and some the Steeds,
And all her Person who rode Queen of them:
With carelesse Looks Contempt about she spreads
Both on their Admiration, and on them.
She lov'd the Honor, yet lov'd to despise
What in her own esteem was her best prize.

224.So when a burly Tempest rolls his Pride
About the World though mighty Cedars bow,
Though Seas give way unto his greater Tide,
Though Mountains lay their proudest heads full low
Before his feet, yet still He roars amain,
And rusheth on in blustering Disdain.

225.On many Pallaces her Eye she cast,
But yet could not vouchsafe to view them long:
At last contemning all she saw, she prest
With insolent fiercenesse through the gazing Throng,
Crying, These Cottages can afford no room
For Psyche's Entertainment: I must Home.

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PSYCHE: OR LOVES MYSTERIE. CANTO VI. The Humiliation.

ARGUMENT.

HEr heav'nly Friends by soule-subduing Art
Recover Psyche from her shamefull Glory:
And sure to seal upon her softned Heart
Religious Meeknesse, Phylax tells the Story
Of her immortall all-producing Spouse;
And then her own originall Vilenesse shows.

1.BUt what is Home unto unhappy Her
Whose onely Castle is surrender'd to
A Pack of Rebells who resolved were
To use the licence of their Conquest so
That she should in her own Dominion
Have no power left her, but to be undone?

2.She might have safelier call'd all Tempests in,
And to the loudest Windes fet ope her Gate,
Or giv'n her Key to Bears and Tigers; then
To those more dangerous Beasts, whose fair-tongu'd hate
Does work by this Prerogative, that they
By Honey poyson, by Imbraces slay.

3.Flat Enemies are honest harmlesse Things
Because they tell Us what We have to fear:
But double-hearted Friends, whose Blandishings
Tickle our Ears, but sting our bosomes, are
Those dangerous Syrens, whose sweet mayden face
Is onely mortall Treasons burnish'd Glasse.

4.These are the Pits whose mouths with flowers spred
Sweetly invite our Feet unto a Fall:
The golden Cups, whose Lips are sugeted
To the dissembled Poyson ours to call:
The crafty Hooks, which in a dainty Bait
To catch the Liquorish Palate lie in wait.

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5.These are those flattering Pipes whose wily Tune
Enchants the silly Birds into the Net:
These are those fragrant Bedds of fair-look'd June
With smileing Roses and with Lilies set,
Where th' unsuspecting Gardner to surprise
By fatall sleight, perdu the Serpent lies.

6.These are those Delilahs whose weeping Eye,
Whose sighs, whose Kisses, whose Imbraces be
The truer Withs, and Ropes, and Web, where-by
They binde the stoutest Sampsons on their knee;
Where while they hope to rest, they polled are
At once both of their Liberty and Hair.

7.These are the politick Hyena's who
Make bloody Thirst in humane Accents speak;
And with such sweet Hypocrisie can wooe
The heedlesse Swain compassion to take,
That to his Foe his door he openeth,
And in fond Pitty letteth in his Death,

8.These are those Judas's, whose Lips can drop
The honey of a friendly Salutation,
And with a Kisse seal the soft bargain up;
Though in their Hearts a trayterous Conjuration
Lies rankilin, and they study how they may
In Looks and Words of Love, their God betray.

9.And surely Psyche by this Treason had
Been cheated of her life and selfe, if He
Who in his Judas tryall of it made,
Had lent no Pitty to her Misery;
Had Jesu's tender Goodnesse not out-rid
His faithless Spouse who now from Him was fled.

10.Charis and Phylax He a while with-drew,
That being left unto her selfe, she might
Of her own Weaknesse take convincing view
When she occasion had, and cause to fight.
But now He sends them back to help Her down
From the high Ruine where He saw her thrown.

11.Make haste, said He; my Love, and Her Distresse
Call for your speed  [...] To you full power I give
To ease Her of that wretched Mightiness
Before it split her Heart; to undeceive
Her cheated Soule, and shrink it till it be
Little enougn to fit my Heav'n and Me.

12.They having thrice ador'd his Foot-stool, flew
Upon the wings of Thought through every Sphear:
No Lightning ever made more haste to view
The East and West at once, than this swift Pair
Of earnest Messengers; or with more Light
Did all Spectators startled Eyes afright.

13.For when the Passrons saw them darting neer,
Immediate Terror upon them did seize:
Down fell their changed Looks and Necks; though Fear
Was left at home, she present seem'd in these,
The suddennesle made Psyche too afraid
And both her Courage and her Chariot stay'd.

14.But though the first Assault of Lightning be
Pointed with Dread and Awe; the second does
Break forth with more abated Majesty
And (in our Eyes at least,) some Brightnesse loose.
Custome, though young and breeding, yet can make
The dint and edge of any strangness slake.

15.Both Psyche and her Steeds did soon recover
Some sense and spirits of their boiling Pride,
When the first glimpse of those new Beams was over;
But chiefly she swell'd to so high a Tide
Of Confidence, as to presume Her Streams
Would now repulse the Torrent of their Beams.

16.To both her reverend Friends she doth dispense
Her frowns, and lowring-loathing Looks, and by
That silent Language of Impatience
Her changed Minde and sullen Thoughts descrie.
But when she saw them full resolv'd, she cries,
I thought you would have understood mine Eyes.

17.Loe here my Tongue interprets them: You are
As much mistaken now in Psyche, as
She heretofore in You; I must and dare
Tell you your own: Your treacherous Counsell has
Too long bewitch'd my tender credulous Heart:
Henceforth you may for evermore depart.

18.The saucy Coursers with ears prick'd up high
Caught that proud Answer as from her it flew,
And neighing in tumultuous jollity,
With aggravation of Defiance threw
It in the faces of the heav'nly Pair;
And then they kick'd, and flung, and snuff'd the Air.

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19.But Phylax standing in Her Coache's way,
Lift up his Hand and Wing and kep't her back,
Crying much louder than her Steeds could neigh:
Yet e'r you goe vouchsafe to hear me speak;
Though I your Enemie be, you need not fear
Now you have learned that, my Words to hear.

20.This netled Thelema, who Postillion was,
And had inflam'd the Coursers all the way;
She bent her scornfull Brow, and cri'd, Alas
Can Phylax think I will his Rub obey,
Who ride where e'r I list, and never meet
With Mount, or World, which stops my Horses feet?

21.With that she check'd her Fierie courser [and
This Anger was, the most outrageous Steed,]
Who with curvets strait answered her Hand,
And aim'd to snatch her way o'r Phylax's head.
Three times she leap'd, as often falling back,
Till with her Bones she heard the Chariot Crack.

22.For Phylax having thither reach'd a Ray
Of mystick power, seiz'd on the Axel-tree,
Which with a splitting groan at length gave way,
And by the voice of its fragility
Admonish d all the Coach, that Ruine now
Meant to ride there, and Psyche out would throw

23.And true the warning was: for either Wheel,
The Barrs, the Pillars, Seat, Side, Back, and Head
Shatter'd forth with into confusion, feel
How  [...] the Axels Fatall preface led
Them to their Tragedy, which now no more
Can own their severall Names as heretofore.

24.'Tis all but one rude Heap: upon whose back
Lies Psyche something bruised with the Fall;
But wounded more to see who made that Crack,
And rais'd that Pile as for her funerall.
She scorns to take Him for an equall Foe,
But swells, and puffs, and knows not what to doe.

25.He, in her sullen Eye observing well
The troubled Motions of  [...] smoking Heart,
And more than her own Tongue knew how to tell;
Pitti'd the sadnesse of her wilfull Smart:
And, for compliance, her own course he took,
Speaking not by his Mouth, but by his Look.

26.This is the Dialect of strongest Love,
Which, when the fruitlesse Tongue had said her Say,
With soule-commanding Power doth plead, and prove
That Eloquence doth reign in Eyes; that they
Who to the bottom of the Heart would speak,
In Looking Lines must their Orations make.

27.His serious Aspect upon Her was bent
Compos'd of angry love, and milde disdain;
Expressive were the Glances which He sent,
And every Word that darted forth, was plain:
Some Rayes grew hot and stoutly chid, but others
With melting Pittie mollifi'd their Brothers.

28.O what a long long Story ran He over
In this short ocular Discourse! how fast
Did He her bosome and his own discover,
And what of old, and what of late had past,
And what was dawning, if she still went on
With obstinate confidence to be undone.

29.But she would not this language understand
Because the Speaker she before despis'd:
She proudly look'd, and coyly wav'd her hand,
Telling him by those signes, she was advis'd
So well of what she did, that He might goe
And somewhere else his scorned Pains bestow.

30.Mean while, as Thelema, and her bruis'd Steed
Biteing their own lips, and the ground, did lie;
Charis her sweetest Powers had mustered
To force the Damsell from her Miserie.
And, See, said she, when it was grown so tall,
How suddenly your Pride hath caught a Fall.

31.Yet this is not the Bottome, but a Step
Unto that Ruine whither you did ride.
O did you know how black and vast a Deep
Gapes in your Journeyes End, you would have di'd
A thousand other Deaths, much rather than
Have posted thus to plunge into that one.

32.Here with her Wand she stroke upon the Earth:
Straight Tellus heard the Knock, and op'd her Door;
When loe a Night of Smoke came stinking forth,
And then a duskie Day of Fire: the Roar
Of that great Crack made surly Thelema start,
And summon'd Psyche too, to see her part.

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33.For though Dread shook their Soules, They deemed it
Scorn to confesse their fear and run away.
Their adamantine stomack will not let
Their lives be longer pretious: still they stay.
Not out of curious Desire to see,
But, to out-face the hideous Prodigie.

34.The monstrous Jaws of the wide-gaping Pit
With banefull soot were lined thick: Beneath
Incensed Sulphure flashing Wrath did spit,
From whence a Cloud of heavie Groans did breath
Forth sad confession Who below did dwell:
These Proofs authentik were to speak it Hell.

35.Plung'd in the gloomie Caverns Centre were
A woefull Rout mingled with smoke and Fire;
Abiram, Corah, Dathan fried there,
With Peleths venturous Sonn, who did conspire
To raise that old Combustion, which now
Concluded is in their own Flames below.

36.Their howling Wives and shreiking Children lay
Broiling about them, and desir'd in vain
One drop of Water after dying They
Had burn'd so long in their still-living Pain:
Their Tears drop'd thick, but mock'd them by their store,
And onely scal'd their Cheeks which flam'd before.

37.As The lema stood doubting at the sight,
Behold this last Preferment Charis cri'd,
To which Ambition doth fond men invite:
Is it not petty that thou didst not ride
Thy Journey out; and am not I thy Foe
Who down this fair Hill would not let thee goe?

38Thou seest that arrogant Brood of Rebells there
Who were too high to stoop to heavenly law:
Yet to their wretchlesse Passions lent their Ear,
And rather then to God, to them would bow.
Moses and Aaron whom they kick'd at there,
Nothing but Phylax are and Charis here.

39.Moses and Aaron did usurp too much,
And bare their tyrannizing Heads too high.
And was not our Inditement onely such,
When Love drew up our Charge! We were not by
I grant; but yet He was, whose Vengance now
Feeds on your proud Agenors heart below.

40.Observe that Feind who holds fell Chorah's chain,
Himselfe bound in a greater: He knows why
He gathers up his Tails ashamed Train
And steals it round about his scaley Thigh.
Ask but his Looks, and they will tell you plain
What spot it is which them with Guilt doth stain.

41.This high-swoln mountain of Deformity
Once vie'd with Beauties self, by's borrow'd Face:
But now uncased in his cursed stie,
His shape is correspondent to his place.
Here you see what without a Lie is His,
This your illustrious Agenor is.

42.Hearing this Word, the tumid Feind did split
His over-charged mouth, and vomit out
A stream of brimstone, belching after it
More horrid Cries; which bellowed about
His hollow Home, but finding it too narrow,
Into the Air let loose his thundering Sorrow.

43.It shak'd the Earth, as through her sides it broke,
And something startled Psyche who stood by,
But Thelema disdaind the Terrors stroke,
Coufuting it with her all-dareing Eye.
She knew her strength authentik was, and still
Resolv'd what e'r it cost, to have her Will.

44.Thus when a wilfull Heir to age is come,
And in his own Hand feels the golden Rein
Of his long-wish'd Revenews; if by some
Well-practis'd spend-thrift he be taught to drein
His over-flowing Bags, in vain his Friends
Shew him how Poverties Ebb that Tide attends.

45.But trusty Charis well remembring what
Her Masters love commanded, plies her part:
And, seeing Feares Darts were repuls'd, she shot
The shafts of Love into the Virgins heart,
Which in a diamond Case from Heaven she brought,
With many other pretious Powers fraught.

46.Strong were the Blows, and op'd themselves the way
Unto the bottome of their Mark, but sweet
Withall and silent. Thus the noble Ray
Shot from the Suns Eye, doth no sooner beat
Upon the chrystall Ball, but with soft force
Quite through & through it takes its harmless course.

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47.On Thelema's soul the gallant Arrows wrought
With blessed wounds of heav'n-begotten Joy:
Yet she with such perverse resistanee fought,
That had but Charis known how to be coy,
She would have spar'd her pains, and left the Maid
By her own stubborn Victory betray'd.

48.But she as obstinate was in Patience,
And many a deare time shot and shot againe:
Untill at length the strokes begat some sense
Of a  [...] and convincing pain;
With which pierc'd thorough, now I must, I see
Cri'd Thelema, by this Sweetness conquer'd be.

49.I know I need not yeild, except I will;
But this soul-plying Violence, which so
Severely sweet through all my wounds doth thrill,
Enforceth Me to force my self to goe
With that she louted low, and on her knee
Begg d pardon for her Pertinacitie.

50.O noble Vertue of immortall Grace!
How uncontrolled is its dainty Art,
Which can a Bosome of it self uncase,
And teaeh the Heart how to subdue the Heart.
Which gains unbloody Bays and Triumphs thus,
In delicately conquering Us by Us!

51.So when into the Swains unwary Foot
The venemous earnest of a swelling Death
Is from the treacherous Tarantula shot,
Musicks sweet Accents wisely temperd, breath
A mystike Antidote, which by delight
Deceives the poyson, and charms out its Might.

52.But Psyche seeing Thelema relent,
Knew her own Stomacks power would swell in vain,
And judg'd it policy now to recant,
And her old potent Friends anew to gain.
Her useless Arrogance away she threw,
And after it three deep drawn sighs she blew.

53.That thus ejected; Shame and Modesty,
Of their ingenuous Home took fresh possession,
And in  [...] purple Cheek and gloomy E e
Displai'd a  [...] of penitent Confession:
Then, as her Pride had  [...] her up before
Above her self, these cast her on the floor.

54.'Twas easier now for her to weep than speak;
Yet striking stifly on her guilty breast,
Unto her stiffling griefe a way she broke,
And helpt this Lamentation out at last:
O turne from shamefull Psyche your pure Eye;
Leave Me alone to perish where I lie.

55.Or let your Justice plunge Me downe into
That mouth of Torment which gapes for Me there;
That I may to my lov'd Agenor goe,
Whose Lies before your Truths I did preferr.
Sure Corah and his damned Company
Take not up all the roome; ther's some for Me.

56.'Twas more than Death to Me to view the face
Of my too-late-beleev'd Synedesis,
Though she presented in her trustie Glass
The faithfull Copy of my Hideousness.
But in your Lustres dint what shall I doe!
No veil has night enough to smother you.

57.O! that intollerable Puritie
Of your celestiall Looks I cannot bear:
Pride has so tainted my unhappy Eye
That all unspotted Spectacles I fear;
For they my Torments are, and burne Me so,
That to a cooler Hell I faine would goe.

58.This woefull Out-crie grated Charis Heart,
Wont not to bruise but heale the broken Reed:
She knew what Lenitives would tame that Smart,
Yet gave no more than for the present Need,
Leaving the perfect Cure awhile: For She
Knew well how wholsome longer Grief would be.

59.Mean time the rampant Passions were stray'd,
 [...] in wild Madness roved all about:
When Thelema before by them betray'd,
Reveng'd that Treachery, and by a stout
Command, unto their Duties call'd them back.
The whole Field at the awfull Voyce did quake.

60.They started all, and strait of one another
Did mutuall Counsell ask with doubting Eye:
But after that first Call, out brake its Brother,
And thundred with imperious Majesty:
When looking back, they spi'd their Mistress's Hand
Lifted up high, which spake a third Command.

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61.They knew these Summons did in earnest call,
And alwayes had disdaind to be deny'd:
This forced their unwilling Crests to fall
And into slavish Trembling turn'd their Pride
When angry Thelema snatch'd up the Reins,
And thenceforth of their Harness made their Chains.

62.So when the Master shakes his dreadfull Rod
High in the view of his extravagant Boies,
Who trouanting were, and rambling all abroad;
Their loth Adieu they bid unto their Toies,
And trembling into Schoole, expect when they
The price of their Extravagance should pay.

63.But then she stoutly lash'd her shivering Teem
Unto the Lip of that dread mouth of Hell,
Where their late Generall she shewed them
Tearing his Fiendship He could not conceal.
Which Sight, them & all treacherous Itchings parted
And through their Soules immortall Terror darted.

64.This Act perform'd: they all remove the Stage
To Psyche's house; in which their Passage she
Beheld the lately-scorned Ermitage
With reverent blushing: But when pious He
Who reign'd King of Himselfe and It, espied
This blessed Change, He sate him down and cried.

65.He cri'd for Joy, and answer'd Psyche's tears,
Which multiply'd with every Step she took:
Himselfe had been acquainted many Years
With noble Charis; and in's heav'nly Look
He read who Phylax was, for such a Friend
Did from his Birth till now on Him attend.

66.What they had done, his Wisdome well could guesse,
When he the surly Queen dejected saw:
Her frowns, her  [...], her coach, her stateliness
Were vanish'd all, and she so Humble now
That by Agenor's and Heav'ns help she seems
In one day to have reached both Extreems.

67.Full many a Blessing did the Good Man pour
On Charis and on Phylax as they went:
But to his loving Lord He pants out more,
Who them down to that great Exploit had sent:
Good Wishes after Psyche He did throw,
Following Her steps as farr's his Eye could goe.

68.Heroick Charity, how soon dost thou
Subdue all Wrongs Contempt can shoot at thee:
And freely blesse the Day which doth bestow
Happy Successe on thy proud Enemy!
Right noble is thy Valour, which alone
Can make thy Foes good Fortune be thine own,

69.But they now to their Journey's period come,
Psyche with her stiffe Sighs blew ope the Gate;
And with a sad Eye viewing her fair Home,
Thought every Wall did chide for what of late
She trespass'd there; and that at every Groan
The Echo cri'd, she had her self undone.

70.Up to her Chamber she as loth did goe
As Thiefe unto the Cell where He has hid
His wicked Goods: Yet they would have it so
Who from Self-theft had Her delivered.
But two deep Groans, as up the Stayrs they went
Summon'd their Eys to search whence they were sent.

71.Close in the Stayr-case a slie Trap-doore was
Which kept its counsell with Bar, Lock, and Seal;
Where as they stood considering the place,
Two other Groans did to their Aid appeal:
When Thelema convinc'd by Shame and Fear,
Broke ope the Door to shew them who were there.

72.Deep was the Dungeon, and as dark as Night
When neither Moon nor Star befriend the Skie:
But Charis looking in, an high-noon Light
Through all that Blacknesse streamed from her Eye.
When loe, Syneidesis, and Logos tied
Fast in the bottom of the Mire they spied.

73.Down Phylax flies, and hovering over them
(For no Dirt may defloure his Virgin Wings,)
Unties their Cords; and by their Mantles Hem
Up to the Dungeons Mouth, them gently brings.
Full thick about them stuck the mire and clay;
Yet Psyche thought her selfe more foule then they

74.And falling on them with a Showre of Tears,
These soon, said she, may wash your Spots away;
But my deep-grain'd Pollution out-dares
The power of Oceans: You besmeared lay
Onely in others Stains, but hideous I
With mine own Blots all over blurred lie.

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75.O add no stings unto my Anguish by
Denying Pardon of my mad offence:
Saw you but halfe the Flames in which I frie,
The sight would thaw your breasts, and kindle sense
Of my sufficient Woe. But Charis here
Stepp'd in, and bad her those Complaints deferre.

76.Then She conducts her to her Chamber; where
No sooner entred, They the Mirrour spie:
Which strait grew pale, and quak'd for guilty fear
At the bright Dawn of genuine Purity.
So Phantoms and Night-fires away doe sneak,
When from the East the gallant Day doth break.

77.Phylax unto the Sight drew Psyche nie,
But she quak'd more then that, and started back:
When loe, said He, this Glasse, though fram'd to lie,
Now of it selfe shall true confession make;
Urge it but with the Touch of any Gem
Whose Place is meanest in thy Girdles Hem.

78.O noble Power of Heav'nly Gifts! The Glasse
Remembred quickly its originall Eyes,
And weep'd to see how all its Beauty was
Disolv'd by one short Touch: its Fallacies
Flowd down apace, till all the floor did swim
With a prodigious Lake of loathsome slime.

79.A slime which smelt so rank of Death, that had
Not Charis stepp'd twixt Psyche and the Harm,
'T had choak'd her heart: but that Assistance made
Her spirits cheer, and kept her Courage warm.
Secured thus, Take one more drop, she cri'd,
And spitting on the slime; she turn'd aside;

80.Aside unto the other Cabinet,
And look, dear Freinds, said she, for much I fear
Some foule Enchantment here doth hatch its Plot,
And that these Treasures in false shapes appear,
They are Agenors Gifts: how can his Pelf
Be made of truer Beauties then himself!

81.You know your Touch-stone, Phylax cries, but lay
Your Girdle on it, and it will confesse;
That Item she no sooner did obey,
But strait her Touch was answer'd with an Hisse:
The Chains and  [...] started up, and now
No Nest of Jewells, but of snakes, did show.

82.In the spruce Net-works woven was a Frie
Of younger Serpents which lay hamper'd there,
And sham'd and vex'd by this discovery
Whetted their peevish Teeth, and tri'd to teare
Open their Knots; but when they felt the Bite
Dig their own backs, they angry Poison spit.

83.The Tires and Hoods shrunk into Horns: the Rings
Dilated into fetters; every Lace
Like scorched Thonges, or some such shrivel'd Things,
Acknowledg'd through what flame it us'd to passe.
The gaudy Bonnets, and the dainty Veils
Were nothing now but brasse or iron scales.

84.The Crisping-Pinns return'd to Forks and Hooks,
And Tongs, and Prongs; the Lawns to Dragons Wings:
The golden Wires abjur'd their glorious looks,
And now were red hot Nailes, or Darts, or stings:
The Busks were Gags; the Gloues were fiery Claws,
The Tablets, Boiles; the Sandales, Tigres Paws.

85.The Perls were Coals; the Coronets, Wreaths of fire;
The brisk Vermilion was Blood or Ink;
The Pencills, Rods of ever-burning Wire;
The Powders, Brimstone; the Perfumes, a stink;
The Smiles were Frowns, the youth, and blooming cheeks
Were hideous Wrinckles, and stern Vultures beaks.

86.The High-looks, were Dispairs & shames; the Fashions
Were severall Inventions of spight,
And never-dying Tortures Variations;
The Silks and Sattens, skins of Asps; the bright
Purple, a Lions or a Panthers Hide
In innocent Blood of slaughter'd Infants di'd.

87.The Ermins and the Sables, were the skins
Which monstrous Cerberus casteth thrice a yeare:
The rich embroideries were Rows of Pinns
Pointed with steely Torment and Dispair;
The silver and the Gold that lay below
Were Rust and Cankers, which themselves did gnaw.

88.These severall dreadfull Sights, stroke Psyche through
With full as many Feares; and back she ran.
But Phylax stopp'd her, and demanded how
She dar'd those gay Things trust which she had on?
They too, are of the same foule Breed, said He;
And will you still with Hell arrayed be?

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89.With that He snatch'd from Her what-ever Pride
On her abused Body had obtruded,
She with sad indignation having ey'd
The hell-bred Robes, cri'd out, O selfe-deluded
And justly wretched Soul, that mine own Fist
(And heer she stroke) could pierce this treacherous breast.

90.A noble Stroke it was; and broke its way,
Its happy Way, quite through unto her heart.
Forth-with a cole-black Stream, which swelling lay
And belking there, took warning to depart:
Out flew the Poyson reaking on the ground,
Which splitting, to its Hell its way it found.

91.Deliver'd of its monstrous Guest, the Wound
Clos'd gently up, and further Harm shut out.
But both her sides so loose and lank she found
That for her selfe within her selfe she sought,
And stood a while amaz'd, as if the Stroke
Had onely some Dreams brittle Wonders broke.

92.Confounded then with pious Shame, unto
Her former sober Weeds she turn'd aside:
Whose simple honest Looks rebuk'd her so
That straight she stagger'd back again, and cri'd,
Remembring how she them disdain'd, which now
Fairer then all Agenors Pomp did show.

93.At length she came and with a dolefull Voice,
Give leave, she said, my genuine Furniture
That once again I make my prudent choice,
Which henceforth shall for ever more endure.
Or, if again I scorn your Poverty,
From Hells soule Wardrobe may I clothed be.

94.Come trusty Hair-cloths, you did never yet
Foole me out of my selfe by garish Pride:
Come honest Rope, thou never yet didst let
Ambition blister me, but gird'st my side
Close to my heart, and left'st no Room between
For puffing strutting Thoughts to harbour in.

95.So; now I'm drest indeed: How shamelesly
Have I all naked wander'd up and down!
No Nakednesse to that in Heav'ns pure Eye
With which Sin clotheth Us: Thus over-grown
With Leprosie the Man more naked is,
Then when bare Nothing but his Skin was His.

96.Yet can it be that jealous Heav'n, and You,
O my provoked Friends, should not be just
What priviledge have Rebellious I, that now
Vengance should sheath its dared Lightning! Must
Your Patience from my Crime its copie write,
That both may equally be Infinite!

97.It must, said Charis; and be sure to pay
Thy Spouse due thanks for this Necessity.
Yet if henceforth thou needs wilt run astray,
Know that his Soul is not so seal'd to thee,
But he can finde out some more faithfull Breast
Which will his Loves dear Violence not resist.

98.She thus reform'd into her lowly Tire,
Charis and Phylax gently her imbrace;
Kissing into her Soul fresh Joyes of Fire,
And Printing gratious Looks upon her Face.
Then sitting down together, Listen well
Said Phylax, unto what I now shall tell.

99.The Story, Psyche, bends its aime at thee;
But I will fetch it from its bottom, that
Thou may'st a long and totall Prospect see
Of thy Extraction and originall State.
That Sight will teach thee that these simple Weeds
Are full as fine and gorgeous as needs.

100.Especially when I withall have shown
Thee by the boundlesse Powers which flourish in
Thy Spouse's Hand and Word, how far thine own
Condition flaggs below his Worth; how mean
A Match thou art for Him, who nothing hast
In dowry, but vile Vanity, and Dust.

101.All things at first was God, who dwelt alone
Within his boundless Selfe: But bounteous He
Conceiv'd the form of the Creation
That other things by Him might Happie be.
A way to ease its Streams his Goodnesse sought,
And at the last into a World burst out.

102.This World at first 'was but one single step
From simple Nothing; yet that step was wide:
No power but His, or could, or yet can, leap
Over from Nothing's Bank, to Something's Side:
The East and West are one, the Poles doe kisse,
If you their Distances compare with this.

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103.This Something, Son of Nothing, wallowing lay
In the vast Womb of its own Darksome Deep:
The foulest Monster never frighted Day
With such wilde Shapes as struggled in this Heap:
Nor Hydra's Heads so snarl'd at one another,
As every Parcell quarrell'd with its Brother.

104.The Deep climb'd up, and tumbled down the Height,
And then fell headlong after it again.
Lightnesse was busie and forc'd lazie Weight
To change his Quarters and above remain.
The rude Tempestuous Windes blew all together,
And fill'd the World at once with every Weather.

105.Heat, about place, could not with Cold agree,
This strove to frieze its Foe, and that to frie.
The Centre in the Bottom scorn'd to be,
And forced Earth full in Heav'ns face to flie.
Winter took heat, and breaking ope its way;
December flung into the heart of May.

106.The Ocean storm'd, and would no Shore allow,
But swallow'd up the Sands, and rushing out
Whil'st all things else were quarrelling, did throw
Her billowie Arms the Universe about,
Which in this civill Deluge drown'd had been,
Had not the kinde Creators Help come in.

107.Forth flew th' Eternall Dove, and tenderly
Over the Floods blinde Tumult hovering,
Did secret Seeds of vitall Warmth supply
By the sweet Virtue of his Soveraign Wing:
Much like the loving Hen, whose brooding Care
Doth hatch her Eggs, and them for life prepare.

108.When loe, a Voice (this was that supream Word
Which you, and wee, and all the World adore,)
Broke, from the Fathers Mouth with joint Accord
Of th' undivided Three, and down did poure
It selfe upon the Deep, commanding Light
To cheer that universall face of Night.

109.As when the gloomy Cloud in sunder parts
The nimble Lightning through the World doth haste;
So from this Masse of Darknesse, thousand Darts
Of orient Beams themselves about did cast,
With ready splendor answering that Call
Which summon'd them to gild this groping Ball.

110.The Shade's affrighted at the Looks of Light
Sneak'd to blinde holes their shamed heads to hide:
God pitti'd them, and hastning on their flight,
Gave them safe Lodging in the Worlds back-side;
There slept dull Night: but Day was brave and bold,
And in the face of God displaid its Gold.

111.The next Command call'd for the Firmament
To part the Waters which unruly grew.
Straight, in the midst of them, a Bow was bent
Of solid Substance and of Chrystall Hue:
Pure are the Streams which on Heav'ns Back do flow,
Those gross & dull whose Weight sinks them below.

112.And they the third Day, all collected were
Into the spatious Bosom of the Sea.
The Earth rejoic'd it had leave to appear,
And looked up with brisk Aridity,
Lifting her Mountains high with comely Pride
Which now contemn'd the Water's proudest  [...]

113.But being naked, and not knowing whence
To cloth her selfe, God her Apparrell made:
He spake, and straight a flowrie Confluence
Her plains and Valleys with fragrant Robes array'd;
And trimm'd the Heads of all her Hills with Trees,
Earth's native Plumes and stateliest Braveries.

114.The next Day on the Heav'n was spent; which yet
Was like a Virgin-Scroll spread fair and wide,
But with no Characters of Beauty writ,
Till God's great Word engrav'd its radiant Pride:
But then the royall Sun came smiling forth
Inamouring the whole World at his Birth.

115.Light which till now had flitted here and there
On the weak back of an ignoble Cloud,
No sooner saw his gallant Face appear,
But in his bosome she desir'd to shrowd.
He courteous was, and to her wished Throne
Receiv'd her glorious Ambition.

116.But being bounteous too; as He espi'd
The bashfull Spangles peeping every where,
He freely dealt his Lustre far and wide:
The Moon reach'd forth her Horns, and caught her share,
So did the Starrs; and now all Heav'n grew fine,
When He alone, or when all they did shine.

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117.The Houres before his foot came louting low
Begging a Room in his bright Family;
And so did cheerly Day devoted now
With him to wake and sleep, to live and dy.
But shame-fac'd conscious Night durst not draw neer,
And so she fell to spotted Luna's share.

118.Then gorgeous Summer came, and spred his way
With Gales of gentle Aire, and Clouds of Spice;
Whil'st jolly Flora, in her best array,
As prodigall is of her Varieties.
But plainer Winter did more distance keep,
And farre behinde his burning Chariot creep.

119.The Sea however surly the first Day,
No sooner heard her great Creator speak,
But her Rebellious Waves she flat did lay,
And op'd her mighty Womb, from whence did break
The Winged Nation all Pair by Pair,
The Musicall Inhabitants of Aire.

120.The other Germane Brood, whose moister Wings
Abhor the drying Windes, she kept at home,
Where through the Deeps they flie: strange-shaped things,
Which though brought forth, live in their Mothers womb:
A womb of wonders, whose dimensions can
Afford a full flight to Leviathan.

121.Leviathan whose smoking Nostrills blow
The Sea of Fire which from his Mouth doth break:
Whose dreadfull sneesings by their flashes show
The brazen Scales which seal his mighty Back:
Whose Beacons dare out-face the Mornings Eyes;
Whose Heart in hardness with the Milstone vies.

122.Leviathan, who laughs at Him that shakes
The bug-bear Spear, and  [...] the idle Stone:
Who steely Darts for wretched Stubble takes;
Who to the Iron sayes, Vain Straw be gone;
Who makes the boiling Sea answer his Wrath;
Who where he goes, plows up his hoary Path.

123.He at whose dismall generation, Fear
Fled far away, and nothing left behinde
But Might and Boldnesse, which compounded were
Into the Mettall of the Monsters Minde:
He who exalted in his thoughts doth ride
The Soveraign Prince of all the Sonnes of Pride.

124.But now the Sixt Day dawn'd: and Tellus is
Commanded to bring forth her People too:
She heard the Voice, and with strange Activenesse
Bids Beasts and Reptiles with her answer goe.
They started up, and cri'd, Loe We are heer,
Before the Words sound left their Mothers eare.

125.Hast thou not seen the gallant Horse, whose Eye
Is fed with living Lightning; whose high Neck
Is cloth'd with mighty Thunders Majesty;
Whose glorious Nostrills Terrors language speak;
Who never would beleeve the Trumpets sound;
But with proud nerceness swallows up the Ground;

126.Who with Impatience doth the Valleyes paw
When he hath smelt the Battell from afarre;
Who mocks the Sword, and brave disdain doth throw
Upon the Quver, and the glittering Spear;
Who both the Trumpet's and the Souldier's shout
With his more martiall Ha ha doth flout.

127.Hast thou not seen Behemoth, that vast Mount
Of flesh and bone, that Earths Leviathan;
Whose monstrous Thirst, though many a living Fount
And River, it hath slain, still trusts it can
Through the profounder Channell of his throat
All Jordan (ev'n in time of harvest) shoot:

128.Whose Navell is a Knot of Power; whose Loins
The Mansion of Strength; whose massie Bones
Which to their sockets steely Grissells joyn,
Are Brasse the lesse, the greater Iron ones;
Who mounts his mighty Tail so high, that He
Seems like the Hill, that like the Cedar Tree.

129.These goodly Creatures, and ten thousand more,
Some great, some small, did Tellus then bring forth.
But who shall now reign Prince of all this Store,
And of the Oceans more numerous Birth?
This was so high a bus'nesse, that the great
Creator will for it in Counsell sit.

130.A Place there is retired far and high
In the bright Tower of eternall Rest,
Roof'd, pav'd, and walled with Immenfitie,
In at whose Door no Creature ever past:
Th' Infinite Three there by joint Consultation
Determine of the Work and of the Fashion.

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131.Then stepping down to Earth, this Triple One
Takes up the next Dust that lay at his feet;
Which he compacts and moulds and frames so soon,
That the quick shape did rather seem to meet
His Hand, than follow it, and every Part
As wak'd by's touch, up from the Dust to start.

132.Then round about the Universe He reach'd
His mighty Arm, and cull'd from every Thing
The choicest Excellence what had inrich'd
Their Severall Tribes, to trim their breeding King,
That they more willingly might Him obey
In whom their own and the Worlds Treasures lay.

133.Fair was the Image; For its form was true
To that brave Modell which th' Eternall Son
Had for himselfe design'd: And that which drew
Him to this Work, was that Design alone.
All things but wait upon this Mystery;
The World was made that God a Max might be.

134.As yet this hopefull Fabrick was no more
Than a meer Statue, fair, but cold and dead:
When loe, the kinde Creators Breath did pour
Lifes Flood into its Nostrills, whence it spred
By the Veins Channells into every Part,
But chose its Manour-house amid'st the Heart.

135.That Breath immortall was, as flowing from
His Bosome whom Eternity calls Sirc:
And kindled by its Blast, so pure a Flame
As shall out-live Heav'ns stoutest fairest Fire.
'Tis not the Crack and Ruine of the lesse
Or greater World, that can the Soul suppresse.

136.Thus Adam op'd his Eyes; by which such beams
Of inbred Majesty did look abroad,
That now again the portly Creature seems
The royall Image of his mighty God:
Heav'ns Soveraignty doth shine in God, and who
But Man looks like the King of all below?

137.Nor are his Looks in vain: For in his Hand
Are put the Reins of Air, of Earth, of Sea;
And under his imperiall Command
All kindes of Birds, of Beasts, of Fishes be:
Which, though you now so boistrous see, and wilde,
Before their King at first were tame and milde.

138.This Prince of the inferiour World thus made,
God founds a Pallace where He might reside:
When all the Earth his Eye examin'd had,
A dainty place which in the East he spi'd,
Wonne his best liking, where he builds the Seat
Of his new Viceroy, delicate and great.

139.It was a Garden, if that Name can speak
The Worth of those illustrious Sweets which there
A brisk Conspiracy of Joyes did make,
To prove Heav'n dwelt not in the starry Sphear.
The Earth look'd poor in all her other Soil,
Whose Meannesse serv'd but for this Jewells foile.

140.No Weed presum'd to show its roytish face
In this Inclosure: Nettles, Thistles, Brakes,
Thorns, Bryars, Cockle, Hemlock, rampant Grasse
With all those Herbs the meager Wizard rakes
Into his deadly Boxes, either yet
Were not at all, or far from Eden set.

141.The Yew, the Box, the Cypress, and the other
Trees which to Funeralls consecrated be,
Had there no bus'nesse; Nor Death nor her Mother
Being as yet conceiv'd: No crook-back'd Tree
Disgrac'd the place, no foolish scrambling Shrub,
No wilde and careless Bush, no clownish Stub.

142.Rude Boreas and his Winter did forbear
To walk this way; so did Distempers, Cares;
Perplexities, Sighs, Melancholy, Fear,
Doubts, Jealousies, Seditions, Treasons, Wars,
Storms, Thunders, Lightnings, Earthquaks, Ruptures, Streins,
Wounds, Boils, Diseases, inward, outward Pains.

143.For on the Gardens Margin ran a Wall
High built with Beauty which begirt it round:
Delight stood at the Gate, and let in all
Things like her selfe; But whensoe'r she found
A Blemish, Wrinckle, Frown, Mole, Scar, or Blot,
The inconsistent Stranger out she shut.

144.Within, rose Hills of Spice, and Frankincense,
Which smil'd upon the flowrie Vales below;
Where living Chrystall roll'd its influence,
Whose musicall Impatience did flow
With endlesse chiding the pure Gems beneath;
Because no smoother they had pav'd its Path.

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145.The Nymphs which plaid about this Currents side,
Were milkie Thoughts, tralucid fair Desires,
Soft Turtles Kisses, Looks of Virgin-Brides,
Sweet Coolnesse which nor needs, nor feareth Fires,
Snowie Imbraces, cheerly-sober Eyes,
Gentilenesse, Mildnesse, Ingenuities.

146.At full length on the Beds of floures did lie
Smiling Content, Ease, Sweetness, Softness, Pleasure,
Whilst in the carpet-Walks there danced by
Calmeness, Long-days, Security, and Leisure.
Accomplish'd Growth, brisk Firmitude, and Health,
The onely Jewell which makes wealthy Wealth.

147.Your Roses heer, would onely spend their Blusn
On their own Ougliness, should they compare
With those pure Eys, with which the Rosie Bush
Looks up and views its beauteous Neighbours there:
Nor are your Lilies white, if those were by,
Whose leaves are all fair-writ with Purity.

148.Liban and Carmell must submit their Heads
To Paradise's foot: the Balme, Nard, Myrrh,
And every Odour of Arabia's Beds
Would begge to borrow richer Sweetness heer.
Nor would Adoni's Garden scorne to be
Their fellow-suiter, for true Suavitie.

149.The early Gales knock'd gently at the doore
Of every floure to bid the Odours wake,
Which taking in their softest Arms, they bore
About the Garden, and return'd them back
To their own Beds, but doubled by the Blisses
They sipp'd from their delicious Brethrens Kisses.

150.Upon the Wings of those inamouring Breaths,
Refreshment, Vigor, and new Spirits attended;
And wheresoe'r they flew, cheer'd up their Paths,
And with fresh Aires of Life all things befreinded:
For Heavn's all-sweetning Spirit its breath did joyn
To make the Powers of these Blasts divine.

151.The goodly Trees their fertile Arms did bend
Under the nobler load of fruit they bore.
That Orchard which the Dragon did attend,
For all its Golden Boughs to this was poor:
As well the greater Serpent knew, who crept
Hither betimes, and heer his curs'd Watch kept.

152.Of Fortitude there stood a goodly Row,
Heer of Munificence a thick-set Grove,
Of Industry a Quick-set there did grow,
Heer flourished a dainty Copps of Love,
There sprung up pleasant Twiggs of ready Wit,
Heer a large Tree of Gravity was set.

153.Heer Temperance grew, and wide-spred Justice there,
Under whose moderate Shaddow, Piety,
Devotion, Mildness, Friendship planted were;
Next stood Renowne, with Head exalted high;
Then Peace, with Plenty, Fatnesse, Happinesse:
O blessed Place where grew such things as these.

154.Yet what are these, ifby Death's envious Hand
Or they, or their fruition blasted be?
This to prevent, at carefull Heav'ns Command
Amidst the rest sprung up an helpfull Tree,
Which nobly prov'd it self a Branch to be
Pluck'd from the grand stock of Eternity.

155.Amidst them all it sprung: for well it knew
Its proper Seat, and chose the Gardens Heart:
What place could more than that to Life be due,
Whence Vigor round might flow, and reach each part.
Fresh Heat and Spirits hung about it thick,
The leav's did breath, and all its fruit was quick.

156.By this the mighty Tree of Knowledge stood,
(For where should Wisdom dwell, but next the Heart?)
Its Leavs were written fair, but writ with blood,
Holding forth Learning, and capricious Art.
O fatall Tree! how wise had Adam grown,
If He thy woefull knowledge had not known!

157.High in the shady Galleries sate a Quire
Well worthy such a Chappell; Birds of Praise,
Whose most harmonious Throats did all conspire
To pay for their sweet Home in sweeter Layes:
With whom soft Echo needs her skill would shew,
And though she kept slow time, yet she sung true.

158.This Mapp ofWonders, this Epitomie
Of all Heav'ns Pride, this Court ofRarities,
This Confluence ofblessed Gallantry,
Was that so much renowned Paradise.
Renowned; yet ô how much higher than
The loftiest Praise it ever reap'd from Men!

[Page 87]
159.The great Creator hither Adam brings
As to the Portall of Celestiall Blisse:
And, See, said He, of these illustrious Things
I give thee free choise, bating onely this
One Tree of Knowledge; all the rest are thine,
Eate what thou wilt; but let that still be mine.

160.If thy presumptious Hand but touch that Tree
Thy liquorish Crime must cost thy Life, and thou
By Deaths immediate Tallons seized be:
Death, Adam, Death, hangs thick on every Bough.
Loe there the Tree of Life's as neer as that:
Take heed thou di'st not for thou knowst not what.

161.O Noble Master! whose vast Love did give
A world at once, and yet require no more
But that his Creature would have care to live,
And so in safetie possesse his Store;
Who ties Him to no homage, but to shun
Being by his own needlesse fault undone.

162.After this easie Charge; upon a Throne
Built all of Power He his Lieutenant set,
To exercise his new Dominion
Upon his Subjects; for before his seat
By Heav'ns Command, the Beasts now marshell'd were
In modest equipage all Pair by Pair.

163.When Adam fix'd on them his awfull Eye,
The Lyon couch'd, the Horse let fall his crest,
Behemoths Tail, mounted before so high,
Melted down to the ground, the Bull deprest
His Horns, the Boar suck'd in his foam, the Bear,
The Wolfe, the Tiger, louted low for fear.

164.Like reverence bowed down the other Crew
Flat on the ground, when from their Soveraigns Face
Such full beams of imperiall Brightnesse flew
As spake it plainly the Creators Glasse:
Fair the Reflection was, which could command
The rudest Beasts the truth to understand.

165.As these their duty did; the Eagle drew
Up every rank and file of winged Things:
Thither the Estrich, Vultur, Falcon, flew,
Thither a flock of every Bird that sings;
Thither the Peacock, but with train full low,
For down fell all its Stars, ecclipsed now.

166.The most magnanimous Cock came strutting on
Disdaining Heav'n and Earth, till he drew neer
His mighty Soveraigns all-awing Throne,
From whence upon his surly neck flew Fear,
His wings flagg'd low, his fiery gullet grew
Languid and pale, his combe and forehead blue.

167.Wise Adam mark'd them all, and sent his Eye
To scarch their bosoms Cabinets; where He read
Th' essentiall Lines and Characters which by
Natures late Hand were  [...] fashioned;
Their Difference, their Kinred, and Relations,
Their Powers, their Properties, and Inclinations.

168.Thus of their inward Selves inform'd, He thought
What Titles would most correspondent be
To their own Bosoms sense, and having wrought
Up in one Word each Natures Mystery.
He took Acquaintance of them all by Name;
Then with a Princely Nod dismissed them.

169.They went, in loving Pairs: Which as He saw,
He fetch'd a gentle Sigh, to think that He
His nobler Life in Solitude should draw,
Whil'st all things else enjoy'd Society.
What boots it him that He raigns Soveraign Lord,
If all his World can Him no Queen afford.

170.God heard the Sigh, and calling Pitty forth,
Dispatch'd her on an errand to the Deep:
A nimble Nymph was she, and through the Earth
With penetrating sprightfulnesse did leap
Down to the dark Mouth of a silent Cave,
The sink of Discontents, of Cares the Grave.

171.Before the Grate there stood a lazie Lake
Whose Waters never yet were known to stir;
Upon the bank Oblivion did make
Her sluggish Bed of Moss and caked Fur:
But Remora's and Cramp-fishes groping lay
About the bottom of the Mud and Clay.

172.Up from the Water crept an heavy Cloud
Of duskie Vapours, on whose back did ride
Fat Drowfinesse, who rubb'd her eyes, and bow'd
Her grosse and over-laden head aside.
About the swarthy shades which thick were spred,
Bats, Owles, and other Night-birds fluttered.

[Page 88]
173.Beyond the Lake Poppy and  [...] grew,
Nodding unto their neighbour plump of Trees,
Which were the Willow, Cypress, Box and Yew,
Under whose Boughs lay Quietnesse and Ease;
And, nestling at their feet, an halt-dead Crowd
Of Dormise and of Bears, all  [...] loud.

174.By these pass'd Pitty, and a gate of Jett
Espi'd whose Ringle cover'd was with Wooll;
Silence for Porter stood, with finger put
Close to his mouth: Who when he saw her full
Of more than common bus'ness with his Queen,
He stole the barre aside, and let her in.

175.There found she on a Bed of Ebonie
Sleep layd at length: the pillow for her head
Was Badgers Hair: Night and Security
Were the two Blankets on her body spred:
By the Bed-side a leaden Pipe did drop;
A Swarme of Bees were humming on the top.

176.But greater was the Swarme of Dreams, which round
About the roome in shap less shapes did flie,
(With all Confusion, but without all sound,
Though some did talk, some sing, some laugh, some crie,)
Some want an head, a cheek, an eye, a nose,
Some want their leggs, some feet, and some their toes.

177.Some were gentile and fine, some rude and course,
Some wilde, some terrible, some black, some white,
Some Men before, and yet behind an Horse,
Some Swan on one side, on the other Kite;
Some Love, some Hate, some Half-hope, and Half feare
Some Heav'n, some Hell, some both; most Monsters are.

178.But now the Nymph approaching to the Bed
Aloud her Message spake, and jogged Sleep:
She shrugg'd, and yawn'd, and thrice lift up her head,
And with one Eye half-ope at length did peep,
And nodded Pittie to a Box, whence she
Took what would for her purpose usefull be.

179.With this she posted back to Paradise;
Where she no sooner came in Adam's view,
But he began to rubb his heavy Eyes,
On which she straita sable Powder threw:
Down fell the Man upon a spicy Bed,
Proud of the grace to kiss his sweeter Head.

180.His Senses seal'd up in a dainty Night,
His Soul walk'd to his Brain to take a view
Of that  [...] yet obscure Delight
Which his unwitting fancie there did shew:
When loe a goodly Tree salutes his Eye,
Tall, wide, and full of flourishing Majesty.

181.The Woods look'd all that way, and bow'd their head;
The Shrubbs crept low and due obcisance made;
The Plants and flowers their fragrant duties did,
Ambitious to be gilded by his shade:
Thus high exalted He alone remains
King of the Hills, the Vales, the Woods, the Plains.

182.But from his own brave Root, out at his side
A Twigg sprung up, which grew as sair as He:
As high it reach'd its head, its arms as wide,
And flourished with equall Gallantry;
Their leavs did kiss, their boughs imbrac'd each other
They liv d, and lov d, and joy'd, and reign'd together'

183.Yet long their lovely Reign endured not,
For at their Root a desperate Canker grew,
Which gnawing it with restless Venome, got
The Victorie, and downe their Bodies threw:
The World groan'd at their Fall; but Earth did ope
Her Mouth, and shut them and their Ruines up.

184.The  [...] Root still held its sturdy hold
And kept its place: so did the Canker his.
New Sprouts took heart, and followed the old
With answerable Bulk and Haughtiness:
But still their fretfull Foe went on to gnaw,
And soon or late layd all their pride full low.

185.Long held this Conflict: till at length a Sprout
Sprung from a new and unsuspected place;
For on that side the undisposed Root
In all the Worlds opinion arid was:
This onely Branch escap'd being tainted by
The inbred Canker's foule affinity.

186.Yet scap'd he not its Envie; for one day
The Monster took a Leap and Him a  [...],
Whom when it saw shrinking and giving way,
It impudently hop'd to have prevail'd;
But he recoyl'd, and was content to die
Onely to make sure of his Victorie:

[Page 89]
187.For wisely ordering his brave Ruine, He
With his dead weight upon his Enemy fell:
Who crushed under this Calamity,
Paid for its Boldnesse, and sunk down to Hell:
When loe the conquer'd, yet victorious Tree
Starts up again in new Lifes Bravery.

188.And after Him those other Trees arose
Which had layn dead and rotten long before;
For 'twas his Pleasure to impart to those
His own vivacious over-flowing store;
They every where leap'd up to life, and stood
So thick, that now the Plain became a Wood.

189.A royall Wood of everlasting Trees,
Whose radiant Arms through all the World reach'd Gold,
Whose Fruit were Gems, and Heaven-born Rarities,
Whose Heads themselves high in the Sphears inroll'd;
Yet all were Shrubs unto that Cedar who
Had call'd them from their Graves with him to goe.

190.Whilst Adam fetter'd lay in senselesse Chains
Gazing and Musing on this wonderous show,
God op'd his side, but mean while bid the Veins
Seal up their Mouths, and see no dropps did flow;
From thence he chose a single Rib, and then
The wicket clos'd, and all was whole agen.

191.That Bone he handled with such breeding Art
That it disolved into many more,
And yeilded all Materials for each Part
Of an accomplish'd Body: What before
Was nothing but a Rib, is now alone
Blood, flesh, skin, entrails, sinews, muscles, bone.

192.And that the work might answer its sweet shop,
In which was form'd no Creature else but this,
The willing Gardens Beauties he did crop
This Paradise of Paradise to dresse.
All sweets and Delicacies flowed thither,
And in one Eve were moulded up together.

193.Eve the Topstone of all the brave Creation,
The Blisse of Adam, and the crown of Nature;
Eve, who enjoys the most removed station
From the black Chaos; Eve that finall Creature,
In whome th' Almighty Lord set up his rest,
And onely spar'd to say, Hed done his best.

194.Her spatious polish'd Fore head was the fair
And lovely Plain where gentle Majesty
Walk'd in delicicus state: Her Temples were
A peice of a Pomgranate, which did lie
In dainty ambush under their soft Cover
Of Amber Looks whose volumes curled over.

195.The fuller stream of her Luxuriant Hair
Pour'd down it selfe upon her Ivory Back;
And in its Flood ten thousand Graces were
Sporting and dallying with every Lock;
Which when th' inamor'd winds did kiss, you might
Have seen a ruffling Tempest of Delight.

196.Two princely Arches of most equall measures
Held up the Canopy above her Eyes,
And open'd to the Heav'ns farre richer Treasures
Than with their Stars, or with their Sunne did rise:
Their Beams can ravish but the Bodies sight,
These dazell stoutest Soules with mystick light.

197.These were two Garrisons of all conquering Love;
Two Founts of life, of Spirit, of Joy, of Grace;
Two Easts of one faire Heav'n, no more above,
But in the Hemisphear of her own face;
Two Thrones of Gallantry; two shops of Miracles;
Two shrines of Dieties; two silent Oracles.

198.For here could Silence eloquently plead,
Here could th' invisible Soule be clearly read;
Though Humors their mild composition made,
They were two Burning Glasses, wherce were shed
Those living Flames which with enlivening Darts
Shoot Deaths of Love into Spectators Hearts.

199.'Twixt these an Alabaster Promontory
Slop'd gently down, parting each Cheek from other,
Where White & Red strove which should get the glory,
Blending in sweet confusion together.
The Rose and Lilie never joyned were
In a diviner Marriage than there.

200.Upon these pretious Cushionets did lie
Ten thousand Beauties, and as many Smiles,
Chaste Blandishments, and genuine Courtesie,
Harmlesse Temptations, and honest Guiles.
For Heav'n, though up betimes the mayd to deck,
Ne'r made Aurora's cheeks so fair and sleek.

[Page 90]
201.Neatnesse, and Pleasure, and inamoring Grace
About her Mouth in full Retinue stood:
For next the Eyes bright Glass, this is the place
In which the Soul delights to walk abroad.
But at her lips two scarlet Threds there lay,
Or two warm Coralls, to adorn the way;

202.The pretious Way, where, by her Breath, and Tongue,
Her Odours and her Honey out did flow:
Which thou'dst have judg'd to have been bred among
Arabian and Hyblean Hills; and so
They were indeed; the richer Arabie
And sweeter Hybla in her Mouth did lie.

203.As crowned with a golden Chapiter
A Column of white Marble you have seen;
So her round polish'd Neck her Head did bear,
Nor did the shining Pillar bend or lean:
Yet neither would this Marble hardnesse know,
Nor suffer Cold to dwell amongst its Snow.

204.Her blessed Bosom moderately rose
With two soft Mounts of Lilies, whose fair Top
Two Cherrie Branches for their Station chose,
And there their living Crimson lifted up.
The milkie Count'nance of the Hills confest
What kinde of Springs within had made their Nest.

205.Fair Politure walk'd all her Body over,
And Symmetrie flew through every Part;
Soft and white Sweetnesse round about did hover;
From every Member Beautie shot its dart:
From Heav'n to Earth, from head to foot, I mean,
No sign of Blemish or of Spot was seen.

206.This was the first born Queen of Gallantry,
All Gems compounded into one rich Stone,
All Sweets knit into one Conspiracy,
A Constellation of all Stars in one:
Who when she was presented to the view
Of Paradise, the Place all dazeled grew.

207.Proud Phebus who in glorious Scorn did flie
About the World, no sooner spi'd her face,
But fain he would have lingred, from his skie
Upon this lesse but sweeter Heav'n to gaze;
Till shame enforc'd him to lash on again,
And clearer wash him in the Western Main,

208.The Aire smil'd round about, for joy that he
Had the prerogative of the Virgin kiss,
And did imbrace with blessed Liberty
A Body soft and sweet and chaste as His.
All gentle Gales that had but strength to stir
Did thither flock to beg perfumes of Her.

209.The Marigold forgot her garish Love,
And turn'd her duty to these fairer Eyes;
All Flowres look'd up, and as they could, did move
Towards those ocular Sphears, from whence did rise
Milde and unparching Beams, Beams which in stead
Of fire, soft joyes irradiations spred.

210.The sturdiest rudest Trees affected were
With her delightfull Presence, and did melt
At their hard Pith: Whil'st all the Birds which there
Were tossing Mirth about the Branches, felt
The influence of her Looks; For having let
Their Song fall down, their Eyes on Her they set.

211.And ô how soon their proudest plumes and wings
Follow'd their song! For in Her Person they
With fix'd intention read more glorious things
Than all their feathers Bravery could display,
And were content no more the Name to wear
Of Birds of Paradise, while she was there.

212.But when she mov'd her Feet, the joyfull Earth
A wak'd her uttermost Fertility,
And by a brisk extemporary Birth
Of Myrrh, of Flowres, of Spice, did testifie
What Carpets Pomp was requisite to make
The Passage fit, where Beauty was to walk.

213.She walk'd; by that milde importunity
To break the Chains of sleep which bound her Spouse:
But he wakes more by pow'rfull Sympathie
Which on the sudden in his Bosome glows:
At first he thought his Dream had still possest him,
And with a fairer apparition blest him.

214.But by his wise and most discerning Eyes
Examining the gracefull Object, He
Pries into all the Truth; and smiling cries,
This nothing but my other Selfe can be:
From Me she sprung, a Woman from a Man,
And is but Adam in reflection.

[Page 91]
215.How sweet a Confluence of Loves and Joyes
Met heer in their first Marriage Imbrace;
Which was as pure and chaste, as when one Voice
In Musick's wedded to anothers Grace,
Where with concentrick Delicacies they
Hug and conspire in one soul-plying Lay.

216.Adam beholds himselfe more sweet in Eve,
In Him She reads her selfe more high and grave;
Either from other does Themselves receive,
As fast returning what they taking gave,
Thus when two Currents meet, they loose each other
In the pellucid bosome of his brother.

217.They naked were, if onely skinnes, and haires,
And excrements of Beasts Apparrell be:
But who will taxe the Sunne, the Moone, the Starres,
The Diamond, Chrystall, Corall, Ivorie,
Of Nakednesse, because the Clothes they weare,
None but their native Beams and Beauties are.

218.A Robe of Innocence and Puritie
Down from their Head unto their foot did flow,
Transmitting their faire feature to the Eye,
But letting no unseemely shame peepe through.
They Naked were of every borrow'd Dresse,
And Naked of what you count Nakednesse.

219.In this Condition did they live and love
And each with other enterchange their Heart;
Fairly transcribing our sweet Life above,
Where every Angels Eye his soule doth dart
Into his Fellows breast, that all may be
In common blest by one Felicitie.

220.How great a Feast, and earnest Invitation
Was this for Envie, whose ambitious Tooth
Disdains all fare but in the noblest fashion;
Who arm'd with Jaws of greedy Iron doth
Dread no encounter, but with restlesse spight
Against the most confirmed Champions fight!

221.Built is her Pallace in the Heart of Hell,
Whose foule Materials Rust and Poyson be:
Her cursed Throne is mounted on the fell
Bosome of Belzebub, whom furious She
Stings with eternall Rage, and makes Him runne
About the wilde Worke of Damnation.

222.To Paradise He came, and brought his Hell
Into the earthly Heav'n, where looking round
To view the Colonies which there did dwell,
A Creature spruce and delicate He found
Upon a Bank of flowrie Pleasures spread,
But farre more sweet and beauteous then its bed!

223.It was the Serpent, whose illustrious skin
Plaid with the Sunne, and sent Him back his Beams
With glorious Use: that Wealth which glisters in
The bosome of the Orientall Streams
Salutes Aurora's Cheek with fewer Rays
Then this bright Robe in all Heaven's face displays.

224.His sharpest Eyes sparkled with nimble flames,
The light by which his active Soule was read;
Wisedome and Art, with all their plots and frames
Made their close Nest in his judicious Head:
Above his Fellows on Crafts Wings he flew:
All Beasts but He, to that dull Name were true.

225.This Agent Belzebub approv'd; and as
He fed upon his Couch, mix'd with his Meat,
And in that ambush through his lips did pass;
Where (having taught his Bane to rellish sweet,)
He easily wonne the passage through his Throat,
And thence by stealth into his Heart he got.

226.As when the Fire hath through the Cauldrons side
Into its unsuspecting bowells stollen,
The Liquor frets and fumes, and to a Tide
Of working Wrath and hot impatience swollen,
With boiling Surges beats the Brass, and leaves
No way untr'd to vent its tortur'd Waves:

227.So now the Serpent felt his Bosome swell
With peevish Rage and desperate Disdain;
A thousand Plots and fallacies did fill
The busie Corners of his belking Brain:
Sometimes he beats on that, sometimes on this,
Sometimes thinks neither, sometimes both amisse,

228.He knew the vastnesse of his fell Designe,
Which was to slay a World at one dread Stroke,
And reach Destruction in a poisoned Line
Unto the latest Twigg of Humane Stock;
And therefore muster'd up the utmost Might
All Hell could send to back Him in the fight.

[Page 92]
229.But pondering then how Adams sober Breast
With Wisdoms Ammunition furnish'd was,
And strongly fortifi'd with all the best
Of sin-defying Piety and Grace,
He shak'd his head, and thought the Match not even
To venture on a fight with Him and Heav'n.

230.For if he hapned to be foild at first,
His following Onsets all would sweat in vain.
And his own poysnous Spight his Breast would burst
To see how Adam and his Race should reign
Safe and free Kings of earthly Paradise,
And flourish thence, to that above the skies.

231.Yet, wholly to decline the Conflict, were
To let Man win those Realms without a Blow,
And freely to permit what he did fear
Perchance might be by his own Overthrow:
To a resolved Fight this spurr'd him on,
Who could loose Nothing, though he Nothing won.

232.He wisely had observ'd soft-temper'd Eve;
And yet he fear'd the Mettall of her Breast
Would prove so generous, that to Deceive
Would be an easier Task, then to Contest;
And, could she any way be overthrown,
He hop'd her Fall would justle Adam down.

233.Remembring then, what Engin did subdue
A wiser Head and stronger far than she,
And how impatient Ambition threw
Grand Lucifer from Heav'ns Sublimity;
He trusts that now the like successefull End
Will on this tried way of fight attend.

234.Advised thus: the mighty Quintessence
Of venturous ever-swelling Philautie,
Of Discontent, of Scorn, of Insolence,
Of towring Fancies, of Self-flattery,
And of the stoutest Heav'n-aspiring Pride
Together in one desperate Plot He ti'd.

235.And, if this will not doe the feat, yet I
Excused am, said He, and upon Hell
Be the foule shame, whose feeble Princes by
The shock of this Temptation headlong fell.
This said, He towards Eve did gently glide,
Whom straying from her Husband He espi'd.

236.Unhappy Error that, which did invite
The jealous Tempter to be bold, since she
Had robb'd her selfe of all her Spouses Might,
By starting from his holy Company!
But all the way the cunning Serpent went
He put on Looks of contrary Intent.

237.For Love and Friendship smiled in his Eyes,
Upon his Face sate Tendernesse and Care:
Thrice did he bow his flattering Neck, and thrice
His silent Homage he presented her:
And then, Fair Queen of Paradise, said hee,
Why must the Prince be bound, and Subjects free?

238.We crop our Pleasures wheresoe'r We please
From any flowrie, any spicie bed,
We pluck our dinner from the dangling Trees,
And all the Garden doth our Table spread:
But royall You, and Adam nothing eat.
Have your own Wills, or God, this order set?

239.Nay, courteous Serpent, Eve replied, We
Have large Commission, and our God is kinde:
He gives Us leave to feast on every Tree,
And with all Paradise to please our Minde,
Bating that one of Knowledge, on whose Boughs
Inevitable Death He tells Us grows.

240.O credulous Queen, the Serpent answers, who
Make your own prejudice by beleeving it!
What has a fatall Tree of Death to doe,
Just at whose Elbow one of Life is set?
I to your selfe appeal: Judge you but whether
These two can grow like such good Friends together

241.Death in a Tree! Flat contradiction lies
In the bare Word: How can Death be alive?
Sure Vegetation very ill complies
With saplesse Stupor. O doe not deceive
Your Thoughts, nor teach the Tree of  [...] how
To turn a Tree of Ignorance to you.

242.Observe its goodly Apples: can you read
In their fair cheeks the ghastly Looks of Death?
Doe any Boughs in all this Garden breed
A Fruit which more of Heav'ns sweet Count'nance hath?
Yet grant it Poyson prove: Behold at hand
The Tree ofLife for Antidote doth stand.

[Page 93]
243.Ask Me not whether Truth can tell a Lie;
Vaine were the Question; for your God is True.
And yet it seems by a deep Fallacie
Of enigmatick Truth He cheateth You:
Indeed the Tree bears Death; but Death which will
Nothing but Wants and imperfections kill

244.A Death of Life, which will destroy You so
That you no longer Creatures shall remain;
But by this Metamorphosis shall grow
Above your selves, and into Gods be slaine,
With Eys divine discerning Good from Evill,
From Heav'n Hell, and an Angell from a Devill.

245.Full well did God know this; and 'tis no Wonder
If He desires to reigne a God alone:
And so He may, if he can keep You under
By the poor Rein of one Injunction;
If by an Apple thus He terrifies
The native Princes of fair Paradise.

246.O how it stings my Soul, to think that You
My Soveraign should thus faint-hearted be!
For my part, did ten thousand Mandates grow
Thick in my Way, to barre Me from this Tree,
Through all I'd break, And so would You, if once
Your Heart were fir'd by my Experience.

247.For yesterday, when I began to taste
The sprightfull Fruit, Flames kindled in mine Eyes;
My Soul a wak'd, and from my Bosome chas't
Those Mists of Ignorance, whose thick Disguise
Muffled my thoughts, and kept me down a Beast
As dark and dull as any of the rest.

248.But now Serenity walks through my heart,
And yeilds me uncontrolled Prospect to
The Orbs of Knowledge, where from Part to Part
My nimbly piercing Eye about doth goe.
This is the Death I found: a Death which I
Mean ever day as long's I live to die.

249.O then what vast advantage will arise
To your large Soul by this enlightning Tree!
My breast is shallow, narrow are mine Eyes,
But wide and brave is your Capacity:
So wide, that Wisdoms deepest Seas may finde
Sufficient Channells in your Mighty Minde.

250.And if this Knowledge, if Divinity
It selfe, may merit but the easie Pains
Of your Acceptance: O perswaded be
To suffer these inestimable Gains.
Shame burns my Cheeks, that I your Slave, should eat
This Bliss, and You my Queen be barr'd the Meat.

251.And yet you are not barr'd: Behold but how
You are bid welcome by the courteous Tree,
Whose laden Arms their pretious Offrings bow
To meet your Mouth, and seem to plead with Me:
Their postures Language asks, What make we here
If wee alone by You contemned are?

252.These Charms stole ope the Door into the Heart
Of carelesse Eve, and thrust their poyson in:
Besides, the smiling Apples plai'd their part,
And her Affections with her Eye did win:
Capricious curious Pride did her invite
What e'r it cost, to taste of that Delight.

253.Three times she stepped to th' inchanting Tree,
As oft by Conscience plucked back again:
Yet still with fatall importunity
She struggled till she broke her Freedoms Chain;
Then with unchecked Madnesse on she goes
To win her wished Prize, and her Selfe to loose.

254.Up went her desperate Hand, and reach'd away
All the Worlds Blisse whil'st she the Apple took:
When loe, the Earth did move, the Heav'ns did stay,
Beasts and Birds shiver'd, absent Adam shook;
But none did know the reason of their Fear;
Onely hee ran to see what Eve did here

255.O balefull sight! His pretious Queen hee saw
Enslaved by her soothing Subjects Craft.
She who was Beauties Centre untill now,
Is of her brave Prerogative bereft:
Bereft so wholy, that with wondering Doubt
For his late lovely Eve, in Eve He sought.

256.Apparent Misery sate on her Face,
Before the goodly Throne of Pleasantnesse:
Her Cheeks, which bloom'd till now with heav'nly Grace
Sins black and dismall horror did confesse;
Forth at her Eyes, of late Lifes Windows, Death
Did look, and Rottennesse flow'd with her Breath.

[Page 94]
257.But greater was the Change within; for there
Her bold Transgression spred an hideous Night
Of Ignorance on her intellectuall Sphear:
Her Will, which grew before so fair and straight,
Turn'd crooked and perverse: Each Passion
Scorn'd Her Commands, as the Her Gods had done.

258.Her Heart till now soft as the Turtles Sighs,
Its heav'n-inamoring Tendernesse forgets,
And with the stoutest Purian Marble vies:
Her Thoughts, before all Sons of Love, professe
No trade but Mischiefe now, and busie are
To propagate the Woes which stinged Her.

259.Nor fears she now to play the Serpent too
In envy of her Husbands blessed State,
Whom with the beauteous Apples she does Wooe
To taste of Hell, and swallow down his fate:
Fall to my Dear, said she; fear not the food,
I have thy Taster been, and finde it good.

260.But wiser Adam well the danger knew
Whose miserable Proof now wounds his eyes;
Nor could the poor Bait of an Apple shew 1 Tim. 2. 14.
Him reason, Heav'n and Virtue to despise.
Fair in his bosome written was the Law,
And reverent Terror kept his Soul in awe.

261.In a we a while it kept it: But at last
Commiseration of his Spous's case.
Grew to such strength in his too-tender Breast
That Pitty to himselfe it did displace.
Eve sate so neer to his Uxorious Heart,
That rather he with Heav'n, then Her will part.

262.For part He must, unlesse He reconcile
That mighty Breach which she between them made.
O potent Sympathie! which canst beguile
An Heart so pure and cleer-ey'd and degrade
Earths Monarch from his native Pinacle
Of Innocence, as low as Death and Hell.

263.He yeilds, and eates, and eating tears the great
Creators Law: yet tears not that alone,
But rends his Bliss, his Health, his Life, and that
Fair Robe of Puritie  [...] He had on,
Becoming Eves Companion no lesse
In nature, than in shamefull Nakednesse.

264.And thus indeed they 'gan to judge between
Evill and Good, whilst they themselves did see,
Who untill then no Evill thing had seen,
But now can witnesse their own Misery;
Which they with wrerched Aprons strive to heal,
As if the leaves the Apples would conceal.

265.Alas, nor they, nor all the Trees that grow
In shady Paradise so thick and high
Could any shelter unto them allow
When he was pleas'd to search, who is all Eye.
Yet by degrees hee findes them, that they might
With Deprecations salute his sight.

266.Had he in Thunder and in Lightning spake,
And of fierce Veng'ance breath'd a flaming stream,
Just had the Dialect been: But He did make
A foft enquiry of the Fault, and seem
To beg Confession, and to wait whil'st they
Did with their Crime their Penitence display.

267.But they with Shifts, and Excusations trie
Not to excuse the Fact, but to defend,
And by that wretched Impudence defie
Mercy, which all this while did them attend.
This forced Justice, who came rushing in,
And did her Office upon saucy Sin.

268.She first the Curse pronounc'd, which written was
In adamantine Tables, ne'r to be
Revers'd by Pitty: Then she forth did chase
The proud Delinquents, and the Garden free
From its unworthy Guests, appointing Fate
To set a double Guard before the Gate.

269.A Troop of Cherubs straight was marshalled
In dreadfull Order at the Eastern Gate;
And then a flaming Fauchion brandished
Terror about the way, that none might at
That door of Happinesse passe in, but who
By tried Purity through Fire could goe.

270.The Wofull Exiles were no sooner come:
Into the wide World, but poor Adam sees
The heavy Losse of his enclosed Home,
Finding in stead of blessed Flowres and Trees,
Thistles and Thorns all arm'd with pikes and pricks
Amongst whose Crowd he vex'd and tatter'd sticks

[Page 95]
271.Long did He strive and toyle e'r He could make
The Ground give fertile answer to his sweat:
The righteous Earth did this due Vengeance take
On his Rebellion; so did the great
Cognation of Beasts and Birds, who broke
Off from their sullen Necks his regall Yoke.

272.Those who were able, muster up their might,
And in their Makers Quarrell Him pursue:
The weaker, from his presence speed their flight,
Professing now they knew no homage due:
Thus by their furie Those, These by their Feare
Equally frightfull and vexatious were.

273.No friend he had, but her who did betray
Him to that Miserie, unhappy Eve:
And yet the reaping of his sweetest Joy,
Of what was sweeter, did them both deprive;
Their gains unable were to quit the cost,
For now their dear Virginity was lost.

274.Eve through many nauseous Moneths did pass
E'r she could to her hardest travell come:
O who can tell the Pangs by which she was
Tortur'd and torn, when her unhappy Womb
It self unloaded! for the Curse was sure,
Nor could those Torments ever find a Cure.

275.In sin conceiving, she brought forth in pain,
And with Pollution dy'd her Progenie:
Through all Successions her anneiled stain
Did propagate its own Deformitie,
And all her Heirs bind in an Obligation
Of Death, and what is deadlier, Damnation.

276.Besides, the peevish and importunate  [...]
Of restless Kicking at Heav'ns gentle Law,
Its fretfull Taint did in proud Triumph stretch
Through the whole Current of her Blood which now
In humane veins so madly boyls and flames,
That kindled at the fire of Hell it seems.

277.Thus when black Venome has into the Spring
Infused Death, the Streams which from it runne,
How farre so e'r they travell, still they bring
Along with them that first Contagion:
The furthest Drop knows not how to escape
The reach of that Originall Mishap.

278.Your Souls I grant, rise not from that foul Spring,
Nor did they ever swimme in Adams veins:
Yet is the Body so unclean a thing,
That strait it doth communicate its Stains:
Nor can the soul be pure which married is
To so contagious a Spouse as this.

279.Yet call not God unjust, who doth commit
So fair a Gemme unto so foul a Case,
Thereby infallibly engaging it
To be as black and cursed as its Place.
O no: He still is kind and knows a way
Through Wrath and Judgement, Mercy to display.

280.No Plot of Satans spight shall undermine
Or make a breach in the Creations frame:
Nature shall still proceed, and Heav'ns Designe
Of Mans felicitie persist the same:
God-like it is indeed, Fates Scales to turne,
And make them Blest, who to a Curse were born,

281.Whilst God makes pure Souls dive into this stream
Of Blackness, gratious He contriveth how
To wash and cleanse and re-imbellish them
Till they unto such pow'rfull Beautie grow
That sweetly on their Bodies they can be
Reveng'd, infecting them with Puritie,

282.Such purging Might in Jesus Blood there flows,
That from the face of its least Drop doe flie
This Stain which at the Root of Mankind grows,
And all those Blots which on the Branches lie,
And this dear Fountain, in Decree, was broach'd
Long e'r the Soul by any Taint was touch'd.

283.They who desire't may here refined be
Into a Claritude becomming that
High Paradise of whose felicitie
Edens was onely the faint Shaddow: But
They who scorn such Bliss, would themselves have thrown
To Hell though Eve had never help'd them down.

284.And tell me Psyche what thou thinkest now
Of thy Extraction, which from wretched Dust,
The Scumm of Earth, and game of Winds, doth flow;
What of thy rotten Kindred, since thou must
Corruption for thy Mother own, and call
Each Worm thy Sister that in mire doth crawl.

[Page 96]
285.Yet Worms are ly'ble to one onely Death,
A Death which quickly will it selfe destroy:
But thy Composure in its bosome hath
A Living Poyson, that may finde a way
To kill thee with surviving Death, by which
Thy torture to Eternity shall reach.

286.Think well on this, and if thou canst, be proud,
Who by the Pride of thy first Parents art
With this destructive Portion endow'd,
And from thy Birth betroth'd to endlesse Smart.
Think what vast distance lies 'twixt worthlesse thee
And the Almighty King of Majesty.

PSYCHE: OR LOVES MYSTERIE. CANTO VII. The Great Little One.

ARGUMENT.

THe Angell convoys Psyche to the Sceen
Of Mercies grand Exploits, to shew Her what
Dear Care Heav'n took to wash her bosome clean
From the foule shame of every sinfull Blot.
Betimes he 'gins, and from the morning Glory
Of Loves bright Birth, lights in the blessed Story.

1.ILlustrious Spirits of Fire, who e'r you be,
This Lesson will be no discredit to
Your towring Flames; nor must Heroick Yee
To Schoole to Psyche's Legend scorn to goe:
Such Sparks as you for all your glittering, be
In your Originall, as dim as she.

2.As other Fires at length to Ashes grow,
So must brave Yee: Yet they were lighted from
Some generous bright Originall; but you
And your Extraction, did from Ashes come.
Whether forward you, or backward turn your eye,
Your Bounds are Vilenesse, Shame, and Miserie.

3.Examine Alexanders Monument,
Or Helens Tombe, and marke what there does lie:
Or if your Nostrills dread the banefull sent
Of their in-vain-embalmed Majesty;
Trust that strong Proof, which bidds you sadly think
That you, though great and fair, must end in stink.

4.But trust not Pride, whose tumid Treachery
Did to that Rottennesse all the World betray.
No Poyson yet did ever swell so high,
Or to such certain Death prepare the way.
Steep headlong Danger on the Mountains reigns:
Let them who safe would walk, walk on the Plains.

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5.Plain are the Walks of mild Humility,
And know no Precipice, but planted are
With sweet Content, with pious Privacie,
With cheerfull Hope, and with securing Fear.
An Humble Soule, which always dwells below,
Prevents that Ruine which on Hills doth grow.

6.The Tempest's aim is at those lofty Things
Which rise against it, and its strength defie.
This to the Pines and Oaks Destruction brings,
Whilst modest Shrubbs beneath in peace doe lie.
Thus come proud Rocks to rue the angry Wind;
Which to the humble Vales is alway kinde.

7.Humility is provident, and acquaints
Aforehand with her Ashes, which she knowes
Must be her End: She in no flattering Paints
Her sober Judgment and her self will loose;
She dies betimes, how long so e'r she lives,
And Death but as a long known Freind receives.

8.She huggs her Herse, and does her Grave imbrace,
And pants and longs her finall Ev'n to see,
When in that cool and undisturbed Place
Her weary Head to rest may setled be:
Assured of a Friend, whose Care hath found
For Her to Heav'n a passage under ground.

9.She strongly woo's the Worms to crawle apace;
She prays not slow Corruption to make haste:
Toward Death for life she runs, and thinks her Race
Is long because she yet lives: On as fast
She speeds, as Sighs of Love can blow Her, or
Fire of unquenchable Desire can spurr.

10.O meek Ambition which correctest Pride
Into a Virtue, and mak'st Venome grow
Plain Antidote! An heart which thou dost guide
Struggles and reaches still to be more low;
And prides it self in nothing, but to be
From Prides Dominion intirely free.

11.The Seeds of this fair Grace deep planted were
In Psyche's tender Heart by Charis hand:
Which as they sprouted up, with heav'nly care
To weed, and dresse them, Phylax by did stand:
And now, to make them flourish higher, she
Will with her liberall Tears their Waterer be.

12.For Phylax had no sooner made an end,
But She begins, first by her showring Eys;
Then by her Tongue, which with their Tears did blend
Its Lamentations: Woe is me, she cries,
What now should Psyche doe who needs would be
Proud of her shame, and poisnous Misery?

13.Your scorn, by wretched Me so deeply ern'd,
My wronged Freinds, at length let me obtein:
O Charis, my all guilty Soule is burn'd
By those fair Flames which in thine Aspect reigne.
How can such Night-birds as vile I endure
The holy Lightning of a Look so pure?

14.And Yoa, deare Phylax, lose your Pains no more
Upon an undeserving hideous Thing.
Why should proud Psyche dwell, as heretofore,
Under the shelter of thy scorned Wing?
O let it free it self, and take its flight;
Why should black I defile an House so white!

15.The odious Bat with more decorum will
Flutter about a Thing as dark as she;
And lend her sooty Wings to make a veil
For correspondent Ouglines in me.
The ominous Raven will fitter be to spread
Her swarthy Plumes on my polluted Head.

16.Let me enjoy the sad Inheritance
Of my deep-stained Birth: Was I not born
Apparent Heir to an entayld Mischance?
Did not my wretched Beings lowry Morn
Dawn with eternall Night? Dwelt not Death in
The fatall Spring of my Parentall sin?

17.Why must my breath defile the Virgin Air?
Why must I load the harmlesse Earth with Guilt?
Why must I stain the World, which would be fair
If I were gone? My Tombe is ready built
In any place where Filth, and Dunghils lie.
Let Justice have her course, and let me die.

18.My due Home is where Arrogance, and bold
Rebellion dwell: O Let me thither goe!
May worthy Eys behold the Sunns fair Gold,
And view their way to Heav'n: I have to doe
With nought but Pitch and Darknes, which may hide
The equall Horror of my wilfull Pride,

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19.My heav'nly Spouse; (ô why doe I blaspheme!)
That Spouse who long desired to be mine;
Me thinks from Heav'n doth with a piercing Beam
Full on my face and faithlesse Bosome shine,
And by that Light read all that Treason I
Have wrought against his loving Majesty.

20.O, it will scorch Me up I my Sinnews crack,
My Bones are burnt, and all my Marrow fries,
My Bosome melts, the Flame devoures my back,
My Heart flows down, and wofull Psyche dies.
I die; and yet I breath: My Death lives still:
No kinde of Slaughter e'r like this did kill.

21.Surely the Flames which make all Hell so black,
Are cool and gentle, if compar'd with these:
Why goe I not to take my Kinder Rack,
And in th' infernall Torments finde some Ease?
Have done fond fruitlesse Tears; you are too weak
The greater Torrent of this Fire to slake.

22.Here Phylax here, loe I my selfe ungird;
This Token can no treacherous Heart befit:
Return it back to my abused Lord,
And beg my Pardon who have stayned it.
What will it not unbuckle? Must I be
Still Pris'ner to his wronged Courtesie?

23.And must this Girdle now besiege Me round
With an indissoluble Check of my
Disloyaltie? Must I thus close be bound
Up in my Selfe, and not have room to flie
From what I hate far more than Death and Hell,
The sinfull Blots of which this Breast is full?

24.So strait upon my griped Soul the Chains
Of deep Damnation can no Torments tie,
As this sweet Cincture bindes me to the Pains
Of self-confusion. O Me! — Here her Crie
Did with her Spirits faint; and down she fell
Griefs totall Prey, and Pitties Spectacle.

25.Pitty was neer; For Charis stood close by,
Whose yearning bowells all this while did move:
But rous'd more by herfall, she instantly
Obey'd the nimble Violence of Love;
Love mov'd her Heart, and that her Hand, by which
To fainting Psyche she reliefe did reach.

26.She took her up, and with a sweet Imbrace
Instilled gentle Warmth into her Breast,
Whose never-failing Virtue did displace
Griefs vast Plethora which had her opprest,
And by delicious degrees restore
Her ship wrack'd Thoughts to their composed shore.

27.So have I seen a wise Physition
New spirits to his swowning Patient give,
Who, though his Heart before were sunk and gone,
Doth by the Potion it again receive,
Whil'st in the cheerly salutiferous Cup
A draught of liquid Life he drinketh up.

28.Awakened Psyche, with amazed Eyes
Beheld her Friends; but wonder'd more to see
Her stout Disease made a tame Sacrifice
Unto that heav'nly Cordiall which she
Felt reigning in her breast, and which did seize
Her Heart both with Astonishment and Ease.

29.Ambiguous Fancies toss'd her up and down
Uncertain whether some Dreams Flattery
Into a vain Elysium had thrown
Her cheated Soul, or whether truely she
Was by some courteous Gale snatch'd from the Bil­lows
And on the Bank laid safe on Peace's pillows

30.Which Charis seeing; You may trust, said she
Your sudden Happinesse, which wears no Cheat.
But see that you misplace no thanks on Me;
Which all are more than due unto your great
And constant Spouse, who though forgot by You,
Could not his Love away so quickly throw.

31.Those life-renewing Sweets I brought you down,
Were none of mine: He sent both me and them:
He knew your Wants and counted them his own,
Who longs to have you be all one with him.
Then by these Comforts which have cur'd your Smart
Learn who it is that most deserv's your Heart,

32.O'r-powred with unweildy Thanks and Praise,
At this vast Tide of her obtruding Blisse,
Here Psyche strove her labouring Breast to ease,
Yet neither Thanks nor Praise she could expresse:
For what she had conceived, was so great
She neither could contain, nor utter it.

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33.But Phylax seeing her sweet Agonie,
Cri'd, 'tis enough, Heav'n can hear mute Desires.
Come Psyche, you shall travell now with me
To finde full fuell for your amorous Fires.
It will be worth your voyage when you see
What Balm did grow to heal your Miserie.

34.The God of Goodnesse by his powerfull Eye
Reaching those Things which yet were short of Being,
Did in the Volumes of Eternity
Read all the future World: where clearly seeing
What mischiefe would be done by foolish Pride,
A potent Remedie He did provide.

35.Indeed had no Redemption invited
Thy Spouse to Feast the World with his dear Blood,
Yet to Mans Nature hee would have united
His own, that the Creation might have stood
Fast ti'd unto its Maker, and by this
Conjunction, been neer sharer in his Bliss.

36.But seeing by Hereditarie Stains
The Stream of Humane Blood runs foule and black,
It found work for the virtue of his Veins
The Poyson of the tainted Flood to check:
Which nobly he perform'd, as thou shalt see
When I have led thee through his Historie.

37.As she now cheer'd her heart and count'nance up,
A radiant Chariot caught her wondering Eye;
The winged Steeds foam'd at that little stop,
And though their Wings were down, their thoughts did fly.
Speed was the Chariots Mettall, and each Wheel
Composed was of never-tyring Zeal.

38.Come Psyche, come, this Couch for haste doth call,
Cri'd Phylax; fear not, 'tis no cheating one,
Nor, like thy last, will bear thee to thy Fall;
I mean to hold the Reigns: Come let's be one,
If you, sweet Sir, will have it so, content
Said she, and meekly blushing, in she went.

39.Up flew Devotion, and Chastitie
The gallant Steeds which did the Chariot draw,
Her native Albion soon began to be
Lost in a Sea of Air; and now she saw
The wealthy Fields of Gallia, which as fast
Behinde her fled as she did forward post.

40.Then climbing higher in her yeilding Way,
Eternall Banks of obstinate Frost and Snow
Which Winter on the Alps high back did lay,
Spight of the nearer Sun, she leaves below,
And through the tumult of the justling Clouds
Down into the Italian Heav'n she crouds.

41.From thence she launch'd into that Region
Which by the Adriatick Storms doth frown,
And sped her course above that Ocean
About whose sides the Mid-land shores are thrown:
So well did Phylax steer, that to a Port
So far off, ne'r was made a Cut so short.

42.For having reach'd blest Palestine, she flew
Over the groveling Towns of Galile,
Untill the Steeds, as if the place they knew,
At Nazareth brake off their Course; where she
Viewing the simple Village, wondered why
Her Convoy, thither took such pains to flie.

43.But Phylax having led her by the Hand
To the unlikliest House; Behold, said hee,
This pretious Monument, which still doth stand
To chide their Arrogance who needs will be
Immur'd in Cedar, and roof'd o'r with Gold:
O who would think poor Dust should be so bold!

44.This silly Mansion, though it scarce would win
Ev'n Poverty it selfe in it to dwell,
Was once the House & Home, where the bright Queen
Of Glories kept her Court; in this mean Cell
Dwelt She in whose illustrious Family
All Heav'n desir'd a Sojourner to be.

45.She, the transcendent Crown of Females, She
Great Jacobs Ladder, Aarons budding Rod,
The Chrystall Princess of Virginity,
Davids fair Tower, the Mother of her God,
Mary her selfe: O may that lovely Name
Be Blessings Nest, and the dear Theam of Fame.

46.There her plain Cates she eat, or rather kept
Her healthfull Rules of sober Abstinence:
There did she plie her Prayers, and there she slept
When midnight Zeal had tir'd her mortall Sense,
No Corner was in all this House, but she
Did dedicate it unto Piety.

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47.How many Temples in this narrow Room
Erected were by her Devotion,
Who taught all Virtues here to take their Home!
But if Sin knock'd, She bid it straight be gone;
For at her Door Humility she set:
A Potter which would no such Guests admit.

48.Here, on her pious knees, she wept, one day,
In wondring Meditation of that She
Whom God would chuse to make the noble Way
Unto his own fore-told Humanity,
O how she blest that Soule, who ever was
To be advanced to that matchlesse Grace!

49.Not for a thousand Worlds would she have thought
Her Selfe the long-designed She; but rather
Would with a thousand thousand more have bought
An Hand-mayds place to wait upon that Mother,
To kisse her blessed feet, or bear her Train,
In whom all Excellence rejoyc'd to reign.

50.But whil'st her meek admiring Fancie flies
Through this high Contemplation, which drew
Applauding joyous Christall from her Eyes;
A bright and gallant Stranger hither flew;
One who from Heav'n her sweet reflection brings,
Looking almost like Her, but for his Wings.

51.Youth bloomed in his Face, the blessed Throne
Where purest Beauties in fair Triumph sate;
Their brisk and sparkling Combination
All ravishing Joyes into his Eyes had put:
His Looks commanded Love, but did withall
By potent Purity all Lust fore-stall.

52.His Head was crown'd with its own golden Hair,
Which down his back its dainty Wealth did shed:
The Alabaster of his Neck was bare
Sweetly betraying what below was hid
In the green ambush of his Robe of Silk,
The Curtain drawn upon his Fleshie Milk.

53.That Robe was guarded with the orient Lace
Which on Aurora's Virgin Coat you see.
Neglect seem'd to have put it on; yet Grace
And Comelinesse would not prevented be,
But did in every carelesse fold and pleit
To catch Spectators Wonder lie in wait.

54.A silver Girdle did his Loins imbrace
With the prest fashion of Travellers:
Like Loves sweet Bow his left Arm bended was
Upon his Side, whil'st high his Right Hand bears
A Lillie, which from thence received more
Sweetnesse and Whitenesse than it had before.

55.The Candor of his Wings was no such kinde
Of glaring thing, as in the Alpine Snow,
Or on the purest Cygnets neck we finde,
Or on the soft face of new Milk doth flow:
But a celestiall Tincture pure and bright,
Made not by scorching, but by whitening Light.

56.He was an heav'nly Citizen, and one
Whose place is in an higher form than mine;
In neer attendance on his Makers Throne
He with his Archangelick beams doth shine,
Whence he, when Heav'n has greatest businesse here,
Dispatched is the choise Ambassadour.

57.But though his Eyes their education had
Amongst those Claritudes which gild the skies,
They never yet at Home did seem to read
So much of Heav'n at large, as here he spies
Epitomized in the lovely Glass
Of Maryes modestly-illustrious face.

58.And, Hail, said He, Thou dearest Favorite
Of our great King, in whose selected Breast
His Majesty with singular delight
Doth take his private, and mysterious rest.
Hail thou the Crown of Females, on whose Head
Their best exuberance all Blessings shed.

59.The humble Virgin started at the sight,
But much more at the Salutation:
The complementall Youth did her affright
Who us'd such charming Companie to shun;
Untill his Wings admonish'd her that he
One of her wonted heav'nly Guests might be.

60.But yet her lowly Soul could not digest
The tumor of that strange Hyperbole,
Which still she boulted in her thought-full Breast,
Being suspitious least some Flattery
Had borrow'd an Angelike shape, by which
A Woman it more easily might bewitch.

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61.O strange, but nobly-pretious Jealonsie
Which onely dost in holy Bosoms rest:
Thou art the Bar which dost accesse deny
To whatsoever might an Heart molest:
Pride, Usher to all Sins, comes not neer thee,
So low thou liest, so high strutteth hee.

62.When Gabriel observ'd her doubtfull Look,
Where Blushes, and where Palenesse mutually
Their fearfull and their modest Stations took;
Mary, said He, thy meek Anxiety
May spare its pains; No Danger dares draw neer
Her whom the Prince of Power doth hold so dear.

63.He who is Lord of Love, hath seal'd on thee
His amorous Heart: the choisest of his Graces,
The flowre of all his Sweets, th' Immensitie
Of his best Favours, and his Joyes, he places
On thee alone, whom he exalts as high
As thou art sunk in thy Humility.

64.Witnesse this Message I have now to tell,
How much too glorious for Me to bring!
The onely Message which could parallel
The boundlesse Love of Heav'ns inamored King:
A Message which the World hath long expected,
But fit to thee alone to be directed.

65.Behold thy blessed Womb shall Fertile be
With a more blessed Son, whom at the due
And wonted Season of Maturity,
Thou to this Light, lesse fair than him, shalt shew:
Nor need'st thou study to contrive the frame
Of his due Title, JESUS is the Name.

66.More reason shall that Name finde in thy Son,
Than it of old did in Nuns warlike Heir,
More noble shall be that Salvation
By which his Israel he will repair,
Than that which from Beersheba unto Dan
Gave them no more but earthly Canaan.

67.He shall be Great, as Great as Might and Worth
Can swell an Heros; or as stoutest Fame
Can with her fairest widest Trump blow forth,
Which shall be stretch'd with his magnifick Name;
For to proclaim his Soveraignitie,
His Stile shall run, The Son of the Most High.

68.He who is Lord of Crowns, and supream King
Of Scepters, shall establish him upon
His Seat from whose high linage he shall spring,
His most renowned Father Davids Throne:
Where hee a King of nobler Peace shall sit
Than Solomon with all his Wealth and Wit.

69.All Jacobs Seed to him shall homage doe,
And govern'd be by his more gentle Law:
Yea Time it selfe shall be his Subject too,
And his long Sithe unto his Sceptre bow:
The Earth shall sink, the Heav'ns shall melt, but hee
Shall reach his Kingdome to Eternitie.

70.And here the Angell paus'd: But trembling she,
Veild in the scarlet of her modest Cheek,
Repli'd, Bright Sir, it seems you know not Me
A worthless Maid, who for your high Mistake
Wear no pretence: nor may so great a King
From a vile Worms polluted Bowells spring,

71.Yet though this Vilenesse be sufficient to
Excuse Me from such Exaltation:
Be pleas'd to know, I am that Mary, who
Finding my selfe too mean for any Son
Of Princely Davids Progeny to wed,
Resolv'd to die upon my virgin Bed.

72.So shall no sprouts from my unhappy Root
Clog the World with their fruitlesse Company;
So shall I scape Parentall Tasks, and not
With Childrens Education burdned be,
Who finde such Work as poseth all my Art
In ordering mine own untoward Heart

73.Though I to Joseph now espoused am,
'Tis but to shelter my Virginity,
In whose defence he wears an Husbands Name,
And of my Weakness will Protector be.
My Word is past, that I to God will give
My Body back, as I did it receive.

74.Alas, what other Sacrifice have I
To render Him for all his patient Love
Wherewith he hath thus long sustained my
Rebellious Life, and mercifully strove
With my Demerits! O bid me not aspire
To what transcends my Reach, and my Desire.

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75.Miraculous Meeknesse! How would other Hearts
Have leap d to catch this matchlesse Dignity,
From which this most deserving Virgin starts!
O how would st thou thy selfe have joy'd to see
So high an offer! What would'st thou have said
Had thy Agenor Gabriels Promise made?

76.Her Answer forc'd his Admiration higher,
And op'd the Door to this sublime Replie:
Heav'n is not ignorant of thy sweet Desire;
Thy gallant Vow stands register'd on high
Upon a Table neer as white and fair
As thine own Heart, and Resolutions are.

77.Such Vows are Jewells, ev'n in Heav'ns esteem,
Which is the pure Realm of Virginity:
For there th' Eternall Father wears this Gem,
With whom the Son and Spirit, Virgins be:
After whose fair Example We aspire,
And copie it in all our Winged Quire.

78.Through Mounts of Miracles God breaks ope a way
To keep thee'still as pure as thy Desire:
When All Things in their first Confusion lay,
Being a shapeless groveling Mass of Mire;
Who would have thought the Womb of that Abysse
Could have produc'd so fair a World as this?

79.But then th' Almighty Spirit spread his Wing
Upon those hopelesse Volumes of the Deep;
And by his generative Warmth did bring
To light those Seeds which in that Night did sleep:
Thus all this populous Universe you see,
Sprung from the Bowells of Virginity.

80.This Holy Spirit over Thee shall hover,
And with prolifick Virtue thee endow:
He who on Powers Top doth reign, shall cover
Thee with his Might; a Might which will allow
Nature no leave nor possibility
To contradict a Virgin-pregnancie.

81.This is one Cause, (and 'tis a noble one)
Why He who shall thy glorious Off-spring be
Shall wear the Soveraign Title of the Son
Of God; for genuine Divinity
Shall be  [...], but in a mystick fashion,
In the great Businesse of his Generation.

82.Doubt not his Power, whose well-known Limits spread
Wide as his boundless Will: the whole World knows
How Sarahs dead Wombe now doth live in seed
Which past the shores of Numeration flows:
How the Preists Rod its sudden Almonds ought
Neither to Soile nor Seed, nor Sap nor Root.

83.But I have mighty News to tell thee: She
Whose snowie Head confest her Springs was past,
Thy Cousen both in Blood and Piety,
Cold, drie Elizabeth, hath now at last
Conceiv'd a Son; an argument to thee
How Nature can by Heav'n corrected be.

84.The World had stamp'd the Name of Barren on
Her sealed Womb, and damm'd the way to Hope
Of any Seed; yet five full Moneths are gone,
And now the Sixt succeeds, since Heav'n did ope
That froazen Seal: good cause have I to know
The Time, who was imployed then, as now.

85.I bare the Tidings to great Zachary,
And when his trembling jealous Soul would not
Credit my supernaturall Embassie,
I on his Tongue a Lock of Silence put,
That he might know God could as easily ope
His Spouses Womb, as I his Mouth could stop.

86.His Silence bids thee trust these Words of mine;
And, since the Hopes of Heav'n and Earth attend
With panting Expectation for thine
Assent, on which their noblest Joyes depend:
For their sakes yeild; and for thy Makers, who
By Me his best-beloved Spouse doth wooe.

87.He e'r since Times first Birth did wait for thee
And has endur'd a World of Sin below,
Stretching his strongly-patient Constancie
Through every Age of Wickednesse till now;
Knowing that Time at length would bring forth thee
The sweet Reward of all his Lenitie.

88.And now thy mighty Houre is come; ô why
Mak'st thou a gentle Virtue prove so hard,
Why by thy rigorous Humility
Must ripened Joy and Happinesse be barr'd
From all the Universe! O why wilt thou
Not let the golden Age have leave to grow?

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89.Why must the gloomy Shaddows which have now
Weighed their heavy Wings, in hopes to flie,
Return their Night upon Religion's Brow,
Which 'gan to clear up at the Dawn of thy
Long long'd-for Birth; and would'st thou but give way
Would straight break open into Grace's Day.

90.As when the Moisture which contented was
To dwell below, and nestle in the Earth,
Is by the powerfull Sun entic'd to passe
Unto an higher Home: it issues forth
With gentle Resignation, and doth rise
In meer submission to dwell neer the Skies:

91.So now the lowly Virgin conquer'd by
The potent Pleasure of her loving Spouse,
Exceeds her old, by new Humility;
And with her selfe, her former Meeknesse throws
Before his feet, content to be whate'r
His most victorious Love would make of Her.

92.Behold, said she, The Handmayd of the Lord,
(For he hath given Me leave to use that Stile,)
Since Heav'n will have it so, may thy great Word
My worthless Bowells with Performance fill:
To Him who made Me, I my Selfe resign;
'Tis fit His Pleasure, and not mine, be Mine;

93.This blessed Word no sooner brake from her
Sweet Lipps, but to the Top of Heav'n it flew;
Where in the Mouthes of all the winged Quire
It found its Echo, and was made a new
And pretious Anthem; for the Sphears that Day
Measur'd their high Dance by this onely Lay.

94.All Nature heard the Sound, which in her Eare
Spake, Life, and Joy, and Restauration.
O blessed Musick, which so cheared Her,
That her old Wrinkles into Smiles did run;
Fresh Fire she glowing felt in every Vein,
And briskly thought of growing young again.

95.For now that Spirit which first quickned her
Return'd again, and flew to Maryes breast.
O what Excesse of Sweets and Joyes did bear
Him company unto his Virgin Nest!
O what pure streams of Light, what glorious showrs
Of most enlivening, and prolifick Powers!

96.With these flew down Enternities great Son
To be a Son of Time; and parting from
His Fathers Bosome, Glories sweetest Throne,
Chose Ashes for his House, Dust for his Home.
Having taught Exaltation to bow,
And of the Most High made Himselfe Most Low.

97.In vain should I, or all the Angells strive
To reach at that impossible Eloquence
Which might a paralled Description weave
For that immense mysterious Confluence
Of purest Joyes, with which in this Imbrace
The most enobled Virgin ravish'd was.

98.Onely her spatious Soul, the blessed Sea
Where all those Floods of pretious Things did meet,
Knew what it comprehended: Glorious She
Did taste the rellish of each mystick Sweet
In one miraculous Instant, and did trie
The various Dainties of Divinity,

99.For though this Generation had been
The deepest Project of Eternity,
Yet were its Wonders all transacted in
Durations most concise Epitomie.
One single Moment crowned was with this
Exploit of most unbounded Power and Bliss.

100.O mighty Moment! at whose feet, all Dayes
And Moneths, and Years, and Ages, homage pay:
Upon whose Head Time all its Glories lays,
Wishing that thou migt'st never slide away:
Eternity holds it selfe deep in debt
To thee, in whom its sweetest Wonders meet.

101.This Universe for ever thou dost tie
Close to its greater Maker: Thou dost join
These Mortall Things to Immortality,
And in one Knot both Heav'n and Earth combine:
Thou giv'st Fertility a new-found Home,
And bid'st it flourish in a Virgin-Womb.

102.For Mary now the Mansion-house became
Of her conceived God, who deign'd to take
His Pattern from her reverend Bodies frame
And borrow part of Her, thereby to make
A Garment for himselfe, that hee might be
As true and genuine Flesh and Blood as she.

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103.O Paradise how poore a Soile art Thou
To the rare Richnes of this Virgin Bed!
That Tree of Life which in thy Heart did grow,
It self but as the shade of this was spread:
Here is the Garden where the noble Tree
Of everlasting Life would planted be.

104.Blush all yee Heav'ns; the gallant Virgins Wombe
Hath left no Looks but those of shame for You;
All Glories here have chose their dearer Home;
And fairer shine, because They make no show:
Here dwells a Sunn whose Count' nance is a Book
So bright; your Phebus dares not on it look.

105.The most resplendent equall Character,
The flaming Brightnes of the Fathers Face,
Hath now vouchsafed to exchange his Sphear,
And in this lesser Heav'n to plant his Rays:
Which yet He hath so sweetned and allayd,
That He consumeth not the tender Mayd.

106.Thus, when to Moses He came down of old
Arrayed all in fire, and took his Seat
Upon a simple Bush; his flaming Gold
In mercie to the shrubb, reind in its Heat,
And all the leaves with harmlesse Brightnes fill'd,
Which He was pleased not to Burn, but Gild.

107.When Gabriell had seen this wonderous sight
He bow'd his holy Head, first to adore
His new-conceived Lord, wishing he might
Have made his dwelling on this blessed Floor;
And then to take his reverent leave of Her,
Whom yet to Heav'n He in his mind did bear.

108.Whether as He mounted up, the News He tells
To every Orb and Star; but cheifly to
Th' inquisitive Spirits, whose ears and hearts he fils
With all the Wonders He had seen below,
Till with applause from every Angels Tongue
The pretious Name or humble Mary rung.

109.Thus Phylax spake. When Psyche fill'd with Joy
And Admiration, cri'd Why may not I
Have leave in this dear Mansion to stay?
Where can I better live, or sweetlier die:
Humilities own Palace best will fit
Me who through Pride stand most in need of it.

110.If that be thy Desire, thou strait shalt see
Phylax reply'd, a fairer House than this,
Fairer in more transcendent Poverty,
And nobler farr in higher Lowlines.
With that, into the Chariot again
He takes her up, and gently moves the Rein.

111.The ready steeds no more Monition needed,
For through the Ayr they Snatch'd their greedy way,
And o're the Galilean Regions speeded;
No Hills were high enough to bid them stay,
No windes out-ran them; but to Bethlehem
Well neer as soon's their Drivers thought they came.

112.There lighting down; Behold this Town, my Dear
The Guardian cri'd where Fame once lov'd to grow:
Jesse's illustrious Sonn was nurtured here;
Here reverend Samuell did prepare his Brow
For royall Honour, when upon his Head
The Crowns rich Ernest, holy Oile he shed.

113.This chosen Root, in Kings was fertile, whose
Successive Hands through many Ages bore
The Jewish Sceptre; till with other Foes
Sin, stronger than the rest, combin'd and tore,
It from its guilty Owners farr from Home,
First unto Babylon and next to Rome.

114.Rome holds it still; and makes this wretched Land
Pay that sad Debt its Wickednes contracted:
How oft has an imperious Command
Heavy blood-squeazing Taxes here exacted!
Drowning in Gall this servile Country now
Which did of old with Milk and Honey flow.

115.(Such miserable Gains fond wilfull Men
Condemned are to reap, who needs will be
Driving the self-destoying Trade of sin:
To such heart-galling Bonds of Tyranny;
All those unhappy Nations make haste
Who from their Necks Heav'ns gentle Yoke do cast.)

116.This golden Trick Augustus learned, and
Summon'd the People to a generall Taxe:
The Warrants strait awak'ned all the Land,
And every One to pay his Homage packs
To his Parentall Town, the Register
Of Tribes and Kindreds being setled there.

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117.This cost good Joseph and his blessed Spouse
A tedious journey, for the Way was long,
But short the Days: in Winters inmost House
(Cold churlish Capricorne) the Sunn had clung
The Morning and the Ev'n so close together,
That there was left no room for cheerly Wether.

118.The holy Travellers through Cold and Frost
And Northerne Blasts, took their unworthy way:
(What pious Heart would not have been at cost
Of its warme Sighs, that sharp Breath to allay!)
Yet slowly went, for Maries time was come,
And God lay heavy in her tender Wombe.

119.Alas She to her Travell travelled,
And came at length all-weary to the Town:
Where the poor Court'sie of an hired Bed
To lay her weather-beaten Body down,
She hop'd to find: But Winter now had cast
On Men, as well as on the Earth a Frost.

120.The Men were Ice; so were their Doors; for both
Were frozen up against poor looking Guests;
Wher e'r they knock'd, the surly Host was wroth,
And cri'd, my House is full. Indeed those Nests
Were onely courteous  [...], which barred out
All Birds but those which feathers for them brought.

121.The Inns by silken and by purple Things
Were taken up; each Gallant must have room;
Room for his great Self; Room for those He brings
To make Him greater; Room for what doth come
Swelling about Him, his fond State and Port,
Which in a Chamber must alone keep Court.

122.Thus was the Universe's King shut out
Of his own World as He was entring in:
Long had the tired Pilgrims sought about,
And yet at no Door could Admission win:
And now Night crowded on apace, and drew
Their Curtains who as yet no Lodging knew.

123.Amongst the other Beasts this made them call
For Pitty, seeing none was left with Men:
Observe that Rock, which all along the Wall
Lifts up its Head to meet the Easterne Sunne:
See'st thou the craggie Mouth it opens? That
Was then the Hospitable Stables gate.

124.Come neer and mark it well: This Caverne was
The homely Lodging of an honest Oxe,
Whose Chamber-fellow was a simple Ass:
Neither the House nor Dwellers needed Locks
Or Barrs, or Hoste, to keep the door, and make
Intruding despiceble Guests turne back.

125.But to rejected Ioseph and his Spouse
This Rock less stony proves, than all the Town;
The pair of courteous Beasts to them allows
Far more Humanitie than They whose own
Nature engag'd them to be Men, and kind
To those at least in whom Themselves they find.

126.In went the blessed Travellers, and from
The Beasts, whose Hearts no Avarice had scar'd,
Borrow'd a portion both of their Room
And of their Straw; and there their Bed prepar'd:
Where to a Temple having turn'd the Cave,
Themselves to Rest they after Vespers gave.

127.But though sleep sealed up the Virgins Eye,
Her Heart was watchfull and did Travell still;
It travell'd through a Visions Mysterie,
But of this Way no weariness did feel.
Her Womb seem'd all on fire, whence issued out
A flash of Lightning and whirl'd round about.

128.It whirl'd about the World, and in its way
Devoured every thing compos'd of Dross,
Of idle stubble or of fainting Hay:
The silver Creatures beare somelittle Loss;
But those of genuine Gold, grew onely more
Illustrious and youthfull than before.

129.The World refined by this searching flame,
In every part grew radiant and brave;
No Blemish, or Capacitie of Blame
Peep'd out from East to West; but all things gave
A fair account of their own selves, and by
Their perfect Beautie satisfi'd Heav'ns Eye,

130.Whilst on this splendid Reformation She
Her Wonder pour's; Dame Natures vigilant Clock
Discovering Midnight, rouz'd her Piety
Unto its wonted Task: The earliest Cock
Had rarely crow'd e'r she began to pray;
But heer you know she faint and tired lay.

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131.Yet, to bring forth her Prayers, she rose: But now
A greater Birth was ripe; Nights silent Fear
With the grimme Powers of Darkness bold did grow,
And on the sleeping Worlds face domineer;
Little suspecting that an High-noone Day
From Mid-nights bosome could break out its way.

132.When LOE the Virgin bringeth forth her Son,
Who by the Glories of his own sweet Face
Commands the dusky Shaddows to be gone
And to his full-tide Day resigne their place.
Her friends about Her, Soveraign Pleasures were,
Joy was the Midwife which assisted Her.

133.No faintings chill'd her Heart, no Pangs did tear
Her Privileg'd Bowells, nor no Crie her Throat:
Those sad Revenues all entailed were
Upon polluted  [...]: She whom no Blot
Of sinfull pleasure could pretend to stain,
Advanced was beyond the Shot of Pain.

134.No Circumstance of Shame, or Filth did blurre
The noble Birth the Work was pure and clean:
Shame on those Hearts whose Thoughts deflowred Her
Accomplish'd Purities unspotted Queen:
Shame on their slovenish  [...], whose Brains
Rais'd nere a Fount to wash the Infants stains.

135.Her dear Virginity remain'd the same
Unbroken Jewell that it was before:
As God into Her reverend Bowells came
Yet never stayd to open any door;
So He returned thence, that devoted She
Might still a Virgin, though a Mother be.

136.Thus when the Virgin-Soul is big with Thought,
Without all Pangs, and Stains, and Ruptures, She
 [...] of Her Burden is, and out
Her Off-spring comes all clad in Purity.
Thus when the fire the beuteous flame brings forth'
As pure it keeps as 'twas before that Birth.

137.Thus when Heav'ns Light doth through the Window press,
It bears the Colours it found painted there,
Yet neither breaks nor robbs, nor blurrs the Glass,
But makes its Beauties more advanc'd and clear.
Thus when a Brood of  [...] fills the Air,
Their Mother flowres still no less Virgins are.

138.Thus though great Phebus every Morning springs
From fair Aurora's lap, yet she a Maid
Remains, as pure as are those smiling Things,
Those Roseall Blushes at her portall layd;
Heav'n being pleased to contrive this Way
To make Her Virgin-Mother of the Day.

139.But ô, Aurora's Day is Night to this
Which in the Night from Maries womb did Rise:
This was the Day of  [...], of Love, of Bliss,
The Day of Jewells and of Rarities,
The Day of Miracles, the conquering Day
Which never shall to any Night give way,

140.The Day which made Immensitie become
A Little One; which printed more than May
Upon Decembers face; which drew the Summe
Of Paradise into one Budde; the Day
Which shrunk  [...] into a Span
Of Time, Heav'n into Earth, God into Man.

141.Heav'ns twinkling Lights shut up their dazeled Eyes,
And payd their blinde Devotion to the Dawn
Of Jacob's Star: The Moon did sacrifice
Her silver Beams unto  [...] golden Crown
Of Glories, which their royall Circle made
About the place where the bright Child was layd.

142.His softest Feathers Winter thither sent
To be a  [...] for the Infant's Head;
And sure no Harm the honest Season meant
When in the Cave his fluttering Snow He spread:
But at his Presence into Tears they fell,
Seeing a whiter chaster Spectacle.

143.Fain would the most illustrious Hoste of Heav'n,
Whose Wings were up, whose Thoughts already flew,
Have hither march'd, and to their Soveraign giv'n
A Volley of full Praise and Thanks: But due
To the dear Mother's brave Devotion
Was this great Grace, first to salute her Sonne.

144.She therefore, (having with exuberant Joy
Beheld the Wonder which her self had bred;
And, opening through applauding Tears the way
To her exultant  [...], offered
Her Self a prostrate Sacrifice before
His feet; and taught the World what to adore;)

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145.Cri'd, O my pretious Son, and more than mine,
How shall thy worthlesse Mother and thy Maid
With due Attendauce wait on thy divine
Cradle, without thine own almighty Aid!
How shall my wretched Dust Great Thee imbrace,
On whom the brightest Angells durst not gaze!

146.These words wak'd pious Joseph: Who when he
Beheld the Infant, stayed not to ask
Whose, or whence was that blooming Majesty,
But straight bows down himselfe to his due Task.
Those Beams of such convincing Sweetnesse were,
That He concludes his God must needs be there.

147.With lowly Adoration on the Floor
The dear example of his heav'nly Spouse
He sweetly copied, and his Soul did poure
Forth in ecstatick Thanks, and Praise, and Vows:
For at the radiant Casement of those Eyes
God looking out, call'd for that Sacrifice.

148.Those dainty Easts of gentle living Light,
Those diamond Quivers of divinest Love,
Those Wells of ever-springing Joyes, those bright
Mirrours of purer Beauties than doe move
About the silver Heav'ns when Night is fine,
Or when the Day in Cancer's height doth shine.

149.As the Doves Eyes thrice wash'd in milk, upon
The neighbour Rivers Chrystall, move and play,
So on the Mother did this Spotlesse Son Cantic. 5. 19.
The Purity of his fair Looks display;
That by his Eye he might himselfe approve
Conceiv'd by none but Heav'ns eternall Dove.

150.His skin, the seat of softest White and Red,
Did that delicious Conjunction shew
By which his Mothers Blush was married vers. 10.
Unto that lovely Doves all-Snowie Hue.
Ten thousand Ladies Pencills ne'r could teach
A Skin so rich perfection to reach.

151.His goodly Head is of refined Gold vers. 11.
Being it selfe unto it selfe a Crown.
O that the fond bewitched Worldlings would
Exchange their Avarice, and once fall down
To worship this diviner Mettall, which
With surer Wealth their Coffins would enrich.

152.The gentle Hillocks of his Cheek present vers. 13.
Two soft and living Beds of pretious Spice,
With which their flowrie Neighbours blend their sent,
And in one fragrant Combination rise.
His Lips, like Lilies, whensoe'r thy stir,
Thick Blessing drop of odoriferous Myrrh.

153.As Berylls marshalled in golden Rings, vers. 14
So in his richer Hands are Graces set:
As Ivory which prides the Throues of Kings
When Streaks of Saphirs Lustre garnish it,
Such is his lovely Bellie; onely this
Thrills through its Beauty, Warmth, and Tenderness,

154.As slender Pillars of white Marble, which vers. 15.
On Sockets of the finest Gold do stand,
So his fair Leggs are builded on his rich
And gracefull Feet. His Aspect doth transcend
The loftiest Excellence of Cedars, when
They look from their Majestick Lebanon.

155.His Mouth the Gate of Sweetnesse is, and he vers. 16.
Is round array'd with nothing else but Love.
In this miraculous Epitomie
All choise Extremities of Glory strove
Which should be most Extream, and in that fair
Contention, every One was Conqueror.

156.As Joseph with these Wonders Feasts his Eye;
The reverent Mother on her Sons dear Feet
A consecrated Kisse presents; and by
That Taste encouraged unto a sweet
Audacity, she ventured to sip
The roseall Dainties of his heav'nly Lip.

157.O noble Kisse! which might a Seraph hire
His highest Orb to leave, his Mouth to wipe,
In hopes to drink in more delicious Fire
From this young Altar, than from all the ripe
Flames of the Empyreum; Fire which is
Fed with no fuell but pure Joy and Blisse.

158.O Kisse, which fetch'd the Mothers joyous Heart
Into her lip, and seal'd it on her Son;
Which he receiving did his own impart
In answer to her sweet Impression:
O Kisse, the sacred Complement between
Heav'ns highest King, & Earths most lowly  [...].

[Page 108]
159.This done; her carefull and most tender Hands
Begin their duty to the noble Childe:
Whom having dress'd in simple swadling Bands
She to her Breast applies, whose Bottles fill'd
With Milk, but more with Joy and with Delight,
To his first Breakfast did their God invite.

160.Then stepping to the Manger, on that Bed
(The onely Bed except her own soft breast,)
Where Hay and Straw were for the Coverings spred,
She laid Him down to take his hardy Rest:
Forth with the Oxe his Infant-Owner knew,
The wondering Asse his Masters Crib did view.

161.They both due distance kept, and, as they could,
Adored Him who saves both Man and Beast,
Him who alone did nourish and uphold
Them from the Field with a perpetuall Feast:
Their Manger Straw and Hay they well can spare
For his dear Service whose own Gifts they were.

162.As there He lay, the holy Mothers Breast
Grew big with noble Contemplation:
Which as her Tongue brought forth, and sweetly drest
In vocall graces, all the Cave begun
To imitate the Accents of her voice,
And in soft Echo's duplicate the Noise.

163.Almighty Infant, who till now, said She,
Wert round arrayed with celestiall Flames,
Whose Mantle was eternall Majesty,
Whose Crown was Glories most unbounded Beams,
What condescent of mighty Love is this
Which of that supream Pomp doth thee undress!

164.Could Clouts, and Raggs have ever hop'd to be
Exalted to this strange Prerogative,
That wretched They should unto naked Thee
The courtesie of their poor shelter give!
Surely henceforth all simple Weeds, which be
Of kin to these, shall pretious be to Me.

165.Let Silks, and Gold goe puffe up Prince's Pride,
Who for their Stains doe need a beauteous Veil:
This home-spun Rayment will a Body hide
When friezing Cold, or melting Heat assail.
Thou art contented to be but thus fine:
Then let who will, for Me, their God out-shine.

166.Thou art my God; this Vestures duskie Cloud
No such ecclipse can on thy Glory throw,
But through its gloominesse my Faith can crowd
And see to whom I adoration owe.
Loe I adore Thee, who art still Most high,
Ev'n in this Bottom of Humility.

167.Fair was thy Throne when Thou did'st mounted sit
At the Right Hand of thine Imperiall Father,
When all the Heav'ns were bow'd to be thy great
Chair of Majestick state; when Earth did gather
It selfe up close, and ready stand, to be
A faithfull Foot-stoole to thy Sire and Thee.

168.When the vast Volumes of Immensitie
Unto their utmost Bounds were stretched out
To spread a correspondent Canopie
Over thy glorious Head: When round about
Brightnesse and Power, to compleat thy Port,
Fill'd the brave Circuit of thy mighty Court.

169.But now the Sceen is chang'd; now this poor Cell,
This Manour-house of shame and scorn, must be
Thy native Palace; now thy Throne doth swell
No wider than this Cratch; now Poverty
Has layd Hay for thy Pillow, faded Hay,
Which speaks what Weaknesse thou assum'st to day.

170.Now all those flaming Hierarchies, which did
With Halalujhs fill thy royall Eare,
Are left at home; now thou art furnished
With these dull Waiters which stand silent here,
This Oxe and Asse, the onely Servants Thou
The Worlds great King did'st ready finde below,

171.Goe great Retinues, gaudy Palaces,
Goe Beds of down, of gold, of ivorie,
Goe wait upon your dainty Prince's Ease
And help to countenance poor Majesty.
But yet lament your Prides dishonor, since
You are not owned now by Glories Prince.

172.But Thou, ô pretious glorious Poverty,
Enobled by this Morns bright Miracle,
Shalt my Delight, my Pomp, my kingdom be:
Thy Raggs shall all Embroyderies excell,
Thy Cottages all Marble Towers out-shine,
Thy Hardship pleasant be, thy Shame divine.

[Page 109]
173.And yet, dread Infant, give my Wonder leave
To gaze upon a greater Change than this:
Thou did'st from thy omnipotent Sire receive
Thy equall Selfe, and sweetly rest in His
Bright Bosome, where unbounded Pleasures swim,
Joying from all Eternity with Him.

174.But now thou art a Son of Time become,
And of poor Me, a shorter thing than Time:
That Bosome thou exchangedst for my Womb,
Light's largest Heav'n for a dark narrow Clime;
Where of Mortality thou did'st lay hold,
And up in Dust thy gallant Godhead mould.

175.All my amazed Thoughts are swallow'd quite
In this Abysse of thy Humility.
O vast Abysse! as deep as ever Height
It selfe was high: I yeild, I yeild, to be
In this miraculous Sea of Goodnesse drownd,
Which onely Thou, the God of it, canst sound.

176.But ô how far thine Handmayd is beneath
That noble Accusation Gabriel layd
Unto my charge! Thy Condescention hath
Monopoliz'd all Meeknesse, and array'd
The World in Prides due shame, which though it seek
Lower than dust to stoop, now is not meek.

177.Whil'st in this sweet ecstatick Passion
Of Piety, Her blessed Soul did flame;
A Flock of Shepheards, with an heav'nly Tone
Fresh on their echoing Tongues, in triumph came
Unto the Cave, which to their eyes did yeild
A fairer Sight than their late glorious Field.

178.In Joseph they beheld the best of Men;
The flower of Females they in Mary saw;
The sweetnesse of all Infants in Her Son,
Who yet was far more beauteous than his show.
This Sight determined their Vows; which they
Before the Manger with due reverence pay.

179.For with a prostrate Soul, and bended Knee
Each one upon that simple Altar lays
A tender Lamb: The Offring smil'd to see
The innocent argument of its own Praise,
Beholding in the royall Babe how nigh
It was of kin to his meek Majesty.

180.O sweet, and Mighty Little One, said they,
Deign thy Acceptance of these rurall Things,
The Cream of our poor Flocks: which whil'st they stray
About the Plains, may thy Protections Wings
Shelter both Them, and Us; to whom no  [...]
Shall be a Diety, but Thou alone.

181.Whene'r the hasty Wolfe, the hideous Bear,
Or raging Lyon challengeth his Prey,
O let the Shield of thy Defence be near
Th' injustice of their Challenge to gain-say.
Alas, our Crooks are feeble Things, and We
As weak as they, repose our trust in thee.

182.The venerable Mother joy'd to hear
Their humble Orison: And, What, said She,
My honest Friends, has call'd you from your Care
Thus to attend on this new Piety?
To Night and Dangers what has made you leave
Your other Lambs; and these why doe you give?

183.Fair Queen of Grace and Blisse, the Men repli'd,
Bowing themselves before her reverend Feet,
No Fears nor Dangers can our Flocks betide
Whil'st We are come our new-born King to greet.
Heav'n sent Us hither; and We need not fear
But Heav'n is able to supply our Care.

184.Whil'st in the open Field our Watch we kep'd
Befriended by the Moon and Stars, that no
Perill might wake our tender Flocks, which slep'd
Together with their tenderer younglings: Loe
There rush'd from Heav'n a sudden mighty Light
Which out of all the wide field chased Night.

185.The Frighted Moon and Stars flew all away,
With unexpected Gold the Skie grew bright:
We never yet beheld the entring Day
Break from the East with such commanding Light.
'Twas Glories Morning this, and in our eyes,
No Sun but Majesty did seem to rise.

186.With that, and with Amazement blinded, we
Fell down, supposing Heav'n had done so to.
And that the Beauties of Sublimitie
Came poste on some grand Businesse below.
And here we see what fetch'd them down; thy Son
May well wooe all Heav'n after Him to run.

[Page 110]
187.But as poor Bats, and wretched Birds of Night
Surprised by a sudden-rushing Flame,
Are strook with horror at the glorious Sight,
Which seals their eyes, and open sets their shame:
So wee by this strange Apparition were
Besieg'd no lesse with lustre, than with Fear.

188.When, as we trembling lay, a radiant Friend
Who gently hover'd in the neighbour Aire,
Did fan fresh comfort with his Wings, and lend
Our Hearts new Courage: 'Tis no Night of Fear
Said he, Look up, and view this Sceen of Joy
Set forth in Heav'ns most festival Array.

189.We op'd our Eyes, and round about beheld
How Smiles and Comforts had bedeck'd the Place,
Which seem'd no more a common Countrey Field,
But Paradise's own delicious face:
And such wee should have thought it still, had we
Not hither come, and seen thy Son, and Thee.

190.But yet a Beauty next to yours wee saw,
Almost as bright, as sweet, as milde, as grave,
That Angel which did upon Us bestow
That courteous Item; His Attire was brave,
His Looks, the Glass of Heav'n, most sweet his Tongue;
From which these blessed Words of Comfort rung:

191.BEHOLD, I bring you News of greater Joy
Than kindest Heaven till now did ever send;
Joy which through every Heart shall melt its way,
And with the Sun its equall Course extend:
Joy which shall know no Limits, but through all
The World display its gallant Festivall.

192.For unto you, and your grand Blisse, this Morn
In royall Davids City, Christ the Lord
Of Him, and You, and this whole World is born:
A mighty King, who cometh to afford
The often-promis'd long-desir'd Salvation
Unto his fainting, and decayed Creation.

193.Stagger not at the News; but let this Signe
Assure your Faith, and banish needlesse Doubts:
You shall at Bethlehem finde this divine
Infant wrapp'd up in simple swadling Clouts,
And in a plain and correspondent Bed,
The Asses Manger, resting his sweet Head.

194.As we for Joy at these strange Tidings started,
Behold, a sudden Globe of flaming Light
Into a stranger Apparition parted,
And to new Wonders summoned our sight:
For at a diamond Table fair and wide
A numerous Quire of Angells we descri'd.

195.Soul-charming Melodie amongst them sate,
At her left hand Applause, Joy at her right,
Behinde her Glory, Praise before her, at
Her foot luxuriant, but pure Delight.
The Spectacle alone was ravishing;
But ô what Raptures when they 'gan to sing!

196.Glory to God in all Sublimity,
Peace upon Earth, and unto Men Good Will:
This was their Dittie; but their lofty Key
Did not our mortall reach alone excell,
But surely pos'd the Sphears, though these, they say,
In soveraign Musick spend both night and day.

197.O how our pretty Lambs did leap and dance!
What Troops of merrie Wolves came tripping in!
How were the Bears seiz'd with a gentle Trance!
How did this Harmony the Lyons win!
All Salvagnesse was quickly charm'd asleep,
And every Beast was now a gentle Sheep.

198.The Stones look'd up and seem'd to wish for feet,
The Trees were angry that they stuck so fast;
All Things desir'd the Melody to meet,
And, as they could, unto the Dance made haste.
With that, our silly oaten Pipes wee broke,
And then our Parts with cheerly Nature took.

199.And though our Feet never more nimbly flew
Than in their Answer to this Musicks Pleasure,
Doing their best indeavour to trip true
To every Turn, and Point, and Aire, and Measure;
Yet in our joyous Breasts we felt our Hearts
With more Activity, dancing their Parts.

200.The Anthem finished: That glorious Fire
About the Company its Arms did spread,
And homeward convoy'd the illustrious Quire.
We saw how wide a Gate Heav'n opened
To let them in: We saw it shut and yeild
Back to the Stars their free etheriall Field.

[Page 111]
201.Thence came We hither, and the Promise found
As true and noble as our Expectation:
Which from this Cave shall by our Tongues rebound
To every Ear we meet: By this Narration
Our Hearts shall eased be, least by the Wonder
Of this Heav'n-crowned Morn they split in sunder.

202.But when the Yeares fresh youth returns, to deck
The Bed of Aprill in its vernall Hue;
The choysest sweets and Beauties We will pick,
And wreath a Chaplet for the fairer Brow
Of this our blooming Lord. Till when We place
Our Hopes of safety in his onely Grace.

203.Here, with three Adorations to the Sonne,
They of the Mother and good Joseph, take
Their humble leave. But she, when they were gone,
Deep in her Bosome prints what they had spake,
The News, the Quire, the Song, the glorious Light,
Which duely she reads over Morn and Night.

204.And well she div'd into the Reason why
That glorious Hoste kept distance from the Cave,
And to these Creatures of Humility,
These simple honest Swains, the honour gave
Of being his first Visiters, who came
To be at once a Sheepheard, and a Lamb.

205.But when the Sunne seav'n times himself had shown
To all the World, and bid it idolize
His Beams no more, but fall down to its own
Almighty Rising Phebus, at whose eys
His Flames were kindled: Janus op'd the door,
And in her Armes Aurora New-year bore.

206.And this was Circumcisions sacred Day;
Nor would the royall Infant spared be,
 [...] under this sad bloody Yoke did lay
His tender Neck; that exemplary he
Who was through all Obedience to runne,
His Race of Patience might betimes begin.

207.There sate He on his yerning Mothers Knee,
Who with all tendernesse the Work dispatch'd:
O how much  [...] in her Heart did she
Receive the Knife, when it the Infant touch'd!
But yet she knew her Wound would greater prove,
If she had broke the Law by too much love.

208.Down fell the pretious purple Dew, and gave
The World sure earnest of what was behinde.
For 'twas resolved it at length should have
The utmost Drop his deepest Vein could finde:
Mean while, these few will serve to write the Bonds
By which he for the rest engaged stands.

209.O liquid Jewells! happily have You
Be-sprinkled all the Fore-head of the Year;
The Year, which now on his be-decked brow
More beauties then the face of Heav'n doth wear;
The Year, which sealed is by You to be
From Sins and Mischeifs Impositions free.

210.Thus when the Paschal Lambs lesse worthy Blood
Bedew'd th' Egyptian Doors of Israels Sonnes,
Peace and Security for Porters stood,
And stav'd Destruction from their Mansions.
Had but this Blush on other Gates been seen,
Both Grace and Safety had dwelt within.

211.Now Januaries Calends washed be
By these dear Droppes, from all that guilty Gore
Which Heath'nish most unholy Sanctity
In lavish Floods upon their face did poure;
Fair shines the Day, thus reskew'd and releast
From Pagan stains, to Pieties pure Feast.

212.And now is printed on the Childe that Name
Which sweetly sate upon bright Gabriels Tongue
When to his Mother with the News he came,
That Name which sweetens every Cherubs song;
That Name of Bowells, of omnipotent Love,
Of all the Ioyes that make Heav'n be above.

213.JESUS ô what vast Treasures couched lie
In the rich bosome of this little Word!
A Word which spreads its mighty Majesty
Through Heav'n, & Earth, and Hell; all which are stor'd
With reverend Awe when e'r it sounds, and on
Their bended Knees adore the Virgins Sonne.

214.JESUS! ô Name of glorious Dainties, how
Unwilling are my Lipps with thee to part!
Yet shall thy Musick never cease to flow
In pretious Echo's all about my Heart.
JESUS! ô sweeter Name of Life! ô Name
Which makest famous ev'n eternall Fame.

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215.These matchlesse Things, my Psyche hapned here
This simple Place with noble worth to crown.
But yet these were not all. Has not thine ear
Been fill'd with Balaams infamous Renown,
Whose innocent Asse was fain to use her Tongue,
And check her sillier Master for her wrong.

216.This Son of Avarice, and Heir of Hell
By frighted Balak hired to enchant
And heap his Curses upon Israel,
Was by thy Spouse enforced to recant
His dire intentions, and change his Tone
Against his Nature, as his Ass had done.

217.Thy Spouse did thrust reverend Prophesie
Into his Mouth, of Jacobs rising Star:
Which he himfelf left as a Legacie
To all his Heirs, and charg'd them to have care
That no forgetfulness did blind their Eys
From watching when that promis'd Light should rise.

218.Amongst their mystick Notes these Words they laid
From Age to Age, and often read them o'r
With dread Devotion, being still afraid
The Star might chance to deep from Heav'n before
They were a ware, and spie their souls asleep,
Whom Balaam had fore-warn'd their Watch to keep.

219.No Comet on the World did ever look
But strait into their studies them it sent,
Where, after Counsell had with many a Book,
Through all its flaming Lineaments they went,
Examining the length of every Hair
By its own light, which Head or Beard did wear.

220.But when Eternities sweet Day began
To rise not from the East, but this poor Cave;
A gallant Star into Arabia ran
And notice of the glorious Bus'nes gave
To Everie Eye which was instructed how
To read the Characters of Heav'ns bright Brow.

221.Three Venerable Men dwelt there, all Grey
As well within as they appear'd without,
Kings of the Villages and Fields, where they
Reign'd by their secret Wisdoms high Repute:
No Star but they knew well, for from the East
They had been long acquainted to the West.

222.They, looking out that Night, their friends to view,
Espi'd Stranger dress'd in bright Attire,
To which their wondering Contemplations flew,
And busie were about the radiant Fire.
The more they look'd, the fairer room they found
Where on more Admitation to ground.

223.Eys which have gazed since the Star was set
Have read in it a flaming Child; upon
Whose golden shoulders a large Cross was put:
Such power has superstitious Fiction
To credit whatsoe'r it does espie
In the blind Book of its own Fantasie.

224.A Book which cunning Hell improves so high,
That it has often cost poor Truth full dear;
For Lies embroidered upon Verity,
Makes ev'n the Ground-work fictious appear:
And when course Tares amongst pure Wheat creep up
They spoyle the credit of the hopefull Crop.

225.These sage Observers no such thing descri'd,
But onely a miraculous Beautie read
In this unusuall Star, whose Beams out-vi'd
All glories that bright Venu's face could plead;
And when the Day drew on, displayed far
More cause why this should be the Morning  [...]

226.For when from roseall Aurora's door
Fair Titan shak'd his locks, and marched out;
Nor any of the other Spangles, nor
Brisk Venus could approve her selfso stout
To stay in Heav'n and view his Soveraign Light,
But slipp'd aside, and waited for the Night.

227.But this brave Star stayd still, and to his face
Told Phebus that he had as much to doe
In Heav'n as He; that his fire kindled was
To light a fairer Day than He could show;
A Day which sprung not from his vulgar East,
But chose its Morning where it pleased best.

228.This Resolution of the Star did much
Amaze the Magi, who in all their old
Records of Wonders, could not meet with such
A venturous Apparition inroll'd
And why, said they at length, may this not be
The Star which Ballam's quick-eyd Soul did see.

[Page 113]
229.Then throwing all their useless Books aside,
They to that God who Balaam did inspire
Address their Prayers to be satisfi,d
About the meaning of that wonderous Fire.
God kindely answered them, and taught them why
He check'd the Sunne by that fair Prodigie.

230.Heav'ns mighty Love so, universall is,
That through the Schoole of Magick Darknes it
Disdaineth not with gracious Beams to press;
Where in their black Profession it doth meet
The Sonns of Night with radiant Mercie, and
Them to the Day of Life and Bliss doth send.

231.Their Sumptures now they in all hast provide,
Though yet uncertain which way they should tend:
When loe, the Star deign'd to become their Guide,
And with a moderate pace its course did bend
To Palestine, that it might not out-run
Their Dromedaries mortall Motion.

232.Sweeet was their journey: O dear Star, said they
Who would not follow thy Direction!
What Error now can cheat Us of our Way
Who under Heav'ns illustrious Conduct run!
That fierie Pillar, which led Israel, We
Now envie not, who convoy'd are by Thee.

233.Thus travelling till Salems towrie Head
Had met their Eys, they thither turn'd their way,
Presuming there to find the Princely Bed
Whereon the New-born King of Salem lay.
But now the Star grew wroth, and hid its face,
To chide their doting Error on that Place.

234.That chode in earnest: but mistaken They
Conceiv'd its Office here expired was,
Having unto the period of their way
Now brought them safe. Into the Town they pass,
Swoll'n big with mighty Hopes forth with to see
Thy glorious Spouses Infant-Majesty.

235.With their great Question every street they fill
Enquiring where the native Palace stood
Of Him who was born King of Israel:
By whose bright Star We from the East have rode
Said they, and come to represent our meet
And bounden Homage at his royall Feet.

236.Much was the Boldness of the Men admir'd,
Who now within the reach of Herods spight,
So stoutlie for another King enquir'd
Plainly confuting his usurped Right.
But this the Valour was of Pietie
Which doth securely all the World defie.

237.With fears and jealousies this News did pass
Through thousand ears, till it to Herod's came;
The guilty Tyrant stung and startled was
At the strange broaching of that dangerous Fame:
His Heart throbbs high his Sceptre seems to quake,
His Throne to totter, and his Crown to crack.

238.Yet, to elude those threatning Omens, He
Muster'd up all his cruell Wit to lay
Some holie-looking Plot, whose subtiltie
Both his young Rival, and his Fears might slay.
His rage He cloak'd, and in a Synod sought
How to resolve the noble Strangers Doubt.

239.The Priests and Scribes their reverend Records bring
And by inspired Mica's Prophesie
About the mighty Point informe the King;
Who in his Privie Chamber did descrie
The bus'nes to the Pilgrims, and enquire
Each circumstance about their Leading Fire

240.Which having heard at large: Goe then, said He,
And may Success your brave Devotion crown,
Yet grant your friend this easie Courtesie,
That you will not engross Him as your own,
When you have found the Infant, let me know,
That I may Him adore as well as you.

241.No tedious Entertainment now shall stay
Your pious zeal, although mine Honor be
Ingaged, thus a while, to stop your Way:
But at your more convenient Leisure We
Shall take such royall course, that you shall finde
Our Court cannot to Strangers be unkind.

242.Here taking leave, in Bethleem Rode they went:
When loe the Star which scorn'd its beams to shew
To cursed Herod, did again present
Their reconciled Convoy to their View:
Kindling fresh hopes and comfort in their Breast
To see themselves from their sad Night releast.

[Page 114]
243.For Day to them did wear no other face
But of black Night, till they espi'd this Light:
And Phebus posting to another place,
Did with his uselesse beams but mock their sight:
Onely this faithfull Star directed them
Their Way, till to its period they came.

244.But then it stay'd (for all its Work was done,)
And pointing with a perpendicular Ray
Upon the Cave, bid them behold that Sun
Of which it selfe was but the shaddow: They
Down from their Beasts with nimble gladnesse light
To blesse their eyes with their desired sight.

245.Their severall Grooms the foaming Coursers took,
The Pages their Oblations ready made;
But wondering at the Stables simple Look
Which promis'd nothing lesse, than what it had
To shew, the Princes turn'd their eyes to know
Of their bright Guide, if they were right, or no.

246.But when they saw constant Assurance shed
It selfe down from the peremptory Star;
They march'd in cheerly and no sooner had
Observ'd the humble Majesty which there
Did keep its Court, but down they fell, and in
Prostration their first Homage did begin.

247.The Mothers Eyes call'd theirs to admiration,
As did the Infants unto Ecstacie:
For in the foft and balmie Habitation
Of Her deare bosome He enshrin'd did lie,
As in the pretious and glistering breast
Of Mother-Perl the Jewell makes its Nest.

248.They, having kiss'd the ground, cri'd out, Behold
Great King of all the World, unworthy We
Whom by thy Star Thou sendest for, are bold
To creep thus neer thy gratious Majesty.
The Name of King, has flatter'd Us a while,
But We resigne to thee that noble Stile.

249.The foolish World surnames Us Wise; but wee
No more will that ambitious Title own,
Which now wee understand most due to Thee,
And at thy Foot-stoole here we throw it down:
Esteeming this our greater Wisdome, that
We by thy Grace this Lowlinesse have got.

250.Thou art that King, the Hopes of whose bright Birth
Have many fainting Generations cheer'd;
Thou art that Jacobs Star, whose Breaking forth
The shades of Prophesies and Types hath cleer'd,
Displaying to this groveling World, which lay
Till now in Darknesse, a Meridian Day.

251.Thou art that Wisdome which contriy'dst at first
The Fabrick of this universall Ball,
By thy Direction it from Nothing burst;
And in thy Counsells boundlesse Circle all
Motions of Heav'n and Earth performed be;
Both Change and Chance are Certainties to Thee.

252.Here each one having his Oblation
In his own Crown, which in his Hand he bore;
The first with triple Adoration'gan
Io tender up his Gift: And, Of this store
Which thou, dear Lord, said He to Me did'st give,
Vouchsafe this Tithe and Earnest to receive.

253.It is the purest Gold my Care could get,
But yet beggs to be gilded by thine Eye:
Unlesse some Richnesse Thou wilt glance on it.
Alas, it has not worth enough to buy
The credit which belongs unto its Name:
O gently shine, and deck it with thy Flame.

254.Then came the Second with like reverence, and
His Offring in his royall Censer brought:
Accept, sweet Babe from this my Worthlesse Hand
Said He, this Incense, which hath now found our.
The next way to its God, and need not rise
In labouring Clouds to reach the lofty Skies.

255.It is the noblest I could pick and cull
From the best spicey Beds of Arabie,
Which in their first-fruits hither come to tell
That all that's left at home is due to Thee,
And craves thy leave to kisse thy gratious Feet
That from that Touch her Odours may grow sweet,

256.These two fair Copies were transcribed by
The third, whose Present was delicious Myrih:
And this to wait on thy Humanity
O Thou Incarnate God doe I preferre,
Said He; that Nature which till now, was poor
Ashes and Dust, in thee We must adore.

[Page 115]
257.The Babe look'd up, and with a gentle Eye
Approv'd and prais'd their pious Sacrifice:
When loe, the Mother, with sweet Courtesie
Held forth his Hand unto the Kings to kisse.
O no, said they, Our foule lipps are too mean,
May they but kisse his Clout's Hem, and be clean.

258.They kiss'd it, and arose: But on the floor
Ambitiously they left their Crowns, that they
Might gain the Honour to be Foot-stools for
The royall Infant; whose illustrious Way
May well be pav'd with Diadems, since He
Raigns King of Kings, and Lord of Majesty.

259.And now as much of Night as durst draw neer
This Court of noblest Light, was thither come:
This made the Pilgrims a meek suit prefer,
Begging before the door their Lodging Room:
Forbid it loyall Reverence, they cri'd,
That the same Roofe Us and our Lord should hide.

260.Thus, having pitch'd their Tents without, and said
Their Prayers to their God they left within;
Themselves upon their beds to Rest they layd,
Which did no sooner on their Brows begin
To steal, but straight a Dream came close behinde,
Which op'd a Vision to their waking Minde.

261.God in a mystick Voice, which well they knew
By its dear Rellish in their Hearts, came down,
Timely discovering to their wondering View
What desperate Dangers in their Way were strown,
If they returned by Jerusalem
Set thick with bloody Herods Traps for them.

262.This Warning they when Morning had let in
The Flaming Gyant to his dayly Race,
With hasty Joy obey'd: Yet having 'gun
Their Journey, with as vehement a pace
Their Hearts recoyl'd, so did their Eyes, and in
The glorious Stable would again have been.

263.Thus struggling homeward by a private Way,
Unreach'd by Harm they to Arabia came:
Where through th' astonish'd Countrey they display
The noble Infants most miraculous Fame:
Returning richer Gold, and purer store
Of Sweets, than they from thence to Bethlehem bore.

264.The pretious Name of JESUS, would alone
Discharge that Debt, and purchase all the rest,
The Gold, Myrrh, Incense, which that Region
In all its richest Hills and Vales possest:
That Name would make each Part of Arabie
Derive its surname from Felicity.

265.These Wonders have enobled this rude Place,
And made it, Psyche, worth thy journey hither.
But Time's at hand, which will erect Disgrace
On this Foundation of Glory, whether
One King shall send as studied Scorn, as Three
Did bring exact and costly Piety.

266.This Temple of Virginity will He
Deform into black Lusts unworthy Stie;
Where in that reverend Mangers place must be
Rear'd the curs'd Altar of Impurity,
And Venu's and Adoni's Titles swell
JESU'S and Marye's mention to expell.

267.O then, said Psyche, (for the Angel heer
Closed his lipps,) may I that time prevent,
And consecrate this Night unto this dear
Birth-place of Purity! What though I want
Gold, Incense, Myrrh? I have an Heart, which fain
Upon this Mangers Altar would be slain.

268.It would be slain, that it a Life might finde
Which will not give its noble Name the Lie:
For whil'st I linger groveling in this blinde
Valley of Sin, by Living it doth Die.
A Mortall Life, is but an handsome Fiction,
Nothing well dress'd, a flattering Contradiction.

269.Here kneeling down, with liberall Tears she dew'd
The holy Relique, having blown away
The Dust with Sighs; and as the place she view'd.
With sharp-ey'd Faith Him she discern'd, who lay
Once in that Cradle; And wish'd she were worth
Ten thousand Hearts, that she might poure all forth,

270.O what Contentions of Loves and Joyes
And pious Languishments throng'd in her breast!
How many violent sorts of amorous ways
Did her strong Soul trie to be dispossest
Of this dull clogging Body, that it might
Indeed lodge with her Spouse himselfe that Night!

[Page 116]
271.But tir'd by this mysterious Agonie
Her Spirits yeilded to the Powers of sleep;
Oft had they quickned up themselves, and by
Stout Zeal chas'd back the Shaddows that did creep
About her Eyes; which yet at length were-closed,
Whil'st on the Manger She her Head reposed.

272.Her Eyes were clos'd; but wide ope was her Heart,
And by clear Recollection did run through
The noble Story, reading every Part
And Circumstance, she knew not where nor how:
Whil'st Phylax for her Canopie, did spread
His tender guardian Wing upon her Head.

PSYCHE: OR LOVES MYSTERIE. CANTO VIII. The Pilgrimage.

ARGUMENT.

LOves Presentation solemnized: He
Through the sad Desert, into Egypt flies;
Where by the dint of true Divinity
He dasheth down the forged Dieties:
And thence, when  [...] had the Infants slain,
And Justice Him; returneth home again.

1.O gentle Nature, how discrect art Thou
In marshalling those sober Courtesies
Which to thy labouring World thou dost allow!
Thou lett'st Us feel the Want, to learn the price;
Thou checkerest every Thing with such wise Art,
That Ease proves constant Successor to Smart.

2.After Nights soot the face of Heav'n hath smear'd,
Dayes lovely Beauty all the Welkin gilds:
When Winters churlish Moneths have domineer'd,
The lively Spring with youth cheers up the fields:
When Clouds have weep'd their Bottles out, 'tis fair;
When Windes are out of breath, Thou still'st the Air.

3.But yet the dearest of thy Blessings, is
Soft Sleep, which thou dost to no Pains deny.
When Phebus through all Heav'n has speeded his
Long smoking Course, Thou giv'st Him leave to lie
Upon the Pillows of the watery Main,
Untill Aurora wakens Him again.

4.When Trees have all the Summer labour'd hard
Their blossoms, leaves, and fruit in bringing forth.
The night of Winter thou dost them afford
And bid'st their Vigour goe to Bed in Earth:
Down to the Root strait runs the weary Sap,
And sleeps close and secure in  [...] lap.

[Page 117]
5.When Rivers many tedious Moneths have runne
Through cragged Rocks, and crooked peevish waies,
Thou mak'st stern Boreas pittifull, who on
Their necks a seasonable Bridle lays,
This bindes them up in Glasse, and makes them rest
Till they are wak'd by Summers Southern Blast,

6.When Man has travell'd with his Hand, or Minde,
(For this both toiles and sweats, as well as that:)
Thou in a tender mistie Veil dost binde
His heavy Head, untill his Eyes have shut
Out Greif and Pain, and Wearines; and He
Repos'd in Sleeps all-downie Bosome be.

7.Yet other Creatures little finde in Sleep,
But the dull pleasure of a gloomy Rest,
Which they themselvs perceive not when they reap:
Man onely by this privilege is blest,
That Sleep it self can be awake to Him,
And entertein Him with some courteous Dream.

8.He, when his Touch, his Tongue, his Eye, his Ear,
His Nose, in Sleeps thick Night are muffled up,
Can feel, can taste, can smell, can see, can heare,
And in his quick Dispatches finde lesse Stop
Than when He wakes: for now his Soule alone
Through all his mystick Busines doth run.

9.O sweet Prerogative  [...] by which we may
Upon our Pillows travell round about
The Universe, and turn our Work to Play;
Whilst every Journey is no more but Thought:
And every Thought doth with as quick a pace
Run through its longest, as its shortest Race.

10.Nor is the Body more befriended, then
The Soule, in its Digestion, by Sleep:
This is the undisturbed Season, when
The Minde has leisure to concoct that Heap
Of crude unsettled Notions. which fill
The weak Brains over-charged Ventricle.

11.In this soft Calm, when all alone the Heart
Walks through the shades of its own silent  [...],
Heav'n takes delight to meet it, and impart
Those blessed Visions, which pose the best
Of waking Eyes, whose Beams turn all to Night
Before the Looks of a spirituall Sight.

12.By this time Psyche having failed through
The Infant-Story, whilst her Dream did steer
Her Soules mysterious Bark: she felt her Brow
Eas'd of its cloudy Weight, and growing cleer.
Strait Phylax spi'd her looking up, and cir, d,
'Tis well thou hast thy Spouses Lodging tri'd.

13.How dost thou think this Manger could agree
With the most tender Infants dainty Head!
But by this Copie He commends to thee
The scorn of Wantonesse's plumie Bed.
Thou see'st sweet Sleep is possible upon
A cold and churlish Couch of Bord or stone.

14.Learn then, that 'tis not any thing without
Which can with genuine softnes clothe thy Rest.
Down, proves but pretious Thorns,  [...] doth slout
His hopes of quiet Sleep, whose treach  [...] Breast
Though with externall Unguents sleek, within
Is harsh and rugged, being lin'd with Sin.

15.If Vice, and Vengeance had not Us prevented,
We to the Temple now our way should ake:
But they long since were there; and the lamented
Ruines too late their sad consession make.
Fire, and the Roman Rage on it have preyd,
And all its Glory in the Ashes layd.

16.Whilst yet it stood; the Virgin-Mother, when
The Law did cite her to Purification,
Hast's thither with her offrings, and her Sonne,
To pay obedience to that needlesse Fashion:
Needlesse to Her, who of no Humane Seed
Had ever been the spotted Soile and Bed.

17.Can Ceremonies think themselvs so clean,
As to presume to wash the Mornings face
When she hath brought forth Glory's Sunne, and been
New gilded by that Birth, with fairer grace!
How shall the Virgin Christall purer grow!
What Legall Rites can purge and whiten Snow  [...]

18.Yet is the gallant Morn content to goe,
So is the spottlesse Chrystall, and the Snow,
And own Pollution, rather then not doe
Their ready homage to the reverend Law,
Which by a stronger backed was; for She
Went, summon'd by her own Humility.

[Page 118]
19.And there arrived; She unto the Shade
The Substance brought; and Truth unto the Type:
Broad Day She of a glimmering Twy-light made,
Long breeding and crude Hopes, She turn'd to ripe
Fruition, whil'st She, with her Offerings,
A fairer Temple to the Temple brings.

20.A Temple where not one, but every Gate
Was Beautifull: a Temple where each Roome
Most Holy was: a Temple, where, though State
Shin'd not without, Heav'ns Prince did make his Home:
A Temple which had its foundation
Above; a Temple which was God and Man.

21.When He drew neere, the Walls and Pavement smil'd,
The Roof would fain have bow'd to kisse His feet;
The pious Incense smelt the sweeter Childe
And chang'd its usuall Path, with Him to meet:
It soar'd not up, but to the Doore did stretch,
Finding that neerer way its Heav'n to reach.

22.The Cberubs which dwelt close behinde the Veil,
Had much adoe to keepe themselves within,
Knowing that from their secret Oracle
The outward Temple did the Glory winne,
In which was now a Higher Preist then He
For whom alone that yearly once was free.

23.O how the second Temples Lustre now
Dazells the first! That fabrick reared by
Davids wise Sonne, did long afore hand bow
Unto this younger Temples Majesty,
And kiss the Dust, resigning up its place
To this, which Jesu's Presence was to grace.

24.And now the Mother on her bended knee
Before the Preist, presents to Heav'n her Sonne.
Was ever heard of such a Preist as She
Who offers God for an Oblation!
To Her th' Eternall Father sent Him down,
And noble She returns Him back his owne.

25.When reverend Johazar receiv'd the Childe
A secret Joy through all his bosome ran;
Much did he marvell how his Heart came fill'd
With more than usuall Devotion;
Nor did He know that in his Arms much more
Than Paradise, or than all Heav'n He bore.

26.But then (being so admonish'd by the Law)
She payes five Shekells, and receives her Soune.
Were all the World her owne, She would bestow
It, and her Selfe, for his Redemption:
But this poore Price serv'd Her to ransome Him,
Who came Her and the whole world to redeeme.

27.Then two white Pidgeons (her own Emblems) She
Presents, as Duties of Purification:
The gentle Birds a mourning fell, to see
That they must leave their dearer Habitation:
Lesse sweet they thought the Altar, and would faine
Be nestling in her Breast, or Lap againe.

28.But holy Simeon, whose stout Expectation
Grounded upon Heav'ns Credit, did sustein
His aged Life, by potent Inspiration
Forgot his leaden pace, and flew amain
Into the Temple; for the nimble Blast
Of Gods owne Spirit lent him youthfull haste.

29.O how his greedy Soule did Worke and Beat,
And thinke the time an Age, till He was come
Unto his Blisses Shore; where in the heat
Of hastie Zeale, He snatch'd his Saviour home
Into his longing Armes, and Heart, which now
Broke from his Lips, and in these Words did flow.

30.O Life, thou now art out of debt to my
Long-stretch'd Attendance, and can'st nothing show
Of further Worth, wherewith to charme mine Eye,
And make it still be hankering heer below:
No; I have seen, what I did live to see,
The worlds Hopes, and mine owne; and heer-they be.

31.Deare Lord of Heav'n, heer is that hop'd-for He
In whom lie treasur'd up Power and Salvation,
Which now thy love exposed hath to be
The blessed Theame of humane Contemplation,
All Eyes may see this Face, as well as I,
And cleerly read their owne Felicitie,

32.This noble Face; by whose Soule-piercing Rayes
The  [...], untill now damm'd up in Night
Admonish'd are to understand their Wayes,
And tread the open Paths of High-noone Light:
This Face, whose more than golden Beauties be
The glorious Crown of Iacobs Progenie.

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33.O Death, if thou dar'st draw neer Life's great King
Come take possession of my willing Heart,
That I a swarthy and unworthy Thing
From his too radiant presence may depart:
I am too blest to live, and cannot bear
The burden of this heav'nly Lustre here.

34.The good Old man thus eas'd his pious Zeal;
And having sacrific'd a Kisse upon
The Infants royall Foot, began to feel
His Prayers were heard, and that Death hasted on:
Which He to meet, went home, and order gave
With sweet and hasty Joy about his Grave.

35.As Echo unto his Devotion, Loe
The venerable Matron Anna came;
She whose Prophetick Heart did bid her goe
To wait upon, and to adore the same
Young Son of Wonders; that her Sex in Her,
As His in Him, its duty might prefer.

36.And here she met a full reward of all
Those nights and dayes which in that place she spent:
Her Fastings now turn d to a Festivall;
Her longing Prayers which unto Heav'n she sent
To pull it down, now found it ready here,
For in the Infants Face it did appear.

37.So cleerly it appear'd, that She could not
Restrain her Tongue from being Trumper to
The Dawne of its convincing Brightnesse, but
Through Salems longest thickest Streets did goe,
Spreading her Proclamation to each Eare
And Heart, which long'd that heav'nly News to hear.

38.This call'd so many wondering Eyes to gaze
Upon the Mother and her fairer Son;
That from the glory of that populous Place
To poor and private Nazaret she did run,
Where, in her humble House she hop'd to hide
Her humbler Selfe from Honours growing Tide,

39.But Honour loves to scorn the Zealous Chase
Of most ambitious eager Hunters; and
Pursues those modest Soules from place to place
By whom she sees her orient Presence shunn'd.
Nor is she e'r out-run, or fails to raise
Their Names with Trophies, and their Brows with Bays.

40.But when in Salem the great News grew hot
And flam'd to Herods Court: the Tyrants Breast
Swell'd with new Rage; for much he feared that
This Fire might reach his Throne; which made Him cast
Deep desperate Counsells in his jealous Minde
How for this Danger he some Curb might finde.

41.Mean while, as holy Joseph sleeping lay
To gain new strength to work; his Winged Friend
Rouz'd up his Soul by a Celestiall Ray,
Bidding him his swift flight to Egypt rend,
For Herod now contrives to slay, said He,
The Childe, and in Him, both thy Wife and Thee.

42.O that my Wings might be his Chariot! But
This noble Favour Heav'n reserves for thee.
Flie then: But see thy selfe thou trouble not
With thy Return; for when the Storm shall be
Cleerly blown over, I will thither come,
And from thy Gods own Mouth recall thee Home,

43.This said; his nearest way the Angel took
To Heav'n and flutter'd loud as He went up:
The noise made Joseph start; who straight awoke
And look'd about; But He had gain'd the Top
Of heav'n, and in the Sphears inclosed was
E'r Josephs mortall Eye could thither passe.

44.Yet by the blessed influence He behinde
Had left, the Saint did Him intirely Know:
The priviledg'd Eyes of his religious Minde
Had long acquainted been with him, and now
He doubts not but this was his Guardian, who
Had taught him oft what He instraits should doe,

45.Whil'st by her sable Curtains Night as yet
Muffled up Heav'n, and kept the World in Bed,
Himselfe He dressed, and made all things fit
For his long journey: On the Asse He spred
His Coverlet, and his own Pillow (sweet
And cleanly Hay) he gave him for his meat.

46.The Beast thus baited: He his Axe, his Saws,
His Planes, Rules, Mallets, and his other Store
Of busie honest Implements bestows
In his large Bag, the Treasury of his poor
Industricus subsistance; which he ties
Fast to his Staffe, and on his Shoulders tries.

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47.Two Bottles then (all that the poor Man had)
Fresh filled at a neighbour Fountain, He
Puts on his Girdle, with three Loaves of bread
In a plain Pouch. Then stepping reverently
Unto the Bed where the great Mother lay,
Arise, said He, for Heav'n calls Us away.

48.When She the bus'nesse heard, and saw how He
Had all things ready for their journey made:
Far be it, she repli'd, that I should be
At any houre to follow Heav'n afraid:
Or that I for the Mornings light should tarry
Who in my Arms my fairer Day doe carry.

49.I can be no where lost, deare Babe, whil'st I
Travell with Thee, who never canst depart
From thine own Home: Wherever Thou dost flie,
Thine own Land still will meet Thee, for thou art
By thine eternall Right, the Prince as well
Of Ham and Egypt, as of Israel.

50.Arabia's Devotion has long since
Supplid thee with this sacred Treasure, to
Defray thy Charges: Thine own Providence
Thy Purveyer was; Thou knew'st we were to goe,
And hast layd in Provision, e'r wee
Could dream of any such Necessity,

51.And yet Necessity is no such thing
To mighty Thee, whose all-commanding Hand
Doth hold the Reins of Fate: the bloody King
Musters his Wrath in vain, would'st thou with-stand
His Spight in open Field: But thou know'st why
It will be now more glorious to File.

52.This Journey's but a step to Thee, who from
The Pinnacle of all Sublimity
Thy Fathers bosome did'st a Pilgrim come
And take up thy abode in worthlesse Me:
Me, who from Heav'n much further distant am,
Than Memphis is from fair Jerusalem.

53.With that, She wrapp'd the Infant close, and took
The Asses back; whose bridle Joseph held,
And long before the drowsie Town awoke,
Led him far out into the quiet Field:
Darknesse and Silence clinged round about,
Barning Discovery and Suspition out.

54.Thus did the Heir of Heav'n betimes begin
To  [...] out Patience to his World below,
To sanctifie all Persecution,
And make it by his owning, glorious grow:
Who but new born, designed is to die,
And long e'r He can goe, is fain to flie

55.Aurora now, the Porter of the Day,
Gat up, and op'd the door unto the Sun;
Who peeping out with an abashed Ray,
Beheld how far these Travellers had gone
E'r He awoke, and doubted whether He
Should in that Dayes Horizon needed be.

56.For He observ'd the Babe abroad, whose sight
Cost Him a deeper Blush than that which dies
His morning Cheeks: Yet He cheer'd up his light,
And venturing on, resolv'd to trie his Eyes
Upon that Infant-face of full-grown Blisse
As Eaglets use to doe their own at His.

57.Now Love and Piety forbid, that thou
My Psyche should'st disdain to trace their way,
Since I so faire a Convoy thee allow
Which neither Dangers feareth, nor Delay.
Thy God was glad to travell on an Asse,
But in this Chariot gives thee leave to passe.

58.That leave too noble is, cry'd she, for Me,
A meaner thing than what He rode upon:
Might I on foot, or rather on my Knee
Crawle in his royall Path, no Princes Throne,
Should tempt Me from my greater Honor: — 'Tis
Enough, said Phylax, now no more of this.

59.And here He took her up, and shook the Reins:
That Item strait the greedy Coursers caught,
And, scouring through the soft aereall Plains,
Unto their View the Fields of Nazaret brought:
Psyche soon knew the Place again, and cri'd,
How much doe these thy Steeds my Thoughts out-ride.

60.Pitty thy Lord then, said the Guardian, who
Though drove by Fear, was forc'd to use a pace
Below the Name of Speed: Joseph did goe
Before on foot, and lead the laden Asse:
He led Him, and although He made no stay,
Alas his very Going was Delay.

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61.Besides, a thousand Cares more heavy lay
Upon his Heart, then on his back the Load
Of all his Tools: What Thoughts about the Way,
What studies how to scape the full-ey'd Road,
What Tendernesse to keep the Mother warm,
What dainty Fears that God should take no Harm!

62.See'st thou this private Path, which ever since
With Lilies and with Violets hath smil'd,
Which it received from the influence
Both of the passant Mother and the Childe?
The Country wonder'd at the beautious List,
But from what cause it sprung, they little wist.

63.As to the Sea, the silver River through
A thousand by-pathes steals its secret Way;
So into Egypt this sweet Tract doth flow,
Declining all things that its course might stay.
Doubt not the Windings, but securely ride,
For now the Way it self's thy fragrant Guide.

64.Look how the Galilean Villages
Their distance keep, and give the Path free leave
To stretch it feit through all these Privacies:
Look how the friendly Trees doe interweave
Their Arms, and offer their Protection to
Whoever here in Secresie would goe.

65.There did the carefull Mother light, to give
Her Sonne his Dinner from her blessed Breast;
Whom with fit Entertainment to receive,
Kinde Earth that sweetly-swelling Cushion drest:
Wher e'r you see th' officious Flowers meet
In such a Junto; know it was her Seat.

66.But yonder Stable which thou seest shut
Quite out of Town, and standing all alone,
Did in its hospitable Litter let
The Pilgrims take their first nights station.
They with such Lodging long acquaintance had,
And thou knowest what thy Lord his Cradle made.

67.Such Inns as this did carefull Joseph chuse
And scap'd Observance all the way He went
Neither the Calileans, nor the Jews
Discovering his provident intent.
With painfull Patience He his way did finde,
And at the length Judea left behind.

68.He left Judea; but first left by it,
Since now to finde his Charge, the bloody Prince
Deeply consulted. Thus thy Spouse thought fit
To teach his future Exiles, that the sense
Of their sad Sufferings sate full neer his Heart
Who in this Banishment bore so deep a Part.

69.The freedome of the Reins here Phylax threw
Upon his Coursers Backs, who cheered by
That liberty, with sprightfull fervor flew
And scorn'd the Towns which farre below did lie,
Flinging their gallant foam, and snuffing up
The Air, which seemd to them their Course to stop.

70.The Clouds took notice of their resolute hast,
And stepp'd aside to make their Passage cleare;
Through which their smoking wheels did whirle as fast
As Phebu's down the hill of his glib sphear:
Which instantly so tir'd the Northern Winde,
That puffing he and lagging came behinde.

71.Thus having lost Judea in a Mist
Of farre-removed Aire, they rush'd into
The famous Deserts unperceived list,
Where their impatient Fire did spur them so
That Phylax check'd them thrice, e'r they would hear
His Hand, and stop their vehement career.

72.And then: Consider Psyche, well, said he,
This squalid Sceen of churlish Desolation,
This proper Region of Perplexity,
This Soil all planted thick with Desperation,
This storehouse of a thousand Famins, this
Fountain of Droughts, this Realm of Wretchednesse:

73.This Country, which doth by its Neighbour-hood
To Canaan (that wide-spread Chanell, where
Hony and Milk conspir'd into a flood
Of costlesse, but incomparable Cheer,)
Advance the value of that blessed Soil,
And its own vilenes aggravate the while.

74.Thus sticks black Night as foile unto the Day,
And by its Blacknes lends it fairer Beams:
Thus Sorrows stings inhance the sweets of Joy;
Thus Floods of Gall commend the Honey streams;
Thus Darknes cleaved fast upon the backs
Of Looking-Glasses, them illustrious makes.

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75.Well knew wise Heav'n Men would not understand
Its royall Favour in'affording them
The gentle Riches of a fertile Land,
Were they not tutored by some such Clime
Of Woes and Horrors, and forc'd to confesse
A Gardens Blessing, by a Wildernesse.

76.Behold these needlesse Banks of Sand, which have
No Seas to bound, but this vast Ocean
Of Barrennesse; where when the Windes conceive
High-swolln Displeasure, and to Battell run
Bandying their mutuall Blasts a thousand waies
At once, a drie and parching storm they raise.

77.For the wilde Soile impatient to be plow'd
At Eolu's pleasure, flies full in his face,
And climbing up into a Tawny Cloud
With smoking Rage torments its new-gained Place,
Whilst blinded Passengers amazed stand,
And all the Aire is nothing else but Sand.

78.This frighted gentler Nature farre from hence,
Who in her bosome all  [...] Blessings bore,
Her teeming Springs delicious Influence,
Her Summers Beauties, and her Autumns store:
And all the best of Winter too; for here
This sandy Mischeif schorcheth all the year.

79.The Trees, You see, are all dispers'd and fled,
For fear of being onely Fuell here,
And that before the Axe had summoned
Them to the Hearth. The cheerly Birds which were
Th' Inhabitants of their Bows, did them persue,
Panting their sad layes all the way they flew.

80.This most inhospitable Earth will keep
No Entertainment for tame honest Beasts,
Goats, Asses, Camels, Horses, Oxen, Sheep,
Can at her wretched Table be no Guests.
No; this is onely Mischiefs cursed stage,
Where Beasts of Prey, and Monsters act their rage.

81.Look where a pair of dreadfull Tigres lie
Couching in Ambush to attend their prey;
How should a fainting Traveller get by
When two such hungry Deaths beset his way!
There runs a Lyon, with his hideous Note
Tearing, for want of meat his greedy throat.

82.At the same Busines there's a female Bear
In meat and drink two days and nights behinde,
Whose pined Whelps all yelling in her Ear
Chode her abroad some Sustenance to finde.
There runs a Bore, and whitens all his Path
With foam, the scum of his intemperate Wrath.

83.But mark that Cave, before whose nasty Door
An heap of excrementall Poisons lies,
Next which, a Quakemire of congealed Gore
Raild round about with naked Bones, descries
What part fell Fury there hath play'd and who
Dwells in that House whose Porch is trimmed so.

84.That gloomy Cloud which dams the Dens mouth up
Is but the Tenants breath which keeps within,
Who by our Talk is wakened unto hope
Of some neer Prey: See now He doth begin
To rouse Himself; the Fire he spits before
Is but the Porter to unlock his Door.

85.Though Psyche now had cheer'd & wrought her Heart
Unto a more then female Valour; yet
She could not curb her  [...], but gan to start
At that all-flaming Dread the Monster spit:
When Phylax smiling on her horror, cri'd,
Fear not, for Heav'n and I am at thy side.

86.Of his own Comming, by his cruell Hisse
He warning gives; that stream of cole-black Blood
He spews so thick, his wonted Usher is.
Thus when some choise Feind breaks from Hell, a flood
Of stinking Sulphure paves his dismall way,
A bashing all the Aire, and poisning Day.

87.Behold his Eys like two bright Firebrands plac'd
In Cakes of blood, their fatall beams display
So with long flakes of glaring Raies enchased,
Unto Heav'ns Anger Comets light the Way,
Pointing with every beam, to Citties, or
To Realms, and Countries, Famin, Plague, or War.

88.His Mouth which Foams with Venome, is the Gate
Of helplesse Misery: his Jaws the Mill
Of deplorable, and untimely Fate,
His tongue a Weapon, on whose Fork doe dwell
A thousand Deaths; his throat, so black and broad,
To his unhappie Preys the beaten Road.

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89.His lethern Wings are those which lend its speed
Unto Destruction; his iron Paws
Are Spights and Rages Hands; his direfull Head,
The Oracle whence Tyrants draw their Laws;
His scaly skin, the thick Embroydery
Of confident remorselesse Cruelty.

90.His knotty Taile, pointed with stinging Fire,
Which on his back in sullen scorn he throws,
Is Deaths dread Chain; that unrelenting Ire
Which sits so high upon his craggie Brows,
Is an afore-hand Sentence unto All
Beasts, Birds, or Men, that in his way doe fall.

91.Hark how the bruised Aire complains, now He
Moves the huge flailes of his most boistrous Wings:
For the soft Nymph else-where was us'd to be
Beaten with Fethers, or melodious Strings:
Look in what state He through the Clouds doth stream;
The smoke before him rolls, behinde the Flame.

92.As when the martiall Griffen hovers neer
The greedy Kite forgets his chased Prey,
And turning Partner in the Sparrows fear
With her into some Corner sneaks away:
So doe all Monsters here acknowledge this
Their Soveraign in all Rage and Dreadfulnesse.

93.Thou now seest neither Lyon, Boar, nor Bear,
This Dragons Presence chas'd them all away
Unto their closest Dens, and Caverns, where
They trembling lie, and durst not look on Day.
So doe all other strange portentuous Things
Frighted hence by the Thunder of his Wings.

94.For else, thou here had'st Troops of Centaurs seen,
A strange Composure of Horse-Infantry:
Else Sphinx, and her ambiguous Brood, had been
Abroad in all her fore-front Braverie,
And with her polish'd Mayden face contended
Her grizely Lyons Parts to have amended.

95.Else had unsatiable Harpies, her
Neer Cosen Portents in the Winged Crew
Boldly about this correspondent sphear
With Virgins Looks, and Vultures Tallons flew:
Else the salacious Fauns had here been skipping,
The Satyrs dallying, and the Silvans tripping.

96.Else had that Riddle of Deformity,
That Combination of all foule Disgrace,
Who by the Belly of a Goate doth tie
A Dragons Tail unto a Lyons Face,
Ranged about these Sands, and sought what Prey
Its equall-monstrous Hunger might allay.

97.Hast thou not heard how when old Israels Race
Did through the Tryalls of this Wildernesse
Unto the well-deserving Promise passe,
They fell a Murmuring, because Successe
Posted not on as fast as their Desire,
And yeilding to the Way, began to tire?

98.This made the Just Creator grant Commission
To Vengance, his most trusty Factresse, who
Mounting upon the back of Expedition
Down to the Bottome of the World did goe,
Whose choisest Dens of Horror having ey'd,
Unto Erynni's Grott she turn'd aside.

99.The Fury started, and upon her head
Straight up, stood every Snake: She ne'r till now
Had seen a sight so full of fatall Dread,
Though oft she view'd the deepest Deeps, and though
She daily used for her Looking-glasses
Her correspondent Sisters Monstrous Faces.

100.For in the Strangers furrow'd Brows were sown
The Seeds of everlasting Indignation;
Her Eyes were constant Lightning, flashing down
Upon her fiery Cheeks, and with their Motion
Glancing a more than High-noon-day upon
The frighted Night of that black Region.

101.Her sturdy Breast was made of burning Brasse,
Her massie Arms compos'd of sparkling Steel;
Her adamantine Hands did sway a Mace
Of red-hot Iron; at her Back did dwell
A Quiver stuff'd with forked Bolts of Thunder,
Well-skill'd in tearing Clouds and Rocks in sunder

102.Fear, Anguish, Pain, Astonishment, Dispair,
Dissention, Tumult, War, Plague, Famine, Drought,
Confusion, Poys'nous and Tempestuous Aire,
Eversion, Desolation Crying out,
Wringing of Hands, Gnashing of Teeth, Sighs, Groans,
Soule-gnawing Worms, were her Companions.

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103.So were Schisme, Error, flintie Obduration,
With Pride, and Impudence in Villany,
And She, who though her fairer Garb and fashion
Seen'd to suit more with lovely Company,
Was yet as ranke a Curse as they, for She
Was zealous, but blinde and false sanctitie.

104.But Vengeance spying her Erynnis quake,
Constreind her dreadfull Aspect to remit
Part of its Awfulnesse; and tri'd to speake
As milde as She lookd fierce: yet when She set
Ope her Mouthes fornace, unto all the Cave
Loud Thunder notice of her speaking gave.

105.Feare not, said She, I on an errand come
Which well will suit with thy revengfull thought:
The Sonnes of Jsrael thou know'st, with whom
My Soveraigns Patience long time hath fought:
Indeed He leads them through a Barren Earth,
Bur yet He makes Heav'n bring their Victuals forth.

106.Yet Peevish murmuring they have forc'd Heav'n to
Repent its Kindnesse: Wherefore thou must spare
Some of thy Locks, which I am sent to throw
About that Deserts now devoted Aire;
Where they shall lash the Rebells, till they see
What 'tis to kick at God, and Waken Me.

107.Me, whom soft Mercie long a-sleepe had kept
Upon a Bed which She her selfe had made:
Me, who for ever might in Peace have slept
Did Mortals not take pleasure in this Trade
Of sending up their shamelesse sinnes, to teare
By their bold cry, my most unwilling Eare.

108.Me, who did never move this Hand in vain,
Nor knew what 'twas or Stroke or Aime to lose;
Me, who cannot be charmd a-sleep again
But by the dying Groans of my proud foes;
Me, whose sure Power it selfe full deep did seale
On Lucifer, and ramm'd him downe to Hell.

109.Erynnis glad to heare this Message, tore
Two handfulls of her Tresses from her Head:
Which Vengeance forth with to this Desert bore
And through the trembling Aire their volumes spred;
First having breathed on them warlike fire
Which all their breasts fill'd with mischeivous Ire.

110.No sooner were they tossed up, but they
Perceiv'd themselves increased round about:
Their Tails reach'd out themselves an hideous way,
And from their sides a pair of Wings burst out;
Whose motion puffed and encreas'd the flame
Which over all their monstrous Scales did stream.

111.Their owne Instinct taught them the readiest way
To the rebellious Camp of Israell:
Where seizing strait upon their helplesse Prey,
Their fierie Poyson they so thick did spill,
That all the Hoste had their Burnt-offring been,
Had seasonable Mercie not stepp'd in.

112.Mercie stepp'd in, and by a Contre-plot
Rearing a Brazen Serpent up, did heale
All that were stung with fire, if they would put
Trust in the Medicine of that Spectacle
They gaz'd, and saw their Helpe, but could not prie
Into the bottome of that Mysterie.

113.That crucified Serpent did present
Thy Spouse, who raigning on his Crosse, did by
His potent Dying gallantly prevent
The Plot of Death, which more than He, did dye;
And crush the old red Dragon, who had hurl'd
His monstrous Venome all about the World.

114.And now thou knowst the Pedigree of this
Feirce Portent, which enflames and taints the Aire,
His fierie Looks, and smoking flight confesse
Of what Progenitors He is the Heire.
Thinke now how sweet a Pilgrimage it was
When thy young Lord did through such Monsters pass,

115.Yet ev'n this Passage, Psyche, shall appear
So pretious unto future Saints, that They
Will seeke their Habour no where else but heer,
And make these Sands the Shore where they will lay
Their Vessells safe from all those storms which rage
Upon a secular Lifes unfaithfull Stage.

116.This Passage they will judge a Dedication
Of all this Tract, to holy Privacie,
Where they in undisturbed Contemplation
Of Heav'n, shall sweetly live, and sweetlier die;
Fearing no longer other Monsters, when
They once have reskewed themselves from Men.

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117.Here will they build so strongly-mean a Cell
As shall no Tempest nor no Plunder fear:
Here they with Health and Industry will dwell,
With Pains and Providence, but not with Care:
Here they will importuned Earth intreat
With Herbs or Roots to recompense their Sweat.

118.For neither stub born Flint, nor arid Sand
Their Barrennesses Priviledge will dare
Strictly to urge against the painfull Hand
Of pious Poverty: Those Charters are
Of Natures giving, and must needs give place
Unto the grand Prerogative of Grace.

119.Here will their Eyes not interrupted be
With fond Allurements of the newest Fashions,
Whose Commendation speaks their Vanity,
It being onely built upon Mutations.
Their simple Sackcloth in one cut and guise
To hide their Dust and Ashes will suffice.

120.Here shall no noise of chincking Money be
Rebounded by their Hearts inchanted strings;
That Noise which with such charming Melody
Through all the Worlds unhappy Quarters rings,
And gains more Altars far for Mammon, than
Will unto Heav'n allowed be by Men.

121.Here shall no glancing Eye, no mincing Pace,
No sporting Locks,, no dainty Red and White,
No wanton Dresse, no Tongues melodious Grace,
No bidding Coynesse, no inviting Flight,
Prevail upon their manly Hearts, to brook
The tickling Slavery of a Womans Yoak.

122.Here no Ambition shall puffe up their Breast,
And in their Soule a foolish dropsie raise,
Who by themselves are freely dispossest
Of all those Gardens which can bring forth Bayes,
And live upon a Soil which nothing bears
But Poverty, and Roots, and Sighs, and Tears.

123.Here shall they by no care of Wife and Child
Be call'd away in Conscience from their Prayers,
But shall by Virtues daily Progrese build
Unto the Top of Heav'n their mystick Stayers,
By which they once again the World shall leave,
Nobly rebounding upward from their grave.

124.But now this long Discourss devoured had
The longer Way, and Egypt did draw neer.
Thebai's Fields and Woods, and Towns, were glad
That to the Desert they next Neighbours were,
And to these Strangers might the first afford
Kinde Entertainment, as once to their Lord.

125.When, Loe, said Phylax, now the World grows tame,
And a milde hospitable Prospect yeilds,
These are the outmost skirts of populous Ham
Tufted with Woods, and lac'd with flowrie Fields:
A welcome Harbour to those Pilgrims, who
Have labour'd through this Deserts Sea of Woe.

126.At the last Furrows end thus Rest doth stand
And gently leads the Weary Plowman home:
So hangs the Garland at the Race's end,
Smiling upon the Runners as they come;
So Summer cheers the pined Earth, when she
Has run through Winters totall Tyrannie.

127.Hither this Joseph came; and brought with Him
Far more Salvation, then the Other, though
From Famins Jaws he Egypt did redeem,
And fed seav'n starved years with Corn enough:
Hither He came, and brought with him the Bread
By which the World eternally is Fed.

128.How glad was hee to see his Charge was here
Arrived safe through all those perillous Wayes!
Upon the Childe he look'd, but through a Tear
Of Love and Joy, and paid their Safeties Praise
To him whose Providence had in that wide
Region of Dangers, to his Guides been Guide.

129.Then passing to that Town thou seest there
Which from old Hermes borrowing its Fame,
The title of Hermopolis doth wear,
Neer unto that Religious Tree he came:
The Natives call it Persea, and with high
Esteem its Leaves and Apples magnifie.

130.Observe them well: Each Leafe presents the true
Shape of a Tongue, which talks its whispering part
To every Winde: The dangling Apples shew
The perfect feature of a panting Heart.
O that the World would learn this of the ree,
That with the Tongue, the Heart should joyned be!

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131.Blinde Superstition had hallowed it
To Isi's honour; but the honest Tree
Made bold that fond Relation to forget
When thy great Spouse drew neer: for instantly
With orthodox Devotion pliant grown
Unto the Earth her Head she bowed down:

132.Where she with all her Hearts the Childe ador'd,
And, as she could, with all her Tongues, did sound
His Praise who is of Hearts and Tongues sole Lord.
Then having with her Boughs sweep'd clean the Ground
She rose and gave Him way, yet out she stretch'd
Her Neck, and after him her Arms she reach'd.

133.But when neer to the Cittie Gate he came,
Isis, of stupid Marble made, and there
Set up, and wisely fastned on a Frame
Full as divine a stone as she; with fear
And awe surprised was, and 'gan to quake
At first, and then to bend, and then to break.

134.Poor Idol! which had never Sense till now,
And now feels onely its own Ruine: Down
Tumbles the long adored Goddesse Cow,
Resigning back that Worship to its own
True Lord, which she had long usurped by
The help of Egypts mad Idolatrie.

135.Her fair spred Horns are shatter'd off; her Brow
Bruis'd out of fashion; and quite broke her Neck:
The Dietie advanc'd to Rubbish now
Has Power to help the Country, if in thick
And mirey way dispos'd: which sure is more
Assistance than it ever gave before.

136.Thus when the Reverend Ark of God was set
In Dagons Temple, down the Idoll fell,
And making haste out at the Door to get,
Quite broke his Godship on the stronger Sell;
Where when his Servants entered, they found
The wretched Fish in its own Ruines drown'd.

137.But in the Citties (and the Peoples) Heart
Upon a golden Pillar mounted high
And deck'd with all the wit and Pride of Art
Serapis stood; the Oxe of Majesty;
Whose Glory by a consecrated Crown
Wreathed about his mighty Horns was shown.

138.As in that street the noble Pilgrims went
Enquiring for an Inne; the guilty Beast
His steely Knees, and brasen Body bent,
And by his massie Weight so strongly cast
Himself upon the ground, that to an heap
Of Fragments from his God-head he did leap,

139.The People wonder'd at the Prodigie:
But Joseph and his Virgin Consort knew
To what more powerfull Divinity
The Idoll did his due Obeisance shew.
What by inspired Esays Pen had been
Pointed out long a-forehand, they had seen.

140.He had foretold that into Egypt thy Isa. 19. 1.
Great Spouse should on a swift Cloud mounted ride
And that the Idols should be moved by
His potent Presence; And they soon descri'd
This Cloud to be his Mothers Bosome, where
He shrowed rode the fastest pace of fear.

141.This made good Joseph travell up and down
To spred the Ruine of Idolatry
Through every populous superstitious Town
Which did the Horned Statues Deifie;
His righteous Soule being tortured, to see
That Men should more than Marble stupid be,

142.And wheresoe'r upon Zeals Wings he flew
Equall Successe still bore him company;
Still the infernall Spirits their Lodgings threw
In peeces, as thy mighty Lord drew nigh.
Thou shalt no further goe; but I will tell
Thee here, what Wonders afterward befell.

143.The Heart of Egypt melted down its Breast,
As from their Pillars their vain Gods had done.
The Priests and sage Magitiaus broke their Rest
To finde this Accidents Occasion:
And all one night resolv'd, at counsell met,
To spend their utmost spels and Charms on it,

144.Jannes, a Man both of his Race and Name
Who Moses did oppose, the work began:
'Twas in a Vault, where Days looks never came,
Untroad as yet by any mortall Man
Who was not full as black as they, and made
Solemnly free of their accursed Trade.

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145.In this deep Temple of Infernall Arts
Lighting a Taper temper'd with the Fat
That grew about his Predecessors Hearts,
It in a dead Mans mossie Skull hee set:
The Mists and Stincks long wrestled with the flame,
But at the last the Taper overcame.

146.Then gaping wide, both with his Mouth and Eyes,
He spew'd seav'n solemn Curses on Day-light,
Which though it saw the broken Dieties,
Would not oetect what sacrilegious Might
Had thrown them down: And then those Gods he blest
Whose luck it was in gloomy Holes to rest.

147.For on a Shrine still standing there appeard
Serapis, Isis, and a smokie Rout
Of lester Gods: The Altar was besmear'd
With thick and bloody Gore; and round about
In  [...] fragments lay Cheeks, Noses, Eyes,
Hearts, Shoulders, LIvers, Leggs, Arms, Bowells, Thighs.

148.These hideous Dainties, was the Breakfast for
A Crocodile, which in the Corner lay:
But tain'd by strong Enchantments, durst not stir
When ever to their Magick Bus'nesse they
Address'd themselves. No Monster, but compared
With them, a milde and gentle Thing appeared.

149.The Walls with Leeks and Onyons garnish'd were,
For courteous Egypt had made Gods of these,
And from her well-dung'd Soil reap'd every year
A worthy Crop of young fresh Dieties.
Upon the Reofe did painted Nilus flow,
That God whose bounty makes those other grow.

150.Here Jannes, having thrice wash'd his left Hand,
And stain'd with it Cocytu's Streams, which hee
Had in a Laver by: He takes his Wand,
That Wand which once liv'd on a Cypresse Tree
Planted on Acheron's Bank, but now was made
The deadly Scepter of their Magick Trade.

151.A Scepter unto which the Moon, the Sun,
The Stars, had often stoop'd, and Nature bow'd:
Oft had it turn'd the course of Phlegeton;
Oft had it troubled Hell, and forc'd the proud
Tyrant, for all his Iron Mace, to be
Obedient to its monstrous Witchery,

152.With that hee draws a Circle on the Floor;
(Spred thick with Ashes of a funerall Pile,)
Which with strange Lines, and Hooks, and Forks, and Store
Of shapeless shapes and Figures he doth fill,
Wilde Heiroglyphicks, stark mad Characters,
Whil'st each Draught with his Neighbour snarls and jarrs.

153.Into this Hell of scratches in steps hee,
(Almost as strange a thing as it,) and there
Three groans he gave, three times he bow'd his Knee;
He thrice with blood besprinkled his Left Eare;
Three times he strooke the ground, and mumbled o'r
The Monsters hee had written there before.

154.Then lifting up his hollow Voice, hee cri'd,
By Jannes and by Jambres our great Sires;
By Pharaohs adamantine Soul, which tri'd
A fall with Israels God; By all those Fires
Which we have on your Altars layd, and them
Which in black Styx or Erebus doe swim:

155.By these profound mysterious Notes which I
Have figured here; by dread Tyfiphone,
By stern Alecto, and Megera; by
Huge Cerberns his Heads Triplicity;
By Hells wide open Gates; by the divine
Scepters of Pluto, and of Proserpine.

156.By your own Heads, who onely here have your
Safe Sanctuary found; I you conjure
Serapis, Isis, and each lesser Power,
No longer your dishononr to endure.
What boots it here to be a standing God,
If ev'n the best of You falls down abroad:

157.For from Hermopolis unfortunate Gate
Ruine set forth, and boldly made her Prey
On every publick Dietie, whose fate
It was to stand in her devouring Way.
Whence comes this Down-fall of Religion? What
Has spred amongst the Gods this deadly Rot?

158.Let Me but know, and I will make Heav'n bow
And kisse the feet of Hell: the Center I
Will in the face of scornfull Phebus throw,
And at high noon with Midnight choke the Skie:
But I will be reveng'd for you, and make
(Though they be all the World) your Enemies quake,

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159.Here the black foam stopp'd up his Mouth; and He
With griezly ghastly face, with staring Eyes,
With Breast tormented by Anxiety,
With languid Arms and Hands, with quivering Thighs,
Expect the Issue of his Charms to see,
And what his Oracles Reply would be.

160.When loe, (for then thy Spouse was comming nigh
That very place) a hideous Groan did fill
The mourning Vault, which was rebounded by
So strong an Earthquake, that the Idolls fell,
And by their prostrate fragments in the Cave
Did their own Temple turn into their Grave.

161.Scarcely had Jannes and his frighted Crew
Time to escape the Rume of their Gods:
But being out, their Books away they threw
In indignation, and brake their Rods;
And having nothing else whereon to poure
Their Spight, their lipps they bit, their hair they tore.

162.His secret Vengance thus thy Little Lord
Sheath'd in the Bowells of Idolatry,
Whil'st puzzeld Egypt never saw the Sword,
Nor knew for whom it reap'd this Victory.
The Angel thus of old their First-born slew,
When undiscerned through the Land He flew.

163.Mean while fell Herod busie was about
The matchless Master-peice of Tyranny:
Which how it was Conceived, and how Brought
Forth, the dull Vulgar's Ey 's too dim to see,
For it was hatch'd as low as Hell: But I
To thee will ope all the black Mystery.

164.Mischievous were that Prince's Counsells: But
Proud Lucifer had deeper Plots than He
And fear'd his Crown more than did Herod, at
The new-born Kings high-fam'd Discovery;
For in his ears the Shepheards Storie rung,
And the strange Musick of the Christmas Song.

165.The Mouth of Thunder never yet had spoke
Such Terror to his Soul, as those soft Notes,
Which tun'd to Joy's and Peace's Key, had broke
From the sweet Nests of those bright Angels Throats.
Nor was this Omen all: for He had spi'd
That Eastern Star which did the Wisemen guide.

166.No Light did ever fright Him so, but that
Whose Darts did throw him headlong from the Top
Of Heav'ns sublimest Pinnacle, and shut
Him up in deepest Night: where He keep'd shop
And every sort of sinfull Wares did sell
To those who with their Soules will purchase Hell.

167.For now he knew his Trade would never thrive,
And that few Chapmen would delight to buy;
So long as that great Infant was alive,
With whose more profitable Diety
Shepheards and Kings to traffick had begun,
And taught the World which way for Gains to run

168.Ten thousand Spawns of his deep plotting Brain
He tumbles o'r, yet none could please his Eye:
Again hee Thinks, and yet Dislikes again:
But Vow's at last, how e'r, thy Spouse shall die.
He Vow's by his own Head, and seeks some Fiend
Who might dispatch the Businesse to his minde.

169.A Rock there stands neer to Cocytu's Bank
Which to the River opes its monstrous Jaws,
Sucking no other Breath, but what the rank
And Sulphury Vapour of that Water throws
Into its Mouth, which far more venomous makes
The steaming Poyson that from thence it takes.

170.In winding Holes, and ragged Corners there
Whole Families of Adders, Vipers, Snakes,
Asps, Basilisks, and Dragons dwelling are,
Whose constant and confounding Hissing makes
The Language of that Mouth, and plainly tells
What kinde of Prodigie beyond them dwells.

171.The Throat sticks thick with bones of Leggs and Arms
Which ravenous Haste had there left by the Way;
With undigested Heaps the Stomack swarms
Which in that Sink and Den of Murder lay;
In whose immeasurable Bottome stood
A reeking Lake of young and guiltless Blood.

172.But at the Cavern, where the Heart should lie,
Was hung a sevenfold Door of massie Brass,
Plated with Adamant, and conjur'd by
A thousand Bars and Locks, to let no crosse
Mischance peep in; besides as many Seals
Treading on one anothers crowded heels.

[Page 129]
173.Above, a Watch-tower was, erected high,
Windows full; where Linx stood night and day:
Before the Door an hundred Doggs did lie,
Upon whose ears no sleep did ever prey:
Next them, as many Cocks; and next to these
A vigilant Company of trusty Geese.

174.Within were dark Meanders, dammed up
By frequent Doors, and by their Porters too,
Whose office never was to set them ope,
But see that not so much as Thought should goe
That way: They oft put out their Lights, for fear
Some cunning Beam might spie a Cranny there.

175.Before the inmost Gate, a mighty Moat
The Palace far from Dangers did divide:
No Bridge it knew, and but one single Boat,
In which no more than one at once could ride;
And this unto the shore fast Pris'ner was
Under a Chain of Steel, and Lock of Brasse.

176.Upon that shore in due Array was set
With Weapons ready drawn, a treble Watch,
That no Disturbance might presume to put
Its finger forth, or touch the jealous Latch:
They with a loud alarm all roused were
If but the Image of a Noise came there.

177.But in that House, so dark and so profound
That Hell it selfe seems there sunk down in Hell;
A Thing, ô how much more than Monster, drown'd
Yet deeper in torturings, did dwell.
One who had chose Disquiet for her Rest,
One who all Furies is to her own breast.

178.Suspition is her Name: Full is her Head
Of thoughtfull Eyes, which alwaies learning seem,
And alwaies wide ope; for they know no Lid
Which might twixt Labour interpose and them.
They look on Sleep, as on a treacherous Thing
Who might bring Dangers under his black Wing.

179.But chiefly upon One Another they,
Their jealous and misgiving Glances throw;
And 'cause they can no grounds of fear bewray,
Of the more deep-layd Dangers fearfull grow:
And whil'st they all thus mutually stare,
Each bids his brother of himselfe beware.

180.Her large thin Ear stood always prick'd upright
To catch each Sound and Whisper that came neer:
Sometimes, as her own Fancie took its flight
But through her head, she thought some Noise was there,
Her hollow Cheeks had gaped long for meat,
But Doubts and Fears forbad her still to eat.

181.In every Dish and Cup she seem'd to see
Some Poysonsliely laid in Ambushment.
Alas, and could there any Venome be
So venomous as she, who might have lent
New power to Dragons stings; and mad each field
Of Thessaly, fairer Cropps of Poyson yeild.

182.Her Garments were inpenetrable Steel,
Of the same Temper with great Satans shield:
A brazen Buckler did her left Hand fill.
And in her right, a mighty Sword she held:
Weapons with which she never did entend
To fight, but onely her own Head defend,

183.Her Chair had fourty iron Feet; which all
Where double nayled to the ground; Yet she
Beleeved not but still the Seat might fall
By sudden undermining Treachery:
This made her seldome sit; and when she did,
Over her shoulder still she turn'd her Head.

184.No Morning pass'd, but some on Work she set
To make her new Keyes; being jealous still
Her Foes might patterns of her old ones get.
Seav'n times a moneth she changed her broad Seal;
As her own Selfe she would have done, had she
Known how to alter her Deformity.

185.With contradicting Thoughts her Breast did rise;
Which were no sooner liked, but rejected:
She boulted every Counsell twise or thrice,
And what did surest seem, she most suspected.
Oft would she skip and fling about, and start.
Sometimes at the meer Motion of her Heart.

186.An Oath of strict Allegiance thrice a day
She forc'd her numerous Family to take;
And chang'd their Offices as oft, least they
Themselves too strong for her Commands might make.
Strange Officers, yet fitting to attend
Upon so true and Soveraign a  [...]

[Page 130]
187.The first was tall and, big-bon'd Cowardize
Whose lazy Neck upon her shoulders lay,
And both her Hands upon her Head; her Eyes
Were alwayes winking least the dint of Day
Should them surprise; between her leggs she hid
Her Taile, which, as it touch'd them, shivered.

188.Next Her, stood Crueltie, supported by
Advantage; in her Hands all Engins were
And fell Inventions of Tyrannie:
What Hooks, what Forks, what Whips, what Racks were there,
What Insultation, what Wrath, what War,
What Wounds, what Salvagnesse, what Massacre!

189.Close in the Corner stood pale Thoughtfulnesse,
Upon whose lips fast sealed Silence sate:
Her businesse was a thousand things to guesse;
She stamp'd, her head she scratch'd, her breast she beat,
Her wearied Eyes she nailed on the ground,
And in her endlesse selfe, her selfe she drown'd.

190.About the Room ran furious Discontent,
And when all others did escape her War,
She wag'd it with her selfe; her Clothes she rent,
Her cheeks she gashed, and she tore her hair:
But Malice ssiely crept, and dealt her spight
Unto her Neighbours in a secret Fight.

191.Yet slippery Guile was nimbler than the rest:
Her quaint Attire was of Chamelions skins;
She in two minutes could become at least
An hundred Virtues and as many Sins,
All Polypusse's feet she had, and was
Fortunes true Echo, Proteu's looking-glasse.

192.With Her, was complementall Flatery,
With silver Tongue, and more than golden Words:
Her hand she alwayes kiss'd, and bent her knee,
But in her Mantle hid two poys'ned swords.
Of these, and thousand others like to them,
Did foule Suspition her house-hold frame.

193.When Lucifer had raked many Dens
And found no Fury furious enough
To manage his Designe; at last he runs
Down to this sinck; where as He 'gan to show
His sulphury face, the Porters quickly knew
Their Sultan, and the Gates wide open threw.

194.The Boat flew from its chain to meet His feet
And wafted Him unto the Privy Watch;
Down fell their Swords; up went their Hands, to greet
Their Soveraigns Comming, and to draw the Latch:
Suspition started as they op'd the Door,
And wonder'd why her Doggs bark'd not before.

195.But dread and Awe had stopp'd their Mouthes, as now
They seal'd Hers too, to see grand Lucifer:
She fear'd the worst; and thought that in his brow
She read some lines of Wrath and Spight to Her.
But He wip'd from his Lips the Fire and Smoake,
And, with a Kisses Preface, thus He spoke.

196.Madame, be not afraid, for well I know
And love my Friends, and thou art one of them;
Witnesse that mighty Trust which I will now
Treasure in Thee; it is my Diadem,
My Diadem is lost, if thou dost not
Procure Destruction to Maries Brat.

197.Herod will doe his best, (I know him well,)
If he be aided by thy Inspiration;
There's not an Heart that lives, where more of Hell
Has taken up its earthly habitation:
Adde but thy Power, and He will be compleat,
And bravely venture on the barbarous Feat.

198.Thy Handmayd Cruelty alone will be
Sufficient; take but Her along, and goe.
When Thou that Baby-Gods Blood bring'st to Me,
I'le plant a Crown upon thy worthy Brow,
And set Thee on an ever-burning Throne,
Wher thou shalt raign Queen of Perdition.

199.Glad was the Hag to hear the businesse, and
Promis'd her Lord her utmost Faith and Care;
Who laying on her head his sooty Hand,
Cri'd, Take Hells Blessing with Thee, ô my Dear,
Successe attend thy Loyalty, and may,
Heav'ns envious Tyrant not disturb thy way.

200.Forthwith, through Asphaltite's odious Lake
She tore her Path, and in the mid'st boil'd up:
The Sulphure started, and the Banks did shake,
Down to the Bottome fled the frighted Top;
That most victorious Stinck which there did dwell
Till now, could not endure Her stronger Smell.

[Page 131]
201.Horror on all the Elements did seize,
And taught the rest, aswell as Earth, to quake.
Blasting deflour'd the Medows, and the Trees;
Her Noise a thousand Witche's Ghosts did wake,
And made the Night-ravens croke, the Scritchowles squeek
The Dogs houle, & the fatall Mandraks shriek.

202.All Men and Beasts fled from her frightfull Face;
And Heav'n it selfe would fain have run away,
Had it but known of any other Place
Besides its own, where to have turn'd that Day.
Yet Phebus made a shift to lurk and crow'd
His Eye behinde the Curtaine of a Cloud.

203.But when she mark'd how Nature shunn'd her sight,
She with Invisibility array'd
Her selfe, and, unsuspected as the Light,
To He [...]ods Palace stole; where Care had layd
The Tyrant fast asleep; Into whose breast
Her Consort, and her Selfe the Fury thrust.

204.As when a Viper squeas'd into his Bowle
By Treasons secret hand, a heedlesse King
Drinks down; the Poyson in his Guts doth roule,
And with a War of Pangs his Entrails wring:
So did this Monster with tempestuous Smart,
Rage in the Bowells of fell Herods Heart.

205.A thousand Fancies and selfe-thwarting Fears
Ran through his Soul, and chas'd Sleep from his Eyes:
When, starting up, his griezly Beard He tears,
And round about his Chamber cursing Flies:
He curs'd Himselfe, and Heav'n, and all its Stars,
But chiefly that which pointed out his fears.

206.Have I, said He, thus long attended on
My petty Businesse, whil'st my Crown and Head
Lie at the Stake! Have I let Treason run
And gather strength upon my life to tread!
Fie Herod, fie! Wert thou that onely He
Who did a Scepter count Felicity!

207.What Madnesse made Thee suffer those bold Kings
Who blaz'd the Birth of the Jessean Prince,
To prate in Salem of such dangerous Things!
Hadst thou not fire and sword to chase them thence!
Could not thy flaming Steel have shined far
More potently than their enchanting Star?

208.But all the Furies stings are due to thee,
For trusting their bare Word, for their Return.
Art thou that famous King of Policie
Who by thy Brain didst for thy Temples earn
The Crown they wear! and canst thou cosen'd be
By three old doting Mens poor subtilty?

209.See now how for thy credulous Courtesie
Thou art repayd: Those Kings the News have spred
Through all the Regions of Arabie;
And by a joint consent have made an head
To tear fool'd Herod from his Throne, and set
That Infant, as a wiser Prince, on it.

210.Me thinks I smell the Battell drawing neer,
And see the Veng'ance of my carelesse Brain;
Me thinks the Thunder of their Arms I hear,
And see their Lightning flashing on the Plain:
Me thinks the Aire about my Ears doth ring
The shouted Name of Israels new-born King.

211.The Superstitious Priests will all comply
With the new Powers against despised Me,
And triumph that their reverend Prophesie
In my dethroning They fulfilled see.
My Idumean Stock too well they know,
And much adoe I had to make them bow.

212.As for the giddy Multitude whom I
Have with an heavy Scepter pressed down,
All Change to them will seem Felicity,
Who all Conditions like before their own:
But when Religion calls to Innovation,
What Banks can curb a popular Inundation?

213.My Nobles all will take the stronger side
In hopes to serve a gentler Prince than I:
Good store of Coin they have to loose, with wide
And fair possessions, which will closely tie
Them to the Eastern Powers, and make them run
With them to idolize the Rising Sun.

214.Heav'n is a Thing which owes Me no good Will,
Nor have I reason to expect its aid;
'Twas ever my Desire, and is so still,
To be mine own God: I confesse I layd
Some Moneyes out upon the Temple, but
To mine own Ends I dedicated it.

[Page 132]
215.None have I left to trust but onely Thee,
O Thou my high and once Heroick Heart!
Why may not some exploit of Crueltie
Heightned beyond Example make Fate start?
Why may not Herod's Sword cut out that Leaf
Of Destinie which doth enroll his Grief?

216.It must and shall be so: I will not own
A Tyrants Name for Nothing: let the Head
Of Caesar weare the Worlds Imperiall Crown
With love and gentleness embellished;
So I may safely reign, and shew this Age
The King of Wrath, and Emperour of Rage.

217.And let Heav'ns Soveraigne thank himself, if I
Torment him with a stouter sin, than yet
In his scorn'd face from Earth did ever flie:
Who bid Him wake my Fears? Who bid Him set
An ominous Comet to out-stare my Rest,
And light Warrs journey hither from the East?

218.From two years old and under, every Childe
That breaths in Bethleem, and the Quarters round
(That of my purpose I be not beguild)
Shall be my sacrifice: and if no Wound
Amongst all those can finde my Rivalls Heart,
Then let Him scape; I shall have done my part.

219.But sure it cannot miss: And then I wonder
What can the vain Arabian forces doe:
If the foundation once be split in sunder,
On in their building they will never goe;
If I their Infant in his Budde doe crop,
Surely the dangerous floure will ne'r grow up.

220.This said. He nodds his speciall servant, (one
Who might have Engine been to Pluto, and
The deadliest bus'ness of all Hell have done,)
Who joying in his Soveraigns Command,
The black Commission writ, which was to be
In blood transcribed by the Souldierie.

221.For Herod had an armed Crew, which He
With mighty Care and Cost had pick'd and chose
From Idumea, Scythia, Barbarie;
Men ruder than their Countries; all sworne Foes
Unto Humanitie; their Looks of Brass,
Their Hands of Steel, their Heart of Marble was.

222.As practiz'd Tigres in the Theatre
Let loose unto their keen and hungry spight,
With dreadfull joy hast to their wished War;
Where, with their looks the helpless slaves they fright
Out of their lives, and then their Bodies tear,
Slaying again what first they kill'd by fear.

223.So did these Caytiffs unto Bethleem run
With Knives and Fauchions arm'd, and with their more
Inhumane Weapon, their Commission,
Counting Delay their Torment. With a Roar
They entered the Town, and could not choose
But signifie all Hell was now broke loose.

224.There they, in Herods Name proclaim, that they
By Him were sent a punctuall List to take
Of all the Infants which from such a Day
In Bethleem and its Coasts were born: for lack
Of every ones appearance, threatning to
The Infant Death, and to the Mother Woe.

225.These Summons through the Town and Country flew,
And when the next Days Sun had reach'd its height,
Into the Market place all Mothers drew
Who in their Arms their tender Burdens brought:
A Sight which might all Beasts unbarbarize,
Yet drew no Pitry from these Souldiers Eys.

226.For they a Watch at every corner set,
And then with all Extremities of Rage
Their monstrous Charge in Execution put.
The Sun's Eye never yet beheld a Stage
So full of Tragedies, nor Hell spred forth
In such a salvage Pageant on the Earth.

227.In vain the lamentable Mothers Cries
And Tears, and Prayers, and loud Expostulations
Mix'd with their Infant Shrieks; although the Skies
They fill'd, and rent with their strong Exclamations:
For still the unrelenting Souldiers Ear
Nothing but Herod's fell Command would hear.

228.Their Preys they by the Arme, or Leg, or Head
From their softe native Sanctuaries tore;
Whose blood as in that barbarous strife they shed,
They daub'd the Mothers with the Childrens gore,
And then their Bowells in their faces threw:
Sure they had none, who thus could others shew.

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229.The Townsmen who this Massacre beheld,
Could lend no Succour to the Infant's Crie;
By stiffe Astonishment some being kill'd,
Others by cruell Fear enforc'd to flie,
Not knowing but the Souldiers dire Commission
Might adde the Fathers to their Babes Perdition.

230.Heer Sarah kiss'd an Arm, Rebecca there
A Legg; all that was left of eithers Son:
Heer Rachel Earth, and Air, and Heav'n did tear
With her impatient Lamentation,
Having but two bemangled Hands to show
Of those sweet Tiwnns which suck'd her breast but now.

231.Thus this most harmless flock of tender Lambs
A woefull Heap of fragments did become,
Their milkie fleeces, and their whiter Names
Being dyed deep in rubie Martyrdome:
Thus  [...] Rama, now made childeless  [...],
Thus all the Market was to Shambles turn'd.

232.One Nurse was there, who when the Souldier caught
Her Infant by the throat, cri'd out, Beware,
This is great Herods Sonne; and if you doubt,
An hundred Witnesses heer ready are.
She cri'd; but e'r she had pronounc'd that Word,
The Intants Heart was bleeding on the Sword.

233.Thus provident Veng'ance met the Tyrant in
The forefront of his Crime, whilst blinded by
His hasty Fears, his Rage he doth begin
At his own Bowells: Herod's Sonne must die,
And Heavn's escape the Sword, though He alone
Was the aime of this vast destruction.

234.This, when the slaughter Fame at Rome had told,
And Cesars ear with just amazement fill'd
Made Him crie out: Were I to chuse, I would
Be Herod's Hog much rather than his Child.
But Cesar knew not what the Babe did gaine,
Nor that He now more than himself did reign.

235.These roseall Budds of early Martyrdome
Transplanted were to Paradise, and there
Beyond the reach of Herod, did become
Floures of eternall bliss, whose Temples are
Imbrac'd with crowns of joy, whose hands with Palms
Whose eyes with beams, whose tongues are fill'd with psalms.

236.But now the Blood-hounds back to Hered went
And brandish'd on their stained Swords the Sign
Of their owne guilt. The sight gave high content
To their fell Soveraign, hoping the Divine
Infant was now destroyd, and that his Crown
In spight of all Arabia was his own.

237.Yet to make sure (for in a Tyrants breast
Suspition like the Vulture faind to gnaw
On Tytiu's Soul, makes its eternall feast,)
The Jews he summons by a rigid Law
Without the least exception, to swear
Allegiance unto Him, and to his Heir.

238.Alas, He little thought his slaughterd Son
Was now become a stronger Foe, than those
Arabian Kings his own Suspition
Had arm'd against himselfe; or that there rose
From the massacred Babes, a mighty Band
Which scornd the power both of his Head &  [...]

239.For now these Infants Blood to Heav'n did send
A louder Crie than had their Mothers done:
Nor doth the great Creators Justice lend
A readier Ear to any Plantiffs Moan,
Than unto this: although Mortality
Belongs to Man, Mans Blood can never  [...]

240.Next neighbour to the Dead Seas poys'nous shore
There stands a gloomy Grove, where cheerly Day
Had never roome to shew her face, such store
Of Box, Yew, Cypress, dammed up her way;
Whose fatall Brows and Branches every where
With Owls, and Batts, and Ravens impeopled  [...]

241.Beside, a sturdie Mist of Stincks doth stick
Upon the wretched Air, and her defloure
Unwholsome Vapors gathering black and thick
Drop morn and ev'n into a venomous shour,
Where drunk up by the cursed Earth below
It makes the Hemlocks and the Poppy grow.

242.Amidst these dismall shades, is sunk a Cave,
At whose black Door, uncessant Cries, and  [...]
And Ejulations the Office have
Of never sleeping Porters: all the Stones
Hang thick with Tears, being mov'd to that Com­passion
By the sad Genius of their Habitation,

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243.The Mistresse of the House doth alway lie
Upon her weary Bed; which hedged in
By melancholick Curtains, doth supply
The Graves dark Office, and aforehand 'gin
To teach her what her Coffin ment, and what
Her Herse, which ready by her Couch were set.

244.Her Pillows were of softest Down, but yet
On churlish Thorns and Stones she seem'd to lie:
Oft did she rosse and turn and tumble, but
Could never shift her sturdy Griefe, which by
That Motion onely wakened was, and did
But gather strength to roll about the Bed.

245.Shootings, and Megrims raged in her Head,
A desperate squinsey dammed up her throat,
The tawny Jaundise in her Eyes was spred,
The Tooth-ache of her Jaws full Power had got,
Stark-raving Madnes sate upon her Tongue,
Ten thousand Cramps her shrivel'd Body wrung.

246.The Fever, Colick, Griping, Strangury,
Gout, Apoplexie, Scurvy, Pestilence,
Stone, Rupture, Phthisis, Dropsie, Plurisie,
Flux, Surfet, Asthma, and the confluence
Of all divided Deaths, united were
In one strange Masse, and learn'd to live in Her.

247.The odious Scab, the ever-gnawing Itch,
The stinging Bile, the wasting Leprosie
The banefull Pocks, the Wolf and Canker (which
On her make fat their dreadfull Luxury,)
Conspire with every sort of horrid Sore
To clothe her round with most infectious Gore.

248.Pots, Papyrs, Glasses, sweet and stinking Things,
Were marshal'd on a Cup-bord standing by,
Which Physick brought to ease those Pangs and Stings,
Or at the least cure her own Poverty.
Costly Additions unto Pain were these,
And onely eas'd the Purses Plurisies.

249.For though full many a dear Docter there
Talk'd words as strange as her Diseases; yet
Her pertinacious Torments would not hear
Either there Druggs of Nature or of Wit,
Nor minde their Stories, or regard at all
Their Oracles out of the Urinall.

250.Her whining Kindred stood about the Bed,
And, though, alas, her case were too too plain,
With tedious Love, still ask'd Her, how she did.
Heaping that Crambe on her other Pain:
Their fond Remembrances would never let
Her any one of all her Pangs forget.

251.Down to this Loathsome She, sterne Justice came;
Tall was her Person and her Looks were high,
Strength in her martiall Sinews made its home,
Darts of keen fire did stream from either Eye;
For she, what e'r Men Fancy, Eyes can finde;
Alas, Earths Justice, and not Heav'ns, is blinde.

252.Her right Hand held a Sword of two-edg'd flame,
Her left a Ballance: in one Scale did lie
A mighty Masse inscrib'd with Herods Name,
A Masse of Pride and bloody Tyranny,
Which press'd it down to Hell: Mean while the other
Fill'd with vain Winde, flew up and left its Brother,

253.When Sicknesse (for that was the Furies Name)
Beheld her Soveraign Queen, she rais'd her Head,
And to obeysance did her Body frame:
Black Streams of poys'nous Gore straight issued
From all her Sores, and with outragious stinck
Ran down into her Beds contagious sink.

254.Up up, said Justice, and be dress'd apace;
I on an earnest errand thee must send:
Time was when thou a tedious Way did'st trace
At Hells and envious Lucifers Command;
Usurpers, which have no just power on thee;
'Tis fit thou doe as much for Heav'n and Me.

255.Unto the Land of Uz they made thee run,
And poure the bottome of thy whole despight;
Upon the reverend Body of a Man
Which was with matchlesse Purity bedight,
More fair and bright was Job in Heav'ns esteem,
Than thou to Earth did'st make him Horrid seem.

256.He heap'd this Scale as full of Virtue, as
Fell Herod has replenish'd it with Vice:
That empty one, so lightly hovering, was
His Score of faults, but meer Vacuities;
Thin as the Aire, which though it dusky be
Sometimes with Clouds, regains its purity

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257.See now thou recompence that Injury
By righteous Vengance upon Herod: Loe
There unbridle thy Extremitie,
And give thee leave in free carreer to goe.
Goe then, and fully use thy full Command;
His Body and his Life are in thy Hand.

258.So spake the Queen of everlasting Dread,
And in her Black Cloud mounted home again.
When Sicknes leaping from her nasty Bed,
And in feirce haste forgetting her own Pain,
Furnish'd her self with every bitter sting
Which most might torture the Condemned King.

259.Then to her gloomy Chariot she went,
Which of a poisnous Vapour framed was:
Her speed was headlong, so was her Intent,
And into Herods Court she soon did presse;
For she by no slow paced Coursers Drawn.
But by a pestilentiall Blast was blown.

260.Unseen she came, and did so sliely guide
Her stealing Chariots silent Wheels, that she
Quite down the Tyrants cursed throat did glide
As does his unsuspected Breath, which he
Lets in to fan his heart: But this Blast came
Qute to blow out, and not to puff his flame,

261.Yet e'r it blew it out it strove to frie
His black Soule in the fornace of his Breast.
Torthwith his Entrails sing'd and scalded by
An hidden fire, frighted away his Rest:
He would have rise, but strait he felt his Pains
Had with their Fire-branes mixed heavy Chains.

262.His Strength deceiv's him, and his Bed is now
His onely throne, where he the King doth raign
Of mighty Torments; all his Bowells  [...]
Exulcerated with deep-gnawing Pain;
And Water swelling underneath his Skin
Adds scoffing torture to the fire within.

263.His shamfull Parts are made more odious by
Right down Corruption, which grew fertile there
With monstrous Vermin, whose impatient frie
Their most unpittied Prey aforehand tear;
The leisure of his grave they scorn'd to stay,
But undermine his Heart, and eat their way.

264.And yet a Worm far worse then those, was got
Thither before, which did his Conscience gnaw;
To stisle which, long did He labour; but
The trusty Torment still did stronger grow,
And wound about his guilty Soule so close,
That no Inventions power could get it loose.

265.His Sinews shrunk, and all his Joynts forgot
The ready service of their wonted motions.
The Aire which He had long defil'd would not
Wait on his Lungs, but frequent Suffocations
Forc'd him to die as many deaths, as He
Indebted stood for by long Tiranny.

266.Oft did he call his Freinds; but neither they
Nor his Physitians durst come neer his Bed:
For his hell-breathing stinck obstructs the way
To Physick and to Freindship. Never did
The Feinds below more loud for Pitty crie,
Nor finde lesse comfort for their Misery.

267.The dismall scene of Bethlehem-slaughter now
Was open layd unto his burning Soule;
The running shreiking Mothers there he saw,
And all the Infants Blood; which seem'd to roule
Into his Bosome in a violent stream;
Yet not to quench, but to augment the flame.

268.An hundred Furies at hot contestation
Which first upon his bloody Heart should seize,
With Hells wide mouth, and the grand Preparation
To entertain him there; at large he sees:
And seems to hear all Ages poure a stream
Of cursing Detestations on his Name.

269.To Heav'n He would not, and he could not cry,
But let the reins loose to wilde Desperation:
And now resolved once for all to die,
Contrives how He might his owne murther fashion,
And by his never-daunted cruelty
Upon himselfe conclude his Tyrannie.

270.He thought of Poyson: but He had no friend
Who would that cruell Courtesie supply:
Besides, he fear'd no Venome could contend
With his extreemly-posnous Malady.
At length by woefull Fortune, He  [...]
His Fauchion hanging by his  [...] side,

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271.Which as He snatch'd, a venturous Page ran in
And stopp'd the stroke: but could not stop his throat,
Which straight He opened to an equall Sin
And in the face of Heav'n spew'd out his hot
Impatient Blasphemies; next which, He threw
His Courses upon all the World he knew.

272.Mean while, to prison, where his Son in Chains
He kept, the false News of his death was spred:
Which whil'st Antipater gladly entertains,
His Smiles became the price of his own head.
Herod but heard he smil'd, and now the Worms
Had eat his Bowells, at his Son he storms.

273.Yet shall that Villan know that I, said He
Have Life and Rage enough Him to destroy.
Now by these finall Spirits which pant in me
I swear, His Life shall answer for his Joy.
Fetch me his Heart, that with these Vermin here
Their fellow-trayter, I, all torn, may tear.

274.Their fellow-trayter, and their Fellow-Son,
For from my Body sprung both He and They;
And both conspire in my destruction,
By Gnawing they, by smiling He. Away,
Fetch me his Heart, that having bless'd mine Eye
With that deare sight, I may the cheerlyer dy.

275.Yet not content with this sole Sacrifice
To his vast fury; he contrives a way
How all his Nobles to his Obsequies
No lesse than all their Blood and lives might pay:
That Sighs and Tears might wait upon his Herse,
If not for his own Death, at least for theirs

276.But Heav'n prevented this fell Plot; and He
Now having five dayes liv'd, and felt his Death,
No Prayers, but his wonted Blasphemy
Repeated, and blew out his finall breath.
So an old Dragon when his Spirits flit,
Breaths his last Poyson, and his Life with it.

277.Hell had his Soul no sooner swallowed
But pious Josephs Angel hither came;
And as the Saint lay on his sober Bed,
Painted the News unto Him in his Dream:
Bidding Him now return to Jewry, where
The storm was over, and the Coast grown clear.

278.Thus did th' Angel his own Word fulfull,
And justifie the Prophets Vision;
For great Hosea did of old fore-tell
That out of Egypt God had call'd his Son.
Joseph awakes, and unto Mary shews
The long-expected, and now welcome News.

279.His thrifty House-hold-stuffe then packing up,
And tenderly providing for his dear
And mighty Charge; He makes no doubt or stop,
(A pious Breast allows no room for fear
When e'r Heav'n summons it:) but cheerly sets
Onward his Way, before the Day permits.

280.For now the Morn lay long before she rose,
And dull Aquarius would not wake the Sun
Till it was late. Thus did thy hardy Spouse
In the Years most disconsolate Portion
His journey take; and teach Thee what to doe
At any time when Heav'n shall bid Thee goe.

281.This the Ninthe Winter was, which seal'd the Earth
With Ice, and covered his Seal with Snow,
Since by his own, to Wonders He gave Birth,
Who in a Soil most like to that did grow:
Bate but the cold and churlish Qualities,
And what's a Virgins Womb, but Snow and Ice?

282.This Age had more inabled Him to bear
A speedy Journey, and did much allay
The scruples of his tender Parents Care;
Who now with greater haste devour'd their way,
Than when to Egypt they did pick their Path;
And thus, in peace, reach'd their old Nazareth.

283.Their Nazareth; for sacred Prophesies
By adamantine Bands are surely tied
To their Effects: The Fire shall sooner freeze,
All Mettalls in a Bank of Snow be tried,
The Sun because of Night, of Drought the Rain,
Then Falsehood any Prophets Tongue can stain.

284.Those quick-ey'd Seers long agoe had seen
His Habitation there; and had foretold
His humble Surname should be, Nazarene:
A Name of holy Dignity of old,
Which sate fair on all pious Heads, untill
It was out-shined by the Christian Stile.

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285.And, Psyche, what should We doe longer here!
Come let Us follow their deare Steps, and see
Some further Marvells of thy Spouse, and where
He prosecuted Loves sweet Mystery.
This said: He gave his Steeds the Rains, and they
Together with the Winde snuff'd up their Way.

PSYCHE: OR LOVES MYSTERIE. CANTO IX. The Temptation.

ARGUMENT.

IN the dead Desert, Love; Whom salvage Beasts
Acknowledged, by eager Famin is
Assail'd, who forty Dayes upon Him feasts;
To her sharp Teeth, slie Satan joyneth his
Soft Tongue; yet both their utmost Powers, set
But ope the way unto their own Defeat.

1.WHat reach of Reason e'r could Fadome, why
Slight Dust and Ashes, vile Corruptions Son,
The Heir apparent to the Misery
Which lives in Death, and blends Destruction
With all its Life, the Worms own uterine Brother,
The Modell of all Blots and Spots together,

2.Should so inamour Heav'n, as to obtain
The Dignity of highest Favorite;
And in his Makers grace so freely raign,
That They should service doe to Him, whose bright
Extraction no acquaintance knows with Earth,
Nor did Pollution e'r defloure their Birth;

3.Had not Almighty Love vouchsaf'd to take
This lump of Clay and mould Himselfe in it:
By which intire Conjunction He did make
The totall Masse of worthlesse Vilenesse fit
To sit on Honors Throne, and there receive
The Service Angells blush not now to give.

4.For now the Heav'ns are well content to spare
Part of their Quire to wait on Us below,
Knowing their Masters Brethren sojourne here,
Who by their very Dust that Kindred show:
Thus is our Badge of shame advanc'd to be
The stamp of our sublime Nobility.

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5.In love and reverence to Jesus, who
Upon the loftiest Crest of all Creation
Has fix'd for ever our poor Nature, so
That under her high feet, full Adoration
Has room to kneel, their ready Service they
Ev'n to the meanest of his Kins-folks pay.

6.How little think vain Kings, who build their Pride
On th' arm'd Protection of their numerous Guard,
The simplest of their Slaves are dignifi'd
With Heav'ns illustrious Hoste, who watch and ward
Their severall Charges, which though scorned things
Below, are yet above design'd for Kings.

7.With Arms displayed, and with open Breast
They stand to catch Us when we falling are
Into this hard and dangerous Life; and least
The Fall should hurt Us, with their softest Care
They stir their Fethers up, that in that Bed
Of Sweetnesse we may rest our infant Head,

8.Alas our other Nurses help were vain,
So were our Mothers tenderest Care, did These
Dear Fosterers not help them to maintain
Their proper Parts: And though those chance to cease,
These still persue Loves Task; Hard Mothers may
Forget their Sons, but that will never they.

9.O no: These blessed Guardians are Things
Of tri'd and never-failing Tendernesse;
Such as their everlasting Snowie Wings,
Such as the living Smiles and Joyes which dresse
The Court of Heav'n, Such as the dainty Aire
Which makes deer Paradise both soft and fair.

10.Yet when just Cause awakes their noble Might,
No Scythian Rock stands halfe so stiffe as they,
No Libian Lyon marcheth to the fight
With higher Courage, nor afflicts his Prey
With deeper Terror, then these Champions, who
Into the Lists in certain Triumph goe.

11.Nor needlesse is this potent Aid; since We
Are by spirituall Foes impugned, and
The Powers of Darknesse, and Artillery
Of Hell against Us in pitch'd Battell stand;
Whom Belzebub their Generall, with Spight
And ever slaming Rage, fires to the Fight.

12.What can poor Lambs against the Tygre doe?
How shall the Partridge with the Griffen fight?
How shall a Cockboat to the Indies goe
When Tempests Rise, and make Seas stand upright?
By Dust how shall the Serpent be withstood
When he gapes to devour his usuall Food?

13.Alas the feeble Dust is helplesse; but
These Friends long since have with the Dragon fought,
And at the first so clear a Conquest got,
That ever since that heav'n-renowned Rout,
Wilde Lucifer is in their presence tame,
And trembles like the burnt Childe at the flame.

14.He trembles; if the Boldnesse of our Sin
Adds not fresh courage to his failing heart;
For then on Us He by our selves doth win;
Nor can our Guardians perform their part
With due Successe, when by self-treason we
Our forces joyn with Hells conspiracy.

15.When to mad Fancy Sleep doth give the rein,
Unto polluted Dreams these stop the way,
That no high-fed and tickling Thoughts may stain
The clouded Soule: For, who, alas, can say
I always am my Self, and, though asleep,
The constant Watch of Chastity can keep?

16.These lend Us Aid, when any Danger neer
Our strait-beseiged Soule or Body draws;
These intercept all Hell; These by that cleer
Lustre which flows from their own blessed Brows
Shew us the Way to Peace, and lend Us too
Their Wings, when we are faint, and cannot goe.

17.These fire a Soule, and make her towre above
These grosse, yet empty things which flag below:
These steer Us through the Miracles of Love,
And teach Us in Heav'ns Ocean how to row:
These all are Brethren unto Phylax, who
What he for Psyche did, for Us will doe.

18.Their way his Steeds had now recovered,
And Palestine regain'd: When he aside
Sloped his Bridle, and his Journey sped
Into another Desert, wilde and wide,
By whose intemperate Drought old Jordan was
Affrighted so, that he far off did passe.

[Page 139]
19.As Psyche wonder'd at the ruefull Place,
Amongst whose desolate Nothings strait she lost
Her questioning Eye; with a divine Imbrace
Phylax encourag'd Her; and, though thou dost
Not yet behold, said He, the Price of thy
Long voyage, thou shalt finde it by and by.

20.With that, He stai'd his Coach; and thus went on
With his Discourse: O my thrice dearest Dear
(Because most pretious to my Makers Son,
Who is my Maker too;) this Desert here
Is but another Sceen, where thy sweet Lord
More fuell for thy wonder did afford.

21.It was repriev'd from bearing other fruit,
That it in Miracles might fertile be;
In Miracles, whose high and glorious bruit
Shall fill the ears of Time as long as He
Hath leggs to run; and when He dropps into
His grave, in triumph o'r his Tombe shall goe.

22.When thirty times thy Spouse had seen the Sun
Change all his Inns, whose golden Signs are hung
Upon the Zodiaks Girdle: reverend John
Unto the World unlock'd his holy Tongue,
And drew by heav'nly Summons mighty Store
Of wondering People unto Jordans shore.

23.Thy Spouse, hid in his own Humility,
Mix'd with the Crow'd and to the Baptisme came.
Thus in the Margin of the swelling Sea
Oft times there roules in a tumultuous stream
Of Sand and Gravell, some rich Gem or other
Which in that presse doth its own luster smother.

24.How there He was Baptized, how a Crown
Of Heav'ns best beams perch'd on his fairer head,
How his coaequall Spirit hovered down,
And what Applause his Father thundered,
I would relate, but that it hugs thy heart,
For with this Story now thou Girded art.

25.But by that nimble Doves eternall Wings
He's hither hastned from that Rivers shore,
And purity unto the Drie Land brings
As to the Water He had done before.
Yet nothing else hee brought; nor Drink, nor Meat;
He hither came to Fight, and not to Eate.

26.He came to Fight; and bravely to revenge
The whole Worlds Quarrell which subdued lay,
E'r since through Mans unwary Heart the strange
Bullet burst ope its death-deriving way,
Which, as it smiling hung upon the Tree,
Fond hee an harmlesse Apple took to be.

27.He came to Fight; and soon his Foes He met
All-arm'd with Power, but much more with Rage:
Had hee been lesse than what he was, those great
Antagonists had made this Place the Stage
Of his sad Tragedie, which prov'd at last
The Theatre of his triumphant Fast.

28.Before I tell thee who did first appeare
In these strange Lists; observe that parched Hill.
That Throne of Barrennefle and Squallour; there
Against the hungry North thou see'st a Cell
Which long hath gaped, but could never finde
Any Reliefe as yet, but saplesse Winde.

29.That Den's the Dwelling of that Champion who
First ventur'd on a Combat face to face
With God Incarnate; one as like to doe
The Feat of Spight, as any of the Race
Of hell-begotten Fiends; yet prov'd to weak
To manage what she here did undertake.

30.Our Noise now calls her forth; dost thou not see
Her goodly Ushers? those seven horned Things
Though like to Nothing but themselves they be,
Must goe for Kine: spermatick Nile, which brings
Forth choise of Monsters, in their birth alone
Hath all his other Prodigies out-gone.

31.Nile brought them forth, and shew'd them to the King,
Whom through Fates Closets a strange Dream did bring;
Pharaoh awoke affrighted at the Thing,
But knew not how its Characters to read,
Nor why those sharp-set Portents which had clean
Devour'd seaven fat Kine, still should grow more lean;

32.Till Joseph clear'd the mist, and taught him what
By those new Hieroglyphicks Destiny
Decyphered had. But when the Beasts had got
Malgrè those fair Banks of Fertility,
Their seaven years Conquest; to this Cave they came
To serve a Monster neer of kin to them.

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33.Behold their Hair is shrivell'd up and drie;
Their hides aforehand tann'd, but chapp'd withall;
Their sharp affrighted Bones stand staring high;
The Reliques of their flesh as low doe fall;
Their Bellies to their Backs full close are ti'd,
And one does kisse the other starved side.

34.All Shape is shrunk to such Deformitie
That did their horns not point them out, nor Thou,
Nor Pharaoh could have dreamed they should be
Descended from a Bull and honest Cow.
And yet well-favour'd Beasts are these to Her
Their dismall Soveraign who commeth there.

35.Just at the Word the Hagge appear'd, with Look
More keen than Januaries breath, or than
The edge of Rasors; or the piercing stroke
Of barbarous North-begotten Boreas, when
He his most massie chains of Ice hath hurl'd
O'r Sea and Land, and stupifi'd the World.

36.The sudden Dint shot into Psyche's Heart
Such deep Dread and Amazement, that it slew
Her Spirits and Courage: But with Heav'nly Art
Her ready Guardian strait did both renew,
And suppling her cold Breast with soft and warme
Comforts, proceeded thus, her Soul to arme.

37.Dost thou not see what makes the Furies Train?
Mark well, and read thine owne Securitie,
How heavy at her heels she draws a Chain
Of Adamant, whose other End is by
That hand of Providence which doth all things guide,
Unto thy mighty Spouse's Foot-stool ti'd.

38.At first her self she fiercely darted out,
But now her curbed Pace is tame and slow;
She knows' her Compass, having often fought
In vain to break her Chain's Eternall Law.
So; be assur'd she now cannot come hither
No, she has stretch'd the utmost of her Tether.

39.Thus when the greedy Mastiffe leapeth from
His kennell, all in hungry hast and wrath,
The sullen chain, which will not goe from home,
Checks his adventure and cuts off his Path;
At which the wretched Curre lets fall his Ears,
And tail, and spirit; and then he grinns and lears,

40.Upon the Head of every wretched Fiend
Sure sits this curse, that they cannot forbear
Their spight and indignation to grinde,
And in all furie for the fight prepare
When ever any Prey their Eyes have found;
Although mad fools they know their feet are bound.

41.Look how her Eyes are fled into her head,
As if ashamed on her self to look;
For in that leafe, alas, what could she read,
But what would seem transcrib'd from Terror's book?
Her skin's the Paper (ô how ghastly white!)
Where Pain and Horror their black Legends write.

42.All upright staring stand her startled Hairs,
Of one anothers touch in jealous fear;
Two close shrunk knots of Gristles are her Ears;
Her forehead nothing but its skin doth wear;
Her keeness fully is displayed in
Her pinched Nose, and her sharp-pointed Chinne.

43.Like a deep Pit of Chalk is either Cheek;
Her sapless Lipps are parch'd and shrivell'd up,
Showing her Ivory Teeth, all white and sleek,
But long and hideous; These stand alway ope
That her dire Tongue may ever dangle out
To catch the Rain, and quench its burning Drought.

44.Her starv'd and clung-up Neck, has much adoe
To bear the slender burden of her head;
The Stalk quite famished and withered, so
Under its nodding floure doth bend. Instead
Of Arms, She shows two Yards of Skin and Bone,
Oppress'd and tir'd with their own Weight alone.

45.Her fleshless Hands like feete of Vultures seeme,
Nor are her nails so lately prun'd, But they
May pass for Tallons: what she grasps in them
Is sentenc'd by that Touch to be her Prey.
Her Leggs are two drie crazie stakes; her Feet
Already mouldering, their Grave doe meet.

46.That fatall bunch of Corn which fills her Hand.
(O no! which makes Vacuitie be there.)
Are those seav'n Ears which upon Nilus strand
To Pharaoh with those Oxen did appear;
And now becomes her Rod, for on it grows
No Grain, nor any other fruit, but Blows.

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47.Was ever such Contraction seen, as there,
About a Waste, whose Girdle Thinnesse is?
The strait-lac'd Insects slender Brood did ne'r
Shrink up themselves into a scanter Dresse.
Her Bellie's sunk and gone; and shee could spare
It well, who nothing had to lay up there.

48.See'st thou her Shoulders and her Thighs all gnawn?
Imagine not that any Beast but she
Her selfe was guilty of the Fact: her own
Keen Tuskes have grav'd those lines of Crueltie,
And, when she wanted other Cates to eate,
Did prick her on to make her selfe her Meat.

49.Little it was she from her selfe could tear;
But yet where Nothing else was to be had,
That Little seemed full and dainty Cheere,
And to she fell: But as she 'gan to feed,
Her Banquet fail'd between her Teeth, and she
In stead of Flesh, chew'd meer Vacuitie.

50.This rais'd that Storm which in her bosome reigns,
And, could'st thou hear, it would amaze thine eare.
Her Stomack roars, and teares, and pricks, and strains,
And all its Misery objects to Her:
So doe her Bowells, bound in their own Chains,
And ti'd, and twisted up in Knots of Pains.

51.Three Fiends of choisest Power and spight there are
Whome Veng'ance doth imploy to lash the Earth;
The hidden Pestilence; wide open War;
And Famin, this fell Hag, whose Drought and Dearth
Burn with more Poyson than the Plague, & wound
With sharper engins than in War are found.

52.This is that living Death, by which poor Man
Is forc'd himselfe his funerall to begin,
Whil'st wandring up and down all faint and wan,
Wrapp'd in the winding sheet of his pale skin,
He seeks his grave, that through that door He may
Unto a milder Death himselfe convey.

53.This is that Tyrant, whose Impatience hath
No Possibility her Prey to spare;
The foule Inneritrix of the Dregs of Wrath,
Of Torments Queen, the Empresse of Dispair;
An aonigmatick Foe, whose Ammunition
Is nothing else but Want of all Provision.

54.Expect not to behold her Family,
Or what Retinue on her Court attends;
No servant ever yet so strong could be
To bear her Presence, much lesse her Commands;
Being assur'd They never could her Will
Unlesse her Belly to they did, fulfill.

55.But yonder Table which is fixed high
Above her Caverns Door, will tell thee what
Were her Exploits. When Mercy passed by
This monitory Signe she set up, that
Poor Mortalls might descrie what Fiend dwelt here
And not unto this Den of Death come neer.

56.Loe, what a smoking Hurliburlie's there
Of gallant Ruines tumbling on the ground:
These once high-built and goodly Cities were,
Which when Warr's mighty Ram could not confound
This Hag did with no Engin, but her own
Teeth, undermine the Walls and tear them down.

57.See there she chaseth froggs, and Rats, and mice,
And other Vermine neer as vile as she
Her selfe; by them desiring to suffice
The low'd Demands of her stout Boulimie.
Discreetly there the prudent Painter has
The Earth of Iron made, the Heav'n of Brasse,

58.But there her Girdle and her shoes she eats
For that acquaintance which they had of old
With Beef and Mutton, and such classick Meats:
There She turns out the wretched uselesse Gold,
And clapping on its Poverty a Curse,
A savorie Meal she maketh of her Purse.

59.There She awakes the sleeping Mire, and by
A strict examination makes it tell
What hidden Treasures in its bosome lie;
Nor is she daunted by th' unlikely shell,
But breaks it ope, and findes the Gem within:
For she the Oyster first fish'd out for Men.

60.The Dunghill there she rakes, to finde some fresh
Strong-sented Excrement; and joyes when she
Can by long search atcheive so rare a Dish,
Which needs, being ready hot, no Cookerie.
That Glasse in which she drinks, and drinks up all.
No other is but her own Urinall.

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61.Against that huge stone-wall her Teeth she tri'd
When once she was immur'd in Straights; and see
How she compell'd and tore Successe: those wide
And ragged Holes, her stout Teeths breaches be.
Her hastie boistrous Stomack would not stay,
And wanting other Food, she eat her Way.

62.That Heap of Bones is all that she has left
Of her owne Parents, whose old flesh she made
Her barbarous Feast, and them of life bereft
By whom she liv'd; Such is the salvage trade
Of desperate Vipers, whose unnaturall Wrath
Devours the Womb which them conceived hath.

63.And yet no Vipers venture to devoure
Their proper Brood: 'tis Nature's strictest Law
That with Traduction Love should joyn her power,
And like the Rivers, downhill strongest flow:
Onely this fiend all Vipers doth out-vie,
And feeds her self with her own Progenie.

64.For those bemangled Limbs which scattered be
About the Picture, the said Ruines are
Of seav'n sweet, but unhappy Babes, which she
Fear'd not with her own Claws and Teeth to tear,
And back into her Bowells make them goe;
If yet she any had who thus could doe.

65.This strange Epitomie of Prodigies,
This despicable, starv'd, but potent Fiend
Was the first Combatant which did arise
Against thy Spouse; yet durst not trie to rend
And tear his Body, but contriv'd to slay
It, and his Soul in a mysterious Way.

66.For though that Dread which in her face did reign,
Such deep affrightment round about had shed,
That not the boldest Beast of all the Plain
But from those direfull Emanations fled;
Leaving the Desart more than doubled; where
Was nothing now but Earth, and Stones, and Air:

67.Yet now discovering One who seem's prepar'd
To entertaine the worst of Dangers, she
Grew jealous of the Champion, and fear'd
Some wisely Stratageme might plotted be
Against her right-down force: This did incline
Her to  [...] Him by a Contremine.

68.For, sliely waiting oppotunity,
And being thin and subtle, with the Wind
She mix'd herself, and in his face did flie;
Hoping to steale upon him by a blind
And unperceiv'd assault. So Cowards fight,
Trusting advantage more than their owne Might.

69.But He who all her project cleerely saw,
From her abstruse Career disdain'd to start:
He welcom'd with brave Constancy the Blow,
Giving the Furie leave to use her Art;
Free leave He gave her her foul felf to shoot
Into his Stomack, through his yeelding Throat.

70.So when the Tempest marches in full Tide
Against its Caverns Mouth, the fearless Rock
Makes good its ground, and never stepps aside
To wave the perill of the violent Shock,
But lets the Storme come in and roare its sill
In all the Bowells of its resolute Cell.

71.She enter'd thus, falls to her work apace
And seizeth with immediate Usurpation
All the Reserve of Humors which that Place
Was strengthned with, in case of some Mutation;
And these she conquered without any stop,
For as she met them, strait she eat them up.

72.The robbed Stomack thus made cleare and free
Of all things but the Theife; She broacheth there
The Art of all that gnawing Crueltie
With which her pined Self she us'd to tear:
No Fire, Worm, Vinaiger, or Venome is
So corsive as her fretfull Bitterness.

73.As when incensed by the furious flame
The Fornace'gins to rage; if you denie
The Cauldron Liquor which may help to tame
The insolent Heats excess, and mollifie
Its rampant greedy Thirst; alas, the poor
Copper it self does boile, and burn, and roar.

74.So fares it with the Entrails, where the fire
Which Nature kindled, if it wants its fuell
On what comes next to hand will spend its Ire,
And grow against the Stomacks substance cruell;
For all its Life consists in constant Meat,
And when it dies, it does but cease to Eat.

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75.And yet with Adamantine bravery
Thy Spouse 'gainst this Conspiracy of Pains
His Patience arms; and though his Breast did frie
In mutinous flames, He valiantly refrains
From all Complaints, and sighs and signes that hee
Oppressed was by Hungers Tyranny.

76.He by a med'cinall Fast resolved was
To cure the eating of that fatall Tree,
From whence the Curse and Death entail'd did passe
On Ev's and Adams, wretched Progeny.
He freely what he might Receive, refused,
Because, what they Forbidden were, they used.

77.(Thus must the Water wash away the Flame,
Thus must the Bands of Cold binde up the Heat,
Thus sober Weight must idle Lightnesse tame,
Thus wholesome Soure must mend luxurious Sweet,
Thus honest Day must chase out theevish Night,
Thus Contraries with Contraries must fight.)

78.And by his venerable Practise He
Has Consecrated, and advanced this
Despised Thing to such an high degree
Of reall honor, that now Fasting is
The Dainties of the Saints, to which they can
Invite their Hearts, and Feast the Inner Man.

79.Where whil'st they at their mystick Banquet sit,
The saucy Flesh learns to be meek and milde,
The boyling Blood grows coole, and every fit
Of wilfull Lust forgetteth to be wilde,
The Passions unto Reason crouching stand,
The Brain grows cleer, and all its Clouds disband.

80.Thus from that Slavery they redeemed are
Whose knots their Teeth had tied; thus they throw
Away their cloggs; thus on free wings they rear
Themselves into Themselves; being moved now
By Heav'ns brisk Fire which in their Bosomes flows,
And not by that which in the Kitchin glows.

81.Nor does the Body onely bear the Pain,
Whil'st all the Pleasure to the Soul accrews;
But in its kinde reap full as sweet a Gain,
Whil'st its intirest Vigor it renewes,
And fresh and lively Fethers quit the cost
Of all those rotten moulting Plumes it lost,

82.For when high-fed Distempers sneak away,
And the dark Seed of all Infirmities
Which in the Bodies furrows nestling lay,
Before its own Birth, unperceived dies;
Fasting the Physick gave: yet generous she
(O cheap Physition!) never takes a Fee.

83.She Nothing takes; and would have Men doe so,
For all her Recipe's ere onely this:
She turnes the Deep Complaint of bitterest Woe,
Into an high-strain'd Dialect of Blisse,
And for this Reason bidds the Sick be sure
They ease shall finde, 'cause Nothing them can cure.

84.O soveraign Nothing! upon which, so deep
In love He fell with it, thy Spouse did feed
Full fourty Dayes and Nights: soft-creeping sleep
Perhaps might venture on his eyes, but did
Not once presume to touch, much lesse to fight
Against, the Paradox of his Appetite.

85.The Fury did her best his strength to tire,
But fretted, gnaw'd, and laboured in vain.
Hast thou not heard how Moses, all on fire
With brave Devotion, did of old sustain
As many Nights and Dayes on Sina's head,
A Stranger all the while to Drink and Bread?

86.If by accesse to God a Man could grow
So much above the temper of a Creature;
If by attendance on the Morall Law
He cleerly could forget the Law of Nature,
What then might Jesus doe, to whose fair face
Mose's though deck'd with beams, but duskie was!

87.What might He doe, who did not onely draw
Neer unto God, but who Himselfe was He!
'Twas but an Angel that pronounc'd the Law,
Though in the Name of the great Diety:
But Jesus was no Proxie; he alone
Undoubtedly was God and Man in one.

88.He who to Salamanders power did give
Safely to scorn the siege of any Flame,
And in the Fornace's red bosome live,
Making the hostile Fire their food become;
Might well the burning Drought of Thirst subdue,
And turn its flames into refreshing Dew.

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89.He to whose bounty all Chamaelions owe
Their virgin priviledge, whereby they may
Contemn all grosse unweildy Meats, and grow
Fat upon saplesse Aire; can finde a way
As pure a Diet for himselfe to get,
And force the Windes to blow him in his Meat.

90.Nay, seeing Bread it selfe is dull and dead,
And no assistance can to Life afford,
Unlesse it selfe be fortified and fed
By the prime Power of Gods almighty Word;
He well can spare its helpe, yet want no food,
Who is Himselfe th' essentiall Word of God.

91.Witnesse his Might: for from his Potent Heart
An Intimation of his Royall Will
He on the Gnawing Fury now did dart,
Commanding her not to disturb him, till
He gave her leave; for businesse had He
With other Beasts of better worth than She.

92.Soon did the Hag perceive how she had thrown
Her heedlesse selfe into a conquering Net,
Where her Fell Teeth and Nailes were not her own,
But His, whom she had thought to make her Meat.
Wherefore against her selfe she madly bent
Her spight, and her own Hair, and Heart-strings rent.

93.But safe and unmolested He went on
To seek those Beasts which from the dreadfull Cave
Of this intolerable Fiend had run
To shrowd their trembling heads: For he doth save
Not Man alone, but also Beast, and is
Willing to follow both, and make both His.

94.Oxen and Asses hee at length descri'd,
Which all one way in a strait Drove did passe.
He soon remembred what did him betide
When in their House hee entertained was,
How Bethlehem Stable with the Hay and Manger
Receiv'd the new-born Men-rejected Stranger.

95.A Flock of Sheep went bleating after Them,
Whose little Ones made Him reflect again
Upon himselfe, Gods everlasting Lamb,
Born, in proud Salems shambles to be slain.
He bless'd them all, and promis'd them that they
Should ne't be destitute of Grasse or Hay.

96.Along with them unto a Pond He came,
The onely Water which that Desert knows;
If yet that Pond defile not Waters name,
Which onely with deep muddy Poyson flows.
The banks were thronged with wilde Beasts, which lay
Panting, and gasping, and forgot their Prey.

97.For parching Thirst had now dri'd up their Ite,
And fighting with their Prey would but increase
The too prevailing fury of their fire,
Which onely Waters influence might appease.
Yet though their Tongues lay frying on the
They durst not dip them in the Pond to drink.

98.For yet the long expected Unicorn
Delay'd his Comming; He who used by
The piercing Antidote of his fair Horn
To broach the wholsome Waters which did lie
Imprison'd in the Poysons Power, and then
An Health unto his Fellow-beasts begin.

99.Not was't by chance He tardy came that Day,
The onely Day in which hee could be spared;
For now Salvations Horn, in whom there lay
That Soveraign Virtue which far more was feared
By every Poyson, than what breaketh from
The potent Unicorns; was thither come.

100.Great was the Congregation; for there
The princely Lyon was, the angry Dog,
The Mountainous Elephant, the shaggie Bear,
The hasty Wolfe, the foaming Boar, the Hog,
His grumbling Wife, the roaring frowning Bull,
The Porcupine of amunition full.

101.The spotted Panther, stiffe Rhinocerot,
Swift-footed Tigre; and a thousand more.
For all wilde Beasts whom Thirst could drive, had got
Their severall places ready on the shore;
Crowding as stoutly Water now to get,
As they to Noah throng'd to scape from it.

102.But when thine unexpected Spouse drew neer,
With reverent amazement every Beast
Look'd up, and in a deep but harmlesse Fear
Let fall their heads again, and so confest
Who they beheld, and how unworthy They
Were to drink in his blessed Aspects Ray.

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103.Yet that meer Glance did such Refreshment dart,
That all the Forces of their Thirst it slew.
So when unto a long afflicted Heart
Joy her immediate Countenance doth shew,
The blessed Glimpse frights gloomy Grief away,
And thrusting out black Night, lets in fair Day.

104.These Beasts were Heirs to them, who, when as yet
Time and the World were young, in Paradise
At Gods own summoning together met
To pay their Homage in all humble guise
To princely Adam who sate mounted high
Upon his Throne of native Monarchie.

105.Well did they mark their Soveraigns Eyes and face.
And all his Persons lovely Majesty,
Which flow'd forth on them with such potent Grace,
That they durst not Allegiance deny,
But conquer'd with sweet Violence, to his beck
Bow'd down, and took his soft Yoke on their Neck.

106.But when unhappy Adams Fall had spred
Guilts ougly Veil upon his beauteous Face,
The Beasts which met Him, gaz'd, and would have read
Their former Lesson of Majestick Grace;
But all was blotted out, and look'd so black,
That them of Subjects it did Enemies make.

107.Their Sonnes and Generations after them
Succeeded in their Hate to Humane Sinne:
These present Beasts which to the Water came,
Had in that Quarrell born and nurtured been;
And whensoe'r they chanc'd to meet a Man,
To Him as their condemned Prey they ran.

108.But when on JESUS face they tri'd their Eyes,
No blurr or signe of Guilt they could descry:
His Looks were purer than the Virgin Skies,
Polish'd with beauteous Serenity,
Array'd with Princely stateliness, and dight
With Love, with Life, with Grace, and with Delight

109.This wak'd the seeds of that deep Memorie
Which prudent Nature in their Hearts had set;
And which by wise instinct did signifie;
That their unspotted Monarch they had met.
They had indeed: for this was Adam too;
Alas, that Men less than the Beasts should know!

110.Men knew Him not, but Beasts did plainly read
In Him the Protoplasts all gracefull feature;
Such were the gallant Beauties of his Head,
Such was the princely measure of his Stature,
Such was the reverent Innocence which from
His lovely Eys in Streams of Light did come

111.Such secret A wfuiness Men fancie in
Th'apparent Heir of any Kingdome; that
They think the King of Beasts, by royall kin
To his Condition, groweth courteous at
His Sight, and quite forgets his insolent sense
Of being Salvagenesses dreadfull Prince.

112.No wonder then, if thus it fared now
The mighty Heir of Heav'n and Earth was heer;
He for whose high and best-deserving Brow
Eternity was busied to prepare
That Heav'n-out-shining Crown which flaming is
Upon his Incarnations Lowliness.

113.The princely Lyon rais'd himself; but in
Less state than He before had us'd to doe,
His never-daunted Tail till now, between
His leggs he humbled, and did trembling goe,
Confessing to the Beasts that made his Train,
That He was not their onely Soveraign.

114.When neer He came, he couched to the ground,
And with ingenuous Devotion
Kiss'd JESU'S feet; rejoycing he had found
Juda's majestick Lyon, who alone
Had in his Noble Looks fair writ the Name
Of Emperor of this created frame.

115.By his devout Example all the rest
Their now engaged Duty learn'd, and did
What He had done: In order every Beast
In a meek kiss his Service offered;
And then they all before Him prostrate lay,
Humbly expecting what their Lord would say.

116.He in a mystick Dialect, which they
Well understood, his royall Pleasure spake:
For in that Language He at first did lay
His charge upon their Necks, which they did take
With due obeisance, and thenceforth rulfill
In all their naturall Functions his high Will.

[Page 146]
117.Nay, not those Animals alone; but Trees,
Shrubbs, Plants, and Flours, and whatsoever grows,
The Earth, the Aire, the Fire, the boistrous Seas,
The Winds, the Rains, the Hails, the Frosts, the Snows,
The Rocks, the Lightning and the Thunder, Hell,
And Heav'n, and all Things ken his Language well.

118.For being that Eternall Word, to whom
What ever Is, doth owe it self, He knows
In what intelligible way to come
Unto his Creatures, and pronounce his Laws,
A Word of boundless Bounds and Potency.
May a  [...] Dialect to All Things be.

119.To All things? Yea and more than so, for He
On empty Nothing his Commands can lay,
A  [...] ev'n in  [...] seeds they be
 [...] things He  [...]; nor dare they
Plead ignorance of what he says, but by
Instant existence to his Call reply.

120.What 'twas he spake, they onely understood,
Yet if Conjecture may presume of leave,
He charg'd them to abate their Thirst of Blood,
And for his sake, at least, thenceforth reprieve
Those Men whose Crimes were yet not swell'd so high
As to confront and force the patient Skie.

121.For now He came to ope a gentler age
Unto the World than heertofore had run;
To banish Salvageness, and Spight, and Rage,
And to establish endles Peace's Throne:
He came dejected Man to re-invest
In his Dominion over every Beast.

122.And to encourage their obedience, He
Told them their panting Expectation, and
Their longing Groans should satisfied be,
That He himself would hast to break the Bond
In which Corruption kept them slaves, and them
With Heav'ns dear Heirs, to Liberty redeem.

123.This done: His sacred Hand He lifted up,
And round about on his Devoto's dealt
His bounteous blessing. Strait they 'gan to Hop,
And Dance and Play, when in their Hearts they felt
The vigorous joyfull influence which from
The blessed Fountain of his Hand did come.

124.Then with the fairest Manners that they had,
Shaking their Tails and louting low their Heads
They took respectfull leave; all being glad
To finde their Breasts new sown with gentle seeds,
And that their King which now commanded them
Appear'd not more a Lyon than a Lamb.

125.But He now left alone, made noble use
Of this his private Opportunitie
What better place could deep Devotion chuse
Where she with freedome through all Heav'n may flie?
What is the Desert but an Harbour which
No Storms of the tumultuous World can reach?

126.Besides; his active Soul now lightned by
His Fast, and fairely poiz'd on sprightfull Wings,
Was well appointed to towre up, and trie
The Altitude of Heav'ns sublimest things.
Not that He needed this advantage, but
Vouchsaf'd this Copie unto Man to set.

127.As when more Fuell's heap'd upon the Hearth
Then well the Chimneyes stomack can digest;
The Flames disdain their wonted bounds, and forth
They rush about the Room, which now opprest
With bright and dark billows of fire and Smoke,
In that drie sea's prodigious storm doth choak.

128.So when intemperate Man ingesteth more
Than corresponds with his Capacity;
With Flames and Vapours that superfluous Store
Riots about his Heart and Head; but He
Who feeds but light, or fasts; keeps his soules sphear
Free and unclouded; as did Jesus here.

129.Through that unfadomable Treasury
Of Thoughts, and Counsells, and Degrees, which is
Built in the Palace of Eternity,
And safely lock'd up with three massie Keyes,
Whereof himselfe by proper right keeps one,
With intellectuall lightnesse He did run.

130.There did hee, to his Humane soule unveil
The flaming Wonders of Divinity;
A Sea through which no Angels eyes could sail,
So vast, so high, so deep those Secrets be.
(Gods nearest Friend, the Soule of Jesus is,
Whom He admits to all his Privacies.)

[Page 147]
131.There, by the hand of Goodnes did he see
An adamantine Table fairly writ
With all his Incarnations Mystery,
The Reasons, Wonders, and the ways of it.
There did he run his Contemplation from
His scorned Cradle to his guarded Tombe.

132.His Soule rejoyced all the way it ran,
And taught his Fast to be a glorious Feast:
Each Greif, each Pain, each Suffring he did scan,
And what the deepest was he liked best:
Not for a World would he have wanted one,
But could have wish'd a bitterer Passion.

133.Thus did he spend his Day: and when the Night
Upon Heav'ns face her sable Mantle spread,
He other Work began; No leaden Weight
Of Sleep could heavy sit upon his Head:
His Fast now grew so strong, that no dull Cloud
Out of his Stomack to his Brain could crowd.

134.Those silent Houres He spent in ardent Prayers,
His Evening and burnt Sacrifice; and by
The quick ascent of those mysterious Stayers
Climb'd back again to Heav'ns sublimity;
Where more Ejaculations He did spread
Than Angels, or than Stars, are marshelled.

135.There did he pray, the World might not disdain
The gentle Yoke he came on it to lay;
Nor force Heav'n to come down to Earth in vain,
But unto its obtruded Blisse give way;
That now God stoop'd down to Humanity,
Man would indeavour like his God to be.

136.And now no lesse then fourty times the Sun
The Gyant of the Day, had from the East
Prick'd forth his golden trapped Steeds, and run
His never wearied Race into the West;
And watchfull Vesper had as often light
The silver Tapers, and trimm'd up the Night.

137.When thy Wise Spouse, who all the seasons knew
Of Heav'ns mysterious Dispensations, gave
The bridled Monster leave on him to shew
Her Teeths full power: And how profound and brave
This Counsell was, thou by and by shalt see,
For He has me injoin'd to teach it thee.

138.As when the ravenous Dog who long has layn
Muzzel'd up in the presence of his meat,
Begins to feel the loosning of his Chain,
For all the time He lost he strives to eat,
Flying like Lightning on his Breakfast, which
He with his teeth and paws at once doth catch:

139.So Famin now releas'd to her own Will,
Revenged her Restraint, with greedy spight;
And had it but been possible to kill
Lifes unconsenting Lord sh' had done it strait,
For never with such fell remorfelesnesse
She rag'd in any Breast, as now in His.

140.His empty Stomack roar'd, his Bowels clung,
The heav'nly Graces of his Countnance fell,
Thirst parch'd his beauteous Lips & burnt his Tongue;
But all by his divine Consent; for well
He knew, that if he grew not faint and wan,
Hell needs must take Him to be more than Man,

141.Hells jealous Prince knew all the Prophesies
Which pointed out a greater King then he;
A King which was from Jesse's Root to rise,
And promised, to quell his Tyranny.
Upon his Guard He stood, and watch'd to see
The dangerous time, and who that Man should be.

142.The Angels Song which warbled to the Earth
Peace and Good Will, shot Terror through his Heart;
The Sheepherds story of the Infants Birth
No sooner strook his ear but made him start,
He Simeons Jubilation echoed by
A Groan, and Anna's Preaching by a Sigh.

143.With deep mis-giving Thoughts he chew'd upon
The Benedictus of old Zachary;
The eastern Star which unto Bethlehem ran
Did with amazement blinde his fearfull eye;
Guilty Suspition his black soule did knaw
When He the Wise Mens Adoration saw.

144.At length these fatall Items roused Him
To take some course this Danger to represse.
Forthwith he chose the Fauchion of grim
Herod; nor did He think He strook amisse.
Besides, now Thirty yeares could not discover
Any great fear, he hop'd the worst was over.

[Page 148]
145.And much it cheer'd him to remember that
Messias was to be a Virgins Son;
As for thy Lord, He term'd him Josephs Brat,
The silly Carpenters poor Urcheon;
Who likelier was some simple House to build,
Than raise a Kingdome, and a Scepter weild.

146.Yea to that fond and shamlesse Boldnesse He
Hardned his Thoughts, as to imagine that
Great Daniels heav'n inspired Prophesie
Was prov'd abortive; and He car'd not what
The other Prophets talk'd, now hee who set
Messia's Time, so fouly fail'd in it.

147.But when on Jordans Bank hee heard and saw
The Testimony Heav'n gave of its Son;
His sturdy Confidence began to thaw,
And Teiror through his cursed Bones to run.
Som time it was e'r hee could recollect
Himselfe, and study how his part to act.

148.At length He hither traced Him, and set
That Fury Famine to begin the fight.
O with what anguish did hee vex and fret
To see the vain contention of her spight
For fourty dayes together! But at length
When she prevail'd, His Pride renew'd its strength.

149.On Chance's vain Account hee scor'd it up
That Jesus had sustain'd the fight till now;
As hee had done, when from their Pillars top
Egyptian Idols lately down did bowe,
Because since then he saw some new Ones able
To stand, and Memphis once more Isi's Stable.

150.And now his Cue was come, to Hell hee stepp'd,
And op'd a Casket which by his Beds side
(For 'twas the dearest Thing he had,) he kepp'd:
There lay ten thousand quaint Delusions ti'd
All one within another; never Art
More cunningly than here did play her part.

151.There lay smooth burnish'd Words, & quick Mutations,
Sleight-handed Tricks,  [...] Courtesies,
Sweet Looks, delicious Shapes, and dainty Fashions,
False Loves, invenom'd fawnings, holy Lies:
There lay the Crafts by which he did deceive
The credulous Heart of thy Grandmother Eve.

152.And those by which He holy Aaron made
More silly than the Calfe that he erected;
Those which unconquer'd Samsons strength betray'd;
Those which the fort of Chastitie dejected
In Davids heart; and those whose witchery
Charm'd his wise Son to fond Idolatry.

153.This also was the cursed Nest of those
More wiley Wiles by which hee did entise
The brave Inhabitants of Heav'n to close
With his Conspiracy, when in the skies
He drew his Army up, and ventured on
Against the Thunders Mouth, and Gods own Son.

154.And these he takes, and squeaseth into one
Conflux of more then quintessentiall Guiles;
With which insidious Extraction
His thirst he quenches, and his breast he fills,
And so returns into this Desert, well
Stuff'd with the best, that is, the worst, of Hell.

155.Imperiall was his Retinue, for
A thousand gallant Peers of Phlegeton
Had robb'd Aire, Earth, and Sea, of their best store
Of braveries, and proudly put them on;
All which where echoed by the rich attires
Both of their haughty Horses and their Squires.

156.But as the Cedar upon Libans head
Dishonours all the Shrubs that creep below;
As the displayed Peacocks Train doth spread
Disgrace upon the Sparrow or the Crow:
So far Majestick Satans port transcended
What ever in his Lords might be commended.

157.Twelve sable Steeds, smug as the old Rav'ns wing
Of even stature and of equall Pride,
Sons of the Winde, or some such speedy thing,
Unto the Chariot all abreast were ti'd:
So Princes us'd to range their Steeds, that all
Their severall Beauties in full view might fall.

158.Perpetuall sparks of Vigorousnesse they shot
From the two Founts of their prospective fire;
Their mighty Neighings easie Conquest got
Of every Noise, and made good Mars his Quire:
And thus through Clouds, almost as black as they,
Thunder and Lightning use to chuse! their way.

[Page 149]
159.As ebon shining Boughs, so bended were
Their sinewie Necks; their Stomacks boiled over
In restlesse foaming Scum, which far and neer
They flung about; their Pawing did discover
With what disdain upon the Earth thy trode,
And seem'd to covet an etheriall Road.

160.Their shoes were silver, and their bridles gold;
With perl their velvet trappings studded were;
Their copious Maines in curled volumes roll'd
Down to the ground; their starting Eares did wear
Proserpines Favours with rich Jewells tipt;
The way their full Tails for their Soveraign swept.

161.The wheels were Cedar clouted round about
With Golds more pretous Rivall, Chrysolite:
The Charet Almug, covered throughout
With an embroyder'd Confluence of bright
Well order'd Gems: upon which princely seat
Prouder than it, sate Belzebub the Great.

162.What Pomp in Alexanders face did reign,
Or swell'd upon Nebuchadnezzars Brow;
He had advanced to an higher strain,
And taught it in his own Aspect to grow,
Having compounded in one stately Lie
The universall Looks of Majesty.

163.Disdain and Pride the chiefe Ingredients were,
And long agoe He learn'd to manage Them:
Yet Grace and royall Mildnesse too were there,
If need should be some soft Deceit to frame.
With awfull Gravity his Beard did flow,
And him some wise and ancient Monark show,

164.A triple Crown of Diamond on his Head,
Wherein was graven Earth, and Aire, and Seas,
His Empires Provinces decyphered:
For so his own Presumption doth please
To make Mans Right his Prey, and write his stile,
E'r since of Paradise he did him beguile.

165.Down from his shoulders to his feet did flow
A Mantle of Estate with Ermyns lin'd.
But for the Texture, it so thick did grow
With orientall Gems, you could not finde
What Web it was, it being cleerly lost
In the magnificence of too much Cost.

166.Three Troops of Pages on his Wheels did wait,
The first in Azure, and the next in Green,
The third in darkest Purple: the Conceit
Was onely what upon his Crown was seen.
His dreadfull Guard (ten thousand Curassiers)
Before Him trots, and all his Passage cleers.

167.Of Sumptures and of Wagons a vast Sea
Flow'd part before, their Prince, and part behinde:
It seem'd the I ransmigration to be
Of all the Earth at once; now bent to finde
Some other World, whose larger Bounds might give
Leave to those straitned Swarms at large to live.

168.In this magnifick State his progresse He
Through his usurp'd World did pretend to take:
A well known Circuit, where incessantly
Some hellish businesse He himselfe did make:
Onely He now a fiercer Lyon was,
Than when He roaring up and down did passe,

169.For though that roaring Voice loud Terror spoke,
Withall it gave Men warning to beware:
But when hee with Majestick Grace doth cloke
His theevish Enterprise; He charmeth Fear
Asleep; for who would Dream, a King in so
Great Pomp, a stealing would, and cheating, goe!

170.See'st Thou that ruefull Place, that Garden where
Eternall Barrennesse deep-rooted grows;
Where unrelenting Flints and Pebles are
Both Soil and fruit? That Sceen thy Lord did choose
Wherein to wrestle with keen Famine, and
Give her free leave on her own ground to stand.

171.And hither came great Satan with his Train:
Where finding Jesus, in whose fallen Cheeks
Hungers deep Characters were written plain;
With seeming Princely Pitty off he breaks
His course, the Steeds in foaming Scorn to stay,
Their Bridles champ'd and stamp'd upon their way

172.But He more gentle seem'd, than They were wroth,
For when he on thy Lord had fix'd his eyes,
Three times upon his Breast He beat with both
His hands, his Head he sadly shaked thrice,
And then as oft to Heav'n he looked up,
And cunning Tears He every time did drop.

[Page 150]
173.He hop'd the pined Man would bend his Knee,
And from his pittying Hand some Succour crave
Whil'st yet he could receive: He look'd that He
Would ope his Mouth, as well as did his Grave.
But He was yet to stout to buckle down;
He nobly held his Tongue, and held his own.

174.With that, the royall Tempter thus began:
My Pitty never was till now neglected
By any He that wore the face of Man;
Much lesse by such whom Famine had dejected
Almost below all Humane Looks. And yet
Perhaps some Mystery may be in it.

175.That thou with Patience canst endure to be
The miserable Prey of Famine, and
Forbear (if not disdain) to ask of Me,
Who with all courteous Succour ready stand;
Implies thy strength, what e'r thy Face appear,
Higher to move than in an humane Sphear.

176.Where e'r she had it, Rumor sent of late
A strange Relation to my ear, which she
Profess'd she took both from the Leaves of Fate,
And, from experimentall Veritie:
'Twas that the Son of God had chang'd his Home,
And here to sojourn on the Earth was come.

177.She added that his Garb was plain and mean
Because He was a stranger here below,
And rather came to see than to be seen,
As wisest Travellers are wont to doe.
But more she told Me not; perhaps that I
And my good Fortune might the rest descry.

178.For deep my Honor it concerns, and Me,
That ready Entertainment should attend
Such mighty strangers: And if thou be He
Take notice Thou hast met a Royall Friend,
A Friend both able and resolv'd to prove
That thou all Glory hast not left above.

179.But yet these Deep-plowd Wrinkles ill would suit
My solemn Forehead, and this reverend Snow
My Head and Beard, if Rashnesse should confute
Those sage and sober Tokens, if I now
Who long agoe have purchas'd the esteem
Of Grave, and Wise, should Light and Credulous seem.

180.Then since my Credit calls upon me for
Some certain Proofe, You must not that deny:
'Tis reason you assure Me who you are,
Not can Assurance sealed be, but by
Some potent Demonstration, which may show
That Nature, and her Rules can bow to You.

181.If you be He whom God doth own for Son,
(And God forbid you such a Truth should hide.)
Let it suffice your Fast thus far hath run,
And now a Breakfast for your selfe Provide.
Loe here a Borde with Pebles ready spred,
Speak but the Word, & make them Loaves of Bread.

182.The Tempter so. But Jesus wisely saw
How He suspended was in jealous Doubts,
And by this Artifice contrived how
To extricate his snarl'd perplexed Thoughts;
He therefore means, by heav'nly Art, to cast
Upon his hellish Craft a darker Mist.

183.For as a noble Champion when the Blow
Hastneth with deadly aime unto his Heart,
With wary Buckler back again doth throw
The intercepted and deceived dart:
So did thy Spouse by Gods unconquer'd Word
His ready Shield against the Tempters Sword.

184.'Tis written that the Life of Man, said He,
Shall lean not onely on the Staffe of Bread,
But by a surer Prop supported be,
By the more wholsome Word of God being fed.
What need We Loaves our Hungers rage to still!
Out of Gods Mouth comes that which Mans will fill.

185.O most impenetrable Buckler! how
Slender an Help is triple Steel to thee!
Seav'n-times-redoubled Adamant must bow
To thy lesse vulnerable Durity.
O Scripture! what vain shades and fethers were
Goliah's Arms, if they with thee compare!

186.This Psyche, this, is that unconquer'd shield
Under whose sure Protection Thou may'st goe,
Although all Hell pitch'd in a Martiall Field,
Conspired has, and sworn thine Over-throw.
Thy Spouse hath taught thee its great use, and He
Did fight with none but this Artillerie.

[Page 151]
187.Yet as the greedy Wolfe, once beaten back,
By that Repulse is but enraged to
A second Onset, and doth fiercelier make
His fresh Incounter: Angrie Satan so
Bruis'd by this Fall, and vexed at the pain,
Plucks up his Spirits, and ventures on again.

188.Yet being forc'd to his slie shifts to runne,
He plausibly pretends the sullen Place
To be the stage where Heav'ns illustrious Sonne
Should act his Greatnesse, too unworthy was:
And instantly resolves to change this mean
And despicable, to some gallant Sceen.

189.For as a dainty Cloud came by that Way,
He, the usurping Prince of all the Aire,
With a stern Look commanded it to stay,
And so gat up into his flying Chair,
Taking thy Lord with Him, who was content
To trie what by this new Designe he meant.

190.Then bidding the next Winde upon Him wait,
He through the Welkin scour'd, and quickly came
(For now his Way all open lay and straight)
Unto the Top of fair Jerusalem,
Where on the Temples highest Pinnacle
He Jesus set, and to his businesse Fell.

191.Alone he fell to it: His numerous Train
Being left behinde, and charged to attend
Their Kings Return; for much he did disdain,
In case he could not now atchieve his end,
His envious Elves again should witnesse how
A starv'd Man gave Hells Prince the Overthrow.

192.He wisely ponder'd that the Arms whereby
He first Repulsed was, the mightiest were;
And therefore cunningly resolv'd to trie
If he could Scripture bowe to serve his War.
O Wit of deepest Hell, which makes a sword
Of Gods own Word to fight with God the Word.

193.And then; I grant, said He, that thy Replie
Was true, but yet no Answer to my Doubt:
Loe here a Sceen, where Thou may'st satisfie
By one Experiment every scrupulous Thought:
If God thy Father be, throw thy selfe down,
For He for certain will preserve his own.

194.Is it not Written, That He shall Command
His trusty Angels to attend on Thee,
And with a watchfull ready stretched Hand
From the least touch of Danger keep Thee free,
That no rude Stone with churlish Shock shall meet
(So tender is He) thy secured feet.

195.Mark Psyche, mark the Cheaters Craft, how he
Mangles the Text, and skips what likes him not.
In all thy Wayes they shall Assistant be;
So ran the tenor of the Scripture; but
He knew full well that Precipices were
No Wayes for Man; and therefore that did spare.

196.Be sure it move thee not, if henceforth thou
Seest any of his Urcheons Scripture spit:
For they by his authentick Copie know
Both how to geld and to adulterate it;
Or at the least such peevish Glosses make,
As it against it selfe shall force to speak.

197.But with another genuine Text thy Lord
Nobly confuted Him, and thus Repli'd:
This Lawe's enacted in the sacred Word,
Thou shalt not tempt thy God: and Heav'n forbid
That I should dare his Providence, and think
When I plunge down my selfe, I cannot sinck.

198.Perhaps thy Wonder asks why Satan now
He on the Brink of Danger him had set,
Bridled his Fury, and forbore to throw
Him headlong thence: But thou must not forget
That He was jealous still, and feared least
His Foe at force of Arms might get the best.

199.Alas the Chain of all his Power is short,
Beleeve it Psyche, there's no Mortall Wight
But if he would resolve to hold his Fort,
Might tire his Siege, and all his On-slates sleight:
But silly Men unto his strength make way,
Whil'st they by lazie Fears themselves betray.

200.Satan at this Repulse, deep in his Heart
Stifled his Griefe, and smothered his shame:
And now resolv'd to act another Part,
Leap'd on that Cloud upon whose back he came.
With which He through the wondering Aire did swim
Hurrying thy patient Lord along with Him.

[Page 152]
201.To his expecting Train He swumm, for now
Put to his last Reserve of Plots, he ment
To venture all at one great Cast; and though
Still both that they should see Him foild, he went
With desperate resolution to the fight:
Deer was his Credit, but more deer his Spight.

202.Unto a Mount he march'd, whose heav'nly head
Despised Basan, Carmell, Libanus,
The Alpes (where Winter all year keeps his bed,)
With Pendle, Calpe, Atlas, Caucasus,
And all the proudest Cliffs of Ararat
Where Noahs floating Ark first footing got.

203.A Mount which on the highest Clouds look'd down,
And saw all kindes of Weather far below;
A Mount which seem'd to be Earths soveraign Crown,
Where never any Winde aspir'd to blow;
A Mount which bravely reach'd at Heav'n, & made
Far distant Countries subject to its shade.

204.Arrived there; with a new plate of Brasse
His never-blushing Front he fortifi'd,
Being now upon an Enterprise which was
Second to that in impudence and pride,
When arm'd with spightfull Fury and Disdain
He ventur'd to assail Heav'ns Soveraign.

205.'Twas was the same Son of Heav'ns eternall Father
To whom his stomach then refus'd to yeild
Obedience and homage, and chose rather
To trie it with Him in a pitched Feild.
Foole, who by his first Fall no warning took
For what He was the second fight to look.

206.A massie Throne of beaten Gold stood there,
Whose lustre round about the Region spred,
Plac'd on a Pavement glorious and clear
Refined Silver newly burnished.
Triumphant Arch's and Columns on each side
In laurel Wreaths hid and displayd their Pride.

207.Here Satan pitch'd him down: when loe the Crew
Of his attending Elves in humble guise
Themselves before his radiant footstool threw,
Adoring Him with millions of lies;
Nor durst they from the Pavement stir untill
His nod did intimate his gratious Will.

208.Then stretching out his Hand, he gave the Signe
To that brave Apparition, which He
By sprightfull Art had taught how to combine
With his profound but glorious forgerie.
One Moment was sufficient; for the Sceen
Before his Hand was quite stretch'd out, came in.

209.A mighty Globe came rolling up the Hil,
Which on an aerie Axell turn'd before
His stately Throne, and to that Bulk did swell,
That the full figure of the World it bore:
No Conjurations ever grew so strong
As this, of all Inchantments the huge Throng.

210.There might You see the Eastsillustrious shore,
The Western Columns, and th' Atlantick Sea;
Of Ice and snow a never thawing store
Both in the North and South Extremitie;
The Dogstars Empire; The vast Libian strand
Where endlesse Summer boileth in the Sand.

211.There gallant Indus washed up his Gemms,
There wealthy Tagus pav'd his shores with Gold,
There Thamisis pour'd out her silver streams,
There Ganges, Ister, and Pactolus roul'd,
Hydaspes, Tanais, Rhone, Rhene, Niger, Po,
Euphrates, Tigris, Nile, and Thousand moe.

212.There Palestine in Milk and Hony swumm,
There shaddow'd with her odoriferous Cloud
Arabia was, there China found her room,
There Scythia in her Furrs her self did shrowd,
The Sea did there thine Albion divide
And set it like a better World aside.

213.There dwelt all Countries which this Age doth know,
And more than yet must to its knowledg come:
When Avarice to its full Age shall grow,
And think its thirsty Purse hath more than room
For this scant World, another shall be  [...]
Which yet the West in ignorance hath drown'd.

214.But in this ample Pageant was display'd
That other World which Times to come shall see
By venturous Columbu's Art betray'd
To Christian Covetousnes and Crueltie.
(O why should Christians be such muck-worm fools
And Western Gold more deare than Western Souls!)

[Page 153]
215.No sooner had this Globe turn'd round about,
And every Kingdoms proudest Glory shown;
But from his Rome Tiberius stepped out,
And pulling off his own imperiall Crown,
With fear and reverence his Approaches made
To Satans foot-stoole, where his face he layd.

216.And having prefac'd by that lowly Kisse,
Behold, great Sir, my Diademe, said He
Bows to thy royall Foot-stoole; and by this
The highest of Assurances, to Thee
I who am in thy Romane World thy great
Viceroy, my homage tender at thy Feet.

217.Thou art that Prince by whose high power alone
Th' Assyrian Lyon made the World his Prey;
By  [...] the Persian Bear's Dominion
Through all the Forrests of the Earth made way;
By thee the Graecian Leopard snatch'd all this,
And stoutly wish'd another World were His.

218.By Thee the Iron-jaw'd, ten-horned Beast,
The Martiall Romane Power, so dreadfull grew
That cleerly it devoured all the rest,
And with the Sun victoriously flew
About the World, which now sits safe, and sings
Under the Shaddow of our Eagles Wings.

219.By Thee great Julius did our Empire found,
By Thee Augustus second was to Him;
By Thee this third, this head of mine was crown'd
With this, the shaddow of thy Diademe:
O may thy Vassall with thy Favour, and
Thy Blessing, wear this Gift of thine own Hand!

220.So with a thousand Holocausts will I
Make fast thine holy Altar Morn and Night;
So my imperiall Yoak and Reins shall lie
Upon my Subjects Shoulders soft and light,
Whil'st by thy Benedictions influence
I reign of Justice, and of Mildnesse Prince.

221.Tiberius here some gentle Nod expected
As a Commission to resume his Crown:
But straight the wretched Flatterer detected
In surly Satans face a cloudy Frown;
Nor was it long before that Cloud did break
Into a Storm, when thus to Him He spake;

222.Thou hast condemn'd thy Selfe Tiberius, by
Acknowledging that I thy Soveraign am;
For how shall I intrust a World in thy
Luxuriant lazy Hand, who hither came
Upon no businesse but my Visitation,
Which bids the Earth now look for Reformation.

223.My Name, my Honor, and my tender Care
Of my deer World, all summon Me to finde
Some Hero's worthy Temples, which may wear
That Crown according to my princely Minde.
Nor fawn, nor whine, nor weep Tiberius, I
Provided am of one who here stands by.

224.Then turning to thy Spouse, with gratious Eye,
I must my courteous Fortune thank, said He,
Who in my Progresse did so luckily
To my (not poor) acquaintance offer Thee:
I little thought, till I this view did take
That I a new Lieutenant had to make.

225.By him I see how Princes love to slide
Down the glib way of wretched Luxury:
And what should silly People doe, whose Guide
Leads them the way to Ruine? Have not I
Just cause to choose some sober Man, whose Care
May stop that desperate vicious  [...]

226.Now whether Thou bee'st Son to God, or no,
Surely Thou spring'st from some Heroick Race,
I see the noblest Sparks of Virtue so
Full writ in thy, though pin'd yet, princely Face.
Although thy modesty conceals thy Birth
And Parentage, it cannot cloud thy Worth.

227.And yet ev'n that is pretious too; for well
I know that stomackfull Ambition threw
From Heav'ns high Crest down to profoundest Hell
Disdainfull Lucifer and his swelling Crew.
Yet that which doth my wonder Most advance
Is the strange Mircle of thy Temperance.

228.That Virtue never yet alone did dwell
But is the fertile spring of all the rest
How easily a Temperate Prince may quell.
And crush all breeding Vices in their Nest.
Whil'st all his Life is a perpetuall Law,
Which sweetly drives, when Statutes cannot draw.

[Page 154]
229.And such a Prince, and none but such, can cure
The wide Contagion which rank Vice hath spred
On this poor Age: Nor can my Love endure
Longer delay, since I am furnished
With Thee, that onely He, whose merits call
To make thee Deputy of All this All.

230.Nay more than so: Thou see'st how Age doth grow
Upon my weary back; and I confesse
That I am satisfied and tired now
With Glories Sweets, and Honors Weight, no lesse
Than with my Years, and could contented be
To end my dayes in quiet Privacy.

231.Nor must it be in vain that I have found
An Hero, on whose shoulders safely I
May lay the Burden of my Cares, and ground
Just hopes of all my Worlds Felicity.
Wherefore this free and plenall Act I make
Before Heav'ns face, which I to Witnesse take:

232.First, I bequeath to Thee Tiberiu's Crown
To which Imperiall Romes vaft Power is ti'd;
And next, I to thine Head resigne mine own
Fair Diademe; For thou henceforth shalt ride
Upon my royall Charet, and alone
Govern this World, as I till now have done.

233.These Glories which about this Globe doe roll,
Are but the beams of that which shall be thine;
The Kingdoms which are spred from Pole to Pole
Shall in thy universall Realm combine;
And in requitall of thy noble Fast,
The World shall joyn its Store to dresse thy Feast.

234.My Servants here shall swear, so shall my Peers,
(And I my selfe will tender Them the Oath,)
Allegiance unto Thee, and to thy Heirs,
Yea, to compleat my grand Donation, both
My Shrines and Temples I to Thee resign,
Where no Name shall adored be but thine.

235.Nor will I any constant homage tie
To this my Grant; for all that I shall ask
Is but one Token of thy Thanks, which I
Will take for ample Pay: Nor is the Task
I'le set Thee, hard, or long; Doe but Fall down
And worship Me, and all the World's thine own.

236.So spake the King of Craft. But as the Sea
Which rolls above the Sphears, when daring Men
Affronted God with to wring Villanie,
Forgot its ever-polish'd Smiles, and in
Tempestuous Violence breaking through the shore
Of heav'n, a flood of Death on Earth did poure:

237.So now thy noble Spouse, who never yet
Had suffer'd frowns to gather on his Brow,
An angry Look against the Tempter set,
And with disdainfull Answer made him know
That all his Pageantry did not conceal
Nor Him, nor what he sought to hide, his Hell.

238.Proud Satan, 'tis enough that I, said He,
Thus long have seen and born thine Insolence:
Loe I defie thy Promises, and Thee
Vainer than them: I charge thee get thee hence
Behinde my back, and there thy shamelesse Pride
(If any thing may hide it,) learn to hide.]

239.Does not the sacred Scripture plainly say,
Thine Adoration Thou to God shalt give,
And unto Him alone thy Service pay?
All Heav'n forbid that We should Him bereave
Of his due Homage, and embezill it
Upon the Prince of the infernall Pit.

240.As when on Sodoms Impudence of old
Heav'n pour'd its Fire to purge those lustfull flames;
The wretched Town repented not, yet howl'd,
And mix'd its tears amongst the Brimstone streams;
But all in vain, for straight the Houses burn'd,
And with their Dwellers into Ashes turn'd.

241.So now at Jesu's Answer, which did flie
Like Lightning from his Lips, the Globe did melt,
And nothing of that Universall Lie
Remain'd, but Ashes, which so strongly smelt
That other Stincks compar'd with this, might seem
Perfumes, and Arabies breath, in Sodoms steam.

242.Confounded Satan backward from his Throne
Fell down the Mount, and tumbled into Hell,
Whil'st the loud Trumpet of his bellowing Groan
His dreadfull Comming, to the Deeps did tell:
But as he fell; his Horns, and Taile, and Claws
Brake out, so did the Sulphure from his Jaws.

[Page 155]
243.His yelling Peers, and lamentable Crew
Of Pages, tumbled headlong after Him;
Presenting to thy Lords victorious View
A Copie of that Sight, when from the brim
Of highest Heav'n them and their King He beat
Down to the bottome of their damned Seat.

244.And now the Sceen is chang'd; and Satan to
The Lord his God his Adoration paid
Which to himselfe he woo'd that God to doe,
So, Jesu, may all Treasons be betray'd;
So may all Rebells finde their cursed feet
Snarled for evermore in their own Net!

245.Whil'st these three Conflicts pass'd, Heav'n set its Eye
On its divinest Champion, but forbore
All Helpe or Comfort, till the Victory
Was cleerly gain'd: When loe triumphant Store
Of Angells hovering down, with high-straind Lays
Back to the sphears return'd the Victors praise.

246.O Psyche, hadst thou heard that royall Song,
Thou would'st have learn'd how We above imploy
Our blessed Time, wher on each high-tun'd Tongue
Sit endlesse Raptures of excessive Joy,
Whil'st every hearty Angell as he sings
Clapps his Applause with his exultant  [...].

247.Their Gratulation ended; on their Knees
A sumptuous Banquet They to Him present,
Wherein was choise of all Varieties
With which Heav'ns King could his dear Son content:
And He in whom all princely grace doth reign,
Was pleas'd their ministry not to disdain,

248.But when He thus had broke his mighty Fast,
The Fury which so long lay in his breast
(Impatient gnawing Famine) out hee cast,
Returning her unto her odious Nest,
And bid an Angell tie her in that Chain
When hee had drove her to her Den again.

249.There must she dwell, and never be let loose,
But when his royall Pleasure thinks it fit
To poure his Wrath on his relentlesse Foes
Whom lusty Fatnesse makes too bold, and great
To be his Subjects, in whose Laws they hear.
Of Abssinence, a yoak they will not bear.

250.And now by that Eternall Spirit, who
Brought Him into the lists of this great Fight,
He to the Coasts of Galilee doth goe;
Whither He could have flown by his own Might,
But Heav'n was studious to attend Him, and
In his great Businesse joy'd to have an hand.

251.Another World of Wonders will appear
When thither I shall carry Thee; but now
Thou shalt repose thee here a while, and cheer
Thy Spirits to run that ravishing Race: I know
That thou, (so dear are thy Lords wayes to Thee,)
Would'st longer Fast; but now it must not be,

252.This said; He spred his wing (as he before
Had often done) and on that Table set
Out of his own unseen, but copious store,
Chaste and delicious Cates for her to eate.
She blest her gratious Lord who fasted so
Long time before he eate, and then fell to.

253.But whil'st on those externall Meats she fed,
Her soule sate at a secret feast, for she
Her Hearts fair Table fully furnished
With the rich Dainties of this Historie,
Knowing her Lord (and this advanc'd the Cheer)
Did Fast and fight, not for himselfe, but Her.

254.And now, because the Sun made haste to rest
And smok'd already in the Western Deep;
Phylax his chariot curtains drew, and prest
The Virgins Eyes to doe as much by Sleep.
One Wing beneath, and one above her head
He layd, and turn'd her Bord into her Bed.

[Page 156]

PSYCHE: OR LOVES MYSTERIE. CANTO X. The Marveils.

ARGUMENT.

LOve to convince the World in whom alone
It ought to treasure all its Confidence,
Affords a fair and full Probation
What undeniable Omnipotence
Dwelt in his Hand, which alway sheltered
Those who unto its Sanctuary fled.

1.IT is not Beauty, which its Blush doth owe
Unto the Pixe and Pencill 'Tis no King
Who on the Stage doth make a rusling show,
And thunder big imperious Words, which ring
With awfull Noise about the Sceen, when He
By the next Exit must some Begger be.

2.All is not Gold that in a glistering Ray
Fairly conceals its foule hypocrisie.
The gareish Meteors, though they display
Good store of shining Proofs, will never be
Own d by the Stars for Bretneren, nor can
The Ape, with all his Tricks, be genuine Man.

3.The heady Rebell, though all Texts he skrews
To force Truth to confession of a Lie;
Though at the Barr of Natures Laws he sues
To justifie unnaturall Liberty;
Though Conscience and Religion, the thigs
He overthrows, he for his ground-work brings;

4.Though from Successe (a firmer Argument
For the Odrysian Christian-hating Race,)
He pleads the Sanctity of his Intent,
And blasphemously makes Heav'n own his Cause;
In vain strives to transforme his hell-bred Sin,
Which still makes Him to Lucifer a kin.

[Page 157]
5.The staring Wizzard never yet could by
His mumbling Charms, his Herbs, his Lines, his Wand,
His hideous Sacrifices, form a Lie
Able against the face of Truthe to stand,
Nor can his Master Satan though all Hell
He rends, or blends, effect a Miracle

6.Oft has he ventured and strove to tread
In those Almighty Steps of Heav'n, but still
The Paces were so wide, that all He did
Was but the proving of his feeble Will:
His Wonders never reach'd above Deceits,
With which imprudent Eyes and Hearts he cheats.

7.No: God alone is King of Nature, and
She hir own Soveraign full well doth know;
No sooner doth her Ear drink his Command,
But  [...] her knees, and heart and powers bowe:
For, all things must be Naturall, says she,
Which my Creators Voice injoyneth Me.

8.That Voice the Fountain was whence first she rose,
And ever since hath been the Rule whereby
She  [...] her Course which way so e'r she goes.
That Voice which did awake Vacuity
Into a full and mighty World, at ease
May change its Parts into what form it please.

9.Yet seldome it unsheaths its Power, but when
Some high and singular Designe's in hand,
Some Mystery of mighty Love: and then
Should the fast Centre in its Passage stand,
It must and will give way, and to the Top
Of Heav'n it selfe, if need require, climb up.

10.For what's the Centre's close-shrunk Knot; or what
All heav'n and earth which round about it cling,
If in a righteous balance They be put
With Love, that little Word, but mighty Thing?
Themselves they onely to Love's pleasure owe,
And cannot to His will refuse to bowe.

11.Full low They bow'd to it, when from the Yoak
Of cruell Pharaoh Israels seed it drew:
Ten mighty Blowes it gave, and every Stroke
Some part of Nature in proud Egypt slew
At length it roll'd the Sea upon an heap,
And op'd the Rebells Graves amidst the Deep.

12.How fertile did it make the Wildernesse
In Miracles! in what illustrious Flames
Renouned Sina's Temples did it dresse!
How did it teach the Rock to melt in Streams,
Bidding the Desert flow, as it before
Had charg'd the Sea to start from either shore!

13.This set the Heav'ns to rain down Angels Bread,
Who every Morning did betimes fulfill
Their wonderous Task, and all the Desert spred
With a thick candied Banquet; which lay till
The liquorish Sun delighted with the Taste,
On that Ambrosia daily broke his fast.

14.This made the Winde turn Caterer, and blow
The People flesh: This did the Cloud command
By day to usher and before them goe
With a coole shade: This built that walking, and
Bright-flaming Pillar, whose convoying Light
Commission had to banish Night from Night.

15.Jordan forbid by This, presum'd not to
Touch the Priests feet, though through his  [...] they past:
This arm'd meer Sound against proud Jericho,
And storm'd the Citty by poor Trumpets Blast;
Whil'st the hugeBullwarks which all Ramms did scorn
Fell prostrate down, & yeilded to the Horn.

16.This put more Might into a feebler Sound,
When unto Joshua's Mortall Voice 'twas given
To domineer amidst the Starry Round,
And 'gainst Dayes Gyant barracadoe Heaven.
This made the Clouds their gentle Drops forget,
And Storms of Stones on Israels Enemies spit.

17.Yet all these Wonders but Preludiums were,
And glimmering Dawns of that illustrious Day
Which in Times plenitude was to appear
And the ripe Age of Miracles display.
For then the Word it selfe came down below
From the worse Egypt's Yoak his World to draw.

18.Decorum did require this Time should be
The Crown of Times: Those Forgeries with which
The height of all Poetick Industry
Did coine the Golden Age, and it inrich
With Fancies Gallantry, could never rise
To match this more than Golden Ages price.

[Page 158]
19.Phylax, who knew all this, resolv'd to shew
Psyche a glimpse of it: with whom, when she
Awoke, he in his willing Chariot flew
High through the yeelding Clouds, and instantly
Reach'd Palestines designed Zenith, where
He curb'd his Steeds on the commanded Aire.

20.Psyche admir'd to see the Chariot stand
Upon so thin a floor: But then, said he,
This Region is not onely in the hand
Of Satans power; No, our Authoritie
Is cleerer far than his, though he would here,
Usurper as he is, a Kings Name wear.

21.Alas, time was, (as hee remembers well)
When tumbled headlong from our lofty Home,
He could not stay himselfe, but helplesse fell
Through all this Aire, to his infernall Doom.
Indeed he often crawleth up this way,
Yet 'tis but like a Theife, to steal his prey.

22.But from this Prospect Thou shalt safely see
The Sceens on which thy Lord his Wonders did:
Not all; their number is too vast for thee
Within the volume of one Day to read:
And yet as many as shall amply prove
That all his businesse in this World, was Love.

23.That tract is Galilee; you' little Town
The place where first his Might abroach He set;
Where hee was pleas'd a Marriage Feast to crown
With his great Presence, and Approofe of it.
Although his Mother were a Virgin, He
Would not to Wedlock seem an Enemie.

24.No: He himselfe at first ordained it
As a delicious and sacred Tie,
By which indissolubly He might knit
Two Bosomes in one Loves Conspiracy.
This is that reverend Knot by which alone
Two are no longer Two, but Both are One.

25.A Knot which He himselfe doth imitate,
Though in a puter and more mystick way;
Whil'st with his Spouse he doth concentricate,
Blending his heart with hers; that so Both may
Cleave in such unity as makes the Creature
Strangely Partaker of its Makers Nature.

26.A blessed Knot, which ties Affection close
Betwixt the Branches and the Root, and bindes
Up Families in peace; which hanging loose
By doubtfull Lines, as oft as waspish Mindes
By Discontents proud itch were spurred on,
Would split, and be infallibly undone.

27.Satan was well aware of this; For hee
Bewitch'd grave Plato's high-esteemed Pen
To vent the Doctrine of Community,
As most conducing to the Weal of Men:
But when the moderate Pagans Project proved
In vain a desperate Christians Tongue he moved.

28.For He in Antioch found a Monster, who
Dar'd spit plain Poyson on this Mystery,
Avouching that all Nuptials did flow
From cursed Hells Invention: Hell, said He,
Was the black Shop where Belzebubs own Hands
Did forge and fashion Matrimoniall Bands.

29.Unhappy Saturninus how hast thou
Prov'd thine own selfe an Urcheon of Damnation!
What gain'st Thou else by fetching from below
Thy Beings Root, which was of Heav'ns plantation!
O most adulterous Soul, who by thy vile
Crime, all the Worlds Beds do'st at once defile!

30.Whil'st Jesus now sate sweetly at the Feast,
And added a new Banquet to that Meat,
(For on his face the Eyes of every Guest
As in the richer Dainties, all were set,)
A fit Occasion Him beseech'd to joyn
To that Drie Banquet of his Face, some Wine.

31.The Wine was out: When loe the Virgin Mother
In courteous Pitty of the Bridgromes Want,
(Which she as carefull was as he, to smother,)
Unto Her Son, the Fount of all Things, went,
And, in a blush more lovely than the Bride
Could shew that Day, the busines signifi'd.

32.But then her Son (who was not hers alone,
But also Heav'ns, and now resolv'd to shew
A token of that high Extraction)
Began (for 'twas the first time,) to allow
No Name of Mother to Her: What says He,
O Woman, what have I to doe with thee?

[Page 159]
33.This bus'ness Must not seem to flow from thy
Sole Motion; Heav'n and I have plotted it;
Nor need'st thou lend us any Wings to flie
Who can make hast enough, when Hast is fit.
The Wheels of Time with speed enough doe runne,
But yet mine Houre they have not rolled on.

34.Know Psyche, that his Houre is Mercies Cue;
And when Extremitie of Need doth call,
Then Mercie loves her gracious Power to shew;
The want of wine was yet not knowne to all
The Company, whose Souls it did concerne
By that, thy Lords wise Potencie to learn

35.But yet no sooner did that Want appear,
 [...] with ready Goodness gives Command;
 [...] He spied standing there
 [...] owne Liquor should be filled, and
 [...] for the Convives: When loe, at the Spout
The Miracle into the Boule gush'd out.

36.He who had Water taught by passing through
The Conduit of the Uine and of the Grape,
To turne to brisk and joyfull Wine; did now
Teach it as much by running through the Tap.
The cool and Virgin Nymph drawn from the Pot
All over blushed, and grew sparkling hot.

37.The Master of the Feast amazed at
Her sprightfull Sweetness, wonderd whence she came:
Never had his judicious Palate yet
Discover'd such a brisk and sprightfull Dame.
Alas He knew not that His gift She was
From whom no Thing but what is Best, can pass.

38.Look yonder flows the Sea of Galile,
Upon whose sandy shore, which He had set
To curb and bridle in its Waves, as He
Uouchsas d to walk, his Eyes an object met
Which mov'd their pitty, and that moved Him
In a new Sea to bid the Fishers swimme.

39.Peter and Andrew in the tiresome Maine
Catching their Living with their Fish, he spi'd;
In whom he read the vainer Life of vain
And mudling Man, who in the briney Tide
Of this unstable World his Days doth wast
And with his Net, himself into it Cast.

40.So certainly Uncertainty upon
This Lifes unfaithfull Stage doth domineer;
Proud Change in such confounding Sport doth runne
Heer sometimes flowing, sometimes ebbing there;
That Earth it self may seem, no less than Sea,
At never setled Luna's beck to be.

41.This made Him crie aloud, Come Follow Me,
And I will you imbark upon the Shore
In a more safe and profitable Sea,
Than you have ever fished in before.
Let those mute things alone, and I will make
You henceforth catch such Fishes as can speaks.

42.The Shoale of Men which in this Ages Deep
Doe scudd about, unto your Netts shall flow:
Those feeble tatterd Things you need not keep,
I upon You will nobler Netts bestow;
Immortall Nets, which know not how to break,
Netts which the Universall World shall take.

43.As needless is your crazie Bark, for I
Intend to build a royall Ship, in which
You round about the Globe, being steered by
My watchfull Providence, shall safely reach.
When Heav'n fears being shipwrackt, then shall this
Uessell, which nothing but Heav'ns Kingdome is.

44.Hast Thou not heard how Sirens notes have drawn
The Fishers from their Boats into the Sea,
In whose sharp Brine their silley Preys they drown,
Drowned before in their soft Harmonie?
Well then might this strong Charm those Men invite
To plunge into the Sea of safe Delight.

45.Once more their Netts they Cast, but Cast away;
Meekly ambitious to be Fishes now,
And yeild Themselves to Him a willing Prey
Who thus his Nett of Love about them rhrew.
Never Adventure did they make like this,
Where being caught Themselves, they Catch'd their Bliss.

46.But yonder taken was an harder Prize:
There once erected stood Exactions Throne,
Where Levi sate, Lord of a strange Excise,
The heavie Mark of Romes Dominion,
A Knight he was, for none but such might be
Intrusted with that Cruell Dignitie.

[Page 160]
47.That at the gracious Calling of thy Lord
Fishers were well content their own to leave,
Lesse ground to sober Wonder doth afford:
Their cold, and wet, and dirtie Trade, might drive
Them to an easy faith their old Degree
Of life, by any new advanc'd would be.

48.A Faith, which in the Dregs of Time, so far
Abus'd will be, that bold Mechanicks, who
In poor and painfull Trades ingaged were,
When Sloth and Pride make them too worthy to
Buckle to work, their Tools away will throw,
And, by this Call, inspir'd Men-fishers grow.

49.But what Charms can out-vie the power of Gold,
An heavy strong and pretious Chain, which now
In deer imprisonment did Levi hold,
And fast upon his Soule and Body grow;
Can a Poor Master such a Man perswade
To leave great Cesar, and his thriving Trade!

50.A sturdy Mountain may more easily be
Commanded to resigne his native place,
And heave his mouldering bulk into the Sea:
The Sun may sooner from his princely face
Tear all his golden Tire, and damp his light
In the vile pitch of an unnaturall night.

51.Yet as thy Lord (alas how mean and poor)
Pass'd by the Office, He this Word let flie,
Come follow Me: which forth-with over-bore
By most unconquerable Potencie
The startled Seat, the Profit, and the Man,
And turn'd into a Saint, the Publican.

52.The Worlds Opinion Levi ponder'd not,
Nor how Tibereus this Affront might take,
He counted not what He should loose, or what
He should not gain, whilst he this Change did make:
He asks no Freinds advice how he might keep
His fame, nor stays to Look before he leap.

53.But as forth from its horrible Abysse
The World did at thy Spouses Call appear;
So from the blacker deeper Masse of his
Confused Mammon Levi mounteth here,
And bravely Follows Him without delay,
Who was Himself his Leader, and his Way,

54.For Love like Lightning from the blessed Eyes
Of Jesus, shot it self quite through his Heart,
Where into its own instant Sacrifice
What e'r it light upon it did convert:
So sublimate and so refining was
The Fire, that all the Gold it turn'd to Drosse.

55.Doubts, Fears and Cares and secular Relations
It quite burnt up, and in his flaming breast
Left nothing but the noble Exultations
Of valiant Zeal; which, should the World resist
Its course with all this Masse of Earth and Sea,
Would rend its way through all, and victor be.

56.O Psyche, Love, Love is that potent Thing
To which all other Strength its head bowes down:
The Universe's most Almighty King
Ne'r chose to use Pow'rs Title as his own,
But in this sweeter Name of higher might
(For God is Love) he takes his deer delight.

57.Thy Lord his ordinary Chaplanes thus
Did chuse, and twelve their mystick Number was;
For in this Zodiak He all-gloryous
Resolved through his Grace's Orb to passe
About his World; Nor does the other Sun
Through fewer Signes in his great voyage run.

58.But I must tell Thee (for himself descri'd
The Secret first) One of the Twelve He chose
An Hell-hound was, and the false-hearted Guide
Unto his deerest Masters mortall Foes;
One who did prove in matchlesse height of evill
Against Incarnate God, Incarnate Divell.

59.Yet, such was Jesu's most unbounded Love,
That He resolv'd to doe his best, and trie
How He from Juda's bosome might remove
Intruding Hells pernitious monarchie.
For Heav'n forbid that Pitties Lord should fashioa
A way to plunge Him deeper in Damnation.

60.O no! may those black Mouthes for ever be
Damm'd up with Silence, and with Shame, which dare
Father the foulest deepest Tyranny
Upon the God of Love; And busie are
In pleading it from his own Word, although
By it they make Him Contradictious too.

[Page 161]
61.But all the rest were faithfull Soules, who stood
True to their Lords Cause; which they strove to write
(As He in His had done) in their own blood;
And never started at the sharpest Fight,
But by their own Deaths studied, as they
Were able, His great Death how to repay.

62.James was the first, old Zebedees elder Son,
To whom proud Herods Sword the way cut ope,
And gave Him leave that noble Race to run,
Which leadeth straight to Heav'ns illustrious Top.
How little dream'd the Tyrant, that He did
Put on his Crown, when He took off his Head!

63.The next was Philip, who with noble Heat
Flew to the North, and hunted out the Ice
From those dull Hearts, which ne'r with Heav'n did beat,
But with congealed stupid Ignorance freeze;
For his large Sceen was snowie Scythia where
December takes his Walk through all the year.

64.When He that Winter all on fire had set
With Christian Flames, He bent his Course into
A Clime which should have been much warmer, but
At his lifes price He found it was not so:
For soon He saw that more than Scythias Ice
Bound up the Heart of Hierapolis.

65.Joves Name had left no room for Jesus there;
And when He tells the People of the shame,
The Nails, the Crosse his Lord for them did bear,
He his own Torments did aforehand name.
Enough of Jesus now, said They, for We
Will quickly make as good a God of Thee.

66.Then with a thousand Taunts they pierce his ear,
And next with nails his sacred Hands and feet,
And so his Crosse with acclamations rear:
Where like a Mark to fury being set,
Flints neer as hard's themselves they poure upon Him,
And from their World thus into Heav'n did stone Him.

67.Thomas, whose Doubts did fix his Faith so Fast
That neither Life nor death could make it shake,
With Jesus in his Mouth through Parthia past,
And charm'd what Rome could never pliant make.
The AEthiop's too did hear his Voice; but He
Resolv'd to reach the Worlds Extremity.

68.He had observed how the greedy West
Into the East was drawn by thirst of Gold,
Which had the Suns and Natures Courses crost,
And into Jndu's Mouth the Ocean roll'd:
And will none goe, a richer prize to win
Than that fair Ore, said He, the Soules of Men?

69.Sure Indians Soules of purer Metall are
Than that which Avarice doth so far adore,
Thomas will thither trade, though India were
More Worlds off than it is, from Jordans shore;
For in his Zealous Sails Gods Spirit blows,
And not to fetch, but carry Gold He goes:

70.If Gold be not too poor a Name to set
Upon the forehead of his royall Wares;
Loves, Joyes, Peace, Glory, Blisse, and every Sweet
Of sweetest Paradise He thither bears,
For these, and more than these inshrined be
In Jesu's Name, Heav'ns best Epitomie.

71.With this He traded to make India rich,
And not Himselfe, who now could not be poor;
As having more than All, though not so much
As any thing layd up in provident Store:
He knew his Lord was Plenties King, and He
Did as his own account His Treasury.

72.Close to his work, without all further care
He falls, and having op'd his Merchandize,
Come Buy, saies He: for though these Wares be far
Above your glittering Ore's adored price,
Yet you on Trust may goe for all this Blisse;
Give but your Faith, and yours the Treasure is.

73.The Brachmans wonder'd at the generous Man,
So did the sage Gymnosophists; untill
A barbarous unmoved Faction
Pass'd a blinde Act of Spight, to seize and kill
The noble Merchant; who as ready stood
To poure it forth, as they to suck his Blood.

74.Arm'd with their Kings Consent, and with their spears,
Unto his Heart they ope their cruell way;
Whil'st He with sweet content their Madnesse bears,
And for his Doubting Hand returns this Pay;
This finall Pay for that (now faithfull) Hand
Which deep in debt to's Masters Side did stand.

[Page 162]
75.The younger Jame's, whose noble Family
Advanc'd Him to be Brother to his Lord,
Much neerer grew of Kin by Piety:
No man with stouter fervor Him ador'd,
Nor with more resolute Constancy than He,
Witnesse his reverend Forehead, and his Knee.

76.His Knee; all plated with Austerity,
Which on the Temples Pavement night and day
Did naked dwell, till it arriv'd to be
Hard as the Marble, which beneath it lay:
There never grew on painfull Camels Knees
So stiffe a Proofe of Patience, as on His.

77.His Forchead; which was sealed with the same
Stamp of Severity; for by Prostration
Its fleshie Tendernesse hee overcame.
O sacred Impudence of Humiliation!
Whil'st wicked  [...] armed were with Brasse,
His prous Front in Brawn immured was.

78.A Brawn which shall hereafter check their Pride
And foolish Superstition, who by new
Coyned Devotion, will the Old deride,
And think no worship from the Body due;
But in pretence their Conscience tender is,
Maintain their dainty Fleshes Tendernesse.

79.His dearest Meat and drink was to fulfill
His Masters Pleasure: Ne'r did dangerous Grape
Its blood on his abstemious Palate spill,
Nor stain his sacred Cup: for mean and cheap
His Liquor was; the virgin Fountains were
His onely Cellars, and his onely Beer.

80.Ne'r did the rampant flesh of Birds or Beasts
Reek in his Kitchin, nor sweat on his Board:
Chaste Moderation cooked all his Feasts,
And well she knew how to content her Lord;
His highest Fare were sober modest Fishes,
Where Water serv'd for Beer, the aptest Dishes.

81.Ne'r did perfumed Oiles his Body dew
With their soft Flattery of delicious Sweat
Unmanly Bathes his skin did never brew,
Nor cheat his Vigour with effeminate Heate.
His Limbs in active Linnen us'd to dwell,
Being never muffled up, and lost in Wooll.

82.Nor was that Linnen, though full course and plain.
Contemned in the Peoples Eye, for they
On bended knees were Suiters to obtain
His leave, their offrings on its Hemm to lay;
That as hee through the Streets was passing by,
Their Lips, and Kisses they might sanctifie.

83.O how imperious is meek Piety
Whether it will or no, commanding All
Spectators into Love and Reverence! hee
Who counts Blisse by true Honor, must let fall
All other Plumes, and wisely learn to dresse
Body and Soule in humble Holinesse.

84.Nay now the surly Priest, among the rest,
Of James his matchlesse Worth convinced is;
And finding him to be the holier Priest,
Grants him into the Oracle free Accesse;
Of which mysterious Place he had the glory,
(And none but hee) to make his Oratory.

85.He was the holier Priest indeed; for now
The ancient Priesthood with the Veil was rent:
The Diademe too was falne from Juda's brow,
And famous Salems Regall Glory spent.
But James did there erect the sacred Throne
Of his Episcopal Dominion.

86.Yet are the Northern Windes, and Irish Seas
More trusty than the Jewes: The Jewes to day
Can heap their Kisses, and their Courtesies
On him whom They to morrow will betray;
Jew's Mouths unto thy face can speak all good
This houre, and in the next will suck thy Blood.

87.With Acclamations They this Saint had set
In state, upon their Temples Battlement:
Where hee no sooner did assert the great
Name of his Lord, but with one mad consent
Of Rage, they throw him headlong down, and stain
The ground both with his blood and with his Brain.

88.Zelotes, and Thaddaeus, that brave Pair,
When He in Egypt preached had, and He
In Mesopotamia; united were
To reap in Persia their felicity:
This was the Crown of Martyrdome, which in
The Quarrell of their Saviour they did win.

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89.Peter the Leader of that glorious Train,
When he had fix'd the Antiochean Seat,
For his more reverend Throne a place did gain
In Caesar's conquering Citty; where the great
Irradiations of his Fame did call
Romes noblest Strength, to trie with Him a Fall.

90.This Strength was Simon whose Apostacie
From Truth, in Deeps of Magick Him did drown,
But more in Lies, and desperate blaspemie,
For all Gods Rights He claimed as his owne,
And left no Trinitie in Heav'n but taught
That He himselfe alone with it was fraught.

91.The Father in Samaria, the Sonne
In Jewrie, and in all the world beside
The Spirit He preach'd Himselfe: And yet alone
Pretended not ability to guide
His owne Creating Hand, but when He made
The Angells, granted He had Helens aid.

92.This was the surest way he had to gain
His pretious Whore, to set her on his Throrie,
And in his God head let her Partner raign.
Besides, to help on the production
Of Heresies and blasphemous Portents, Hell
Thought Females usefull then, and always will.

93.And so the World will say, when it has known
Priscilla, Maximilla, and the Pair
Of Philumena's with the double Spawn
Of lying Elkai: for her wretched share
In such Deceits, some Eve will still come in
As Helen heer did into Simons Sinne.

94.He taught his Scholars in Himselfe and Her
To treasure up the hopes of their Salvation;
And heedless Souls the surer to ensnare,
He freely loos'd the Reins to every Passion:
No matter how you live, or die, said He
So long's your Faith builds on my Grace and Me.

95.This was that Champion, by whose Magick skill
Befooled Nero thought Him God indeed,
And pray'd Him by some Signall Miracle
To dash those daring Wonders Peter did.
His Credit bid Him to that Motion yeild,
And set the Day when He would fight the Field.

96.The Day is come, and Simon boldly makes
The Challenge, which was unto Heav'n to file:
With that, his Arms he weighs, and spreads, and takes
His unwing'd flight: but turns his scornfull Eye
Down upon Peter, whom into the Hands
Of Justice, and of Death, He recommends.

97.The Clowds had gathered thick about the Skie
To guard the fair Heav'n from his soule intrusion
Yet their Battalia He broke, and by
His working Arms, unto his high Delusion
Forc'd ope the way, The People, as he went,
Their Wonder, after Him, and Worship sent.

98.But as the never-beaten Fencer lets
His bold capricious us Combatant grow high,
Before He strikes in carnest, and so getts
A later, but a nobler Victorie:
So Peter letts his Foe alone, till He
High enough for a fatall Fall might be.

99.Then posting after Him with mighty Prayers,
The Divells which bore Him up He forc'd away:
Forth with, down headlong his aeriall Stayrs
The Conjurer fell, and on the Pavement lay,
Where bruis'd, and batter d, all in gore imbrew'd
His black blood, and his blacker soul he spew'd.

100.Strait, in the Peoples Mouths the Divells crie,
Peter our God hath by enchantment slain.
And so did this unreasonable Lie
Prevail, that He is first unto a Chain
Condemn'd, and afterward unto a Crosse.
Unhappy Rome, which mad'st thy Gain, thy Loss

101.For Thou no sooner gain'st thy freedome from
That cursed Wizard; but Thou dost betray
Thine owne Deliverer: if Simon whom
Thou seest confounded by the Power which lay
In Peters Prayers, were a God; ô why
Must Peter now not be a Deitie?

102.Yet He cries out: This Altar is too rich
For Me, so poor and vile a sacrifice:
Was not the Cross that glorious Place on which
My Master paid the Worlds eternall price!
Sure were some gallant Seraph hear to die,
This Engine would his Passion dignifie,

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103.Yet if I must thus high aspire; may I
At least obtain this leave of you, to show
That I desir'd not in this Pomp to die:
So Hang Me that my reverent Head below
May pay its finall Kisses on the Feet
Of my most royall Saviour's dying Seat.

104.Nero to such Requests as these was free,
Full glad that He had learn'd a new-found-way
To cross and double Crucifixion; He
Commands his Serjeants not to disobey
The wretches wilde Desire, but, so He died,
To let Him any way be crucified.

105.The Saint thus fix'd on the reversed Tree,
Now findes his Eyes turn'd from all things below,
As was his Heart before: And joyous He
In spight of all his obst'nate Nailes, knows how
That Place to which his Feet did aime, to gaine,
Which Footstoole Simon reached at in vain.

106.Andrew, his Brother both in Nature's and
In Zeale's and Pietie's (much straiter) Tie,
Through Thrace and Scythia travell'd with the grand
Charge of appeased Heav'ns sweet Embassie.
The dark Barbarians wondred at the bright
Meridian Day amidst their Northerne Night.

107.The Day He brought was that which ows its East
Not to the East, but to the South, for there
(In priviledg'd Palestine) thy Lord was pleas'd
First unto his Horizon to appeare.
It was thy Lords sweet, Day, on which depends
The High-noone of that Bliss which never ends.

108.Thence into Greece the restless Preacher came,
Arrogant Greece, who though her own She makes
The opposite to the Barbarian Name,
Yet more inhumane salvage Courses takes
Than Thrace or Scythia: O that famous Arts
Should raise Mens Witts, yet stupifie their Hearts!

109.Achaia smil'd, and with disdainfull Mirth
Patrae confuted all that Andrew said;
His Beggar-God's poore miserable Birth,
And viler Death They scoffingly upbraid:
Nor did AEgaeus, though Proconsul He,
Stop, but spurre on the Peoples Villanie.

110.A Cross they make Him of a new-found frame
(Whither his meek Desire, or their wise spight
Projected it,) which thenceforth bare its Name,
As it did Him that day: A Cross not right
Erected and transverse, but thwarted so
That it a X, more then a Cross did show.

111.A X, the blessed Letter which began
His Masters deare Name and his own: His Cross
It self proclaims He dies a Christian;
And though the holy Omen to his gross
Though learned Foes were unperceived, He
Rejoyced in his Crosses Mysterie.

112.A Cross which shall e'r long so glorious be,
Wearing his Name upon it crucifi'd,
That it shall crowne the Scottish Heraldrie
And in the Topp of all its Banners ride.
What Glories then shall Saints themselves obtain,
If in such state their Suffrings Badges reign.

113.Nayld fast unto this Honour was the Saint,
Array'd in Scarlet from his own rich Veins:
The Graecians took it for a torturing Paint,
And thought his Cross a Throne of Soveraign Pains:
But He his noble Pulpit made this Tree,
A Pulpit which did preach, as well as He.

114.Long was his Sermon, for his last it was;
Two days it measur'd; and yet seem'd but short.
What are two poor and flitting Days, alas,
To that which doth Eternitie import?
He preach'd Eternitie, unto whose light
His hood-winkt Torturers He did invite.

115.At length perceiving Death no hast would make
With strong Desires he wooed it to come:
Not that his Pains his Patience did break,
But that his Heart did long to be at home.
He could be nothing but a Stranger, where
His Masters blessed face did not appear.

116.And am I nail'd in vain, deer Lord, said he,
Unto this Pillar of renouned Death?
Though not poor I, yet thou Deserv'st for Me,
That in this Honour I may yeild my Breath.
These potent Words to Heav'n with violence flew
Whence a fair light they for his Convoy drew.

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117.As in the bosome of his Chariots flames
Illustrious Phehus through the Sphears doth speed;
So resting in the Arms of these sweet Beams
The Saints brave Soule was thither carried.
Thus in her funerall Fire the Phaenix dies,
And by her Death, to fairer life doth rise.

118.On Zeals undaunted Wings great Bartholmew
To meet the Dayes Flame where it kindled is,
Unto the furthest brink of India flew;
And taught the East to bend their wakening Eyes
Upon a new Son who no Gold did need
To dresse his Locks, and more than golden Head.

119.Then having left His goodly Picture there
Which Matthews Pen had drawn fair in a Book;
He posted backward to Armenia, where
The same illustrious Work in hand hee took.
But promising his Hearers Kings to make;
The King grew wroth, and thus his Fury spake:

120.Bold Wretch, who pratest of the idle Throne
Of thy vain Christ; I'le make thee know that I
In my Armenia will have but one,
And that's the Seat of my own Majesty.
If Jesus be a God, his Heav'n will be
Realm large enough; He need not trench on Me.

121.'Twere speciall Credit for Armenia's King
To entertain as a great Deity
A stable-born and manger-cradeled Thing;
Whose ignominious Death did justifie
The vilenesse of his Birth, because a poor
Resolved doting Wretch doth Him adore.

122.O no! the Gods by whose great Blessing I
Possesse my Crown, are Gods enough: Away
With shamefull Jesu's uselesse Dietie.
Yet for some use Thou mayst be fitting: Say
Serjeants, will not this Carrion serve to flea?
Though He be naught, yet good his Skin may be.

123.That onely Word sufficient was to let
The Tygres loose; who straight the Saint undresse
Both of his Cloths, and Skin, which at the feet
Of their fell Lord they threw; for it was his
Due right the blessed Martyrs skin to keep
In token that He slew the harmlesse Sheep.

124.But He now grown far fairer than before,
As when the Sun from Clouds unveiled is,
Did shine and sparkle in his glorious Gore,
Quite dazling by his noble Nakednesse
The Devills eyes, who could have wish'd the skin
(To hide his own shame) on the Saint agin.

125.Yet 'twas in vain; for Bartholmew was now
Fit for the Roabs of Immortality,
Which Jesus hand — ready was to throw
Upon his most deserving Back; for hee
Might without Pains and Crouding now get in
At Heav'ns strait Gate, who first put off his skin,

126.But Matthew into AEthiopia ran
Ventring upon a strange Designe, for there
He strove to purge the Crow into a Swan,
To make Pitch Chrystall, Ink Snow, Darknesse cleer,
Spots beauteous, Sables lucid, Shaddows bright,
I mean, to wash the Pagan Negro's white.

127.And this by Baptisms searching Streams he did,
Which drown'd their Hearts in Life and Purity:
Soon the full Torrent of his Name did spread,
And in the Channell of the Court grow high:
The Court soon catch'd the News, but little thought
That in the Newse's Net it selfe was caught.

128.Caught was its dearest Gem, the Virgin Heart
Of Iphigenia, daughter to the King:
And now not all the flattering frowning Art
Of royall Hirtacus her Soul could bring
To leave her mystick Spouses love and wed
Himselfe who panted after her sweet Bed.

129.O no! She cri'd; My Vow is past, and I
Unto my God my Body must restore
As I receiv'd it: My Virginity
Is now intirely His, and mine no more:
Matthew is witnesse, and it were in vain
For Me to call my Promise back again.

130.O if you love me then, love what I am,
Love Love himselfe, and so you shall love me;
Be truely Royall, Love the Christian Name,
And let my Sacred Vow still Sacred be:
For I may to no Pagan Spouse be tied,
Who to an heav'nly Bridgroom am affied.

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131.The Prince with Wrath, and Folly blinded, saw
Not how this Match, most matchlesse was, nor that
She had already chose a King: And though
The shame of meer Humanity would not
Permit his Rage to take its swindge on Her,
Yet He o'r Matthew let it domineer.

132.His choisest Bloodhounds in all haste he sent
With correspondent charge against the Saint;
Whom finding busie at the Sacrament,
With His, and his Lords blood, the floor they paint;
And at the Altar thus the Martyr dies,
To Heav'n a willing, and sweet Sacrifice.

133.Matthias, whose heav'n-witness'd Faith commended
Him to supply the Traytor Juda's place,
To finish Matthews great Designe contended
In AEthiopia; whence He turn'd his Race
To Jewry, where his blood hee forth did poure
For Him who gave him all his own before.

134.John was the last; but first and highest in
His dear Esteem who is Himselfe most High:
O blessed Saint, which did'st the Riches win
Of all Heav'ns sweetest fullest Treasury!
Jesus, indeed, does all Men love; but hee
Not onely lov'd, but was in love with Thee.

135.He was in love with thy Virginity
Which with all blooming Graces was bedeckt;
Of all his Twelve choise privileg'd Chaplanes, He
Did for his amorous Favours Thee select:
He did select Thee his soft Spouse, in whose
Delicious Eyes He meant his own to loose.

136.He was in love with the reflexion
Of his own Sweetnesse shining in thy face;
With sympathetick Joy hee dwelt upon
His iterated Selfe in that pure Glasse,
Striving all Lovers Arts on it to prove:
O blessed Soule, with whom Love fell in love.

137.From off the troubled Main he lured Thee
Into a deeper Sea of calmest Pleasures,
The bosome of supream Serenity;
To which the Ocean is but poor in Treasures.
His own dear Breast to Thee hee opened wide,
And let Thee in unto its fullest Tide.

138.There did'st Thou lie, and learn thy Soule to glow
By the dear Copy of thy Pillows Heat;
A Pillow in whose soft Protection Thou
Put'st all thy Cares and Fears to rest: And yet
Slep'st not thy Selfe; for how could any Eye
Indure to close, when Jesus was so nigh?

139.There did'st Thou lie, next to the Heart of Love,
Whose ravishing Imbraces kept thee warm
With all the best of Heav'n, no more above,
But folded up in his incircling Arm:
Which forc'd all wise Spectators to conclude,
Thou wert aforehand with Beatitude.

140.The loftiest Stories where pure Seraphs dwell
Exalted in Felicities bright Sphear,
Thy dainty Habitation did excell;
For at his Foot-stoole They lie prostrate there
Amidst the Sweets of whose all-balmey Breast
Thine onely Head makes its delicious Nest.

141.What potent Joyes, what mysticall Delight
Woo'd, and besieg'd thy Soule on every side,
Whil'st thy inamoured Spouse spent all the Might
Of heav'nly Tendernesse on his dear Bride!
How many healing Wounds gave his Loves Dart,
How many living Deaths, to thy soft Heart!

142.How did hee study to epitomize
His Incarnation's amorous Designe,
And trie the best of Mercie's Mysteries
Upon thy single Soule! in which divine
Experiment, it was thine onely Grace
To fill his universall Churches place.

143.Thus while he liv'd, he sweetly liv'd in Thee:
And when hee di'd, Thou saw'st him nayled fast
Unto his Death: Yet no Mortality
Could seize upon His love; for by his last
And tenderest Words, whil'st hee Himselfe did die,
To Thee he gave Loves living Legacie.

144.Into his dearest Mothers Bosome hee
Commended Thee, and bid her own her Son:
What Nature could not, Love contriv'd to be,
And Mary must be Mother unto John:
Jesus and John Love had so closely ti'd,
That in their Mother they must not divide.

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145.Mary no other Glass could findè, where she
So fair an Image of her Sonne might read;
Nor John so pure a Mirrour wherein He
His ever looking-longing Eyes might feed
On his dear Lord: Thus Love though dead and gone,
Sweetly leaves John, his Spouse; Mary, her Sonne.

146.No wonder, gentlest Saint, that on thy Tongue
Love built his Hive, and dropp'd his Hony thence,
Whilst thy Soul-charming Words rellish so strong
Of Heav'ns best Sweets, and choycest influence;
That Love from his own Wing lent Thee the Quill
Which all thy Lines with Charity doth fill.

147.No wonder Thou, brave Eagle soar'dst so high,
And div'dst so deep into the Suns bright face;
Where Thou didst read the Words great Mystery,
By which thine Eye refin'd, not dazeled was:
No wonder that Thou didst thy Gospeli fashion,
And Calculate by God's own Elevation.

148.No wonder that Port Latin saw the Oile
Scalding in vain: Thou who didst live by Fire,
And in whose breast such amorous streams did boile,
Could'st feel no other Flames. O no! some higher
Fervor of Love must melt thine own, and send
It to the flaming Bosome of thy Friend.

149.The Languishments of never-faint Desire
Must crown thy Life with correspondent Death:
Though by sharp Pains thy Brethren did expire,
This dainty Martyrdom must end thy Breath:
So Heav'n has privileg'd thy Piety,
Thou who did'st Live by Love, of Love must Die.

150.Pardon me Psyche, I could not forbear
This deare Apostrophe: John was the Man
Whose virgin flaming Worth made Him be neer
Of kin to our Angelick Tribe; and can
We mention him, and not salute him too,
Whom Honors Soveraign Lord has honor'd so?

151.And pardon Me, that I have dwelt so long
On his Apostolick Bretheren; the Glory
Of whose death-scorning Valour, does no wrong,
Nor interrupts their Masters royall Story:
He, and his heav'nly Might, in them appear'd,
And o'r the vanquish'd Earth his Banner rear'd

152.Mark now that Mount which lifts its lofty Head
Neer to Bethsaida, whence it takes a view
Of all the Countries round about it spread;
Nor Zebulon, nor Nephthali out-flew
Its Prospect; which through Trachonitis too.
And Ituraea did sublimely goe.

153.Yea, though far distant, it acquaintance took
With other Mountains; unto Hermon,  [...],
And stately Libanus it reach'd a Look.
This was that noble Oratory where
Thy Lord so oft retired, that the Place
Thenceforth the Mount of Christ  [...] was.

154.A Mount where liberall Nature did her best,
Witnesse the flowrie Beauties smiling there;
But Grace far more  [...]
Than that bright Pomp which and of old prepare
For the Lawgivers feet the  [...]
Of Sina, mix'd with Thunder, Smoak, and Dread.

155.For here no Trumpet spake the Frightfull Minde
Of stern Imperiousnesse; no rigid Law
Back'd with an everlasting Curse, injoyn d
The World to its hard Yoak their Necks to bow:
But Love himselfe upon his gentle Throne
Gave the soft Lawes of Benediction.

156.Eight Springs of Blessednesse abroach hee set,
And woo'd the weary World to bathe in Them.
Their Cares and Fears hee taught Them to transmit
And bury all Solicitude in Him:
He pass'd his Word Heav'n should their Purveyor be
Who served in the Warrs of Pietie.

157.His Evangelicall Oeconomie
He instituted here; and so improved
The highest Pitch of Legall Sanctitie,
That though incumbering Burdens hee removed,
Yet more Bonds of Perfection on hee laid,
And wonderous strict his Mercies Candor made.

158.His Reins were Silk, but yet hee held them strait,
And drove amain; providing by that Art
That in their Passage no enchanting Bait
Might his Disciples lure and tempt to start
Out of the King of Heav'ns high Way, but to
His Kingdome safely and directly goe.

[Page 148]
159.His blessed Rules, and none but His, are They
Which past the Puritie of Gold refine
Gross Mortall Hearts, and sublimate poor Clay
Into a State Angelick and Divine,
Whilst by his Spirit He scours off sinfull Rust,
And into Heav'n blows up the purged Dust.

160.But turn, and view those Desert Fields which lie
Next Neighbours to the Galilean Sea:
Into that hopefull quiet Privacie
Devotion had withdrawn thy Spouse: but He
Had given the People too much tast of his
Sweetness, to think He long could scape their Press.

161.For as the busie Bees who once have found
 [...] Garden, haunt it day by day,
 [...] out every flower, and humming round
About the Tops of their delicious Prey:
So to that Garden (for thy Lord had by
His presence made it so,) did People flie.

162.Jesus who bow'd from Heav'n poor Man to meet,
Could not refraine to entertaine the Throng:
With gracious ready Welcome He did greet
Each Troop and Party as they came along,
Dealing his Courtesie to great and small,
Who came to be the Saviour of All.

163.Then as the wise Physitian first takes care
That all the Vitall Parts be sound within,
Before He spend his pains on any Soare
Which sinks into the Flesh, or on theSkin
Doth swimme: So did his Tenderness to those
His numerous Patients his art dispose.

164.Their Hearts and Brains with long Distempers were
Into a desperate Condition brought,
Had they not met with His all-healing Care:
For from his Lipps such Cordialls straight broke out,
Such Salves, such Balsams; that all Heav'n did seem
Turn'd into Physick to recover Them.

165.Heav'ns Kingdome was the Med'cine He appli'd,
A Med'cine which its Doctor did become;
A Med'cine fit to slake and cure that Pride
Which made poore Man so sick; His Home from home
To finde his lost Sheep, unto Earth He brings,
And is resolv'd to heal them into Kings,

166.Sweet words of Wisedome, Power, Life, and Bliss,
Into their Ears He pour'd; and in their stream
So rarely He infus'd all Paradise
That what did nothing but a Sermon seem,
Was liquid Heav'n. Thus the rich Gemme unseen
Swumm in the Boule of the Egyptian Queen.

167.Never did Ethan the sage Ezrahite,
Never did Heman, Chalcol, Darda; who
On Wisdom's Wings exalted to the height
Of noble Fame, about the World did goe:
Never did Trismegistus, never did
The deepest Reach of Zoroastes Head:

168.Never did Solomon whose gallant Wit
High as the Heav'n, and deep as was the Sea,
Unlock'd and ransack'd every Cabinet
Of darkest Nature; dive so farr as He,
Or drop such Sentences and Parables,
As those with which his deep Discourse He fills,

169.Yea ev'n the Serpent, in whose wily Head
All Craft doth raign, when He thy Grandame Eve
With his profoundest and most studied
Inchantments tri'd, of old, and did Deceive,
Less sweetly and less subtlie spake, than now
The Sermon from thy Spouse's Lipps did flow.

170.The Serpents Preachment onely was to steal
Eve into part of his own Miserie;
Thy Spouse's end was onely to reveal
The way unto his owne Felicitie:
And Heav'n forbid, but Truth as strong should be
As undermining Lies and Flatterie.

171.It was as strong, by full Authoritie
Shewing its own authentick Might and Worth;
And not in doubting sneaking Jelousie
Of labouring for an abortive Birth.
'Tis the Scribes Chair which totters thus, not His
Which surer than the Worlds Heart fixed is.

172.He as Amphion by his charming Song
Rude salvage Hearts did tame and civilize;
By the high Sweets of his more potent Tongue
Did all his Auditors with Heav'n surprize.
The senseless Sphears a ravishing Sound can make;
Much more his Voice from whom their tune they take

[Page 169]
173.This done: The tender God his Love extends
Unto their Bodies; Ears unto the Deaf,
Feet to the Lame, Eyes to the Blinde He lends,
And findes more choise of soveraign Releif
Then they of Wants. O copious Saviour, who
At once can heal both Soule and Body too!

174.The Day grew now decrepit, and the Sun
Bow'd to the West: when the Disciples pray
Their Lord to give the Croud leave to be gone
And get their Suppers in the Towns which lay
About the Deserts verge: O no, say'd He,
They are my Friends, and they shall sup with Me.

175.Alas, how will You entertain, eri'd They,
These numerous Mouthes! Two hundred pence in Bread
Will not yeild every one a bit; what way
Shall then this mighty Feast be furnished?
How shall thy Table stored be with Dishes?
Here's nothing but five loaves, and two small Fishes.

176.As yet, they knew not, Psyche, that their Lord
Was He who to the copious Rivers does
From a small Fountain all its Streams afford;
He by whose Providence from one Candle goes
That fertile Flame which lights a thousand more
Without diminishing its originall Store;

177.He by whose Power Elijah did command
The finall Hand-full of the wasted Meal
To grow upon the pious Widdow's Hand;
Which strait did his Injunction fulfill,
And by a springing Harvest more than turn
The pined Barrell to a plenteous Barn.

178.He, in obedience to whose Might, though at
Elisha's Word, the Pot of Oile a waked
Into a Spring, whose bubling ceased not
Till Want of Vessells its Abundance slaked;
But then grown wisely Thrifty, it represt
Its Bounty, that there might be Nothing lost.

179.He whom the same Elisha did foreshew,
When He before an Hundred People set
That simple Pittance, which in Spending grew,
And being small at first, at last was great;
The Eaters Teeth unlocking but the Way
Unto the Store which in that Little lay.

180.But now He taught Them; Goe, said he, and make
My Guests by fifty on a row sit down.
This done: The Fishes and the Loaves he took
In his creating Hands; when to his own
Heav'n lifting up his Eyes, and saying grace,
His Blessing in the Victualls swell'd apace.

181.He brake the Loaves, and every Peice he brake
Strait prov'd as great's the Whole; no Crum did fall,
But rose into a Loaf. Thus when you make
Division of the smallest Line, still all
Are Lines as well as it, although for ever
The new emergent Parts you should dissever.

182.By strange Division the Fishes too
He taught to spawn a new and wonderous Frie;
Though dead, yet at his Touch they started so,
That Two usurped Multiplicitie,
No longer Two, but a large Shoal, which from
The Sea of Love out at his fingers swumm.

183.Then his Disciples Service He commands
To set before his Freinds this growing Feast.
Both Bread and Fish into the Peoples Hands
They strait distributed; and every Guest
Fell to, admiring how that simple Meat
Made them forget all Hony to be sweet.

184.The Quails and Manna had been homely Fare,
Which Heav'n did in the other Desert shoure
When hungrie Israel was a Pilgrim there,
Had this been present then; The Wines brave power,
At Cana born, excell'd the Grapes best Blood.
So did this Feast to Day, all other Food.

185.Satietie at length, not nauseous,
But sweet and comfortable, put a close
Unto the Banquet: When thy generous,
Yet thrifty Lord, injoyns Them not to lose
His Bounties surplusage, nor scorn the Meat
Because he gave Them more than They could eat.

186.Strait-way the Fragments all collected were
Which fifty hundred feasted Men had left:
When loe the Totall was exceeded far
By those remaining Parts; the teeming Gift
Persu'd its strange Multiplication still,
And with the Relicts did twelve Baskets fill.

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187.Beleeve it, Psyche, thy wise Spouse did by
This Wonder, to a greater ope the way;
The long design'd and pretious Mystery
Of his own Body, which He meant to lay
Upon all Christian Altars, there to be
The endlesse Feast of Catholick Piety.

188.A Feast which shall encrease upon its Guests
And be intire when Millions filled are;
A Feast of Miracles, a Feast of Feasts,
Not to a Desert ti'd, but every where
Dispers'd abroad, yet every where compleat,
That all World may freely come and eat.

189.The feasted People were dismissed now,
And Jesus steps into that Mount to Pray:
Sure 'twas, that Blisse along with Them might goe
Whom He so carefully had sent away,
That Night might not upon their Path incroach,
Nor Dangers Ambushment their footsteps touch;

190.That by that Miracle which thus unto
Their Teeth had prov'd his Power Divine to be,
All other fruitlesse Helps they might forgoe,
And build their Trust on His Divinity.
But His Disciples now, seeing their Lord
Would have it so, were gone before abord.

191.That Sea, whose face Thou see'st all polished
With flattering Calmnesse, smil'd just so on Them
When first they launched out: But Fraud lay hid
Under the glasse of the alluring Stream:
Truth needs no smiles; 'tis onely Treasons face
Which painted is with spruce but borrow'd Grace.

192.As when an envious Spirit can finde no way
To vex the Masters Person, He doth make
Either his Servants or his Friends his prey,
And at the second hand his Veng'ance take;
So Satan now, too weak with Christ to fight,
On His Disciples vow'd to ease his Spight.

193.Deeply He pin'd to see the People fed,
And now resolv'd that He Himselfe would Feast:
Yet by the Seas vast Mouth he purposed
His Dainties to devour; and thus at least
Part of the Miracle revenge, and though
Not for the Loaves, quit for the Fishes grow.

194.He from the Adriatick Main, and from
The Baltick Ocean, and the Irish Sea,
Summon'd all unexpected Storms to come,
And here poure out their utmost Treachery.
He made each Winde pick Quarrell with his Brother,
And in a mad War tumbled Them together.

195.The East was peevish; sharp, and grim the North,
The West impetuous, black and foule the South;
Each puff'd and swell'd, and in disdain shot forth
Their fury full in one anothers Mouth:
The bruised Clouds in floods their sorrows pour'd,
And all the weather-beaten Welkin roard.

196.The tatter'd Sea against the shores was flung,
Which churlishly again repuls'd it back;
The broken Waves with helplesse Mourning rung,
And foam'd with pain; The startled Deeps did quake,
And thinking to escape that dismall fray,
From their profoundest Bottoms ran away.

197.And now the Sea within it selfe was lost,
Whil'st the stern Tempest vehemently broke
Through her most hidden Bowells, which it tost
In proud scorn through the Aire, with hopes to choak
The Moon and Stars; which wilde Confusion
Made both the Waters and the Windes, be one:

198.And thus the Windes flow'd, and the Waters blew;
The Thunders Cracks did with the Billows joyn;
The Lightning flash'd, that misery to shew
In which all Dread and Death seem'd to combine:
'Twixt light and Darknesse, hence grew such a fight,
That now, alas, 'twas neither Day nor Night.

199.The woefull Ship flung up to Heav'n in vain
Upon the back of an unfaithfull Wave,
Immediately was hurried down again
Into the bottome of its gaping Grave;
Where yet it could not rest, but was spew'd up.
With indignation to the Tempests Top.

200.The Mast submitted to the Winde, and split;
The Sails forsook the Ship, and flew away;
The Pilot at the Helm in vain did sit,
Being in need of some kinde Hand to stay
And steer himselfe: The Sea made bold to come
Abord, and take a view of every room.

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201.The Waves laught at the Pumps, and crowded in
Faster than they could turne them out: Each Winde
Bandi'd the Bark, contending which should winne
The credit of its Wrack: Thus may you finde
In Tennis-courts a Ball bang'd to and fro
Untill some Loss at length doe let it goe.

202.Themselves to their Devotions All appli'd,
(For Danger wakes the dullest Piety.)
O where is Jesus now his scholars cri'd,
How is his promise wash'd away, since We
Whom for Men-fishers He designed had
Must unto Fishes now a Prey be made!

203.Yet, as their Lamentations swell'd, the Tide
Of lowder Windes and Waves still drown'd their Crie.
They once for all most gladly would have di'd,
But still they saw how Deaths did multiply,
And throw them and their Ship broken together
From one Destructions Mouth into another.

204.Mean while the Gulfe of Satans boyling Breast
Wrought with as great a Tempest of Vexation,
To see a crazie Vessell thus resist
The Winde and Seas most eager Conjuration;
Puzzeld and griev'd, he wonders what should make
A Bark so oft broke, still refuse to break.

205.At last, forth from a mighty Clowd there brake
Continued Lightning through the dazeled Air,
By which the Men spi'd on the Tempests back
One marching towards Them; and now new Fear
Stormed their Souls: O, the Disciples cri'd
By all these Deaths why might we not have di'd!

206.Loe heer the Spirit comes whose fatall Wrath
Rais'd this Tempestuous Preface to our Woe:
Hither he bendeth his prodigious Path,
And tramples all the Waves: What shall We doe!
Behold, which way so e'r he waves his Hand
The Clouds start back, and bow to his Command.

207.Behold no Wind durst be so bold as to
Disturb his Way with any  [...] Weather,
But all officiously behind Him goe
Shewing that on his Errand they came hither.
He comes, He comes! Sweet Sea ô gape not thus
In vain, but from this Danger swallow Us.

208.Forthwith their Lord who heard this desperate Crie,
His Comfort interposed: Why, said he,
Add you this Tempest to your Miserie,
Rending your Hearts with Dread? Know you not Me?
I am your loving Lord and Master, and
What need you fear, now I am here at hand?

209.As he whose trembling Neck does ready lie
Under the Axe, if some unlook'd for Voice
Tells Him the Judge is pleas'd he shall not die,
Starteth and slowly understands the Noise
Of his Repreive, being already dead
In his own helplesse Thoughts, and buried.

210.So these Disciples drowned in their fears,
Scarse trust their Eyes which did their Saviour see,
Scarce would they Credit give to their own Ears
Which heard Himself  [...] that it was He:
Till forward Peter cri'd, O bid Me meet
If Thouour Master art, thy blessed feet.

211.If thou deceiv'st Us not, each sirlie wave
At thy Command unto my steps will bowe,
And with Securitie my Passage pave.
If other wise; Can I be worse then now?
The Sea into our Ship does crowd, and I
Must either heer or there, in Water die.

212.Christ bids Him come; and out he steps; When loe
As He went trembling on, a high-swolln Wave
Comes tumbling in his way, and frights him so
That all his Courage it does straight out-brave.
His Heart sunk first, and then his feet, and all
But's Tongue, which to his Lord for help did call.

213.Had any other Lord but He been there,
With what indignant Scorn would He have let
His faithlesse Subject meet his Censure, where
He his unworthy Crime chose to commit:
Onely Omnipotence is pleas'd to spare
Those who distrustfull of its Power are.

214.Jesus, who never could his Help deny
To suppliant Sinners, reach'd his blessed Hand,
(That Hand in which alone Security
Doth dwell; that Hand which rules the, Ocean, and
Measures it in its Hollow,) and pull'd out
Peter from the deep Sea, and deeper Doubt.

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215.And then, O thou of little Faith, said He,
Why did that weak Suspition presse thee down?
What made Thee so forgetfull prove of Me
Who in their own Waves can all Tempests drown?
Come, thou shalt see that Windes and Seas do know
The Power of their Maker more than Thou.

216.Here, being got abord the Ship, His Eye
Upon the Storm hee set, and signified
His royall Pleasure. Straight the Windes did spie
Their duty in that potent Glance, and hied
A way in such great haste and fear, that They
Lost all their Breath and Spirits by the way.

217.The mutinous Billows saw his awfull Look,
And hush'd themselves all close into their Deep:
The Sea grew tame and smooth, the Thunder broke
Its Threatning off;  [...] Lightning durst not peep
From its black Nest, being now out-shined by
The flashing Mandates of its Masters Eye.

218.The Devills which all this while had toss'd and rent
The Elements, perceiv'd the finall Wrack
Fall on their own Designe, and homeward went
With yelling Cries, The Clouds in sunder brake,
And having cleer'd the Sceen of its loud Wars,
Left the fair Heav'n all full of smiling Stars.

219.Forthwith the Ship without or Saile or Tide
Kept its straight course, and flew unto the shore:
Where Jesus deigns to be the Vessells Guide,
There needs no helpe of time, Tide, Winde, or Oar;
He whose meer Look could make a Tempest cleer
Could by his Eye the Bark both drive and steer.

220.Mark yonder shore of populous Genaser,
Where from a Storm hee once arriv'd before:
Great was the Wonder he atchived there,
Where no tempestuous Windes or Seas did roar,
But raging Fiends who had themselves possest
Of an unhappy Mans usurped Breast.

221.Those Tombes without the Town Thou seest there,
These Devills made that Mans chiefe Habitation;
For to those Spirits such places dearest are
As most-invite to desolate Desperation.
But henceforth Christian Caemiteries shall
Revenge this boldnesse, and all Hell appall.

222.Nor shall the Fiend which wears the famous Name
Of wise Apollo, dare not to confesse
As much to Julian; though He cloke the shame
Of his enforced Silence: Babyla's
Meer Dust and Ashes shall have power to stop
His lying Mouth, and seal his Oracle up.

223.Sometimes unto that neighbour Mountains Brow
They drove the wretched Man, in hopes that hee
Out of his tiresome Life himselfe would throw
Into their Pit of deeper Misery.
A thousand Snakes about his heart they wound,
Whil'st Rage and Madnesse did his Brain confound.

224.The froth of which Confusion foamed out
At his unquiet Mouth: sometimes He roard,
Sometimes he sung; and when the Passion wrought
His Tongue to Blasphemy, he freely pour'd
It forth, and rayl'd on Heav'n and God, whom yet
He thought not of in all his raving Fit.

225.The Rocks and Tombes He fill'd with yelling Cries.
Which deeply frighted every Passenger:
Poetick Fancy never could devise
Such hideous Barking for fierce Scylla, or
Fell Cerberus: Indeed the Thunders Voice,
Though lowder, yet makes a lesse dreadfull Noise

226.He hated all Men; but Himselfe much more
Than all the World; and yet he knew not why.
Alas, 'twas Hell which in his Soule did roar;
Hell, the sworn Foe of all Humanity;
Hell which with all the World maintaineth Wars,
Yet chiefly with it selfe for ever jarrs.

227.And in his bosome it did boile so hot,
That hee no Clothing would endure to wear:
(Satan of old this envious Trick had got,
To make Mans shame and nakednesse appear.)
His clothes hee rent, and then pluck'd of his Hair,
And star'd about for something else to tear.

228.When any sharp stones in the Rocks hee spied,
He cull'd them out as they some Gems had been;
With which his Vengance on Himselfe he tried,
And lin'd it out upon his launced skin;
And though they pained Him, yet still to spight
His Pains, He in his Wounds would take delight.

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229.Hast Thou not seen a Bull led from the stake
Where ten keen Mastiffs had full play at Him,
With Gore and Gashes cloth'd? Thence may'st Thou take
Some aim how this bemangled Man to limm.
Yet could not all the Doggs of Albion
Bait any Bull, as He himselfe had done.

230.His tatter'd Brows upon his eyes hung down,
His Mouth and Nose met in one rent, his Head
Was slash'd, the bone upon his breast was shown,
His sides were gash'd, his Arms and Thighs were flead;
Till all his Wounds into one Confluence ran,
As Rivers loose themselves 'ith' Ocean.

231.And wonder not that all this tedious while
The poor Mans Life could be so hardy as
To keep firme truce, and be confederate still
With his tormented Heart: The Fiends could passe
No further than their Chain, which though it reach'd.
His Body, could not to his Life be stretch'd.

232.This added to their everboyling Spight
New fire, by which they drove and stung Him on
To wreak his Madnesse on each Mortall Wight
He met, as He upon himselfe had done.
Thus all about the Coast his Terror spread,
And Cares, and Fears, and Plots awakened.

233.As when a Bear is from the Forrest broke
Into some Shepheards Pastures, every Town
Which round about that Region lies, doth look
Upon their Neighbours Danger as their own,
And all their countrey Arms and Dogs unite
Against the publick Foe in common fight.

234.So did the Gaderens combine their strength
The fury of this raving Man to tame;
Long did they grapple and contend; at length
By number, not by power, they over came,
And loading him with Chains and Fetters, thought
They now their Foe had in subjection brought.

235.But He with irefull Smiles, disdain'd their Plot;
And tearing his vain Chains in sunder, threw
Them at their heads: What-ever Bands they got
(For they their Project often did renew)
Whether of Steel or Brasse, they prov'd to him
But Engins, which He tore and flung at them.

236.Being thus fierce and fell, thy Lord he spied,
Arrived on the shore, and to Him ran:
He never with more hideous bellowing cried,
Nor fiercelier beat, or cut himselfe, than when
He near to Jesus drew, whose pittying Eye,
More than all Chains and Fetters Him did tie.

237.For straight His tender bowells yearn'd to see
Hell domineering in a poor Mans Breast,
Of which Himselfe and Heav'n should onely be
By his Desire, and by all Right possest:
And by that Voice which lately chas'd away
The other Deeps Storms, He did these allay.

238.Foule Fiend, He cri'd, usurp that Place no more,
The Man is mine, and I his Lord will be;
I charge Thee to come forth, and Him restore
Again unto Himselfe, and unto Me.
O mighty Voice! which rent the Devill more
Than He had done the wofull Man before,

239.For as the Slave who gotten is by stealth
Into his Masters Closet, domineers
O'rall the Bags, taking his choise of wealth.
And all the Bonds he pleaseth, rends and tears;
Wishing more fuell for his peevish Rage;
And thus revenging his own Vassallage

240.But if his Masters unexpected Eye
Happens to apprehend Him in his Sin,
Its glance, like Lightnings Dint, so peircingly
Afflicts his theevish guilty Soule, that in
Slavish and thankless meeknes down he fals,
And on his wretched face for pardon cals:

241.So did the Feind: beleeve it Psyche, were
The whole Worlds dying Grones all joynd in one
Huge Gust of Horror; yet they would not tear
The skies with such an Ejulation
As this, which made the Tombes, & Rocks, and Sea,
In its impatient Echo all agree.

242.Jesus, thou highest Son of God most High,
O what have I, he cri'd, to doe with Thee!
And must I leave my Fort, and naked lie
Whil'st Thou dost trample, and triumph on Me!
Now by thy Fathers Name, I thee conjure
Thou damn Me not new torments to endure.

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243.But now thy Lord held Him sure on the Rack,
He charg'd the Traytor to confesse his Name:
O how this Question did his heart-strings crack,
Which snatch'd the Veil off from his ougliest shame,
And for one Serpent which alone seem'd there
To nestle, made a Legion appear.

244.No other Name he durst acknowledge now
But Legion; for so indeed they were.
Vile Cowards, what is Dust and Clay that you
So numerous an Army must prepare!
Why must so many Spirits in ambush watch
Onely one single Mortall Man to catch?

245.But ô that Men whose mystick obligation.
Of mutuall Membership, doth them invite
To carefull Tendernesse and free Compassion.
With such confederate Zeal and stout Delight
Would help their Brethren up to heav'n, as these
Labour to plunge them in Hells Miseries!

246.Had'st Thou been there, my Dear, thou might'st have seen
In what a fearfull lamentable Guise
These Devills to their Prayers fell, to win
Some Pitty from their Lords imperious Eyes;
Which did the basenesse of their spirit prove,
Who could beseech Him whom they scorn'd to love.

247.Him They beseeched not to send Them home,
But in this Countrey let them longer stay;
They knew Hell would have been too hot for Them
If they had thither gone without their Prey;
For disappointed Satan on their head
Would all his boiling Wrath have emptied.

248.Besides; this place alone in charge they had,
And might not safely to another goe:
For Satan here his Provinces hath made,
And all his Deputies disposed so
That no Commission jarreth with another,
Nor any Fiend incroacheth on his brother.

249.And this He does in insolent emulation
Of Heav'ns fair Polity, which hath ordain'd
That every Empire, Kingdom, Countrey, Nation
By some of its Angelick Hoste be rein'd,
And guided, and defended; as each Man
By his particular vigilant Guardian.

250.What would'st Thou have Us doe, they cri'd, Can We
Made all of active Metall, idle sit?
Are We not Devills; how then can We be
For any Thing but Rage and Fury fit?
Mischief's our proper Diet; why wilt Thou
Who All Things feed'st, not Us our food allow?

251.If We must Be, We must be what we are;
Infernall Natures can no change admit;
For surely Thou wilt not forget that War
When We our selves in arms against Thee set;
Nor repossesse Us of our calmy state;
So that wee now are Furious by Fate.

252.Besides; wee Subjects are (and thine own hand
Buckled that yoak on our Rebellious Necks,)
To that impatient Prince, whose dire Command
Back'd with Hells universall Terrors, pricks
Us on to Rage; and wee doe nothing now
But what wee unto Him in duty owe.

253.As then Thou art a generous Conqueror,
Give reasonable Quarter to thy Foes:
Since wee must yeild this Fort; before wee stir
Ingage thy Promise that wee shall not loose
Our Naturall Properties, but have power still
(For 'tis no Crime in Us) to doe some ill.

254.An Herd of Swine there feeds on yonder Mount,
(And that's it, Psyche,) filthy Beasts, and such
As were unworthy in thine own Account
The meanest of thy Servants Boards to touch:
Yet what to Jewes Thou mad'st impure, shall be
Dainties to Us, if Thou but leave Us free.

259.Free, to take our own swindge, and domineer
In those despised reprobated Things:
If ever Devills did to thee preferre
An humbler fairer sute, may all our Wings
And Snakes be clipp'd, our Tallons prun'd, our stour
Horns lopped off, our iron Teeth dash'd out.

260.The Furies pleaded so; and with an Eye
Where Fear insulted over jealous Hope,
Beheld their Judge: He knew the reason why
They begged that strange boon; he knew their scope
Was to make Men conceive the Swine a Creature
Curs'd and abandon'd by the God of Nature.

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261.Yet He was pleased, whither to avenge
The Owners Avarice, or for some cause
Best known to his wise self; to grant this Change,
And give them leave into the Herd to passe:
For He to whom the whole World doth belong
Can all Things doe, and yet can doe no wrong.

262.As when in pregnant AEtna's labouring Wombe
The smoaking flaming and sulphureous Childe
Unto its full maturitie is come,
The moved Bowels of the Mount are fill'd
With Pangs and Throws, till by a monstrous Birth
The stinking Prodigie is broken forth:

263.So were the Soule and Body of this Man
Shak'd, stretch'd, and torn, when Hell burst out from thence,
No brimstone ever smelt so rank as then
The favour or that dismall Effluence:
Surely the Man had by that stink and Pain,
Had Life not looked on, been double slain.

264.But ne'r did Aire put on, a calmer face
When every Winde to its own home was blown,
And Heav'n of all its Storms delivered was;
Then He now once again become His Own:
The Feinds who untill now his Heart did swell,
Left him himself within himself to dwell.

265.And now, as startled from some frightfull Dream,
He wonders that Himself so safe he saw.
With speed he gets him Clothes to hide his shame,
Or rather theirs whose Treason made him throw
Them off before, and clothe his Body round
In one unnaturall universall Wound.

266.Distracting Fumes no more reek'd in his Head;
Clear as the upper Region was his Brain,
And with his Heart distinctly traffiqued,
Where now his Intellectuall Powers did reign;
In his Soules Pulse his Thoughts beat gently, and
His Blisse he Perfectly did understand.

267.He understood to whom his Thanks were due,
To Whom his Peace, his Life, his reskew'd Heart;
To his sweet Task of Gratitude He flew,
In which with faithfull Zeal He playd his Part;
And then at his divine Redeemers feet
Like a meek Scholar, begg'd, and took his Seat.

268.Mean while the Devils to the Mountain made
Upon the Wings of Fury and Disdain,
They scorn'd the Swine, and yet because they had
No better Prey, could not from that refrain.
The feeding Herd strait felt their Bellies swell
With unknown stuffing, being stretch'd with Hell

269.As at the Orgies, when the Priests are drown'd
In their mad God, they grow as wilde as He;
They stare, they roar, they rave, they tumble round,
And onely in confounded strife agree:
So did the Swine break into raging Revels,
Being Drunk with a full Legion of Devils.

270.They grunt, they squeak, they foam, they run, they leap,
They fall, they rise, and strait they fall again,
Their tusks in one anothers Blood they steep,
But oftenest in their own: The Dogs in vain
Did bark, in vain the Swinherds crie and swear,
The Herd no Clamour but their own could hear.

271.At length, in one mad course, unto that Brow
Where the steep Hill into the Sea doth peep,
They headlong run, and one another throw
In a tumultuous throng into the Deep.
And thus those Devils drown'd their wretched prey,
Their own long Thirst of Mischeif to allay.

272.Observe that other shore: thy Spouses Fame
Shin'd with no less illustrious Glory there;
Witnesse Her Faith who from Phaenicia came
To take miraculous kinde of Physick here:
She long had her Phaenician Doctors tried,
Who not her Bloods, but Purse's Issue dried.

273.But here she found a strange Physition, whose
Sole Physick is his Soveraign Self, and who
Gratis on all his heavnly Art bestows:
Yet her unclean Diseases shame did so
Confute its Pain, that it She doth conceal,
And seeks by pious Fraud her Cure to steal.

274.Her meekly-faithfull Heart had caught fast hold
On Jesu's Garments Hemm; and ô, said She,
Could but my Fingers doe as much, I would
Not doubt to catch my safe Recovery.
This said, the pious Theif took Heart, and stept
Into the Croud, and there behinde Him crept.

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275.There her most trembling most undoubting Hand
To the desired Hemm she gently put,
Which with a triple Kisse she reverenc'd, and
Her meek Soule on that humble Altar set:
But whilst her blushing Blood flush'd in her face,
She felt its other Current dryed was.

276.For as on Aarons consecrated Head
The holy Unguent would not bridled be.
But on his Beard its pretious Influence shed,
And reach'd unto his Roabs extremitie:
So did the Virtue of this Higher Preist
His very Clothes with mystick Power invest.

277.But Jesus, who could not permit that such
Heroik Faith should thus be smother'd up;
Enquires what Hand his Vestures Skirt did touch,
And set the Issue of his Virtue ope;
That Virtuous Issue, Psyche, which alone
Could wash away, and cure Her Bloody one.

278.The humble Woman guilty of the high
And faithfull Theft, fell trembling at his Feet,
Confessing all her blessed Crime, and why
She so had ventured to compasse it:
But while she fear'd her Saviours anger, he
Applauds the Fact, and bids her cheerly be.

279.Daughter. he cries, (for those His Children are
Whose holy Confidence on his Power relies,)
Henceforth for ever banish needlesse Fear;
Thy valiant Faith secures and fortifies
Thy now recovered Health: Goe home, and be
Assur'd my peace shall sojourn there with Thee.

280.Her zealous Thanks she pay'd, and home ward went;
But his dear Image in her heart she bare,
Resolv'd to fix it in a Monument
Of lasting Gratitude, which she did rear
Before her Door: and couldst Thou reach thine Eye
Unto Cesarea, Thou mightst it descry:

281.Erected there in bright substantiall Brasse
Thy Spouses statue is: and so shall stand,
Till Julian with a more obdurate face
And Heart, than is that mettall, shall command
The fair and reverend Image to bow down
And yeild its stately Base unto his own.

282.His own; which when on Heav'n it 'gins to stare
Shall learn what Vengance dwells in Jesu's Hand,
From whence a speedy Bolt of Fire shall tear
The proud and sacrilegious Idol, and
Give dreadfull Warning to its Owner, what
He must expect, if he repenteth not.

283.But yonder, Psyche, holy Tabor is,
A Mount made famous by a brighter Story;
The Temples Mount bow'd down its head to this,
And veil'd its Legal to the Gospel Glory:
To this, the Hill where Belzebub layd ope
The Universe's Gallantrie, did stoop.

284.Thither did Jesus once himself withdraw
With three Attendants, Peter, James, and John,
Leaving the rest, and all the World, below,
That undisturbed, his Devotion
He might perform; for his Designe was now
To pray himself, and teach his Consorts how.

285.To be retired from tumultuous Things,
And sublimated far above the Earth,
Two trusty Ladders are, which Wisdome brings
To help Devotion climbe; two Ladders worth
All Climaxes which ever yet were set
Up by the loftiest strains of eloquent Wit.

286.But as he Pray'd, his flaming Soule did break
Forth at his Eyes, and flash'd to his own Heaven;
The dazeled Sun immediately stepp'd back,
And for his dimmer face sought some new Even:
For Day now needed not his garish beams
Being gilded by his Makers purer Flames.

287.Jesus, who in his Bodies Veil till now
The Raies of his Divinity had hid,
Was pleased here to give them leave to flow,
And roule about Him in a glistering Tide:
Thus when his key unlocks the Cloud, from thence
The Lightning poures its radiant Influence.

288.But as the unexhausted Fount of light
Which dwells so deep in Phebu's splendid Eyes,
On all his royall Roabs doth shed its bright
Effusions, and his Charet beautifies,
So that about Heav'ns Circuit He is roll'd
Enthron'd and cloth'd in nothing else but Gold.

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289.So from thy Spouses more than Sun-like face,
The Lustre all about his Rayment darted;
A Lustre whose divine and gentle Grace
It self with kinde magnificence imparted
Unto the mortall Texture, which so pure
And piercing Brightnes else could not endure.

290.Thus when a dainty Fume in Summer Aire
To Lambent Fire by Natures sporting turns,
And gently lights upon Mens Clothes or Hair;
With harmlesse Flames it playes, and never burns
Its habitation, but feeds upon
The delicates of its own Beams alone.

291.As the Disciples wonderd at the Sight,
Which peeping through their fingers they beheld;
Two strangers they espied, in rayment bright,
Which Jesu's overflowing beams did gild:
They wistly look'd upon them, musing who
The Men might be, and what they came to doe.

292.The first ware horned beams (though something dim
In this more radiant Presence,) on his face:
Full was his beard; his Countenance was grim.
Yet sweetned by a meek but royall Grace;
His roabs were large and princely; in his Hand
He held a mystick and imperious Wand.

293.A golden Plate he ware upon his breast
In which the Ten great Words enammeld were;
A grave and goodly man he was, and drest
In such attire, that they no longer are
In doubt about Him, but conclude that he
Could none but Moses the Lawgiver be.

294.Grave was the other Stranger too in face,
But in his Rayment wonderous course and plain;
He seemd to want a Mantle, (that which was
Long since thrown off by him on Jordans plain:)
The serious beams which darted from his Eye,
Spake Eremiticall Severitie.

295.Behinde him stood a flaming Chariot,
Whose Steeds were all of the same Element:
 [...] was their fire more than their Courage hot,
And much adoe they had to stand content.
When they had well observed this, they knew
Such Tokens could none but Elias shew.

296.These two grand Prophets, whom thy Lord gave leave
To wear some glorious beams though He were by,
A reverend Discourse did interweave
Of the great work of his Humanity;
With high ecstarick Words displaying how
At Salem He Deaths Powers should overthrow.

297.A Doctrine which on the Disciples ear
(And this their Master knew) full hard would grate,
And therefore by these glorious Preachers heer
With high Solemnity was witness'd, that
His Crosses and his Nayls mysterious shame
Thenceforth might not amaze or scandall them.

298.Then Moses at his feet his Rod threw down,
In token that He had fulfill'd his Law,
And came to give a better of his own,
To which not onely Jacob's seed should bow,
But all the World, whose largest farthest Bound
With Jesus and his Gospell was to sound.

299.That done; a Veil He drew upon his face,
And cri'd Bright Lord, this shade I us'd of old,
Because my count'nance too illustrious was
For the blear eys of Israell to behold;
But now mine own have need of it, to cover
Them with the splendor with which thine run over.

300.Thine Eyes; a spectacle of fairer Bliss
Than I of old beheld from Nebo's Head:
How well was I, (reserved then for this
Days nobler priviledge,) not suffered
To enter, and my Wonder feed upon
The farr less wonderous Sweets of Chanan!

301.But in a generous meek Expostulation
Elias argued with his glorious Lord:
And why, said He, in most triumphant fashion
Did'st thou whirle Me to Heav'n, and not afford
Me leave to tast one Drop of Deaths cold Cup,
Since thou thy self resolv'st to drink it up.

302.Must JESUS, and must not Elias die?
Must God, and not a Worme? Forbid it Thou
Who of all order art the Deitie,
And Death unto Mortality allow:
 [...] be contented with the last to stay,
 [...] till Time dies, if then I also may,

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303.Yet for my self, or Heav'n, I would not die;
O no; but glorious Lord, for Thee alone:
In thy dear Cause, and for thy Name, if I
The Roabs of Martyrdome may once put on,
My passage unto Heav'n shall brighter be
Than when my flaming Coach transported Me.

304.But heer thy Spouse with a well-pleased Eye
Dismiss'd them both: Into his Chariot
Elias leap'd, and back to Heav'n did flie
As swift as Arrow by the Tartar shot:
And Mose's wrapp'd his Veil about his Head,
And home to Abraham's Bosome hastened

305.When loe a beauteous Cloud roll'd on, and spred
Its shady Curtains on the Mountains Top,
In which his own Voice God had treasured,;
And now it brake, no other Rain did drop
But this sweet Shoure: This is my Darling Son
Hear Him, in whom my Joys doe dwell alone.

306.The faint Disciples on their faces fell,
Amaz'd that Thunder could distinctly speak:
Mean while their Master did his Beams recall
And charg'd his Glories all to hasten back:
His Godhead needed now no more probation,
That Glimps being doubled by Heav'ns Attestation.

307.Forthwith his Rayes shrunk back into his breast,
And moderate Beautie repossest his face:
The orient Lustre which his Clothes had drest
Unto their native hue resign'd its place;
And He returns to his Capacity
Of what He long'd for, Shame and Misery.

308.But turn thee now to Salem ward, and see
Yon' monument of thy Lords power and Love:
That hill is Sion, and that Pool where He
Doth wet his foot, is Siloam; above
Its Bottome lies, for in the Mountains breast
Its Springs of living Silver make their Nest.

309.Right honest are those Springs, and brake not out
By wanton Chance, but upon Bus'ness flow'd:
What was th' occasion, and how brought about,
Is not a Story known unto the Crowd:
But I, deare Psyche, will unlock to Thee
The Bowells of this ancient Mystery.

310.When Hezekias heer at Salem sate
On Juda's Throne, th' Assyrian Power swell'd high,
And turned sinfull Israell's florid State
Into the worst of Woes, Captivity;
For Assur was become an Iron Rod
Which Veng'ance put into the Hand of God.

311.That first Success so puff'd the Rod with Pride,
That it forgot the Hand which it did sway,
And now would needs it self become a Guide
Unto it self, and choose on what to prey:
Alas, the rash Rods project soon was crost,
And neer two hundred thousand, Twiggs it lost.

312.Whilst Rabsheka the foule-mouth'd Generall
With Horse, and Men, and Braggs, and Blasphemie
Lay against Salem, on the suddaine all
Provision of Water 'gan to be
Short in the Town; excepting Tears, which now
They could be spared least, most high did flow.

313.This venerable Esay mov'd to trie
What He with Mercy, and with Heav'n could doe:
He tun'd his Prayer by the Peoples Crie,
Which with such Violence to the Sphears did goe,
That back it bounded unto Sions foot,
On which He kneel'd, and made the Spring leap out.

314.The thirstie People all came flocking in,
Their Mouthes, their Bottles, and their Potts to fill:
Th' Assyrians wonderd what they meant; but when
They spi'd their business about the Well,
They made a Party out, resolv'd to stopp
The new-born Spring, or else quite drink it up.

315.The Citizens, themselves to flight betook;
So did the Fountain too, and shrunk its Head
Into the Hill, and called back its Brook,
Commanding every Dropp to goe to bed:
And not to prostitute themselves, and be
Deflowr'd by Assurs Lipps impurity.

316.The Streams obey'd, and swifter than the speed
Of the impatient Horsmen, homeward ran.
So when the prudent Dame has summoned
Her crawling Frie from the incursion
Of Violence, the nimble Serpents shoot
Themselves into their Mothers ready throat.

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317.The disappointed Souldiers rav'd and swore,
To see the Fountain mock and scorn them so;
And cri'd, these Jewes have by some Magick Power
Broached this weily Spring from Hell, to doe
Spight to Senacheribs strength, and shew that We
Cannot so strong as wretched Water be.

318.Thus they retired in Disdain and Wrath;
When straight the thirsty Jewes came back again;
And loe, the Spring found out its former path.
And courteously met them on the Plain,
Kissing their feet, and smiling in their face,
For whose sole Service He so watchfull was,

319.Thus checkering his Work, he never fails
To faile his Foes, and to befriend his Friends;
Full often Assur tries, but ne'r prevails;
The wary nimble Fountain alway sends
Him empty back: And yet could not refuse
With liberall Streams to wait upon the Jewes.

320.Thus the Sabbatick Fount, which all the Week
Keeps close at home, and lets no Drop spurt out;
Exactly watches and attends the Break
Of the seav'nth Day; and then, as quick as thought
Poures out its Flood, and sacrifices all
Its Plenty to that holy Festivall.

321.A Man there was, who from his Mothers Womb,
Retired Natures dark and secret Shop,
Into the World, but not to light, had come,
Whose Birth did Him, and not his Eyes set ope:
Compar'd with Him, cleer-sighted was the Owle,
So was the evening Batt, and earthed Moule.

322.For on his brow sate an anneiled Night,
Which his Birth-Day could not confute: In vain
His Mother hired the Physitians Might
To war against that Shaddow, and constrain
That imbred sturdy Blacknesse to relent;
In vain her money and her love she spent.

323.Lesse thick the Darknesse was which did revenge
The lustfull glances of old Sodoms Eyes;
When the hot Lovers damped by a strange
Invasion of Pitch, with Oaths and Cries
Tumbled and toss'd themselves from place to place,
And sought Lots Door in one anothers face.

324.As Jesus spi'd this helplesse Wight, (for He
Warch'd to surprise all Objects of Compassion,)
Speeded by his own heav'nly Charity,
He to his Succour flies. Such is the fashion
Of generous Love, which never stayes to be
Woo'd, and importun'd to a Courtesie.

325.The simple Man perceiving one draw nigh,
Fell to the Beggers covetous Dialect,
Craving for Money. Friend, that is not my
Largise, thy Lord repli'd, which doth infect
Those who desire it: Surely Thou would'st finde
What Bane thou begg'st, wert thou not double Blind.

326.Money is that unhappy Dust which flies
Full in the face of undiscerning Man,
And heaps such Mists of Blindnesse on his eyes
That Heav'n He cannot see: If thou did'st skan
Thy state aright, Thou might'st thy Blindness blesse,
Who seest not how monstrous money is.

327.Il'e make a thinner Clay than Money, which
Shall far exceed the Worth of Gold to Thee;
They are not moneys beams which doe inrich
The World with Light and Glory; but from Me
Alone flow forth those clear and genuine Raies
Which blesse the Age with sweet and golden Days.

328.This said; three times He spit upon the ground
And temper'd with his Hand a Soveraign Clay;
No Salve by deepest Art was ever found
Which could so sure all Maladies allay;
Should pretious Balsame now prove sick and die,
This Ointment could work its Recovery.

329.With this the Blinde Mans Eyes He Oynted; yet
Was pleased not forthwith to give them sight:
First an experiment He meant to get
Whether his inner Eyes of Faith were bright;
Then with his Favour, to reward and grace
The Pool, which long before so pious was.

330.Bethesda Waters swell'd with full-tide Fame;
Wherefore, though apt Occasion Him invited,
Time was when He refus'd to honor Them:
But pour'd his royall love into this sleighted
Though worthy Pool, which as his Partner He
In this his Miracle vouchsaf'd to be.

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341.To Siloam goe, said He, and wash thine Eyes,
And thou shalt see what I to thee have given:
The joyfull Man with holy Credence hies
Him to the Place: No Hart was ever driven
By scalding Thirst more greedily unto
The Rivers, than He to this Spring did goe.

342.He went to drink, not with his Mouth, but Eyes,
Which as He washed, loe, they 'gan to ope:
Out flew black Night, and all those duskie Ties
By which his Sense before was chained up,
Straight his released sparkling Pupills show'd
Like sprightfull Lightning from the broken Cloud.

343.And now he lives, and sees that he does live,
And Heav'n and Earth more than by hear-say knows,
Now every Parcell of the World doth give
Him a Remembrance unto whom He owes
His power of seeing it. O happy hee,
Who must in every Thing his Saviour see!

344.Since from the Darknesse of the first Abysse
The Universe was wakened unto light,
Ne'r was atcheiv'd so strange a Cure as this
Which on condemned Eyes bestowed fight
In spight of Nature, who had put them out
Before she gave them leave to look about.

345.Now Psyche turn thine Eye to yonder Town
Great Salems little Neighbour, Bethany;
A place of dear Remembrance to thine own
Beloved Lord: from Salems tumults He
Would oft retire into that calmy place,
And still, as oft's He came, He welcome was.

346.For there two Sisters dwelt, an holy Pair:
Industrious Martha, who the World did love,
Yet not so much but Jesus was more dear;
Although the practick Trade of Life she drove,
The Cream of her Solicitude she spent
To purchase more than secular Content:

347.Pathetick Mary, one whom Mercy made
Her chosen triumph: This was  [...] She
Who in the hottest Troop of Sinners had
A leading Place; such stout Impiety
Incouraged her Heart, that Hell could not
Put her on any Task but she would do't

348.For seav'n foule Devills had themselves possest
Of all her Soule, and with imperious Port
In the usurped Palace of her Breast
Their throne erected, and maintain'd their Court:
What Proclamations or Warrants They
So ever issu'd, she did straight obey.

349.But Jesus who did square his Pitty by
No Merit hee in Mortall Man could read,
But for his Rule, took their Capacity
Of Succour; found how much this Heart did need
His potent Help, which He forthwith applied,
And made her Live, who now seav'n times had died.

350.For from the bottome of Her poys'ned Breast
Seav'n hideous Deadly Sins she vomited;
And having thus disgorged Hell, which prest
Her down so low, to Heav'n she rais d her head,
Flaming with purest fire of Love, as she
Before had smoak'd in Lusts Impurity.

351.Her brave Devotion she did measure now
By the Large Size of Mercy she had gained:
For as that Mercy did no limits know
So to Infinitude her Love she strained;
She strained hard, and would have reach'd the Top,
If Mortall Passion could so high climb up.

352.O Psyche, hadst Thou but been by when She
Unto her Lord upon Loves Errand came,
Thou might'st have seen impatient Piety
Mount in the boldnesse of its noble Flame:
First at his Feet it 'gan, and then it spred
With fair and liberall Fulnesse to his Head.

353.That fragrant Ointment which she us'd before
To her own lustfull Skin to sacrifice,
She now on Jesu's sweeter Feet doth poure,
And adds another showre from her own eyes:
Then wiping them with her late crisped Tresses,
She offers there her consecrated Kisses.

354.She mindes not what Spectators think or say;
Love is secnre and carelesse: She does mean
E'r from her Lovers Feet she goe away,
To oint, or weep, or wipe, or kisse them clean;
And by this generous Zeal she Sanctifies
Her Locks, her Lips, her Ointment, and her Eyes.

[Page 181]
355.But as the sprightfull Flame disdains to stay
Below, and with undaunted Ardor strives
To reach its lofty Sphear: So she one Day
The Reins unto her gallant Passion gives,
And takes aime at the Top of Heav'n; for this
I'm sure, said she, on Jesu's Temples is.

356.She had a Box of Ointment of high price,
Yet not so pretious as her loving Lord:
Could the Worlds wealth meet in one Sacrifice,
All this She freely could to him afford;
And now unbrideled Love such haste did make,
That straight the Box, or her own Heart must break.

357.Indeed both brake; and both she poured on
His Head, who is of Sweets and Hearts the King:
Straight through both Heav'n & Earth the Odours ran,
Which shall for ever with their Praises ring:
For now't has lost its Alabaster Cell,
The glorious Nard in all the World doth dwell.

358.Thrift grumbled at the Cost: but Jesus who
Excessive in his Love to Mary was,
Vouchsaf'd her generous Soule free leave to goe
In the same princely and licentious pace:
He knows the heats of this unweildy Passion,
And will allow it brave Immoderation.

359.All other Passions eas'ly bounded are,
Because their Objects are in limits ti'd;
But Love alone with infinite carrieer
Still further everlastingly doth ride,
Being loose at God himselfe, in whom
Immensity affords her boundlesse room.

360.Now Psyche, thou mayst eas'ly judge how dear
Was this Seraphick Woman to thy Lord.
She had one onely Brother, who for her
Sake, and his own, was to his Love preferr'd:
He falling sick, she sent the News unto
Her Master, waiting what hee pleas'd to doe,

361.He who had never yet his help delay'd,
When loving Mary did his Mercy woe,
Till Phebus twise the World had compass'd, stay d
He stay'd indeed: but 'twas that hee might goe
With advantageous Glory; and his stay
Might prove but ripened Love, and not Delay.

362.Mean while his Sicknesse so prevail'd upon
Good Lazarus, that his Soule it chased out:
Jesus, whose eyes through all things cleerly ran,
Beheld it as it went, and saw it brought
On Angells Wings into the blessed Nest
Of naked Peace, and Quiet, Abraham's breast,

363.Where when it was reposed: Lazarus
Our Friend, is fallen fast asleep, said He,
But I intend to wake Him: Come let Us
Delay no longer, but to Bethany.
And, Lord what needs it, his Disciples cri'd,
If Lazarus sleep, what harm can Him betide?

364.'Tis true, their Lord repli'd; for now he lies
Safe in the bosome of Serenity:
Yet what his Rest is, little you surmise,
Not knowing that in Death true sleep can be.
Alas, all other Rest compar'd with this,
Scarcely the shaddow of true Quiet is.

365.Death is that onely sleep which puts an end
Unto this weary Worlds tempestuous Cares,
And pious Soules unto that Shore doth send
Which knows no Dangers, Labours, Griefs, or Fears.
Our friend is dead: and glad I am that I
Was not at Bethany when He did die,

366.Glad for your sakes, whose faith now dead, shall by
His Death revive. This said, He forward went,
And they with Him: But e'r at Bethany
He did arrive, two other dayes were spent.
He could have taken coach upon the back
Of any Winde; but now chose to be slack.

367.First busie Martha met Him, as He drew
Neer to the Town, (for when hee coming was,
The fame of his Approach before Him flew,
Which her sollicitous ears soon caught,) and as
She threw her selfe upon her knees, she cried,
Had'st thou been here, my Brother had not died,

368.Dear Lord of Life, if thou had'st but been here,
Death would have his due distance kept, if not
For love of Thee, or Us, at least for fear
Of his own life. And yet thy Power is but
Deferred, not precluded; God will still
Each syllable of thy Requests fulfill,

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369.Nor weep nor doubt, dear Martha, Jesus cried,
Thy Brother shall again to life return.
I doubt it not, sweet Master, she replied,
But in the universall worlds new morn,
When all Things spring into fresh life, that He
Shall with his Body reinvested be.

370.I am, said He, the Resurrection, and
The life; Whoever doth beleeve in Me,
Although he be a Pris'ner in the land
Of Death, shall unto life released be:
Nay he shall never taste of Death, who is
Living by Faith in Me: Beleev'st thou this?

371.Heer dazeled by his high Discourse, Great Lord
She cri'd, my Faith doth take Thee for no lesse
Then Gods Almighty Son, who by his Word
Wert promised, this cursed World to bless,
This said, three times she kiss'd the ground, and home
Made hast, to bid her pensive Sister come.

372.As when the powerfull Loadstone's placed neer,
Th' inamored Iron leaps, its love to kisse:
So Mary when she heard how Christ was there,
Speeded to meet her dearest Hapiness;
And, falling at her highest Throne, His Feet,
Martha's Complaint, She did again repeat.

373.Short were her Words, but copious were her Tears,
Love-ravish'd Pleaders strongest Eloquence;
For in her Eyes those fertile springs she bears
Which by their ever-ready Influence
Confirm Her Queen of Weepers: Ne'r was seen
A more bedewed Thing then Magdalene.

374.For Love though valiant as the Lyons Heart;
Is yet as soft as the milde Turtles Soule,
And mourns as much: knowing no other Art
By which to slake the mighty Flames which roule
About her Bosome, and would burn her up,
Did not her streams of Tears that Torrent stop.

375.If when the Clouds lament, the hardest stone
Under their frequent Tears relenteth: How
Will Maries thicker Showers prevail upon
The Heart of Jesus, which did never know
What Hardnesse ment! He straitway melts, and by
His Groanes, does his Compassion testifie.

376.Then turning to the Grave, he broach'd his Eyes,
And vi'd with Maries streams: whither it were
In Pitty of Mans fatall Miseries,
Who did his own Destruction prepare;
(For neither Gods, nor Natures Hand, but he
Digg'd his own Grave, by his Impietie:)

377.Or in deep greif his dearest Freinds to see
Of his Omnipotence distrustfull still;
Or in soft Sympathie with those whom He
Of Tears and Lamentations saw so full:
What e'r the reason were, He showred down
Those streams for Mans sake, and not for his own,

378.O Tears! you now are Perls indeed, since He
Who is the Gem of Heav'n, hath brought you Forth
Now you may worthy of Gods Bottles be
Who from Gods radiant Eyes derive your Worth:
All holy Drops which are of kin to you
By that Affinitie must glorious grow.

379.Let flintie Bosomes build their foolish Pride
On their own Hardnesse, and the Weeping Eye
As an effeminate childish Thing deride,
And inconsistent with the Braverie
Of Masculine Spirits: Yet truely-noble Hearts
With Jesus will not scorn to Weep their parts.

380.But He, now from the Tombe commands the stone
To be remov'd, which sealed Lazarus up
Alas, an harder Marble lay upon
Poor Martha's Heart, which Faiths access did stop;
Corrupted was her Minde, which made Her think
And talk so much of Foure Days, and the Stink.

381.What are Foure Dayes, that their poor intervention
Should able be to raise a scruple here,
And intercept his soveraign Intention
To whom Eternitie doth bow? A Year,
An Age, a World, is no stop unto Him
Upon whose Will depends the life of Time.

382.Stinks and Corruptions no Retardments are
To his productive Power who doth derive
Through Putrifactions Pipes, and there prepare
The life which to all Creatures he doth give;
For by his Law, which knows no violation,
Corruption Mother is to Generation.

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383.The Stone removed, and the Cave laid ope,
Jesus, the mighty King of Life and Death,
With awfull Majesty his hand lift up,
And then his Voice, forming his royall breath
Into these high imperious Words, which Earth
And Heav'n obeyed: Lazarus come forth.

384.A mighty Voice indeed, which reach'd the Breast
Of Abraham, where the Soule in quiet lay,
But at these potent Summons made all haste
Back to its own: The Patriark, they say,
Kiss'd the sweet Spirit, and intreated it
To bear that Token unto Jesu's feet.

385.But when it came into the Cave, it found
What there the Thunder of this Voice had done;
Shatter'd and scatter d all about the ground
Lay adamantine Chains, which Death had on
The Carkasse heap'd: broke was that Cloud of Lead
Which roll'd cold night about the Eyes and Head.

386.The Worms were scrambling all away apace;
 [...] had into a corner got;
 [...] Ghastlinesse had stole from off the face;
 [...] froazen Numnesse frighted was, and shot
 [...] from the Corps; Death sate lamenting by
To sec that what He slew, must now not die.

387.Heat, Vigour, Motion, hover'd round about,
Attending when the Soule her place would take;
Which when She saw; as quick as her own Thought
Into the Heart she flew, and did awake
The sleeping Blood: When loe, whil'st yet the sound
Of the great Voice did in the Cave rebound,

388.Out Lazarus comes. O what Amazement now
On the Spectators seiz'd! They start, they stare,
They gape, they doubt, they hope, they fear, they throw
Their Arms wide open, and divided are
'Twixt looking upon Lazarus, and on
Jesus by whom the Miracle was done.

389.Out Lazarus comes, and yet he was fast tied
And, in his Grave-clothes snarl'd: for why should he
By these poor Ligaments be now denied
Free passage, whom the strong conspiracy
Of all Deaths massie Chains could not compell
A Pris'ner in his Sepulchre to dwell.

390.Out Lazarus comes: and full as fresh and fair
As Summer Flowers from their Winter Bed,
Which at their rising, through the purest aire
A daintier breath of fragrant Odours shed:
Nice jealous Martha needs not doubt, for He
Is now as wholesome and as sweet as she.

391.But ask Me not why Jesus would call back
His Friend, who lay compos'd in rest and peace,
To this tumultuous World, which Saints do take
But for the Sceen of all Unhappinesse:
Whil'st Jesus liveth here, his Friends hee warms
With sweeter Joyes & Peace, than Abrahams Arms.

392.Alas, 'twas Abrahams highest Wish, that He
Might but behold what Lazarus now did finde:
How would He blesse the Sight, if hee might see
Him who imparteth Eyes unto the Blinde,
Who on the Sickly Health, Peace on his Foes,
Life on the Dead, and Heav'n on Earth bestows!

393.These Psyche, were the usuall Works whereby
Thy Lord did to his World himselfe declare:
But in so vast a multiplicity,
That if they all at large recorded were,
That Worlds whole Bounds would not sufficient be
To finde those onely Books a Library.

394.And what meant these miraculous Dispensations,
But his Affection to proclaim intire?
Never with such illustrious Demonstrations
Did royall Suiter seal his true Desire
To his Queens Heart; as Jesus here did prove
How with all Humane Soules He was in love.

395.Here Phylax clos'd his rubie Lips; and she
Who all this while upon his Tongue attended
Both with her eare and heart; was griev'd to see
His high and sweet Discourse so quickly ended;
And yet, for what sh' had heard, her Modesty
Paid Him her Mayden Thanks upon her knee,

[Page 184]

PSYCHE: OR LOVES MYSTERIE. CANTO XI. The Traytor.

ARGUMENT.

IN sordid love of thick and rusting Clay
Prodigious Judas, LOVE himselfe doth sell:
But for the Pains, besides the High-Priests Pay,
Receives a larger Salary of Hell,
Which met him upon earth, and through his own
Split Body, rent his wounded Spirit down.

1.ENvie, thou mortall bane of Quietuesse,
And of thy Selfe, what makes thy Rage so mad
To play the Canker in all kind of Blisse,
And on thine own Vexation live! A Rod
To thine own cursed back thou art, as well
As to the Worlds, and both thy Fury feel.

2.In thy mischievous Womb was Discord bred,
The correspondent Brat of such a Dame;
A Brook which well becomes its Fountain head,
And doth with equall genuine Poyson stream;
A Brook which round about the hamper'd World
Its Arms pernicious Imbrace hath hurl'd.

3.This is that fatall and destructive Jarr
Which frets and interrupts the Harmonie
Wherein all Things concentricated were
By peacefull Natures sweet and sacred Tie:
That Jarr, which in Times youth did belk and beat,
Till to wilde War the way wide ope it set.

4.War, the foule Comprehension of all
The worst of Hell: Fell Belzebub at first
Begor the Monster of his own proud Gall,
From whence in Heav'n unhappily it burst:
A Birth-place how unfit for such a Birth!
And well it was, that straight it cast it forth.

[Page 185]
5.Heav'n cast it forth; but Hell receiv'd the Brat,
And hugg'd it close, and nurst, and kept it warm:
Fed there with Fire and Blood, it soon grew fat
And strong enough to raise a desperate Storm
In its black Nurserie, which it did fret,
And all the Devills in Confusion set.

6.When Lucifer saw its Activitie,
With hellish Joy He kiss'd his genuine Son;
And as He kick'd his Fathers Courtesie,
And scratch'd his kissing Lips; this Signe alone
Dear Childe, cri'd He, sufficient is to prove
Thou art my Issue, and deserv'st my love.

7.Then from his own vipereous Tresses He
Pluck'd a large handfull of his longest Snakes,
Of which, with poisnous liberalitie,
A favour for his darling Childe he makes,
Who ever since with Joy and Triumph wears
The hissing Discord all about his Ears.

8.Thus dress'd without, and furnished within
With desperate Injunctions, a Commission
To be sole Generall of every Sin,
Of all Confusion, and of all Perdition
He freely grants Him, and then sends Him forth
To trie what Ruines he could work on Earth,

9.(The cunning Serpent lov'd his Hole too well
To suffer desperate War to harbour there:
He knew that even in the Realm of Hell
Division would the Joints and Cement tear
Which in obedience to his Soveraign Pride
The Peers and Commons of Damnation ti'd.)

10.As through the bowells of deep Tellus He
Rent ope his Way, amazed Nature shook,
Affrighted Quiet, and Serenitie
Their sudden flight to Heav'n for shelter took,
Leaving behinde an universall Groan;
Through all the World such fatall Terror ran.

11.But blustering on the Fury sought where he
Might entertainment for his Miseheif meet.
First to the Lyons Dens he went, to see
Whither their mighty Mouthes, and armed feet
Might not be taught to undertake a fight
In the fell Quarrell of intestine Spight.

12.The noble Beasts with generous disdain
Look'd on the Monster, and lay couchant still:
Seeming to say, Our Selves will hold the chain
Of our own Strength, and when We please to fill
Our Lust with Blood, Weel hunt it up and down
The Woods, but never riot in our own.

13.Repulsed here, He made the like Address
To Dragons, Tigres, Panthers, Wolves, and Bears;
But they in their own Naturall freindliness
Hugg'd one another, and  [...] all Warrs.
The Monster vex'd, and  [...] himself, to
That salvage Creatures would not disagree.

14.At last, to Man he came: And who could dream
That  [...] the softest and the gentlest Thing,
Which Heav'ns own carefull Hand alone did frame;
Man, who could fight for Nothing, being King
Of all the World; Man, who unarm'd was made,
Should turn Apprentice to the Warlike Trade.

15.Yet Man, the Riddle of Unhappiness,
Unto the Monster entertainment gave.
Mad Man, for whom a thousand Maladies
Perpetually are digging up his grave,
Will needs goe learn a surer speedier way
To cut that Life which posteth to Decay.

16.For Cain (th' originall Curses first-born Heir)
No sooner saw the Furies looks, but He
Fanci'd them lovely, and by far more fair
Then gentle Abels blessed Suavitie.
Unhappie fancie, whose mad violence
Murder'd a Quarter of the World at once.

17.And yet that dreadfull Mark, which seald so deep
His knawing Guilt on his dispairing face,
Form his all bloody Foot-steps could not keep
Succeeding Generations; still they trace
The cursed Tract, regardlesse of the Cries
With which Blood wakens Veng'ance, and the Skies.

18.With unrelenting Steel they barbarize
Their tender Flesh, or clothe themselves with Brasse;
They for Destruction proper Tools devise,
To hasten on the fate of fading Grasse;
And unto Times not lazie Sithe, their Arts
Of Death they add, Spears, Arrows, Swords, & Darts.

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19.And being lothe that any Stay should make
Them loose the credit of their madnesse, They
Trust not their own two feet, but mount the back
Of fiery Steeds, by whose fierce speed they may
Flie unto Mischeif, and in full Carreer
And cruel Joy, their Brethrens bowells tear.

20.Yea though the universal Deluge by
Washing away that bloody Torrent, and
Those who had broach'd it, warned Man to see
How little need he had to arme his hand
Against Himself; He madly prov'd, No flood
Of Water could aswage his thirst of Blood.

21.O no! for He still more industrious grow's
In Barbarousnes; and with it taints the Heart
Of  [...] Learning, which He daily draws
In all his bloodiest Plots to act its part;
Hence came those engines which so strangely spit
Death's multipli'd, and deadlier made by Wit.

22.Yet these at length He counts but spights delay,
Angry that Heav'ns Artillerie doth flie
 [...] then His; and therefore seeks a way
To Shoot his Wrath, as doth th' inraged skie:
Thus from his Canons mouths the thunders roar,
The lightnings flash, sinoak, bullets, vengance, poure.

23.No Furies can with more remorslesse spight
Rend one anothers Breasts, then Man doth Man.
Wounds, shreiks, and gaspings, are his proud delight,
By  [...] his Prowess he doth scan;
In Humane Blood He strives to write his stories,
And by his Murders counteth up his glories.

24.Thus milde Humanitie is thrown aside,
And Manhood takes from War its ominous name.
Alas, and was not Manhood known, till Pride
And envious Wrath, this salvagenes did frame;
Till Beasts upbraided Men, who entertain'd
The hellish Monster, which all they disdain'd?

25.Were there not lustie sins, whose sturdy might
Could have  [...] been to feed
The boldest valour of the bravest wight,
And yeeld a fairer Laurel to his Head,
Then those unhappy  [...], which smeared are
In the thick gore of an unnaturail War!

26.But ah! that blessed Combat is forgot
In this wilde Trade of fighting: Sin does here
Command in cheife, and from its  [...] shut
Whatever doth like Law and Right appear:
And in their rooms, by whole troops listed be
Rapes, rapine, rampant rage, and luxurie.

27.Shame on their Soules who love this barbarous trade,
And by this mercilesse Apostasie
Erase, and quite forget what Nature made
Them at the first: But their Impietie
Swels highest, Who the Name of Christian bear,
Yet stain it in the Blood of causelesse war.

28.O shamelesse boldnesse! which can in defence
Of meek Religion, put on Barbarousnes,
And make the Bond of Sweetnes a pretence
To break all other yoakes; which dares professe
It fights to rescue that, whose highest praise
Injurious suffrings alwayes us'd to raise.

29.The noble Army of those Martyrs, who
To Heav'n in Triumphs Chariot ascended,
Had never learn'd Christ and Religion so;
Both which they by a surer way defended,
Drowning all opposition in the flood
Not of their tyrants, but of their own blood.

30.Nor did Heav'ns most propitious bottles e're
Bestow more fertile shoures on thirstie Earth;
Then streamed from those Hero's veins, to cheer
The new sown Churches seeds, and help them forth
Into that glorious crop, which quickly swell'd
So high, that all the wondering World it fill'd.

31.Can others blood, their tincture be, who are
Sworn servants to the glorious King of Peace?
That King, who is a Lamb, and who doth wear
Of tendernes the white and dainty fleece?
That King whose onely busines and joy
It is to save, but never to destroy?

32.Into this world his foot He would not set,
Till every sword return d into its sheath,
Till Janu's semple with a seale was shut,
Till Nature was restor'd to lead on Death,
Till Peace's calm had pav'd his passage plain,
And Men repented into Men again.

[Page 187]
33.Yet being Come, though Satan could not raise
An open tempest to disturb his course,
He tryes a thousand secret envious wayes,
Patching with cunning his defect of force;
He lends fresh malice to the pevish Jews,
And in the Highpriests heads his Plots he brews.

34.Annas and Caiaphas resolve to try
How they their glories may assert, which now
They more and more beheld eclipsed by
The reverend lustre which from Christ did flow,
Upon whose flames, if nothing else will doe,
Rather then faile, they his own blood will throw.

35.Phylax thought fit a while to dwell upon
This story with his Pysche; wherefore He,
After convenient Refection,
Bids Her sit fast; and yeelding then the free
And long desired reins to his hot Steeds,
Quick as the winde to Salem ward he speeds.

36.There, over Sions head, he pulled back
The Bridle: strait his docile Coursers knew
The language of his Hand, and 'gan to slack
Their pace, and in a semicircle flew;
For by one wing they with the other fought,
And damp'd their course by wheeling thus about.

37.Then lighting on the Hill, their mains they shaked,
Their heads they lifted high, and then their voice:
The bottomes at their mighty Neighings quaked,
And from their Caverns all flung back the noise:
But strait as Phylax 'gan to speake, the Steeds
Seal'd up their Mouths, and humbled down their heads.

38.Though, Psyche, thy deare Lord himself indear'd
To all this World by those sweet Miracles,
(And millions more than them) which thou hast heard,
Said he, yet so importunate was Hels
Invidious clamor in the Jewish ears,
That all Heav'ns Words and Works it overbears.

39.And now the thicker Wonders Jesus does
More Articles against himself he draws;
The shamelesse Judges turn his mortall foes,
Forgetting Right's, and urging Envies Laws;
And in black Envies impudent esteem
No crime so foule as Pietie doth seem.

40.But how this Malice brought about her end,
And rais'd her selfe to that transcendent Pitch
Of monstrousnesse, which never any Feind
With all the wit of Hell, before could reach,
Is worth thy hearing: Come, sit down, and I
Will pump this Venom forth before thine eye.

41.Before Hells yawning mouth, a Cave there is
(The little emblem of that greater Realme)
The native house and home of Avarice,
Who in her craving thoughts doth overwhelm
The universe, and, whatsoe'r she gains
As lean and hungry as before remains,

42.If any thing but Money comming be,
The door is alway deaf; for its strange ears
Can apprehend no noise or harmonie
But Monies chinking; which as soon's it hears,
It flingeth ope its mouth as wide, and fast
As Tygers, when their prey to them is cast,

43.Six yellow springs before the threshold rise,
Infected by that Houses neighbour-hood;
Which creeping far through earths close cavities
Poure out their wealthy but most dangerous flood
On the condemned World, devouring there
More than in stormy Seas e're drowned were,

44.Indus and Ganges rouled in the East,
Pactolus in the middle of the Earth;
But Tagus undertook to taint the West
And spewd in Spain his glistering poison forth.
Rich Hebrus chose something more North to be
And broke his way through Thracian Rhodope.

45.Plate stole into the other World, that He
Might to some pains and cost put Covetousnesse;
But when her thirst grows hot, impatient she
Shall scorn th' Atlantik Ocean, and presse
Through unknow Monsters to finde out that stream
Which yet shall not quench, but augment her flame.

46.The structure of the House is mean and poore,
And cals with many a mouth fot Reparation:
The Clowds, when e're they weep, do freely poure
Through every rotten room an inundation;
The Windes come whistling at their pleasure in;
And every kinde of Weather there will Inn,

[Page 188]
47.A thousand Stilts and Propps their shoulders set
Against the Walls; where many a Wisp and Rag
Into the weather-beaten Wounds were put:
Such is the Thrift of the old carking Hag,
Her Houses Fall she ventures, but to spare
The simple Cost ev'n of a patch'd Repair.

48.Within lie Trunks and Chests along the Walls
Pil'd to the roofe on one anothers backs,
Guarded with iron hoops, and brazen nails,
And strongly fortifi'd with triple Locks,
As if indeed some Treasurers shrines they were,
When onely yellow Clay lay sleeping there.

49.There lay all that the famous Lydian Prince
Had rak'd up by his numerous Victories:
Unhappy Craesus! who at such expence
Of pains and time, purchas'd so poor a prize,
Which, as a load, upon his Life was thrown,
And when He dyed, press'd him deeper down.

50.There lay the Phrygian Kings unweildy Masse
Of wretched Gold, whose rich Wish made him Poor,
Whose wealthy Priviledge his Confusion was,
And famish'd him amid'st his growing Store.
Sure for that Wish he more deserv'd those Ears
Which by the Poets quaint Revenge he wears.

51.Next them, the other Phrygians Talents, who
By Pagans verdict is condemn'd to thirst
Amidst the streams which on his lipps doe flow.
Unfortunate Tantalus, how wert thou curst
In life with Treasures which Thou could'st not use
In death, with Dainties which thy Mouth abuse!

52.The cursed Heaps of stern Callicrates
Were there, who by Exuctions Hand did rake
Them up, and make th' Athenian Miseries
The Fountain of his Richnes; who did break
The Laws in lawlesse Urging Them, that He
Owner of what He could not keep might be.

53.The stuffed Coffers of rich Cinyras
Which by his Cyprian Plenty He did fill,
Were there-congested in huge throngs; so was
The Wealth of Gyges, which so high did swell
That it alone sufficient might seem
To choak or burden Millions more with Him.

54.The teeming Baggs which Pelops brooded o'r,
The Wealth which Crassus upon heaps did heap,
Dariu's brave inestimable Store,
Here in their severall Sepulchres did sleep;
So did great Pharoabs, into whose vast Barn
A Crop of Gold was brought, for that of Corn.

55.What-ever Rapine, Fraud, Oppression, Lies,
Distrustfull Greedinesse, vexatious Care,
Had snatch'd, stole, poll'd, or scraped, to suffice
What could not filled be, was crowded there:
Little think Men that all such Riches will
Finde their way home, and with their Plutus dwell,

56.Nay here that vast accumulation lay,
Which dares call every other Treasure poor,
That Wealth which did the golden Age display
When Solomon the Crown of Israel wore,
He who disgraced Silver so, that it
Like vulgar stones was kick'd about the street.

57.Wise as He was, that King well understood
That amongst all those huge Vacuities
Which puffe the World up with their froathy Flood,
Ev'n massie Gold must counted be; which lies
Men in more fruitlesse Care than any Thing
That Fortune rouls in Vanities fine Ring.

58.Alas as here in all its strength it lay
Immur'd in thousand Chests, it could not by
Its power or its value keep away
Vile Rust and Cankers, which eternaly
Did d well and feed upon it; nor could all
Those mighty Locks forbid their Festivall.

59.But howling round about the woefull Room
Were those unhappy Soules whose Thirst of Gold
Had plunged Them in this eternal Doom;
Soules which to their own Baggs themselves had sold,
And bought their Prison, from whose Misery
Their uselesse Store could no Redemption buy.

60.His mystick Wand old wrinckled Balaam broke,
And flung his wretched charmes about the floor,
Cursing the day when He to Balack took
His voyage for vile love of Money, more
Than Heav'n and Truth; and crying oft, Why was
I with my Wit, lesse Wise than my plain Asse!

[Page 189]
61.There wretched Achan roar'd, himselfe to see
So gorgeous in his Babylonish Cloak:
Besides, to make him rich in Misery,
Deep in his heart his golden Wedge was stuck;
And his two hundred silver shekels cast
Into a Clog, about his feet held fast.

62.There cursed Ahab with eternall Fright
Seem'd to see Naboths Ghost flash in his face;
Whose guiltlesse blood quite quenched that Delight
With which the Vine's should have enflam'd his Glass:
Nay every causelesse Stone which had been thrown
On Naboths head, rebounded on his own.

63.Gehazie there, as white with Leprosie
As he with guilt was odious and black,
His double Change of Garments hates, which he
Can for his stinking Soars no Cover make,
And still he starts, and thinks his Masters eye
Doth Him, and his two Syrian Talents spie.

64.There Dives rends his purple Robes, and flings
Away the bitter Sweets of his old Feasts,
Cursing his own, but blessing his Doggs Tongues
Which were so courteous to the poorest Guests,
Kissing and Licking Lazaru's Soars, whilst He
With  [...] Raylings griev'd his Poverty.

65.But this Room onely was the Portall to
The Chapell, whose poor Architecture was
Of equal Vilenesse, had its Roof not so
Been skrew'd up, as to yeild convenient space
For State and Majesty to stand upright,
And let the God appear in his own height.

66.Hast Thou not heard how upon Dura's Plain
Nebuchadnezzar made his Ovens wrath hot
At those who fear'd Hells Fornace, and the stain
With which Idolatry their Soules would blot,
When he erected sixty Cubits high
The Mountain of his golden Deity?

67.The Copie of that Idoll hence He took,
For in this Temple its Originall stands;
Such is the massie Head, such is the Look,
Such are the Leggs, the Breast, the Arms, the Hands,
Such is its monstrous bulk, and such the beams
With which its pure and burnish'd Metall flames.

68.His Name is Mammon, and although he be
So dead a Lump, that aid he cannot lend
Unto himself; yet to his Deity
Almost all living Men do couch and bend:
Heav'ns King with all his Powers of Love & Bliss
Works upon Humane Hearts with lesse Successe.

69.Both those who see, and those who have no eyes,
Are by his splendor equaly invited;
For Both are Blinde, when they begin to prize
His worthlesse Worth, and finde their Soules delighted
With the bare contemplation of Money,
Which is their Thirsts Milk, & their Hungers Honey.

70.Thrift, that most slander'd Thing, pretended is
By almost every Age and Tribe of Men;
Who all inamor'd of this glistering Blisse,
After the Call of Monies chincking run;
And tainted with th' immedicable itch
Of heaping Riches, ne'r think they are rich.

71.Before the Image both the sick and well,
The Rich, and Poor, the Young, and Aged lay;
Active and hot was their Devotions Zeal
Disdaining any Respit Night or Day,
And mortifying with hard Penance what
Soever Mammons Laws allowed not.

72.About its shaddowed feet grew a thick Crop
Of every kinde of Sin which taints this Earth;
Fruits, which those fond Devoto's gathered up
As fast's the pois'ned Roots could bring them forth:
The Golden Crime this certain Priviledge wins,
That it is alwayes rich in other Sins.

73.In other Sins; and in the righteous Curse
Which is by Veng'ance ti'd eternaly
Unto the never-satisfied Purse:
For still those Cormorants are tortured by
Vexatious Cares, and Fears of Want, the more
They are incumbred with their growing Store.

74.That Store, which with such tyrannizing Awe
In endlesse bondage holds their Soules, that they
With any of those golden Streams which flow
Upon their Lips, durst not their Thirst allay;
But rather antidate their Hell, and learn
Betimes in everlasting Drought to burn.

[Page 190]
75.The Priest which waits upon this Deity
Is full as ougly as its selfe is fair:
The raving wallowing Maenades would be
Spruce handsome Ladies, if compar'd with Her;
So would the rankest Witch that ever yet
Disfigured was in any Magick Fit.

76.Age bends her looks towards that Earth, in which
Uncessantly to delve, is her delight:
As are the backs of bunched Camels, such
Is Hers, and full as well agrees with Weight;
All Load is light to Her, if but one Grain
Of intermixed Profit it contain.

77.Her Face all over's plowed up with Care,
And long and deep the wretched furrows be;
Her hollow Eyes quite damp'd and dazell'd are
By glaring on her glistering Deity:
Her sallow Looks, and shrivell'd parched Skin
Confesse what Pains she takes about her Sin.

78.Her Nails she never cut, but let them grow
Up with her Wealth, for Scraping was her Trade:
No greedy Vulture could such tallons show,
Such dreadfull Claws no Harpie ever had:
These were the Engins with which she did break
Earths Bowells open, and the Centre rake.

79.A putrid Mantle ti'd about her Waste
Was all the Roabs she would her selfe allow,
Which she had found upon a Dunghill cast
A thousand years agoe; and which was now
Nine hundred Times new Patch'd; yet would not She
At the least cost of a new old one be.

80.Nine stuffed Pouches on a leathern Thong
Crowded about her miserable Loins;
With these, of massie Keyes two Bunches hung,
The Memorandums of her treasured Mines.
Which Keyes she twenty times a day would tell,
And reckon what under their Locks did dwell.

81.Patrocles was to Her, a generous Knight,
And made his bord the Sceen of Lavishnesse:
When she with Dainties would her selfe delight
Some old worm-eaten Root her Banquet was;
And when at most her Fare she did enlarge,
She would in Salt be at an whole Mites charge.

82.But planted deep in her unhappy breast
Is the black Root of all her monstrous Cares,
Foule Infidelity, which bids her cast
About how to with-stand what her vain fears
Make terrible, and build her Trust upon
No Power or Providence, but her own alone.

83.Besides th' Idea's of her Gold which lay
Pill'd there in cursed heaps, did rusty grow:
This Rust, its dwelling turn'd into its Prey
And on her heart incessantly did knaw:
Yet was her Idoll unto her so dear,
That for more Money, she more Rust would bear.

84.This Hag was Avarice; whom Satan held
Almost as dear, as He thy Spouse did hate:
Upon her Power He alone did build
His finall hopes to bring about his great
Designe of Malice, for He knew that She
Could doe much more with Men, than Heav'n, or He.

85.Unto her house himselfe in person came,
And, with all condescent of Courtesie,
Wiping aside the Sulphure and the Flame
In which his royall Lips did use to frie,
Saluted Her, who never untill this
Occasion, from her King obtain'd a Kisse.

86.This Favour ravish'd her so deep, that She
All his Injunctions did with Joy receive:
First taking her Commission, on her knee,
(Which thrice she kiss'd) and then her hasty leave,
To earth she posts; where she findes out a Cell
Almost as helish as her native Hell.

87.For to Iscariots breast she took her way,
Which foolish He left ope without a Guard:
With all her venome in she rush'd, and lay
Close in the bottome of his heart; full hard
It was e'r she intruded in, but now
No stone can such proofs of its Hardnesse show.

88.Those Words of potent Sweetnesse which did drop
From Jesu's blessed Lips, could Windes, and Seas,
And Sicknesses, and Devills bridle up,
And every Storm, but Judas his appeas.
O that Man should that onely Monster be
Which is too hard for Mercies Suavity.

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89.As He who boiling Lead has swallow'd down
Feels himself all on fire, and thinks that though
A thousand Seas into his Cup were thrown
They could not quench his drought: So Judas now
Perceived his impois'ned bosome frie
In covetous Thirsts impatient Ardencle.

90.Millions of Thoughts are raging in his breast,
And every one of them is all on fire:
He scorns, and hates the Povertie of Christ;
No other Blisse but Gold he does desire:
Talk not to Him of penniless Piety;
What e'r it cost, hee must have Gold, or die.

91.But yet this onely Poison did not swell
His heart; Another joyned in the plot.
Deep in the very Sink of lowest Hell
Is situate a dreadfull gloomy Grot;
A Grot which there in ambush seems to lie
Hatching the Eggs of all Conspiracie.

92.And yet within, a goodly House is built
Muchlike the Palace of some Virgin Queen:
With quaint Designs the Frontispice was gilt,
And the whole Fabrick look'd like Beauties Sceen.
White Marble were the rich Materials,
And yet the Workmanship out-shin'd the Walls.

93.What full Balconies, stately Terrasses,
 [...] Anticks, fair Compartments, handsome Cants,
 [...] Freezes, and neat Cornishes,
Brisk and well-order d Turrets! Nothing wants
That Art could give to make the Out-side fine;
Yet still the House is gallanter within.

94.The double Door with open lips invites
All Strangers to come in: The Porter there,
Well learned in all complementall Rites,
Bids them kinde welcome with his vocall cheer;
He smiles, he bowes, he fawns, he knows the Name
Of all the Guests, and in he ushers them.

95.The Hall with silken Carpets all is spred
To court the Strangers feet with soft delight;
The dainty Roof is arched over head
With checker'd Roses red, and Lilies white;
Delicious Odours roule about the room
Sweet entertainments unto all that come.

96.But at the upper end, upon a Throne
Of moderate Height, sits crafty Treachery,
A Feind more old then Hell it self, and one
Whose face would of her age clear witness be
Had not Art interven'd, and taught her how
To make false spring upon true Winter grow.

97.Old Jezabells lank and wrinckled Cheeks were not
So out of shape as hers; yet she had found
A Paints hypocrisie for her faces Blot,
Which with a youthfull verdure cloth'd it round:
No Vallies did appear, but either Cheek
With beauteous Politure was plump and sleek.

98.And though a thousand envious Frowns lay hid,
Her outward Aspect wore a gentle Guise;
Loves, Joyes, and Smiles, weare sweetly marshalled
About her Lips, her Forehead, and her Eyes:
Brave Judiths glances less alluring were
Which conquered her Countries Conquerer.

99.Her Tresses, which indeed were Knots of Snakes,
She overlay'd with soft and dainty Hair;
Whose waving circling Net of Amber takes
Spectators Hearts, as well's the sporting Aire,
And works as many valiant Wonders, as
The mighty Locks of Samson brought to passe.

100.An olive Branch in her right Hand she hel'd,
And in her left a wreath of Roses, but
The wreath within was all with Nettles fill'd,
The smiling Branch with lurking shorns beset:
For this was she who could teach Peace to fall
To Massacres, and make Sweets flow with Gall,

101.Her Robe of state flow'd low beneath her Feet;
For, such they were esteem'd while they lay hid:
But she had neither Feet nor Legs; a great
And knotty Taile was sweeping in their stead;
A taile which she about her round could winde,
And hug and kisse the sting she ware behinde.

102.The Siren thus above the Water is
As soft and smooth and cleer a Nymph as she;
But her Catastrophe of Monstrousnes
Lurks un derneath with wise Hypocrisie:
For though not all the Sea can serve to wash
It off, each Wave can hide the ougly Fish.

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103.When e'r she speaks, a flood of honey flows,
And with her breath, a cloud of Odours breaks;
Yet in her Mouth a Crop of Poyson grows,
Under her Lips a Nest of Adders makes
Its curs'd abode; her Tongu's a mortall Spear,
And all her Teeth invenomed Arrows are.

104.But in her desperate bosome treasured lies
The fatall Pith and Marrow of all Hell;
Distractions, Tumults, Wars, Spights, Injuries,
Confusions, Tortures, Deaths. O who can tell
The Monsters of that black Abysse, wherein
There is full Room for the whole Sea of Sin!

105.Her choise Attendants stood about her Throne,
Fair-faced Peace, and buxome Courtesie,
Free-hearted Friendship, milde Compassion,
Neat Complement, and golden Flattery,
Nimble Officiousnesse, large Promises,
Deep Oaths, false Truthes, deceitfull Faithfulnesse:

106.Sweet angel-faced Things, restored Lawes,
Reform'd Religion, rescued Liberty:
For such the fondly-credulous World, which knows
Not what a Vizard means, takes Them to be,
Admiring for an heav'nly Spirit of Light
The masked Monarch of Infernall Night.

107.But at her back, behinde a Veil, did lie
A  [...] which she esteemed more than these;
Thefts, Rapines, Scoffs, Reviling,  [...],
Plots, Poysons, Covenants, and Conspiracies,
Right-down Rebellion, Murdering of Kings,
And all that Ruine and Subversion brings.

108.Beyond this Veil, an Iron Door did lead
Through a long Entrie stuff'd with fire and smoak,
Into a Dungeon replenished
With every Shape of Horror, whose fell Look
With everlasting fright tormented all
The Pris'ners which into that Pit did fall.

109.Griefe liv'd in triumph there, and all the Pains
Profest Excesse: the language of the Den
Was Signs, and Groans, and noise of tumbled Chains,
Cries, Yellings, Curses, Blasphemies of Men
And God, eternall Seizzing raised by
The Soules and Bodies which in it doe frie.

110.There might you see upon Cains guilty face
A deeper Mark than God upon it set,
His innocent Brothers Blood, which scallt the place
On which it lay: His treacherous breast He beat,
And now with truer Reason cri'd, my Pain
Is greater than my Patience can sustain.

111.No longer now He feared to be slain,
But wish'd to meet another Lamech, who
Might rid him of this dying Life: In vain
He gnash'd his teeth; In vain he curs'd his Woe,
And Him who chain'd Him in it: For his Griefe
Sung now beneath the region of Reliefe.

112.There  [...] lay tearing off her Hair
To think of Samsons which her Falsehood cut:
The Withes and Ropes not halfe so sturdy were
As those which now her Treason on her put,
Those Chains, which bound her to her endlesse Rack,
Stronger than Samsons sinewie Arms could break.

113.There lay fierce Joab, with his woefull hand
Upon his fift Rib; for the treacherous Wound
He thought he seal'd so sure on Abner, and
On Amasa, did on himselfe rebound:
Just Davids legacie, and his Sons Command,
Sent him this Veng'ance by Benaja's Hand.

114.Insidious Rechab, and Baanah there
With everlasting Horror seem'd to see
The righteous Head of Ishbosheth appear.
And check them with their trayterous Villany:
How gladly would They, to buy off their Pain,
Give both their Heads, that His were on again!

115.There hung rebellious Absalom by the Head
Not on an Oak, but on a fierie Tree,
Whose Boughs of Torture round about him spred,
And shaddow d him with flaming Misery:
Three Darts stuck in his double Heart, and made
Way for the stinging Worme which there doth feed.

116.His Tongue its Popular Blandishments forgets,
by which it stole the Peoples Loyalty;
And nothing now but pois nous Curses spits:
This made great David, whose religious Eye
Descri'd his desperate State, be so extream
In pittying and in lamenting Him.

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117.There Ziba detestation heaps upon
That fawning Lie by which He did obtain
Upright Mephibosheths Possession,
From which he reaps this crop of endlesse Pain:
There Shimei railes on his own Railing, who
Had pour'd his Curses on his Sove raigns Woe.

118.The Pride of ready Wit Ahithophell
With all his Plots about his Halter ti'd,
Hangs there: and now the famous Oracle
No Answers gives, but hideous Roars, and wide
Yellings, that He who had betrayd his King
Himself more madly to these Flames did bring.

119.There Zimri howl'd for greif that He was more
With Treason drunk, then Elah was with Wine,
And now more raging flaming Tortures bore,
Then when his Palace all one fire did shine.
For Zacharies death there Shallum waild in vain,
Who in his Soveraign, his own self had slain.

120.These, and ten thousand Traytors more were there;
For deep and large the woefull Dungeon was,
Having for all their Heirs full Room to spare,
Choise Room, for Those to whom the highest place
Of most profound Damnation was due,
The Christian-seeming Traytorous-being Crew,

121.That Crew, whose severall Stalls were ready built
Of burning Brass, and all in order placed
(According to the merit of their Guilt)
About a Seat, whose Canopie was graced
With Flames of Soveraign Dreadfulnes, a Seat
Wide gaping for the Prince designd for it.

122.For 'twas the Throne that was designd for Him
Whom Jesus would have crowned King above:
But Judas in an heav'nly Diademe
Would nothing finde which might oblige his Love;
Hell had aforehand seiz'd his Heart, and He
Resolved was to  [...] his Misery.

123.For Satan now unto this Palace came
As to the Den of Avarice before;
When she beheld her Soveraign Lord, the Dame
Rose from her Throne and met him at the door,
Where falling on her face, she asked what
Brought his high Majesty to her low Grot.

124.His red hot  [...] Sceptre Satan here
Reach'd fortn for her to kisse, in signe of pe ace;
Then siniling on her answering face, Most Dear
Of all my Feinds, said He, my buis'nes is
The greatest that I ever undertook;
Which if it fails, this Sceptre must be broke.

125.'Tis true, time was, when I, and Thou, did make
A brave Adventure in the face of Heav'n,
When at our Courage all the Sphears did quake,
And God was to his utmost Thunder driven;
His Throne did tremble at our rivall Might,
And, had our foot not slipp'd, all had gone right.

126.But that Misfortune is too poor to break
The strength of our immortall Pride: Forbid
It, all my Hell, that Belzebub should make
Truce with that Tyrant which disherited
Him of his starry Kingdome: No; I may
Perhaps be beaten, but will ne'r Obey,

127.I am resolv'd to finde Him work as long
As He and his Eternitie can last:
My Spirit never must forget that Wrong
Which Me into this Dungeon did cast:
He now has done his worst, and I can be
But still in Hell, should He still conquer Me.

128.Full well I know his Spight: Had any place
Been worse then this, He would have damnd Us thither:
Yet He, forsooth, must be the God of Grace,
Of Pittie and of Tendernesse the Father:
And silly Men beleeve Him too; But We
No reason have befooled so to be.

129.Yet be He what He will to Men; to Us
He is a sworn and everlasting Foe:
And is't not just, He who maligns Us thus,
Should finde that Devills are  [...] too?
I would not wrong Him; yet I must not by
Respect to His, clip mine own Majesty.

130.No: my brave Will He never yet subdued,
And I am now too old to learn to bowe.
Upon my youth his  [...] strengh He she wed,
Yet tender as I was, himself doth know,
Ev'n then I yeilded not: And shall this Arm
Now grown all brawnie, not revenge my Harm?

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131.It shall and must: my Considence beats high,
For now our fight on evener ground shall be;
He from his slippery Heav'n is come, and I;
Will as sure footing have on Earth, as He:
Besides, should We miscarrv, We are there
Neer to our Hell, and no deep Fall can fear.

132.And yet to make all sure, I hold it best
By secret Treason to unlock the way
Unto our Conquest: Doe but Thou assist
My Plot, and let Fate, if it can, say nay.
How oft when Ramms in vain have push'd the wall,
Have cunning Underminings made it fall!

133.Come let's away with hate to Christ, I burn
More than with all my Kingdomes Flames: I swear
By my bright Mother the unspotted Morn,
(A fairer Virgin then his Mary farr,)
By both my Horns, my Sceptre, and my Crown,
That I will win his Blood, or loose mine own.

134.The cursed Soules within all heard Him swear,
And clapp'd their flaming hands with damned Joy,
Hoping that now some fresh Companions were
Designd for Them: The Gates of Hell gave way,
Earth split into a mighty Gap, and He
Ascended, with his Handmayd Treachery,

135.Then having melted both Himself and her
Into the lap of the next Wind he met,
He shely flew to Juda's Bosome, where
In with his breath, he unperceived got.
Thus other Plagues infuled in the Aire
Steale to the Heart, and breath their Poison there.

136.As when a Tyrant hath usurp'd a Crown,
The Arms and Ensignes of the rightfull Heir
He blurs, and tears, and pulls his Statues down,
And doth their places for his own prepare,
Leaving no Signe to make the People dream
Of any other Soveraign but Him:

137.So Satan play'd his part in Juda's breast:
All characters which were engraven there
Of his leige Lord and onely Soveraign Christ,
His mighty Miracles, his loving Care;
His heav'nly life, and Doctrine, he defaces,
And every line of Pietie erases.

138.Then, by the help of those two Feinds which he
Had there confederated. (Avarice
The Mother of all Mischeifs, Treachery
The ready Midwife,) He erecteth his
Black Standard in th' Apostates wretched Heart,
And thence his Conquests spreads to every Part,

139.And Judas now breaths nothing else but Hell
Whose fumes are tumbling all about his brain;
With plots of spight and rage his breast doth swell,
And with Contrivances of cursed Gain.
No Fury ever hatch'd such Thoughts as He,
Nor brought forth such portentous Villanie.

140.O Avarice, how flat Idolatrie
Is thine, who dost vile rusty Wealth prefer
Before the King of heav'nly Majesty,
Whose beams then all thy Gold more golden are?
Who canst adore what Cankers feed on, Who
Canst hug base Silver, and let Jesus goe!

141.Judas, the Slave of Gain, resolves to sell
His most inestimable Lord; whom He
Should rather keep, his thirsty Soule to fill
With all the Riches of Eternitie:
But Avarice his Heart doth so bewitch,
That He will sell Heav'n, onely to be rich.

142.His Chapmen are the Preists; for They who had
Betray'd the House of God to Merchandise,
Will make no scruple to extend their Trade,
And count God saleable: But in the Price
They thrifty are, and beat their market low;
But Thirty silver Peices They'l bestow.

143.Fie sordid Caiaphas, and Annas, fie;
Your Law cties shame of this unworthy Rate:
Consult your Books, and they will not denie Levit. 27. 3.
But ev'n the meanest Man is valued at
No lesse then fifty Shekells: and will you
For God and Man, no more than thus allow?

144.Does Jesu's God-head make Him of lesse worth
Than is the vilest He that breaths your Air?
Bid but like Chapmen; bring your Treasures forth
And buy the pretious Wares your Offer square.
O could you purchase Him indeed, the Prize
Would make You rich in all Felicities.

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145.But thou, improvident Judas, since Thou art
Resolv'd to sell a thing whose value is
Beyond the power of Arithmetick Art
To reckon up; proportionate thy price
In some more neer degree: let thy Demand
Make Buyers, who this Christ is, understand.

146.Ask all the gold that rolls on Indu's shore,
Ask all the treasures of the Eastern Sea,
Ask all the Earths yet undiscovered ore,
Ask all the gemms and Perls which purest be
Ask Herods Checker, ask the Highpriests Crown,
Ask Cesars mighty Scepter, and his Throne.

147.Ask all the Silver of the glistering Starrs,
Ask all the Gold that flames in Phebu's eyes,
Ask all the Jewells of Aurora's Tears,
Ask all the Smiles and Beauties of the Skies,
Ask all that can by any Thing be given,
Ask Blisse, ask Life, ask Paradise, ask Heav'n.

148.Trade not with these, the worst of Chapmen, who
So fouly under-rate thy Merchandise:
To John, to Peter, or to Andrew goe,
Who better are acquainted with the price
Of their unvaluable Lord, and see
What They will for their own Blisse offer Thee.

149.Trie what the Virgin-Mother will bestow
For Him whom She holds dearer than her Heart:
Proclaim thy Market unto Heav'n, and know
Whether the Angells will not gladly part
With more than Thirty silver Peeces for
Him, whom with prostrate faces They adore.

150.Alas, though every Sin be Blindnesse, yet
Hell knows no Crime so full of Pitch as this,
Nor doth the Sun of humane Reason set
In any Night so black as Avarice:
A thicker than Egyptian Darknesse now
On Juda's intellectual Eyes did grow.

151.Urge Him no more with Sense and Reason; He
Resolves to traffique with the Priests; for now
No other God but Money he can see,
He nothing sees at all, and cares not how
He makes his Bargain with them, so he may
Have but this wretched Summe in ready Pay.

152.Thus Jesu's Wisdome did contrive to shew
The mighty Patience of his Goodnesse; who
Though from Heav'ns Glory his bright Selfe he threw
Into the Arms of Dust and Shame, that so
Mans cursed Seed He might Redeem to Blisse,
By false ungratefull Man betrayed is.

153.And now the Chinck of his adored Coin
Sounds in his Purse, the Traytor hasts to be
As good's his wicked Word, and is in pain
Till He bring forth his hired Treachery:
He thinks it an unworthy odious Crime
To cheat the Priests, who thus had trusted Him.

154.O aenigmatick Wickednesse! That He
To whom his Heav'nly Masters pretious Love
Could seem no Bond of Faithfulnesse, should be
By this so vile obliedgment Bound, and prove
Faithfull unto his Foes! This, Psyche, this
Ev'n to thy Phylax a dark Riddle is.

155.So strange a Thing is Mans mysterious Heart,
No Angells eyes can through its secrets run;
To sound this Bottome, is the Soveraign Art
And priviledge of God himselfe alone:
A certain proof that the Hearts hidden frame
Onely from his immediate Fingers came.

156.The Caytiff therefore, least his Plot should fail,
And Hells long expectation be prevented,
Begg'd some Assistance, that he might assail
His Prey with surer Treason, and indented
For a full Band of Men: The Priests were glad
To see the Man so resolutely mad.

157.A Troop they had all of Commanded Men,
Whose hearts were Iron, and their foreheads Brasse:
No Boars or Tygers ever could out-run
Their furie, when their aime at Mischief was:
They might have pass'd for Soveraign Monsters, but
For their fell Masters; and Iscariot.

158.Some armed were with churlish Clubs, and some
With keen and thirsty Swords, but all with Spight:
With these at's heels did Captain Judas come,
Resolv'd to slay, but yet afraid to fight:
Treason was evermore a Coward, and
By Number, not by Valour, doth contend.

[Page 196]
159.The Ensignes which before the Troop did goe,
Were wary Lanthorns, or bold Torches, which
Their glaring and unnatural Beams did throw
About the Midnight Aire; whose shades by such
Unlook'd for Apparitions frighted, fled
Behinde the Hills and Trees to hide their head.

160.Thus having marched over Cedron, They
To yonder Garden came, too sweet a place
To be this Mischiefs Sceen; but yet his Prey
The Serpent, as thou knowst, of old did chase
In sweetest Eden; and Iscariot, who
Follow'd his Steps, could none but this way goe.

161.Thy blessed Lord with his Disciples, there
Retired was, and set himselfe to Pray:
When loe, a Spectacle of greater fear
March'd full against his single Face, than They
Whose arm'd impatient Spight was drawing nigh
To sacrifice Him to all Cruelty.

162.A black and labouring Cloud hung o'r his head,
In which his Father veild his gratious Eyes;
Yet through that Blacknesse his great Arm He spred
And reach'd it down to Earth; From angry Skies
The Lightning never with such terror broke
Nor Thunders Trump the hills and valleyes shook.

163.For in his Hand a mighty Cup He held
In which all Monstrous Things did boile and flame:
Up to the brimms vast circle it was fill'd
With all the Worlds excrementitious Stream,
Which Veng'ance kindling with her fiery breath,
Had turn'd into the Ocean of Death.

164.That universal Poyson whose black flood
From Adams veins through all his Race did run,
Met in this Sink, and joyned with the Brood
Of every singular Transgression:
All which, to fit the Cup, were blended in
The several Pains due to each several Sin.

165.Had  [...], had Phlegeton, had all that Wit
Has fain'd, and all that Justice made in Hell,
Had all the Flames which Etna's mouth doth spit,
Had all the Stincks which in the Dead Sea dwell,
Had all the Poyson of each Serpents Tongue
Which Lybia breeds, into the Cup been wrung,

166.T had been a Draught of Nectar, unto this:
Yet loe the monstrous Mixture to the lip
Of thy sweet Lord by Heav'ns Hand reached is.
O Psyche, how shall He digest this Cup,
Which, had all Adams Sons been forc'd to drink,
It would have drown'd them in its fatall Sink.

167.But well He knew the Hand which lov'd his Cheek
When in all Blisses Bosome He did lie:
And though so strange an Offer it did make,
'Twas still the same; and how can he deny
To entertain what that presents him, though
The Cup with Horror's own heart-blood did flow?

168.Were it as wide, and deep, and full again,
This Thought alone commands it to be sweet;
And, till He drink its Pangs, He is in pain,
So large is his Obedience, and so great
His Love to Man, who otherwise must be
Drunk from this Bowl with endlesse Miserie.

169.But then this Thought was justled by another;
For He himselfe was passive Flesh and Blood;
His proper Natures Voice how shall He smother!
For She now pleads aloud for her own good,
And would not willingly choose to be hurl'd
Into that Gulfe which would devoure the World.

170.O how he strugled in this mighty strait
Being Himselfe with his own Selfe to fight!
Had all the Centres most compacted Weight
Been pitch'd upon his Heart, it had been light
And easie unto this, which woefull He
Endur'd in this heroick Agonie.

171.The Contestation grew so hot within
That all his Bosome fell on flaming fire;
And from melting Fornace, through his Skin
Thick Proofs of that strong Fervor did transpire;
For at the Mouth of every labouring Pore
Not Watery Sweat, but Blood broke ope its Door

172.O matchlesse Combat! whose mysterious Power
Without the edge of Sword, or point of Dart,
Could cloth this Champion round about with Gore,
And wound Him from within; whilst every Part
Rack'd and transfixed with intestine Streins
In streams of purple Tears bewail'd its Pains.

[Page 197]
173.Down to the Ground this sweating Torrent flows
To wash away the Curse which on it grew;
Whilst moated in his melted Selfe, thy Spouse
The noble fight doth with fresh Strength renew:
His Mortall Nature three stout Onsets gave.
To his immortal Piety, and Love.

174.Father, He cri'd, by that thy tender Name,
Commiserate thy most afflicted Son:
If thy Omnipotence a way can frame
How to exempt Me from my Passion,
O let thine Hand, which brings this Cup to Me,
Far hence remove, it, and my Misery.

175.But straight, by most athletick Braverie
Above himselfe He gets, and nobly cries,
Although all Bitternesse triumphant be
In this sad Cup, it amply does suffice
That from thy Hand it comes: Thy Will shall be,
And not mine own, the Rule and Rein to me.

176.Thus reverend Abraham, when by Gods Command
He was to bath his Sword in Isaac's blood,
Divided was in his own bowells, and
With his brave Selfe in competition stood;
Till valourous Piety her Powers strain'd
And the hard Laurell of Selfe-conquest gain'd.

177.But when thy mighty Lord atchieved had
This triple Conquest; Judas and his Rout
Like furious Boars into the Garden made,
And for their Prey all rang'd and rov'd about;
Not knowing He as ready was to be
Betray'd, as they to work their Treachery

178.For like a most victorious Champion, who
Before his other Foes, has conquer'd Fear,
He meets their Furie; asking, Whom with so
Eager and strong a Chase they hunted there.
Their traytorous Spight, and whom it sought, He knew,
Yet this brave Challenge in their face he threw.

179.Jesus of Nazareth We seek, said they,
Alas, Blinde Soules, He came to seek out you,
And lead you safely in the Kings high way
Unto his Throne above, that on your brow
Heav'ns Crowns for ever might have shin'd; but ye
In nothing would be Found but Treachery.

180.Nor they, nor Judas, Psyche, now did know
Thy Spouses face, which flamed heretofore
With gracious Beauty; but was clouded now
With his strong Agonies all bloody Gore.
Thus like some duskie Meteor Phebus shows
When an Eclipse upon his Count'nance grows.

181.But He who would not be unknown to those
Who came to suck what Blood was left behinde,
(Which burned in his Veins, till it got loose,
And flow'd as largely as his liberall Minde,)
Revests his Look with gracefull Majesty,
And makes this brave Profession, I am He.

182.If ever Thou hast seen what killing Dread
Doth on base-hearted Traytors seize, when They
Are by their awfull Prince discovered,
Whose Voice, and Looks, their spurious Courage slay;
Treble this Fright, and then conceive what Fear
Shot through the Soules of these vile Caytiffs here.

183.A stream of Horror drove them trembling back,
And over whelm'd Them flat upon the Ground:
And in the depth of this dismaying Wrack,
Their shivering Spirits had been surely drown'd,
Had He not spred his Pitty over Them,
Whose Swords, and Staves, and Spight all made at Him,

184.O how will they endure his Dreadfull Eyes,
Which all this World on flaming fire shall set,
When He in triumph sweeping through the skies,
Shall hither come, and mounted on his great
Tribunall, once again crie, I am He,
No more the Prey, but Judge of Treachery.

185.When they no Lanthorns nor no Torches Light,
Nor Juda's Conduct any more shall need;
But by our Trumpets death-awakning fright
Be summon'd up, and by our hands be led
Into the presence of Heav'ns glorious Son,
Whom then they would not finde, but cannot  [...]

186.But now He brideled in his awfull Raies;
And, on condition his Disciples may
Without disturbance goe their severall  [...],
Offers himselfe unto his Foes, who lay
Quaking before Him: but took courage now,
Perceiving They again might  [...] grow.

[Page 198]
187.As when a serpent bruis'd and beaten back,
Spies any way to reinforce her fight,
Her head she raises, and deep care doth take
Her Wrath and Poyson how to spit aright:
So did these Elves start up, and cheer their Head
(And this Iscariot was,) to doe the Deed.

188.Iscariot, that Prince of Treason, now,
Forgetfull of his royall Masters Love,
And of the Dint of that majestick Blow
Which strook Him and his Armie down; to prove
His cursed Selfe Earths Lucifer, led up
Against the Lord of Hosts his desperate Troop:

189.And then, none but a golden Arrow shot
Burnish'd with faire and complementall grace,
Yet in as mortall Venome dipp'd, as that
Which Eve's Heart felt, when she saluted was
By faire-tongu'd Hell, and by the Tempter driven
With courteous Treason from her earthly Heaven.

190.Hail Master, was the Word: What Ear could now
Disrellish such a suger'd Noise as this,
Or once suspect Discording Jarrs should grow
In such soul-plying Accents! Master is
The Phrase of Service; Hail, of Love: Yet He
Could make these honest Words, insidious be.

191.And when his faithlesse Tongue her part had done,
His Lips succeeded in the Treachery:
With matchlesse Impudence He ventured on
Against the very face of Majesty;
And, to make sure his Project should not misse,
Seal'd it upon his Master with a Kisse.

192.O Wit of Treason! could no Signe but this,
The gentlest Token of soft Courtesie,
Be made the Marke of deepest Barbarousnesse!
Monstrous Iscariot, how dost thou, by thy
Inhumane Kindnesse, both a Traytor prove
Of Loves great Master, and the Badge of Love!

193.Is not a Kisse, the soft and yeilding Signe
Which clapps the Bargain of Affection up:
The sweet and joyous Marriage between
The tenderest Pair of Lovers, Lip, and Lip:
The closing Harmony, which when the Tongue
Has done its best, compleats the pleasing Song?

194.Is not a Kisse the most delicious Seal
By which Friends Cement their concording Hearts!
Must this Betrayed be! Must faithlesse Hell
Poyson this dainty Truth! Must Hatreds Arts
Be clothed in the softest sweetest Dresse
Of courteous Peace, and amorous Tendernesse!

195.Must sweet Arabia's Beds breath out a Stinck,
And harbour all the Bane of Thessaly!
Must milkie Lilies stain their Leaves with Ink!
Must Roses Buds with Thorns all prickly be!
Must Silk and Down be harsh! Must Honey flow
With Gall! Must Summer Gales bring Ice & Snow.

196.O what will Treason not presume to doe,
Which more than all those strange Mutations makes
In this own venturous Fact of Judas; who
Ev'n in this Tie of Love, all Friendship breaks;
Who biteth with his Lips, not with his Teeth,
And strives to Kisse his dearest Lord to death.

197.But though Iscariot his own Love betrayes,
His Lord triumphs beyond all Treachery,
And doth against the Traytors Hatred raise,
A Counterwork of heav'nly Lenitie:
O Mystery of Love! though Jesus may
Betrayed be, no Plots his Grace betray!

198.Who teacheth all Succeeding Traytors how
To burnish over that foule rankling Brasse
Of impudence which arms their sullen Brow;
To tip Rebellion with meek Lies; to grace
Their arrogant Treaties with submissive Words,
Whilst at their Soveraigns hearts they aime their Swords.

199.He call'd no Lightning from the Clouds, or from
His potent Eyes to flash on Juda's face,
And throw on his bold Lips that flaming Doom
Which due unto their odious Treason was:
He charg'd not Earth her dreadfull Mouth to ope,
And on the hellish Kisser close it up.

200.O no: With heav'nly Tendernesse He cries,
Friend, wherefore art Thou come? Strange Miracle
Of gentle Patience! Who can comprise
Thy blessed depth! Upon the face of Hell
Shall the sweet Name of Friend be printed by
Him who beholds, and feels its Treachery!

[Page 199]
201.Is foul Ingratitude, plain Apostacie,
Right down Rebellion, now become a freind?
Or rather, is not this Disciple by
His curs'd Revolt, transformd into a Feind:
And will his wronged Lord by none but this
Deare Name revenge his most invenomed Kisse!

202.O Psyche, Jesus tortured was to see
Judas, himself into all Torments throw;
And by this Charme of noblest Lenitie
Back into Heav'n indeavored him to draw:
He knew Loves Cords were strong, and from his Crime
By these he strives to hale & rescue Him.

203.Why art thou come, thus to betray thy Freind?
Why art thou come, with Arms against a Lamb?
Why art thou come, all Bonds of Love to rend?
Why art thou come to fight for thine own shame?
Why art thou come with this strong Preparation
For thy Lords death, & for thine own Damnation?

204.Thy Kisse I in its naturall Language will
Kindely interpret, and make my Replie
In the same Dialect, if thou wilt still
Imbrace my ever faithfull Courtesie,
And yeild that Blisse may in thy heart have room;
Say then, my Friend, say wherefore art Thou come.

205.Thus did the Prince of sweetnesse plead and wooe:
But the deaf Serpent stopp'd his cursed ear;
In's heart the Thirty Peeces chinked so
That He no other Harmonie can hear.
When loe, the Souldiers, knowing now their Prey,
On Iesus fell, and haled Him away.

206.For love of Thee, and all his other Brides
Thus, Psyche, was thy Lord content to be
Sold at so vile a Rate, and Mock'd besides
Ev'n by his own Disciples Treacherie.
Shrink not, if thy neer Freinds abuse thy love,
Since Gods own Favorites so faithlesse prove.

207.And let the World by this one Copie learn
That hell-bred Boldnesse is not strange, or new,
By which most Fostered Favoured Creatures turn
Flat Enemies, and lead an armed Crew
Of Miscreanrs, with bloody Impudence
Against the Powers and Person of their Prince.

208.But when no mercy could the Traytor winne
To entertain his Pardon, Vengeance made
Haste to poure out her selfe upon his sinne:
For Satan, who his heart possessed had,
His Treason in his proper Coin repayd,
And the Betrayer fatally betrayd,

209.Into a Corner of the Garden, where
Thoughtfull disconsolate Night sate thick and black,
She crowded him alone; and having there
Prepar'd and fitted her infernall Rack,
With studied furie, not his Body, but,
His captivated Soule on it she put.

210.For by the beames of their owne hellish Light
Unto Iscariots intellectuall Eyes
Herselfe She did display. Excessive Fright
The Traytors wretched Heart did strait surprise:
Each Joynt and Member quak'd and sweat, and He
Felt in this Garden too his Agonie.

211.He saw feirce Beizebubs sulphureous face
Flaming with swarthy fire; His Horns he saw
Mounted high on his head with dreadfull grace,
Which his erected snakie Hair did knaw:
He saw his adamantine Nails and Paws,
His steely Teeth, his brazen gaping Jaws.

212.He saw the Tempest of his flaming Breath
Which swarthy Volumes spred of stinking smoke:
He saw the windows of eternal Death
Flung open in his staring Eyes, whose Look
Slew him alive: He saw his Iron Mace,
His burning feet, and his enraged Pace.

213.He saw his forked Tail in tryumph thrown
Upon his shoulder, and his irefull Brow
With cruell scorn contracted in a frown:
Rampant Implacabilitie he saw
In every Gesture, and did plainly read
The full Description of Immortal Dread.

214.When loe, stern Lucifer threw out his hand,
And by her Throat his woefull Conscience took:
And now, he cries, I'l make thee understand
What thou hast chose, and what thou hast forsook:
Look on this dainty Pair of Damsells heer,
Who more than Heav'n, and God, to thee were dear.

[Page 200]
215.Just at the word He opened to his view
The horrid Carkaise of foule Avarice;
And fouler Treachery, not in her hue
Of borrowed Smiles, and outside Comelinesse,
But in her naked native Filth: and then
Shaking his Horns and Paws, He thus went on:

216.Maddest of Fools; how many Hells dost Thou
Deserve, who with such Hags could'st fall in love,
When Jesus woo'd thy Heart? Well, take Them, now
Th' hast paid so dearly for Them; They will prove
Sweet Brides, and pretiously adorn thy Bed
Which in the Bottome of my Realm is spred.

217.If any Part at all there be in Them
Which is not horrid, may my Scepter break,
And may my royall Tongue no more Blaspheam:
For once, I tell Thee true, and Thou mayst take
The Devills Word; There are few Furies who
In monstrous Ouglinesse, thy Wives out-goe.

218.And was thy Lord so vile a Thing, that He
Might not with these in Competition stand?
Did those unthankfull Eyes of thine e'r see
A face inrich'd with such pure Beauties, and
Majestick Graces, as in his did shine,
Making Humanity appear Divine?

219.Most stupid Sot! How often hast Thou seen
Divinity from His great Hand break out!
How oft might plain Omnipotence have been
Read in the Miracles He daily wrought,
Casting forth all my stoutest Fiends! Yet Thou,
(And here He beat the Soule) to Me wouldst bow.

220.Nay never houle; 'tis but the Earnest, this,
Of what's to come: Thou needs wouldst bow to Me:
To Me, of whom that Christ the Conqueror is:
He threw Me down from Heav'ns Sublimity
Into that Pit of Pangs, where I am now
The damned Soveraign of such as Thou.

221.Had'st not as good have bowed unto Him,
Whose Yoak Thou would'st have lighter found than mine?
I tell thee Judas, I am but a grim
And rugged Lord; what Prizes once I win,
Infallibly for evermore shall frie
In Torments bottomlesse Extremity.

222.And is my Hell, my everlasting Spight,
My unrelenting Furie, so much worth,
That Paradise, and Heav'n, and Jesus might
Not finde acceptance? Brings Damnation forth
Such strong Temptations? Can eternal Blisse
Not wooe, and win as potently as this?

223.Sure Hell and Death, are gallant Things, and I
Cannot allow Thee them, untill Thou hast
Through all Contempt, and Hate, and Infamie
Which Salem, or the World can yeild thee, past:
That Preface shall, for that eternall Smart
Which gapes & longs for Thee, prepare thine Heart.

224.Goe then the Ages Blot and Monster, goe,
Let every Mouth spit on thine hated Head,
Let every Tongue thick Curses on Thee strow,
Let every Hand be arm'd to strike Thee dead,
Let every Eye abhorre thy balefull Sight,
Let all the World revenge thy Traytorous Spight.

225.Let Heav'n frown on Thee who betray'st its Son,
The Lord of Life, to Death, thy Saviour to
Most sure most undeserv'd Destruction:
Into one Bolt let all Gods Thunders goe,
And on thy cursed Heart his Justice throw,
Which scorned all the Mercie He could show.

226.That Stroke will send Thee down into thy Place
Of Death, but yet of never-dying Pain,
Where melted with the flames of this my face
Thy thirty silver Peeces I will drain
Into thy Heart, that Thou mayst shreik and roat,
Whilst there they burn and boile for evermore.

227.This said; th' infulting Prince of Tyranny
In scornfull Spight with-drew, being confident
Maturity would get her Wings and flie
To overtake his Plot: yet e'r he went
Seav'n times he thresh'd the Conscience with the flaile
Of his enormous poyson-pointed Taile.

228.As when the Deluge in great Noahs time,
Broke out upon the World, and with a Sea
Of universal Woe surpriz'd the Crime
Of that impenitent Age; their Misery
To those unhappy Mortals op'd their graves
In Desperation first, then in the Waves:

[Page 201]
229.So Judas, taken in this mighty flood
Of deepest Anguish, had no power to think
How to escape, or that his Saviours blood
Might drown that sea in which he fear'd to sink.
O no! the thought of that dear blood alone
Pour'd on his face Guilts blushing Ocean.

230.Since long ago his Trust He rather built
On Money, than on God; he durst not hope
That Mercie now could reach his heightned guilt;
And thus by fear, to impudence set ope
The way, for by this dread of goodnesse he
Gives flat defiance to its Lenitie:

231.And now sees vengance aiming at his head,
And his foule Treason flying in his face;
He sees the whole Worlds anger marshalled
Against his odious crime; He sees the place
Deep in the heart of Hell, where damned He
Designed is for evermore to be.

232.With that, his Cloths, his Hair, his Flesh, he tore,
He roar'd, he rav'd, and thus to cursing fell:
May that unhappy day be read no more
In any Calendar, but that of Hell,
Which to this balefull Life did me betray;
A Life to living Death the dying way.

233.Curs'd be my Father, who did me beget;
Curs'd be my Mother who did me conceive;
Curs'd be my Nurse, because in every Bit
She mix'd not Poison, which might Me repreive
From this most damned Night; And cursed be
All sicknesses which would not murder me.

234.Curs'd be this Hand of mine, which oft has had
A Knife, and yet forbore my throat to cut;
Curs'd be these Feet, which oft their way have made
Over the brows of Precipices, yet
Would never stumble, that I might have fell
Then but to Earth, who tumble now to Hell.

235.Curs'd be that Day which me acquainted brought
With Jesus, and enroll'd my ominous Name
Amongst his Chaplanes: Cursed be that thought
Which spur'd me to the Priests to trade with them;
Curs'd be the project which hath curs'd me so,
Curs'd be the Bargain, and the Chapmen too.

236.Curs'd be this Garden; upon every bed
May fatall Hemlock, Woolfbane, Poppy, grow:
May Vipers, Adders, Basilisks be spred
In every corner; on each Tree and Bough
May Ravens and Scritchowls dwell, that something may
Resemble Judas here another day.

237.Another day! ô no! may thickest Night
Upon this Sceen of Treason ever dwell;
That neither Sun nor Star may reach their light
More unto this, than to the other Hell.
The bloody beams of Ghosts and Furies will
With fittest lustre this black garden fill.

238.But may the deepest of all Execrations
On you, my thirty silver torments, fall:
How shall I be reveng'd on your temptations
Which thus have drown'd me in a Sea of Gall?
Is there no way, base, pale, and paltry Clay,
How I may you, as you did me betray?

239.Shall I take you along with me to Hell,
And hold you fast amidst my endlesse flames?
Or send you back unto your former Cell,
The High-Priests wicked Bag? surely this seems
The blacker and the deeper Pit, and I
Thither again will damn you instantly.

240.This said: Like that tormented Man, in whose
Possessed heart a Legion of Feinds
Did tyrannize; He to the Citie goes,
Where in the Temple he his Chapmen findes:
Unhappy Temple, which was now Possest
With them, as was with Satan Juda's Breast.

241.With hideous yelling he amongst them ran,
Flinging about his hands, his head, his eyes;
And having strein'd his ejulation
Wide as his throat could reach, O Me! he cries,
My sin burns in my breast, and domineers
Too high to hope for quenching from my tears.

242.No Expiation does that Altar know
Which for my deep di'd guilt can satisfie
The stream of Jesu's blood so full doth flow
On my unpardonable Soule, that I
Am drown'd for ever in my deep offence,
Being Condemned by his Innocence,

[Page 202]
243.Take your vile Money and my Curse with it,
May all Heav'ns wrath your bloody Bargain crown
Here with indignant furie having spit
On Them first, on his Silver next, and thrown
It at their hated Heads; away He flung
Raving and Cursing as he ran along.

244.For all the way he thought he struggled through
An Army of reviling Detestations:
Over his head he both his Arms did throw
To sh heild it from his own Imaginations,
Through which from heav'n and earth such arrows flew
As wounded Him at every stop a new.

245.For Melancholy, dark as is the Pitch
Which on the throat of Hell so thick doth grow,
Chok'd every glimpse of Sense and Reason which
Offer'd to dawn in his Soules sphear, and show
Him by what torturing Mistakes he had
Himselfe unto Himselfe a Tyrant made.

246.Thus came He to a secret silent Place
Without the Town, yet could not think it so;
For still he fancied all the City was
Hot in the chase of Him  [...] Saviours Foe:
Each Bird or Flie that moved, made him start,
Each Winde that puffed, blew quite through his heart.

247.His Eyes distracted were, first looking up
For fear least Heav'n should fall upon his head;
Then down, least Earth her dread full Mouth should ope
And snatch him to his grave e'r he were dead;
Till tired with this fear, his breast he stroke,
And into right down Desperation broke.

248.Adieu all hopes, he cries, and fears adieu:
Come Veng ance, come, my heart is ready here.
I see how vainly I my Money threw
Back to the Priests, whose burden still I bear;
The Rust sticks close and heavy still upon
My knawed Soule; and I must be undone.

249.If Heav'n be just, why does it yet delay
To poure its Wrath on my deserving head?
Am I not Judas, He who did betray
Its onely Son? Is not my Conscience red
With his most innocent Blood; and yet must I
Be still endur'd to live, when He must die?

250.At least, great Satan doe not thou deny
Thy Servant Pay for this grand Work which He
Hath compass'd with unparalleld Treachery
In high obedience to thy Hell and Thee:
No Soule did ever more than I have done,
Nor ernd a gallanter Damnation.

251.Didst Thou not promise Me but even now
The dearest Torments of thy deepest Hell!
Deceive me not again: If ever thou
Wert carefull of thy Credit, now fulfill
Thy bounteous Word; or look no more to be
Served by Man, if thou reward'st not me.

252.Come then; burn up these Lipps, which learn'd of thee
Their killing Kisse: Dash out these Brains which thou
Taught'st how to project that fell Treachery;
Tear this curs'd Carkase: which is wholly now
At thy disposall, that each Limb may feel
No portion, but the totall Wrath of Hell.

253.Take this dispairing Soule, and let it be
The Prey of thy eternall Furies: 'tis
No groundlesse Challenge, that, as due to Me,
I claim the utmost of thy Spight; unlesse
Thou hast thine infinite Debt to Me forgot;
Jesus and Heav'n into thine hands I put.

254.Jesus and Heav'n; Names which I now must hate
As having made them my eternall Foes:
O how I long to be in that free state
Where generous Blasphemy no Bridle knows;
Where I may Rage as loud's Heav'ns Thunders  [...]
And, being cursed, curse for overmore.

255.Here the full Tide of furie stopp'd his Throat;
Yet still He star'd and struggled with his Grief,
Still he tore off his hair, his Breast He smote,
And through Self-tortures hunted for Relief:
His Tongue He bit because it would not speak,
And stamp'd the Earth which would not open break.

256.But as the Hair, the Fat, and Pitch, which were
Into the Dragons throat by Daniel cast,
Did burn, and boile, and rage, and tumble there,
Far more than in the Pot; untill at last
With most impatient swelling Toiments They
 [...] through his monstrous belly burst their way.

[Page 203]
257.So did this Mixture of Griefe and Dispair
Flame in Iscariots bosome, till it grew
So strong and big, that all his Entrails were
Conquer'd with Tortures, and in sunder flew;
His Body split, and through that cruell Wound
Pour'd his more barbarous Bowells on the Ground.

258.Thus from this Prison his black Spirit ran
Into that blacker Jaile reserv'd for it,
Next to the Center of Damnation,
Where now it raves in chains at Satans feet,
Ensore'd the pois'nous flames he spews, to drink
O that all Traytors w ould of Judas think!

PSYCHE: OR LOVES MYSTERIE. CANTO XII. The Banquet.

ARGUMENT.

TO seal his dear Remembrance safe, and sure
On the soft hearts of his selected Sheep,
Love institutes his parting Feast, so pure
So sweet, so rich, that Psyche rap'd by deep
Desire at its Description, sues to be
A Sharer in that Bords Felicity.

1.BUt ô, how large a Name is Treason, which
Doth in another fatall Channel run,
And from this Universe's Cradle reach
Down to its funeral Pile: No Ocean
E'r stretch'd its Arms so wide, or spread such store
Of shipwrack'd Mortals on its helplesse shore.

2.And this Selfe-treason is; an imbred Feind
Whose bus'nesse is to undermine her Home;
Whose most unnatural Nature is, to rend
Her too too loving Dames unhappy Wombe;
Who knaws her selfe, and with  [...] Spight
Free Veng'ance takes on Luxuries delight.

3.For she her selfe is Luxury; a Weed
Which grew at first in an unlikely Place:
Who would suspect that such a cursed Seed
Should Paradise's blessed Plants disgrace!
Yet, as the Serpent in those Beds did lie,
So did this full as venomous Luxury.

4.Under the beaureous Tree of  [...] there,
 [...] found her first, and saw her  [...] up
With  [...] Zeal and restlesse Pains, one  [...]
But dangerous and forbidden Fruit to crop:
Foole as she was, she help'd her up, and knew
Not that by it her selfe she downward threw.

[Page 204]
5.Yet She to Adam needs would her commend,
And He, unkindely courteous, could not
Denie to hugg his Spouses seeming friend,
Who Death and Hell strait through his bosome shot,
And now the Dainties of all Paradise.
Could not his foolish appetite suffice.

6.No; He must taste of that which never was
Design'd to blesse the Palate: But the Soure
Revengefull Fruit was quit with Him; for as
It in his Teeth did stick, with all the power
Of stupefaction them on edge it set,
Proving his fatal Torment, not his Meat.

7.Nor could He chuse but leave his wretched Heirs
Th' inheritance of this enchanting Pain;
Which down through all his Generations stayers
Fail'd not its propagated Bane to drain:
This hankering itching liquorishnes did run
Hot through the Veins of his remotest Son.

8.Which Fervor did betimes so furious grow
That the old World on fire with Lust it set:
A fire which with the heat of Hell did glow,
And was as stinking and as black as it;
A fire, which joynd with other sinnes, grew stout,
And found the Deluge work to quench it out.

9.But then Earths face being washed clean and white,
She smil'd on Heav'n with a well-pleasing Grace;
And God vouchsafed humane Appetite
A full Commission over all the Race,
Of Birds, of Beasts, of Fish, that He might see
How abstinent Man would prove, now being free.

10.For generous spirits then doe most abstein,
When they are Lords of their own Libertie;
When Virtue is entrusted with the Rein,
And room is given for Self-victorie;
When high-straind Moderation may prove
No Act of Dutie, but a Work of Love.

11.Mans Appetite to every thing was free,
Bating the Blood, in which the Life doth swimm:
Blood is the tincture in which Crueltie
Stains all her clothes; a tincture for the grimm
And salvage Tygres; not for Man, who is,
Or should, Professor be of Tendernesse.

12.Indeed good Noah, who both Worlds had seen,
The Old and New, and was more Worth than both,
Indeavoured to keep himselfe as clean
As now the Earth was wash'd; And that no sloth
Might tempt and steale him into Luxurie,
Buckled his Bones to painfull Husbandrie.

13.And that the Pains He in his Vineyard took
Might be requited by the Fruit it bare,
He shed the Grapes into his Bowle; whose Look
Might well have been his Monitor to beware:
Its rubie die, had He but understood,
He would have shunn'd this Liquor too, as Blood.

14.But, as it smil'd and sparkled in his face,
And mov'd with generous fervor in the Cup,
The un-suspicious Saint invited was
With equal cheerfulnesse to drinke it up.
So, untri'd Pleasures by their daintis skin
And sweet behaviour, approbation win.

15.The flattering Liquor, as it downward went,
Knock'd at his Heart, and easie entrance got;
Where with his Spirits it did complement,
And soft delicious Fire amongst them put.
Noah rejoyc'd to feele his bosome glow,
And his old Ages Ice begin to thaw.

16.This Bait drew down another: for, alas,
Good Man he little knew that Treacherie
In his Soul-cheering Cup infused was;
Or that his Wine which sparkled, e'r would be
Destructive flame: But Embers often rise
Into Combustion, when We least surmise.

17.He freely takes a second Draught: and now
The Liquor gather'd strength and grew more bold;
Impatient to be supprest below,
Up to his Head it found a way, and roll'd
About his Brains, wherein there 'gan to swimm
Such thickning Clouds, that Reasons Sun grew dim

18.And then infected with the pois'nous Sweet,
Alas no power was left him to abstein:
No more to quench his Thirst, but that New Heat
Which burnd his veins, He takes his Bowle again;
Which to the brim in careless haste he fills,
And part on th' earth, part in his mouth he spills.

[Page 205]
19.But now He Drunk no more; the Wine Drunk Him,
His Sense, his Judgement, and his Soul, and all;
(For thus, when in their own wilde Draughts they swim,
Our witty Language Men does Drunken call)
And did so thoroughly his Brain confound,
That Earth, as well as Heav'n, He thinks turns round.

20.The Wine now sparkles in his eyes no lesse
Than it did in the Bowl before: He stares
On every thing, and yet he nothing sees;
He trips, and staggers, but no fall he fears,
Nor feels it when he falls; for having let
His Bowl drop down, Himselfe fell after it.

21.Thus he who in the universall Flood
Escap'd the fury of the proudest Wave,
And on the Oceans back in triumph rode,
Seeing below the whole Worlds woefull Grave;
Alas, was drowned in a silly Cup
Which he himselfe unwittingly drunk up.

22.No Ark above this Deluge Us can bear
But Temperance, which here the Saint forgot;
Who, as he fell, had neither thought nor care
Of keeping on his modest Mantle; but
Quite destitute of Clothes, and Senses lay,
And did his double Nakednesse display.

23.But as the Traytor who has slain the King
Speeds from the Court as soon's the Fact is done:
So now the treacherous Liquor back doth fling,
And from the Murder it committed, run:
Besides, a Rout of other Humors follows,
And slaughter'd Noah in his Vomit wallows.

24.Slaughter'd indeed; and now a Man no more;
For nothing is alive in Him but Beast,
Which speaks its kinde by its lowd Swinish Roar:
And thus he tumbling lies, untill opprest
With his most heavy Self, he falls asleep,
And in that nasty Rest his brains doth steep,

25.Thus, as one part of Luxury did grow
In Paradise, the other planted was
In Noahs Garden; that the World might know
Danger can breed and lurk in any place:
Alas, the holiest Ground too often breeds
As well as wholsome Floures, invenomed Weeds.

26.Heav'ns Bounty granted all Variety
Of Meats to feast the Sober Appetite;
And added brisk and cheerfull Wine, to be
The active Soule of Moderate Delight:
But peevish Man abused by his grosse
Ingratitude, Heav'ns Grace to Wantonness.

27.Neither by Eve's Example He would take,
Nor Noahs, warning, though their Sanctity
Did them far more invulnerable make
Then common Mortalls feeble Breasts could be:
Still He would needs goe dive to the profound
Bottome of Pleasures, though himselfe he drownd.

28.And from that Bottome he fetch'd up at last
Improved Fat and Full-grown Luxury,
Who ne'r appeared unto Ages past
More than a tolerable Prodigie,
For she much cooler was, and tamer then,
And did not banish Men quite out of Men,

29.But now she an unruly Monster grew,
Being encourag'd by Wines rampant Flame;
And round about the World in Tryumph flew,
All which she shipwrack'd in her Pois'nous stream:
Raving and roaring Mad she was, and made
All so, who practis'd her intemperate Trade.

30.The Laws of God, of Man, of Nature were
Vain feeble Bridles, when-soever she
Resolved in her furious Carreer
To let the Circle of her Healths run free:
Oft has she mingled with her Wines mad flood
Friends, Brothers, Parents, Masters, Princes blood

31.Strange was her Shape, (if yet Deformity
May in Shapes Title share,) her parched Head
Burns up all hopes of Hair, and scorns to be
By any thing but Baldnesse covered:
Her humorish Eyes all red and putrid, seem
In her own over-flowing Wine to swim.

32.But yet her Nose more provident is, for there
The Wine is bottled up and runs not out:
Onely the Bottle being thin and clear
Speaks what it holds; and studded round about
With fervent Rubies, serveth her perhaps
For a dear Item of a Bunch of Grapes.

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33.Wroth fiery Knots are marshalled upon
Her Forehead and her Cheeks: Had Sicilie
Her Etna lost, this sulphurie Region
Would shew it her in multiplicitie;
Onely these Hills are something lesse then that,
Yet is their Horror and their Stink as great.

34.Her Lips are alway crannied and drie,
Though every day a thousand times made wet;
For still her burning breath in passing by
Makes them that Moisture instantly forget,
And by the Poison of its fulsome Stinks
Taints all the aromatick Wines she drinks.

35.But the vast storehouse of her Belly makes
Her seem with Childe of Mountains, for in this
The dainties which from all the World she rakes
In one prodigious Heap congested is:
Here Solomons brasen Sea it selfe might swimm,
And its twelve Oxen too, and more with Them.

36.This is the Sink, where Surfet being bred,
Of all Diseases doth the Parent grow;
Which She distributing from Foot to Head
Doth undigested Pleasures turn to Woe.
Thus, though the Bee doth pleasing Hony bring,
She always endeth in a pois'nous Sting.

37.Who knows not that Luxuriant Mortals eat
The copious fuell of their Sicknesses,
And force their honest, but abused Meat
Not to feed Nature, but her Maladies?
Who knows not that in Healths deceitfull Name
They drink the Venome which destroieth Them?

38.Themselves they diet thus with their own Death
And to a Weapon of Destruction turn
The Staff of Life: In vain Heav'ns Mercy hath
So bounteous been; if Man himself can learn
To pick out  [...] in it, and through
Its Sweetnesse, work his bitter Overthrow.

39.If Bacchus must be made a God, and have
His larger and more constant Sacrifice
Than He who all their Vines to Mortals gave,
Whilst they the Gift more than the Giver prize;
If Ceres too a Goddesse grow, and We
All sworn Devoto's to the Belly be.

40.Alas I and had not bold Mortalitie
Commission large and full enough before
To work our Ruine! Was the Miserie
Of Plagne, of Famine, and of War, so poor
And weak, that We our Selves the help must lend
Of Luxurie, to hasten on our End!

41.'Twas time, high time for God himself to come
And turn Physitian in this desperate Case:
Our Madnesse swell'd so wide, that now no room
For any Mortall helping Hand there was:
'Twas time to Come; and blessed be His Name
For his dear Coming, for in time He came,

42.Jesus himself came down, and left the Feast
Of all Delights which He above enjoy'd;
Into the Depth of Poverty He cast
His life, and taught the World how to avoyd
Intemperanc's Baits, which thick are set
Onely where Riches the dominion get.

43.Then by his practik Abstinence He shewed
Those who his royall steps would not disdain,
How dangerous Luxurie might be subdued,
And healthfull Temperance the Sceptre gain:
Forty long dayes and nights at once he spent
In Consecrating of his Servants Lent.

44.To this Example He his Doctrine joyn'd
And for his frequent Text did Fasting take;
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.'Tis 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.

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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.

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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.'Twas 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 no power alone to stand upright,
Stoop, now you see your Saviour on his Knee,
Who doth sustaine your Being, by his might;
Stoop, now you see. Him to his Servants bow,
And the Most-high submit himself  [...]

72.To stand on foolish Terms of  [...] now
Is but to found your glorie on your shame:
Is it not more illustrious to bow
With Jesus, then with Lucifer to aime
Above your reach? O why will Dust forget
The place originally due to it!

73.But what's Gods bus'nes at his Servants feet?
Even to Wash and Wipe them  [...]. O now
Stoop lower still, lower and lower yet,
For at the lowest you are not so  [...]
As He the  [...] King, who here
Hath made himself a  [...] Minister.

74.When Jesus by his Water ciensed had
Hir Servants seet, and by his Grace their  [...],
 [...] what Preparation must be made
By all who ever mean to have their Parts
In his pure  [...]; down he sits again,
And them with  [...] doth entertain.

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75.The Ends of sumptuous Banquets use to be
Crown'd with most soveraign Varieties,
Which may the Convives learned Luxurie
With deep and new found Ravishment surprise;
And Jesus would not have this Supper want
That costly Point of Princely Complement.

76.Indeed the Supper which They now had eat
Into the Belly its direct way took,
Where in the Kitchin of poor Mortall Meat
It was committed unto Heat to Cook:
And Heats best skill could onely dresse it  [...]
To feed the Body which contained it.

77.But Christs  [...] Designe was now
With such a royall Feast to blesse the Bord,
As might make Spirits fat and healthfull grow,
And thriving Nutriment to Soules afford;
Such Nutriment as might full power give
Unto his Guests eternally to live.

78.In his Almighty Hand he took the Bread;
And pour'd his plenall Blessing upon it:
Never on any but his own dear Head
Such potent Benediction did sit;
Indeed, it was that Blessings Echo, and
Bounded upon his Body in his Hand.

79.For having broke that Bread He reached it
To his Disciples, saying, Take and eat
This is my Body broke for You; and let
My dear Remembrance live in this your Meat.
But Jesu's Feast must not be drie; for Wine
Equall to this high Dainties He doth joyne.

80.He takes the Cup, and Drink Yee all of this,
It is my Blood of the new Testument
Says He, which shed and freely given is
To wash the Sins of all that will repent?
As often as you of this Chalice drink
Of Me your liberall Redeemer think

81.Sweet Jesu! ô how can thy World forget
Their royall  [...], and his  [...], who
Upon their Tables his own Self hath  [...];
Who in their holy Cups fails not to flow,
And in their Dishes lie. Did ever Friend
So  [...] a Token of his Love  [...]?

82.Infallibly there dost Thou flow and lie;
Though Mortall Eyes discover no such thing;
Quick sighted Faith reads all the Mystery
And humble pious Soules doth easily bring
Into the Wonders  [...], and there
Makes all the  [...] of this Truth  [...],

83.She generously dares on God relie
And trust his Word how strange soe'r it  [...]
If Jesus once pronounces This is my
Body and Blood; Far far be it, cries She;
That I should think my dying Lord would  [...]
 [...] in his  [...] of Drink and  [...]

84.(His Word is most Omnipotent, and He
Can doe what e'r He says; and more than I
Can or would understand What is't to me
If He  [...] Humane Capacitie?
Surely it well becomes Him so to doe,
Nor were He God, if He could not doe so

85.Let Him say what He will, I must denie
Him to be God, or else Beleeve his Word
Me it concerneth not to verifie
What He proclaims; I onely must afford
Meek Credit, and let Him alone to make
Good, whatsoever He is  [...] to speak,)

86.Grosse and unworthy Spirits sure They be
Who of their Lord such mean Conceptions  [...]
That parting from his dearest Consorts. He
No Token of his Love did leave with Them.
But simple Bread and Wine: a likely thing,
And well-becoming Heav'ns magnificent King,

87.A likely Thing, that when the susty blood
Of Bulls and Goars cannot wash Sin away,
The Blood of Grapes should with a stronger Flood
 [...] over whelm and drown the Worlds  [...]:
O no, such Virtue in no Blood can dwell
But that which through the Veins of God did thrill.

88.Ask me not then, How can the thing be done,
 [...] power of Sense or Reason can  [...] it?
 [...], is  [...] are, what Demonstration
 [...] as this My God  [...]
 [...] if you once can prove that He can lie,
 [...], and  [...] too, I  [...].

[Page 201]
89.What thank is it that you can credit that
Which your own sense and Reasons eye reads plain?
Heavn's much to them beholden, who will not
Beleeve it higher is than they can strein;
Who jealous are of God, and will not be
Induce'd to trust him further than they see.

90.And yet had you these modest eyes of mine,
You in this gloomie Cloud would see the Sun
That Sun, who wisely doth disdain to shine
On Those who with bold Prying presse upon
His secret Majestie, which plainly I
Because I make no anxious search, descrie.

91.This is the valorous Resolution
Of Gallant Faith: and this will serve to be
The blessed Rule by which all those will run
Who are the Scholars of Humilitie.
Yet, I must tell thee Psyche, itching Pride
Will not hereafter thus be satisfied.

92.A thousand waspish Syllogismes will
Be buzzing from the Mouthes of those who build
Their ground works of Religion on the skill
Which they for granted take, their brains has fild;
Till Quaeries, Doubts, Distinctions, Niceties,
First grow to Schismes, and then to Heresies.

93.Needs will they prie into the Manner how
This mystick Miracle to passe was brought,
And madly being not content to know
What Christ thought fit to teach them, study out
They know not what, and make this banquet prove
A Sacrament of war, and not of love.

94.Some peep too neer, and spie what is not there,
Some carelesly take what is there away:
Some will confesse no Miracle, for fear
That should prove Consequential, which they
Would not have so, and that themselves should be
Forc'd to acknowledge more than they can see.

95.Some sift Existence, Substance, Accidents,
And make the Laws of Aristotle be
The Umpiers in Religion. Thus the Rents
Which Art strives to sew up in Pietie
By that unworthy clownish Needle are
Onely made wider than before they were.

96.O happy world, if all would once agree
In that which Jesus hath so plainly taught!
If those short Words might but sincerely be
Imbraced, and no more in question brought!
If for the Manner they would trust their Lord,
And for the Substance, take Him at his Word!

97.For Heav'n its faithfull wheel shall sooner turn,
And backward hale the Sun into the East;
The Northern Polar Bear shall sooner burn,
And Siriu's mouth be sealed up with Frost;
The Earth into the Sphears shall sooner leap,
And tumble down all Height into the Deep;

98.Then any Syllable which droppeth from
The Lipps of Jesus can be born away
Upon the Windes swift wings, and never come
Back with its full effect. And yet the day
Will come, when Men will be so mad in this
Cleer point, as to dispute away their Blisse.

99.It is in vain to tell these Wranglers how
Jesus could graft cold stones into the stock
Of Abraham, and make them Fertile grow
In Israelites; Or that the Bread He took
In's daily diet, was not wholly spent,
But part into his Bodies substance went.

100.In vain to tell them, how, into his Blood
The Wine he drank was changed day by day:
For though such Speculations understood
With prudent reverence, might make easier way
Unto the Mysterie; yet Wranglers will
Because they will be so, be Wranglers still,

101.But as the sweetest Roses are beset
With a strict Seige of Thorns; whilst vulgar  [...]
Which are not worth the Choking never meet
With armed Neighbours, whose infestive Powers
Might plant their Bane about them: so it fares
With this rich Bread invaded by the Tares.

102.What heart can of the monstrous Gnostiks think
And not abhorre their damned sacrifice, Vid. S. E­piphan. Ha­res. 26. 7.
The matchlesse, and the most blasphemous sink
Of odious impudent Impieties?
Psyche, Thou never yet heardst of so black
A sin, as they doe their Religion make.

[Page 211]
103.But I in reverence to thy Blush, forbear
That deep Abominations Den to rake,
Whose rank Sent reaks up to the highest Sphear
And in Gods Nostrills stincks: Yet leave must take
To tell thee thine own Albion will not be
Afraid of Sacramentall Villany.

104.For in the Dreggs of Time, when Wealth and Pride
Have fatned British Hearts fit to defie
All Sacred Discipline, and to the Tide
Of furious Licence and Impiety
Op'd a vast Gap, unhallowed Hands will dare
From holy Priests this reverend Work to tear.

105.Mechanick Zeal, inspir'd by Sottishnesse,
And by enthusiastick Ordination
Of Self-deluded Fancie Call'd to dresse
This Mystick Feast in the reformed fashion,
Will purest Purity it selfe defile,
And by Heav'ns Gate finde out a Way to Hell.

106.But happy Thou who shalt not live to see
Thine Eyes tormented by that cursed Sight,
Which shall both Acted, and Permitted be
By equal Sons of everlasting Night.
Come then, let our Discourse return and be
Spent on this Miracle of Purity

107.Thy Lords great Feast was the high Consummation
Of Israels Passover; A Feast which did
With mystick power antidate his Passion,
And that long-long'd-for Word, 'Tis finished.
Right noble was that typick Passover,
But nobler this, because Substantial, here.

108.How much more pure and pretious is this Lamb
Who, though the Feast unto himselfe be soure,
Presents no Sauce of bitter herbs to them
Who are the Convives, but with all the power
Of Sweetnesse entertains their Palates, and
All Joyes to wait upon them doth command.

109.This is that more renoun'd Viaticum
The Israel of God to fortifie
When they from Pharaohs iron Bondage come,
And travell to their holy Liberty.
O Psyche, those old Stories plainlier are
Reacted in the Christian Hemisphear.

110.Sin is that hatefull Egypt, where doth reign
A King how much more fierce than Pharaoh was,
The Tyrant Belzebub who throws his Chain
About the World; and makes all Nations passe
Under a more unreasonable Law
Than making Brick, whilst They'r denyed Straw.

111.But pious Soules are by this Paschal Feast
Both strengthned and encouraged to throw
This servile Yoak away, and thither haste
Where everlasting Liberty doth grow:
Although their hard obstructed Passage be
Thorough the Wildernesse, and the Red Sea.

112.This enigmatick Life of Misery
Can own both those repugnant Names: what are
Its Storms, and Broils, and Tumults, but a Sea
Red with Destruction? What is daily fear
With helplesse Desolation, and Distresse,
If not a squalid fatal Wildernesse.

113.But through this wretched Desert, and this Sea,
The Virtue of this Passover will lead
Beleeving Soules, untill they safely be
Of blessed Canaan inherited,
That Canaan whose Milk and Honey is
The sweetnesse of exuberant Paradise,

114.That Canaan where no Jebusites shall be
Thorns in the Sides of its accomplish'd Rest,
And whence no Babylonish Potency
Shall root Them out who there are once possest;
A Canaan which alone makes good the grand
And glorious Title of The holy Land.

115.This Sacramental Bread, and this alone
Is that supporting Staffe of Life, by which
The stout and faithfull Generation
Take their brave journey unto Heav'n, and reach
The top of their Desires more surely far
Than by his Staffe the Artist does the Star.

116.By Bread, and Bread alone, Man now must live,
Ev'n by this Bread which from Gods own Mouth came;
Christs potent institution did give
This Virtue to it; and Himselfe proclaim
Aforehand, that Men must not hope or think
To Live; but by this Suppers Meat and Drink.

[Page 212]
117.All Delicacies moulded up in one
Pure pretious Composition are here:
Ne'r did the Sybarit s Invention
Upon their Tables sacrifice such cheere
Unto their  [...] which alone to them
The greatest of the Deities did seem.

118.The Syracusian Bords did never sweat
Under such Dainties: Alexandrian Feasts
Did never with such princely sprightfull Meat
Ravish the Palates of their dearest Guests:
No Asiatick, nor no Medick Fare,
No Cates of Marseils may with these compare.

119.Great Solomons profoundest Industrie
Which through all Nature did his Pleasures hunt,
Sifting and boulting everie Suavitie,
To finde what Sweets did flow with most Content,
Nought but unsa vorie Vanitie could taste:
All Solid pleasures here alone are plac't,

120.Here, in this Bread, this rich Conspiracie
Of most substantiall Delights; to which
That pure Angelick Cheer which bounteouslie
Heav'ns carefull Hand did every morning reach
Unto his Israel, journying in the bare
And hungrie desert, was course homely fare.

121.Nor is the Dainties of the Cup lesse rich
Than that which in the noble Patin lies:
The Wine of Love, of Life, of Spirits, which
By new un-heard of heavenly properties
The heart of Man with such Delights doth cheer
As never fears the worst assaults of fear.

122.Heavens prudent Law had taken order that
No Creatures Blood the Lippe of Man should stain:
O no: The Caution was just and fit,
That all those Mouthes might be reserved clean
In reverence to the Blood of this great Lamb
Which was into beheving lips to stream.

123.O blessed, bloody, peacefull Wine! O how
Divinely hast thou satisfaction made
For that enflaming Poison which doth flow
In other Wines! may Noah now be glad
Of his Invention, since his foule mishap
Is clean wash'd out by this all purging Grape.

124.This is that Wine wherein dwells Veritie
The Veritie of Heav'n: For Heav'n in it
All melted is: Those noble Joies which we
Bath'd in at home, are heer together met
In sweet epitomie, and smiling swim
About the Chalices most reverend Brim.

125.Let Luxurie turn other wines into
The milk of Venus, and unto its Cupps
As to the Bottles of her bosome goe,
Whence onely furious uncleannesse drops:
This is the purest Juice that can be prest
From Chastities own most unspotted breast.

126.Of this, milde Doves may drink, and never fear
An inflammation which might entrench
On their chaste Spirits: Devoted Virgins heer
Their  [...] and bashfull Hearts may safely drench:
This Liquor breeds no flames but soft and cool,
Which though they burn, cannot infect the soul.

127.Should Greek, Canarie, or Pannonian Wine,
Should Spanish, French, Italian, and the rest
Which crown the Bowles of Princes, all combine
In one Extraction, and be richly drest
With Aromatick Helps; they would be all
If paralleld with this, but costly Gall.

128.Ambitious Cleopatra's sumptuous Bowle
Where her Luxuriant Jewell learn'd to swimme,
And its inestimable Riches roule
Melted and mixed with the gallant stream,
Compared with this Cup was full as vile
As any Bottle filled at her Nile.

129.This makes those wines all blush for their own shame
Which in proud Belteshazzers Goblets smil'd;
Which Holofernes to the beauteous Dame,
And yet more Masculine then Beauteous fild;
That Dame, who in her Nations quarrell durst
Lesse for his Wine than for his heart-blood thirst.

130.Sardanapalus with his Coste and Care,
Such precious liquor never could obtaine;
No Epicurean wishes ever were
Advanced unto so sublime a strain,
As to desire so rich a Draught as this,
Whose worthabove all Fancies Compasse is.

[Page 213]
131.For where the Juice of other Grapes doth reign,
Both Sense and Reason feel its Tyranny;
Which being drownd together with their Brain,
Forth with each Member, and each faculty
To beastly Madnesse is enslav'd, and flies
On Murders, Rapines, Rapes, and Villanies.

132.But where this Wine of Angels domineers
The Heart with noble Drunkennesse it fills,
For all its Powers and Spirits it overbears
With a sweet stream of mystick Miracles,
Untill intoxicated by this Flood
Of Love and Heav'n, the Man is Drunk with God.

133.Strange, Psyche, are this Drunkennesses Fits;
Oft have I seen, and them as oft admired:
The World has thought these Men besides their Wits,
When with this Liquors flame it saw them fired.
But We know what ecstatick Raptures mean,
And Zeals exploits, when it hath got the Rein.

134.Oft have I seen brave Spirits, when they rose
From this great Banquet, fill'd with generous Rage,
Flie in the face of Sin; and nobly choose
The stoutest Foes whereon they might engage
Their heav'nly Confidence, nor has their high
Adventure faild to reach down Victory.

135.Oft have I seen Them scorn the Frown of Death,
Oft have I seen them hug the Crosse and Spear,
Oft have I heard them spend their finall breath
In wooing greater Torments to come neer,
Oft have I seen them enter single fight
Both with the Peers, and with the Prince of Night.

136.For well they know what Strength they have within,
And by tenacious Faith they hold it fast:
How can those Champions ever fail to win
Amidst whose Armour Heav'n it selfe is plac'd?
What Battery can prevail against that Breast
Which is infallibly with God possest?

137.For to augment the Wonder, Psyche, this
Great Feast of Feasts, can never all be spent:
When Millions are filled, still it is
Intirely whole, and knows no detriment.
So, though the whole World drinks in Air, yet still
The undiminish'd Region is full.

138.And yet not so: For here each One doth eate
The totall Feast, yet each One leaves it whole:
These antecedent Ages cannot cheat
Those which lagg on behinde: whilst Heav'n doth roll,
And Earth stand still, this ever-teeming Bord.
The same Delights will unto All afford.

139.No Fount lives on such living Springs as dwell
In this pure Cup of Life, to which though all
The World doe daily flock, to drink, yet still
It keeps its equal Plenitude, nor shall
The busie School, with all its Company
Of Doubts and Queries hope to draw it drie,

140.Though all Heav'ns starry Tapers lighted be
At Phebu's eyes, his Raies are still intire;
Though in each River, Fountain, Lake, or Sea
His Image shines, yet his original Fire
Is onely one, which doth it selfe so wide
In its compleat Similitude divide.

141.Thus, and more really than thus, this Feast
Most absolutely One, it selfe doth spread
Into the Mouth and Heart of every Guest,
And there far more celestial Splendor shed
Than when the Sun by his meridian Ray
Triumphs upon the highest Throne of Day,

142.The Blessed Lord, not many years agoe,
Had borrow'd of the World Humanity,
And dress'd Himselfe in Maries bowells so
That He became compleatly Man: yet He
Though by this Condescent, new Raies He set
In Natures Crown, still thought Himselfe in debt.

143.Right Generous as He was, He ment to pay
All back again which He receiv'd from Her:
His Body and his Blood He ment to lay
Upon the Crosse, and make Requitall there
To all his Creditors, and freely by
That Payment ransome Them from Misery,

144.And yet, because his Humane Nature He
So dearly lov'd that He resolv'd to bear
It home in Triumph, and eternalie
Those Robes of boundlesse Love and Mercie Wear:
E'r He his journey took, He plotted how
It might Ascend, and yet Remain below,

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145.Remain below; and be as oft Restored
As Man would please to take it: And the way
He Instituted was by this adored
Mysterious Banquet, which doth day by day
Repay his Flesh and Blood, that Man may eat
And drink, and with his God incorporate.

146.For, to compleat his most excessive Love
Beyond the reach of any Parauel;
This  [...] Pay He doth so far improve,
That his  [...] Godhead joyns to swell
The royall Feast; for this can never be
Dissevered from his Humanity

147.O Banquet! fit for His Magnificence
Who is the Universes Soveraign.
By this dear Project, Psyche, Mercies Prince
Collecteth in his more than golden Chain
His World unto Himself, and ties  [...] close,
That no Disunion can interpose.

148.The glorious Incarnation began
To tie this Knot; which now redoubled is:
There God vouchsas d to joyne Himselfe with Man
Here Man has leave to make the Juncture His,
And knit himself to his  [...] O
What God stoop'd ever to his Creature so!

149.By this sweet Combination Men doe grow
 [...] of their Singularities,
Their  [...] Interests, their I and Thou,
Their Mine and  [...] their grounds of Avarice,
Of Envie, of  [...] any comply
In holy Peaces common Unitie.

150.This is the Cement, which together ties
The Stones which in the Churches Fabrik lie,
The common Ligature which doth comprise
Each Joynt and Member in the Mysterie
Of Christs spirituall Body, untill He
The Shepheard, and his Sheep, in one agree.

151.For as the Reasonable Soule doth swimm.
Intirely one through all the Body; yet
In every Member, and in every Limm
In its Totality doth single sit:
So by this Sacramentall Union
Jesus is One to All, and All to One,

152.Beleeve it Psyche, though thy Mortal Eye
Sees no such brave Attendance on this Bord,
Yet thick the Waiters stand whose Dignity
Shines next the Glories of their royall Lord:
No Prince was on his Coronation Day
E'r honored by such Servitors as They.

153.The gallant Cherubs, and the Seraphs here
With legions of fairest Angels meet,
And in all awfull Reverence draw neer,
Ravish'd at what you Mortals Drink and Eat;
Here royall Principalities attend,
Here Thrones bowe down, & heer Dominions bend,

154.For when they are above in their bright sphear
The glorious Ocean of eternal Sweets,
Their blessed Eyes behold no richer Cheer
Than Mercy on this noble Table sets;
Nor did the Cherubs which kept Paradise
Finde there such glorious Varieties.

155.Pure are their Eyes, and they can easily passe
Through the thick Veil which on the Feast doth lie,
A Veil which in profound Compassion was
Thrown on the Count'nance of this Mystery,
Which darts more glories from its naked face
Than ever did great Mose's Temples grace.

156.So long as mortall Grossenesse sticks upon
The Brows of Man, and cloggs his feeble Sight,
One glimpse of heav'nly Majesty alone
Would seal his eyes up with eternall Night;
For what exceedeth, doth corrupt, their reach;
Transcendent Lustre prov's as dark as Pitch.

157.When Batts may venture to the Eagles Nest,
And full against the Suns, their own eyes set;
When blear-ey'd Owles may leave their gloomie Roost
And with safe Looks the Face of High-noon met;
When Midnight dares throw off her sable Cloke;
And into bright Aurora's Wardrobe look.

158.Then may dim-sighted Men with safety gaze
Upon their Lords unveiled Brightnesse; then
May they directly to his royall Face
Without a Perspectives Assistance run;
Then may they boldly scorn, their Eyes to shrowd
Under the moderate Shaddow of a Cloud.

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159.But Jesus who full well their Weaknesse knew,
Did in the Shelter of plain Wine and Bread
Accommodate his Goodnesse to their View;
That in Familiar Elements they might read
The hidden Mystery, and happy be
Above all that their Mortal eyes could see.

160.The time shall come, when the dull Dust shall be
By the brisk Virtue of the Resurrection
Resin'd and rais'd to a Capacity
Of radiant and spiritual Perfection;
When faithfull Soules in their celestial Rest
Shall at the Lambs unvciled Supper feast

161.Mean while, it is their Priviledge, that they
May freely in the Shade enjoy the Sun;
That in the Darknesse they may meet the Day,
And in Hopes Region finde Fruition.
But who, sweet Psyche, would beleeve, that hence
Man should draw reason of Irreverence!

162.Alas, when Time shall old and doting grow,
And Christian Spirits sympathize with it;
 [...] will be bold to make this Banquet know
That by its Out-side They doe square and fit
Their estimation of it; and that there
Their Faith admits no more than doth appear.

163.It must be Superstition, if they
Should think Gods Table holier than their own;
If of this Cup and Patin they bewray
An higher thought, than of those all the Town
Use in the publick Inns, when e'r they keep
Their free Communion of Good-Fellow ship.

164.Nor Jove nor Juno, nor the silliest He
Or She of all that Rabble, who were made
Gods by vain Man; found such impiety
In those their Makers, as to be betray'd
To slovenish Altars, and to  [...] Rites
By fained Zeal's irreverent Deceits.

165.Must Rudenesse onely be permitted to
Attend on Jesu's noblest  [...]?
And must it for most pure  [...] goe
Because so grosse and  [...] Surely We
Are much too blanie in Heav'n, who never knew
Such kinde of  [...] to our God was due.

166.Is this the Thanks for keeping in his flames
Of most intolefable Majesty,
Which once unveild, by its immortal streams
Would them devour, and all their slovenrie?
Alas, that Love should thus neglected be,
And for no cause, but mighty Charity!

167.But those brave Lovers, of whose generous breast
Jesus intire possession has took,
Are so inamored of this royal Feast,
That with all humble Reverence they look
Upon it, and in faithfull pure desire,
After Angelick Complements aspire,

168.Their Hearts beat high with that illustrious Zeal
Which fires our Breasts, and fain would stoop as low
As doe the Seraphs, when this Miracle
Of Love invites their reverent knees to bow:
Fain would they have their passionate Piety
As infinite as is this Mystery.

169.For infinite it is; and gladly I,
Would its Infinitude to Thee display;
No Theem with such delight could sit on my
Admiring Tongue: But Angels must give way
To ecstacies, in such vast Deeps, where Love
Himselfe the utmost of his Power doth prove.

170.Here Phylax ended, and observed how
The Bait would operate which He had cast
To Psyches heart: which being captiv'd now
By his Discourses Charms, and chained fast
Unto the Tables foot which He set out,
This pious answer gently forth she brought:

171.My Soules sweet Friend, what thanks can I repay
For all this honey which thy Tongue hath shed
Into my ears and heart  [...] Phylax may
He whom Thou praisedst, poure upon thy head
Thy full Requitall: As for sunple Me,
What can the poor Worme Psyche give to Thee?

172.She can give nothing, but  [...] still
A begger,  [...] for further Favours sues;
Yet not for Cates my stomacks mouth to fill,
 [...] No Famins Power could make me chuse
My other Diet, if at this sweet  [...]
Of Love and Heav'n, my Soul may now be Guest.

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173.And if it be not so, I am undone;
Such Hunger knaws, such Thirst does burn my heart
That by that Banquets Comfort I alone
Can rescued be from this impatient Smart:
And 'tis thy courteous fault, dear Phylax, who
With its Description Me hast ravish'd so.

174.The sickly, what but Health can satisfie?
And what but Balsame can desired be
To stop the Wounds wide Mouth and bloody Crie?
What does the hunted Deer so pant to see,
But some coole Fount, or soveraign Ditany?
What can the Captive wish, but Liberty?

175.My Health, my Balsame, and my Liberty,
My Dear  [...], and my Fount of Blisse,
My onely Nectur and Ambrosia lie
Treasur'd up in this Banquet: If I misse
Of this my Wish, alas, what shall I doe,
What hope, what helpe for my encreasing Woe?

176.She fainted here. But Phylax reach'd his hand
Unto her Arm, and Comfort to her Heart.
I like, said He, thy noble Ardour, and
Its fuell  [...] unto  [...] Fire impart.
In yonder House there lives a reverend Priest
 [...] for thy pious foule will dresse this Feast.

177.This said; He leads  [...] Virgin thither, where
In  [...] room a  [...] of Faithfull Hearts
 [...] that great Bus'nesse early did prepare;
For  [...] forc'd them to all Arts
Of  [...] and glad they were to choose
Such Temples as were hidden from their Foes.

178.There in a Chalice and a Dish of Wood,
The  [...] of  [...] Poverty,
The wonder of their Saviours Flesh and Blood
With golden Hearts they waited on. But We
Alas in Patins and in Cups of Plate
With Hearts of Wood this Banquet celebrate.

179.They in the Strangers Zeal-inflamed eye
Such genuine beams of Piety descrised
As soon dispell'd all mists of Jealousie
Which serupulous Fear had rais'd; unknown untried
She is receiv'd: Besides, the holy Priest
By Heav'n was warn'd to entertain this Guest.

180.Phylax withdrew his nimble Selfe into
His Closet of Invisibility;
Yet still attended on his Psyche; who
Approached to the royall Mystery
With such brave fervor, that her hungry Haste
Almost as boundlesse seemed, as the Feast.

181.O how her Soule into the Dish did leap,
And dive down to the Bottom of the Cup!
With what Inamorations did she weep!
What sighs of Joy did break her bosome ope!
How did Fear strive with Love! How did she groan
Between Humility, and Ambition!

182.O how She thinks her Lips and Heart impure!
And yet she cannot for a World refrain:
She knows not how this Life she should endure,
If from the Life of Life She must contain:
She knows not how her Iron should for beak
To meet the Loadstone now it was so neer.

183.Whilst in this dainty Agony she lay,
Into her Mouth the Priest gives her her Blisse.
Which to her Heart directly took its way
And drown'd it in exuberant Sweetnesses:
She now no longer Psyche is, for she
Is all converted into Ecftafie.

184.O most Miraculous Feast, how fain my Song
Would be Luxuriant in admiring Thee!
But neither mine, nor Phylax's high Tongue
Knows how to reach that lofty Harmonie
Of all united Sweets and Joyes which lie
In bounteous Loves protoundest Mystery.

185.Yet may my pained Soule have leave to lay
At this Songs foot its just and heavy Sighs;
Which, never since mine Eyes first op'd on Day
So deeply rellished Lifes miseries:
The more my shame, whose mighty Sins for Me
Have earned this Heart-knawing Agonie.

186.Time was, when Heav'n in this late happy  [...]
Kept open house; when this Celestiall Feast
Did freely wooe all Hearts to come and fill
Their holy Appetites with all the best
Of antidated Blisse, and grow Divine
With this Spirituall mighty Bread and Wine.

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187.But now both Feast and Bord devoured are
By a new Banquet, as jejune and drie
As barren Air; for all this Pulpit Cheer
Feeds but the itching Ears strange Boulimie:
Whilst still the Heart remains as lank and thin;
And nothing fatter grows, but lusty Sin.

188.Sin fatter grows; so fat that now it dares
Kick both at Earth and Heav'n, and scorns to be
Aw'd by those generous and ingenuous Fears
Which are the Reins of Virtuous Modesty;
It mocketh Veng'ance and derideth Law,
Because their patient Sword they slowly draw.

189.O how come Christian Soules so well content
To want the choisest Viands Heav'n could give!
O how preposterously Abstinent
Are they who with all riotous Dainties strive
To fortisie the Belly, but can finde
No Time to Victuall and enforce the Minde!

190.Surely those Hero's were more prudent far
Upon whose nearer hearts the warmer Blood
Of Jesus dropp'd: not once a Moneth, or year,
Ordivers Years, they with this holy Food
Cheer'd up their Soules; but every Morning fed,
And made the Lord of Life their Daily Bread.

191.With Heav'n this alway kept their bosomes warme,
This made Them Eagle-like their strength renew;
With death-despising Courage this did arme
Their gentlest Spirits; By this they Masters grew
Of Earth and Hell, which having trampled down,
Heav'n too by Violence They made their own.

192.But ô, my Heart, why art Thou stealing thus
From thine own Woes, thy Neighbours to deplore?
Time was, when (whilst thine unsledged Wickednesse
Flew not at Heav'ns long patient face, nor tore
This Judgment thence,) I once a Week at least
Could at this Bord of Blessings be a Guest.

193.Then with sweet Comfort could I turn mine Eye
Back on the year, which with Delight did run;
Then could I count what Gains I reaped by
My constant Trading in Devotion;
Rejoycing in my satisfied Minde
That every Sunday I in Heav'n had din'd.

193.But now the flaming Coursers of the Sun
Are drawing on the fourteenth Moneth, since I
Attended on the Celebration
Of this sweet life-enlivening Mystery;
Which yet I then was fain to steal, and so
A Thief that Day to Paradise did goe.

194.I went indeed, But a Forbidden Tree
Strait woo'd my liquorish Hand, and foolish I
Beleev'd the flattering Bait, and would not see
How treacherous an Hook beneath did lie.
Dear, wonderous dear, this heedlesse Fault did cost Me,
For all my heav'nly Joyes and Powers it lost Me,

195.It lost Me all, and no Recruit was nie,
But I am lest aPrey to this long Fast:
O how the Palate of my Soule is drie,
What burning Drought doth shrivell up and waste
The Bowels of my Heart! how is my Minde
With most uncomfortable Squalor pin'd!

196.O how my Understandings Pinions tire,
And flag below when I aloft would soar!
What leaden Numnesse damps those hopes of Fire
With which my Fancie'gan to glow before!
What Languor cloggs my fainting Will, whilst!
On dark unworthy Earth thus groveling lie!

197.O how this drie and barren Verse attests
The heavy Truth of these my Lamentations!
O pitty Me, all you whose gentle Breasts
E'r felt the Stings of Mysticall Vexations!
Pitty Me, ô my candid Readers, now
What makes me tire your Patience, you know.

198.Had I my wonted Share in that dear Feast
Which with celestiall Spirits embraves the Heart;
A fairer Banquet I for You had drest;
Who now can onely by my pined Smart
Warn You to prize, and to imbrace with  [...]
Religious Tendernesse, what I have lost.

199.Lost hitherto: But must that Losse run on,
And can my Life mean while make good its Name?
Can Day maintain her Self, if once the Sun
Deny to feed her with his vitall Flame?
Can Rivers keep their constant full-tide Course,
If once the living Spring doth them divorce?

[Page 218]
201.O tender King of Love, whose sumptuous Care
For hungry Hearts that high Provision made,
Behold my starved Soule lies gasping here
For one dear Crumb of thy mysterious Bread,
And craves to cool its burning Tongue, one Drop
Of liquid Life from thy all-saving Cup.

202.I know my Worthlessenesse, sweet Lord, and how
Unfit I am to look for any Share
In those peculiar Delicates, which Thou
For thine own genuine Children didst prepare:
Yet to a Dogg once more thy leave afford
To catch what falleth from thy Childrens Bord.

PSYCHE: OR LOVES MYSTERIE. CANTO XIII. The Death of Love.

ARGUMENT.

LOve, having Liv'd for Man, is pleas'd to Dy,
To make his purchase sure by Life and Death;
Through Earths profoundest Gulfe of Tyranny,
And the vast Ocean of Heav'ns mighty Wrath
He nobly waded; and upon the Shore,
Having first spent his Blood, his Soule did poure.

1.SOule of all Sweets, ô Life, how dear art Thou
To all that ever had a Taste of Thee!
How much of Heav'n it selfe infus'd doth flow
Into the region of thy Suavity!
Indeed Heav'n were not Heav'n, did it not joyn
To make it Selfe, by Marrying Thee, divine,

2.Thou in the Center of Divinity
Before the Birth of Ages hadst thy Spring,
Where thou didst sweetly Smile amidst the Three
Most undivided One, and traversing
Those Heights & Depths of Blessedness, didst through
Eternities immense Expansion flow

3.Thence, when the World burst out from Nothing, thou
Didst spare some Streams Created Hearts to cheer:
No Bosomes with that Influence did glow,
But of thy Sweets they straight enamor'd were,
Which, as their richest dearest Jewells, they
Close in the heart of their own Hearts did lay,

4.Their Goods, their Parents, or their Children were
Not halfe so pretious to Them, as Thou:
Their Joynts, their Limbs, their Skin, they well could spare
Their tender Name and Fame, they could allow.
A Prey to Injury, so they by them
Might Thee, and thy Security  [...]

[Page 219]
5.The vilest Worme, whom Thou dost please to grace,
Forgetteth not that worth he gains by Thee:
He shoots his warey Self from place to place,
And, when oppressed, feeble though he be,
He turns again, and with the strongest Foe
Tries what for thy deer Rescue He can doe.

6.The wretched Serpent is content to feed
On basest Dust, rather than part with Thee;
Though Curses poure their Streams upon his head,
He makes his Body all one Helmet be
To sheltre it; and roules himself about
Himself, to keep all mortall violence out.

7.Nay when the Sword or Wand its way has cut
Quite through his Circles, till his Body be
An heap of fragments; He himself doth knit
Ev'n by the Cement of his Wounds, till He
Grows One again; So lothe he is to die,
Though his damn'd life be but his Miserie.

8.What Voyages will silly Swallows take
Warme Seasons round about the World to chase!
What hard shift will the hunted Partridge make
To shun the greedy Griffens deadly face!
What Wings of Speed, what Tricks, and Sleights will fear
Of Death, soon teach the close-pursued Hare!

6.In how great Sweat and Pains doe Pismires spend
Their warmer Moneths, to reap and carry home
Their Cropp, which in the Cold, may them befreind
With Sustentation, and defend Them from
The fear of loosing that poor Life, which They,
In love of it, to endlesse Toile betray

10.The most industrious never-tired Bee
Flies through all Summer, knocking at the door
Of every likely Flower, where thoughtfull she
Can borrow ought towards her Winter Store;
And thus for love of Life, her honey trade
A bitter course of Painfulnes is made,

11.Yea, ev'n the simplest Weed, whose Life doth but
Preserve that Stink with which She taints the air,
When Winter gins its chains of Frost to put
Upon the Earth, makes all her Spirits repair
Down to the Root: for rather than be dead,
Alive She chooseth to be buried.

12.But yet no Creature with such painfull Pains
Doth purchase Lifes Security, as Man:
What Plots and Projects tumble in his brains,
What Cares and Labours make Him faint and wan
Earth open house to all things else doth keep,
But He must sowe before he looks to reap.

13.A tedious Prentisehood He spends, to learn
How he may toile himself another Day,
And by his still-returning Labours ern
What will support his Strength, that still He may
Be grapling with his Work; for his own S weat
Must be the constant Sauce unto his Meat,

14.To get a Living,'s a sufficient Charm
T' allure him through the most portentous Sea;
To make him scorn the most out ragious Storm
Though Death within three Inches of Him be;
To fire him unto all impieties,
Defying Veng'ance, and the Thundering Skies.

15.A Charm sufficient to make him List
Himself an Enemie to the life of Man;
Whilst he fears not to make his stoney breast
Harder, by martiall Steel and Brasse, and can
Without all blushing take his bloody Pay,
For his Endeavours daily to Destroy.

16.O wonderous Riddle though eternall Death
Invitably be entaild upon
His monstrous Crimes; Yet He his present Breath
Esteems so deer, that still he dares run on
In any Deadly Wickednes, which may
Maintain that life which must  [...] long  [...].

17.Indeed the Man whose swelling Coffers bring
Him forth free choise of all the dainty Store
Which Land or Sea can yeild to cheer a King,
May finde some feeling reason to adore
His Jollse Life: But what convincing Plea
Can Beggers move to this  [...]

18.Yet They who are so destitute within
And poor without, that equally they want
Both Food wherewith to fill their wretened Skin,
And Clothes to cover it; are well content
On these hard tenns to live, nor  [...] They be
By any Death quit of this  [...]

[Page 220]
19.The woefull Captive, whose dark Dungeon is
No other but his antidated Grave,
Though neither Light nor open air be his,
Yet huggs his Life, as deerely, as the brave
And lustie Gallant, who himself can please
With all the Fat of pleasure and of case.

20.The Leper clothed in his winding sheet
By his disease, abhorrs the thought of death:
Life still is ev'n in his dead Body sweet,
And full as pretious He esteems his Breath
As doth the Virgin whose fair Bodies dresse
Of native Lilies, and of Roses is.

21.He who doth in a Fevers fornace frie,
Would yet not Cool himself within his Grave;
But hires Physicians costly Industrie
To study out some way how He may save
His torturing Life: Notfor  [...] World would He
By Death's, most  [...] Physick eased be.

22.The lamentable Gally-slave, who is
Fast chained to perpetuall Miserie,
Still toiles and rows through the tempestuous Seas,
Without all Hopes that any Port can be
An Haven of Rest to Him; and yet full deat
He holds that Life which holds him Pris'ner there.

23.She whom a Seige begins so close, that she
Is crowded up to nought but Bones and Skin,
Flies from the thought of gaining Libertie
By Deaths Assistance; and will rather win
Upon her Bowels to devour her childe
Than be by Famine of her Life  [...].

24.The cursed Traitour who is chain'd alive
Unto his Chaire of Death; though he be sure
It needs must be in vain for Life to strive;
Yet in strong Love of it, he will endure
To feed on his own Arms, that so He may
What e'r it cost Him, Live one other day.

25.He who disjoynted on the Rack doth lie,
Although his Body now no more be his,
After a thousand  [...], is to the to die,
And any Crime is willing to Confesse.
He doth Confesse what needs must be his Death,
Onely to gaine a little longer breath,

26.Thus all the Gall that sharpest Miserie
Into the heart of Mortall Life can poure
Meets there such Powers of vitall suavitie
As conquer all its Bitternesse: Suct store
Of pretious Delicates as dare despise
The keepest force of all Calamities.

27.Snatch what you will from Man, besides, and He
Will stoutly set his shoulders to sustein
His Losse; but if his Life required be,
In vain all Comforts fawn on Him; in vain
Are Crowns and Sceptres proffer'd Him, a price
Too poor to hire Him to his Obsequies.

28.Since then the Life ev'n of the meanest Wight
Scorns to be balanc'd with the richest Treasure;
O then what mighty Depth of Worth, or Height
Of purest Pretiousnesse can serve to measure
The value of the Life of Jesus, which
Doth earth with all the best of Heav'n enrich?

29.A Life more worth than all the Breath which  [...]
The panting Hearts of the whole World beside;
More worth than all the Tract of Ages, and
Old  [...] himself: A Life which nobly vie'd
With vast  [...], so sweet, immense,
And pure was its Miraculous Excellence.

30.For whilst all Humane Life was by the Breath
Of the contagious Serpent tainted So,
That by the rankling Principles of Death
It from its Cradie was condemn'd unto
Its Herse; He's kept unsteind, and scorned all
The gaping Graves Pleas for his Funerall.

31.Yet this dear Life of his he held lesse dear
Than worthlesse men; so generous was his Love
That He his own Hearts Blood could freely spare
To ransome theirs; desiring so to prove
Ev'n by their own Souls Rule, that they to Him
More dear than his all pretious Self did seem.

32.They, and the worst of them; for he did not
Pick out some worthy Freinds, for whose sweet sake
His Life  [...] was content to offer; but
Ev'n for his  [...] that dear Oblation make.
 [...] was Leves highest Gallantrie, and fit
For Him who was the Mighty King of it.

[Page 221]
33.This was the brave Exploit which Phylax now,
To ravish Psyche's Heart, meant to display.
For though the bus'nesse she before did know,
Yet twas at Distance: Circumstances may
Make deep Impression, and the present Sceen
Of Miracles, more Admiration win.

34.Besides, he knew her Soule was fired now
With noble vigour from the Heav'nly Bord,
And would delight to towre and travell through
The  [...] wonders of her loving Lord.
This made him bring her from the sacred Cave,
When by the holy Kisse Sh'had took her leave,

35.Then up he leads her unto Calvarie,
The Hill of Marveils, that that Prospect might
Yeild her with uncontrolled Libertie
Of Loves chief stations an open sight:
And there arriv'd, Mark now, my Deer, said He,
What further Wonders Jesus did for thee.

36.Wert Thou enthroned on the proudest Hill
Which on the glorious Back of Heav'n doth rise,
Thou couldst not with a nobler spectacle
Feast the brave Hunger of thy wondering Eyes,
Than from this Mountains most renowned Head
Thou by my Finger, and my Tongue shalt read.

37.In yonder street of Ruines, once there stood
The High-preist Anna's House; but Caiaphas
Who was his Sonne by Marriage, not by Blood,
(Unlesse joynt thirst of guiltlesse Blood may passe
For  [...],) His Dwelling had
Where now thou see'st that Heap of rubbish made.

38.Those Caytiffs, who had in the Garden seiz'd
Upon thy Lord to Annas hull'd him first,
To see what Censure his grave spight was pleas'd
To passe on Him for whom it long did thirst:
But He, with cruel Favour Him dismist
Unto his Sonne, the bolder bloodier Priest.

39.Thus, through the  [...], and Scorn, to  [...]
Is Jesus sed: He smil'd within, to see
With what successe his Bargain crowned was,
And thought his Money well bestow'd which He
To  [...] gave: Yet in his Face, and Eye
He still maintain'd his Priestly  [...].

40.So hast thou seen a Lyon cast his Eye
Upon his harmlesse Prey with grave Disdaine,
As if he could afford to passe it by;
Whilst He his greedy Paws can scarce contein,
Or with his Teeth bite in their own Des
Of Blood: so certain is his salvage Ire.

41.Like one who jealous was of Peace, and Law,
He calls Him to account, and asks Him why
He strove Disciples after Him to draw,
And with his new-found Doctrine multiplie
Sects in the Church, and  [...] in the State;
Both which religious Loyaltie must hate,

42.(Such Impudence upon Sinnes face doth reign
That whilst the Laws of Heav'n and Earth she breaks;
She dares on Innocence throw her own stein,
And in high Zealloud exclamations make
Against all Innovations, which on Them
Shee chargeth, for whose blood her Thirst doth flame.)

43.Thy Lord well understood his vain Demand;
And, why, said He, requir'st Thou this of me?
Loe my Accusers crowd on either hand,
Who in their spight against Me, all agree.
My Doctrine publick was; Hear then what  [...]
Against Me, now I challenge Them, can say,

44.Tin no Conventicles Cloysters did
Shrowd any Lessons that I meant to preach:
The Synagogue and Temple witnessed,
And so did they Themselves, what I did teach.
My Gospel it concern'd the World to know;
And from my Lips in publick it did flow.

45.This said. A  [...]  [...] who  [...] by,
First bent his angrie Brow, and  [...] his  [...],
With which at Jesu's Face his  [...]  [...],
Crying, Bold fellow, can Goas  [...]  [...]
 [...] no  [...] Answer ? Now we see
What  [...] of Manners grow  [...]  [...]

46.Wouldst  [...]
The  [...] ?
For how  [...]
 [...] who though He  [...]
This  [...]
Can yet approve himself both?  [...], and  [...].

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47.But hear what from the Lambs Mouth Meekness spok:
If in my Answer any Crime there be,
Accuse Me Thou, and let the High-priest look
That legall Justice be perform'd on Me:
If not: before the face of Justice Seat,
Why dost Thou mine injuriously beat?

48.Soft was this Answer; but their Breasts were Stone
And beat it back: The unrelenting Priest
With all the Scribes and Elders joyn'd in one
Conspiracy of Haste, their Projects cast
To hire False-witnesse, as before they bought
That Treason which Him Pris'ner thither brought.

49.Is this the reverend Sanhedrim, which here
Hunts for a Lie, that Truth may not escape?
Must grosse Injustice poyson Mose's Chair?
Must bloody Spight put on Religions shape?
No wonder if the People forward be
To tread their Leaders Stepps to Injury.

50.Whole Troops of Witnesses came thronging in
With thicker Articles: When Rulers dare
Once egg the Vulgar on to act that sin
In which Themselves cannot for shame appear,
Bold Calumnie thinks Law is on her side,
And with all furious Impudence doth ride.

51.But this rude Rout were younglins yet, and raw
Knights of the Post, and had not conn'd their Lie
With wary Art: As yet They did not know
What need they had of perfect Memory:
This made each one of Them accuse his Brother,
Whilst all their Stories jarr'd on One another.

52.Yet They must not be chidden, whose Intent
Aim'd onely at the Publike Good; least this
Should unto others prove Discouragement,
Who might urge Articles with more Successe.
Alas, those Men were well-affected, but
Quite out of Count'nance by the Court were put.

53.Their honest Meaning by the Sanbedrim
Is kindely constru'd and with Thanks requited;
That others might with subtler Art to trim
Their fairer Accusations be invited;
For still the patient Court expects to see
Who will the next Calumniators be.

54.But when the first Miscarriage did dismay
All other Lyars: Satan, who stood by,
Quick as his Thought, snatch'd unto Hell his way
To fetch some help, leasts the Priests Villany,
And his great Hopes, should intercepted be:
Such care to murder thy dear Spouse had He

55.Deep in the bowels of eternal Night,
And neighbour to the black Court of Damnation,
A Den there is where Stinks with Stinks doe fight,
And Ejulation roar at Ejulation;
Where Horrors Horrors fright, and where Dispair
The face of Desperation doth tear.

56.Hither came He: When loe the Iron Door
Gap'd like the thirsty Earth to drink him in,
Whilst from its joyfull Mouth the Cave did poure
A Stream of flaming Sulphure, to begin
Its Soveraigns Welcome; whom that Complement
(Such was his princely Grace,) did well content.

57.For in He went, and there his Daughter saw
Busie in pouring ever-flaming Lead
Upon her Captive Soules, whom Lies did throw
Into that boiling Curse. Upon her Bed
Of red-hot Iron, not yet cooled lay
Lusts Holocaust, Madame Potiphera.

58.She lay and bit, and roar'd and bit again
Her slanderous Tongue, whence deadly Shafts she shot
At holy Joseph, when She had in vain
Spent all her eyes Artillery, and what
Soft Blandishments her Wit could muster up
To bring about her hot and lustfull Hope.

59.There lay that foule-mouth'd Ten, whose envious  [...]
Blasted the florid Sweets of Canaan,
Spreading a Dearth upon Fertility,
And spewing Gall where Milk and Honey ran:
They curs'd amain, and still their Lie maintain'd
In spight of Death which in their Bosomes reign'd.

60.There lay that Pair of Venal Soules, who by
Their hired Lie effected Naboths death;
Acting themselves that foule Impiety
With which They slander'd Him: With flaming breath
God and the King they curse, and wish all Hell
Melted into the Heart of Jezebell.

[Page 223]
61.Th' Assyrian Railer there his Throat did rend
With  [...] assertion of his Blasphemy;
Avouching still that God himselfe did send
Him to extirpate all the Jews: And why
Fond Rabsheka, does He thus deep torment Thee?
For that bold Errand, if on it he sent Thee?

62.There lay that slanderous Pair of Elders who
Susanna did so reverently belie.
At her their Accusations still they throw,
And swear they found her in Adultery;
Yet with more fury they on Daniel raile,
Crying, See how Injustice may prevail.

63.These, and ten thousand more lay roaring there,
Whilst the remorselesse Mistresse of the Den
Triumphed in their Tortures: Never Bear
With such intemperate Fiercenesse raged when
Her hungry Teeth were flinging ope their way
Through the Bowells of her helplesse Prey.

64.Fell Calumnie it was: a monstrous She;
Her Forehead was compos'd of seav'n-fold Brasse;
An obstinate Swarthinesse which scorn'd to be
Pierced by any Blush, grew on her face;
Her hollow Eyes with peevish Spight were fill'd,
Her powting Lips with deadly Venome swell'd.

65.Her dreadfull Jaws replenish'd Quivers were
Where Darts, and Spears, and Pikes, and Arrows stood
Prepar'd and sharpned all for mortal War:
Her mouth no Moisture knew, but blended Blood
Of Asps and Basilisks, which she suck'd in
To spit sure Mischief upon guiltlesse Men.

66.The Stings of Ten choise Dragons joyn'd in one,
Was all the Tongue wherewith She had to speak:
This made her language pure Destruction,
For certain Death at every Word did break
Forth from her Lips, if not at their first Sound,
Yet most infallibly at their Rebound.

67.Her Brain is that mischievous Shop in which
As every other Slander forged was:
So that which did all Parallels out-stretch,
And dar'd Omnipotence's soveraign Face,
Proclaiming that thy Lord not by his own,
But Belzebubs Power, did tread the Devills down.

68.When ever any rankling Canker breeds
Kingdomes or Countries ruinous Overthrow,
Her viperous Trade it is, the fatal Seeds
Of restlesse Fears and Jealousies to sow
In Peoples Hearts, whilst She ten thousand Lies
To blast their Rulers Credit doth devise.

69.She spying now her royall Father there,
His Benediction begg'd upon her Knee:
Blesse Me dear Sire, said She, and give Me here
Some new found Engine of fresh Cruelty:
These Soules are us'd too kindly; all their Pains
Grow stale and cold, familiar their Chains.

70.Fear not; it shall be so, cri'd Satan; but
Sweet Childe, another Work first craves our Care:
Him whom I deepliest hate, my Art has got
With Juda's help, fast in a fatal Snare;
I mean, that Galilean Beggar, who
Has Me and all my Fiends abused so,

71.But now the Priests forsooth, are so demure
(And I'le remember't when I get them here,)
That though they in the Project did conjure,
And bought that Christ ev'n at a Rate too dear,
Their Holinesses some pretence must have
How in Destroying Him, their Fame to save,

72.Confusion on their Fame; who though they dread
Not what the Thundering Wrath of Heav'n can doe
In vindication of a guiltlesse Head;
Stand in base awe of the vile Vulgar so,
That they confesse most Infamous Impiety
Whilst They the People make their onely Deity.

73.Base-hearted Hypocrites! Can they not be
Brave venturous Sinners, like to Me their Prince?
Yet since they needs will sneak to Hell; sure We
For once will help the Fools, to their Pretence:
They want False-witnesse for a Cloak, and Thou
This Livery canst best on Them bestow.

74.But see Thou mould'st up some Athletick Lie
Whose burly Bulk all Truth may over-bear.
Some petty sucking Knaves their best did trie,
But straight their ill-shod Tales did enter-fér,
On Thee the Work depends. Come let's away,
The High-priests Court, or rather Mine, doth stay.

[Page 224]
75.This said: his Daughter by the hand He took,
And with more sprightfull speed then Indian Arrow
Cuts through the tender whineing Aire, he broke
Earths sturdie obstacles, and posted thorough
The sullen clogging Masse, untill He came
Back to his other Home, Jerusalem.

76.There when he saw the Council at a stand
Gaping and staring one upon another,
He spi'd withall, two itching Rogues at hand
Scratching their heads, and beating them together:
He knew their meaning, and through both their harts
Unfeen, unheard, his Daughter strait he darts

77.As when the Bosome of the Delphick Priest
Began to boile with his desired Hell,
His Rapture by his Gestures he confest,
Hastening to vent his belking Oracle;
So this accursed Pair, now kindled by
The Furie speeded to belch out their Lie.

78.For straight each flung his hand above his head,
And cri'd, I have it sure; let's to the barre:
And when their Projects they examined,
They found that both in one Mould fashion'd were:
At which they kiss'd, and shaked hands, and prest
With full-mouth'd Accusation to the Priest.

79.Great Caiaphas, and ye the  [...]
The holy Guardians of Heav'ns reverend Law,
Hear Us, said They, who will object to Him
No hearsay stories, but what we both saw
And beard; and may henceforth nor Eye nor Ear
If we speak what is false, or see, or Hear.

80.We saw him strutting in the Temple, where
His most blasphemous Pride he broach'd, and cri'd,
I will destroy this house which Hands did rear,
And build another full as fair and wide
Without the Help of Hands; as if bold He
No Mortall were, but some great Deitie.

81.Nay to be sure his Blasphemie might want
No Complement of desperate Impudence,
Though six and fourty yeares he knew were spent
In compassing that works Magnificence,
He blush'd not to avouch that in three dayes
The Fabrick to perfection he would raise.

82.But Psyche, how shall Feeble Waves prevail
Against impenetrable Rocks! in vain
This wretched Lie indeavoured to assail
Unshaken Truth which did in Jesus reign;
And split it self, could the blinde Judges eye
Have seen its shivers, which about did fly.

83.For grant this Article were full as true
As it is false; Why must it branded be
As Blasphemous in Him, who in the view
Ofample witnesse prov'd his Potencie
Sufficient was the Temple to restore,
When He from Death her Captive Lazarus tore.

84.But strait a Murmur rolld about the Hall,
Which the Fond People toss'd from one another:
The Council gravely shak'd their heads; and all
Mingled their jealous Whisperings together:
Till Caiaphas stood up, and ask'd thy Lord,
Why He no kinde of Answer would afford.

85.Jesus, who never spilt a word in vain,
For sweet and pretious was his blessed Breath,
Would no Reply unto that witnesse deign
Which shamelesse Falshood venteth; and which hath
Its Answer in its self, to any Ear
But that which is resolved not to hear.

86.Wherefore the Preist, advisd by Satan, now
Contests him deep, to trie if He could make
Him prove his own Accuser: All Men know,
Said He, those towring Words of thine must speak
A more then Mortall Power; nor must thou hope
Thy silence now shall lock the Businesse up.

87.For by the everliving God, whose Name
Too glorious is on Mortall Tongues to sit,
I heer conjure Thee cleerly to proclaim
Whither Thou be the Christ, whom Holy Writ
Has promis'd to the World, that Blessed One,
The Heir of Heav'n, and Gods eternall Son.

88.O who would think this Consecrated Tongue
Which with such reverentiall Awe doth make
Mention of God; mean while should burn in strong
Thirst of most guiltlesse Blood! But Hell can break
Ev'n into Heaven it selfe, and Satan dare
Before Gods Throne amongst his Sons appear.

[Page 225]
89.And He his Scholars teacheth to begin
The foulest Crimes with Gods all-beauteous Name,
That so more easily He may usher in
What else by plain and necessary shame
Would be obstructed. Thus the Charmers Tongue
Distills his Poison through his dainty song.

90.But he who came Truth's glorious Lamp to light,
Was pleased now to give a full Replie:
His Heav'n, his Sire, Himself, did him excite
Himself, his Sire, his Heav'n not to denie.
In Me, said He, fulfill'd your Scriptures are,
I am God's Son, and Heav'ns apparent Heir.

91.And though your Eyes now look such Scorn on Me,
Time comes when they shall melt in tears for this,
When on the Clouds high Chariot they shall see
My Majestie in Glories high Excesse,
And at the first glimpse of my Power know
I have a Judgement Seat, as well as you.

92.No sooner was this generous Truth profest,
But Caiaphas in deep dissimulation
His politick but bloody Malice drest;
And starting from his seat in zealous Passion,
Tore his own Clothes, in token of his high
Distaste at that presumed Blasphemy.

93.'Tis true, his Law did cleerly Him forbid
To rend his Clothes: but what car'd He for Law,
Who now about Injustice beat his Head,
And onely aim'd how He the World might draw
Into opinion that the Pris'ners Case
Beyond all possible holy Patience was.

94.Vain Hypocrite, keep thy Clothes whole to hide
Thy shamelesse self, whom Thou one day shalt tear
For setting forth this Embleme, which doth bid
The People use the Pris'ner at the Bar,
As Thou thy Robe: But they are dull, and yet
Reade not what Thou commend'st to Them by it.

95.They read it not. But, Psyche, bloody He
Awakes their drowsie crueltie, and cries,
What need we further Witnesses? for yee
Your selves have heard his wide-mouth'd Blasphemies.
Speak what you think; the Case seems unto Me
So plain, that I dare let you Judges be.

96.O Righteous Judge, and worthy of the Chair
Of reverend Moses, who doth first invite
The People unto Blood, and then repair
Unto their Sentence! Whither Wrong or Right,
Speak what think ye, a Firebrand is, and will
Kindle the Furie of their Murdering Zeal.

97.For when the Bloodhounds feel their feet are loose,
They straight pursue the Sent, and with joint Crie
Proclaim him guiltie: And, say They, may Those
Not live, who think He is not fit to Die.
This roaring Sentence serv'd the turn; and so
Abused Jesus for Condemn'd doth goe.

98.What matter though the sacred Rolls can show
No Statute, which, as due, his Life demands?
This Popular extemporal Vote, is Law
Enough to yeeld Him into barbarous Hands,
And He, so foul and monstrous is his Cause,
Must die for breaking that which never was.

99.Forthwith the busie Officers, and all
The insolent Servants take Him as their Prey;
And setting him amidst the smoakie Hall,
Make his unmoved Patience their Play.
Where, as a Preface to his deep disgrace,
Their odious Scorn they spit upon his Face.

100.One at his Mouth, another at his Eyes,
One at his Nose, another at his Beard,
His Slaver aimes, and impudently tries
To shoot his shame with Art. Was ever heard
Such putid Crueltie Where are, ô Jews,
Your Eyes, and Face, that thus you His abuse;

101.Have not all Beauties made their gracefull seat
In this Majestick Look? Is Libanus,
Is Paradise, is Heav'n, so fair and sweet?
Are Phebu's Eyes so purely glorious?
Is delicate Aurora's April Cheek
So roseal as this, so soft, so sleek?

102.Cull out ten thousand of the fairest Faces
Where goodly Feature ever made her home,
And draw an Extract of their richest Graces;
Yet that bright Quincessence must  [...] come
Into the presence of these Looks, to which
All Humane Beauties cannot hope to reach.

[Page 226]
103.For ne'r did milder purer Lovelinesse,
Crown'd with the best of Comlinesse's Joyes.
Flourish upon so fair a Throne as His
Accomplish'd Countenance; in which the Choise
Jewells of most incomparable Grace
Had every one their goodly proper place.

104.And must this blessed Face of Sweets alone
Be made the Sinck of your vile Excrement:
Much rather upon Caiapha's, or on
Great Cesar's Cheeks your Spittle might be spent,
Or on the Starts whose Fires all lighted were
At those bright Eyes your Filth becloudeth here.

105.Is this the pay his Spittle must receive.
His Soveraign Spittle, which unto the Blinde
His never known nor hop d for Sight did give,
That now Himselfe his own pure Eyes Must finde
Drown'd in the Scum of your foule Mouths! — O stay
Dear Psyche, I have something more to say.

106.Thy pious Tears are ready broach'd, I see
To wash this filth from off thy Spouses face;
But rein them in a while, that they may be
Officious unto His more deep Di grace.
The greatest Griefs are still behinde; More great
Than thine, or then the whole Worlds Tears can wet

107.These Varlets when their clotted Spittle had
Made his bedawbed Countenance so foule,
That They their own Works Sight abhorr'd; their Bad
They turn to Worse: for straight a Cloth they roule
About his patient Head; which should have been
Rather to Wipe, and gently make it clean.

108.Thus having Blinded all the Worlds sweet Light;
Some with their Fists, some with their Cudgells flie
Upon his nead and shoulders; and their Spight
So gamesome is, that he must not deny
To make them sport, although his Bruises be
Of Groans more reason, than of Jollity.

109.The petulant Caytiffs as they thresh Him, crie,
Great Sir, We know you are a Man of God,
And Pray you would be pleas'd to Prophesie
Whose Hand it is that strikes you, or whose Rod.
No matter though your Eyes that Towell binde,
Prophets are Seers, and cannot be blinde

110.No surer way could Peevishnesse contrive
Its most malicious Selfe to multiply;
For every Jeer they cast, and Stroke they give
Is now improved, and doth double fly,
Whilst, by the Art of Sp ght, to over-bear him.
Each Jeer dos Strike Him, and each Stroke doth Jeer Him.

111.Ignoble Scorn, and sordid Insultation
Add Bitternesse unto the Soule of Gall,
And lend new stings of torturing Vexation
To the most barbarous Racks, when e'r they fall
On generous Spirits; O then with what profound
Greife did these Taunts thy Lords brave bosome wound!

112.But on your Heads, bold Wormes, your Mocks rebound,
And, though you little think it, Jesus sees
Your antick Crueltie, and the profound
Abysses of your foule Impieties,
Ev'n your black Hearts, whose Secrets He one day
Ope to the whole Worlds view, and hate, shall lay,

113.You then shall need no Prophesie to declare
Who stroke the first, or who the second Blow;
Whose Stroks most hard, whose Jeers most bitter were
Who did the quaintest Wit of Malice show:
Your foule Exploits shall then be printed fair
Upon your Foreheads, and themselves declare.

114.Whilst at this working Play they busie were,
Jesus ne'r shrunk, or sought to shield his head;
But was as ready all their Spight to bear
As they to heap it on him: Never did
The patient Anvill more unmoved stand
Under the Labouring Smith his iron hand.

115.For He himself resolved was to wade
Through the Red Sea of all Disgrace and Pain,
To bless and sanctifie the noble Trade
Of Patience, and by his Example train
His faithfull Martyrs; and instruct them how
Unto a noble Army they might grow.

116.At length they with his Sufferance wearied,
In meere compassion of themselves give over,
And take the Clothe from his Victorious Head,
Which now to deeper Griefe did Him discover;
For his Disciple straight he heard and saw
 [...] him with a farr more violent Blow.

[Page 227]
117.Peter, of late so brave and valiant, who
Had boasted that the grimmest face of Death
Should not out-look his Faith and Dutie to
His Lord and Master; with the self-same breath
Had twice renounced his Allegiance, and
Now on the Brink of his third fall did stand.

118.For as he lingred in the Hall to see
What would become of Jesus, One who was
A busie Actor in the Treacherie
Under foule Juda's Conduct, cries, alas
In vain this Rogue himself strives to conceale,
His Galilaean Tongue doth him reveale

119.His hand then clapping on his Shoulder, I
Full well remember thy bald Pate, said He;
Nay never stare, nor studie for a Lie,
For in the Garden I did meet with Thee.
And Sirra, know that now I have you heer,
I will revenge my Cosen Malchu's ear.

120.Think not this lethern staring Pair of yours
Can pay the Debt you owe his single One:
We know the Witch your Lord, whose conjuring Pow­ers
Can clapp them on again: But by the Throne
Of God I vow, that now I'l take a course
To make thee sure, spight of all Magick force,

121.It is no running nor no squulking now;
Heer are no Shades nor Trees to hide your Head;
D'y see your goodly Master yonder, how
With his foule Guilt oppress'd and silenced,
Like a dumb Post he stands? Friend, you must goe,
And in his Censure be his Follower too.

122.As when the Waves came tumbling in his Way,
Faint-hearted Peter, though his Lord were by,
Did all his Confidence in Him betray,
And therefore sunk: so his Accusers Crie
Now storming in his ears, with faithless fear
He gives this Tempest leave to domineere.

123.Yet there He crav'd his Saviors help; but now
He sinks so deep, that He despairs of that,
And with vile Cowardise contriveth how
To save his wretched Skin: He cares not what
He Swears, or how he Lies, so any Shift
Him from his Panick Gulph may serve to lift.

124.O hearken all ye Confident Mortalls, who
Presume your strength may scorn the Batterie
Of any earthly or infernall Foe:
This Heart of late did beat with full as high
Resolves as yours; but now it melts away,
And all his Courage yeildeth to Dismay.

125.By Heav'n, he cries, and Him who Heav'n did frame
By all the Temple and the sacred Law,
By the great Sanhedrim, by Pilates Name,
By Caesars Head, by whatsoe'r I know
Divine or reverend, I freely swear
I have no knowledge of that Pris'ner there

126.If I were with him in the Garden, may
I never enter into Paradise;
In Abrahams Bosome may I never lay
My Head, if it did ever rest in His;
Nay, may all Egypts Plagues, and Sodoms Flame
Be mine, if till to day I knew his Name.

127.Right lustie are thine Oathes, and generously
Thy daring Curses thou dost thunder out,
Repli'd the Soldier; and why might not I
For once mistaken be? For without doubt
Thou never serv'dst that sheepish Master there
Who canst so bravely Curse, and stoutly Swear,

128.Thus did He gain his too dear Libertie
And lost Himself: But as He sneak'd away,
A Crowing Cock awak'd his Memorie
Into the fair light of his Duties Day;
For his apostate Eyes did now repent,
And back to Jesus with Submission went.

129.When loe, Mild He who could no Pitty finde
For his own most abused Innocence,
With ready Beams of heav'nly kindness shin'd
Upon his Servants traytorous offence;
Forewarning Peter how to use his Sheep
When into any Error they should leap.

130.Denyed Jesus would not Him Deny;
But spake his Pardon By his gracious Look
Yet so that He might easily descry
In the soft lines of that pathetick Book
What undeserv'd and deep engraved Smart
His falshood made in his deare Saviours Heart.

[Page 228]
131.How pow'rfull and how long a Sermon He
Preach'd in th' Epitomie of this short Glance!
But with such speed all Wonders use to be
Atcheived whensoe'r Omnipotence
Is pleas'd to work: for heer it shew'd its Art,
Witness the Miracle in Peter's heart.

132.For this most Potent Glance subdu'd Him so,
That driven by holy Shame, He seeketh where
To weep away his odious Crime, And loe,
His Tears now Bitterer than his Curses were.
Thus when the Sunn on sturdie Ice doth look,
It strait repents into a running Brook.

133.But now Aurora from the roseall East
Had newly dressed, and sent out the Day;
To finish his Designe of Night, the Priest
To Pilate doth dispatch thy Lord away:
Nor needs He teach his Miscreants what to doe,
Who Spights fell Trade had better learn'd than so.

134.For strait the boistrous Rout with Cords and Chains
Load JESU'S Hands and Feet, and hurrie him
To Pilat's Palace: All the Streets and Lanes
Sweat with tumultuous Crowds, who pour'd their stream
Of Scoffs, of Curses, and of Blasphemy
Upon his innocent Head, as He pass'd by.

135.Hast Thou not seen how in a silver Night
The mad-brain'd Doogs all gather in the Street,
Where with united Barkings at the Light
Of beuteous Phebe, Heav'n and Earth they beat?
Such and so causeless were the Clamors which
Against thy Lord these railing Curs did stretch.

136.Arrived thus at the Pretorium, They
In to the Governor the Pris'ner send;
For this with them was a Religious Day,
And no unholy Place forsooth could stand
With their strict Pietie, who clensed were
To celebrate their reverend Passover.

137.Shame on their foul Hypocrisie, who in
The midit of this their zealous Sanctitie
With eager furie strive to act a Sinn
To monstrous to be exprated by
Their greatest Sacrifices Power; and strain
By this Lambs blood their Paschall Lamb to stain.

138.But when the Judge came forth, and ask'd them what
Offence exposed Jesu's Life to Law?
The surly Priests grew insolently hot,
And cri'd, We hop'd the Governor e'r now
Had understood that our grave Sanhedrim
No Malefactors makes without a Crime.

139.Can it be thought that We would load a Lamb,
With chains, and send Him for a Wolfe to Thee?
If so to Us his Censure and his Shame
Is due, and ours the Nails and Crosse must be;
O then release that righteous Soule, and bid
The slanderous Sanbedrim be Crucifi'd.

140.To this bold Shift was Malice driven, to make
Meer Accusation for Conviction passe.
But then, repli'd the Judge, what made you take
This pains, since you have found the Pris'ners Case
So fouly grosse? you might, and may doe now,
Goe sacrifice him unto your own Law.

141.True, said the Priests; nor had our pious Zeal
Loiter'd thus long, did but out Law permit
Our righteous Indignation to deal
With such a Malefactor as is fit.
The Crosse is his high due; and none but you
That decent Doom can upon Him bestow.

142.The generous Romane shak'd his head to see
The Jewes so shamelesse in their bloody Hate:
And yet to coole their mutinous Spirits, He
Commands the Pris'ner to the Judgement Seat:
But first requir'd Them fairly to display
What horrid Crimes they to his Charge could lay.

143.Enforced heer Themselves to shelter in
The Sanctuarie of some strong-built Lie;
If We, said they, by his outragious Sion
Were able but to mould and tune our Crie,
The Noise not onely would amaze your Ear,
But rend all Heav'n, and Veng'ance downward tear.

144.For know, just Sir, that in profound Despight
To Heav'n, and that unspotted Truth which We
Receiv'd from thence, this hellish Brat of Night
Blush'd not to broach his blasphemous Heresie.
But through the credulous Countrey Preaching ran
Tainting the honest Commons with his Bane.

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145.Yet well it were if Heav'n alone had been
The Butt of his bold sinne: but traytorous He
Endeavoured to work his dangerous teen
On Earth, and its Imperiall Majestie;
Great Caesars Tribute he deni'd as due,
And his vile self he for a King did shew.

146.Thus roar'd the Priests. But when the Judge had well
The businesse weigh'd by grave Examination,
With Spight, and not with Truth he found it swell,
And therefore made this honest Protestation:
Had I your Eyes, I know not what might be,
But with mine own, no fault in Him I see.

147.As when the Flames are by the Winde beat back,
With boiling Murmure they their Wrath increase,
And a more violent Combustion make,
Strengthning themselves against the stoutest Trees:
So the repulsed Priests more hot did grow,
And with full mouth these Exclamations blow:

148.'Tis strange wise Pilate should not cleerly see
What all about our Nation is spred;
For all Samaria, and Judea He
Hath with this Heresie envenomed;
Which first he broach'd in Galile, and thence
Extended its pestiferous influence.

149.But this defer'd their bloody Hopes; for now
The mention of Galile did put
Pilate upon a further Search to know
Whither the Pris'ner did belong, or not,
To Antipas his power: which when he found,
Unto the Tetrarch He dispatch'd Him bound.

150.Thus through new Streets, and new Revilings He
To surly Herod's Lodging hurried is.
Herod could not conceal his Joy to see
Him whom his unbeleeving Curiousnesse
Had long desired, since his Court did ring
With Jesu's Acts, which Fame did thither bring.

151.And now he doubts not but the Pris'ner will
In hopes to gain his Favour and good Word,
Strain to the utmost of his Power and skill,
And some Miraculous Spectacle afford.
But Herod knew not that this Man was He
Who scorn'd to buy his life with flatterie.

152.Thick were the Questions which He spurr'd to Him,
But Jesus would no idle Motions hear;
For with grave Silence still he answer'd them:
And though the Preists and Scribes all railed there,
He said as little to their shamelesse Lie,
As to the Tetrarchs Curiositie.

153.Is this, said Herod (big with high disdain)
Great Caesar's Rival, who is onely fit
As King of sheepish stupid Fools to reign?
Is this that Wonder-working He, who yet
Has neither Hand, nor Head, nor Power nor B [...]ain
Himself accus'd and scorned to maintain?

154.Is all the wide-spread Glorie of his Name,
Are all his Miracles shrunk in to this,
That he Himself with most ignoble shame
Should prove a Miracle of Sottishnesse?
Is this the King, to tear whose young heart out,
Through thousand Infants breasts my Father sought

155.How my fond fancy wrong'd brave John, when I
Dream'd this was he, to life returned! But
Should it be Iohn, his grosse Stupidity
Assureth Me Revived He is not.
Come Souldiers, use your antick Wits, that so
We may have sport at least, before he goe.

156.Glad were the Guard, and ready equallie
To mock at Iesus, and to please their Lord:
About Him round They danc'd with hideous Crie,
And bid him still that Tempest with his Word;
And when He silent stood, conjur'd Him to
Cast that dumb Divell out which bound Him so.

157.One limping comes, and Him intreats to heal
His withered Foot, with which he kicks Him strait.
Another cries, O make this Lame Hand well,
And then he beats Him with its brawnie weight.
A third desires Him to restore a dead
Dog unto Life, then throws it at his Head.

158.But wearied with their scornfull sports, at last,
Come dresse Him Like a Prince, the Tesrarch cri'd,
And let the Iews return their King to taste
What Banquet Pilate will for Him provide:
His entertainment surely must be high
In Correspondence to his Royaltie,

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159.Tell Him I thank Him for his Courtesie,
It made Me merry, as You all have seen:
I will not rob his Lordships Pleasures by
Keeping this Idiot from Him: When I mean
To play with Fools, I hope my Galile
With one such Sheeps-head more may furnish Me.

160.Thus Jesus in a gorgious Robe is clad,
That more conspicuous his shame might be.
And so through fresh Disdains and Scoffings led
To be the Game of further Tyranny,
Pilate admir'd to see his splendid Hue,
Knowing what Garb was to Delinquents due.

161.For Pris'ners, when their Lives presumed were
Forfeit to Law and Death, were wont to be
In funeral Black array'd, which might prepare
Them to the thoughts of their Catastrophe,
And intimate the Colour of that Sin
Whose horrid Darknesse cloth'd their Soules within.

162.But so did Providence correct their Spight,
That He whose Breast was purer than the Day,
Did in his Vesture wear no guilty Night;
But by his Foes own Hands, in an Array
Of Glory was attir'd, and quitted when
They hal'd Him to his Condemnation.

163.So oftentimes, when a Conspiracy
Of Windes their puffing labouring Wrath doe blow
About the World, in hopes to damp the Skie
With swarthie Clouds and Storms; they onely throw
All Vapors out, and with a full and fair
Serenity array the purged Aire.

164.But Pilate pondering what had hapned now,
And feeling Moral Honesty beat high
Ev'n in his Pagan Heart; could not allow
His Conscience to be Slave unto the Crie
Of the importunate Jews, who roaring stood,
And set their Mouths wide ope for guiltlesse Blood.

165.My duty I have fully done, said He;
Him and your Accusations, have I
Unto the bottome sifted: As for Me
I hope I never gave you reason why
You should presume that any Clamors may
Fright Pilate out from Justice's High-way.

166.Neither your Temple nor your Altars be
More venerable unto you, than is
My most unspotted Judgement Seat to Me:
For all Hells yellings and impatient Cries
I trust Mine shall as valiantly resist
As Mino's, or as Rhadamanthu's Breast.

167.What I to Caesar owe, and what to Right
I long have known, and must not now forget:
My Heart is Romane, and the dearest Light
Of Heav'n is not so pretious to it
As spotlesse Honor, which can never be
Cohabitant with Wrong and Tyranny.

168.Mine own Heart-blood I rather would let flow,
And let your Thirst carouse in it, then I,
From any guiltlesse Veins their Streams will draw
To quench the loudest Importunity.
Mine is mine own; but what have I to doe
To give Anothers Life, when Law, sayes, No.

169.Law takes no hold of Jesus, nor must I
Nor did the Tetrarch; and why then will you?
He that he is a King doth not deny;
But adds withall, His Kingdomes not below.
No harm to Cesar by this Man is done,
Who doth his Kingdome fancy in the Moon,

170.There let his Fancy rule and reign: But yet
'Tis pitty for his Follie He should Die.
It never yet was heard, that Want of Wit
Pass'd for a Capital Offence. Nay I
Have been inform'd, that in the Tribute He
Has witnessed sufficient Loyalty.

171.For by his Doctrine He did it maintain,
And by his Practise too; though Calumnie
Hath your Beliefe abus'd, and cast a Stain
Upon his Innocence. Come, therefore I
Will, for your Credits, Him Chastise, and so
Give Him Dismission without more adoe.

172.And this the rather, since by Custome I
Ingaged am to honor this your Feast
In granting some Offendors Liberty
Who in your Judgement shall deserve it best.
And who, can you think, lesse deserveth Death,
Then He whose Innocence him acquitted hath?

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173.Thus strove the Judge, that He might not condemn
Both Jesus, and himself. When loe the Priests
His gracious offer shamelesly contemn,
And spur the People (in whose furie rests
Their finall Hope,) to beg with all the Strise
Of stoutest throats, none but Barabba's life.

174.Prodigious Priests! is not Barabbas He
Whom all the Town knows guilty of the fact
You fain would fasten upon Iesus? yee
Your selves beheld what tumults he did act,
And how his desperate riot he pursued
Untill in Murder he his hands imbrued.

175.And is the Murderers life so dear, that He
Must live with you, whilst Innocence does die?
Does foule Barabbas his curs'd Company
Suit better with your reverend Sanctitie?
Or can you think both God and Man so blinde
As not to see, and hate, your bloody minde?

176.Strange, Psyche, strange it was, with what loud cryes
The mad-brain'd vulgar heav'n and earth did tear:
Barabba's Name through all their clamour flies,
And they for none but for Barabbas care:
He is their Darling, and they cannot live
If Pilate will not grant them his Reprieve.

177.Thus hellish Hate op'd Providences door
To heav'nly Love, and made Barabba's be
The whole Worlds type, which from the fatal Pow'r
Of endlesse Death, and equall Miserie
Was to be snatch'd to day, whil'st in its place
A Lamb all white and guiltlesse sentenc'd was.

178.Mean while the Judges Lady sent her Page
In posting speed to pray her troubled Lord
Not to be mad because that Rout did rage,
Nor venture to prophane the Roman sword
With innocent blood; for, certainly, said she,
Jesus is just, and they seditious be.

179.For my good genius as I lay asleep
Appear'd unto me hand in hand with thine;
Thine beat his Breast, and bitterly did weep,
And toll'd the reason of his griefe to mine:
He said (and deeply sighed, as he said)
Pilate with Jesus now will be betrai'd.

180.Pilate will be betrai'd to take away
The Life of Jesus, and his own withall,
For Jesus blood will crie another day,
And unto Pilats veins and heart will call:
His veins and heart must answer that strong cry —
— I started here; and out the Dream did flie.

181.Thus heav'n admonish'd Claudia strove to drive
Her husband from his Precipices brow,
And did withall miraculous witnes give
What wrongs the Jews at Jesu's life did throw:
For Heav'n was pleas'd that his integritie
By either sex should now asserted be.

182.No sooner had the trembling Page delivered
His ominous Message; but the Judges heart
With fatall jealousie and horror shivered,
His joints unbuckled, and his eyes did start,
His hair stood staring up, his blood flew back
And left his lips, and all his visage black.

183.But when the Scribes and Priests had learn'd this news
Behold, they cry, how He by Magick art
Hath sent some  [...] Spirit to abuse
The honest thoughts of noble Claudia's heart;
That by this trick the Judge might frighted be,
Our Truthes made slanders, and himself set free,

184.Then all the People with fresh clamors roard,
Thundring Barabbas in the Judges ear:
That violent storm quite blew away the Word
His Lady sent Him; and through sudden fear
Of insurrection He returns to treat
About the Busines which himself did hate.

185.Friends, ask your second thoughts, said He, and see
If they upon Barabbas needs will dote:
I would not that your too much haste should be
Your prejudice; 'twas haste made you so hot
Against your smother'd reason: but free leave
To choose again, to all of you I give.

186.For I would fain my  [...] should be
True to its Name; which sure cannot be so,
If none but foule Barabbas must be He
Whom you will let me upon you bestow,
Consider well, and you will finde it stand
More with your  [...], Jesus to demand,

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187.Inraged at this Word, they all renue
Their former Clamor, and Barabbas roar:
For none but for Barabbas We doe sue;
Grant now what thou hast granted heretofore:
Our wonted Boon We ask: If you deny
Barabbas to Us, keep your Courtesie.

188.Mov'd with their boistrous Madnesse, Pilate cries,
If the seditious Murderer alone
Can seem to you to be a worthy Prize,
Tell Me what must with Innocence be done;
Both cannot be Repreeved; therefore speak
What kinde of course with Jesus I shall take.

189.Well-pleas'd were they that He had giv'n Them leave
To name the Way of their own Cruelty.
A  [...] Exclamation they heave,
Crying, the Case is plain, Let Jesus die;
 [...] Him but unto the Crosse, and We
At charge of Executing Him will be.

190.Then, as an Army with impatient Shout
Rends the wide Field, when most intaged They
Flie to their Work of Blood: So the whole Rout
 [...] Pilates Ear; and all they say,
Up in this most  [...] Word is tied:
Away with Him, let Him be Crucified.

191.O more than hellish Impudence, and Spight!
Is this the People whose high Estimation
Of Jesus, did the High-priests Plots affright
And force them to a secret Conjuration!
The People who some Prophet, at the least,
Forc'd by his mighty Miracles, Him confest!

192.The People, who to pave his welcome Way
Stripp'd the Trees Bodies, and their own, and spred
That princely entertainment to display
How ev'n his Asses feet they honored!
The People, who did brave Hosanna crie!
A Word, ô how unlike to Crucifie!

193.(How well sage Heads have fix'd the odious Brand
Of Ficklenesse upon the Vulgars face!
For safeher may you on the Lybian Sand,
Or on the Adriatick Billows place
A Palaces Foundation, than relie
Upon the Peoples best Fidelity.)

194.The horror of that Word made Pilate start,
Who stepping back, and holding up his Hands,
Cri'd out, O far, far be it from my Heart
To think of such Injustice I your Demands
Should not be Trapps; nor is it fit that I
Should Tyrant prove, your Wills to satisfie.

195.Bears He the Stain of Murder or of Treason
To mark Him out for Death? Can any Eye
Barabbas finde in Him? Or is it reason
That He, because He has no Crime, must Dye?
And can you choose no other Man, but Me
The Pander of your bloody Lust to be?

196.Great Cesar thinks Me wise enough to hear
And judge of Cases; and why should not you?
Jesus I have examin'd; whom as clear
And pure I finde, as is the Virgin Snow;
As clear of capital Crimes, for these alone
Come in the compasse of this Question.

197.Wherefore no Tongue shall e'r have Cause to say
To the confusion of my Honor, that
Pilate bow'd down his Conscience to obey
A lawlesse Motion, Henceforth urge Me not:
Some reasonable Castigation I
Will. lay on Jesus; but He must not die.

198.As when a Knot of eager Hornets are
Repulsed by a wary Hand; they flie
About with doubled Rage, their Foe they dare
With irefull Buzzings, and more furiously
Give a fresh Onset. So in louder Cries
The Peoples Spight at this Repulse did rise.

199.The Cataracts of Nile, or those which fall
Down headlong from the steepest Alps, make not
Such an intolerable Noise, as all
Their yelling Mouthes, resolv'd no more to shut)
Till they can conquer by impetuousnesse:
And Crucifie Him, still their Clamor is.

200.The Palace trembled at the hideous Noise;
Whose fragor thence unto the Temple flew;
Nor could the Temple hold it, for the Voice
It selfe through all the startled City threw:
It shak'd the Judge, and almost turn'd him over,
Yet he his strength and spirits did recover.

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201.And wisely pondering that the Highpriest's spight
The coals of this combustion did blow;
And that they on the mad-braind vulgars might
Had built their Salvage hopes: He studies how
To frustrate their malitious designe
By a severe, yet tender Countremina.

202.For in he takes thy Lord, and yeilds Him to
The cruell whip, that by that crueltie
Way to his Pitty he might make, and so
With blood the bloody people satisfie.
He hop'd if once they saw him all in gore,
Their thirstiest malice would not wish for more.

203.The surly Beadles fetch'd their strongest Tew,
And having strip'd their patient prey of all
His raiment, with rude churlish twitches drew
Him to the stoutest Pillar of the Hall;
To which they bound him fast, for fear that He
Should sink down under their strokes crueltie,

204.With iron whips then to their Work they fall,
And plow the dainty Garden of his back:
The furrows neither shallow were nor small,
But long and wide, and deep, which they did make:
Yet all were quickly filled by the flood.
Of their own most inestimable blood.

205.For to the bottome of each tender  [...]
The cruel engines div'd, and toare from thence
The pretious purple springs; which in disdain
They toss'd about, till their mad violence
In too too pretious colours painted thick
Upon the Pillar, and the floor did stick.

206.The Pillar and the Floor now blush'd to see
How those remorselesse blood-heunds knew no shame;
For still they prosecute their Tyrannie,
Untill their wearinesse prevails with them
(As lately with the servants of the Priest)
In mercy to their own selves, to desist.

207.But then the Soldiers take their cruell cue,
And come to ven him with more witty spight:
A Crown of thorns, (the sharpest things they knew,
Yet things of delicacie and delight
If with their Hearts compar'd) they wreath, and it
On Jesu's tender Head with violence set.

208.And thus the Curse which Heav'n injoyn'd to grow
On sin-condemned Earth, removed is,
And deep engrafted into Jesu's Brow;
Whose Temples well contented wefe with this
Sharp Crown, and envied not their dainty Pride
Whose tresses were in roseal chaplets ty'd.

209.Then on his back (for alwayes with disdain
Their Rage was swell'd) a Purple robe they throw:
Alas, how needlesse! now in richer grain
His native Scarlat doth about him flow,
Whilst all his Body is arrayed round
In one expanded universall wound.

210.And having put a Reed into his hand,
(A silly Sceptre, and which well comply'd
With his vile Crown,) about him round they stand
To act their Pageantrie, and to deride
This patient and miserable thing,
Whom of contempt they had created King.

211.May the great Soveraign of the jews, said they,
Ou-tlive the Harts, the Ravens, the Eagles years;
May his victorious Engines He display
Throughout the World, affrighted at his wars:
Thus may He thresh all nations; and here
They beat him; and went to another jeer.

212.May Heav'ns propitious eye for ever dwell
On him who best deserves its care: may all
The clouds which with the fattest blessings swell,
Upon his Head let their best riches fall
As freely as these drops rain down on it;
And at this Word they all upon Him spit.

213.On the brave Romane Birds imperial wing
May thy illustrious Name and Glory ride;
And may Tiberius to this nobler King
Thus yeeld his mighty Throne: this said, a wide
And massie Chair full at his head they throw,
Which grav'd its foot-steps deep upon his brow.

214.Then, after three low bowings, on his knee
One a Petition brings; and having pray'd
Him to accept his suit, He instantly
Hings it upon his face: Another play'd
 [...], and told Him what strange things
He had in charge to Him from  [...] Kings

[Page 234]
215.Most excellent Sir, my Bus'nesse is, said He,
Of such immediate consequence, that it
Can no delay digest; which urgeth Me
To this unwonted, and uncivill Fit
Of craving present Audience: and here
He boxed both his ears to make Him hear.

216.A third came with a golden Goblet in,
Crying, My Liege, the Queen to you hath sent
This Mornings Draught, and prayes You to begin
That She may pledge your Highnesse: Here he bent
His cursed brows at Jesus, and threw out
Upon his face the Urine He had brought.

217.A fourth his Reed did from him snatch, and cri'd,
Your Scepter, Sir, to heavy is, I fear;
Let not your Majecty your Servant chide
If he offend in too much loyal Care;
Your Selfe shall judge how grievous is its Weight;
Which said, Him with the sturdy Cane he beat.

218.A fift with ernest supplication su'd
But for the honor to support his Train:
Then snatching up his Robe behinde, with rude
Unseemly Peevishnesse, he kick'd amain,
Bruising thy Spouses naked Body, till
His weary Toe stay'd his unwearied Will.

219.A sixt came crying, Treason, Treason, Sir,
Treason against your sacred Majesty.
The Iewes your Subjects, all Conspiring are
Against your Honor and your Life: O fly
And save your Royal Selfe. This made Them all
Seeing Him bound so fast, a laughing fall.

220.O Psyche, I cannot describe how they
Did mock, and grin, and gurn, and sneer, and pout;
How they did wring their Mounthes; what antick play
They us'd their gentle Saviour to flout.
Imagine all the worst thou canst conceive,
And infinitely worse than that beleeve.

221.This Sceen thus acted; Pilate brings him out
In this strange habit, to the Peoples view:
Telling them He had sifted Him, but nought
He could discover which did bear the shew
Of capital Demerit: Yet, said He
Behold how his light faults revenged be.

222.If this ridiculous Garb be not enough
With Shame to clothe Him, yet consider well
In what exuberunt Streams his Blood doth flow,
And guesse what favour I have shew'd Him: Tell,
Me if you think a new room may be found
In all his Body, but for one more Wound.

223.Behold the Man, this torn and worried Thing
Is He, however Comely heretofore;
Sure he has for his foolish Name of King
Paid dear enough; and had not I had more
Regard unto your Credits than mine own,
Such proofs of Cruelty I had not shown.

224.O Spectacle of most Commanding Sorrows!
How would all Hearts but Jewish melt to see
These ghastly Torrents, and these gasping Furrows
Upon the harmlesse Back of Purity!
How would a Tygers thirsty Wrath relent!
How would the Soules of hungry Bears repent!

225.Had these unhappy Jews had any Eyes
But those of rancorous Malice, they might here
Have seen how their own Griefs and Miseries
To patient Jesus all transferred were,
And scor'd upon his Back: They might have found
A salve for all their Sores in every Wound.

226.They might have seen his innocent Temples wear
That Malediction which to them was due:
The stinging Briars he was pleas'd to bear,
And leave the fragrant Flowers to them, which grew
Both in their mortal Gardens here, and which
With endlesse Sweets did Paradise enrich.

227.At least that Lesson of Compassion They,
As well as Pilate, might have plainly read,
Which in red capital Letters written lay,
And to the Eyes of all Spectators spread
So fair a Challenge, that no generous Breast
Could their strange Importunity resist.

228.But loe, the barbarous Priests, unsatisfied
With all that Blood which was already shed,
Because some more behinde remained: Cried
O ease the Earth of that blasphemous Head,
Before Heav'n vindicate it selfe, and We
Involved in the Flood of  [...] be.

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229.It is no Boyes Fault his, that you should deem
A  [...] is sufficient Punishment:
O rather square your own by Heav'ns Esteem,
And joyn with ours, your righteous Consent;
A Crosse, a Crosse: Heav n cannot pleased be
Untill this Monster Crucifi d it see.

230.This most unreasonable Madnes made
The Judge as loude as They: In vain, said He,
You hope by Roaring to make Me afrayd:
The Man is guiltlesse  [...] Eyes; if yee
Resolved are that Innocence must Die,
Goe Murder Him your Selves, and cease your Crie.

231.Harsh was this Word, and on their Plot did grate
So hard, that they enforced were to flie
Unto the Refuge which They most did hate,
As knowing it was an old-answered Lie:
That Law They now pretend, to which long since
The Pris'ner justified his Innocence.

232.Nay, They repli'd, it is not We, but Law;
Our Law, more dear to Us than are our lives,
Calls loude for Him to Death. Be pleas'd to know
That our great God no grace nor pardon gives
Unto the least Blaspheemers; and shall He
Who makes himself the Son of God, goe free?

233.If Thou Protector of our Laws wilt be,
Break not our greatest for this Varlets sake.
Should He intrude into the Familie
Of Caesar, and his Sons great Title take,
Sure Thou wouldst think a Crosse his due: and is
Wrong to Heav'ns Emperour a less Crime than this?

234.Blood-thirsty Hypocrites! For well they knew
How they their Law in urging it denyed;
For though this Accusation had been true,
 [...] must not Jesus by the Crosse have dyed:
The Law an heap of Stones ordein'd to be
The Death, and Monument of Blasphemie.

235. [...] this new Plea did startle Pilate so,
 [...] again retires, and tries again
 [...] Examination might doe:
 [...] he many Queries put, and fain
some Pretence have found, with them to joyne,
 [...] all Slander did out-shine.

236.But when He tels the Multitude his Minde,
Onely new Oile upon their Flames He threw;
For in their loudest Fury all combin'd,
Upon Him with this bold replie they flew:
If Jesus you dismisse, We must have leave
Great Caesar to acquaint with this Repreive.

237.Did not the Traytors Head contrive to wear
A Crown of Gold, where now those Thorns are set?
And Who, We pray, more dangerous Enemies are
To Caesars right, than They which thirst for it?
He says his Realm is not on Earth: And what
Should Traytors being Taken, plead but that?

238.But were He free again, and had proud He
New Thousands at his Heels, which might assist
His Wills Carreir; Might his Designe not be
True to our Fears? And must He be dismist?
Dismisse Him If you will; yet know that We
Must hold you then for Caesars Enemie.

239.Pilate had with their Malice grappled long;
But now his Place and Credit lay at stake,
He who before was so upright and strong,
Degenerously turn'd Unjust and Weak:
Firm stood his Chair upon the Pavement, but
His Heart and Conscience soone fell flat on it.

240.For as He'ginns to name their King again,
Away with him, they Crie, We have no King
But Caesar, Caesar over Us shall reign,
And He alone: As for this Cursed Thing,
'Tis more than time that to his Cross He goe;
And every one that is his Favourer too.

241.Alas, this Blast did on his faint Breast did blow
So thick a Storm of Ielousie and Dread,
That now he fancied all the Town did draw
Their mutinous Swords against his single Head;
And that the Priests had with their specious Lie
Dispatched unto Rome an Embassie.

242.Thus toss'd and baited, by the Tempest, He
His Faith and Truth, the dearest Wares he had,
Throws over bord, and to their Crueltie
Joyns his Consent; which yet appear d so mad
And full of foul and odious horror, that
He calls for Water to wash off its Blott.

[Page 236]
243.Why dost thou ravish, Foolish Hypocrite,
The virgin Nymph? What Water wilt thou get
To wash this clean, which cannot make Thee white,
But onely is by this thy Touching it
For ever made impure: Should all the Sea
Flow on thy Hands, they still would Bloody be.

244.The Leopards Spots, which fix their Feet so sure
Upon his skin, shall sooner melt away;
The AEthiop's Face shall sooner learn a Cure
And turn its swarthy Night to beauteous day;
The Ravens with Swans in White shall sooner vie,
Than thou be purg'd from thy ingrained die.

245.Yet Pilate flatter'd by his own Device,
Will needs be dabbling in the Water; and
Behold, ye Priests and People all, he cries,
Of Iesu's Blood I wash my guiltlesse Hand:
Although my Tongue the sentence passe, yet ye
Extorted it, and yours the Act shall be.

246.Content, said They; since you will have no share,
Ours let the Actions Glorie wholly be:
Both Heav'n and Earth will thank us for our Care,
And Caesar praise our zealous Loyaltie.
So will your self, when you have weighed well
What kinde of Monster you have sent to Hell.

247.As for his Blood, which frights your timorous Hand,
It is to us the Brightest Paint of Gloxie,
And will to all Successions commend
Our pious Loyall Resolutions Storie;
For our ambitious Wish it is, that It
May On Heads, and on our Children sit.

248.Unhappy Wish! had this been rightly fram'd,
No Prayer had flam'd with purer Piety,
Nor pull'd more Blessings down, then would have streamd
In this rich Blood upon Them all But see
The fatall Power of Malice, which can thus
Make Zeals sweet Dialect turn venomous.

249.For'twas not long e'r Titus came to poure
This Blood upon Them, and their Wish fulfill:
Them and their Seed its Streams did then devour,
With such full Veng'ance did the Torrent swell;
Their Town and Temple too this Deluge found
Which in their Wishes Surplusage were drown'd.

250.For never yet did Warr so riot in
The Blood of any helplesse Wights, as here;
Nor fatall Misery hunt out any Sin
With so seveer a Quest as that: So  [...]
They found their Wish and bloody Exclamation,
Which prov'd the funerall Knell to all their Nation.

251.And now the Judge within whose Breast the fear
Of Men, vile Men, more than of God did reign,
Those Bonds of generous Right himselfe did tear
From which he woo'd the People to refrain;
And gives his owne unhappy tongue the Lie,
Iudging the Lord of Innocence to die.

252.O monstrous sentence! were the fell Decrees
Which ever yet from Tyrants Mouths did breake,
With the Descriptions of their Cruelties,
All writ in one black Roll; they would not make
So hideous a show as this alone,
Of Barbarousnesse the dire Perfection.

253.All Injuries in this triumphant are,
Being skrued to the highest pitch of Spight;
Injustice but a Suckling was, till heer
She on the sudden grew to her full height:
Herod had nurs'd her well, but Pilate now
With the Iews help, taught her compleat to grow.

254.For could Hell mould so horrible a Doome
As might send every Infant who did see
Lifes morning Light, strait from his Mothers Wombe
To his Deaths Ev'n; that Sentence yet would be
Lesse barbarous than this, which doth at once
Condemne more than the whole Worlds Innocence.

255.Alas, unfortunate Pilate, how hast Thou
Condemn'd thy Self whilst Thou didst sentence Him!
The time draws nie, when Caius will not know
Thee for a Freind of Caesars; Thy Esteem
And Office too unto their Evening draw,
And foure Years more will make Thee feel the Law.

256.The Law of Bannishment; when France shall see
Thee to Vienna ti'd, that fatall place,
Where Hell shall to thy Soule displayed be,
And thy black Conscience warr against thy face,
Mustring the Guilt of this unhappy Day
Before thine Eyes in terrible Array.

[Page 237]
257.There thy wives message shall again resound
And sting thine heart; thine own Professions there
Of Jesu's innocence shall all rebound
Upon thy breast, and thy foule bosome tear;
There shall that water bubble up, and boile
Upon thine Hands, which did its streams defile.

258.There shall thy whips their lashes turn on thee,
There shall the thorns grow thick upon thy Head,
There shall the Buffettings and Mockings be
Unto  [...] self in fail tale numbered;
There  [...] prodigious sentence back shall flie,
And point out Pilate as one fit to die.

259.Then shall the cruel Crosse, the Nailes, the Spear,
Walk through thy thoughts and murder thee alive;
Till Crucifi'd by thine own fatall fear
Thine hand due vengeance to thy self shall give,
And from thy Hell above by cursed death
Send thy dispairing soule to Hell beneath.

260.So shall thine hand thou thoughtst thou washst so white
 [...] imbru'd in thine own horrid gore,
 [...] to all following Judges write
Of what sure vengeance righteous Heav'n doth poure
On them who warp Laws rule to Peoples lust,
And make the throne of Justice be unjust.

261.But when the Lamb of Heav'n was sentenc'd thus
Unto the Shambles: Streit upon their prey
The rampant Soldiers fly: His gorgeous
Attire they from him snatch, and him array
In his own simple fleece; yet suffer still
The torturing thorns upon his head to dwell.

262.This rubb'd, and wounded all those Wounds again
In which the clotted blood began to rest;
This op'd the weary Mouth of every vein,
As if it would have had them now confest
The utmost drop they knew: yet though this loss
Went deep, they kept enough to paint the Cross.

263. [...] delay then unto Calvarie
 [...] hurry Him; ev'n though their Senates Law
 [...] that no Execution be
 [...],  [...] by ten dayes Thoughts the Judge may know
 [...] he has not in some passi nate haste
Without sufficient grounds his Sentence Past.

264.The Priests had mony, that commanding Spurr
Which fires all Soldiers with impatient Speed;
And Pilate now can cast in no Demurr;
The Jews assure him that he has no need:
But need, or not; his thoughts in vain doe beat;
The Soldiers now were bought to doe the Feat.

265.But being Martiall generous Spirits, they
Must not debase their armed Backs, to bear
The servile ignominious Cross: nor may
The Jews, who now all purified were
To celebrate their Paschall Supper, be
Stain'd by the Touch of that accursed Tree.

266.On JESU'S Wounds his Death the Soldiers lay,
And He must ern his Crosses Service, by
Bearing its tedious Weight, before he may
Be born by it. Thus with a barbarous Crie
Of Tongues and Trumpets which the Welkin rent,
Through the cheifstreets this sad Procession went.

267.But He whose Springs so drained were before
Both of their Blood and Spirits, now grew faint
In vain they kick'd him, and in vain they tore
Him forward by his Hair; for no Constraint
Can make weak Nature her own Power exceed,
Nor finde out Firmnesse in a broken Reed.

268.What Heart but seared by the fire of Hell,
Could now Compassions courteous Tears forbear
But yet the Soldiers bosomes by the fell
Contagion of the Iewish Malice are
So deeply tainted, that what might invite
Tigres to Pittie, does but whet their Spight.

269.For meerely in prevention of the Loss
Of that choise Sport they hoped for when He
Was once set fair and sure upon his Cross,
As the full Mark at which all Scoffs might be
Directly aim'd; Him from this Load they spare,
And force Cyrenian Simon it to bear.

270.Nay, Live you shall, say they till you may Die
As you deserve: mean while this Ernest take
Of that full Summe which We will by and by
On Golgotha without abatement make:
With this they beat Him, and so much the more
As with his Blood, he no Complaints would poure,

[Page 238]
271.Indeed the softer Sex, who upon Him
And on his Woes did wait with tenderer Eyes,
In his own Blood could not behold Him swim,
But with their Sympathetick Tears and Cries
Confess'd that they had Bowells still, although
Remorseless Stone Mens hearts did overgrow.

272.But Jesus who did all this grevious while
Encourage by his patient Silence, those
Most insolent Jeers and Blasphemies the vile
And spightfull Jews could frame: doth now oppose
These Womens loving Tears, and upon them
With nobler Pitty turn their pittying Stream.

273.For 'twas his brave Ambition to engross
All Greifs and Sorrows to Himself to day;
Esteeming every Groan of theirs his Loss,
And all his Woes discredited, that they
Should seem to need Assistants, when stout He
To his own Shoulders woo'd all Miserie.

274.Weep not ye Daughters of Jerusalem,
Weep not for Me who have set ope my Breast
To every Greif which into it can stream,
And thither mean to welcome every Guest:
Weep not for Me said He, whose Sorrows are
Not to be quenched by a mortall Tear,

275.If you will broach your Bottles, let them run
For your own selves, and your unhappy Seed;
For loe those fatall Days are posting on
Which all your Brine and more than all will need,
The Days when Blessing shall no longer spred
Its joyous Complement on Mothers Head.

276.For then the Barren Womb shall praised be
As fertile in the choisest Happiness;
Then everie Tongue those Papps ariditie
Which never brought up Babe to Woe, shall bless.
Then shall the dearest pledges of your Love
Your Sonns and Daughters, living Torments prove.

277.Then in impatient longing for a Grave
Despairing Men shall to the Mountains call,
And everie neighbour Hills Compassion crave
Beseeching them upon their Heads to fall,
And hide them, though in Death, from seeing how
Calamitie about the World doth flow

278.For if in me a young and verdant Tres
The flames of Veng'ance thus prevailing are.
What shall the Refuge, or Condition be
Of Stumps and Trunks, all withered and sear,
Which are already dri'd, and fit alone
For feuell for their own Combustion?

279.In a fresh Cursing and Blaspheming fitt
This set the mad-braind Rout; who ask'd Him why
When they of late so humbly begged it
He would not condescend to Prophesie?
And why, He who could others Woes so well
Discern, could nothing of his own foretell?

280.And see, good Prophet, yonder Hill, said they;
Take your own Counsell now, before it prove
Too late: Come let Us heare what you can say
Both it and its Compassion to move.
Set out your Throat; if hard and loud you plead
Perhaps 'twill bow its own to hide your Head.

281.Then having star'd a while upon Him, all
Whose Fists, or Toes, or Spittle him could reach,
With thick and peevish indignation fall
Upon his bruised bloody Body: Which
Triumphant scorns, He meekly vanquish'd by
His Silence, and march'd up to Calvarie.

282.Ev'n to this Calvarie We stand on heer,
This Mount which from a Scull hath gain'd its Name;
For in this solemn Place the Sepulchre
Of reverend Adam stood; which carefull Fame
Told to Posteritie, and so the Hill
Wears in its Title that old Story still.

283.With such Decorum did thy prudent Lord
Order his meritorious Passion, that
The second Adam might his help afford
Unto the First, where He lay chain d and shut
Up in Deaths Prison, the remorseless Grave,
Which to Corruption did Him enslave.

284.Iesus on that drie Dust resolv'd to shed
His most enlivening purifying Blood;
That He might wash and cure the tainted Head
Of Mortalls Miserie, by the soveraign Flood
Of his own Life; that Life which onely can
Restore true vitall vigor unto Man.

[Page 239]
285.Here  [...], here the Crosse its foot did set
When it sustaind the Worlds Redeemer; here
Is that renouned Soile which once was wet
With richer Drops than ever shoured were
From kindest Heav'n; for by that fertile Dew
Salvations Harvest to perfection grew.

286.But yet this Hill wears not that onely Name
Of Calvarie; 'twas call'd Moriah too
Of old, when zealous Abraham hither came
His most renouned Sacrifice to doe;
And by unparalleld Obedience prove
The valourous Bravery of faithfull Love.

287.Brave Abraham hither came; his Altar heer
He built, and prepossess'd the Crosses place:
So Isaac did thy Lords a while; But there
An hamperd Ram strait substituted was:
Thus Isaac scap'd; but now there was no Ram
Which might supply the place of heav'ns dear Lamb.

288.Jesus himselfe must sacrificed be,
Not by, but to his Father: Psyche, now
That fatal Houre was come when Tyrannie
Held the free Reins, and did its freedome know;
When purest Innocence was abandond quite
Unto the Luxurie of proudest Spight.

289.For loe the Souldiers thy torn Saviour stretch
And fit Him unto his tormenting Tree:
His blessed Hands unto the Topp they reach,
(Those Hands whose workmanship all creatures be,)
His Feet unto the bottom; (those pure Feet
Which no Bloud, but their own, did ever wet.)

290.These Hands and Feet with cruell Nailes they make
Sure to the Crosse, and fasten Him unto
His Pains and Death. What heart-strings would not crack
To see these tender Veins broke open so!
What Tears could keep at home, and not gush out
With those dear Streams which now flowd all about!

291.Sure none who dare the Name of Christian wear,
Can with such stony Hearts this story read,
As not to feel these Nails their Bosomes tear,
And  [...] their tender Contemplations bleed:
For how can living genuine Members be
Not wounded with their Heads calamity?

292.But these inhumane Torturers shouting loud
In desperate applause of their own Sin,
Rear up the Crucifix; and then grow proud
To see this Trophe of their Rage. So when
Harpies on heaps have heap'd their butcher'd Prey,
They smile, and clap their Wings with cursed Joy,

293.Then on each hand a Theife they  [...]:
For when they on his Person no more shame
Could heap, they labour by this Companie,
To make the World suppose Him one of Them;
Alas He knew no other Theft, but this,
To steal his Torturers to heav'nly Blisse.

294.For whilst between these Bryars like the Rose,
Or like fair Virtue twixt her foule Extreems
He fastned is; He plots against his Foes,
And projects how to pay Them Diademes
For these his Tortures; unto Heav'n he flies
On Loves stout wings, and to his Father cries

295.Father! By all the Sweets of that dear Name
Regard the Prayer of thy Dying Son:
By this my Crosse and all its noble Shame,
By these four Wounds which with full Current run,
By all these Thorns which grow upon my Head,
And those which in my Heart are fastened,

296.Remember not the Sin of these poor Men
Who through blinde Zeal perceive not what they doe;
Though foolish, yet they are my Bretheren;
O spare Them then! Let not their Error who
Occasion all the Worlds most Soveraign Blisse,
Make their own Soules their proper Portion misse.

297.Thus for the rav'ning Wolves the Lamb doth pray;
The Partridge for the Hawks. O mighty Love
Which all the Injuries of this cruel Day
Cannot supprefle! The more the Torturers strove
To wreak upon Him their elaborate Spight
The more his Mercy tries on Them its Might.

298.Thus when Arabian Odours  [...] be,
Their sweet revenge they on their  [...] take
By pouring out to them  [...]
Of pure Perfumes, whole  [...] doth  [...] speak
Of Griefe or Anger, but is  [...]
In the kinde language of  [...] Sent,

[Page 240]
299.Thus when the tender Vine is nailed fast
Unto the Propp, and by the Pruning Knife
Robb'd of her Branches; She takes no distaste
At all those deep entrenchments on her life,
But with a bounteous Vintage strives to cheer
The Heart of Him who thus had wounded Her.

300.But what care salvage They who scorn to be
Softned by Kindenesse? Wax indeed may run
At the warm Touch of High-noon's Charity;
But for did Mud and Clay; although the Sun
Doth with his kindest Rayes about them flow,
Instead of Melting, onely harder grow.

301.They think that Jesus has more need to pray
For his own Selfe than them; and with disdain
 [...] at his unask'd-for Kindenesse, They
 [...] themselves how to divide their Gam;
This was his Clothes, the Lambs poor plunder'd Fleece,
The simple prize of their high Villanies.

302.His other Garments they divide and share;
But finding that his seamlesse Vesture was
All of one Texture, they contented are
To offer the decision of the Case
To Fortunes Sentence, and conclude by Lot
To give that whole, they thought too good to Cut.

303.Too good they thought this Common Web to be
Mangled and torn; yet with the self-same heart,
Abhorred not his pretious Flesh to see
All gash'd and rent by Hatreds utmost Art.
The Butcher thus thinks fit the Skin to keep
Intire, although He quarter out the Sheep.

304.Mean while, arrayed in his naked Gore
Sweet Jesus hangs betwixt the Heav'n and Earth
Like one of Both rejected; and does poure
The Worlds red Price at four wide Flood-gates forth
An Object of more Pitty never yet
Was seen, nor one which reaped lesse of it.

305.All Passengers without Regard went on
And turn'd their unkinde backs upon his Woes.
Yet well it were if this Neglect alone
Made Warr against his Patience: but from those
Who to this pitch of Sorrows rais'd him, He
Feets new assaults of positive Misery.

306.For not contented with their Nails and Thorns
To digg his pretious Body, now they strive
To pierce his Soule with ignominious Scorns,
To wound his Meeknesse, and his Sufferings grieve;
As if his Pains and Crosse would not suffice,
Unlesse he mocked, and reviled dies.

307.They point their fingers, and their heads they shake,
And then their crueller Tongues, and thus they crie:
Remember what your Pride once pleas'd to speak:
You in three Dayes yon' Fabrick could destroy,
And rear it up again; yet mighty Sir,
The Temple stands, and You are hanged here.

308.For shame make good your boasted Power, and now
Command those Nails to leave your Hands and Feet,
Command your Crosse before your face to bow,
Command your lost Blood to return and meet
Your gaping Wounds: Is't not high time to save
Your Selfe, if you resolve to scape your Grave?

309.O no; the Elders, Scribes, and Priests replie,
Though many Seeming Wonders He has done.
Though he has cured many a Maladie,
Though he has conjur'd up Salvation
For others; yet We know for certain He
Cannot unto himselfe a Saviour be.

310.No lying Prophet ever yet was known
Who once into the hands of Justice brought
Could by his power of Witchcraft reach his own
Deliverance, and work his Carcase out
Of Chains or Tortures; for if this might be,
How could we know Heav'ns Truth from Forgery?

311.Now it appears by Whose Assistance He
Mix'd with his bare Word that miraculous Strength
Which charm d the Peoples fond Credulity.
But Belzebub is wise enough at length
To leave his Instrument to Iustice, when
His utmost Mischiefe He has done to Men.

312.Now it appears what small cause Pilate had
To shake his Head at our importunate Crie,
Had not our Zeal that  [...] Onset made
On his abused Lordships Lenity,
This rank Impostor, then repreeved, might
Have still pass d for a Wonder-working Wight.

[Page 241]
313.Yet if the potent King of Israel now
Will but vouchsafe to Step down from this Tree
And to his Subjects doubtfull Hearts allow
This Proof of his divine Supremacy;
For our parts We are ready here, and will
Beleeve his Pow'r and his Commands fulfill.

314.What can he more expect of Us, who here
Attend upon him in his deepest shame
Waiting till He will please Clouds to clear
Which damp the lustre of his glorious Name?
So fain would We unto our King to day,
Would He assert Himselfe, our homage pay.

315.But silly King, he cannot stir, you see,
No, though his Kingdome lieth at the Stake:
He talk'd as if the Clouds his Coach should be,
And that he ment upon the Aires high back,
To shew himselfe in State to Us; but now
His Crosse is all the Chariot he can show.

316.He often bragg'd that God was his great Sire,
How is it then his Father owns Him not?
Sure were He worth the owning, all the Quire
Of Heav'n would hither Flock, to hide this Blot
Of his broad Shame with their pure Wings, & bear
Him hence in triumph to his native Sphear.

317.Shame on your Blasphemies you shamelesse Rout
Of Priests and People! Jesus aimeth not
To save Himselfe, but You who sting and flout
His noble Patience: He has not forgot
That in his Soveraign Hands and Fingers still
The whole Train of Omnipotence doth dwell.

318.For those Almighty Hands he stretcheth out,
And busie is in working your Salvation.
He could Come down; but stayes till he has wrought
That mighty Act of his victorious Passion.
He could come down, but stayes till he may draw
Up after Him this groveling World below.

319.He could come down, did you not fix Him there
Not with your Nails, but with your stronger Sins:
He could come down, were his own Life as dear
To him, as yours: But on his Wrongs he winns,
And by all resolute Love strives to prevail
Against all Spight and Rage which him  [...]

320.O Psyche, cruell were those Scoffs; but yet
More stinging Scorn then this is still behinde:
For now the very Theeves upon him spit
Their odious Taunts, and seem in Him to finde
What their vile Soules amidst the Miseries
Of their own cursed Crosses, dare despise,

321.Ink scorns the Snow, foule Night accuseth Day,
The dirty Puddle mocks the virgin Spring,
Dark Shades contemn the Suns meridian Ray,
Black Night-ravens call the Swan a swarthy Thing,
Ignoble Bats revile the Eagles Eyes,
And Hell it selfe insults o'r Paradise.

322.Art thou that mighty Christ, said they, and yet
Hang'st here the Game of all Contempt and Spight?
Can Heav'ns great Son his Selfe so far forget,
As rather to endure to Die, then fight?
Discredit not, by yeilding cowardly,
The Lord of Hosts, if he thy Father be,

323.Come justifie that royal Title there,
Which now but laughs at thine ignoble Head;
Approve thy Selfe King of the Jews, and fear
Not to redeem thy Fame and Life: But spread
Thy Favour too on Us, that under Thee
The Soveraign, We may glorious Nobles be.

324.For since in these thy deep Misfortunes We
Of all thy World thy sole Companions are;
We well in your restor'd Prosperity
May promise our Desert the deepest share.
So spake the Theeves; and then they roar'd for Pain;
But quickly fell to scoffe and curse again.

325.And shall not Heav'ns Artillery now attend
Its wronged King, and vindicate his Cause?
Can Earth hear this, and not in sunder rend
Snatching these Elves into her deepest Jaws?
No: Jesus now no Veng'ance doth approve
But that of patient and Silent Love,

326.Sweet Veng'ance! which so strongly wrought upon
One of this loud blaspheming Pair, that he
Converts his Curses to Devotion.
And prompts his Fellow unto Piety,
Rebuking sharply his malitious Tongue,
Which still persu'd his Lord with shameless Wrong.

[Page 242]
327.Then like a wise and sober Theif indeed;
He seeks to steal into his Saviours grace:
O King of Heav'n he cries, I plainly read
Thy Majesty though in thy clounded Face.
Sure Thou hast taught mine Eyes this skill; ô then
Compleat this Mercy which Thou hast begun.

328.When in thy Kingdome Thou shalt mounted be
Upon thy Throne of Glory, ô forger
Those Wrongs which ignorant I did poure on Thee,
On Thee, the God of Innocence: but yet
Forget not Me, who must for ever die
Unlesse repreived by thy Clemencie.

329.Jesus, whose Goodnesse never did disdain
 [...] hear and answer a meek Sinners Crie,
Though his provoked Lips he did refrain
Amidst those thick Storms of loud Blasphemie,
With gracious Sweetnes doth Assurance give
Unto the Dying Theif, that he shall live.

330.Fear not, said He, thy Death is drawing nie,
But it shall prove the Gate of Life to Thee;
My Word, the Pillar of all Certainty
I freely pass: Thou from that cursed Tree
Shalt step this Day to Paradise, and there
Under the Bowers of Blisse with Me appear.

331.The Preists and People laugh'd and scoff'd to hear
Him talk of giving Blisse, who hung in Pain;
Blinde Fools, who could not now discern how clear
His Power shin'd, which thus its Prize could gain
Out of Hells Mouth, & with Loves sweet constreint
Make of a Cursing Theif, a Praying Saint.

332.By this deer Token He to every one
Of them aforehand did their Pardon seal,
If they would doe what the meeke Theif had done,
And to his Grace with penitent hearts appeal:
But most unhappy They this deep Designe
Of Love, did obstinately countremine.

333.Profoundly did this Scorn of Mercy tear
Thy Spouses most compassionate Breast: But He
Observing now his dearest Followers there,
The Mother of Him and Virginitie,
With faithfull John, a keen and double Dart
Of fresh Greif shot quite through his bleeding Heart.

334.For in his Mothers tender Soule he saw
That cruel Sword stuck deep which Simeon
Foretold so long agoe: The Virgin now,
Who at the first brought forth her blessed Son
Whithout all Pangs, doth in hard Labour strein,
And pays her Debt of puerperiall Pain.

335.O how the Bowels of her yearning Heart
Are tent and torn! her hands, her feet, her head,
All bear their proper Torments, and no Part
Can say, To me these Sorrows doe not spread;
For from her Sons deer Body every Wound
Doth on her sympathetik Self rebound.

336.Her Temples are with thick-set Thorns hedg'd in,
Nail'd unto Tortures are Her dainty Feet,
Tatter'd and mangled is Her tender Skin,
Her Flesh plow'd up, Her veins wide open set,
And all her modest Body to the view
Exposed is of every shameless Jew.

337.On Her those Jeers, and Taunts, and Blasphemies
Their venome pour, and swell with Greif her Breast;
That Breast which noble Love so straitly ties
And coments to her Sons, that not the least
Division can interpose, nor make
This Double One, themselves for single take.

338.If She had in her other Self, if she
In Mary had been Crucifi'd, the Crosse
Had tolerable been; but thus to be
Destroy'd in Jesus, is so vast a Loss
That Mari's swallow'd up in it, and this
Calamitie becomes both Hers, and His.

339.Her Hope, her Joy, her Life, her Love, her Blisse,
Her Heav'n, her Son, her God, all these She now
Beholds betrayed to her Enemies;
And what has Mary more? How shall she row
Through this vast Sea, which in each gaping Wave
Presents her ô how much more than a Grave?

340.As oft as to the Crosse she opes her Eyes,
Death rusheth in; Yet she as oft doth Die
As unto their Compassion she denies
That ruefull Spectacle. If Psyche, I
Or Thou, or any Seraph had been so
Beseig'd with Soveraign Griess, What could We do?

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341.What could we doe but sink? Yet noble she
Struggling amidst a thousand Deaths, at last
Snatch'd from her mighty Losses, Victory;
Whilst at the feet of Gods great Will she cast
Her own; as gallant Abraham, when He
Preferr'd before his Isaac, Pietie.

342.Yet what was Isaac unto Jesus! ô
With how much dearer Prize did Mary part!
Though Isaac pretious was, He could no so
Profoundly be ingrav'd in Abrahams Heart,
As Jesus in his Mothers; yet is She
Content of her Hearts Heart depriv'd to be.

343.O heav'nly Mother, never Agonie
Was more heroick than was this of thine;
Excepting that of thy great Son, when He
His humble Patience did prove Divine.
Decorum 'twas that Thou should'st tread alone
The hardest Steps of Glory next thy Son.

344.But Psyche though this Amazon of Love
So stoutly fought; yet John who stood by her
Was of a weaker Metall far, and strove
With lesse Successe the Passion to bear:
He strove a while; but at the last, poor Saint,
As Griefe became outragious, he grew faint.

345.For when his loving Eyes beheld that Breast
Upon whose Sweets his Head was wont to lie,
And those dear Arms, which us'd to hug him fast
And chain him unto Blisse; The Tyranny
Which now possessed them, soon overthrew
His tender Heart, and all his Comforts slew.

346.Jesus observ'd them Both, and saw how she
Although her Pain and Sorrow greater were,
Yet made them bow unto her Will; how He
Suffer'd his lesser Griefe to domineer
Over his wounded Soule; and seeing this,
Felt what he saw in Both, for Both were His.

347.He felt their Tortures; but with deeper sense
Then they themselves, and more Excesse of Pain;
His Soule being temper'd to all Excellence
Of dainty Softnesse, which did entertain
Ev'n in its Bowells, every Torments Darts
He spi'd in any of his Spouses Hearts.

348.Witnesse his bounteous Care, before he dies',
To cheer them by a pretious Legacy:
His noble Mother, far above all price,
Ev'n in that dearest of Relations, he
Bequeaths to John; and John to her again,
That in his stead, her Son he might remain.

349.Sweet Legacie! where though the Mother be
The richer Gift, considered alone,
Yet is the Balance equaly
Now Iohn's inhanced by the Name of Son:
For that high Name intitles him to be
No lesse than Jesu's priviledg'd Deputy.

350.A long-long Houre had now run out, since by
His weeping Wounds the King of Mercy hung:
Yet all this while from the hard Peoples Eye
Not one drop of Compassion he had wrung.
This made the Sun, though on his high-noon Throne.
Fear his own Eyes had not their duty done.

351.But looking wistly, He perceived how
Men had exiled all Humanity;
This Sight upon his face a Blush did throw
In shame and horror at the Prodigie;
He blush'd and shut his royall Eyes, and hurld
More than Cimmeria all about the World.

352.In mourning Weeds the heav'nly Sphears at last
Upon their dying Master will attend,
And with no gaudy Tire of Light be drest
Now all the Powers of Hell and Darknesse bend
Their uncontrolled spight, in Him, to damp.
All other Lights divine original Lamp.

353.The Aire was frighted at this monstrous Change
When Midnight seized upon highnoon Day,
Marching with Apparitions, and strange
Phantomes of duskie fire, in fierce array;
Whilst every hollow Winde which passed by
Bemoan'd with sad Groans this Calamity.

354.The lesser Sparks of Heav'n all started as
Their sudden priviledge, who now might view
The open face of Noon; not knowing what
Had thrown upon the Sun his Sable Hue;
With doubting twinckling Eyes on him they gaze;
Seeing him down, yet in his highest Place.

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355.Each gentle fair-condition'd Bird and Beast
Hi'd them unto their Nests and Dens for fear:
Onely some ominous Ravens and Scritchowles prest,
With Beasts of Prey & Night, through the black Aire:
And fit Companions for these Jews they were
Who in all Horridnesse their Brethren are.

356.Frights and Dismays walk'd not so thick upon
The face of Egypt, when 'twas buried
In a strange three-days Night, as now they run
Both there and here, for every where they spread,
Having as large a Circle as the Sun,
Who now from all the World at once was gone.

357.The grave Astronomers, who with Phoebus were
Of old  [...], and knew all his Gistes
His way, his Jnns, his Hosts, and whersoe're
His restles Coach in his bright path  [...],
Wonder'd what sudden Monster did arise
And rob him of his Locks and of his Eyes.

358.'Tis plain the Moon was innocent, for She
Knew not the buis'nes, being far away;
No less than Halfe the Heav'ns Immensitie
Betwixt Hers, and Her Brothers Station lay,
For whilst He flourish'd in the perfect height
Of Day, She groveled in the Depth of Night.

359.But grant by some portentuous Wheel She from
Her proper Place was whirl'd thus farr away
Yet how could her poor Bulk usurp the Room
Of His vast flames, and damm up all the Day?
Sure Phoebus scorns that Her small Blot should rob
The totall Beautie of his mighty Globe.

360.O No  [...] was a larger Blot than so,
A Blot in which all Blackness did combine,
A Blot which no Comparison doth know,
A Blot made up of every foulest Sinn,
A Blot as hideous, as profound, and wide
As Impudence could make; 'twas Deicide;

361.No wonder now Heav'n would no longer be
Beheld those who did its King destroy;
That Phoebus his less reverend Majestie
Deny'd to them whose onely work and joy
Was to eclipse and quench that Soveraign Sunn
Whose open Eyes His durst not gaze upon.

362.And yet this Darkness a faint Copie was
Of that more monstrous Pitch which stuck upon
The Eyes and Hearts of the blind Jews: Alas
This Prodigies stern Admonition
Could not awake their Thoughts, to search, and see
How Heav'n was frighted at their Crueltie,

363.The itching Wit of their immortall Spight
Draws every Thing into new B lasphemie:
Behold, say They, the most audacious Might
Of His insufferable Witcherie:
Whilst other Wizards onely on the Moon
Or Starrs, throw Darkness; He choaks up the Sun.

364.But now the Ninth Houre of the Day drew on,
And brought the last Act of this Tragedie
Along with it; that Houre in which alone
More Horrors than  [...] Agese'r did see
In one Consp  [...] met,
And in Array themselves all armed set.

365.His other  [...] but faint Praeludiums were,
Which onely gathering Clouns did overspred;
But now the Tempest in its full Carrieer
Broke down and sous'd directly on his head;
JESUS was now encompass'd with the Stream
And ev'n into his Soul the Waters came.

366.The Waters of that dismall Cup which He
Both fear'd and lov'd; eschew'd and chose to Drink:
The fatall Dreggs of Wrath and Misery,
Of every black and dreadfull Thing the Sink:
A Dead Sea unto which Gomorrha's Lake
Compar'd, would wholsome Milk and Hony speak:

367.Heav'ns Justice, who had with a constant Eye
Observ'd all Tribes of Men, and noted down
Each little Slip, each broad Impiety,
With all the Trappings Time and Place had thrown
About them; hither made a journey, and
Full in thy Spouse's face took up her Stand.

368.Lesse Terror from the Vulturs count'nance breaks
When she her Tallons claps upon her Prey;
Lesse from the irefull High-priest when he takes
His Cursing Aime at Jesus; than to day
Flash'd from this cruel Mayd, in whose fell look
Her dismal throne accomplish'd Veng'ance took.

[Page 245]
369.Immortal Dread star'd wide in either Eye;
Her forehead was plow'd up with furrows deep,
Sown with the Seeds of all Severity;
(Which now for Jesus were grown fit to reap.)
Her Lips were Fire; her Cheeks were burning red,
And for a Tongue a flaming Sword she had.

370.She never in such horrible Array
Appear d till now on Earth; not when she came
With Water arm'd to wash the World away;
Or unto Sodome with a Flood of Flame;
Or when her fiery Serpents she did bring
The Israelites Rebellion to sting.

371.A Veil (so hideously black, that Night
Is a  [...] beauteous thing to it,)
Over her head was spred, which, though Day-light
Were now at Liberty, would not permit
The stoutest Mortals sin-condemned Eyes
Ever to reach the Comfortable Skies.

372.On either side, ten thousand Furies were,
With Millions of Pangs and Ejulations;
Woefull Eternity was also there
Hugging each Horror: Troops of Desperations
Raving and riotting in their own Blood
In the vast Armies Rear behinde Her stood.

373.But in her Hand a sable Book she held,
Which now She opened unto Jesu's eyes:
When loe each dreadfull Page appeared fill'd
With more intolerable Prodigies
Than those transcendent Monstrous Shapes which were
Marshall'd in her Hell-representing Rear.

374.There that Rebellion painted was, which grew
In Paradise, so huge and rank a Weed
That it none but the Worlds own Limits knew,
For through all Generations its Seed
It scattered, and made each poisnous Birth
Bring full Assurance of its own Death forth.

375.The Serpent which in Eden planted it
Wears not such fatal Horror in his Face,
Nor stings so deep, nor doth his Venome spit
So far and wide, nor e'r attended was
With such a numerous Frie of Devills, as this
Old Beldame Sin by young Ones followed is,

376.This was the fearfull Frontispice: But now
The cursed Leaves She opened one by one:
Pride had usurp'd the first, and there did show
Her swolln and blister'd Count'nance, which did run
With banefull Matter, being bruised by
A Fall she caught as she was climbing high.

377.The next was Spight, broad War, close Calumnie;
Then Avarice besmeard with knawing Rust,
And putid Lying, and foule Treachery,
With sneaking Theft, and everstinging Lust,
Intemperance wallowing in a nastie Flood
Of Vomit, Murder in a Sea of Blood.

378.That selfe-relying heav'n-distrusting Thing,
Foolish base-hearted Infidelity;
Grinding Extortion, and self-torturing
Because for ever jealous Tyranny;
Enchanting Error, venomous Heresie,
Idolatry, and right-down Blasphemy,

379.But for their number, it exceeds the skill
Of Computation, and all Figures reach;
Not all the Sparks whose glistering Armies fill
The field of Heav'n; not all the Atomes which
Traffick about the Summer Air, can tell
Their mighty Total how to parallel.

380.For each dwarf Fault, and Gyant Crime did stand
In martiall rank and file arrayed there,
Which any Humane Tongue, or Heart, or Hand
Was ever stained with, since Eve gave Eare
Unto the charming Tempter, and let in
The fatal Torrent of contagious Sin.

381.Nay more than so; for every Stain and Blot
Which through all Ages to the end of Time
Shall taint the World, Justice had thither got,
And in a black Appendix marshall'd them.
Thy proud Revolt, and every Fault beside,
Psyche, were there displayed full and wide.

382.And if the least of Crimes, as sure it is,
Be infinitely foule, imagine then
How strange a Masse of horridnesse was this
Whose bulk did swell with all the Sins of Men:
What store of black  [...] were here
For bleeding Jesus wounded Back to beat!

[Page 246]
383.For Justice heap'd them all upon his back,
That hee who did no sin, might suffer all.
How would the Worlds establish d Pillars crack,
Should such a Load upon their shoulders fall!
How would the al-supporting centre faint,
And strive to shrink into a smaller point!

384.How would the joynts of noblest Seraphs quake,
How would the Cherubs sinnews tremble, at
This Burden, which all Natures Bones would break,
And lay Heav'ns highest stoutest Powers flat!
This Burden which all humane Soules would press
Down to that bottom which is bottomlesse!

385.Now Jesus groans, and feels his heart-strings stretch,
For black upon his Soule the burden lies;
Those other torments hee forgetteth which
The whips and nails, and Jewish blasphemies
Had multipli'd on him: Thus rivers be
Quite lost, when swallow'd by the bitter Sea.

386.Should all the tortures that did ever yet
The Veins, and Joints, and Hearts of Martyrs tear,
In one fell Composition bee knit,
And then enraged to their full carrieer;
Lesse furious would their fury be than that
Which now on Jesu's Soule in triumph sate.

387.Some comfort it would be, if Heav'n would now
Vouchsafe a gentle looke upon its Son
Who spies no consolations glimpse below:
But ô the sphears are not eclips'd alone
By Phoebus absence; no another Night
Has thrown its Veil upon Heav'ns dearer Light.

388.The Light which from his Fathers pleased eyes
His whole Soule us'd to drink, its streams did hide:
With earnest labouring looks, he pleads, and pries,
But is by sad obscuritie deny'd.
O blacknesse, which no Parallel canst know!
To thee all Ink as Milk, all Pitch is Snow.

389.Long did he grapple which this mighty grief
In patient silence: But his Soule at length
Snatching at least the desolate reliefe
Of free complayning, with the wofull strength
Of his sad tongue, this out-cry He did make:
My God, my God, why dost thou me forsake!

390.Am I not still that Son in whom alone
Thou wert wel-pleas'd? Is not thy bosome still
The same where once my habitation
I did enjoy? Why dost thou me expell
Who am the image of thy blessed face,
From the least sight of its all-sweetning grace?

391.Had every outcry, every groan, and shreik,
With which the air of Bethlehem was rent
When Rachel saw how all the street did reek
With an unheard of flood of innocent
And infant blood, met in one ejulation,
Its fragor had not match'd this exclamation.

392.Never was such a Lamentable cry
Wrung from the mouth of Griefe: nor ever was
Complaint more unregarded: Clemencie
Was deaf, and Heav'n as well as Earth did pass
By without any Bowels: Never day
Did such a Sceen of heavines display.

393.Sorrow her self amazed at the sight,
Would have repented of her Tyranny:
But Jesus meant not to decline the fight,
Who could not conquer'd be, though He could die.
O no: He hugs his horrors, and although
His nature shrinks, his courage loves his woe.

394.Thus gallant Souldiers' in the dreadfull wars
With generous Pride their gushing blood behold,
Counting their glories onely by their scars,
And judging all their 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?

[Page 247]
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, Tis 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.

[Page 248]
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 did flie
Unto the bottome of Nights nideous Sea;
That now Sins Blacknesse chased was away,
Earth might behold a double glorious Day.

421.But will no Pitty on the Body look
Which now has born the utmost spight of spight?
Yes; Arimathean Joseph undertook
To pay unto it its Sepulchral Right,
And now with loving Loyaltie doth mean
To prove that he had a Disciple been.

422.A true Disciple, though a Secret one;
Witnesse his Fear, to generous Courage grown;
For though his Master now were dead and gone,
His Faith revives, nor shall the High-priests Frown
Or Peoples Fury, fright his Duty from
Yeilding his Saviour his own costly Tombe.

423.A Man of honorable Place was he,
And Pilate easily grants him his Request:
The Corps resigned is unto his free
Disposall: which he straight-way doth invest
With daintiest Linen, that the Winding Sheet
Might Delicacie learn by Kissing it.

424.Right well he Knew this solemn Paschal Feast.
For bad him all Pollution by the Dead:
And yet his pious Love durst not desist
Till he this votive Task had finished;
Being assur'd he could not stained be
By handling the dead Corps of Purity.

[Page 249]
425.But is Ho busie was; another Freind
Came in, good Nicodemus, who by Night
On Iesus whilst He lived did attend,
To gain for his obscured Judgment, Light;
And in his blacker Night of Death doth now
His gratefull Pietie upon Him bestow.

426.Of pretious aromatick Mixtures He
An hundred Weight doth bring, to sacrifice
Unto this Bodies service, so to be
Enobled and enhanced in its price,
The O dours smiled as they kiss'd the Skin,
For by that Touch more Sweetnes they did win,

427.Mean while the Instruments of Death, for this
The manner was, were younder buried;
Where they shall sleep untill a Queen shall rise
Out of thy Albion, from whose blessed Bed
A Prince shall spring, who shall exalt above
His Roman Eagles the meek Christian Dove.

428.Their deer Discovery is reserv'd for none
But venerable Helen; who, when here
Hot in her passionate Devotion
Her Saviours Sufferings She her selfe shall bear,
Transfiguring her Miditating Heart
Into each severall Torture, Wound, and Smart.

429.Those noble Relicts shall revealed be
In recompence of her brave Love and Zeal:
There for the Jewells She shall Dig, and see
At length, the rude but glorious Spectacle:
The Crosse, and Nail She there shall finde,
Which her Lords Body pain'd, and her own Minde.

430.Inestimable shall their Worth be held:
One of those Nailes to Constantine shall seem
Illustrious enough his Head to gild,
And sit enthron'd upon his Diademe;
Two in his Bridle shall triumph, when He
Rides through the World like King of Victory.

431.The Fourth shall tame the Adriatik Man,
And naile it fast unto its bottome, so
That on its equall pacisied Plain
The unmolested Ships may safely goe:
Then by this Gem shall that enriched Sea
More wealthy than the eastern Ocean be.

432.But for the noble Crosse; no Toung can tell
The Wonders that shall spring from that drie Tree,
Which hew'd out by Devotions Edge, shall fill
The zealous World, and quit that Injury
Which from the fatall Bough in Eden spread
Through all the  [...] sown with humane Seed,

433.Persia shall take it Captive, yet not dare
To look upon its Pris'ner; Pietie
Shall thence redeem it by a  [...] War,
And then return it to its Calvarie
When great Heraclius his own royall Back
A willing Chariot for it shall make.

434.But come my Dear, here on the Western side
Of this now holy Mountain, Thou mayst see
The pretious Sepulchre of Him who di'd
And who was also Buried for Thee,
This Rock is it: Come lets's into the Cave,
No Temple is more holy than this Grave.

435.Loe here good Joseph did the Body lay:
Here lay the blessed Head and here the Feet:
Hard was the Couche, and yet no Princes may
Compare their Beds with it, which was more sweet
Than Solomons, although Arabia did
With all her sweetest Sweets goe there to bed.

436.The Phaeni'x balmie grave could never show
Such soveraign Riches of perfumes, as here
Did from thy blessed Saviours Body flow,
Who soon the truer Phoenix did appear.
O pretious Place! No Mau  [...]
Into comparison with this must come.

437.What are the Monuments of Kings, but  [...]
Memorials of their putid Rottennesse,
Whilst odious Worms and Dust inshrined are
Iu specious Gold and Marble? But in this
Plain Sepulchre bold  [...] found
Her Hands were more than the dead  [...] bound.

438.This is that Oratorie, Psyche, now
Whither the  [...] Soules  [...] to  [...];
Themselves and their best  [...]  [...] they
Here all their Zealous  [...]
With their  [...]  [...] they  [...]  [...],
And in this Air their warmest  [...] they  [...].

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439.Yet time's at hand, when bold Idolatrie
Will venture to prophane this sacred Place,
To turn this Paradise into a stie,
And holinesses beauty to deface,
To build Hels soveraign Monster, odious Jove
Upon this monument of divinest love.

440.But all in vain; for Christian Eagles still
Will to the place of the dear carcase fly,
And their impatient devotions fill
By feasting on its pretious memory.
Jove, though the most impure of things, is not
So foule, as this Toombs puritie to blot.

441.And here may'st thou, for I thy heats discover,
Sweet Psyche, stay and ease thy burning heart;
Thy Uows and Prayers here thou may'st run over,
And with the pious world take thy free part.
Doe; riot in thy zeal; I will attend
And keep the door till thou hast made an end.

442.Psyche, who scarcely for this cue could wait,
Fell on her face and kiss'd the reveren'd floor;
Where her brave flames so melted her, that strait
Her armorous sighs and soule she forth did pour,
And by the strong embrace of Faith and Love
Seem'd there to hug Him who was high above.

443.Through all his pains, and all his wounds she went,
And on her own heart printed every one:
Her bowels with his wofull cry she rent,
And wish'd not  [...] seeing he found none:
By bitter thoughts, his nails, his throns, his spear
She copied out, by tears his Vinagre.

444.But comming to his death, she fetch'd a sigh
Up from the bottome of her soule, in hope
Her life would have flown in its company,
And made her passion too compleatly up;
Striving in meek ambitious love to have
The ready honor of her Saviours Grave.

445.Desire lay boyling in her ardent breast,
With secret groans her Aspirations beat,
With restlesse panting she reach'd at that rest
To which her Lord was flown; and in the heat
Of this contention, she was towr'd so high,
That scarce her Body upon earth did lye.

446.But when life held her on this dainty Rack,
In a full Ocean of Inamorations
And mighty Ecstasies she strove to wrack
Her labouring heart: And yet these perturabtions
And strong assaults of loves intestine war,
She by diviner loves assistance bare.

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PSYCHE: OR LOVES MYSTERIE. CANTO XIV. The Triumph of Love.

ARGUMENT.

LOve, bindes, in his own Den the King of Hate,
Death and Corruption in the Grave subdues,
Turns back the mighty Stream of Mortal Fate,
Himselfe alive to his Disciples shews,
In Triumphs bright Excesse Ascends upon
A Clowd, and mounts his everlasting Throne.

1.VIcissitude, how doth thy constant Change
Cheer up the World, which else would droop & faint!
Thou no strange Thing wilt suffer to be strange
Whilst with all Companies Thou dost acquaint;
For thy Chamaeleons skin is made to fit
All Sorts of Colours that can meet with it.

2.When Heav'ns wise Hand did mould these things We see
As Natures noble Sport and Recreation,
It constituted thy Uncertainty
For ever certain in its Variation;
That as God knows no Change, so all Things else
Might feel the Motion of Mutations Pulse.

3.All things at first were Night; then Day burst forth,
But Night soon stole upon Dayes back again,
Yet in the Morning crept behinde the Earth,
And suffer'd Light her full twelve Houres to reign;
Thus have all Ages onely been the Play
Of inter woven checker'd Night and Day.

4.When peevish Winters churlish Breath doth blow
His froazen Scythia all about the Earth,
Commanding Nature in a Bed of Snow
To lie and sleep, and let no Bud peep forth;
Who would imagine she could break again
From the captivity of her icey Chain?

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5.Yet when the Sun leaps in the lusty Ram,
Forthwith the spring takes heart, encourag'd by
The neighbourhood of his enlivening flame,
And cloathes the World with fresh fertility,
Bidding the troublesome snow no more be seen,
And changing earths white mantle to a green.

6.Sometimes the windes conspire upon the main
To plow the deeps, and throw them at the skie,
To let them thunder head-long down again,
And with new wrath return them up as high,
Till all the Sea be on a foaming sweat,
And Rocks, and Ships, and Sailers hearts be split.

7.Yet when these Blasts their fury out have blown,
The Ocean becomes a polish'd plain,
Mildly presenting for each billowie frown
A gentle smile: The Sirens play again,
The Seamen hoise their sailes, the Halcyon lays
Her Egs, and gives her name to quiet days.

8.When the laborious Plow-man hath by day
Worri'd himself, and Earth, and water'd it
With his own sweat; cool night his head doth lay
Safe on his Bed, and teach him to forget
His toilesome work; whilst soft and gentle sleep
Yeilds him a crop of pleasant dreams to reap.

9.When tedious sicknes by her rampant fits
Has in the Body her sad revels kept;
Health takes her happy cue, and cheerly sets
Her self to work, nor stops till she has swept
The veins and Stomack, and with lively fire
Cheer'd up the Spirits which began to tire.

10.Though Grief sometimes, conspiring with the Night,
Disconsolations on an heart doth throw;
Yet Comfort dawning with the morning light
Smootheth the sullen furrows of the brow,
And with its virgin beams of sweetnes dryes
The briny moisture of the clouded eyes.

11.But no vicissitude, in sweetnes may
Compare with that which cures the worst of gall;
Whose beams can chase the shades of death away
And kindle comforts in a Funerall;
Which to a sepulchre can say, stand ope,
And let thy Prisner into Life get up.

12.Indeed some glimpses of this blessed Change
Had glanced on the World before; yet they
Were but faint shaddows of the bright and strange
Mutation which did shine on Easter-day;
For they effected were by borrowed Might,
This dawn'd and rose by none but its own light.

13.Jesus alone was He, in whose brave Hand
Dwelt that authentick Power which knew how
To give his Mortal Fate a Countremand;
To force his stout Grave to repent; to throw
A side his winding Sheet, and cleerly turn
His own Deaths Night into a living Morn.

14.And, now the reverend Place did prompt him too
The glorious Story, Phylax means to paint
Its severall Wonders unto Psyche, who
Under her holy Passion strove to faint.
He takes her up, and sweetly cries, My Dear,
Lifes Monument, as well as Deaths, is here.

15.And tis the same; this very grave doth now
With open mouth proclaim the death of Death.
Come sit thee down, and I will tell thee how
By his own loss thy vanish'd Saviour hath
Victorious prov'd, and reap'd such Palms as yet
No other Conquerer could ever get.

16.When in this Cabinet good Joseph had
The pretious Jewell laid; a massie stone
Unto the Monuments mouth he roll'd, and made
It safe from injuries invasion,
Being still suspitious of the tyranny
Of the High-priests, which with death could not  [...].

17.It could not die; and was resolv'd that He
Should neither live, nor seem to live again,
Whom their flagitious importunitie
Had by faint-hearted Pilates sentence slain.
To Him they come afresh, and, fawning, cry,
Long live great Caesar and his Deputy.

18.Sir, in our Gods, and in our Countries name
Full thanks We tender for that Justice you
Have done on Jesus, blotting out that shame
Which on our Temple His foule Mouth did throw:
Nor will you want ev'n Caesars praise, since he
Reigns by your care from dangerous tumults free.

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19.For what might this stout Conjurer have done
If He had Veng'ance scap'd, and lived still?
Who by the Magick of his Death alone
Ierusalem doth with amazement fill:
How many Fondlings stroke their Breasts, and cried
Sure He's the Son of God, ev'n when He dyed!

20.There's Danger therefore, least this Serpents blood
Rankle the Aire, and taint our credulous Nation;
Especialy since he himselfe thought good
To pave the Way to some such Perturbation,
Telling his Scholars he to them again
Would rise the third Day after he was slain.

21.Now Sir, if sheltered by theevish Night
They from his Grave should steal Him, and proclaim
That He is Risen by his heav'nly Might,
What Danger might attend on such a Fame!
How would the seeming Miracle entise
Seditious Multitudes with Him to Rise!

22.Then would the Mischiefe swell to greater Height,
Then if the Traytor were indeed alive:
Against the power of that new Deceit
Alas both You and We in vain should strive;
For how shall We attache Him who is dead,
And yet into new Lifes opinion sled!

23.Say what we could, the mutinous Rabble still
By the Graves open Mouth would seal up ours,
Provoking Us unto that Miracle
By which They'l count'nance their Rebellious Powr's;
And with outràgious Falsehood bear Us down,
Crying, They serve Him who to Heav'n is flown.

24.Pilate, whose Conscience griped Him for what
He had already done, no more would trade
In that uncomfortable Bus'nesse; but
Them of their spightfull Project Masters made.
Ye have a Watch; Goe make all sure, said He,
And satisfie your politick Iealousie.

25.This was enough: Away goe They, in haste
To make God sure for ever stirring more:
Annas and Caiaphas both their Seals set fast
Upon the Stone which dammed up the Door;
Charging a double Guard, appointed well
With Swords and Spears, to wait on either Seal.

26.Fools as they are, their Plots and Counsells be
But onely wise conspiracies to make
The Resurrections glorious Mystery
With more unanswerable Lustre break
Forth in their Faces, since their Guard and Seal
Shall now bear witnesse to the Miracle.

27.So when the envie-blinded Median Peers
Had got great Daniel in the sealed Den
Of hungry Death; their Jealousies and Fears
They confidently laid asleep: but when
The Day awak'd, they found their fell Designe
Prov'd his Deliverance the more Divine.

28.Mean while the sacred Corps lay sleeping here;
And jolly Death triumphed in the Grave,
Presuming that no Man her force could bear
Since she the deadly Wound to Jesus gave;
He was her only feared Champion, and
Loe now she saw him conquer'd by her Hand.

29.Long had she vex'd, and pin'd remembring how
Brave Enoch and Elias rescued were
From her Monarchik Cruelty: but now
That feebler Pair she is content to spare,
And gluts her bloody Heart with Joy to see
This Trophe of most matchlesse Victory.

30.She never took such proud Delight to set
Her foot on Alexanders Toomb, or see
The Sons of Anak all in Ashes meet,
Or Josua's Dust with his own Grave agree,
Or steely Samson turn to rotten Clay,
Or vast Goliah mouldering away.

31.She kiss'd her bloody Dart, and vow'd to build
An Arc of triumph to its Victory;
With high Disdain she all the World beheld,
Which now had no pretence but it must Die;
Since Lifes own Champion became her prey
And tame, and cold, and dead before her lay.

32.There lay his Body; but his Soule mean time
Triumphed more than she; for down into
The Kingdome of the hidden World, the Chime
Of unsuspecting Darknesse, it did goe,
And took the Powers of Hell all napping in
The secret Cloysters of their gloomy Den.

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33.Hells Gates of sturdy Brasse He flung in sunder.
Shaking the bottome of the monstrous Deep:
The Porter frighted at the Ruines thunder
Into the Gulfe to hide his Head did leap:
But equal Horror there he met, for all
The Pit was startled when the Gates did fall

34.So when the mighty Son of Manoah, who
Presumed was the Cities Prisner, tore
The Gates of Gaza, to make way unto
His conquering March; the Peoples dreadfull Roar
Answer'd the Pillars boistrous Crack, whilst all
Thought their own Roofs about their Ears did fall.

35.Imperial Lustre streaming from the face
Of Jesue, in the eyes of hideous Night,
Upon the swarthy Flames of that foule  [...]
 [...] such an Ocean of immortal  [...].
That into every hole they crept aside,
Seeking their  [...] Shame to hide

36.About the hollow Bowells of the Cave
An universal Groan it selfe did spread;
Whose Echo such an hideous Answer gave,
That all Hell gasping seem'd on its Deaths-hed;
Straight followed such Yellings, Shreiks, and  [...]
As truly spake Damnations Miseries.

37.Imagine what the blear-ey'd Sons of Night
Ravens, Scritchowls, Bats, and such foule things would doe
If they surprised were by High-noon Light
In their black Nests: ô whether should they goe
When their illustrious Enemy doth reach
The very entrails of their closest Pitch.

38.Incomparably more the Horror was
Which shot it selfe quite through the Heart of Hek;
For these commanding Rayes did freely passe
Through the black Masse of every Obstacle
With such stout Brightnesse, that amidst the store
Of never-dying Fires, it kindled more.

39.The Lakes of Sulphure boiled with new Heat,
And every Pang and Torment hotter grew;
Dispair afreshat every Bosome beat,
Upon the next Fiends race each Fury fiew,
And every Devill scratch'd and tore his Brother;
Wreaking their Mannesse upon one another.

40.The Snakes their Hisses and their Poyson spit,
And in a thousand Knots ti'd, and unti'd
Their woefull selves again; The Gorgons split,
Their monstrous Throats with raving; and the wide
And fiery-mouthed Dragons howling loud,
Whole torrents of their flaming venome spewd.

41.The Peers of Hell curs'd their unhappy King
Whose Pride did to this Torment them betray:
They hop'd the Light of Heav'n would never spring
In their black Clime, to poure on them Dismay;
But now they saw't in Jesu's Eyes, it more
 [...] them than when they fell from it before.

42.Their belking bosomes heaved high, and fain
They would have belched out that working Loaa
 [...] my which held their Soules in pain:
But mighty Terror stopp'd the sulphury road
Of their foule Throats, and forc'd their ready Sin
Onely to split their hearts, and rage within,

43.Black Avarice, with foule-mouth'd Calumnie,
And desperate Treachery, who their Heads had laid
Together in that fell Conspiracy
By which Lifes King was unto Death betray'd,
With self-condemning Horror quak'd to finde
Their Mischiefs all against Themselves  [...]

44.Although Confusion alwayes reigned here,
It never sate so high upon its Throne
As now, nor such Monarchik sway did bear
In all the Deep, whose strange Distraction
Outvi'd the Discords of that monstrous Masse
Which the rude hideous Wombe of All Things was

45.But the Red Dragon, red in innocent Blood,
Great Belzebub, was more confounded than
All Hell besides: for well he understood
That now he deeplier conquer'd was, than when
Down from the Pinnacie of Heav'n he fell
Into the Center and the sink of Hell.

46.That Jesus, for whose Blood so long agoe
A hunting unto Bethlehem he went
with Herods pack of Hounds; that Jesus  [...]
When in the Desert all his Craft he bent
To cheat Him into Sin, did contremine
With nobler Wisdome his profound Designe.

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47.That Iesus whom He by the Wit of Scorn
Through Iews blasphemous Mouths had vilified;
Whom He by Treacherie had Pris'ner born
Unto his Mortall Enemies Barr, and tried
By the impetuous lawlesse Law of Cries,
Of Threats, broad Tumults,  [...] Calumnies.

48.Whom by the service of his Hell-bounds He
Had spit upon, had scourg'd, had busseted;
Whom through all Infamies Extremitie
He to this Mountain of his 'Death had led;
Whom on the Trec of Shame and Pain He  [...],
And then with further Blasphensies assail'd.

49.Whom of his blood he plundered, and at last
Of his dear life; Whom having murder'd thus,
He in his Sepulchre gat sealed fast,
And cleerly then was thought victorius;
This very Jesu's Soule He seeth now
Marching with triumph in his Realm below.

50.He sees his deep-lai'd Plots and Projects prove
But engines of their Masters overthrow;
He sees against himself he onely strove
When unto Christ he gave the mortall blow;
That death by which he hop'd to have supprest
The Lord of Life, now lives in his own breast.

51.He sees the Cross, in a full Banner spred,
And shining with imperiall gallantrie;
That pretious blood with which he made it red,
Gilds, and adorns it now with Majestie;
He sees it streaming in the swarthy aire,
And at its awfull motion, melts for fear.

52.He sees the dreadfull thorns, and feels them prick
His guilty Soule; He sees the nails, and thinks
That deep in his rebellious Heart they stick;
He winds about his wofull taile, He shrinks,
He starts, he findes that something more than Hell
Did now in his tormented bosome dwell.

53.Three times He  [...] his Pride upon the back,
And cheer'd his everlasting stomack up;
But strait his swelling Heart-strings gan to crack,
And fail'd the courage of his insolent hope
Three times his Furic strove to chide his  [...],
And yet this terror still did  [...].

54.But Jesus marching on in conquering might
Pitch d his brave foot upon the Monsters head:
All thunders thoats did never yet affright
The Aire with such a Roar as bellowed
From Satans mouth, when crushed by the load
Of that strong foot, he yeelded to his God.

55.For as the surly Lyon wounded by
Some noble Hero's might, in his own den,
Rends all the cave with his impatient cry,
And makes his frighted neighbours further run;
So  [...] loud shreik tore all his deep,
And forc'd the Elves into their holes to creep.

56.Had the whole world been heav'd upon his Head,
And thousands more upon the back of this;
A tolerable burden it had made:
But all the weight of weight, meer lightnes  [...]
To this inestimable load which now
Lay full and sure upon his squeased  [...],

57.His squeased Brow; for both his Horns were broke;
So was his Scull, from whence a Stream did burst
Of ranker Poisons than did ever look
Forth untill now; a Stream of all accurst
Designes, of Blasphemie, of Rage, of Pride,
And every Qualitie of Hells King beside,

58.Thus did the first and noblest promise prove
Compleatly good; thus did the womans seed
The seed of blessed Mary, get above
The wiley Serpents most envenomed head,
And bruise it withfull vengeance for that  [...]
With which he us'd the heel of Man to bite.

59.This done: learn now, the mighty victor cri'd,
That as above, so I am King below.
What you have gained by your spight and  [...],
Your own Elves now may read upon your Brow;
Deep-grav'd the lesson is; and yet I know
Not deep enough to mend or  [...], or yen.

60.For deeper printed is your desperate  [...]
On your obdurate hearts; and though by me
Their head you might be warned not to  [...].
Against my  [...] yet were you left  [...]
To your own  [...], you all your  [...] would  [...]
To broach and  [...] their  [...],  [...].

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61.With that, an adamantine Chain about
The Dragons neck the Conqueror did throw;
A Chain, which, though the Monster's Teeth be stout
As hardest Steel, yet He in vain doth knaw:
Henceforth He lies fast pris'ner, and can rove
Onely where Jesus gives Him leave to move,

62.Judas, who neer this place did frying lie,
With unconceived anguish gnash'd his Teeth,
Being tormented at his Master's Eye
Whom He so wretchedly had sold to Death.
He sold his Master; but the Bargain on
Himself return'd, and He did die alone.

63.He look'd the next Stepp on his woefull Head
With equal pressure surely fix'd should be;
His Head, which next to crushed Satans did
Deserve preheminence in Miserie.
Yet the kind Conquerour meant not Him to burn
Ev'n with his Eye, but it away did turn.

64.Him He reserved to his other Day
Of Triumph, when both Caiaphas, and He,
And all that cruel Rout which made their Prey
Of his most innocent Humilitie,
Shall looke on Him whom they have peirc'd with Thorns,
And Whips, and Spears, and Blasphemies, and Scorns.

65.Yet He an uniuersal Prospect took
With princely Awfulness about the Deep;
The radiant Dint of which triumphant Look
Scorch'd all the feinds, and fires, which there did keep
With greater torment, than when He at first
Thorough their brazen Gates did thither burst.

66.What glimpse of Hopes can cheer the Whelps when They
Have seen the Father Lyon trampled down?
Alas, the head of every Devill lay
Bruised in Satans; and they count their own,
No longer so, since He could not maintain
With all his Wit and Policy, his own Brain.

67.But whilst themselves They with this Horror slew,
Jesus did for another Foe prepare;
In royall State He marched back, and flew
To a new Conquest in his Sepulchre;
Where shivering and couching close lay Death,
Astonish'd at the dismal noise beneath.

68.She heard the ruine of the Brazen Door,
She heard the yelling of each frighted feind,
She heard opprested Satans soveraign Roar,
And felt a sudden fatal Terror rend
Her late triumphant Heart, which suffered by
Its sympathie with Hells Calamity.

69.Arrived heer, this Monster He descri'd
With more than deadly Paleness in her face,
Striving her guilty Head in vain to hide
From the dread Brightness which surpriz'd the place;
For now none of her wonted loved Shade
To muffle up her gastly Self she had.

70.Such streams of living Light from JESV'S eys
Broke forth, as with more splendor stuff'd the Toomb
Than dwells in Phoebu's globe; Death scalded flies
About the Cave, and hunts to finde some room
Where she may scape that parching Lustres ire
Whose bus'nes seem'd to light her funeral Fire.

71.When loe thy Spouse his foot already red
With Hells best Blood, upon her Bosome set,
And cri'd, foule Monster, whom I never did,
Create, but Pride and Insolence begat,
'Tis time thou feel that yet I have to doe
With Thee,, both Mine and all my Subjects foe.

72.Thy hideous most accursed Mother Sinne
Due Veng'ance from this righteous Hand has felt.
And thou Her Bratt, in vain dost nestle in
This gloomy Rock, in hopes to hide thy Guilt:
The whole Worlds Graves which by thy Tyrannie
Alone are fill'd, proclaime one due to thee.

73.Ev'n from thy Birth, Destruction was thy Trade.
And thou didst traffik the whole Earth about;
All Generations thy prize were made,
And yet thy Stomach still new Booties sought,
Hell, which I plumm'd but now, less bottomiesie
Than that strange Gulfe of thy lank belly is.

74.The stoutest Kings no favour found with Thee,
But at thy stouter feet Thou mad'st them bow;
Thy shameless Worms thou gav'st authoritie
On Prince's noble Breasts to crawle and knaw;
Saucie Corruption thou command'st to tread
And trample upon every laureat Head.

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75.My dearest Saints Thou mingled'st with thy prey,
And deep into their graves didst trample them:
Had I not with mine own hand snatch'd away
That Pair which I too pretious did esteem
To be devour'd by thee, Elias now,
And Enoch had in dust been trodeu low,

76.By this thine uncontrolled crueltie
Thou to the top of insolence didst rise,
And ventured'st to throw thy Dart at me,
That Dart which in my slaugh tred body lyes.
And if I die, shalt thou exempted be?
Forbid it all my might and Majestie.

77.At this the Monster fetch'd an hideous groan,
So great that all the dying cryes which she
Throughout the world had caused, seem'd in one
Huge ejulation moulded up to be;
All deadly Agonies that ever were,
With just requitall bounded now on her.

78.But Jesus strait broke every fatal chain
In which she us d her conquerd Preys to tie:
And now the Fates themselves seem'd to complain
That their grand Law groand under injury;
That Law which Heav'n it self enacted, and
Bid it in Paradises records stand.

79.Their breeding murmur reached Jesu's ear,
(For nothing scap'd him which he pleas'd to know,)
When  [...], he looking up, such potent fear
Flew on all them, as bow'd their Heads as low
As they were high before; for strait they saw
His royall will, and knew their soveraign Law.

80.Then, as Death groaning lay, He drew the dart
From his own Bodies side, and to the head
With mighty vengeance stuck it in her heart.
The wound, though deep, made not the weapon red,
For all the Gore that at its mouth it spew'd
Black as foule Styx's inkie puddle shew'd.

81.Thrice did the Monster gaspe; and then let flie
Her cursed Ghost, which stole its way to hell:
Her carcase stretch'd out on the ground did lie,
Her chap fell down, her tongue in which did dwell
All poisons  [...], hung dangling out; Thus she
Who reign'd o'r mortals, felt Mortalitie.

82.But the brave Conqueror thus having slain
Her once, by killing her, resolved now
To slay her by restoring her again
To her accursed life; for from below
He beckned her pale Ghost, and bid it dwell
At home again, as in a fouler Hell.

83.And now, said he, since thou hast felt my might,
Remember my command, and live again;
Henceforth, thou with thy sting no more shalt fight,
Nor on thy Prisners clap a slavish chain:
Yet use thy dart; for'tis my royall will
Though I forbid thy rage, to let thee Kill.

84.Thou who before, the tyrant wert, shalt now
The servant to my mortal Brethren be,
And ope the gate by which from Life below
Their Soules shall flie to live and reign with me;
But see their bodies in their quiet sleep
Untill I call for them, thou safely keep,

85.This double Conquest gain'd; He look'd aside
And sneaking in a Corner of the Toomb
Corruption, with her Worms about her, spi'd,
Who crawl'd and wrought withall their might to come
And seize upon the Body; but as yet
Could not finde strength enough to reach to it.

86.He spi'd them there, and charg'd them to be gone:
At which great word they into nothing fled.
With that his sacred body he put on
As easily as he some Cloak had spread
Upon his shoulders, or his finger put
Into an Annulet exactly fit.

87.Thus hast thou seen a tryed fencer from
His bloody Sceen of prowess, with the prize
His virtue purchased, returning home
There to enjoy his glorious victories;
But first he cloaths his arms, and breast, and back,
Whose naked valour scorn'd the combats shock.

88.His heart with life and joy strait gan to leap,
His veins with new-recovered blood grew hot,
His blessed eyes threw off their  [...] sleep
And their long leaden night of Rest forgot,
Afresh the Roses budded in his lip,
New smiles and graces in his checks did trip.

[...]

[...]

[...]

[...]

[Page 258]
89.Off fell the Napkin, and the Winding Sheet,
Not daring to conceal the Beauties which
In a strange Confluence of Glory met
All Parts of his pure Body to enrich,
Which, fairer than the Sons of Men before,
Out-shined now its former Graces store.

90.For passing through the Seirce of Death, it there
Lost all the grossnes of Mortality,
And riseth more illustrious and cleer
Than silver Venus in the Evening Skye:
What was but course and animal till now,
Doth most refined, and Spiritual grow.

91.It doth no longer like a Prison sit
Obscure and lumpish on the soule, but is
Made light and pliant, and compleatly fit
For her, and for her nimblest Bus'nesses:
And as our ready Wings doe every where
Move with our, Wills so that can doe with Her.

92.For He who our brave Sprightfulnes could make
Of dull and sleepy Nothing, easily may
Teach heavy Flesh and Blood how to awake
Into Angelik Purenesse, and array
It round with full as fair a robe of light
As makes the Cherubs or the Seraphs bright.

93.But now the promis'd Time was come, and He
As early as the third Day ment to Rise:
Remarried to his Body instantlie
Out of his Toomb He leaps; not in the guise
Of boistrous Lightning which doth rend the Clouds,
But that which through unbroken Bodies crowds.

94.Oft hast Thou seen the sprightfull Image flie
Compleatly through a Chrystall Wall, which yet
Unbruis'd, uncrack'd it leaveth: So did thy
Much purer Lord through the stout Marble get;
For still it kept the Tombes Mouth close, and still
Was trusty to the Priests unmoved Seal.

95.Thus Psyche, e'r the dull World was awake
Life Rose for it, and Deaths strong Gates set ope,
That it aforehand might a Passage make
Unto all mortal Ashes to get up:
His Members Risen are in Him their Head,
Though yet in Death they never went to Bed.

96.His Resurrection a sure Ernest is
Of theirs who ever dyed, or can die:
He buried was onely the Grave to dresse,
To purge, to sweeten, and to Sanctifie:
That in that safe retiring Room his Freinds
May take their Rest, untill for Them He sends.

97.Indeed all Joyes seemd to be slain when He
Compleating Bitternesses Tragedy,
Fetchd his last gasp upon the fatal Tree:
But this deer Morning they reviv'd, and by
His rising Body so refined were,
That They like it, Spiritual appear.

98.No wonder this sweet Day doth sit so high
In pious Soules esteem, and bear away
The reverend glory and solemnity
Of the old consecrated Sabboth Day:
No wonder that upon the first Daies head
The Sev'nths fair diadem is established.

99.Tis true, on That, when God six daies had wrough:
Fetching from Nothing Whatsoe'r We see,
And All this All unto perfection brought;
He stay'd his Hand, and order'd it to be
To sacred Jollitie a constant Feast,
That all Things else might play, when He did rest.

100.But on this Day, his Rest was far more great;
For all his life full hard He laboured had,
He wept, He struggled, and his blood He Sweat,
His strength, his life, He spent, on Death He Trod:
And trampled Hell; and now Rose up again
In matchlesse  [...] evermore to reign.

101.O noble Sabboth! may all Glories swell
Each houre and minute of thy sacred light:
May Pieties best Exultations dwell
In thee alone: and cursed be the spight
Of any Heresie which e'r shall dare
Thy festivall Prerogative to impair.

102.The other Sabboth was a Shade of Thee;
And Thou the Copie art of that which shall
Amidst the Triumphs of Immensitie
Be all Heav'ns everlasting Festivall;
A Feast which shall no higher Title know
Than the Lords Day, and this brave Day art Thou.

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103.But zealous Magdalene could not rest in Bed:
O no; her Soule was here seald in the Tombe,
And though the Sabbaths Law did her forbid
Untill it selfe expired were, to come
And seek it here; yet now she could not stay
To be conducted by the mornings Ray.

104.She, and another love-enflamed Friend
Borrow'd Speeds Wings, and having purchas'd store
Of pretious Ointment and of Spice, to spend
Upon the sacred Corps, set forth before
The Sun gat out of bed; but as they came
Neer to the Tombe, He peeped forth on Them.

105.He peeped forth, and little thought that Day
Was up before, and had prevented Him.
This Day was Jesus his, and scornd to stay
And be beholden to the tardie beam
Of glaring Phoebus, since it of its own
Glories had ample store its head to crown.

106.So had the Corps of Sweets, had it lain still;
But this was gone: Yet shall religious They
Finde something which will their Devotion fill
With Satisfaction, and in full repay
Their Odours Price; for in the Tombe they see
An Angel sitting in bright Majesty.

107.This was that noble Spirit who in haste
Flew down from Heav'n, just as thy Lord gat up,
And whose prest bus'nes was, away to cast
That mighty stone which did the Tombs Mouth stop,
That these religious Visitants might there
See how their Saviours Words performed were.

108.And gallantly his blessed Work he did,
For at his mighty coming Earth did quake;
The Seal was startled, and in peeces fled;
The trembling Stone was ready too to break,
And had in shivers fallen, had not he
Roll'd it aside, and bid it quiet be.

109.When loe the Watch which at the Sepulchre
Guarded the High-priests Sin with Swords and Spears,
Forthwith beyond their own protection were,
Being arrested by prodigious Fears;
The Hills Commotion reached to their Hearts,
Which with the Seal split in a thousand parts.

110.But chiefly at the Angels Presence They
Were seiz'd with their intoletable Fright:
His shining Roabs were glorious as the Day,
And partners with the driven Snow in white;
For 'twas his Easter Suit, the Suit he had
To honor this bright Feast on purpose made.

111.And yet the Lustre which kept Holiday
Rejoycing in his delicate attire,
Could not such wealthy floods of rays display
As streamed from his aspects fairer fire,
For in the Majesty of his sweet face
A spring of living lightning bubling was.

112.In this celestiall bravery his threne
He took upon the stone he rolled thence,
Whence his illustrious terror he upon
The eyes of all the Soldiers did dispense;
At whose bright dint forthwith each man let fall
His sword, and tumbled down himself withall.

113.They tumbled down, and where they tumbled, lay
For though they gladly would have farther fled,
Alas they had no Power to run away,
Pallid Amazement naild them there for dead.
Thus they who came to guard thy Saviours Tombe,
Into capacity of their own were come.

114.When the two Maries spi'd this Stranger there,
And all the Watch before Him slain with Dread.
They in their Passion began to share;
And had not Innocence its Protection spred
Over their hearts, this Apparition had
An equal Conquest on their Spirits made.

115.But when the Angel saw them drawing neer,
He sweetly intercepted further Fright:
You have, said he, no portion in this fear
Which on this Watch of Wickednesse doth light:
I know your errand well, (and here he smil'd
And all his face with gentler lustre fill'd.)

116.You likewise Come to Watch the Corps, but yet
To Pray withall: You Jesus come to finde,
Although his Crosse and Shame themselves do set
Full in your way to daunt your pious Minde;
You bravely Come, although a Guard stood here,
Your Spices and Devotions to prefer.

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117.You in courageous forgetfulnes
Of your faint feeble sex, Come to attend
Upon his body who forsaken is
By his own Masculine Scholars; I commend
Your early valiant zeal; although it be
Arrived here too late your Hopes to see.

118.For Jesus earlier was up than you,
And unto slaughter'd death bequeath'd his Tombe:
His royall Word long since He pass'd you know,
And this prefixed morning being come,
Impossible it was that longer He
In Deaths coldregion should froazen bee.

119.Doubt not this news I tell; Come in, and let
Your eyes convince your hearts; His empty bed
You see, with all the Cloaths and Sheets of it;
This Bed from whence He nobly flourished
Into new life: a cold dead bed; but He
You know sprung first from dry virginitie.

120.The Angels Words the holy Women read
Plain in the Grave, and in the Grave-cloaths; yet
So deeply were their Soules astonished
At this  [...] of wonders, which beset
Their unprovided thoughts, that they surmise
Some pleasing error flattered their eyes.

121.Which He perceiving, sweetly chode their doubt,
Their jealous faintnes, and dejected eyes;
Demanding why they in Deaths Closet sought
For Him who thence to open life did rise?
He cheers them then, and tels them they shall be
The Angels of this news, as well as He.

122.Make haste said he to the Disciples, who
As jealous of this busines are as you;
Bid them be cheerly and to Galile goe,
Where unto them their Lord himself will show:
And, gentle Soules, you to forestall their doubt,
May tell them you from me this message brought.

123.Out went the pious Women in a sweet
Distraction of loving feare and joy;
The glorious Miracle did feare beget,
The blessed news, new comfort did display.
With doubtfull certainty they trembling ran,
And told their sight to Peter, and to John.

124.Deer Sirs, they cry'd, ô what, what shall we doe!
The onely Relict of our Hope is gone;
But where our Lords sweet body is, or who
Hath born it from the tombe, God knows alone:
We with these eyes the empty Grave beheld,
Which us with terrible amazement fill'd.

125.Indeed an Angell, if our fancie did
Not cheat our ears, joy to our sorrow spake,
And told us that our Saviour from his Bed
Of death was rise, commanding us to make
You with the news acquainted: But whate'r
The matter is, our hearts still beat with fear.

126.He bad us charge you and your Brethren all
To meet in Galile; For there, said he
Their risen Masters apparition shall
Requite th' attendance of their Pietie.
O that it might be so! though he had set
Ev'n the Worlds furthest end for you to meet.

127.So spake the Women; but the standers by,
Shak'd their wise heads at the unlikely news;
And, see, said they, the wilde credulitie
Of female hearts, whom fancy doth abuse!
How fine a storie they can forge and fashion
Of no materials, but imagination!

128.And yet for all this censure; wiser John
Fir'd at the news, thought not of Galile,
But in Loves loyall disobedience ran
Hither, the present Miracle to see.
The same spur prick'd on Peter too, and He
Stoutly set forward in his company.

126.Unto their Prey no Eagles e'r did post
With heartier Speed; ne'r did Ambition make
To Crowns and Scepters more impatient hast;
No Spark to Heav'n its course did ever take
With braver Zeal; than this religious Pair
Flew to observe the empty Sepulchre.

56.But John, in whose soft Breast more flames did reign,
More flames of Youth, and more of gallant Love,
His fellow-traveller did soon out-strein,
And gat before: In vain old Peter strove;
For though his Tongue were alwaies forward, yet
John had the quicker Heart, and nimbler Feet.

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131.He first came to the Tombe: but stricken there
With awfull reverence, onely sent his Eye
Into the bottome of the Cavern, where
The Resurrections Relicts He did spie,
The linen Clothes, which had the grace to kisse
The sacred Body of all Sweetnesses.

132.But panting Peter there arrived, 'in
The wonted boldnesse of his fervid Zeal,
Entred the Cave: Which pattern straight did win
So much on John, that to the Spectacle
He follow'd Him, and with joint Wonder, there
Gaz'd and examined the Sepulchre.

133.He gaz'd, and cleerly found his Eye told true:
This rous'd his Faith, and made Her likewise ope
Her Eyes the blessed Mystery to view:
She look'd, and plainly saw Her Lord was up;
And needed now no Angels Tongue to seal
To Her the Truth of that grand Miracle.

134.These two Disciples having seen their fill,
To feed upon the Wonder, home return'd:
But Magdalene, who had thither follow'd, still
Stay'd by the Tomb to quench her Heart which burn'd
With Griefs impatient Love: The Springs which kept
In both her Eys, she Bravely broach'd & wept.

135.She weep'd, and pitted her prevented Spice,
Which now breath'd short, and panting lay, to see
It came too late to be a Sacrifice
Unto the Lord of Sweets: She weep'd that she
Her Tears Drink-offring could present no more
On his Feets blessed Altar, as before.

136.Had she the plenitude of whatsoe'r
Th' idolatrous World' adores, she still would be
Poorer than Poverty it selfe, whilst here
She nothing findeth but Vacuity;
The empty Tombe with open Mouth, alas,
Tells her her onely Gem removed was.

137.Removed, and quite lost, for ought she knew:
And how can Mary live without her Life!
Such lamentable Mourning never slew
The Turtles Joies in her disconsolate strife
Of Love and Grief, when her dear Mate is lost;
As this sad Storme of Weeping, Mary tost.

138.Thus having Weep'd for what she saw; again
She look'd to read fresh cause of further Tears:
But in the Tombe she spi'd new Splendor reign,
Two Angells ready to out-shine her Fears,
And drie her Cheeks with Comfort, there did sit,
One at the Monuments Head, one at the Feet,

139.In festival Array they gorgeous were;
Being clothed in Joies Colour, milkie White:
Woman, said They, what reason finde you here
To cloud your brows in this fair Sceen of Light?
Alas, cri'd she, what Light mine Eyes can cheer,
Seeing my Lord is laid I know not where?

140.Her Eyes here gush'd a fresh, and back she turn'd
To give their crowding Streams full Liberty;
But Jesus Heart, which melted, as she mourn'd,
And answered ever Tear by Sympathy,
Could not endure her gentle Soule to see
Suspended longer in this Agonie.

141.For back unto his Sepulchre he stepp'd,
That his dear Weepens loyal Eyes might see
Their earned Spectacle: And, Why she wept,
Was his soft Question; but blubber'd she
Blinded with Grief, could not discover Who
It was examin'd her about her Woe.

142.She took Him for the Gardner of the place,
And meekly pray'd him if he had Removed
The Body thence, to tell her where it was,
That she might goe and wait on her Beloved:
And 'twas the Gardner, who did plant and dresse
The World in goodly Braveries excesse.

143.The Gardner who betimes a Weeding fell,
Ev'n in the virgin Spring of his Creation;
Those rank encroaching Weeds which on Heav'ns  [...]
Aspir'd to over-grow the new Plantation,
Up by the roots he pluck'd in righteous ite
And threw them thence into eternal Fire,

144.The Gardner who at length deign'd to come down
Unto his Nurserie in Earths Valley, where
All Tares and Poisnous  [...] that  [...] had sown
He rooted up; and out of matchlesse care
To make the Soil be fertile, every Bed
With his own pretious Blood he watered.

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145.The Gardner who contented was to let
The Thorns upon his Temples rather stand,
Than they should vex the Grafts which he had set
In his own Body by his tender hand.
The Gardner who indeed had born away
What in the Tombe untill this morning lay.

146.But pittying Magdalens gloomy sorrow, He
Whose single potent Word all Clouds can clear,
In Loves milde tone, the onely musick she
Could be delighted with, saluted her:
Yet his salute was neere as short as sweet,
For onely by her name He Her did greet.

147.Mary, in Maries ear no sooner sounded
From Jesu's lips, but to her breast it flew,
And with incomparable joy rebounded
Upon her wakened heart: She straitway knew
The blessed voice in her own Name, for this
With sweet significance did echo his.

148.She knew 'twas Jesus; and her heart must now
Have split with swelling triumph had not she
Unlock'd it strait, and let it freely flow
In a full torrent of high Pietie.
Her Life, her Love, her Heav'n, when least shee thought,
Were all at once to her fruition brought.

149.Surely a Breast so soft as hers, had by
This sudden onset of all joyes been broke,
Had not her Lord with his own Potency
Assisted Her to beare the mighty stroak.
Master, she cry'd; but then could not go on;
Her ecstafie her other words out-ran.

150.Down flat she fell, and aimed at those feet
Which pious she before did oint and kiss.
No Haste, dear Mary, Jesus cry'd; for yet
At ample distance my Ascention is;
But go and tell my Brethren I intend
Unto our common Father to ascend.

151.At this injunction Marie needs must goe,
Who on the Angels errand went before:
And yet her loyall Heart could not doe so,
But still behinde did linger, to adore
Her lost-found Lord; whom that she ne're again
Might loose, Her Soule she to his feet did chain.

152.This Message startled the Disciples; but
The hubbub of the City mov'd them more;
For by the Watch-men now the news had got
Into the Town, and knock'd at every door:
The High-priests wakened at the summons call
A Common Council, and to Plotting fall.

153.Their Heads they beat, and boulted every way
How they their now endanger'd fame might save,
How they might damp the Resurrections day,
And stop the open mouth of Jesu's Grave.
Long did they think, but could no trick contrive
How he who lived might not seem to live.

154.For Belzebub who us'd to have his Place
In all their Councils, tardy came that day;
His new-received wound, and deep disgrace
Upon his vanquish'd heart with terror lay:
Yet seeing them so forwards, lothe he was
The Priests in his own trade should him surpass.

155.He rais'd his head, and wiped off the gore,
Three times he sighed, and three times he shook
His broken horns; and at the last, he swore
By his own might and realus, that though the stroak
Took him at unawars, yet Jesus had
How e'r he brav'd it out, no Conquest made.

156.And, had he been, said he, a generous foe,
He would have pitch'd the day, and pitch'd the field,
With trumpets sound he would have march'd unto
The fight, and not his slie designe conceal'd;
He would have called Heav'n and Earth to be
Spectators of his noble Chevalrie.

157.But having told his fellow-thief, that he
Would meet him strait in Paradise; by night
He hither stole, and by base Burglarie
Broke ope my doors: though we with open might
In our brave battell gave him fairer play,
Marching full in the face of Heav'n and Day.

158.Then finding that his chain would reach unto
Jerusalem; Lo all my fiends, he cry'd,
You by this token suddenly shall know
How vain is all that Galileans pride;
The foolish Carpenter forgot his trade
When he this chain to binde great Satan made.

[Page 263]
159.This wretched Chain: which yet shall serve to be
The Instrument of my Revenge, for I
Will back to Salem, where my Victory
Attends my Coming; Never credite my
Cunning or Power, if I these Fetters lay
Not on his Subjects, and draw home my Prey.

160.His gooly Doctrine 'tis that they must take
His Yoke upon their Necks; and for this once
I care not if I take the pains to make
Them learn their Lesson; that they may from hence
Be well informed, whether I, or He
Who said his Yoke was light, most Lyar be.

161.Hell cheered by its Kings fresh courage, peep'd
Forth from its timorous holes, and took new Heart:
When He, to make good his bold Boasting, leap'd
Up from his Denn, and through the Earth did dart:
But at his heels, befides his Tails long Train,
He drew the longer Volumes of his Chain.

162.Then cloth'd in unsuspitious Air, into
The Sanhedrim he comes and takes his Seat
Next to the plotting High-Priests elbow; who
Strait felt his Brains with politike counsil beat.
He little knew his Prompter was so neet,
Nor heard Him when He whisper'd in his Eare,

163.So well He lik'd the Plot he had conceiv'd,
That looking cheerly up, Grave Sirs said He,
Think not that this Impostor has bereav'd
Us of all Counsil, but give ear to me;
And if my Project fails, say Caiaphas
Less Power in Policie than Jesus has.

164.Are We the Men, and these our Brains, which have
So tossd Him up and down; first to his Cross,
Then out of Life, and then into his Grave?
And should our wisdome now be at a Loss?
Or should ignoble Nazaret able seem
Ev'n to out-vie our learn'd Jerusalem?

165.Full strange I grant, the Soldiers Story is,
As in their staring Eyes, and startled hair
Your Selves too evidently read: But this
Doth onely for our Policie prepare
More noble matter, such as may befit
The reverend Sanhedrims profoundest Wit.

166.Indeed I hitherto beleeved that
Magicians Power with themselves had di'd;
But since this one Example tells Me what
I never head from all the World beside;
We must resolve e't it too rank be grown
This Conjuration to conjure down.

167.I tell you sirs, should We no medicine finde
To salve this soar, the Romans would deride
That violent zeal in which we all combin'd
To get this Galilean crucifi'd;
And Pilate would triumph in earnest that
His hands he washed from this bloody  [...],

168.Nay our own Bandogs too, the wid-mouth'd Crew
Whose shamelesse bawling brought about our plot,
May turn their boistrous throats at us, who drew
Them to that Rage: sure they will ne'r be got
To serve us with another roar, unless
We can maintain that they did well in this.

169.My finall Counsell therefore is, that We
By Monies virtue trie what may be done:
Believe it, Mony's of that Potencie
That no miraculous operation
Can counterveile it: You remember what
Poor thirtie silver peeces for us got.

170.And if that silly summ so wrought upon
His owu Disciples heart, judge you what may
By twise, or thrise as much, or more, be done
Upon this mercenary guard, since they
Have no Relation nor no Reason why
They should be tender to maintain a lis,

171.I say A Lie; and if that scruple you,
Remember 'tis the way in which We went,
When Witness we suborn'd to overthrow
Him whom our selves knew to be Innocent.
Our Purpose then aim'd to assert our Law;
And therefore good it was, and may be now.

172.To you I speak who in our Sacred Writ
Well versed are: You know what Abraham did,
And Isaac too when Need required it,
In Gerar's Court; what David when He fled
To Nob and Gath: and if such Saints may Lye,
Who dares that Priviledge to Us deny.

[Page 264]
173.Fear not, sage Brethren, God himselfe allows
This Dispensation; for otherwise
He in requital had not built an House
To shelter the Egyptian Midwives Lies.
Indeed to th' People we preach Truth; for why,
Dull Soules, they know not when 'tis fit to Lie.

174.Since then the Soldiers Mouthes no lesse are ope
Than Jesu's Grave, the surest Course will be
With that thick Clay call'd Money, them to stop,
This is the onely Bung and Seal which we
Can clap upon them: and you need not doubt
That  [...] will ever through this damm burst out.

175.Weol bid them say, and, if need urge them, swear,
That whilst they with long Watching fell asleep
His bold Disciples who in ambush were,
Favour'd by Night, unto the Tombe did creep,
And taking thence their Masters Corps by thest.
His winding Clothes in craft behind them left.

176.Our promise likewise they shall have, that we
The bus nesse with the Governor fair will make,
And from his wrath give them Security.
It is but equity, that we should take
Some pains in Forgery so to defend
Those who doe with their Lies our Cause befriend,

177.When thus their lying Oracle had spoke,
His Counsel highly pleas'd, and every one
Into applause and acclamation broke
In glad presumption that the Feat was done:
In were the Soldiers call'd again, and told
What they must doe; & forthwith shew'd the Gold.

178.As when the Fouler hath some Mirrour set
Whose gaudy lustre playes about the Aire:
The silly Birds regardlesse of the Net,
Are suadenly inamor'd of that fair
But fataly insidious Bait, and flie
With crurping joy to their Captivitie:

179.So by the Golds enchanting Splendor they
So ravish'd were, that straignt they undertake
Their cursed Task; and having had their Pay,
Into the Streets with full-mouthd Lies they break,
Railing, and banning the Disciples for
Stenling their Master from his Sepulchre.

180.Twas not a quarter of an houre, that we
Borrow'd to ease our heavy eyes; and yet
So dextrous were they in their Theevery,
They catch'd that very cue to compasse it:
Let All, they crsd, who long compleat to be
In Theeving, goe to Schole in Galilee.

181.The credulons Vulgar, without more adoe,
Snatch'd up this News, and spread it all abroad:
And from that day this Lie did current goe
Amongst the Jews, who though unto their God
The God of Truth, they would no Credit give,
These hired lyars readily beleeve.

182.But as the timorous Disciples now
Themselves had in a private Lodging hid,
Their loving Master was resolv'd to show
How tenderly he them remembered:
In Galile he promis'd to appear,
But he cannot their Joy so long defer.

183.An holy Pair he with his Company
Had at Emmaus entertain'd to day;
Where as he brake the Bread in peeces, he
Tore from their clouded eyes the veil away;
And with like favour now he hastes, to cheer
His sad and thoughtfull Friends assembled here.

184.This very Ev'n the Doors being made as fast
As locks, and barrs, and fear, could make them be;
He whose pure Body through his Tombe had pass'd,
Enter'd the House with like facility.
They slander'd were abroad for stealing Him:
But now he seem'd to steal at home on Them.

185.Yet, as excessive unexpected Blisse
Doth swallow up Beliefe in Ravishment:
So the Disciples all amaz'd at this
Strange Apparition, mutualy bent
Then frighted eyes, and held their hands on high,
Confounded in a silent ecstasie.

186.But he, the King of Comfort, op'd his sweet
And gratious Lips, and Peace be to you, said:
Though I in love prevent my Promise, yet
You have no reason Friends, to be afraid;
Loe It is I your Lord; observe these wide
Tokens both in my Hands, and in my Side.

[Page 265]
187.Imagin not that you some Spirit see,
These Mouthes proclaim as much as I profess:
You know a Spirit cannot wounded be,
Nor wear such Marks of humane Passivenesse:
Come handle Me, and be assured well
If not of what you see, of what you feel.

188.This sweet Assurance was so full and cleer,
That it exceeded their Capacity,
Who by its Torrent over-whelmed were,
And thrown into admiring Joies soft Sea:
Thus those who gaze on Phoebus, cannot see
Him, for his too much visibility.

189.So strange a Thing is Joy if unawares
It be surprised by Fruition, that
In fond amblguous Jealousie it barrs
Out what it does possesse; and aiming at
Some proofs of what is absolutely clear,
Transfigureth it self from Joy to Fear.

190.But Jesus their amazement to allay,
Grows more familiar, and calls for Meat:
A Fish and Honey-combe before him they
Present, and friendly he vouchsafes to eat;
Though Paradise its Sweets for him prepar'd,
He this plain Diet with his Friends preferr'd.

191.Then in kinde Anger he to Chiding fell
That they so long their Faith suspended, though
He of his Resurrections Miracle
Had by eye-witnesse sent them Proof enough:
He Chode; but with such sweet and dainty Art,
That every Wound he made, was with Loves Dart.

192.This done; his Peace to them again he gave;
That Peace he purehas'd, when he trampled down
Hell into Hell, and Death into the Grave;
When he appeas'd his mighty Fathers Frown;
When Heav'n and Earth, at enmity before,
To blessed Amitie he did restore.

193.Then breathing on them with that noble Breath
Which first inspir'd Life into Humane Heart;
The dearest Gift, said he, that ever hath
To Man been given, I to you impart;
It is the holy Spirit of Heav'n, which now
With blessed heat shall in your Bosomes glow.

194.Hencesorth, whose Sins soever you remit,
By this great Patent, I my Selfe Forgive;
And whom you Binde to the infernal Pit,
Shall from your Sentence purchase no Reprieve.
As Me my Father sent, so send I you,
To by my potent Deputies below.

195.This said: into Invisibility
Himselfe he shut, and so from them withdrew:
When They, who now no longer him could see,
On Joies and Loves, and Faiths Wings, after flew;
Pouring ten thousand Blessings on his Name,
Who with such Solace to their Sorrows came,

196.But Thomas, who this while had absent been,
Returning now; They met him at the Door,
Shouting and telling him what they had seen;
Each Circumstance they shew'd him o'r and o'r,
Their Lords great Promises they did repeat,
And how he shew'd his Wounds, and how he eat.

197.Thomas amaz'd at their Relation, stood
Silent a while, uncertain what to say,
Or how he should repulse that swelling Flood
Of most unanimous Confidence, which they
Stream'd forth upon his Incredulity:
At last he stamp'd, and cri'd, It cannot be.

198.I grant that Fancy may doe much, and you
Perhaps imagin all is true you say:
But there's no reason my Belief should bow
To your Imaginations: You may
By probabilities perswade Me far;
But no such thing can I discover here.

199.I am not so much wiser now at night
Than I was in the Morn, as to admit
What then to your own indgement seem'd so  [...],
That you, as well as I, rejected it:
Why must it real prove in you, which We
In Magdalene so fantastick took to be?

200.When with these Eyes those Wounds I have descri'd,
And put my  [...] where the  [...] we  [...]
When I have thrust my Hand into his  [...],
And felt that no Imposture there does grow:
I of your minde may be: But mean time give
Me leave not at a venture to Beleeve.

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201.(Thus Heav'n in Wisdome and in Love, thought fit
To let thick Clouds of Doubt objected be
Before the Resurrections Truth, that it
Might fairer break from that Obscurity,
And pierce all faithlesse Hearts obdurate Stone
As it the Marble of the Tembe had done.)

202.Resolv'd in this imprudent Prudence, he
Eight Dayes continued; when their Lord again
The doors being bolted close, as formerly,
To his Disciples did his Presence deign;
Whose sprightfull Comming though it startled them,
Lesse strange and doubtfull than at first did seem.

203.But Thomas, unto whom the Sight was new,
Afflicted stood with quaking Joy and Fear;
His Masters blessed Looks he plainly knew,
And yet his Fancies something dubious were;
He blush'd, and then grew pale, and blush'd again
And to crosse Passions gave at once the rein.

204.When Jesus saw him tortur'd on this Rack,
With gratious gentlenesse, Come neer, he said,
And thine own Satisfaction freely take;
Loe here my Wounds before thine Eyes display'd,
Come pierce thou them again; 'twill be lesse grief,
Than to be wounded by thine Unbelief.

205.This Condescent so conquer'd Thoma's heart,
That with compleat Assurance, on his knees
He falls, and cries, My God and Lord Thou art:
Not onely by these wide-mouth'd Witnesses
I finde thee so to be, but also by
The heav'nly Sweetnesse of thy Lenity,

206.I finde that thou eight dayes agoe wert here,
When foolish I so faithlesly was Wise;
Thou heardst how obstinately I did dare
The pregnant Witnesse of my Fellows eyes,
Thou heardst what bold Conditions I set,
Before my Faith their Story would admit.

207.O I beleeve, dear Lord, and ready am
If need require, such Wounds as those to bear
In spreading forth the glories of thy Name
To any Nations, whether far or near.
Pardon my tardy Faith; it doth suffice
That I have felt those Tokens with mine eye.

208.Jesus repli'd: Thou build'st thy Faith upon
Thine eyes, (and happy 'tis that thou dost so:
But in how full a Stream shall Blessings run
Into their soft and pliant Bosomes, who
Ne'r saw these deep-writ Characters, and yet
Unto the Credit of their Truth submit!

209.Here Jesus stepp'd into his Secrisie
And vanish'd from their wondering sight; but yet
He sundry times returned to their eye
As his divinely-wisest selfe thought fit:
Famous his presence was on Tabor, where
He to five hundred did at once appear

210.Yet not transfigur'd, as before; for now
His proper Shape was radiant Majesty:
For from all Mortal Drosse refin'd, you know
Out of his Tombe he sprang, no more to be
By any Cloud bedimm'd, nor had he need
That Heav'n should ope its Mouth his Worth to spread.

211.This was that solemn Apparition he
On Easter Morn by Mary promised,
That the appointed Sceen might ready be
With plenty of Spectators furnished:
And so it was, for his Disciples thither
Had gather'd all their trusty Friends together.

212.When loe their Hopes they met upon the Mount,
And more than their Ambition too; for now
Jesus set ope his Lips, and let the Fount,
The blessed Fount of potent Sweetnesse flow,
Which in the Chanel of these Words upon
The Heads and Hearts of his Disciples ran.

213.The Nerves and Sinews of all Power and Might
Which spread through Heav'n and Earth so far and wide
Here in this single Hand of mine unite,
And to my royal Will alone are ti'd;
By virtue of which Soveraignty, I
Commit to you compleat Authority.

214.Goe take your Charge; whose Limits here I make
Coequall with the Worlds: My Gospel preach
To every living Soule, for whose dear sake
I on the bitter Crosse my self did stretch,
That in as large a Circle as the Sun
The more illustrious Beams of Grace may run.

[Page]
215.He who despiseth your great News, and You,
Shall doe it at his own Soules price, for he
Shall finde his slaming Punishment below
In Desperations Eternity:
But he who to your faith his own doth give,
As long's that other Dying is, shall live.

216.Nor shall his Glory onely future be;
Miraculous Power shall on him attend,
Upon the stoutest boldest Devills he
Shall invocate my Name, and make them bend;
From mortal Bosomes he shall them expell,
And sorce them howling home unto their Hell.

217.Babels Confusion shall not him confound,
But every Language on his Tongue shall dwell,
That He my Gospel freely may resound,
And every Ear with its Salvation fill;
I who did it create, as easily can
With Words, as Meat, supply the Mouth of Man.

218.In vain shall Scorpions bite him, and in vain
Shall Adders sting him; by my power he
Over all Serpents shall as surely gain
As over Hells foule Dragon, victory;
For those mysterious stings I did endure
Shall from their dint and danger Him secure,

219.In vain shall Poyson steal into his Cup,
And thence into his Bowells slide; for he
Although he should drink all Thessalia up;
Or Sodoms Lake, shall not invenomed be:
That Cup which on my Crosse I drank, shall make
Wholsome to him all Draughts that he can take.

220.More Virtue than in Trees and Plants doth grow;
Much more than Balsame, in his hand shall dwell;
Those whom incurable Diseases throw
Upon their desperate Bedds, shall straight grow well
If touch'd by Him whose faith on Me relies,
The grand Physitian of all Maladies.

221.But his Initiation must be
By being washed in the potent Name
Of Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, that he
May know at whose sole Honor he must  [...],
Remembring he by Baptism unto  [...]
Was consecrated, but the Triple On.

222.So spake the mighty Lord: and then again
With-drew himselfe, that they might feed upon
These heav'nly Priviledges he did deign
To earth, by faithfull Meditation;
He knew his Presence was right dear, and yet
He by Withdrawing more endeared it.

223.But now the signal Time was come, when He
Who cheer'd the Earth for forty dayes with his
Bright Apparitions, meant that Heav'n should be
Embellish'd with his glorious Accesse,
That he might, as Himselfe he raised hither,
So also reach his Resurrection thither.

224.His dear Companions now again he met,
(So dear, that loth he seem'd with them to part,)
And walking Them along to Olivet,
Spun out the Time by Loves discursive art:
But on the Mountains Top arrived, he
Began in Tone and Aspect chang'd  [...] be.

225.Stir not, said he, from Salem, but attend
The Fathers Promise you have heard of Me,
It was a Baptism which doth far transcend
Johns poor and frigid institution; He
Baptiz'd with Water, but your Baptism shall
In Heav'ns sweet Spirit of Fire immerge you all.

226.Erected at this solemn Item, they
No lesse than Crowns and Sceptres fancied:
Yet still their Thoughts below the Promise lay,
Hankring in Earths dull sphear, for nothing did
They reach, but what too worthlesse was for Him
Their great Ascendent Lord to leave to them.

227.We know, said they, that  [...] Crown is  [...]
Unto thine onely Head, most fit for it:
Is this the Time dear Lord, that thou wilt shew
And make thy Title good? Shall we now  [...]
On our inferior Thrones before thy Feet,
And to the Tribes of  [...] Judgement  [...]

228.Thus when wise  [...] along  [...]
They to  [...],
And for their Maint nance  [...]:
But the  [...]- [...] tall to  [...]
 [...] silly  [...]
 [...] delight, and  [...]  [...]

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229.Jesus, who at his Parting could not Chide,
This secular Grossenes of their Thoughts pass'd by,
And with all delicate Gentlenes repli'd,
Those Times and Seasons which enshrined lie
In Gods own Cabinet, too mystick be
For you to dive into their privacie.

230.Yet though this Mystery you may not know,
Ten thousand others you shall cleerly see,
When the eternall Spirits Power shall flew
Down on your Heads: Your Glory then shall be
To goe as Heralds, and my royall Name
Through every Quarter of my World proclaim.

231.Hast Thou not seen the glittering Spark Ascend
With natural Lightnes to its proper Sphear?
So glorious Jesus, having made an end
Of all his sweet and blessed Bus'nes here,
Upon the Wings of his own Puritie
Lifted himselfe up to his Native Skie.

232.They started at the sight, and with their Eyes
And Heads, and Hands, all elevated high,
Labour'd to trace his Path, and to arise
After their to wring Master, who did flie
A way with all their Hearts: when loe a Cloud
Between their Ecstasie and Him did crowd.

233.It crowded on apace, for fear to misse
That honour which would make it fairer be,
And dress'd with more celestial Statelinesse:
Than the brisk Forehead of Serenitie:
So fast it crowded, that the tired Winde
Which would have born it, puffing came behinde.

234.All other Clouds which its Prerogative saw,
Grew black with Greif, and melted into Tears:
When loe the Welkin clears her dainty brow,
And smiling Duy with open eyes prepares
Her Admiration to gaze upon
The Motion of a fairer sweeter Sun.

235.This happy Cloud her delicate shoulders bent
And meekly stooped to her Makers Feet;
Her pliant Volumes gather'd close, and went
Into the fashion of a Princely Seat,
That in a seemly Chariot Jesus might
Unto his Throne take his Triumphant Flight.

236.The golden Coach, studded with eastern Gemms,
And burnished with living Fire, wherein
Great Phoebus in his brightest glory swimms
Through heavens high Chanell, never yet could winne,
Such credit as this noble Chariot, which
Gods own enshrined Beauties heer, inrich.

237.At the shrill whistle of each busie Winde
All other Clouds in this inferior skie.
Are faine to runne about: But this doth finde
An undisturbed passage fair and high,
And strait to Heav'ns illustrious Roof doth haste
Without the helping Wheels of any Blast.

238.Earth was in debt unto those Clouds, till now,
Which op d Heav'ns Pantrie, and raind Manna down;
But this, full Payment doth to Heav'n allow,
Whilst to the Angels it bears home their own
Diviner Bread, and by restoring more
Than Earth receiv'd, doth nobely quit the Score.

239.That Israel-conducting Cloud which through
The tedious Wildernesse of old did take
So patient a Pilgrimage, must bow
Its famous head to This: That did but make
Way to the earthly Canaan, but this
Unto the Heav'nly the brave Convoy is.

240.As Jesus thus soard through the Aire, he saw
The Treasuries of every kinde of Wether,
Of fair, of foule, of Rain, of Hail, of Snow,
Which did their homage unto Him as thither
His Coach arriv'd: He bad Them gently fall
Upon his Earth, and then He bless'd them all.

241.So did He too that sweet and loyall Quire
Of Larks, which with applauding Songs and Wings
In delicate attendance did aspire
After his mounting Train: Goe gentle Things
Said He, and rest your weary pinions, I
My other Choristers approaching spie.

242.Loe, at the Word, the Winged Legions, who
Flutter about the everlasting Sphear,
And on the great Creators bus'nes goe
Throughout the World; appeared hovering there:
Great was their number; and their Glory great,
If they with Jesu's Lustre had not met.

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243.Before his Feet their gracefull Heads they bow,
 [...] down with sweet Extremities of Joy
That they without a Veils Assistance now
On his dear Eyes may look, which till to day
Lay hid to them in too much light; but heer
Dressed in Humane Mitigation were.

244.For though some of our Quire had long before
Enjoy'd the blessed Priviledge to see
His the anthropick face; though All did poure
Their high Applause on his Nativity;
This was the time when Heavns Whole Hoste to fair
And plenall view of Him advanced were.

245.A dainty and long-studied Song They had
Compos'd, and tuned to a ge ntle Key;
But this excessive Sight of Sweetness made
Their Acclamations correspondent be;
Their Wings and Hands aloud they clapp'd, and rent
With louder Paeans all the Element.

246.But seing then his bright Retinue, who
About Him shin'd like his reflected Raies;
They to their new Acquaintance smiling goe,
And in their faces read their Soveraigns Praise;
For Gratitude had deep imprinted there
Their glorious Redemptions Character.

247.These were those holy Soules, who long had layn
On the soft Pillows of great Abrahams breast,
Looking and longing when their Lord, would deign
To bring them to his sweeter nobler Rest;
To chase their Mists and Shades with his own Ray
And turn their doubtfull Dawn to High-noon Day.

248.Great Abraham himselfe was there with them,
And shined with a choise and leading Grace;
The Patriarchs, and Prophets next to Him,
Each in their proper Dignitie and Place;
Then every pious Man, and Woman, who
Ventur'd in his hard Steps on earth to goe.

249.Their Charges many Guardian Angells saw,
And highly triumph'd to behold them there.
So, when the Ship which long hath labour'd through
The Seas proud Wrath, unto the haven draws neer,
The Pilots Eys and Heart with Joy are sill'd
No less than with the Wind the Sails are swell'd.

250.But all the Quire, beheld the blest Supply
Of their own Companies, which robbed were
Of no small Part of their Fraternitie
When sullen Pride upon Heav'ns face made warr,
And many Empyraean  [...] fell
From their fair Day, into the Night of Hell.

251.But ô what Torrents of divine Delight
Through these Saints Bosomes ran with full Carreer,
To see how neer of kin unto the bright
And new apparent King of Heav'n they were;
They envy not the Angels radiant Dresses,
Nor wish their silver Wings, or golden Tresses.

252.And that their Triumph might be sweetned by
Harmonious Joy, before the Masculine Troop
David did with his learned Fingers flie
About his Harp, and beat those Accents up
Which with her Timbrel Miriam before
The Female Squadrons did to him restore.

253.But Jesus now to his officious Cloud
Dismission gave; ambitious of whose Place
A Knot of gallant Seraphs came and bow'd
Their youthfull Shoulders, that their Lord might passe
To Heav'n upon the best of Heav'n, and be
Drawn to his Palace in due Majesty.

254.Then Michael taking up the Standard, which
With the Heart-blood of Death and Hell was red
And charged with the glorious Crosse, did stretch
It towards Heav'n, and forward fluttered.
In this Array the Triumph marched on.
Abashing Day, and dazzelling the Sun.

255.Thus He who lately that Procession went
Where Spight, and Shame, and Scorn did Him attend,
When He through Salems Steeets was kick'd and rent,
And through a thousand Deaths led to his End,
Is now tequited by a March, whose Glorie
Gilds the Disgraces of his Passions Storie.

256.As to the Confines of the Sphears they drew,
David his Harp and Throat did strein  [...] high
That ancient Song of Glory to renew
Which He had in Prophetik ecstasie
Tun'd to a special and illustrious Lay,
And sung aforehand to this noble Day.

[Page 270]
257.Bright and eternall gates of heav'n, lift up
Your cheerly Heads and know your  [...]
As mine is now, so let your mouths be ope
To entertain our universall joy:
It is the King of glory, who doth come,
That, and the sweeter heav'n now to bring home.

258.It is the King of War whose matchlesse strength
Hath trode down our and your fell enemy;
Read but his Banner, where are writ at length
The rubie tokens of his victory;
Ope, ope, as wide's your Heav'n can give you leave,
And Him much greater  [...] all it, receive

259.The Chrystall doors no sooner heard the song.
But in obedience, they echoed it;
Their everlasting bars aside they flung,
And their resplendent  [...] open set;
Strait through the mighty gap a flood of gold
Soft as the locks of  [...] downward roll'd.

260.With that, the Musick of the sphears burst out;
High were the streins, and delicate the layes;
And though a while sweet Davids fingers fought,
His mortall strings to them He could not raise;
My harp must yeeld, He cry'd, but yet my heart
Shall in your loftiest accents bear her  [...].

261.Indeed those aires are so refin'd, and high,
Onely the Hearts spirituall strings can stretch
To the full compasse of their Harmony;
To whose pure chords, those Compositions which
You with the Name of Musick honor heer,
Are onely learned gratings of the ear.

262.Thus to the silver Orbs they came: When loe
The Stars all trip'd about, and danc'd for joy;
And as the Triumph through the sphear did go,
Phoebus unto his Lord resign'd the day;
His brighter Lord, from whose originall beam
He takes his light, as all the stars from him.

263.But yet these beauteous stages onely were
The fairely paved way and  [...] which see
Unto that rairer larger Palace where
Dwels light, and life, and bliss, and Heav'n indeed
And therefore Jesus through these made hast,
And only bless'd, and gilt them as he  [...].

264.When to the  [...] of the  [...] He
Was now arriv'd, and saw the world below:
The gate of Soveraign  [...]
Before its King it self did open throw:
Of  [...] glories straight appear'd a  [...]
 [...] but pure  [...]

265.What joys, what smiles. what ravishments were here,
What delicate extremities of pleasures!
Injurious the unworthy Parallel were,
By  [...] if we should measure
These  [...] sweets, of whose  [...]
All  [...] not the  [...] is.

266.For never did the sharpest-pointed eye
Or of the body, or the Soule of Man.
Such  [...] of pure delight desery
As all about these splendid Regions ran.
Chanting those  [...] of  [...] no mortall  [...]
Hath  [...] to heat.

267.Into these vast Expansions as He went,
Loe his Almightie Father came to meet him;
O Psyche hadst thou seen that Complement
Of supream joy, with which he there did greet him,
The Spectacle for ever Thee had blest,
And with  [...] heav'n replenished thy breast.

268.Unfathomable streams of  [...]
Attended on him and bare up his train
A flood of most excessive gratulation
Before him roll'd: But o how soveraign
Was that infinitude of complacence
Which brake from his own eys exuberance

269.On his Sons neck his radiant arms He threw
And seal'd his lips with an inamor'd kiss:
His noble Bosome then wide open flew,
(That home and Centre of eternall bliss;)
To bid him welcome to that dearest bed
In which or old he us  [...] to rest his head

270.Come, Come, said he, no more to part from hence
My hignest will thou hast compleatly done
And by perfection of obedience
Bravely approv'd thy self mine onely  [...]
 [...] shall entertain thee, and
For thy ocat sake, those who about this  [...]

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271.Hence forth I can look on my world below
With comfort, which till now displeas'd mine eye;
For all its blots, and stains, and horrors, thou
Hast nobly turned into purity;
It shineth now, wash'd by the liberal slood
Of thine illustrinus all-cleansing blood.

272.I see thy wounds; and I beheld the shame
With which they were engrav'don thee; but now
With never-dying lustre they shall flame,
 [...] on their gravers one day terror throw,
When guiltie they again shall see these scars
 [...] purchased'st in Loves and Mercies wars.

273.So spake the Father: when the holy-Ghost,
Who hand in hand along with him was come,
Renued his applauding joy, by most
Mysterious emanations, which from
The string of living bliss. his dainty breast,
In  [...] Plenitude of sweetnes prest.

274.Thus in the face of Heav'ns returned Son
He breath'd a pretious aromatick stream;
The surplusage of which effusion
Fill'd, and enobled all the hearts of them
Whom he in triumph thither brought, to be
For ever Captives to felicitie.

275.This salutation done: Heav'ns trumpets sounded,
Whose gallant noise, with equal Majestie
That Hill of all sublimitie rebounded;
To which in goodly equipage did flie
This reyal Companie & straite gat up
Unto Beatitudes, and Glories Top.

276.Three radiant Chairs of awfull beautie there
Stand founded fast upon Eternitie;
Which with such mystick art united are,
That 'tis intirely one, as well as three;
Three equal and distinguish'd seats, yet one
Essential and everlasting throne.

277.Down in the midst the Father sate, and on
His left-hand his all-quickning Spirit; but
He at his right enthron'd his mighty Son,
And an eternal wreath of glories put
Upon his Temples to requite those Scorns,
And Pains, they here bore with their Crown of  [...].

278.The ignominie of his feeble Reed
With Dignities excess to recompence,
Into his right hand He delivered
A Sceptre made all of Omnipotence;
And then erected just before his face,
His fairer Cross, upon a diamond Base.

279.As Jesus thus sate upon Triumphs Crown,
The Peers of that illustrious Kingdome came,
And at his feet their Coronets threw down
In loyall homage, and themselves, with them,
Begging his leave that their unworthy tongues
Might with his royall name enrich their Songs,

280.Forthwith, an Anthem of ecstatick praise
Broke from their lips, and on Heav'ns Roof did beat;
This brave example mov'd the Saints to raise
Their highest tunes, and mingle in that sweet
Deluge of triumphs, their applauses, which
Must flow as far's Eternitie can reach.

281.But the Disciples, Psyche, all this while
Follow'd Him with their eyes, and grieved were
To see the interposing Cloud beguile
Them of their Bliss: yet could they not forbear
Their Gazing still, in hopes their Sun might break
This Veil at length, and they free prospect take.

282.When loe, two Angels all in snow array'd,
A courteous Check unto their error, gave;
Yee Galileans, why is it, they said,
Your ignorant hopes stand gazing thus to have
A sight of him, now mounted higher far
Above the cloud, than you beneath it are?

283.He on his Heav'nly throne is see, and you
Must wait till He is pleased thence to rise;
For time will come when he again will show
To yours, and all the worlds, his blessed eyes;
And as from hence He did his journey take,
So, on the Shoulders of a cloud ride back.

284.This said: the  [...] posted home to share
In the new Festival above; And they
Convineed by that Item, ready were
Back to Jerusalem to take their way,
But as their eys returned to the ground,
The final Footsteps of their Lord they found.

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285.And so mayst Thou, my Psyche, still, for loe,
The precious Characters doe heer remain;
The trustie Earth would never let them goe,
Nor did desire to smooth her face again,
Which by these Prints was so embellish'd that
Her self to be the Worlds Base she forgat.

286.These dear Impressions the Disciples kiss'd,
And took their leave, and so to Salem went;
Full little thinking that the simple Dust
In keeping them would prove so Diligent,
That neither Windes nor Storms could them deface,
Nor pious Pilgrims bear them from this place.

287.A Thousand zealous Hands themselves have fill'd
With this most priviledg'd Earth, and held it more
Pretious than all the golden Sand which swell'd
The fame of Gange's or of Indu's shore;
Yet still the faithfull Dust with nimble Care
Suppli'd and kept intire each Character

288.Nay when the Time shall come, as come it will,
When Christian Piety shall courage take
And build a Temple on this sacred Hill;
These footsteps of their Worth full proof shall make;
Refusing to let goe the Honour they
Were sealed with upon Ascension Day.

289.They back into the Workmens face will throw
All his intrenthing stones, as oft as He
A Pavement labours over them to draw,
And injure with his Earthly decency
Their heav'nly Beautie; which He would disgrace,
Though He with Pearls and Gems should court the place.

290.Nor shall He with his Roofe hope to forbid
Their Prospect up ward, whether He is gone
Who stamp'd them heer; their Eys will know no Lid,
But make the Beams recoil, the Rafters run
Aside and suffer no Concameration
To damm the way of Jesu's Exaltation.

291.Thus Psyche, have I made thee trace thy Lord
To his last footsteps through a thousand ways
All set with Mercie, and made good my Word.
Thou seest how He a countermure doth raise
Against Sinns Battery, and thou needst not fear
Hells Spight, now Heav'n for thee doth take such care

392.Nor durst I doubt, but thine owne Heart will say
This thy long Pilgrimage is well requited,
Which hath presented thee a full Display
Of that wherewith all Angells are delighted;
Whose Souls then with sublimest Joy do leap
When on these Mysteries of Love they peep.

293.Their Harness heer upon his Steeds he threw,
Who all this while were feeding on the Hill:
The meaning of that warning Psyche knew,
And on her knee, prayd him to tarry, till
She gave the Reins to her Devotion,
As other Pilgrims unto theirs had done.

294.He smil'd and stayd, But She, flat on her face
Innumerable Kisses heap'd upon
The venerable Stepps; and long it was
Before her amorous Sighs and Tears had done:
At length, her Bosome with the Dust she fill'd,
And cri'd. Go thou, and my foul Body gild.

295.Then casting up to Heav'n her zealous Eye,
After her Spouse a thousand Thoughts she sent,
To whom her panting Soul strove hard to flie
Upon the Wings of her high Ravishment.
But when she felt her self stick still to Earth,
Fresh Tears at first, and then these Words brake forth.

296.Why may my Heart not be, where most it is,
O Thou my dearest Life! ô Jesu, why
Since Thou art mounted to the Topp of Bliss,
And leav'st Me Dead, have I not leave to Die?
Never was any Ghost, but I, till now,
In its own Body bound, and chaind below.

297.I by thy Cross and Death was wholly slain;
And by thy Resurrections Life I grew
Alive, and safe, and vigorous again:
But thy Ascension doth my Death renew,
Since nothing of my Life poor I can finde
But these bare footsteps left Me heer behinde.

298.Sweet Lord, by these thy Psyche cannot live,
Though for thy Sake, they pretious are to Me:
O no! their Worth doth but more reason give
To long for most inestimable Thee.
If any footstepp Me can satisfie,
It must be that which next thy foot doth lie.

[Page 273]
299.Hast Thou not said, that Earth thy Footstool is,
As well as Heav'n thy Throne? O mighty Lord,
'T will be thy Handmaydes most accomplish d Blisse
If thou but unto Me make'st good that Word;
Loe I thy Dust, the Footstool crave to be
Of thy now Heav'n-enthroned Majesty.

300.High my Petition is, and bold, I know;
And yet the worthlesse Dew must needs aspire
To Heav'n it selfe, when once it, gins to glow
With Phoebu's sweet, and most attracting Fire;
Nor can the Spark in its dull Ashes lie,
But must have leave to venture at the Skie.

301.Alas, what is this weary World to Me?
What are the silver Sphears and golden Sun?
Could I reign Queen of every Thing I see,
At my sole Nod would all Earths Kindreds ran;
What were this Empire worth, now Thou art gone,
Whom Psyche must esteem her Crown alone?

302.'Tis not thy heav'nly Paradise, that I
Ambitious am to see; 'tis not thy Court
Of Angels, though by Phylax's company
I guesse their Worth; 'tis not the Pomp and Port
That flows about thy throne; Nor doe I long
To dance unto thy Quires eternal Song.

303.My Heart doth pant for Thee, and onely Thee;
And, could'st Thou be in Hell, I never more
Would loose a Looking up to Heav'n, but be
Inamored of that Abysse, and poure
My Longings, and my Labours downward, till
I at thy Feet my Vows and Soule could spill.

304.O why art Thou so infinitely sweet!
Or rather, Why must We that Sweetnesse know,
If Thou, deer Jesu, dost not think it meet
Unto our Fires their  [...] to allow?
Away Thou flyest, and Forsaken We
Ev'n by thy sweets and Blisse tormented be.

305.How can I help this my excessive Passion,
Or how can it deserve these Torments? Since,
Thine own Love doth professe Immoderation
And guilty is of boundlesse influence:
In which soft Sea of Fire whilst drown'd I am,
What can I doe but burn with answering Flame.

306.Blame Me not, blessed Lord; it is not I,
But Thou thy Selfe rebounding from my Heart,
Who beat'st Heav'n with this Importunity,
And call'st for Ease for my mysterious Smart:
Had'st Thou by Love not stampd thy Selfe upon
My Soule, now Psyche had let Thee alone.

307.Remembet Jesu, what it is to be
Forsaken; ô remember thine own Crie
When in thy Desolation on the Tree
Thy Father Thou didst challenge: May not I
Use thine own Words? My God, my God, why now
Dost Thou thy desolate Psyche leave below?

308.Upon this Olivet my Calvary
I finde, and to my Crosse am nailed here:
Ten thousand Torments in my Bosome lie,
And full as many Thorns as planted were
Upon thy Tempels, in my Heart doe stick,
Where all the Bowels of my Soule they prick.

309.O Love! why must thine onely Tyranny
The Bounds of other Cruelties exceed?
Why will it not allow the Courtesie
Of Death, unto thy Vassals, who are Dead
By its reviving Slaughters, and desire
To be free Holocausts in thy sweet Fire?

310.Her Passion here beyond expression grew:
Yet though She with her Tongue no more could speak;
With her resolved Eyes to Heav'n she flew,
And there a long Oration did make;
Both long, and fluent, in th' exuberance
Of Tears, the streams of strongest Eloquence.

311.But Phylux having to Her tender Heart
Thus far indulg'd, thought fit to stop Her here
Psyche, said He, imagin not Thou art
Inamored more than the Disciples were
Of thy Ascended Lord: yet desolate They
Warn'd by the  [...], meekly went away,

312.I in their room, that Warning give to Thee:
On Heav'n why dost Thou naile thine eyes in vain?
Thy Saviour is too high for Thee to see,
Till on a Cloud He posteth back again:
Then shalt Thou look thy Fill of Blisse, and be
To all thy Loves Extremities let free.

[Page 274]
313.Mean while thine Adorations and Imbraces
On his dear Name and Memory thou mayst poure.
Come lets away, that by these signal places
Of Mercies Triumphs, thy soft Heart no more
May tortured be. Here on her hand he laid
His own, and raised up the heavie Maid.

114.Then in his Chariot gently, Her he set,
Who on the Footsteps kept her hankering eye;
But instantly he mov'd his reins, to let
His Coursers know he gave them liberty;
Forth with, their goodly mains, in answer, They
Shook in proud hast, and gallopped away.

PSYCHE: OR LOVES MYSTERIE. CANTO XV. The Poyson.

ARGUMENT.

LEaving his Psyche, carefull Phylax arms
With whole some sage Advice her tender breast;
Yet shee the Venome of Heretick Charms,
And Spurious Reasons wiles could not resist.
Phylax returns, and in his Pupills eye
Rakes up the nastie sink of Heresie.

1.ANd sits the Holy-land so dear and high
In pious Soules esteem? What tongue can then
Thunder sufficient Veng'ance out, and cry
Against the lazie Basenes of those Men
With equal Indignation, who have let
Vile Pagan Powers from Christians ravish it.

2.Could this prodigious shame endured be
By Romane hearts, when on their Empires thront
No other Prince was culminant but He
Whom all the best of Bayes attended on,
Who like a bank against the torrent stood,
And turn'd the Gyant into Saru's flood.

3.Who with his own Hand sent Razates down
To his eternal Night: who from the brow
Of stern Cosrhoes shaked off his Crown,
Before Syrhoes cancell'd' Natures law,
That He with vengeance might concur, and by
Dire Parricide make the Tyrant double die.

4.Who wip'd the Romans ignominie out
When He three hundred Eagles, which had long
Been mewed up in Persian Cages, brought
In triumph back, and bad them flie among
Their fellow-ensignes, and as freely gaze
As any of the brood, on Phoebu's face.

[Page 275]
5.Who not these Banners onely did redeem,
But the great Standard of Religion too;
Which was so pretious in his esteem,
That he himselfe its Porter turn'd; and so
Made all his Empire stoop to that which he
Upon his Shoulders bore to Calvarie.

6.Alas, Heraclius, how has Heresie
Attcheived what all Persia could not doe!
How has it made thine Eagles Pinions be
Onely of use to flie before thy Foe!
Whilst one of Christs great Wills Thou tak'st away,
How canst Thou hope thine own Thou shalt enjoy!

7.Loe, the new Monster Mahomets bold Frie
Like numerous Locusts from the Pit of Night,
Crawle into Palestine, and there defie
The blasted Powers of the Monothelite:
Loe, they are to the Holy Citty come,
And Haumar robbs him of his Saviours Tombe.

8.This rais'd in reverend Sophroniu's Breast
A mighty Storm of Agonies, to see
His venerable Salem now possest
By Saracenical Impiety;
And James his sacred Seat become the Throne
For curs'd Apostasie to reign upon.

9.He sigh'd and weep'd, and finding no Reliefe
From Heav'n or Earth for his loud Lamentation,
Resign'd himself unto victorious Grief,
And drown'd in his own Tears, fulfill'd his Passion;
For why should I live longer here, said he,
Still to be slain by what mine Eyes must see!

10.And now the Land of Milk and Honey lay
For more than foure full Ages over-flown
With Mahumetick Poyson; till a Ray
Of vigorous Christian Gallantry shot down
From Heav'n, and by the Ermite Peters breath
Blown to a Bonfire, slam'd with holy Wrath.

11.With holy Wrath it slam'd in many a Breast,
But most in brave Bolonion Godfreys, who
In Steel, and stronger Resolution drest
Burnt with Desire to meet his Pagan Foe:
His Lorain can no longer hold him, he
Resolves another kinde of Duke to be.

12.His Consecrated Legions he leads,
And in their Eyes their Quarrel doth display;
Above their Heads the bloody Crosse he spreads
Which streamed in his awfull Standard: They
Smil'd at its goodly Look, and cryed We
Though in thy tincture, ne'r will shrink from Thee,

13.The Turkish Moon grew paler than before,
And in a cowardly Eclipse shrunk back,
When this bright Banner did its, Terror poure
Upon her face, and open passage make
To Victory; for she was alwaies there,
And failed not to bring up Godfreys Rear,

14.Thus lesser Asia from the Turkish Lore
To Christs more gentle Yoak reduced is;
And there is nothing now but Salem more
For Godfreyes Sword to free from its Distress:
Thither he march'd, and soon Redeem'd the Place
Where the whole Worlds Redemption acted was.

15.Right Christian Hero, ô how due to thee
Was sacred Salems Crown, and more than that
How justly hath thy pious Victory
Both Martial, and Poetick Laurel got,
Whilst thy illustrious Name and Glory reigns
In the Worlds Wonder, and great Tasso's streins

16.But when by Death Heav'n sent for Godfrey home;
Baldwin his Brother, both in Piety
And Christian Valour, took his royal Room:
Sidon and Ptolemais felt what he
And his brave Troops in a just Cause could doe;
And so did Egypts mighty Caliph too,

17.He to his Cosen Baldwin left his Throne
And his entailed Gallantry with it;
Witnesse the routed Turks Confusion,
And Antioch, which did to his Might submit:
And though a while he to the Persian bow'd.
Upon Damascu's King his strength he show'd.

18.Then from his Turine Earldome Fulco role
To sway this Sceptre; who transmitted it
Unto his Son, young Baldwin; over whose
Surprised Powers, stern Noradine did set
His insolent foot; but soon it ssipp'd, and he
Perforce restor'd his stollen Victory.

[Page 276]
19.His Death, his Brother Almerik did raise
Unto his Throne; a Prince of active Might,
Whose Sword was fertile in triumphant Bays,
And glittered with Glories awfull Light;
All Ascalon beheld its noble flame,
When He from conquer'd Alexandria came.

20.Baldwin his Sonn, took up his Sceptre, and
Long sturdie Warr with Saladine maintain'd,
Till Leprosie seis'd on his Martial Hand
And unto Resignation it constrain'd;
And Guy of Joppa was the Friend whom He
Alone would trust to be his Deputie.

21.Next Him, his Nephew Baldwin stepp'd into
The  [...], in which He scarcely settled was,
But  [...] undermined Him, and so
At  [...] Guy crowded into his Place
 [...] the Earl of Tripolis so deep
That  [...] in desperate Plotts his Wrath did steep.

22.With Suladine He deals, and winns so fart
On his proud Hopes, that He perswades Him to
Conjure against the Christians in a Warr
Which soon attcheiv'd their fatal Overthrow;
For Arms and Treason so prevail'd, that Guy,
And Salem with him, did Subdued lie.

23.Thus Barbarisme afresh did domineer
In the Metropolis of Pietie;
Which roused up the Western Emperous
On Pagani me the Power of Zeal to trie
Surprised Syria at his Looks did quake,
And from his Conquests all the Turks flew back.

24.But as this generous Frederik, in his Might
Rode bravely on, his Horses fatal Fall
Threw down the Conqueror into his Night
Of Death. When loe, his noble Sonn, by all
The Army chose for General, pursued
His Fathers Stepps, and, where he went, subdued.

25.But what can Virtue doe, when Fate withstands?
Upon this hopefull Sonn of Valour, who
Had no capacitie to fear the Hands
Of Death from any Turk, or Pagan Foe,
The Plague did seize, and in his warlik Heart
Fix'd its envenomed untimely Dart

26.Then English Richard and French Philip came,
And with new Western Bravery made good
That mighty Loss; the Lightning of their Fame
Flashed before their Swords; and like a Flood
Incourag'd by two Torrents meeting, They
Swallow'd up all that dar'd oppose their Way.

27.But cursed Discord, the eternal Foe
Of high Designs, sent Philip back again:
Yet Richard on to Salem meant to goe,
Where He with Cyprus bought his right to reign;
And would, had Englands Jarrs not call'd him home,
Have forced Saladine to make him room.

28.Yet Martial Germanie her Nobles sent
By Saladines Decease invited thither:
Fierce Conquest with their Landing Armies went;
But strait their Sunshine turn'd to lowrie Weather,
For loe, the Austrian Duke and Saxon too,
Untimely Death would let no further goe.

29.And yet undaunted Montfort with his brave
Selected French, disdained back to start,
Till He good reason to the Pagans gave
To grow so same and kinde, as to impart
Peace to the Christians, which, without annoy
In Prolemais and Tyre they did enjoy,

30.Mean while, a glorious Conspiracy
Of Western Princes to their Standards stream;
Henry Count of St. Paul, of Campanie
Theobald, of Flanders Baldwin, and of Breme
Gualter, with Henrie Duke of Lovanes State,
And Boniface Marquess of Monferrate;

31.These to the Holy Land their course did bend;
But by the Graecian Quarrells turn'd aside,
Their Martial Zeal on Ducas they did spend;
And finding then fit Feuel for their Pride,
Forgot the Butt of their devout Designe,
And took no longer aime at Palestine.

32.But Montforts Truce expired; Germanie
Conjur'd again into the Holy Warr,
Of which stout Brennus had the Conduct, He
Whose comeing, through the Pagans shot such  [...]
That they to buy it off, are willing to
Whate'r they held in Palestine, forgoe.

[Page 277]
33.But vain Ambition lost this offerd Prize;
And swelling Hope of conquering AEgypt, throws
So thick a Mist before the Christian Eys,
That unto Cair the blinded Army goes;
Where they with Nilu's floods besieged round,
Their sacred Enterprize untimely drown'd.

34.Yet Frederik his German Eagles spred
Again, and bravely into Syria flew;
Which in the Pagan Sultan rais'd such Dread
That all his Turkish Confidence it slew:
He hasts to yeild, and freely does resigne
Unto the Christians their deer Palestine.

35.Thus when to his Imperial Diademe
This conquering Prince had joyned Salems Crown,
He Raynold leaves to manage it for Him,
And brings his Triumph home: But strait the Frown
Of Fortune, or of Fate, did blast what He
Had nobly brought unto Maturitie.

36.For when the Heav'ns had roll'd five years about,
Loe Raynold dies, and Salems Fortune too:
The Templars Insolence such falshood wrought
As generous Christians least of all should doe:
Their breach of Truce did their own Selves deceive,
And Salem unto AEgypts Sultan give.

37.Yet holy Lewis with his Frenchmen strook
Into the Pagans such deep Fright, that they
At his illustrious Oriflambes Look
Unto his Victories gave willing way,
Offring Him Salem, Palestine, and more
Than Christians own'd in Syria long before.

38.But he by fatal Counsel, it denied,
And then to Egypts Sultan prov'd a Prey:
The good King grieved; and in vain he tried
His new Adventures Strength, for by the way
A sudden and contagious Disease
Both on his Army, and on Him did seize.

39.His quarrel Edward, Englands sprightfull Prince,
Took up, and lost none of the English Fame:
What Palmes had this brave Hero pluck'd from thence,
Had his conjur'd Allies but timely came:
But whilst unworthily They linger'd, he
Return'd, and left behinde Ripe  [...].

40.To gather which, Imperial Rodolph sent
Henry the Prince of Megalopo is;
A noble General he, and bravely bent;
But yet against the bold impetuousnesse
Of the stern Mameluhes too weak to stand,
He yeilds his Neck to wear a Captives Band.

41.These unsuccessefull Expeditions Shame
A wak'd the Christians utmost Indignation,
Who in religious Throngs to Syria came.
High were their Hopes, and great their Preparation;
But both by banefull Pride invenomed were,
Which brought to passe, more than the Turks could dare.

42.As when the Huntsmen going to the Chase
Wrangle and quarrel who shall bear away
The Lyons Skin, untill their strife increcse
To such Intemperance, that it does betray
Their whole Designe, and make them readier to
Chase one another, than that Common Foe.

43.So here the Christians who a hunting came
For Salems Crown; before they it obtain,
Divided are, and quarrel which of Them
Had fairest Right and Title their to reign:
All pleaded hard, and at the Septre catch'd,
As if it now had from the Turk been snatch'd

44.The Kings, of England, Cyprus, Sicilie,
And France, the Pisans, Florentines, and Pope,
The Prince of Antioch, Count of Tripolie,
The Genouese, and the Venetians, hope.
So did the Hospitals, and Templars too,
That in the Diademe they had to doe.

45.Thus while this cursed War of Contestation
Protracts the Holy one; the  [...] (who
Like their own Swords, grow  [...])
Finding no Businesse now at all to doe
But to be wicked, through each neighbour Town
Run  [...] and  [...] up and down.

46.At these  [...] Wrongs the  [...]  [...]
Both in their Rage and in their  [...]
And  [...] joyned with their  [...] and  [...]
Upon their  [...]
Till by a quick and general  [...]
All  [...] out of  [...] beat.

[Page 278]
47.They beat them out of Syria, and  [...]
Of all that nsuall Braveric whereby
Their frequent Armies they to Salem brought
With fresh Reeruits of Zealous Pietic:
Their Courage now lies dead and cold at home,
Which us'd to live about their  [...].

48.Yet not so dead, but it revives again
Into a Life much worse than Death; for they
Since that, with most unchristian  [...]  [...]
Their swords in one anothers blood, and  [...]
The Turks among themselves, whom they were wont
More nobly from their  [...] to hunt.

49.The Crosse must now against the  [...]  [...] spreo.
(Blush all yee Heav'ns at this!) and they who are
Under the King of Peace all marshalles.
Be bararized by a mutual War,
Tearing that pretious gentle  [...]
Their Lord bequeathed to their Custody.

50.They who by mystick Union are knit
Under one Head, no other Foes doe seel
But their  [...] Members, and forge:
That whilst on them their Salvage spight they wreak
The tender Head feels every wouno and will
Score up drop which of His blood they  [...].

51.Weep all good eyes, which see this dreadfull shame
Of Christians digging Christian Bowells up
Sure that of blood, deserv's your briney stream
Weep then, and let your Bottles never stop,
Till you have wash'd away this Purple stain,
'Gainst which all powers, but those of Tears are vair

52.Had but the thousand part of this dear blood
Adventur'd to be broach'd in Palestins
Quite overwhelm'd by its exuberant  [...]
Had Manomets wide spred contagion been
And wofull Greece had not ensiaved  [...]
Under the burden or a Pagan Chain

53.Or had that Power of Policie, or  [...]
Of Arms of Horse, of Men, and stronger Gold
Which in our  [...]-aestroying Britain  [...]
Of late been livisn'd out, when Engiana  [...]
Her  [...] Miserie, with provident
And pious zeal in Syria been spent

54.Our guilty words had now not blushed in
 [...] blood; nor had our Palms and Bays
With any English curse destoured been;
But Salem her sad Head 'gun to raise,
Feeling from her long pressed neck, the yoke
Of  [...] broke.

55.As  [...] was  [...] Salem to forsake.
As are our  [...] thither to advance
Oft She looked hack, and many a view did take
With weeping eyes, and blubber'd countenance:
But when the Hils she could no longer spie,
Let  [...] now, said she, look  [...] mine eye.

56.And with  [...] potent  [...] did she breath
That heart sigh, that it made Phylax start,
 [...] the pallid characters of Death
Appeared in her face, and every Part
 [...] cold and num, as if her  [...] had  [...]
Back to the place whence she was hurried.

57.In application of his cordial Powers
Had not the tender Guardian nimble been,
His Psyche eyes now in their amorous showers
Had their own final deluge found, and seen
No more for ever: with such force doth love
(Especialy in female Bosomes) move.

58.And ask me not, what makes this Passion prove
So brave and potent in the softest hearts ?
Thy self the  [...] fect  [...] if genuine love
On thee hath tryed his mysterious Darts.
If not: it is in vain to tell thee how
This softnes to such mighty strength doth grow,

59.But quick as is the infiuence of light,
New vigorous spirits He breaths into her breast
Which thriliing through her Veins, chas'd out the  [...]
Of languic cold by which they were posiest
And  [...] her blood, bidding it rise, and  [...]
Her  [...], and  [...], and  [...] snor

60. [...]  [...], but toward  [...]
Her  [...], and then  [...]
Courage my Dear, said  [...], be content
Saiern  [...] nothing more for there  [...]
 [...]
 [...]

[Page 279]
61.As when a Friend unwelcome Motions makes,
His other self (who has no power to be
Right-down displeas'd, at whatsoever breaks
From those beloved lips, which Faithfull he
Holds dearer than his own, displays the smart
In his Eyes mirrours, of his wounded Heart:

62.So the Sweet anguish of her loving look
Psyche a while lays ope to Phylax view,
That He might read in that pathetick book
How by that Word of his her Joys He slew.
But when He seem'd that language not to ken,
Her lips thus to interpret it began.

63.Between two deaths, which shall poor Psyche choose
For death it is my Phylax to displease,
And death, religious Salems sweets to loose:
And I, alas, have but one life for these:
Yet had I more, my straits were still the same;
For all were due to thee, and all to them.

64.O deare Pretector of my Joyes, and Me,
Divide not now thy charge: Had I not been
Conducted hither by thy Pietie,
Psyche Jerusalem had never seen,
Not been enchanted by the pretious Graces
Which have endeer'd these consecrated places.

65.And of these Jewels must I robbed be.
By none but dearest thee! Had open Foes
Thus all at once impoverish'd feeble Mee,
I might have grappled with my single woes;
But now each griefe and loss, by springing from
Thine Hand, on Me doth more than doubled come.

66.O what has Albion that can entertaine
A Soule which is from Salem snatch'd away!
Salem which in the Worlds heart queen doth reign,
Whil st Albions Clime her vilenes doth betray,
Whom Nature threw into the West, and sought
How from the Universe to kick her out.

67.Arimathaean Josephs tombe indeed
Is there, that something that poore Ilse might have;
But ô, the sight of that, will onely feed
That fire which burns me with his other Grave.
His other Grave, in which my Spouse did he
Far, far from Albion, whither thou wouldst flie.

68.When in the lofty aire the fish can live,
When in the bottome of the Sea the Lark,
When Cancer can to Winter welcome give,
When High-noon can inhabit in the Dark,
When Albion can to Salem shipped be,
Then may it prove a fitting home for me.

69.But untill then, I onely thither goe
Bearing my wofull Corps unto my Tombe,
Since thou sweet-bitter friend wilt have it so,
And not vouchsafe in Palestine a room
For poor distressed Psyche. Here a stream
Of Tears flowd down from Her, and softned him.

70.Nay I am not so hard, sayes He, but I
Can yeild to fewer tears of thine, than those:
Come wipe thine eyes, for thou shalt instantly
Live in those joyes, Thou holdst it death to loose.
With that He slop'd the Rein, and wheel'd about,
And smiling Psyche back to Salem brought.

71.She smil'd; but sober He confess'd no signe
Of jollitie at this Return; for He
By his profounder judement did divine
That Land, however Holy, would not bee
A Sanctuary to his Psyche, since
His and her Masters summons call'd him thence.

72.A little House He there prepar'd for Her,
And with all requisites replenish'd it.
But then, with awfull looks He cry'd, my dear,
Thou see'st what order I have took to fit
Thy longing, and thy Lodging too; but now
I a more usefull gift then these, bestow.

73.'Tis my Advice; of which Thou hast more need
Than here to sojourn: yet thy being here
Doth all that mystick mighty danger breed
Which by thy life I thee conjure to fear.
Thy life at Salem is in peril, which
Had been in Albion out of Dangers reach.

74.Where Waters most doe  [...]mile and  [...] now,
The deepest Gulfes beneath in  [...] lie;
Where in their briskest beautie Roses grow,
An armed Troop of dangerous Thorns stand by;
All Poisons then most active are and bold
When they are lodg'd in pompous Pearl and  [...]

[Page 280]
75.Sweet Paradise was not so safe, but there
The worst of Serpents in its Sweets did dwell:
And though to thee Heav'n seems descended here,
Yet ev'n in Salem thou may'st meet with Hell.
I grant the Serpent here was slain, but yet
Their fragments Snakes know how again to knit.

76.Trust not their glittering Skinns, though fair they be,
But flie their Looks; for thick Enchantments are
Enammell'd in their out-side Bravery,
And holy Trapps, and Treacheries they wear;
With cunning Art they winde about, and glide,
And into unsuspecting Holes they slide.

77.Trust not their Tongue (which is indeed a Sting,)
Though it be tipp'd with Golden Courtesie;
Though Heav'n roll'd up in Promises it bring,
And Wisdomes most inviting Sweetnesse: Ye
Shall be as Gods, discerning Good and Evill,
Was a brave Word, yet minted by the Devill.

78.Remember here thy Spouse was once betray'd,
Remember that he here was thrice deni'd,
Remember that thou art a feeble Mayd,
Remember thy Agenor, and thy Pride,
Remember the Rebellion of thy Passions,
Remember Aphrodisiu's Protestations.

79.Remember what from Charis and from Me
Thou hast receiv'd, and let no Sirens Song
Bewitch thine Ears with treacherous Harmony,
In which the blessed Tunes of Heav'n have rung.
Take heed this humor of thy Zeal does not
Cast on its sober lines a wanton blot.

80.Lock up these Counsells in thine Heart, and there
Let them lie safe for Me till I come back;
Thy Trust, and Love shall hence to me appear,
If of these Pawns thou faithfull Care dost take,
These Pawns, which will my Guardian Wings supply
Although from thee I far away doe flie.

81.I must away, for this Heav'ns pleasure is,
And therefore must be mine, and should be thine:
I bus'nesse have abroad; but by this Kisse,
(And here he took his leave,) the truth of mine
Affection, Psyche, on thy Lip I seal;
Keep the Impression safe, and so Farewell.

82.Away this Word, and He together flew:
For now the King of Soules thought fit to teach
Psyche how little of her Heart she knew,
Who thought it raised past Delusions reach.
To her own Strength she now was left, that she
How little it deserv'd that Name, might see.

83.But when her Guardian now out-flew her View,
At his most unexpected Parting she
At first amazed and aflicted grew:
But straight revolving that her Heart was free
With all Jerusalem to satisfie
Its curious fervor, she left off to Sigh.

84.Then in a modest Veil her face she hid,
Leaving her Eyes but room her way to see;
Zeal ti'd unto her feet the Wings of Speed,
And on she hasted toward Calvarie,
Her Saviours Pains afresh there to lament,
Not thinking that to her own Crosse she went.

85.Mean while, all pious Hearts eternal Foe
Who to entrap them keeps perpetual Watch,
Observing her without her Guardian goe,
Judg'd this his onely time his Prey to catch:
He posted to a special Fu [...]ies Den,
Who started all her Snakes as he came in,

86.But as she in ten thousand Hisses spoke
Her Soveraigns Welcome; Peace my Childe, said He,
Part of my Errand's Haste, and cannot brook
These Complements Delay: I have for Thee
A piece of Service which will better prove
How much thy Father Satan thou dost love.

87.Psyche, a Thing to Jesus wonderous dear,
(And therefore full as odious to Me,
Who by his Love am alwaies pointed where
I am to shoot my Spight) is that coy she
Whom though I sundry Times have baited, yet
Back in my face the Poyson still she spit.

88.I Aphrodisius and Agenor sent,
And genuine Fiends they prov'd themselves to be;
About their hellish Work they wisely went,
And bravely acted all the Treachery;
And yet, good Devills, their far-driven Plot.
So crafty was that Wench, they finish'd not.

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89.Not that this Craft in her poor mortall Brain
Was bred and nurs'd: ô no, abus'd We are;
And Heav'n, though alwaies We to it give plain
Defiance, underhand maintains this Warr.
There, drown'd in Sulphure, Thou hadst Psyche seen,
Had it not for unlukie Phylax been.

90.He, base unworthy Spirit as He is,
Not onely stoops to Christ, (which gallant We
Of old disdained, and still doe no lesse,)
But with intolerable Flatterie
Turns Page to dust and Ashes, and doth bow
From Heav'n, to wait on this vile Worme below.

91.Had He not better nobly Faln with Us,
And never have debas'd his High-born Mind;
Then crouch, and sneak, and currie favour thus
Of the proud Tyrant? Can an Angell finde
It worth Christs Favour to be humbled down
Far more below himselfe, than We are thrown?

92.For my part, if I freely were to choose,
I would accept the bottome of my Hell,
And hug Damnation; e'r I would with those
Ignoble Sons of Earth a Servant d well.
Those Guardian Angels think We Cursed be;
Fools! who perceive not their own Misery.

93.They boast Heav'ns King's their Soveraign; and I
Take the confessing Vassals at their Word:
But I'l maintain it greater Dignity
To have Him for my Foe, than for my Lord:
They brag that Heav'ns their own, & Blisse's Hill;
Why I have more than so; I have my Will.

94.But now, my Daughter, Phylax is away,
His servile Diligence thou needst not fear;
Psyche is left unto her Selfe to day,
And therefore unto Us, if thou tak'st Care
To lay thy Plots aright; for thine they be
On which I build my Hopes of Victory.

95.She now is on her way to Calvary,
The Hill which more than Heav'n it selfe I hate,
And have no minde in person to come nie
That cursed Place: It stands not with the State
And honour of Imperiall Lucifer
To smell the  [...] of Jesus Sepulchre.

96.But for thy Fathers sake, and service, Thou
Shalt stop thy Nose, and venture to goe thither,
Where Thou a subtile Chain of Snakes shalt throw
About that peevish Wench to hale her hither;
So at her, and her cheated Spouse, both I
And thou will laugh unto Eternity.

97.His foaming Lips He closed here, and beat
The flood of flaming Sulphure back into
His monstrous Throat. Straitat his burning Feet
His damned Daughter took her leave to goe,
And with stout Fury rushed through the Earth;
And mingled with the Aire, as she brake forth.

98.In this she flew above Suspitions Eye,
And undiscerned shot into the Breasts
Of divers Mortals, where she formerly,
Had entertainment found: But now her Nests
She fethered anew with greater Store
Of viperous Pow'rs, than she left there before.

99.Such was her dangerous Policie, that she
For Psyche layd her Net in others Hearts,
Which she made lovely by the bravery
Of most refined sublimated Arts:
No fowler e'r us'd such allureing Ways
To charm poor Birds by treacherous  [...]

100.For though she were the very Centre, where
The Lines of all Deformities did meet;
The Looks of Beauty she knew how to wear,
And make her Horridnesse appear so sweet,
That she the wisest and most peircing Eyes
Had often blinded by her Fallacies.

101.But now the Virgin at the dolefull Mount
Arrived was; where in the reverend place
Of the deer Crosses Foot, she made account
To poure her Vowes: But there before Her was
A youthfull Man, who prepossess'd her room,
And thither of her errand seem'd to come.

102.His Looks, though guilty of few years, were yet
Grown pale and old with pious Gravity;
His sober Garb was such as best might fit
Those who not spruce and brave but cloth'd would be;
His Body thin, but thick his  [...]; which grown
To its full length, did at his back flow down

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103.Upon the ground He lay and beat his Breast,
Which echoed back the Blows, with Sighs & groans:
At length, with iterated Knockings prest,
It yeelded forth these Ejulations:
O Geief and Pains, had you no other Heart
But His, to make the Sink of all your Smart!

104.That Heart! which all of Sweetnesse moulded was.
That Heart! where Heav'n found its Epitomie.
That Heart! the fountain of all softest Grace.
That heart! where all the Worlds best Life did lie.
The heart of Jesus! here a boistrous Sigh
Came blusting out, and breaking off his Crie.

105.But then, recovering his Tongue again;
Alas, said He, and why are you unjust?
Why from this Breast of mine doe you abstein,
Which all your utmost stings doth merit? Must
He who deserv's the best of Joys, alone
Inherit all the depth of Passion?

106.Are there no Whipps, no Thorns, no Nailes for Me?
May these my youthfull shoulders bear no Crosse?
Is there no Portion of Misery
Left for my high Desert? did He engrosse
What sinfull I had better Title to
Sure this at least shall be my Grief and Woe.

107.As when the hollow Windes have drove together
Black lagging Clowds, the gravid vapors break
With their own weight, and poure the rainey Wether
Down through the gloomy Air: So on his Cheek
His labouring Eys their fertile streams let flow,
Which his tempestuous grief did thither blow.

108.And now his Lips no more had power to speak,
In Zealous Kisses He does them imploy;
He kiss'd the Soile, where once that Blood did reek,
Which all the Earths Redemption did pay:
And every Kisse did new Desire beget
Of more affectionate Imbracing it.

109.Psyche observing his sweet Passion swell
With such Devotion, soon forgot her own;
And with the Stranger in such love she fell
That at his feet her self she bowed down,
She bowed down, and little thought that then
She stoop'd to enter the forbidden Gin.

110.But as the wary Seaman, when He spies
The amiable Mermaid floating nie,
Turns from the dangerous Bait his jealous Eyes,
Hoiseth his sail up, and his Oars doth plie:
So this Devoto, seeing Psyche there,
Confess'd and fortifi'd his holy fear.

111.For starting at the unexpected sight,
Shield me, my blessed Guardian, said He;
Satan, who doth with everlasting spight
Disturb the Course of Zealous Piety,
Hath to facilitate my molestation,
In this fair Damosell sent me my Temptation.

112.But whosoe'r thou art, goe seek thy Prey
Where rampant Lust in furious Bonfires reigns:
Thy Beauties Lustre must not thaw its way
Thorow my tame, and now long-cooled veins.
How know I but thou art some fair dress'd Feind
To make Me foule? and here Himself He sign'd.

113.Ravish'd with this Religious Jealousie,
Sweet Sir, said Psyche, I was hither come
Upon that errand which your Piety
Hath here dispatched; in that very room
I purpos'd my devoted sighs to blow,
And make mine Eyes their liquid Dutie know.

114.My bounteous Lord took my Intent, I see,
For actual Deed; and hath rewarded it:
He knew no blessing would more welcome be
Unto my Heart, then this which here I met;
And this, art Thou, in whom I plainly read
The love of Him of whom my soul is Head.

115.I heard thy holy Sighs, and hearty Grones,
As towards Heav'n from thy Sweet Breast they flew,
I heard thy generous Lamentations;
And by those zealous Characters I knew
That Jesus had by his Soule-conquering Dart
Engrav'd Heav'ns best impression on thy Heart.

116.I thank Thee, that thou wert of Me afrayd,
For much I reverence that pious fear:
Yet be assured thou hast met a Maid
In whom no Embers of black fervor are:
No, no; my Heart will no such Guests allow,
For it too well doth Aphrodisim know.

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117.Indeed I might have been what you suspected,
Foule Satans Agent, and a feind of Hell,
Had our deer Lord the care of Me neglected,
And not seal'd sure on mine, his blessed Will:
And so might'st Thou, had He not spread above
Thy helplesse head, the Banner of his Love.

118.That Love, which wheresoe'r I finde it shine,
Doth humble Reverence from my heart command;
Wonder not at my Case, but make it thine,
And think how thou could'st shun, or how withstand
Thy Charming Self: If I immodest be,
Like Love will pardon Loves Immodestie.

119.Yet 'tis no Boldnes to admire the Sunn,
To love the starrs, and, what more lovely is,
Their Sovercign, and ours: what I have done
To Thee, great Jesus gave me leave to his
Own Self to doe: Wherefore no more admire
That I grow warm now I come neer thy fire.

120.My Warmth is pure, as is its spring in thee;
I mix'd it not at all with other fires:
And onely on thy Zealous Pietie
I feast the Hunger of my chaste Desires:
I am a stranger here, and hither come
On Loves deer businesse from my British Home.

121.But in this Land of Holinesse I meet
Such deer Remembrances of Heav'n, that I
Desire my native Albion to forget,
And where my Saviour did, both live and die.
Me thinks I heer am neerest Him, who is
Whither I live or die, mine onely Blisse.

122.Yet some Acquaintance and Companion I
Would gladly gain, with whom my foul might live
In holy freindships sweet society,
And mutual Heats of Zeal from Him receive.
Heav'n puts you in my way, and if you be
What you appear, you will be kinde to Me.

123.This said: sometimes to Him her pleading Eye,
Sometimes to Heav'n She turn'd; and by that mute
But most mysterious Importunity,
Sollicited her earnest bashfull suit;
Urging by this her yeelding silence, more
Strong Arguments than she had spoke before.

124.Mov'd with her soft Expressions, and her Tears,
(For these flow'd out as thick, and sweet as they,)
The Man gives credit unto both, and cheers
His clowded Looks, and cries, O happy Day
Which hast discover'd unto Me a Breast
Of Heav'ns pure dove the chaste unspotted Nest.

125.Pardon dear Stranger, pardon my Mistake,
And be no longer in that Name to me.
What recompence I can, I vow to make
To thy misprised slandered Pietie.
I at thy bounteous Offer catch, and will
Both thy Desire, and mine own Joyes fulfill.

126.Rare are those friends, as Birds of Paradise,
In this unworthy world but seldome seen,
Whose Harts in one no other Cement ties
But heav'nly Zeal and Love: and had I been
As good, as I am vile, thy Offer were
Worthy to be unto my Soule most deer.

127.If by the royall Law of our great Lord,
Pretious in our esteem our Foes must be;
O what Embraces must We then afford
To them who Us out vie in Charitie!
Come gentle Soule, and this chaste Token take,
That to thy Wish my heart I pliant make.

128.Here by an Holy Kisse (for that of old
The Symbole was of Christian Consent,)
He seal d his Words; then reverently took hold
Of her right Hand, and down the Mountain went,
Leading Her to his Dwelling; whither she
Went cheerly on, fearing no Treacherie.

129.Into the Vulturs Nest thus slies the Dove;
Thus to the smiling Shelfs the Ship doth run;
The stranger thus to the enchanted Grove
Goes for delight; Thus to the fatal Den
Of the fair tongu'd Hyoena skips the Lamb;
The Childe thus leaps into the playing flame,

130.Come to his House;  [...],
Authades, (for his Name
Was so) pray's Psyche not to take it ill,
That since she in a busy season came,
His sacred Office He did first fulfill,
Before on her He waited: But, said He,
The work, though great, will soon dispatched be,

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131.In his eighth journey Phoebus now did run
Since his first-born Authades did enjoy,
Who by the rule of his Religion
Was bound to circumcise the Childe that Day;
Which with a consecrated knife of stone
He did, and gave his own name to his Son.

132.The Infants Wound, the softer heart did slay
Of Psyche, who strait wrep'd, and knock'd her breast,
And then with indignation turn'd away.
But cunning He perceiving how his Guest
Dis-rellished her welcome, to her stepp'd,
And,  [...] first, demanded why shee weep'd.

133.In sullen silence she made her Replie,
Compos'd of Frowns, and of compleat disdain;
Till forc'd by his milde Importunitie,
She gave her angry Tongue a liberal Rein:
Shame on my credulous Love, which thus, said she,
Bewithc'd me to the Den of Heresie.

134.Are you the Man who crouched to the Place
Of Jesu's Cross, and him, your Lord, did call?
How come you now to wear a Jewish face,
And with your Circumcision tool, cut all
Your Christian Mask in peeces? Blinde were I
As was your zeal. could I this crime not spie.

135.Had you Beleev'd that Jesu's blood was shed
To wash the stains of all the World away,
Your cruel; Heresie had not made red
Your Infant in his needles blood to day;
Who had been purer had you washed Him
In a much gentler flood, pure Baptisms stream.

136.I see what reason my wise Guardian had
To be so jealous of my staying here;
Why He so solemnly appeared sad
When I was merry, and refus'd to feare;
He knew black Satan would himself array
In heav'nly puritie Me to betray.

137.Here she was flinging out. But fawning He
By the great Cross of Christ, and geater Name,
Pray'd, and conjur'd her pious Charitie
His unexpected action not to blame,
But to defer her Censure, and to hear
With patience how He could his cause declare.

138.Such power had that reverend contestation
On Psyche's tender heart, that she relents:
When  [...] He, after long Commendation
Of her soft candor, tels Her He repents
That He his Declaration did not make
E'r He that solemn work did undertake.

139.Then to a private Chamber Her He brought,
That no Disturbance might his ends prevent;
And by all Ceremonious service sought
To entertaine her thoughts with kinde content:
For on a silken Couch, when she was set,
With softer language, thus He gan the feat.

140.Sure now, dear stranger, thou art quit with me,
And hast repay'd me in my proper Coin:
I for  [...] Instrument suspected thee,
Thou for an Heretick dost me define:
But I recanted; and if thou doe so,
Quit on the other side We may be too.

141.If head-long jealousye for proof should passe,
What thing so perilo us were as Innocence?
What must we think of our great Saviours Case,
Who for a Devil slander'd was? and whence
Shall We acquit his Wise Apostles, who
In the fond Worlds esteem for fools did go?

142.Thou prov'dst not what my sudden fear did speak,
Nor am I such as thine did me present:
Truth can her selfe cleer and transparent make,
And never fail'd to yeeld compieat content
To those whom Prejudicies poyson had
Not first envenomed, and partiall made.

143.Know then, that I am one of those whose breasts
Are consecrated to that Lord whom thou
Alone adorest, and permit no Guests
To thrust in thither, who will not allow
That gentle Soveraign to domineer,
And reign without all contradiction there.

144.That poor comtemptuous place, whence glorious He
Vouchaf'd to take his sirname, is the same
Whence  [...] his humilitie,
Our Common Title We his followers frame:
Too high for Us the Stile of Chrastian is,
Plain Nazareen our Ambition doth suffice.

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145.Unto the Dictates of his royal Law
With universal Meeknesse we submit:
Whilst others but by halfes will deign to bow,
As Makers they, not Subjects were to it:
All hard and costly Precepts, they refuse,
And leave that Burden for the slavish Jewes.

146.They tell the World how they a Patent have
Writ in the Stile of Christian Liberty,
By which Heav'ns King to Them Commission gave
To break the Bonds of Legal Slavery:
And a wise King the while they make Him, who
Allowes them, what his Law forbids, to doe.

147.And is not this a brave Religion, where
There is no room for any Charge or Pains?
Cunning and thrifty its Profeslors are,
Who in their own Hands moderate the Reins
Which on their Necks should lie; who as they please,
Dispose their Discipline to their own Ease.

148.And yet 'twere well, would they their Charter show
Which makes them Free States, and vouchsafe but to
Declare what in the new-deliver'd Law
Doth crosse and disannull the old; that so
The World might Satisfaction gain, and we
Be made Partakers of their Liberty.

149.For we know no such Thing: But this we know
That Jesus who is Author of the New,
Was Institutor of the ancient Law
And upon Sina's Head his Trumpet blew
To wake the World, and warn it to give eare
Unto the Precepts which he thunder'd there.

150.And did he then Retract, what he before
Oreained had? Was Circumcision then
Commanded to be exercis'd no more
Upon the tender Infant-Sons of Men?
O no such Changings inconsistent be
With a wise Gods Immutability.

151.Like his own Selfe his Laws eternal are,
And need no Reformation or Corrections:
Our inconsiderane Lawgivers here
Infect their Laws with their own Imperfections,
And both may mended be: But surely 'tis
Proud Blasphemy to say so of Him, or His.

152.But his Example is full Explication
Of his own Laws: And what did righteous He
When fitted by his blessed Incarnation
He could, like Us, to them a Subject be?
Did not he set the Seal of his own Blood
To Circumcision, that this Law was good?

153.His Presentation in the Temple shews
His cleer submission to the Law which there
Professed was: Nor did he e'r refuse
To solemnize the Festivals which were
Legaly Sacred; or, when he drew neer
His End, forget to keep the Passover.

154.Let others cast the blustering scare-crowe Name
Of Heresie upon our genuine Zeal;
We trust we never shall repute it shame
To tread His Steps to whom we all appeal
As to our onely King: and surely he
Cannot but own those who his Followers be.

155.The Gospel Laws Weequaly Imbrace:
And though my Son I Circumcised, yet
I cut him not off from Baptismal Grace,
For in that Laver we our Children wet,
That in this double Sacramental Stream
Of Blood and Water, they to Christ may swim.

156.We grant, that where the Circumcision  [...]
Blusheth not to oppose and uselesse make
That venerable World-redeeming Blood
Which from the pretious Veins of Jesus brake,
The Sacrament's Heretical: But we
Teach it more meek and mannerly to be.

157.If now we of too Much Obedience seem
Guilty to thee, Convince Us of our Sin:
'Tis plain thou hast an hopefull pleasant Theme,
And easily upon our Hearts may'st win,
If Truth fight with Thee: for what Man is he
Who by just Licence would not conquer'd be?

158.He ceased here. But as the loathing Vine,
Though in the Colewort she can plainly read
No hostile Quality, doth yet decline
Her Touch, and any  [...] Shrub or Weed
Will rather hug with all her Arms, then by
The least Imbrace approve that Company.

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159.So Psyche, though she could not easily show
The venome of Authade's Sophistric;
Yet could her heart not possibly allow
What she could not confute: Much rather she
Would with fell Adders hisses fall in love,
Than the intent of his discourse approve.

160.For Discontent still gather'd up her Brow,
Still nauseous neglect stream'd from her eye,
Still on her Guardians Words she thought; and now
The Serpent had his Poisnous suauity
Displayd, and his enchantment finished,
She wav'd her Hand, and turn'd aside her head.

161.But Logos (who, with Thelema did lie
Close in her breast,) prick'd up his ready ear,
And drunk in all the gorgeous fallacie
With such Delight, that He could not forbeat
Now Psyche seem'd unsatisfied, to break
His itching minde; and thus He freely spake.

162.Madame, although the Jewish law to you
Expired seems, yet that of Courtesie
To be ev'n yet in date you will allow,
And why must then your looks transgressors be?
Why with such Glances of Disdain must they
Your gentle entertainment here repay?

163.For my part, if I ever understood
What firmper spicuous Probations ment,
What Reasons solid were, what Topicks good,
What Demonstrations sound; I must consent
That he of none but such Materials here
The Fabrick of his strong Discourse did rear.

164.And, let me tell you, Reason is a Law
High and divine, engrav'd in every breast,
Which must no Change nor Antiquation know;
A Law, which whosoever dares resist
Rebels against Himself, whom He stamps under
His obstinate feet, and nature tears in sunder.

165.O strive not then to be more Wise, than what
Is Wisdomes onely Rule: Aathades now
By Reasons genuine Lustre shews you that
He walks in High-noon light; and why will you
Be groaping still in Darknes, when you may
By his fair Pharu's Conduct saile to Day?

166.Psyche stung by this Check began to groan:
When loe her Thelema took Courage, and
With a resolved Countenance fastned on
Logos his shoulders her imperious hand;
Which shak'd him from his boldnesse into fear,
And summond to her Words his humbler Ear.

167.Pert sir, said she, does it to you belong
To hold the golden Reins of Psyche's heart?
That thus you stretch your Magisterial tongùe
Usurping what would better suit my part:
Y' had best e'n take her Throne, and make both Me
And Her wait on your upstart Majestie.

168.Though His soft Words tickle your wanton ear,
We use not to such easie Charms to yeeld;
Both Psyche's stomach is too weak to bear,
And so is mine, his gilded Dose, though fill'd
With sugar'd Blandishments. Yet ask not why
It is enough for us, but to deny.

169.Authades seeing how his dainty bait
Disgusted was, to heav'n lift up his eye,
And cri'd, Alas, that dangerous Deceit
Should be suspected in Truths arms to lie.
Yet Psyche, I doe not disprove thy fear;
Alwayes the wisest Souls most jealous are.

170.And this thy pious jeulousie to me
So pretious is, that it inflames my heart
With higher estimation of thee
Who in Faiths Busines thus tender art:
Those who with headlong hast such points receive.
To me seem but to fancie, not believe.

171.I grant 'twas thy unhappines, that thou
Meet'st with so faint a Disputant as I:
And sure our Cause were weak if it could show
No better Pillars of its Verity
Than my Abilities, which I confesse
Are full as feeble, as that solid is.

172.Yet why should Truth for my unworthy sake
Faile to finde welcome in thy pretious Breast?
Why should'st thou pay so dearly for my lack
Of Eloquence or Logick, as to rest
In that unhappy Ignorance content,
Which though I cannot help, I must lament.

[Page 287]
173.That Word broke ope the Fountains of his Eyes,
Which in deceitfull Pitty flowed down.
Yet knocking then his crafty Breast, He cries,
Why should I think just Heav'n on you hath thrown
The punishment of this my Weaknes? and
Because I'm Dull, not let Thee understand?

174.O no! wouldst thou but deign to walk with Me
To a Friends house not far from hence; Thou there
The Looks of living Pietie shouldst see;
And from an Oracle Resolutions hear:
If Thou repent Thee of thy Pains, I am
Content for ever to endure thy Blame.

175.This pressed Kindnesse, She who gentle was,
Knew not how to reject; and therfore goes
With her fair-tongu'd Companion: Alas
That facill Hearts should to themselves be Foes
When others they with Facilnes befriend!
That plyant Twigs should break because they bend!

176.But at the house, they at his Prayers finde
A Man whom Age had covered with Snow:
Yet noble Fervor in his pious minde
With more than youthfull Vigor seem'd to glow:
So strong was his Devotion, and so high
In all Espressions of Loves Bravery.

177.Authades at his Back straight kneeled down;
And so did Psyche, much amaz'd to see
How far that old Devoto had out-flown
The flagging Pitch of her young Piety.
Such flaming Prayers she never heard before,
Nor such importunate Knocks at Heav'ns high Door

178.She often looked that the Sphears should ope,
And to the longing Saint his Lord disclose;
She wonder'd that his Body flew not up
Seeing his Soule on such stout Pinions rose;
But most she marvell'd that his working Heart
Stretching so high, did not in sunder start.

179.With secret Checks her languid Soule she chid
Which with such violence never yet did flame;
Her Eyes hung down; her Cheeks were over-spread
With blushing (but with ô how guiltlesse!) shame:
Nor ravish [...]d lesse was Thelema, who till now
No Good would in the Nazareens allow.

180.O Looks, and Outside Things, how mighty are
And how substantial your Impostures, on
Unhappy Mortals, who their Judgement square
By Ear and Eye, and those vain Rules alone
They borrow from the Senses Schole, wherein
How many Beasts more learned are than Men!

181.False Saint.
Pseudagius now three times his Head did bow
In humble Adoration, and arose
Up from the ground. Which when Authades saw,
He forward stepp'd, his bus'nesse to disclose.
But Psyche pluck'd him by the Arm, and told
Him, forher sake He need not be so bold.

182.Pardon Me Sir, said she; for now my Minde
Convinc'd by heav'nly Satisfaction is;
In him I such commanding Goodnesse finde,
That, though I would, yet I cannot doe lesse
Than stoop to that Profession which he
Hath authoriz'd by such high Piety.

183.The height of my Desires, (if yet it be
Not Pride to reach at such transcendent Blisse,)
Is, that I with his leave advanc'd may be
To his religious Acquaintance: This
Perhaps may Me enable to repay
The Debt your Love hath layd on Me to day.

184.Authades glad and proud that he had thus
This Conquest gained, bad her be secure:
Then bowing down before Pseudagius,
Regard, most holy Sir, said he, the pure
And pious Suit of a religious Mayd,
Which modest she upon my Tongue hath lay'd.

185.Heav'ns Love hath kindled in her pliant Breast
Full Approbation of whatever she
Beholds amongst Us Nazareens profest;
And now our Proselyte she resolves to be:
Onely she beggs that you would not disdain
Her as you humble Friend to entertain.

186.His solemn Eye to Heav'n Pseudagius cast.
And cri'd, Forbid it blessed Jesu, I
Should not be kinde to Any whom Thou past
With thine own Favour deign'd to dignifie:
'Tis Condescent indeed in Thee; but how
Can I thy Worm stoop, who crawl here below?

[Page 288]
187.This said; with reverend Pleasantnes He came
And grave Acquaintance took with Psyche's Lipp;
She bigg with humble Thanks, cri'd out, who am
Unworthy I, such holy Sweets to sipp!
Hadst Thou vouchsaf'd Me but thy Feet to Kiss,
That favour I had hugged as my Bliss.

188.Thus cheated She, did her Mishap admire,
As doth the silly flie the beauteous Flame;
Little surmising what outragious Fire
Reign'd in that Bait which look'd so mild and tame:
Ne'r did she stand on such a Brink as this,
And never feared less a Precipice.

189.Pseudagius, whose faire-faced Piety
Compleat possession of her Heart had wonn,
Now exercised his full Tyranny
Upon his tender yeilding Prey; and soon
Infus'd his Poisons with such holy Art,
That their Contagion rul'd in every Part.

190.Satan who lurk'd in Ambush to espie
How his Designe would take; rejoyc'd to see
That Psyche by this moderate Heresie
So easily charmed was; for crafty He
When but a little Leaven was cast in,
Had oft the tainting of the whole Lump seen.

191.He knew a little Gap, might quickly turn
A mighty Chasm: He knew one Spark might thrive
Into a full-grown Flame, and serve to burn
The strongest Fort: He knew one Wheel might drive
A thousand more; He knew a carelesse Slip
Might cause a Fall, as well's a desperate Skip.

192.He knew that they who once a foot had set
In Errors Labrynth, would easily be
Allured further to proceed in it
By their own tickling  [...];
He knew they soon might fall in love with Night
Whose Eys once turn'd from Truths meridian Light.

193.But yet to make all sure, he Logos fill'd
With foolish Pride, and Confidence, since He
Saw Thelema, and Psyche forc'd to yeild
At last, to what He did at first agree;
And They abashed with unhappy shame,
His domineering Carriage durst not blame.

194.By this unbrideled Insolence he grew
So vain and carelesse in his Work, that he
Presum'd far more than all the World be knew
In Truths judicious Discovery.
Thus foolish Dreamers think they view the skies,
When duskie Sleep hath sealed up their Eyes.

195.For as one Morning Psyche walked out
Intending for her Saviours Sepulchre;
Full in her way the watchfull Tempter brought
One who no common Mortal did appear:
Grave was his Garb, but graver far his Look,
And him for some deep-learned Man she took.

196.Capricious Logos could not rest content
Till he had sounded what the Man could say;
Big with a spruce and eloquent Complement,
He brings it forth, and layes it in his way,
Bo wing down to the ground with it; which done,
 [...]
Agyrtes stayd, and Logos thus went on:

197.Sir, if your Head unto your Looks be true,
It is of Knowledge a vast Treasury;
And those Spiritual Riches never knew
What Losse or Diminution meant, when by
A liberal Impartment they were thrown
To others Breasts, yet not pluck'd from their  [...].

198.For though his radiant Largise on the Moon
And every Star, and all the World beside
He poureth out; yet still the copious Sun
Doth in his undiminish'd Glory ride.
Although a thousand Chanels it doth fill,
The teeming Fountain lives in Fulnesse still.

199.A portion of your Streams, and of your Light,
Is that We beg; not to impoverish you,
But to enrich our Selves: Our ignorant Night
To knowing Day may by your Influence grow;
Our arid barren Intellect may be
By your Effusions taught Fertility.

200.That natural Desire which did enflame
Your Industry to reach at Knowledge, is
Common to Us; nor will your Wisdome blame
Our free and bold Obedience unto this
Potent Instinct, by following which, you have
Attain'd that Blessing which of you We crave.

[Page 289]
201.When by a grave and gracefull Pawse, the Man
More reverence had won, with friendly Eye
He first their Welcome look'd: then thus began
To speak it out: Though Silence suits with my
Devout Profession, more than Words, yet now
To Courtesies strong Law my Tongue must bow,

202.If I to strangers should not Kindnes show,
I should affront that Lord who owned Me
A stranger unto Him. Yet please to know
That I professe not by my Industrie
To have arived unto any pitch
In that wherein you take Me to be rich,

203.Alas, Agyrtes had as sottish been
As is the vilest he that sees the light,
Had Heav'ns sweet Rays not deignd to interveen
Between my Heart, and Ignorances Night.
But Jesus who is King of Love, as well
As Wisdome, pleas'd with both my Breast to fill.

204.Yet this no other Wisdome is, then what
Concerns Him, and his Heav'n, wherfore if you
For any other look from me, but that,
You must goe seek where Vanitie doth grow.
That, that, or none, sweet Sir, said Psyche; We
Would onely in Heav'ns Wisdome learned be.

205.This yeilding Answer made Him smile within,
And promise to his proud Heart, Victory:
Yet to make sure, and grace, his holy Sin,
To Heav'n he turn'd his hell-directed Eye,
And lifting up his Hands, seem'd thence to take
The Copie of what now he ment to speak.

206.With that, upon the ready Grasse, which there
Offer'd its gentle service, they sate down.
Then thus Agyrtes: Though you Strangers are,
Your holy Wish, thus far has made you known,
That I perceive you are not yet to be
Inform'd there is a Christ, and Pietie.

207.But as the noblest Things beseiged are
With greatest Difficulties, so is this:
Religion, and Truth yet never were
Enthron'd so high, but saucie Wickednes
Would muster Errors round about them, and
Before their face in flat Defiance stand.

208.Yet, if in great Cerinthu's Schole you were
Ever a Candidate, I need not strive
To ope my Bottles to your Thirst, who there
All Fulnes from the Fountain did receive.
My Schole, cri'd Psyche, gentle Sir, alas,
Onely in blinde and barbarous Albion was.

209.Know then, said He, that when Heav'n planted had
Its blessed Gospell in our World below,
Ten thousand Weeds a conjuration made
To choke it when it first began to grow;
The Blade no sooner peeped forth, but there
These pois'nous Tyrants strait did domineer

210.And surely all the Harvest Hopes had been
Slain in their Birth had Jesus tender Care
Into his Feild not sent Cerinthus: Sin
The Crop ev'n in the Spring began to shear,
And Truth her infant Head sought where to hide;
So rampant Error was, and spread so wide.

211.But this brave Gardner with his prudent Hook
Cut those Intruders down, and cleerd the ground;
The Churches Soile strait like it selfe did look,
And reskew'd Truth full room to flourish found,
The mystick  [...] began to be
From the insidious Serpents Dangers free.

212.The reverend Law whose flaming Majesty
Flashed from Sina, now brake out again;
And chasing all licentious Mists, which by
Heretik Sloth had gain'd Religions Rein,
Mingled its Lustre with the Gospels Ray,
And doubled fair Truthes most unspotted Day.

213.Blind Ignorance was grown so bold, that she
Sought to perswade the World it had no Eyes;
Making the Lazie Name of Mystery,
In stead of Demonstration suffice.
From this black Pit those monstrous Prodigies
Of hood-wink'd, and abused Faith did rise.

214.Who can imagin Heav'n would e'r obtrude
Upon the Faith of Reasonable Men,
That which against all Reason doth conclude,
And founded is on Contradiction?
Sure God so strange a Law did never give,
That Men must not be Men, if they Beleeve,

[Page 290]
215.No, 'twas not God, but Man, who made that Law,
And by enacting it, usurped more
Than God-like Power on those he won to bow
Their Superstitious Necks to this new Lore,
By which to brutish Sottishnesse they are
Enslav'd, who free by Christian Title were.

216.'Tis not enough, forsooth, that We beleeve
Mary the Mother was to Jesus; but
Into the bargain too We must receive
That she a Virgin still remain'd. And what
More ready Way, her Sons Birth to deny,
Than by continuing her Virginity?

217.If she a Mother be, she must be so
But if a Virgin, she a Virgin is:
And he that can in One tie up these  [...]
May reconcile the Poles into a Kisse
May Midnight in the face of  [...] throw,
May cement in one Centre I and No,

218.Yet well it were, had Mary been alone
The subject of this holy Nonsense; But
With greater impudence upon her Son
It ventured, and madly forging what
All Rational Creatures cannot but Detest,
This, as the sacred Rule of Faith profest.

219.For though the Marvell-mongers grant that He
Was moulded up but of a Mortal Metall,
And that his Substance was the same which we
Finde in our Selves to be so weak and  [...]:
Yet an eternal God they make Him too,
And angry are that We will not doe  [...]

220.(Thus the quaint Madnesie of a dreaming Brain
Holds the same Thing a Mountain, and a Mite;
Fancies the Sun, Lights royal Soveraign,
To look like swarthy, and ignoble Night;
Imagines wretched Worms, although it see
Them crawl in Dirt, illustrious Kings to be.)

221.But Heav'n forbid, that we should so  [...]
And think our God as poor a Thing as We
How can Eternity be born in Time
How can Infinitude a Baby be?
Or how can Heav'n and Earths almighty Lord
To AEgypt flie for rear of Herod's Sword

222.Can He be hungry who doth All Things feed?
Can it become the King of Joy to weep?
Can He the God of Spirits, refreshment need?
Can He who is all Eye, e'r fall asleep?
Can Man, the Prince of Power Crucifie?
Can He, Lifes everlasting Fountain, die?

223.Such Gods as these indeed were Jupiter,
Mars, Saturn, Neptune, Mercury, Apollo,
And all that Rout to whom the Pagans rear
Their cursed Altars: And must we goe follow
Such goodly Leaders, and our Pleasure take
Religion worse than Atheisme to make?

224.Sure God is much beholden unto them
Whose glorious Faith hath been so carefull to
Heap all those vile Indignities on Him
Which they Themselves abhorr to undergoe.
If God be such a wretched Thing, no more
Will I, (and 'tis no proud Word) Him adore.

225.But He is as Impassible as They
Would make him weak and poor: He cannot bow
To yeild his high almighty Selfe a Prey
To our Infirmities who crawl below:
His super-glorious most refined Nature
As far from Suffring is, as from a Creature.

226.I know they strive to mince the Matter by
Distinguishing His Natures; for their Art
Being asham'd of no Absurdity,
Himselfe from his own Selfe presumes to part.
Yet we durst not admit a Deity,
Which must on a Distinction builded be.

227.But how much more than mad their  [...]  [...]
And how transcending Pagan Blasphemy,
Who not content to make a God of this
Both  [...], and mortal Jesus; try
To thrust him into one Substantial Knot
With his eternal Sire who him begot!

228.Two, yet not Two, but One these Two must be,
Nay and a Third into the Knot they bring;
The Spirit must come in to make up Three,
And yet tnese Three be but One single Thing.
Thus fast and loose they play, or ev'n and oda,
And we a juggling Trick must have for God

[Page 291]
229.If God be One; then let him be so still:
Why jumble We We know not what together?
Did all the World not know their God, untill
This old Blinde Age discover'd Him? Did neither
The Patriarks Beleeve, nor Prophets See
Aright, because they took not One for Three?

230.I and my Brethren are full well content
T' aspire unto no other Paradise
Than that to which those Holy Hero's went,
Whose Faith knew no such curious Prodigies.
No; Faith's a grave and sober Mayd, and she
Loves neither Quirk, nor Trick, nor Forgerie.

231.Let Love and Duty make of Christ as high
And glorious a Thing as Wit can reach,
Provided that against the Deity
No injury nor Sacriledge they preach;
If onely on such Terms He lov'd may be,
Him to neglect is Pietie, say We.

232.But We neglect him not, who merits more
Of Us, than all our Reverence can pay:
Our Necks we bow unto his gentle Lore,
And his Commands ambitiously obey:
Love is his blessed Law; and hated be
Those who contemn so sweet a Lord as He.

233.You see how freely our Profession We
Impart to Strangers; being confident
That honest Truth can never shamed be.
Yet whether you will bow downe your consent
Unto our Doctrines, I uncertain am;
And therefore will no further lavish them.

234.For if your Faith relies on Men, who are
Themselves but founded and built up of Dust;
If you by Reasons Rule disdain to square
Your Pietie, and take your God on Trust,
(Which Heav'n forbid;) you onely are a Prize
Unto Imposters fair-tongu'd Fallacies.

235.He ceased here. When Logos louting low
His fawning head to Psyche, gave her Joy
That she had met so grave a Doctor now,
Whose radiant Knowledge might light her the way
To genaine Truth through those thick Foggs which here
Make dim and black Religions Hemisphear.

236.And take good heed said He, sweet Madame, that
You serve Him not as you Authades did:
O what substantial Arguments, and what
Religious Motives hath he mustered
In this concise Discourse, whose depth might well
Be owned by the holiest Oracle.

237.Psyche, whose tender Heart not long agoe
Would have abhorr' d this venomous Language more
Than doth the Lamb the Wolfe, or Lyon, who
Nothing but barbarous Death to it doth roar;
Had now forgot her pious jealous fear,
And knew not what it meant to be aware,

238.Haeretick Poyson she already had
Suck'd from Authades; which no sooner wun
Her fond Hearts Approbation, but it made
An open Chanel for more streams to run
Into Her Bosome: Thus an Army by
One little Breach poures in its Victory.

239.She yeilds to swallow the Cerinthian Bait,
And thanks unto her Murderer strives to pay.
Dear Sir, said she, your solid Reasons Weight
Doth on my Heart such sound Persuasion lay,
That needs it must submit, and study how
To be for ever gratefull unto you.

240.Scarce had she spoke, but loe her Doctor who
Espyed Phylax flying thither, took
His hasty leave; but pass'd his Promise to
Meet her again, and bad her for him look
The next day there: Alas the Cheater was
Afraid the Angel might his Frand uncase.

241.But as away he sneaked; Psyches' Friend
More swift than flies the Eagle to her Prey,
The whining Aire with sprightfull Wings did rend,
And shot himselfe through the directest way
To his dear Charge, for whom his Heart did quake,
As knowing well what Tempests hers did shake.

242.For by Loves faithfull Sympathie (though he
About his other work far distant were,)
He still preserv'd a soft Vicinitie
With Psyche's Soule, and felt each wound which there
Sophistick Darts had made, though foolish she
Perceived not her sugered Miserie.

[Page 292]
243.At his approach, for joy the Virgin wept,
Not thinking that those tears to shame were due.
Syneidesis still in her bosome slept,
And her unto her self forbore to shew:
She to her own Breast was more stranger than
The Tartar to the AEthiopian.

244.But Phylax almost out of breath for hast,
Suck'd in fresh spirits, and then demanded who
It was that gather'd up his heels so fast,
And fled from his approach: If he had no
Cause of his flight, but me, 'tis meet that I,
Said he, suspect him for you Enemy.

245.No sure, replyed Psyche; for nor I
Nor Logos could discover ought but love:
He freely taught Us many a veritie,
And what he undertook, did cleerly prove.
Some sudden busines snatch'd him hence, not fear
Of you, whom doubtles He doth hold most dear.

246.Phylax, who knew Him and Authades too,
The total matter gently sifted out,
And wrought upon his Pupils softnes so
That his design He subtly brought about;
For full confession from her charmed tongue
Of both her Doctors Principles he wrung.

247.But then He groand, and smote his pittying Breast,
And fixed upon Hers his speaking eye,
By which the mixed language He exprest
Of Love and Wrath, of Hope, and Jealousy;
And by this Prologue setting ope the door,
He from his Lips his troubled Minde did poure:

248.Left I my charge, ô Psyche, to the Winde,
When hence I took my journey, or to thee?
If in my dearest Cabinet, thy Minde,
I my advice depos'd, why must it be
That the weak breath of any Charmer Thou
Dost meet, that holy Pawn away may blow?

249.My heart mis-gave me, when away I went,
Or rather when with thine I left it here;
Full well thou knowst what earnest pains I spent
To arm thy tender Soule with sacred fear:
O why, with foolish confidence would'st thou
Disarm thy self, and make room for the blow?

250.That blow, which struck so deep into thy breast,
That if some soveraign Balsame makes not speed;
If strait thy wounded Bosome be not drest;
If Heav'n be not as quick, new life to shed
Into thy Soule, as Hell was to betray
It unto Death, this is thy fatal Day.

251.Alas those Doctrines onely Poisons were
Squeez'd from the dregs of the infernal Pit;
Less Pestilential those Venoms are
Which desperate Basilisks and Vipers spit:
Nor Aphrodisiu's, nor Agenor's tongue
With such sure bane thy careless Bosome stung.

252.Canst thou ô Psyche thus thy Lord repay
For all the Treasures of his Love which He
Into thy poor heart poured day by day?
Canst thou rob Jesus of his Deitie,
And tear Him from his Throne, whil'st royall He
His heav'nly Kingdome doth prepare for thee?

253.Pert Logos here no longer Patience had,
But setting up his insolent crest, he cri'd,
Good sir, and take you me for one so mad,
That in my proper road I cannot ride,
But both my Self and Way, I needs must loose,
And willingly deep Precipies choose?

254.If Eyes of Colours sober Judges be;
If Tongues can censure what is soure and sweet;
If Ears can Discords know from Harmonie;
If Touching may decide in Cold and Heat;
Why may not I presume that I am set
In Reasons Chair, and know the Powers of it?

255.Unless I to my Essence give the Lie,
These Doctrines sure are built on Demonstration:
But if you onely must be Psyche's eye,
Ev'n pull me out, that I no perturbation
Thus in the way of your designes may throw;
So in your Conquest you compleat shall grow.

256.Psyche was glad to heare this Challenge beat
So high, and hop'd that Phylax would relent:
And were Angelick Loves Heroick Heat
Less resolute than it is, just discontent
Had quenched Phyla'x flames, which now by this
Bold opposition did more stoutly rise.

[Page 293]
257.With secret instance he did Charis draw
Down from her Heav'n, to joyn her Powers with his:
She, when the Virgins wounded Heart she saw,
Melted with Pitty at her deep Distresse;
And by victorious Sweetnesse op'd a way
Into her Breast, and Thelema made her Prey.

258.Which Phylax seeing: Logos strives in vain
Said He, to countermine my care of Thee:
Greater Affronts than these I can sustain,
Rather than Psyche should destroyed be.
All this, and more, I will forget, so Thou
Wilt goe, and see a Sight I have to show,

259.Logos look'd bigg, and struggled might and main;
But Thelema was tractable and tame,
And the bold Rebell quickly did constrain
Unto her pliant Minde his own to frame,
Poor Psyche sigh'd and wept, and halfe afraid,
Phylax with her to doe his pleasure pray'd.

260.He well considering her Disease had need
Of nothing more than Haste in her Physition,
Staid not to parle, but made all loving speed
To snatch her from these Jaws of deep Perdition,
Whilst yet with Chari's soule-subduing Heat
Her melted and convicted Heart did beat.

261.Ready at hand his well-known Chariot was,
In which he takes her up, and guides the Rein;
Forth with the sprightfull Steeds flung on apace
Through the fair Road of the aereal Plain,
Till they to Gitton in Samaria came,
Their journeyes Butt, where Phylax checked Them.

262.Then lighting down, Come Psyche, come, said he,
This is thy newfound Doctors native Town;
Here thou their true Original shalt see,
And from what kinde of Nest they all are flown.
This House their Fathers was: Come we will in,
And view the Birth-place of Heretick Sin.

263.Thus entred They: When loe the House they finde
So full of Doors, and Rooms, and Galleries,
Which by quaint Turnings to and fro did winde,
That Psyche quickly lost her rouling Eyes,
As she had done her Se fe, had Phylax not
Of all the Labyrinth full knowledge got.

264.Thorough a thousand strange Meanders He
Into a private Room conducted her
Where she a far more private Door did see,
But little thought what kinde of Den was there
Lurking behinde it, so alluring was
The holy Beauty of its cheating Face.

265.A goodly Crucifix was there displayd,
Altars were rear'd, and many Bibles ope,
By which majestick Liturgies were laid,
With lofty-tuned Anthems; on the Top
Art plac'd a Quire of Angels hovering,
And made the gorgeous Roof all seem to sing.

266.There might you see Faith, with her Eagles Eye;
Hope with both Hands her Anchor holding fast;
And with her open Bosome, Charity;
Whose Looks such seeming current Beams did cast,
That those who were not well aware, might deem
She at Heav'ns genuine Fires had kindled them.

267.With these; Religion stood, Zeal, Piety
Devotion, Meeknesse, Patience, Gentlenesse,
And whatsoe'r might advantageous be
The brave Imposture gallantly to dresse:
Baits which might easily work a greater feat,
Then Psyche s soft Simplicity to cheat.

268.What credit thou to these fair Looks mayst give,
Said Phylax, Thou shalt see when I have shown
What monstrous Ouglinesse these Porters strive
To countenance: With that he bent his Frown
On the enchanting Company, and they
To his imperious Anger straight gave way.

269.Aside They started; and so did the Door;
When loe an horrid Cave appear'd beneath,
Which forth a Stream of  [...] and Stink did poure,
Amazing Psyche with its dismal Breath;
Deep was the Pit, and full of darkest Fright,
Seeming the Bed chamber of sullen Night.

270.But Phylax shot from his illustrious Fye
Such potent lightning as brake through that Cloud;
When loe about the Caverns sides, a Frie
Of frighted Toads into their Holes did crowd;
And thousand Spiders at the Sight agast,
Into the centres of their Webbs made haste.

[Page 294]
271.But ô what Mans, or Muses Tongue can tell
The other Monsters which were hissing there!
Huge Snakes, fierce Vipers, angry Adders, fell
And fiery Hydra's all discovered were,
With Cockatrices, Scorpions, Dragons, and
Of  [...] Chimaera's a full marshall'd Band.

272.Yet these all fled before the Angels face,
And in their severall Dens loud howling lay:
But He entended for a further place,
And with these lesser Monsters made no stay;
Forward unto another door He goes,
Where far more poys'nous things He doth disclose.

273.Glozing Deceits, and handsome Lyes stood there,
With gentle meek demure Hypocrisie;
And these in goodly state attended were
By treacherous Rhetorick and Phylosophie;
But their chief train with Syllogisms was fill'd,
Who in their hands three-forked Halberts held.

274.Yet all their Might fell flat upon the ground,
And gave the mightier Angel leave to passe,
Who entring by that damned Pontal, found
To such a Porch a correspondent place:
The stinks He met before, pure odours were
To those which reek'd in every corner here.

275.The Master of the House, grave Simon, who
Wore Magus for his cursed surname, sate
Full in the midst; whose poisned stomach so
Surcharged was with crude-opinions, that
Its pestilential Load which belch'd and wrought,
Into an ample Boule He spewed out.

276.This the rude indigested Chaos was
Wherein all Heresies did jumbled lie;
The fertile Womb which their original Place
Did give to every kinde of Blasphemie;
The Seed and Matter whence sins foule Creator
Produced every Monstrous-shaped nature.

277.As smoaking in the Boule this Vomit lay,
A Crowd of desperate Men throng'd round about,
Whose most accursed thirst did them betray
To covet this foule Draught: The scalding drought
Of the persued Deer breeds lesse desire
In some cool spring to quench his raging fire.

278.Menander gat the first Sup; He who by
That cankering liquor so infected grew,
That Simon He out-spit in Heresie,
And higher than his Spewing Father flew;
Much he disdain'd that God or Man should be
Nobler (at least in's own conceit) than He.

279.Ceninthus next lapp'd up his share, and then
His hungry Younglings with the venom fed;
'Mongst whom Agyrtes suck'd his Part, whom when
Psyche beheld, Guilt di'd her Cheeks with red.
But Ebion thrusting in, took off her eye,
He Scriptures Mangler, foe of Purity.

280.Yet Nicolas, who came next, was worse than He,
And drunk so deep, that of all foulest lust
He turn'd Professor, and deserv'd to be Apoc. 2. 7
The hate of God Behinde him Elxai thrust,
And bold Jexeus, Bretheren no less
In nature, than in lustfull Putidness.

281.Then Saturnine, whose draught so strangely wrought,
That he judgd Puritie it self impure;
Chaste Matrimony He abhorr'd, as fraught
With shamefull odiousnes; nor would endure
His lip should blush in any Creatures blood,
All which he held were never made for food.

282.Yet strait Basilides from the same fount
Contrary poison drunk; All lust was clean,
Yea commendable too in his account.
And the same rellish had the liquor in
Carpocrates his Mouth, and Valentins,
The Oracles of all libidinous sins.

283.From these great Parents came that numerous Spawn
Of most portentous Gnosticks, Antitacts,
Ptolemaits, Ophites, Cainites: Monsters known
By the Profession of such shamelesse Facts
As Hell would blush at; which yet unto them
Truths and Religions Puritie did seem

284.Next these, about the boules brim licking lay
The Nazareens, amongst whose sneaking fire
Were both Pseudagius and Authades; They
Who tainted Psyche with their Heresie.
No sooner she beheld them, but her breast
She smote, and by the stroke her fault confest.

[Page 295]
285.But after these appear'd the Marcosites
Epiphanes, Secundus, Isidore;
Bold Cordonists, and fond Heracleonites
Marcion, Apelles, with blasphemous store
Of their Disciples; Lucan, Luciun,
Photinus, Basiliscus, Hermogen.

286.Then proud Montanus; with Quintilians,
Ascites, Pepuzians; and Artotyrites,
Priscillians, Pharisaik, Tatians,
Abstemious yet profane Severianites;
Archontiks, Adamites, Quartadecimans,
Fond Alogists, and Melchisedekians.

287.Tertullianists, Arabiks, Symmachists,
Homousiasts, Elxites, Origenians,
Valesians, and presumptuous Catharists,
Hydroparastates, Patripassians.
Apostoliks, Angeliks, Chiliasts,
Samosatenian Paulianists.

288.Mad Maniches, outrageous Donatists,
Curs'd Arians, Colluthians, Audianites,
Shamelesse Photinians, Macedonianists,
Acrians, Acacians, Eustathites:
Eunomians, Messalians, Luciferians,
Hypsistarists, Agnoites, Apollinarians.

289.Timotheans, Seleucians, Collyridians,
New coin'd Priscillians, with Proclianites:
Foule-mouth'd Jovinianists, and black Helvidians;
Bonosians, Campensians, Agapites;
Pelagius, Nestorius, Eutyches,
Accompani'd with all their Progenies.

290.Innumerable more besides were there,
Whose severall Poisons Nature Phylax read
Unto his Pupill, though they never were
As yet unto the world discovered:
But as these Petty Vermine She did view,
A mightie Prodigie its dread did shew.

291.Up starta Man of such commanding Look,
That all these awed Suckers gave Him way:
Three times his mighty Head and Locks He shook,
Three times He stoop'd, and seem'd too proud to lay
His lips so low; yet bowing down at length,
Upon the Boule He shew'd his cursed Strength:

292.For every Drop of the foule Vomit He
Straight swallowed up, and kick'd the Bowle away
When loe the Venomes rampant potencie
Did in the desperate Man it self display;
Both in his eyes, and all about his face,
Insernall Horror freely took its place.

293.A pair of Horns broke from his fiery Brow,
And from his mouth impatient Blasphemy;
Big with all rancorous Spight his Breast did grow,
His Soul was stretch'd with arrogant Majesty:
Nor was it wonder that He thus did swell,
Who had engorg'd and drunken was with Hell,

294.With Mouth wide ope He swore aloud that He
Would make the whole World to his pleasure bow;
He threatned all Heav'ns starrie Braverie
Down from their highest strongest Orbs to draw;
He vow'd by his own Head, no God should be
Thenceforth beleeved, nor ador'd, but He.

295.With that, his fists of burning Brasse He bent,
And lifted up his more than Dragons Taile,
As if with this Artillery He ment
The Universe's Powers to assail;
Nor was his Insolence in vain, for He
From Heav'n it self snatch'd down his Victorie.

296.From th' Euangelick Heav'n He boldly drew
Millions of Soules, whom He in sunder tore,
Or with his Breaths most murdering venome slew;
Bellowing his Triumph in a dismall Roar.
Straight the Heretick Frie began to quake,
Simon himself did start, and Psyche shake.

297.But Phylax to allay her storm of fear,
Told her the Monsters Pride yet knew a Rein,
For mark, said He, He is a prisner here,
And cannot break that Adamantine Chain
Which Him and all his viperous Company
Though at some distance, fast to Hell doth tye.

298.She look'd and saw her Guardian told her true:
She saw the Chain, which to a Pit did lead
Whence thich sulphureous eructations flew
And brought up mingled streams of boyling Lead
She frighted at the sight, fled back; but He
What in that Bottome lay, led her to see.

[Page 296]
299.Sheltred by his stout Wings Security,
And by his trusty Word encouraged,
Into the dismall Grott she sent her eye,
Which there a more prodigious Object read
Than She before had seen in the foule Book
Of hideous Antichrists portentous Look

300.It was that Beldame Hagg from whose black Breast
Simon his rank unweildy Poison drew
Never was furie so compleatly drest
In all the Bravery of Horrors hue;
All shapelesse shapes together tumbled were
To make up Shames Extremity in Her.

301.Two Heads She had, which on her Leg [...] did grow
Two faces, and two Mouthes, but not one Eye,
Six rowes of teeth which constantly did gnaw
All they could of her Carkaise reach: Her Thigh [...]
From an eternall Sore did poyson drop
Into her throat, which thence again spew'd up

302.The Vermin which did all about Her swarn
Young Adders, Slow-worms Toads, and Spiders were,
Two lumps of black flesh hung for either Arm
An hundred Nails upon each hand did tear
Her dangling Duggs and when they weary grew
Them o'r her shoulders to her back they threw

303.But from her Neck a twisted Tail did sprout
Arm'd with a thousand forked Stings which she
For her own torture us'd and round about
Her self its Lashes threw; Her bunched Knee [...]
Did backward bend; and for her feet below.
Out at her belly Seav'n short Paws did grow

304.As Psyche trembled at this basefull sight
Behold, said Phylax, and consider well
Whither brisk Logo's judgement were to right.
Who hath engag'd thy poisned Heart to dwell
In this fine Ladyes familie. for she
Is Grandame to that monstrous Progenie

305.Since Thou hast made thy choise, and scorned Me
And my Advice; goe take thy chosen place
Or in Pseudagius his Companie
Or in Agyrte's: Nay doe not disgrace
Thy learned Prudence so as to retract
Judicious Logos will not like the fact

306.Poor Logos heard this Word; which through his Heart
Shot such deep Shame and Grief, that thenceforth He
Resolved never more to trust  [...] Art
Where it with Phylax's minde did disagree.
But yet in Psyche's tender Breast, the Wound
More stinging was, more fataly profound.

307.Prostrate before his face, in silence She
Grappled a while with her outrageous Grief;
But when She saw the woefull Victorie
Growing upon her, and found no relief
In her own Soul; She mingles with her Sighs,
Her Declarations, and thus She cries:

308.Alas, Pseudagiu's or Agyrte's place
Is too too happy and too high for Me
That dreadfull Haggs prodigious Embrace
Is more than due to my Apostasie;
I fully have deserv'd that She should hugg
Me with her Taile, and feed Me with her Dugg

309.For, Had Pseudagiu's or Agyrte's Heart
Like mine, been by a Phylax fortified,
No Mines nor  [...] of Heretick Art
Had won their forts: But I by sottish Pride,
Disdain'd the potent Help of thy Supplie,
And chose on my own Weaknesse to relie.

310.I fain would pardon begg; but mighty Shame
Seals up my Mouth, and Guilt beats back my breath,
I fain would invocate His gracious Name
Who gave his Life to rescue Me from Death;
But Horror stifles my Endeavour, who
In spight of Him, to this my Death would goe.

311.But thou sweet Phylax never didst displease
His Mighty Majesty, nor force his frown,
Seal'd sure on Thee his endlesse favour is,
And thy Desires He with Successe will crown
If Thou wist plead for Me, though not for mine
He will for thy dear Sake his Ear incline

312.I know my Impudence is high, who dare,
Beg thus much favour of abused Thee;
But thy brave Charitie delights to war
Against the most perverse Conspiracie
Or my Demerits; witnesse its divine
Battell against Agenors Pride and Mine

[Page]

[...]

[...] from thy [...] I [...]

By hold and traiterous [...]

May I amongst these [...] have my part

Of my already-carned Misery;

And may thy Wing no more for me be [...].

No more thy [...]

314. [...] her twixt trembling Hop. and  [...]
 [...] her  [...].
 [...] the rest by Looks that both his  [...]
 [...] she might engage. I his  [...]
 [...]  [...] unto the  [...] was.
 [...] her up and had  [...]

 [...] [...]
And with the illue trust my  [...]
Into  [...] paths you  [...]
Who more  [...] Eyes  [...] I  [...]
 [...]
 [...]

316.Then by her Hand  [...]
And  [...] up the  [...] by which He  [...]
 [...] the  [...] The  [...]
And  [...] for joy that  [...] was  [...] by them;
 [...]  [...] from their  [...] again
 [...] after Him, and  [...] and  [...]  [...]

PSYCHE: OR LOVES MYSTERIE. CANTO XVI. The Antidote.

ARGUMENT.

To purge out that Heretick Bane, which now
Lay rankling in his Pupils cheated Breast,
Phylax Ecclesia's Court to her doth show;
Where by Truth's delicate Imbrace being blest,
She soon perceiv'd her Cure, and how the  [...]
Of Catholick health in her sound Pulse did  [...],

1. [...] Man, why dost thou tread
So proudly on the Worm which crawls  [...]
 [...] that on thy erected Head
Much more  [...]  [...] doth  [...]
Than ever made the  [...]  [...]
The footstool of Contempt to  [...]

 [...]Are not the  [...]  [...]
Whence Thou dost  [...]
The foule and onely  [...] which  [...] bring
Forth  [...], her  [...]
Though Flesh and  [...]
 [...]

[Page 298]
3.Sage nature at the Moment of thy Birth
Made Thee Lament, when yet Thou knewst not why,
Being with Pollution tumbled headlong forth
Into the Stage of thy Lifes Tragedy,
With full assurance that thou there must be
First vex'd, and then stain by Mortality.

4.The meanest Creature that e'r saw the light,
Was richer born, and stronger far than thou;
Compleatly shiftlesse was thy native Plight,
And did no manner of selfe-succor know:
Naked thou wert of every Help beside,
As well's of Clothes thy woefull shame to hide.

5.With Cares and Fears in thy young Education
Thy troubled Parent travelled again;
Her Bowels yearn'd with as true Perturbation,
As when they stretch'd with puerperial Pain:
It being but extension of thy Birth,
To Bring thee up, as she had Brought Thee forth.

6.How crosse, how way-ward, and how peevish were
Thy feeble Years, when thou couldst onely fight
With thy rebellious Will, and vex the Care
Of thy deer Nurse with fullen froward Spight!
All other Twigs will freely bend; but Thou
Alone, though young, hadst rather Break, than Bow.

7.The Rod drives Thee to Schole, and keeps thee there;
Where thou good Institution dost Imbrace
Not out of Love, but most ignoble Fear:
So the wilde stubborn Coit is taught to pace,
When dreadfull A we does force Him to submit
Not to the Rider, but his Whip, and Bit.

8.But as the Tinder never fails to catch
The smallest Spark, although it certain be
To burn with it: So doth thy Madnes snatch
At every glistering Sin and Vanitie,
And hug it close, although the treacherous Guest
Be sure to kindle Hell-fire in thy Breast.

9.When riper years to manly Acts invite
Thy well-grown Soule, I hou dost its Strength imploy.
In the soft trade of amorous Delight,
Of bitter Sweets, of delicate Annoy,
Of fawning Rhymes, of witty Fooleries,
Of dainty Perjuries, of smiling Lies.

10.To Sheers and Needle Thou thy Selfe enslavest
And at the mercy art of each new Cut,
And upstart Garb: Yet when thou in thy bravest
Some most belaced Servitude dost strut,
Some newer Fashion doth usurp, and thou
Unto its antick Yoke durst not but bow.

11.Thus through a thousand Shapes thou art content
To crowd thy Selfe, Her favour to obtain
Who is as Various as the Complement
Of thine uncertain Fashions; every plain
And right-down  [...] thou shunst, and so doth she;
Thy Body and Her Mind still changing be.

12.Yet thou inshrin'st in thy devoted Breast
Her idoliz'd Idea: Night and Day
Thou mak'st thy thoughtfull Self her Zealous Preist,
And dost thy foolish Sacrifices pay:
For every Lineament, and every Part
Of her, thou mak'st divine in thy fond Heart.

13.A Curle of silly feeble Hair, which is
The Sport and Scorn of every idle Winde,
Like to some adamantine Chain can seize
And captivate thy most unmanly Minde;
Which vain Captivity of thine alone
Makes Hair wear Locks denomination.

14.Her. Motions, and her Gestures travers'd are
By thy admiring Thoughts, and Thou dar'st vow
That silver Venus through hir limpid Sphear
Swimms with lesse gagliardise, and knows not how
So well to justifie her Stile, and prove
Her Self the Queen of soft leggiadrous Love.

15.Thy Soule Thou pour'st out as a free Oblation
On her smooth lip, thy Altar of delight,
Whence thou receiv'st with joyous adoration
The Blessings ef her Kisse. Her calmy Sight
Thou think'st thy Heav'n, and in her smiling Eye!
Readst all the Sweets of thy Fools Paradise.

16.But if a coy Frown, or denying Glance
Becloud that Hemisphear of thy fond Blisse;
How are thy Comforts cast into a Trance
Of knawing Dread, and anxious Distresse!
Happy, in earnest happy, Thou mightst prove
Couldst thou so much thy God or Fear, or Love.

[Page 299]
17.When thou in Matrimonial Bands art ti'd,
(Bands which will onely by Deaths Sythe be cut,
Although they seem as soft as did thy Bride,)
From thine own Freedome thou dost freely shut
Thy self, not knowing but that yoke to thee
May prove more heavy than Virginitie.

18.Thou saw'st but half thy Mistresse, all those years
Thou drov'st so hot the Wooers blinded trade,
And hadst full power to Take or Leave: but Fears
And Doubts are now too late, since Thou hast made
The bargain up; not all the World can ease thee;
Content thou must be, though she doth not please thee.

19.If she proves Barren, who is thus thy Spouse,
Alas, Such are thy Hopes and Joyes; If she
With numerous issue fill thine eyes and house,
What warrant halt that these will Blessings be?
They  [...] may be Bad, nor canst thou tell
But thou hast helped to impeople Hell.

20.No Bed so thick with Thorns did ever grow,
As does the Nuptial: what large Crops of Cares
In every time and season doth it show!
How fertile is it in perpetuall Fears!
In Winter and in Summer it doth bear,
And spreads it Harvest over all the year.

21.But if Thou art content to be a drie
And Fruitlesse Tree, and dost thy self contain
In the severe Bounds of Virginitie;
Intestine War will in thy bosome reigh,
And Legions of Temptations alwaies be
In Arms against thy single Chastitie.

22.Thy faire Estate will call loud for an Heire,
So will thy Name. and natural Philauty;
So will the thought of crazie Age, and Fear
Of wanting an unfeigned Friends supply
When years shall downward bow thee to thy grave,
And Cormorants gape for that which thou shalt leave.

23.The World will heap on thy Severitie
Bold Imputations, and judge that thou
Deal st underhand for what should purchas'd be
In open legal manner; Or will grow
Into  [...], Pertinacitie
Doth scorn all Females, or all Females thee.

24.Wouldst thou be Rich? through the tempestuous Seas
Within three Inches of thy Death must thou
Saile from thy quiet Home, and ever be
At the disposal of all Windes that blow;
Then must thou delue, and unto Hell draw neer,
Before to thee thy Pluins will appear.

25.Where though thou dost thy largest Coffers fill,
Thy Heart's as poor, and empty as before:
The cursed thirst of Gold grows hotter still,
Although all Indus thou on it dost poure.
The peevish Itch thus proves more fruitfull when
Thou rubb'st and strivest with the tainted skin.

26.And now thou who before couldst safely sleep,
For fear of Robbers break'st thy nightly rest;
About thy Bags thy thoughtfull heart doth keep
Perpetuall watch. Unhappy fool! at least.
Consider, though thy Gold thou holdst so fast,
Thy self thou canst not, who must die at last.

27.Die, die thou must, and an account give up
Of all the store which thou hast hoarded here:
Those Bags on which thy heart did build its Hope
But rich and heavy Torments will appear;
And thou shalt blesse their Poverty who had
No Reckonings to make up when they were Dead.

28.Is Poverty thy Lot? Then look to be
The helplesse Butt of Wrong and of Disgrace:
Thy joints must buckle to hard Industrie;
Continuall Sweat must reak upon thy face;
Yet wanting what should fill, and hide thy skin,
Thou shalt without be naked, and within.

29.If thou to thy assistance Vice dost call,
And by thy sins thy Fortunes hop'st to mend;
Thou digg st a Pit wherein thy Selfe must fall,
And to thy hellish Foes dost Succour lend;
Thou spendst thine onely stock, and hast'st to be
A wofull Bankrupt to Eternitie.

30.If thou a rich-descended Heir art born,
'Tis ods, but that thy Birth doth thee  [...]:
Such wealth its dutie thinketh it to scorn
In Industries laborious Paths to goe:
'Tis Worth enough, if a young Gallant can
Look big, Luxuriate, and write Gentleman.

[Page 300]
31.In Learnings Lists dost thou Desire to trie
Thy Strength? this makes all Ignorants thy Foes;
(And they well-neer are All.) yet couldst Thou flie
Their reach and Envy; still intestine Woes
Will drown thy learned Joyes, which needs must be,
(Witnesse great Solomon) stinging Vanity.

32.Dar'st Thou Scorn Arts? then dar'st Thou be a Beast;
Or rather more than so; Beasts Scorn them not.
Thy Scorn's Prides Daughter, and thou dost resist
The course of thy Designe, whilst thou dost shut
Out Arts and Sciences, the Wings whereby
Proud Spirits, as well as Generous, soar high

33.But if thou choosest Virtues craggie Way,
And dar'st despise whate'r Thou see'st beneath;
If thy dull Bodies Burden cannot sway
Thee downward; if this Life to thee be Death;
If high thine Aim, if heav'nly be the Heat
Which doth in thy Heroick Bosome beat;

34.Right generous is thy Enterprise; but yet
Strong Difficulties throng about it thick;
Bold inbred Dangers will encounter it,
Whilst thy wilde Passions all against it kick;
Nay thine own Heart, unlesse thy Care be great,
Will Traytor prove, and its own Plots defeat.

35.Besides; All They whose Bosomes tainted be
With banefull Sins Contagion, will joyn
Their malice in a fell conspiracie
Thy single Piety to undermine;
For all thy Virtue checks and chides their Vice,
And Thy fair Glories shame their Villanies.

36.Thou art their Scandal, and their Fame doth call
Upon their deepest wariest Cares for aid
Against that Blot thy Beauty throwss on all
Those who of Virtues Hardship are afraid.
What Weapons wilt thou finde to force back them!
How shall thy Vessell strive against the Stream!

37.Yet through this rampant Sea of Opposition
Couldst Thou force ope thy way: What wouldst Thou doe
Against those stouter Billows of Perdition
Which foam and roar wherever Thou dost goe?
Hell and its Prince, their utmost Powers combine
To terrifie, and to enervate thine.

38.And sure this Tempest would effect its Spight
On thy weak Bark, did not kinde Heav'n descend
In pare aforehand: did not Grace's light
With cordial Assistance Thee befriend,
Did she not steer thy course, and bid thee ride
Secure upon the most outrageous Tide.

39.Thy Life is nothing but a Tragick Sceen
Of most inevitable Death, if she
By seasonable Help comes not between
Thy faint Soule and its dire Catastrophe:
Grace onely doth condemned Man reprieve
From fatall Woes, and teach his Life to live.

40.Twas blessed Charis, who so fast did move
Phylax his Wings when He to Psyche flew,
And with the wholsome speed of heav'nly Love
Her from the Jaws of the Cerinthians drew,
By shewing her the horror of that Pit
Where Heresie. and all her Brood did sit

41.But Phylax from that Grotreturned now,
His Chariot takes again, and her with it:
Straight Gitton and Samaria sunk below;
For warned by the motion of their Bit
The lusty Coursers took their sprightful wing,
And justling through the Clouds, away did fling.

42.As Psyche wonder'd whether they would flie,
She found her Selfe rapt to a gentle Sphear:
No Winde durst ever venture up so high
Nor blow up any Tempests tumults there.
The onely Gales which in this Orb did move
Were the delicious Breaths of Heav'n and Love.

43.The onely Clouds which there did meet her Eye
Thick Volumes of religious Ineense were;
The onely Noise which rooled through that skie
Were holy Echo's, that to her did bear
The sweet Resounds of those rich Anthems which
The Throats and Hearts of joyfull Saints did stretch.

44.She mused much to think what Creatures were
Inhabitants in that calm Sea of Blisse:
When loe a Troop of glistering Towers drew neer
As her swift Chariot further on did presse;
And straight a goodly Palace fill'd her Eye
With large and high-erected Majesty

[Page 301]
45.Directly thither, for they knew the way.
The Coursers speeded, neighing as they slew:
But Phylax pluck'd the Reins, to bid them stay
When neer unto the outer Gate they drew
Then lighting with his Virgin-pupill; He
Warnd her to ponder well what She did see.

46.Never, said he, my Dear, those Eyes of thine,
Though they have travell'd through the World so far,
Were honored with Object so divine
As these with which they now saluted are;
No Pile e'r swell'd to such bright statelinesse;
All Princes Courts are Cottages to this.

47.That pompous Fabrick which great Davids Son
Built for a greater King, was poor and plain
If it be brought into comparison
With this Magnificence which here doth reign:
As Shaddows doe the Substance, so does that
But blindly intimate this Temples state.

48.The Gold which shin'd, the Stones which sparkled there
Were all th' ignoble Sons of dirty Earth;
But these substantial Glories flaming here
Owe to Heav'ns Wombe their most illustrious Birth:
Nor was the Work atcheiv'd by Mortal Hand,
Which firm as Immortality doth stand.

49.Hadst Thou my Wings, and through the Sphears couldst flie
Heav'ns most imperial Palace there to read;
That Spectacle would onely feast thine Eye
With a more ample Copie, wider spred
And fuller drawn; a Copie, of what here
Is written in a smaller Character.

50.Mark well its Situation: Caucasus,
The Alps, th' Athlantick Mountains, Ararat,
Noble Olympus, nobler Lybanus,
Are in their highest exaltations not
Halfe so sublime as is this royal Hill
Which almost in both Worlds at once doth dwell.

51.Its Head thou see'st to Heav'n next Neighbour is;
And upon Hell its Foot is surely set;
On Hell, which often has repin'd at this
Oppressing Burden, and oft strove to get
Its neck from under it; but still in vain
The Powers of all that vexed Pit did strein.

52.For loe the Mountain's all one solid Rock
Compacted in the Strength of Unity:
Though Hills of Brasse should yeild unto the shock
Of Violence; though Earths vast Base should be
Shouldred out of its place, this Mount would stand
And laugh to scorn them who against it band.

53.So stands the craggie Promontory sure
With head erected high above the Storme,
When all the Windes against its Site conjure,
And thousand Waves with high-swolln fury arme:
It stands, and sees the Blasts blown out of breath,
And all the  [...] shattered beneath.

54.But mark the fabrick of this outer Gate,
And tell me if thou ever saw'st a more
Unlikely Passage to a Court of State:
Strong the Materialls are, but yet the Door
Is built so low, and so extreemly narrow,
That Worms, not Men, seem fit to scramble thorow

55.And Worms indeed the Passengers must be,
Poor, thin, and humble Things, which enter here;
Big puffing Pride, must never hope that She
Shall through this Portal crowd; or Worldly Care
Swelld with Incumbrances, and lagg'd with Sin,
At this small mystick Needles Eye thrust in.

56.He whose unhappy Bosome's stuff'd with Gold,
Whilst all his Baggs lie heaped in his Heart;
He who in Fat and Ease himselfe doth fold,
And never was shrunk up by any Smart;
Too burlie is to enter here, and fit
Through Hells wide-gaping Jaws alone to get.

57.All secular Impostumes, which doe rise
From any Humors Superfluity,
From any Lusts, or any Vanities,
From inward or from outward Luxury,
Can at this humble Passage finde no room,
But damm the Way to all that Laden come.

58.This said: He led the  [...] to the Gate;
Where though she shrunk and closely gatherd up
Her selfe within her Selfe, yet still to great
She found her bulk, that she was  [...] to stoop,
And crowd, and struggle hard, e'r she could win
Tenuity enough there to thrust in.

[Page 302]
59.But being entred, a large Court she saw,
And yet almost as strait as was the door,
Such Difficulties all about did grow,
Such high, such stony, craggie Pathes, such store
Of troublesome Shrubs and Thorns, all which did threat
With wounds, snares, and obstructions, her feet.

60.Yet by the Angels prudent Conduct she
Rubb'd through, but with the cost of sweat and pain:
When loe with recreating suavitie
A second gale her eyes did entertain,
A gate as glorious, and as venerable,
As was the other poor and despicable.

61.The Posts of milkie Alabaster were,
So was the Lintell; but the Leaf was all
Of purest Chrystall, that those who drew neer,
Before the Door was opened, might fall
In love with those interior beauties which
Themselves through that cleer perspective did reach.

62.But Psyche here observ'd a serious Maid
Who kept the Keys of that transparent Gate,
Upon the ground disconsolately laid,
Like one who felt and waild the wrath of Fate:
Held by her left hand was her heavie head,
And on her heavier heart her right was spred.

63.Part of her Tresses Sorrow off had torn,
And scatter'd on the ground: what did remain,
Neglect dishevell'd clotted and forlorn
About her ears: Her foreheads native Plain
Was plowd up by Self-indignation, and
Deep were the Furrows of that wofull Land.

64.Her pensive Eyes so overladen were
With constant clouds, that downward to the earth
They alway look'd: The weather ne're was clear
With Her, but when one Tempest had broke forth,
Another crowded on; or rather one
Continual flood did from her Fountains run.

65.The beauties of her Cheeks, this wash'd away,
And through their Hils two sallow Chanels made;
This marshall'd the soft Pearls in sad array
Upon her Clothes, which often rent she had;
This made the countenance of the neighbour ground
In the exuberant brine of hers be drownd,

66.Of Whips, and Rods before her lay an heap
Red with the Vengeance on her body she
With them had taken: Far far thence was Sleep,
For palefac'd Watching, stern Austeritie,
Hollow cheek'd Fasting, pious Shame and Fear,
Had in a circle all besieged Her.

67.In stead of Powders to perfume her Head,
Cold contemptible Ashes there were strown,
Which an untimely Hoarines did spread
Upon her Locks, and preach to Her her own
Beginning, and her End, that certain Dust
From whence she came, and unto which she must,

68.As Psyche mused who this Maid should be,
Which like a wofull Prey to Greife did lie;
Howe'r she looks, said Phylax, this is she
Whom onely Heav'n intrusteth with the Key
Of this fair Palace; she, whose piteous look
Hath writ her Worth so high in Gods own Book;

69.Her Name is Penance, and with her must All
Who are ambitious here to get access,
Into familiar acquaintance fall,
And love her painfull Life, and Wretchednes:
Though her embraces comfortlesse may seem
And cold, yet heav'nly heats doe glow in them.

70.Delightfull Ease lies nestling in her Smart,
Securitie in habits in her Fears,
Content keeps house in her disconsolate heart,
Pure Joy doth bathe it selfe in all her Tears,
And in the frowning Furrows of her sadnes
Are sown the seeds of everlasting gladnes.

71.This Word threw Psyche strait upon her knee,
To beg the favour of that mournfull Mayd;
Who rais'd her self with ready Courtesie,
And pray'd the stranger not to be afraid;
Welcome, she cry'd, and seal'd it with a Kisse,
And in her sober Arms she hug'd her thrice.

72.Shee bug'd her thrice; and every time she shot
Quite through her Soule griefs secret influence:
Whereby intire Possession she got
Of all her thoughts, in which she left no sence
Or rellish of Terrestrial delight,
But fitted her to see this heav'nly sight.

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73.Which done; upon his humble Head she spred
Part of her Tears, and of her Ashes part;
Then her unto the Door she kindely led;
Which, as she touch'd it, did wide open start:
Straitway a Gale of holy Pleasures flew
Forth at the Gate, and full on Psyche blew.

74.Thus enterd in, she there espies a Well
Of cleerer Chrystall farr than was that Door;
And heer, said Phylax, Puritie doth dwell,
Of limpid Life heer lives the endless Store;
These Streams alone can conquer that deep Stain
Which in the tainted Universe doth reign.

75.No foolish Nymphs are dabbling in this Spring,
But Graces genuine, and numberless,
And all divine, are heer inhabiting,
Who with their Beauties every Commer bless;
Faind Venus from her native Sea did rise
Less fair than those this Fountain purifies.

76.For this is Baptisms holy Fountain, where
All They must wash the other World away,
Who in this Court of new Life would appear,
And of Nights Bratts turn Children of the Day;
Prophane unwashen feet farr hence must be,
This holy Ground belongs to Sanctity.

77.But of such everlasting Virtue is
This sacred Liquor, that one Drenching will
Sufficient be; and 'tis Presumptuousness
A second time its noble Dropps to spill:
Thou who art wash'd already, hast no need
Of further clensing; but mayst now proceed.

78.This said: He leads her forward through a Way
Pav'd all with Softnes and sincere Delight,
Unto the Palace, which did now display
Its princely fulnesse unto their free Sight:
Magnifick was its Aspect, and upon
The Rock, look'd like another Mount of Stone.

79.A Mount of Marble polished and white,
But with such Architecture varied,
That Majestie was temperd with Delight.
Thus all the Countenance of Heav'n is spred
With Awe, and Beautie, that Spectators may
Both Love and Reverence unto it pay,

80.What goodly Pillars, Walls, and Towers were there!
What Rows of Lights in equidistant grace!
What learn'd Engravings lived every where,
Impeopling with quaint Anticks each spare place!
With what brave strife did cunning Art contend
How she the rich Materialls might transcend.

81.But now by Twelve fair stepps advanc'd into
The Hall they came; an Hall of Majesty;
Which all the outward Bravery did so
Exceed, that Psyche almost lost her Eye
In walking through the several Wonders which
Did every corner of the Room enrich.

82.The Floor with glittering silver all was spred,
The Almug Walls with royall Arras drest,
The Cedar Roof with Gold embellished,
With glorious Paint the Windows: Such a Feast
Of goodly Sights She never saw before,
Though She had viewed all Agenor's store,

83.Yet this was but the handsome Case and Skin
Of that which did Majestick make the Place;
For round about upon the Walls were seen
Innumerable Spoils, which she, who was
Queen of the Palace, in her Warrs had wonn,
And hung them heer as Proofs what she had done,

84.Heer by their Horns Dilemma's hanging were,
And of bigg Syllogismes the empty Skinns.
Bold busie Wit hung tame and quiet heer;
Heer Rhetorick with all her cunning Ginns
About her own Neck wound; heer all the Pride
Of secular Wisdome, was close Captive ti'd.

85.Next-those that Insolent Severitie,
That humble Arrogance, which once did reign
In the admired Porch, hung dead and drie;
And chained Zeno knit his Brows in vain
To see that Doctrine which cost Him so deer,
By conquering Truth hung up in triumph heer.

86.And yet some comfort 'twas that He beheld
The Pythagorean Prudence hanging by,
And its great Master, though He would not yeild
It fit for Men with Flesh to satisfie
Their hunger, forc'd by Madness now to eat
Himselfe, and make his chained Arms his Meat,

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87.Nor had the Epicurean Discipline
Better successe, for it was Captive here;
Where both with shame and hunger it did  [...]
Paying full dear for its luxuriant Cheer;
All lank and thin it hung, like nothing lesse
Than the full treasurie of voluptuousnes

88.Th [...] AEgyptian learning, black, as blackest Hell,
Where it was bred and born, hung also here,
Nor could invent with all its Magick skill
Any mysterious Charm or Character
To conjure down it self from that disgrace
To which  [...]rait Prisner here it fastned was.

89.By these, the  [...] snatch'd from the furthest Parts
Of the strange Indian  [...] hung one by one:
The proud Gymnosophists, and Braehmans Arts,
(For noble Bartholomew did thither run,
And Thomas too, by Heav'ns direction sent,
Who spred their Conquests wheresoe'r they went,

90.So did the Persians Astrologick skill,
And what in Balaams Midian Schole was taught
A mighty prize was this, as being full
With thousand Sects of various Learning fraught;
Yet none of these could Calculate that they
Should unto Catholick Truth become a Prey.

91.Nor did the Academick Glory scape,
Although fage Plato rais'd it fair and high,
For here it hung in contemptible shape,
Appearing more like reverend foolery,
Than genuine Wisdome, and lamenting that
It reach'd so near to Truth, yet reach'd it not.

92.Next this, the Oracles of the Stagirite,
(That God of Logicall and wrangling Brains,
Hung all in wounded miserable plight,
Unable to confute their conquering Chains,
And wish'd that they their Masters fate had seen,
And with him drown'd in Euripus had been.

93.On one side of the Hall these marshall'd were,
And on the other full as great a Crew:
For all the Sadducean Points hung there,
Too late lanenting what they found most true
That they from thence should no Redemption have
Who held no Resurrection from the Grave

94.And in the same condition hanging was
Wicked  [...], and woefull now;
Perceiving that to its distressed Cause
Its rotten Deitie could no help allow;
That Herod proved no such kinde of thing
As Christ, of Glory, and of Power King.

95. [...] Prudence also had its share
Among the rest, in this Captivitie;
Although its ways, and grounds, and doctrines, were
Neerest of kin to Truth and Firmitie:
Indeed she made the least resistance, and
Was therefore tyed in the gentler band.

96.But puff'd with zealous Ignorance, and Pride,
The  [...] Discipline held out
With bold defiance, and a good while tri'd
Whether she or this Champion were more stout;
And much she might have done, had truth not been
 [...]  [...] to bring her Prisner in

97.Yet after Her innumerable fries
Of foule and desperate Vermine undertook
The War again, and by degrees did rise
From sucking sneaking Schisms, untill they broke
Into the monstrous amplitude of those
Black Heresies whose depth Hell onely knows.

98.The Authors lately in their native Pit.
Psyche beheld; and here the Brood She sees;
The hideous Portents of malicious Witt,
And pretie-pretending Villanies,
Which now perforce did their own shame confess
All hanging in their odious Nakednes.

99.They naked hung; yet clothed in their Gore,
Which Liverie too they gave unto the Wall,
Whilst they with rage their viperous Members tore,
And upon one another spit their Gall,
Stark mad their huge and warlike selves to see
The Subjects of eternal Triumph be.

100.Heroick were these Spectacles: But yet
The upper end of this illustrious Hall
With gallanter Memorials was beset,
For all about upon the mighty Wall
Hung goodly Tables, offring to the Ey
A full account of larger Victory.

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101.The first, subdued Asia did display,
Where Conquest at Jerusalem begun
Her noble Progresse, breaking ope her way
Quite through the Heart of every Region,
Nor staid her Chariot, untill it met
The  [...]ising Sun's, and fairer shew'd than it.

102.The second, generous Europe did present,
The Queen of Arms and Arts, and yet too weak
And silly to confute or stop the dint
Of Christian genuine Lustre, which did break
Through all her Quarters till both Rome and Grecce
Yeilded, and su'd for Euangelick Peace.

103.Hot sandy Africk boiled in the Third,
Where all its Monsters gentle grew and tame;
Not frighted by the lightning of the Sword,
But mollifi'd by Christs all-conquering Name,
Which wun, (though with an Eunuch it began,)
At length the mightiest, and compleatest Man.

104.The Fourth, was but prophetick yet, in which
Decyphered was a strange untutored World,
In golden Mines, and Veins of Silver rich,
But poor in every thing beside, and hurld
To the Back-side of all these Parts which then
Were known unto this Universe's Men.

105.Yet was the Church assur'd that she should through
The vast Atlantick reach her conquering Arm,
And on that Western Ev'n her East bestow,
Which Pagan Hearts with heav'nly Heats might warm;
She was assur'd her Baptism Streams upon
The wealthy Shore of noble Plate should run.

106.When Psyche had her Admiration to
These splendid Marvells paid, which one by one
Phylax expounded; Her he hasts to goe;
For goodlier Sights, said He, this Mansion
Does yet afford: These but the Preface be
(And poor enough) to what thou now shalt see.

107.With that, He up a princely Stair-case brings
Her to the Presence-chamber of the Queen.
O what illustrious and celestial Things
Where in this Shrine of holy Glories seen!
Which whilst to Psyche Phylax Pointed, He
Was ravished well neer as much as She.

108.This pretious Pavement first observe, said He,
Thy foot ne'r trampled on such Worth as this;
The Floors no less than pure Humility
Which lies as smooth as Politures own Dress,
Yet softer than those Carpets are, whose sweet
And silken Kisses flatter Princes feet.

109.The Walls are built of neither Wood nor Stone,
No nor of Brasse, of Silver, or of Gold,
Or any Substance which Duration
Can make decrepite as it groweth old:
O no; the rich Materials are such
As wretched Weaknesse must not dare to touch.

110.For they of Strength and of Securitie
A mixture are and Correspondence keep
With their Foundation, which doth fixed lie
Upon a Rock that scorns what all the Deep
Can doe against it; And these Walls disdain
The stoutest Pow'rs which in the Aire do reign.

111.The Roof whose patent Arch and azure Hue
Like Heav'ns Epitomie, above doth flow,
With no Hypocrisie deludes the view,
Being conscious of more worth than it doth show
Whate'r it seems unto thy mortal Sense,
It is no less than God's own Providence,

112.Those middle Pillars which so stoutly set
Their lusty shoulders under it, are cast
Of sound substantial Faith; though Rocks should split.
Though Earths vast Grounsells which are  [...]amme'd fast
Unto the Centre, should in peeces flie,
These still will hold their own Soliditie.

113.That strange Soliditie, whose mystick Root
Cross unto all the world beside doth grow;
For its profoundly-paradoxik foot
Implanted is above, and not below;
Whilst by Loves all uniting-strengthning Art,
The Roof it self the Pillars doth support.

114.Those spatious Windows there, which  [...] Eye
Open its way to Heav'n  [...]
(The brittle Embleme of  [...] Vanitie
But of firm Hope, through which the Soul doth pass.
And climb aforehand to tho [...] Joves above
Which have monopoliz'd her loyal Love.

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115.That golden Chymney, and the Fire which there
With unconsuming Sweetness flames so high,
The Shop and fervent Operations are
Of strong and never-idle Charity;
Whose soft Extremities of fostering Heat
In the brave Pulse of pious Hearts doth beat.

116.But this resplendent Mount of Majesty,
Which in the middle of the Room doth rise,
This Diamond Throne, whose Glorie doth outvie
The beams of Solomons, erected is
For Her whose Beauties make the seat appear
But poor and dim, when it supporteth Her.

117.Just as He spake, from her retiring Room
Attended by her most majestick Train,
Unto that Throne the Queen her self did come,
And justifie the Angels word: In vain
The Diamonds Sparkles were, which all gave way,
To Hers, as Stars to Phoebus, and his Day.

118.In her sweet Looks, such blessed Gallantrie
Triumphant was, that Psyche judged Her
To be no Daughter of Mortalitie,
But sprung from heavenly Race; nor did she fear
Idolatrie in worshipping that Face
Which of much more than Heav'n the Mirrour was.

119.But as she for prostration did prepare,
Phylax adviseth her to satisfie
Her eyes profoundest Hunger with the Chear,
The royall Chear, whose superfluitie
Was so excessive; And Thou then, said He,
Shalt know who is this Queen of Sweets, from Me.

120.This Item She obey'd: But as a Childe
Into some Princes Garden brought, which He
Sees with innumerable Beauties fill'd;
Yeelds up himself to daintie ecstasie,
Not knowing where he should begin to gather,
Seeing every flower woo's Him from one another:

121.So in delicious Confusion She
Among the Graces of this Empresse lost,
Her wondring Self, nor could resolved be
Which Part deserv'd her admiration most;
She look'd to finde one better than the rest,
Yet saw at last, all in their kinde were best.

122.For from the head of the accomplish'd Queen
Unto her foot there was no room for Blame:
Sooner shall Pitch in Venu's Raies be seen,
Sooner shall Glories face be damp'd with Shame,
Sooner shall Christa! guilty be of Blots,
Than purer She can be accusd of Spots.Cant. 4. 7.

123.As through the roseal Casements of the East 6. 10.
Aurora looks when fresh come out of Bed;
So is her briskly-blooming Aspect drest
With all the Delicates of Blushing Red;
Yet though these Streames of Blushes overflow,
They keep firm truce still with their neighbour snow.

124.As goodly Phoebe in th' unclouded  [...] [...]
Smiles with chaste Beautie, so doth  [...] She;
But yet more spotlesse, for Sols Majesty
Doth with her virgin Mildenesse here agree,
The Moons sweet silver, and his stately Gold
Are in this faces sphear together roll'd.

125.Yet such its temper is, that if bold Eyes ibid:
Confront it, no lesse Terror flames in it
Than from a marshall'd Army doth surprise
Cold-harted Cowards, when the Standards get
Free leave to poure their awful Colours through
The Aire, and the bright Banners open flow,

126.This makes the Ladies pretious feature be  [...]
As pleasant as the graceful Structure is
Of beauteous Tirza; and her Majesty
As rich as Salems was in Comelinesse
When her best Excellence had crown'd her Queen
Of all things that below the Sun were seen.

127.As the illustrious Tree of Victorie, [...]
The verdant Palm, lifts her triumphant Head
Above the vulgar Shrubs; so flameing She
Her portly Stature. And 'tis fairly read
In the Halls noble Characters, how near
Of kin the Palm and She by Conquests are.

128.Carmel which looks from his exalted Seat  [...]
With state, upon the Vales that creep beneath,
And is so strong in high-grown Woods, so sweet
In fragrant Pastures, fairly copieth
Her princely Head, the Crown which there is set
T' enoble all the Members under it,

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129.As from steep Gilead the milkie Flocks4. 1.
Of climbing Goats doe gracefully appear;
Such is the beautie of her slaxen Locks,
Whilst like young Kids their Curles all sporting are.
And by their sport, though feeble Chains they be,
Do Captive take the King of Majestie. 7. 5.

130.Under the daintie shelter of her Hair 4. 3.
Half-hid, half-ope her pretious Temples lie,
Which like a rich Pomgranate lovely are,
And lovelier by that open secrisie;
For what is naked, speaks for what is hid,
And more desire doth in Spectators breed.

131.Who by Bethrabbim Gate hath ever seen 7. 4.
The Pools of Heshbon  [...] to the brim,
Where living Smiles inhabit, where sereen
And genuine Puritie delights to swim,
Where both the Stars by Night, and Sun by Day
As in a softer Heav'n rejoice to play;

132.The Embleme of Her Eyes He hath beheld;
Her Eyes, the limpid Mirrour whence those beams
Which dart forth Loves and Joyes, which sweetly gild
Spectators Hearts, poure out their daintie streams;
Her Eyes, the softest Nest of brightest Blisse,
The purest springs of mystick Paradise.

133.That white and stately Tower of Marble which 7. 4.
Down from its Lebanon its Looks extended
Unto Damascus, did but onely teach
What Princely Beautie Her fair Nose commended,
Whose Alabaster Prominence doth by
Its situation gain that Majesty.

134.Her Lips of Scarlet are a fine-spun Thred;4. 3.
Yet not so fine or beauteous as is
The rare Effusion which through them is shed
Wher that sweet spring of  [...] doth bless
 [...] Auditors, when vocal Gold
Ana Honey, from th' enclosed longue is roll'd.

135.No Sheep new shorn and even, and come but now 4. 2
From  [...], all in  [...] order, can
Afford the  [...] more delightfull show,
Than her two Ranges of  [...], when
A  [...], or some such sweet Occasion hath
Display'd the equal  [...] of her  [...].

136.As Davids goodly Tower, the dwelling place 4. 4.
Of Beautie and of strength; such is her Neck;
A thousand mighty Sheilds that Fort doe grace,
And full as many Jewels this doe deck;
Or rather decked are by hanging there;
Their wealthy Place for them can lustre spare.

137.Two tender Roes. the Sons both of one Dame, 4. 5
And of one Birth, which in a little field
Are put to Pasture; in another Name
Are her two Breasts, with lovely softnes swell'd,
Which in her Bosomes fragrant Carden feed
Amongst those whitest Sweets which there are bred.

138.Her royal Roab was all of purest silk;
In softnes parallel to her own skin
Which it embrac'd, in whitenes to her Milk;
A cunning Needle over it had run,
And scatter'd pritty Hils and Valleys, where
Neat Flocks of Lambs feeding and sporting were.

139.But as when Aprils gentle Breath doth wake 4. 11.
The flowrie Eyes of Lebanon, or plays
Against his pretious Boughs, the Odours take
The soft alarm, and their sweet Powers raise:
So this rich Vestures blessed smell replies
To the least Call of every Gale that flies.

140.In either Hand she held a massie Key,
Which like two Scepters she did stoutly sway;
The one of beaten burnish'd Gold, which she
Hug'd in her Right-hand; for the royall way
Through Heav'ns bright Gate is alway locked up,
Except this priviledg'd Key doth set it ope.

141.That in her Left, of swarthy Iron is;
A fatal dreadfull Key, which locks the Door
Of everlasting Torments foule Abyss
Where Anathematized Soules doe  [...].
Proud Belzebub, although he Soveraign be
Of Hell, yet keeps not his own Kingdomes Key.

142.The Diadems of gareish Gold and Gems
Unto the  [...] of mortal Kings she leaves
An heav'nly flame about Her  [...]  [...],
And a full Crown of living glory  [...],
Which Miter-like, and like the mystick  [...]
Of Cloven-Tongnes of  [...]  [...], doth  [...]

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143.But for a Canopie above her head
No Babylonian Embroydery,
No Tyrian nor Phrygian Texture's spread,
No artificiall Help of Majesty;
No State which cannot last, if by the aid
Of Pillars and of Cords it be not staid.

144.A Dove, not hatch'd in sublunary Nest,
Nor hatch'd at all, but of eternal Breed.
Weigh'd on his equal Wings, takes up his rest
At neer, but comely Distance o'r her Head.
Where by his wide-spred silver Fethers  [...]
Becomes her Ornament, and  [...].

145.This was the Queen: on whom as Psyche gazed,
Thou hast no canse, my Dear said  [...], so
At her high Gallantry to be amazed.
If thou but know'st what is her Name, and who
The King her Spouse. O pitty then, cri'd she,
Sweet Tutor, this my Ignorance and Me.

146.He, by a speaking Smile at first, then by
These Words, his modest Pupill satisfi'd:
This Queen, Ecclesia is. unto the high
And mighty King of Kings the soveraign Bride:
Poor of her Selfe, and sprung from Mortal Race,
But thus advanced by his bounteous Grace.

147.Those Princes whom the foolish World admire,
Are fain to make a tedious Search to finde
Ladies whose florid Beauties may conspire
With the  [...] of their lustfull Minde,
And often for a Dowry hunt, that so
The Mayd, and Money they may Marry too.

148.But it becomes Heav'ns Emperour to make
Rather than seek a Spouse which him may please;
Nor can it with his Greatnesse stand to take
A Portion with his Bride, who Owner is
Of more than thine, or Phoebu's larger Eye
Could in his furthest Travells e'r descry.

149.She crooked was, alas, and black before,
A Throne on which Deformity did reign:
Such heaps of odious Blains, and Boils, such Store
Of Wrinkles and Distortions, such plain
Right-down Uncleannesse could not any where
Be found in one Colluvies, but in Her.

150.Indeed when first She in her Filth was born Ezech. 16. 4.
No friendly Hand came in to wash her clean,
Or cut her Navel; helplesse and foriorn
In her foule Blood She lay till be sent in
His yearning Providence Relief to give,
Which on Deaths brink commanded her to live.

151.She liv'd; but still so as her life confest
By its Procession, what its Entrance was;
Yet when all other Lovers did detest
The thought of her most ougly vile Embrace,
Jesus stepps in, and cries, Why may nor she
Grow beauteous by my Superfluity?

152.Then from  [...] exuberant Store of his own Graces
Ten thousand rich and radiant Things he takes,
Which all about the wondering Mayd he places,
And of a Worm, this Queen of Glory makes,
Who as thou  [...] thus Embellished
Prepared was for his  [...] Bea.

153.And that his Empresse might attended be
With a Retinue suitable unto
Her royal Selfe; that Train Magnificent He
Both furnish'd, and maintaineth for Her: Loe
With what prest forwardnesse they waiting are
About her sparkling Throne, and fairer Her.

154.The first Rank's of no lesse than threescore Queens,
Who yet can from her Service Honor take. Cantic 6. 8
The next's of fourscore goodly Concubines;
But they which doe the outmost Orders make,
Where in a Number numberless thy flow,
Are Virgins all, both chaste and white as snow.

155.These were the lesser Churches, which were spread
About the World so thick in ever Place;
Yet still their Strength and their Dependance had
From this most Catholik Majesty, which was
Diffus d as wide as they, and never found
That Land or Sea which could its Progresse boun.

156.These every Morn, and every Evening raise 6. 9,
Their homage in religious Anthems high,
Paying both Admiration and Praise
To Her, the Monarch of all Piety;
Since They to Her but Tributaries are,
For she alone the Soveraign Crown doth wear.

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157.But mark that  [...], whose Station is
Before the  [...], Mayds of true  [...], which
Injoy the  [...] this Queen to  [...]:
Their Hands alone adorn her with those rich
Embellishments which round about her shine
And make her look so heav'nly and divine.

158.That  [...] Mayd, is Unity,
Whose noble Office is to buckle on
Her  [...] golden  [...], and to see
That close and fast this  [...] be done:
And how her Duty she performeth, Thou
By the Queens small and dainty Waste mayst know.

159.That sober Matrone, in whose stayed Eye
And venerable Face so fair are writ
The awfull Lines of Heav'n, is Sanctity;
Who every Morn before the Queen doth set
Her Selfe to be the Glasse where she may see
What Dresse will best become her Majesty.

160.The next, whose soft and yeilding Looks confesse
The temper of her Heart, is Patience;
Her Empresse she doth deck with Tendernesse,
And makes her slow and loth to take Offence,
That all her Subjects by her Softnesse may
Be charm'd so kinde a Princesse to obey.

161.But Magnanimity, that high-look'd She,
Joins to that Mildnesse, stout and active Fire:
This that Virago is, which scorrs to see
Any exploit of Gallantry out-vie Her:
Ecclesia's brows with Bravery she doth build,
And stoutly helps her both her Keyes to weild.

162.She whose wide-open Breasts so fairly swell,
And wears as large a Purse ope by her side,
Who looks about to see where she may spill
Her teeming Charities everlasting Tide,
Is Bounty, Almner to the Queen, whom she
Doth also dresse with Smiles and Suavity.

163.That other, whose ev'n Look was never knit
Into a frown, nor loos'd into a Smile;
Whose right Hand holds a Sword, whose left, a fit
And equal Balance, Justice is; who still
As Cases come, her Ladies Eyes doth dresse
Either with Anger, or with Friendlinesse.

164.That amiable sweet complexion'd Mayd
Is  [...], which keeps the Queen so feir;
In all Distempers she with ready And
Her  [...] Health and Beauty doth repair,
Her Body sound, her Skin she maketh sleek,
She with  [...] Roses trimms her lovely Cheek.

165.Those other Virtues also every one
Their several Office have But Psyche, now
Observe that neighbour Combination,
Who Virgins also are, that thou mayst know
By their great Worth how glorious is she
Whose houshold Servants they are proud to be.

166.She who all over written is with Scarrs,
Laden with Palms, and clothed round in Blood,
Fcclesia s Champion is: ten thousand Warrs
She waged hath, and valiantly with-stood
Hells and Earths Opposition: her Name
Is Martyrdome; her Story, highest Fame,

167.That plain look'd Mayd, whose course and simple Hue
Seems to discredit this illustrious Place,
Is Poverty, who though to outward view
She shineth not with any courtly Grace,
Yet is within as gorgeous and as fair
As on their Outsides her Companions are,

168.For Jesus, who the Heart of Things doth see,
Was so enamored of her Beauties, that
He chose to dwell with her alone, when he
Enter'd upon his Theanthronick State;
And found her Worth so high, that he  [...]
Her to Ecclesia when he hence Ascended.

169.The next, her Sister is, Obedience;
Thou never saw'st a Twigg more  [...] to bow,
Nor Wax more pliant, than unto her Prince
In all her Mandates she her Selfe doth show:
A Will she had once of her own,  [...]
Gave it her Queen, that so she  [...].

170.For prudent as she was, right well she knew
What an edg'd Tool is every  [...],
Which oft makes its enslaved  [...]
Its  [...] freedome; whose  [...] to quell,
The  [...] way she found, was  [...]
It to a Wiser  [...], and  [...],

[Page 310]

[...]

Lo there Virginitie her [...]: O who

Can count the Graces which [...],

Which all about her dainty Body [...],

In [...] and [...]

Heav'n deeply tell [...] love with Her, and she

As truly is [...] as [...].

 [...]Indeed the old acquaintance We have  [...]
With  [...], makes Us what We are.
Unto  [...] their  [...]
She sets Us free from all  [...]
And  [...] Us leave to  [...]
The busines of  [...].

 [...]The  [...] which smilesh in her  [...]
 [...] with heroick  [...]
For though bold  [...] be  [...]
A common Bridle, and  [...]
That Hand he  [...] which with  [...] might
Is furnish'd and  [...].

 [...]But there stand  [...] far more noble yet  [...]
Stars of the first and fairest  [...] [...]
Stars unto which the whole Word is in  [...]
For that Commanding  [...] which hath  [...]
That  [...]  [...] which  [...]
All Nations its  [...] Prisners  [...].

 [...]That awfull Maid,  [...] glorious  [...]
Before whole look the World made haste to bow
And take the  [...] upon
Its  [...]. Thou by that Mark  [...] know.
Obrave  [...] which hast out  [...]
The Course,  [...] the Glories of the Sun

176.This is the Ladie  [...].  [...]
The faithfull Hands or whose  [...]
 [...] pretious store was put, that  [...]
All pious  [...] might be anured where
They should not  [...] to  [...]
And  [...]  [...] or their dear Lord

177.But at her back  [...] apparent Her
 [...], when to  [...]
Yet,  [...] as  [...] doth  [...]
The glory her great  [...]
And  [...] turns the  [...]
I  [...], to  [...].

 [...]She in whose  [...]
 [...]
Is most  [...]  [...]
 [...]
She whose quick-sighted  [...] doth wonders see
 [...] an Age before they be.

 [...]The  [...] in whose  [...] doth d well
A  [...], sweet and  [...] too
Which  [...]
 [...] is that  [...] which at  [...]
Not in  [...],  [...]
 [...]

 [...] [...]
 [...]
 [...]
 [...]
 [...]
 [...]

181.The fift the Mistrels of profounder  [...]
Than  [...] or  [...] knew
She  [...] no  [...] nor Herbs to take her Part
Nor any  [...] Plants doth brew
But by her  [...] or her commanding Breath
Knows how to  [...] both  [...] and Death.

182.The sixt whose ready and officious Eyes
Her  [...] doth speak
Is she who on the  [...]  [...]
With reverent distance waits: she who doth take
The care or those who did not Chartitie
Keep open house, would no where narboured  [...]

183.The  [...], whose stature is so high, and fair,
Whose Snoulaers are to broad, whose breast to  [...]
Whose joints wei-knit, whose bones wel,  [...]
But stronger  [...] her Heart, may be  [...]
by there  [...] Marks to be no other but
brave  [...] which in the  [...] is set.

184.See'st Thou the  [...]
Can by  [...]
And yet  [...]
 [...]
 [...]
 [...]

[Page 311]
185.She in their proper Dialects can trade
With all the World, and Heav'ns Wares set to sale;
No Sound to Sense a Dresse was ever made,
But she with it doth strait acquainted fall
And can discover whither it doth sit
Upon that senses shoulders right and sit.

186.Unhappy Babels Antidote is she
And cures the Wound which there did Tongues divide;
All Languages doe in her Lips agree,
For to her single Tongue they all are ti'd;
So are their Virtues too, and Eloquence
Dwels there in all its kindes of Excellence.

187.But now behold, where at the Queens right Hand
As best deserving that illustrious Place,
A  [...] Virgin than all these doth stand,
Who  [...] Soveraigns Gallantrie doth grace:
A Virgin  [...] than her native Home,
 [...] silver Sphears, whence she did hither come.

188.Loe, she from head to foot all naked is,
As are the Sun by day, and Stars by night:
Her Selfe she with her proper Beams doth dresse
As they with their Attire of natural Light:
True Beauty never outward help did lack;
'Tis Shame alone which Clothes doth usefull make.

189.Who ever thought the Rose or Lilie stood
 [...] of course unhandsome Nakednesse,
Because they never put on borrowed Hood,
Content with their own native Sweetnesses?
Or where shall Ornaments be found which may
In a new beauteous Garb such Things array.

190.Beleeve it Psyche, She doth but retain
Her Countries Fashion: They whose Blisse it is
In heav'n above eternaly to reign,
Professe no other kinde of Dresse but this:
They Naked goe of every thing which might
Hide those fair Beams which them all over dight.

191.A Texture all of Glory, soft, and white
 [...] Virgin Soule, doth her surround
 [...] can in the high-noon Face of Light,
 [...] of ink in stoods of Milk be  [...],
 [...] may a Critick hope to spie in her
 [...] Roab of Nakednesse, a sound.

192.That Nakednesse, which though it breeds Desire
In All whose Hearts are not of obstinate Stone;
It kindles none but sweet and spottlesse Fire,
In whose pure Fornace brave Devotion
Learns with more sprightfull fervencie to glow,
And  [...] it self refin'd doth grow

193.But ô what generous Powers flame in her face,
Pouring her Conquests upon every Eye!
The hardiest he that e'r on Her did gaze,
Yeilded, and lov'd his sweet Captivity:
Error her selfe, though swell'd with Pride and Hell,
In her sweet Presence willingly doth  [...]

194.Her Name is Truth; and what her Love and Care,
Judge by the Tokens which her hands present:
That Volume which doth in her left appear,
Is the original Old Testament;
That in her right, the New; which unto her
By Those who writ them first, committed  [...],

195.For every Leaf of them a Mirrour is,
Where She doth read her own unspotted Face.
No line is there; but truely doth expresse
Some correspondent Lineament of Grace
In her sweet Body, whose all-lovely Looks
Are nothing but the Life of those dead Books,

196.Bold Haeresie has often in that Glasse
Presum'd to look, and swore that there She  [...]
The true and faithfull Image of her Face:
But yet the shamelesse Est as oftenlyed;
That trusty Glasse will no false Colours shew.
But unto  [...], and Truth alone, is true.

197.But mark what clings about the Virgins  [...]:
A Knot of Things whose Lustre bids  [...] Eye
Be with a glimpse content, and not  [...]
With that which blindes bold  [...].
Faiths Mysteries they are, which by  [...]
Excesse of their own Beams,  [...] and from  [...],

198.In vain Thou seekst these  [...] to  [...]
By any Beauty which e r  [...] Eye
Soule, which in most  [...] Worth  [...],
Cannot  [...] their  [...],
But happy count  [...],  [...] they can  [...]
 [...]

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199.And happy Thou my Psyche, who art hither
By Heav'ns indulgence, and my Conduct brought,
If Thou that Happinesse scornst not to gather
Which now is ripe, and woo's thee to reach out
Thy Hand and Heart, that both may filled be
At highest heav'nliest Wealths own Treasury.

200.Thus Phylax spake: but Psyche all the while
Rap'd with these several Glories of the Court,
Did with as many Satisfactions Fill
Her wondering Soule, and make Luxuriant sport
In her new Blisse, untill Truths Contemplation
Monopolized all her Admiration.

201.For as the noble Eaglet perched high
In a fair prospect to the naked Sun,
Doth feast and not with her ravish'd Eye
In that bright Sea of Beauty, where alone
Her genuine Sight meets with its flaming Love,
And by his soveraign Beams its own doth prove:

202.So She with strong impatient Ardour here
Stood feeding upon Truthes all-glorious Face;
Yet still with that most satisfying Cheer
Remain'd unsatisfi'd, cause such it was;
Till lost in amorous Greedines, she cries,
Sweet Guardian help Me, or thy Psyche dies.

203.Phylax, who knew the Soule of that Complaint,
(For on his own it beat,) with tender Hand
Relev'd his Pupill as He saw her faint;
And well, said He, thy Greif I understand,
I understand it well, and love it too,
Thy Joyes had did, hadst thou not Greived so.

204.The Image of thy late Acquaintance, and
Newly ambibed Doctrines, in the Eye
Of thy now selfe-revenged Heart doth stand.
Checking thy venturous Credulity,
Which durst embrace such Monsters, and dismisse
A Beauty so divinely Bright as this.

205.Yet let not Sorrow quench thy Hopes, for She
All Injuries rejoyceth to forget,
And never yet laugh'd at the Misery
Of any Heart which would to her submit:
Revenge indeed, but soft and sweet she takes,
Her Foes to Liberty She Captives makes.

206.This said; unto the Virgin Her He led;
Whom by their old Acquaintance He desired
Her favour on this begging  [...] to spread,
Who with her lustre was already fired:
Truth gently smiled at his sweet Request,
And by her Looks her forwardnesse confest.

207.Then stooping down where Psyche trembling lay
Powring her Tears and Heart before her feet,
She mildly took her up, and gave her Joy
That She with Her so happily had met;
That word she clos'd with an Embrace, and this
With the deer Blessing of an heav'nly Kisse.

208.As when the courteous vernal Sun draw's neer;
And with his tender Raies doth Earth imbrace;
Her cold and  [...] Veins begin to cheer,
New Life and Verdure smile in all her Face;
Inriched and arrayd She gins to be
With her bie and with floury gailantrie:

209.So Psyche hugg'd, and gently warmed by
The Arms and Lips of Truth, soon felt her breast
Before invelopp'd in Obscurity
Now by a pure and pretious Light possest;
She felt her inward mystick Day arise,
Which gently flourish'd through her wondering Eys.

210.Logos, who had so pert and busy been,
Was strangely startled at the sudden Sight;
And now to see his Blindnesse did begin,
By the sweet Dawn of this all-opening Light:
He saw his Blindnes, and in seeing this
Descri'd withall a thousand Mysteries.

211.And that so clearly, that He fear'd no more
What Mists Authades in his Way could throw:
Agyrtes Charms He scorned, which before
Into the pathes of Darknesse him did draw;
This happy Morn He bless'd and kissed, which
His Eyes with Heav'ns fair Prospect did enrich.

212.For here far more convincing Things He read
Than were his late-adored Demonstrations;
No brisk Distinction here durst show her Head,
Or hope to damp those glorious Probations
Which on Syneidesis her selfe did get
Such power, that unto Them her Seal she set

[Page 313]
213.Nor lesse on Thelema this Wonder wrought;
For with intire and free Submission she
Bow'd down her mighty Neck, and low did lout
To every Thing which Logo's eye did see;
And then she hugg'd them fast within her Heart,
Resolved never more with them to part.

214.With high and holy Joy replenished
Was humble Psyche at this happy Sight;
All Catholik Verities at large were spred
In her bright Soule, whence Scruples took their flight,
Resigning all that Region to be
Possest by Satisfactions Clarity.

215.Ten thousand Thanks to courteous Truth she paid,
And would as many times have paid them o'r;
But Phylax her excesse of Passion staid;
Telling her she must now imploy that Store
She here had gain'd, where need call'd for it, and
Study how to enrich her native Land.

216.With that she Rose: but strait fell down again
Before the Throne to pay her Homage to
The Queen, who now high in her Heart did reign:
And then with sweeter Cheer prepar'd to goe,
Having receiv'd a Benediction from
Ecclesia, for her dear Viaticum.

217.But as she went, she bless'd the blessed Place;
And, ô how happy are the Soules, said she,
Who in this Holy Courts illustrious Face
May be Attendants, and these Glories see
With constant freedome, which all Heav'n can dart
With one short glimpse on the Spectators Heart!

218.O happy They, who in this Hall may live
Perpetualy these noble Spoiles to read;
And Acclamations of Honor give
To Her who all these Monsters Blood did shed;
To Her whom all the World doth yeild to be
As large as is it Selfe, in Victory.

219.O happy They, who have but leave to dwell
Here in this Praeface to that larger Blisse!
This noble Portch alone doth far excell
The fulnesse of all other Palaces:
This is the Morning unto Glories Day,
The Brink of Joy, the Top of Heav'ns High-way.

220.O happy They, who in this beauteous Court
May wait upon the Portch, and feed their Eyes,
And with their Eyes, their Hearts, in any Sort,
Upon this House and Home of Mysteries.
This Neighbourhood to Blisse would serve to be
Sufficient Felicity for Me.

221.O happy They, who may permitted be
Ev'n in this Realm of Thorns, and craggie Waies,
This Field of Hardship and Perplexity,
This Maze of Fears and Snares, to spend their Days!
The Prospect to yon' Palace would suffice
To blesse and sweeten all Anxieties.

222.O happy They who may remain with Thee,
Disconsolate Mayd, ev'n at this outmost Gate!
The Comfort but of such Vicinity
To yon' fair Towers, would easily abate
The trouble of thy Sighs; and ne'r would I
Repent of Panance's sad 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.

[Page 314]
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.

[Page 315]

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  [...].

[Page 316]
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 his Deep doth make him flow.

9.All honest Beasts, and sociable, are
Made such by thy sweet Influence alone:
In vain the Oaten Pipe, and feeebler Care
Of Shepherds, up and down the feilds would run,
Didst Thou not first perswade the Sheep to be
Best pleased with the Flocks Communitie.

10.Men, whose discording Tempers them invite
To seek new Worlds their severall Mindes to please,
Are by thy  [...] taught to take delight
In the kind Unions of Families;
One House will hold a Brood, when Thou dost joyne
To build their Walls, and their Desires combine.

11.No Cities ever could erected be,
Did not thine Hand the Architecture guide,
Were not the found Materials by Thee
For every street, and every Court suppli'd:
Their Firmitude to neither Wood nor Stone
They owe, but to thine Unity alone.

12.Most distant Countries Thou dost Neighbours make
By safe and friendly Traffick, which doth bear
One World into anothers Lap, and take
The radiant East from its rich Home, that here
It may adorn the West, whose mutual Store
Of other Wealth requites that Golden Ore,

13.Nations whose sundry Languages divide
Them from the hopes of joynt Communitie,
Are in one Common-wealth securely ti'd
When Thou dost knit the Knot, and make them see
That All want help of All, and they are best
Provided, who are of most freinds possest.

14.A Sceptres mighty Load Thou light dost make,
And wean'st from Wearinesse the Subjects necks,
But when They, by self-tyrannous Mistake,
See not thy Sweets, but their own Patience vex:
High-noon is dark to those that will not see,
And feathers, Lead, when Men will tired be.

15.When Thou dost domineer, all Laws doe so,
And fair Astraea ventures down again;
Right all about the blessed Streets doth goe,
And awfull Modesty fails not to chain
All Rudenesse up, which once let loose by War,
Doth no Extremities of Mischief spare.

16.The coolest Veil could never yet secure
The bashfull Virgin from Lusts rampant fire,
But when in sober Bounds Thou didst immure
The youthfull Violence of hot Desire:
Her onely Safety lilie Chastitie
To thy white Banner ow's, and purer Thee.

17.The Gown doth keep the thoughtfull Student warm
Yet not, but when by thy Imbraces laced,
And girded sure by thy incircling Arm;
Else their poor Garb is presently outfaced
By Shields and Bucklers, and they forc'd to trie
What Habit best will suit Them when they flie.

18.All Arts which are of Age and grown compleat,
That Happinesse to thy Tuition owe;
No Honey e'r would choose its dainty Seat
In Orators Mouthes; no Laurele'r would grow
On Poets Temples; if Thou didst not blesse
All Learnings seasons with due fertilenesse.

[Page 317]
19.By thy sole Patent Heav'n on Earth hath room,
Churches have licence to be what they are;
God is permitted here to have an Home,
And handsome too: Thou puttest in the Barr
Which bids Prohanesse keep its distance, and
Learn that there is more than one Holy-land.

20.The Walls to their own Altars cannot yeild
Protection, unlesse Thou joinst thine aid;
The Roof cannot the Rites nor Service shield
When by Heretick Storms they are assaid,
Except Thou help'st to clear the Air, and stop
The impious Rage of popular Torrents up.

21.The Theme of everlasting Admiration
Miraculous Loves selected Mystery,
The Sacramental Work, to th' usurpation
Of Lay unwashen Hands exposs'd doth lie,
But where this impudent Community
From the Communion is barr'd by Thee,

22.The sacred Priests, who never injurcd be.
By unrevenged Hand, are not secure,
Though all the reverence of Piety
In venerable Awe doth them immure,
Unlesse thy patent Arm be stretch'd to keep
The Shepherds from the Mouths of their own Sheep

23.Our holy Mother cannot safely hold
Her own Inheritance, so unnatural be
Her Sons, and sacrilegiously Bold,
Unlesse Thou curb'st their cursed Liberty:
The Church must quickly Bankrupt turn, if Thou
Her Patrimony dost not safe bestow.

24.Nay Princes, upon whose majestick Head
Gods Name was poured with the sacred Unction,
No sooner are by Thee abandoned;
But in despight to their most awfull function,
Of the ingratefull and apostate Scum
Of their own Vassalls they the Scorn become.

25.No Region, though before the Garden where
The Plenitude of Happinesse did grow,
Forsaken is by Thee, but straight doth wear
The woefull garb of Misery, and slow
With Streams of Tears, for those sweet Currents which
With Milk and Honey did its Meads inrich.

26.But Plenties Horn in thy fait Arme doth dwell,
Whence, wheresoe'r thy blessed foot doth tread,
Thy Benisons thou liberaly dost spill,
And all the Fields with smiling Fatnesse spread;
Whilst the blithe Hindes doe pay Thee honest praise
Not in the Trumps Roar, but soft Oaten Layes.

27.Away sneaks Vice, when Thou thy face dost show,
And seeks blinde Holes to hide its blacker Head;
Whose room Thou straight to Virtue dost allow,
Cheering her up to take sure root and spread
Her Arms so wide, that all the Countrey may
Under her Shade calme Happinesse enjoy.

28.O blessed Mayd! how long, how long, shall We
Number our Curses by the Dayes and Years,
The tedious Dayes and Years, which now We see
All black with sullen Clouds of fatal Fears,
Whilst Thou art fled, and leav'st our woefull Land,
In most unnatural Warrs destroying Hand!

29.How is unhappy Britain now become
The Isle of Sorrow, which was once of Joy!
How have all Monsters made these Fields their Home,
Where onely harmlesse Sheep were wont to play!
How are the Gunns and Trumpets taught to Roar,
Where onely Pipes of Reed were heard before!

30.How have We stained Albions lilie hue
In bloody gore, and wash'd that Name away!
How has our Red-crosse been too truly true
Unto its tincture! How are We a Prey
Unto our Selves, whilst we have made a Sea
As well amidst Us, as about Us be.

31.A Sea broke ope from our own desperate Veins,
Which to the Crown and Mitre, Shipwrack threats;
A Sea, in which though some doe fish for Gains,
Yet can they not at length scape their own Nets:
O no! there's Nothing to be gained bere,
But certain Losse; which makes the Trade too dear,

32.How have We coin'd fond Names of Hate, which we
With Sword and Bullet to the Death persue!
Are there no Turks! that thus the Unity
Gf the brave English Name doth by a new
Portentuous Rent all mastacred appear
Into the Round-head and the Cavalier!

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33.How have We strove our Lyons Nails to pare,
Who was before the royal Dread and  [...]
To all the neighbour-Beasts! How has our Fear
And Jealousie help'd their own Cause to grow
To greater strength! How has our vast  [...]
But op'd our Purse till all be drained thence!

34.Sweet Queen of Joyes, ô when, when will it be!
When will the blessed Dawn of thy fair Eyes
Cheer our benighted Hemisphear, that We
And all our wonted Blisse, with thee may  [...]
O calme and gentle  [...], when wilt thou please
Out Insland  [...] to appear.

35.When shall We cease with mighty Care and Cost
To raise the heap of our own Ruines high,
When shall We yeild to be no longer toss
In Waves of self-affected Misery!
When shall We with our Pains no longer play!
When shall We doe what We so often say.

36.When shall we cease to make our selves the  [...]
Of all that mock at Infelicitie!
When shall We judge our selves enough forlorn!
When shall We think our Woes deserving be
Of our own pitty, that our Bowels may
Henceforth be torn none but that healing way.

37.Prudent and tender Phylax, knew that He
In both those Titles, nothing could bestow
Upon his Pupil, which to Her might be
More fertile in Advantages, then now
To exile every troublous mist, and clear
The Countenance of her Habitations Sphear.

38.He knew the worth of Peace, and long agoe
When he had Psyche left in Palestine
He hither came, and orderd busines so
That all things did into a Calme combine;
But none could tell it was to entertain
Psyche, now ready to return again.

39.But she arrived at her antient Home,
Wonderd to finde Securitie made Queen
Of all that Region; vacant was no room
For Molestation to be buisie in;
Nor any Gap left ope by which she might
Thrust in her head and Quietnesse affright

40.Her Friends and Parents much advanc'd this wonder
When in their cheerly gratulations they
Told Her how Peace had trode all Perils under
Her blessed feet, and blown the storm away:
They told it o'r and o'r, and marvell'd why
She turn'd to  [...] her mistrusting Eye.

41.But He observing it, thus satisfi'd
Her questioning Soule: Suspect no false-hood here,
Thou  [...] but what is true; I did provide
This Calme to bid thee welcome home, my  [...];
Thy Voyage finish a is and in this Bay
And  [...] of Rest, thy Bark may safely stay.

42.But set Thou  [...] it still, and keepst it trim,
For fear some storm hereafter should arise:
What Profit is't through dangerous seas to swim
And  [...] empests Prize?
 [...]
 [...] sleeping Pilots overtakes.

43.Complear  [...] dwels in no Bay
But that above to which thine heart doth saile;
For ever there thy Vessel thou may'st lay
In certain Peace: But here no Help can bail
Thee from the Windes arrest, if thou forget
To doe thy part, and thine own  [...] set.

44.O set them then, and bravely antidate
The Rest that dwelleth in the Heav'nly port;
Tis worth the price, and more; Atany Rate
It is not dear; then stick not to give for't
Thy earnest Wish, and daily Industry:
No Wealth so rich as genuine Rest can be.

45.If thou repent Thee of thy Bargain, say
That with false Wares thy Phylax cheated thee,
And boldiy throw both them and Me away,
And call the Shore more treacherous than the Sea;
Conclude all things, but Vanitie, are Vain,
And think Perdition the onely Gain.

46.But surely no such desperate Thought will  [...]
Abuse the Pious Heart of Psyche: No,
My Hopes are greater of thy holy Care.
With which mine own shall be combined too
For as a guard upon thy Guard will I
My wonted Love and Watchfulnes imploy

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47.Scarce had He spoke; but (as the heav'nly  [...]
Into Earths thirsty Mouth drops copious Joy
Celestial Charis into Psyche flew,
Doubling her Wellcome home, and making way
Through her soft Bosome to her softer Heart,
To which a sweet Imbrace She did impart.

48.Nor was there need that She should use her Tongue,
Whose  [...] our spake aloud in Psyche's breast,
 [...] by  [...] plying secret language rung
 [...] more than aerie Words could have exprest:
The Virgin understood its meaning well,
And  [...] it close in Her Hearts inmost Cell.

49.(That  [...] wherein Her Life enshrined laye;
Which now  [...] up in bounden reverence,
And to this roy  [...] gave willing way:
For what is Grace s blessed Influence,
But Life's best Life? which well deserv's to be
Plac d highest in the vital Treasurie.)

50.So close She hugg'd it, that it there grew warm,
And glow'd so hot, that strait it fell on fire:
The sudden flame sounded a smart Alarm
Through all Her Breast, and wakened brave Desire;
Desire the other Forces muster'd up,
And now no Bar her high Design could stop.

51.As when Heroick fervor doth a wake
A Princes Heart to take a full survey
Of all his Realm, and Reformation make
Of what is swerved from the Laws High-way;
To his own King, the King of Heav'n, He cals
For Aid, and then to his great Businesse falls.

52.So prudent Psyche, prostrate on her face,
Begs Jesus help to speed her  [...]:
(For Phylax now by  [...] admonish'd was
To snatch himself far from his Pupils eyes:
In prest obedience to which Item, He
Fled strait into Invisibilitie.)

53.Deer Lord, said She, who never dost for sake
Thy Worms which to thy footstool crawle for aid,
O pitty, pitty on thy Hand  [...] take,
That She by her Saint Self be not betrayd.
Thou who vouchsafll to Kindle my  [...],
Assist Me, least it prove an uselesse  [...].

54.Well  [...] thy wronged Majesty how I
The  [...] Thou often gavest Me did choke,
And sent up no Returns at all to thy
Most  [...] Heav'n but black and stinking Smoke,
Hels rank and proper Breath, which once was mine
When to Cerinthus Schole I ran from thine.

55.O trust Me not alone; although my Will
Bravely enflam'd and spurred on by Thee,
Aims at a lofty Mark, yet Psyche still
Is that unfortunate and feeble She
Who in her full Carreers proves out of breath,
And when She soars to Life, sinks down to Death.

56.Not for my Credit, but thy Graces, and
Thine own, in this Designe I crave Successe;
Paid onely to the Praise of thy high Hand
Shall be th' Atchievements Glorie: Psyche is
Beneath Disgrace, but it in honor does
Concern thy  [...]

57.Up slew her Prayer, and knock'd at Jesus  [...]
So loud it knock'd, that straight He let it in;
In, to his Favours Presence-chamber, where
His gratious Entertainment it did win:
Its Embassie was heard, and Jesus granted
What ever Psyche in this buisnesse wanted,

58.This bred fresh Courage in her Heart, and She
With doubled Gallantrie adventured on
Her noble Work: Her ancient Royaltie
Which bold Incroachment oft had trode upon,
She ment to reskew, and assert her Crown;
Though for her Spouse s sake, more than her own.

59.A general Court She cals, and summons all
Her Subjects in, to know her royall Minde:
Large the Apparence was; both Great and smal
 [...] slocking in; for none durst stay behinde,
So  [...] the  [...] was, and they
 [...]  [...] did expect that Day.

60.No sooner had this  [...] till a the Hall
Of  [...] palace, but in  [...] State
Being ballas'd with her  [...] and her  [...]
She thither comes, and takes her  [...]:
Up stood the Company while She  [...] down,
And bow'd their Heads to  [...] and to Her  [...].

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61.How kindely She that general Homage took,
As Earnest of their several Duties, She
First certifi'd them by her gratious Look,
(With which she paus'd a while, for Majestie
Must not make haste,) then by her softer Tongue,
From whence her charming Honey thus She Wrung.

62.My multiplyed Self, sweet Company,
In whom as many and as sundry lives
I live, as you enjoy; how dear and high
Content to Me your loyal Presence gives,
I must not tell you now; it were too long
A Storie, and would doe the other Wrong;

63.The other Storie; which would more than fill
This Day, as having cost Me several years
To travell through it, should I trie to tell
Its severall Wonders: but against your Earer
I piot no Tyrannie, nor aime to break
Them on a tedious Narrations Rack.

64.Through many Climats I have whirled been
By the sweet Conduct of my Guardians Care:
The world clad in all fasbions I have seen,
And how their Clothes and Manners Mortals wear;
Fair Cities, foul Inhabitants; and poor
Hamlets, yet such as noble Spirits bore.

65.I saw Men live in their Out sides alone,
Scarce thinking that within a Soule they had:
And yet, because it was the fashion,
Themselves a Cloke they of Religion made.
A Summer Cloke, so light and thin, that they
Felt it not when upon their backs it lay,

66.I saw the World its fatal Bane imbrace,
And loath the Antidote of Pietie:
I saw Devotion loaded with Disgrace;
And humble zeal disdained by those high
And silken Things, who know no way to be
Gentile, but Pride, and sinfull Libertie,

67.Seveerly-holy-Soules expos'd I saw
To lustie Gallants Scorn and Hatred, who
Upon their patient Heads the Check did throw
Of foolish Singularitie, though no
Pretence there were, but that they down the Tide
Of deep Damnation would not with them ride.

68.The holier Stories, whence the Holy-land
Deriv'd its Name, I by their footsteps read;
For many still doe deep imprinted stand,
To honest Pilgrims aim to give, and lead
Their Hearts on in that venerable Path
Which, for their sakes, Divine Love traced hath.

69.But by that Lesson of Humilitie
Both proud and confident I strangely grew;
My own poor waxen Wings I needs would trie,
And willingly from those stout pinions flew
Which Phylax alwayes for my service spread
When sturdie Dangers Me encountered.

70.My Wings, alas, did onely me commit
An helplesse Booty to the Birds of Prey;
For Kites and Vultures straight did me beset,
Whose foul Heretick Tallons pluck'd away
My best and fairest Plumes, and did prepare
My blood and life away with them to tear.

71.But Heav'n and Phylax present pitty took,
And snatch'd me from that fatal Company,
Unto a Palace whose illustrious Look
Revived mine, whose generous Courtesie
More royal Things bestow'd on Me, than those
Plunders wilde Law made forfeit to my foes.

72.This was Ecclesias famous Court where I
Beheld the Miracles of Discipline:
No spectacle e'r blessed Mortal Eye
With sights more venerable and divine:
Upon my Heart they grav'd themselves so deep
That their Impression it must ever keep.

73.So sweet a Calme of heav'nly Peace was there
That no Disturbance could it self intrude;
Which made it genuine Paradise appear,
All over with harmonious Pleasures strewd.
His Duty to each Officer was known,
Who lov'd it best, because it was his own.

74.And happy are those Courts, and onely those,
Where in all Offices Content doth dwell;
Where every Courtier, were He put to choose,
Would onely be ambitious to excell
In his own Place, and covet to appear
Splendid in none but in his proper Sphear.

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75.Such genuine Beams as theirs, can onely be
The comely Glory of a Princes Court:
Thus doe the prudent Starrs above agree
To swell and garnish Heav'ns Majestick Port.
Thus every Orb loves his own Way, and on
His mighty Journey doth with Musick run.

76.Thus those more radiant Sparks which on the face
Of the pure Empyraeum glittering are,
The holy Angels, hug their proper Place,
And wish no nobler Work than meets them there.
And who can say Us Nay, if stoutly we
Resolve thus to adorn our Politie?

77.Right glorious those Examples are by which
We are invited thus to Honors Way:
What Tongue would not unto its highest Pitch
Advance it Selfe, to consecrate a Lay
Of Praise to them? And why should we admire
That which doth not spur Us unto Desire!

78.All shame forbid our Spirits should flag so low
As not to pant and reach at Excellence.
What though it cost Us All a sweating Brow?
The Gain will more than crosse out that Expence.
 [...], Ease is the Rust of that brave Metall
Which strengthens noble Spirits for Virtues Battel.

79.Come then; Henceforth let it Enacted be,
That All their Bows unto the utmost bend;
That generous and hardy Industry
Through all our Court its active Arms extend;
That every one doe in his Office prove
How much my Credit, and their own they love.

80.Though I be Queen, yet I my selfe submit,
And bend my Neck unto this Common Law;
The Yoak as well for Me, as you will fit,
And be assured I my part will draw:
If e'r you see Me shrink, or Labour shun,
It shall be your Discharge from going on.

81.But if you winch and kick, and will not be
Partners with Me in our propounded Prize;
I am no Young ling now, Maturity
Dwells in my Hand and Brain; will can I poise
My Sceptre, and know eas'ly how to make
Those who disdain to how, be fain to break.

82.I paid an high price for that Learning I
Bought when Agenor made his Market here.
And who can blame my Prudence, if I try
To make the most of what cost me so Dear?
It must, and shall appear, How well I know
That Kindnesse makes but Rebells bolder grow.

83.But ô, I feel how ill upon my Tongue
This Threatning rellisheth; My Breath should I
More willingly expend upon a Song
In Commendation of your Loyalty:
Your Loyalty, which now, me thinks, I see
Already flaming to this Law, and Me.

84.She ceased here. When loe, about the Hall
A musing Silence for a good while lay.
Divers were there, who thought this Law would fall
Too soar and heavy on their Backs; yet they
For fear their Party should appear too weak
In Votes, durst not their Motions open make.

85.Not with their Tongues: But with their Eyes about
The Room they walk'd, and question'd one another:
In every Look they met with Hope, and Doubt,
Which mutualy their trembling Selves did smother:
Their Shoulders some & some their Heads did shake,
Confessing what they were afraid to speak.

86.At length presuming it the safer way
Their Vessells down the potent Stream to steer,
They with the rest, resolved to Obey
What they could not withstand. Thus thanklesse Fex
Of being broken by the Windes, doth make
The lazie Clouds long voyages to take.

87.The whole Assembly thrice bow'd to the ground,
And  [...] profest their Thanks unto their Prince,
Whose carefull Wisdome such a way had found
To yoak her Subjects unto Excellence:
And may Rebellions Brand and Curse, said they
Mark and revenge all them that disobey.

88.Thus pass'd the Act: which being fairly writ,
Upon the middle Pallat of the Hall,
Was hung by Psyche  [...] Command, that it
Might of their Duties daily warn them all.
So is the Rod stuck up at Schole, whose look
Doth awe the idle Children to their Book.

[Page 322]
89.But She to practise what was now Decreed,
Begins with Them who easiest were to tame;
That their Example afterward might breed
A strong and stinging Argument of shame
To lash those Servants who more manly were
If they, more weakly, should their Task forbear.

90.Her Porters five, shee called one by one,
Their several Instructions to take.
Opsis was first, to whom she thus begun:
Although thy Place and Nature Thee doe make
In most Discoveries apt and quick, yet I
Further than thou, can into some things spy.

91.Beleeve Me then, thou hast most need to be
Jealous of what usurpeth Beauties face;
Danger is politick, and Treachery
Too wise to lodge in a suspected Place.
The richest Soil the rankest Weeds doth bear;
The deepest Holes in silent Rivers are.

92.That Apple which bewitch'd our Grandames Eyes,
Was in Pomona's goodliest Roab array'd;
Its plump and ruddy Cheeks did fairly rise,
And seeming Smiles in all its Count'nance playd;
But yet such Venome in its Juice did lie,
As pour'd on all the World Mortality

93.Fair were the Grapt unto good Noahs Eye,
Nor with lesse Pleasure faun'd they on his Taste;
His unsuspecting Heart was also by
Their sweet Inchantments ravish'd, till at last
His treacherous Guest tripp'd up his heels, and bore
Him over shamefully upon the Floor.

94.Elisha's Servant saw no cause of Fear
In the Wilde Vine, whose Gourds did him invite
To fill his Lap; so delicate they were,
And held such Correspondence with his sight:
Yet, cheated Man, He did he knew not what,
And shred abundant Death into the Pot.

95.The wisest Prince, but Heav'nly Wisdomes King,
To Folly was betrayed by his Eyes;
Which in his Queens bright Beauties rioting,
Prevailed with Him first to Idolize
Those Female Powers; and then fall down before
What he set up, and Stocks and Stones ad ore.

96.When Juda's Eyes would needs enamored be
Of dangerous Monies gaudy glistering face,
Those richer Beams they could no longer see
Whose pure Exuberance did his Masters grace:
But he, blinde Traytor, to eternal Night
Betray'd himselfe in scorning Jesu's light.

97.That gorgeous Fruit which dangled on the Trees
That shaded Asphaltite's cursed shore,
Out-vi'd in fragrant Gold th' Hesperides
Renouned Boughs, and more Enticements wore
Upon its Cheeks; and yet this Statelinesse
Was but of Ashes and of Stinks the Dresse.

98.Be wary then in time, for fear some Bait
Doe ssiely steal an Hook into thine Eye;
For fear some sweet and beauteous Deceit
Poure Bitternesse on thy Credulity.
Security delights in Fears meek Cell,
But scorns in Confidence's Towers to dwell.

99.Thou never wilt repent thee of thy Cost
If thou Watch before thine Eyes dost set;
Two nimble Lids thou alway ready hast,
Which, if thou wilt, all Dangers out can shut.
O let it not be said, that thou dost keepe
Those Curtains onely to enclose thy sleep.

100.When Dinah's Eyes would needs be gadding out,
And walk in Hamors Court; though honest she
Onely to feed her curious Fancy sought,
Insnar'd she was in Shechems Treachery,
And, silly Mayden, suddenly became
An Holocaust to Lusts unhappy Flame.

101.Be prudent then, and never waste thy Look
On any Thing but what concerneth thee:
Thy proper Bus'nesse is the safest Book
On which thy Studies can imployed be;
If thou on any other cast thine Eyes,
Thou onely Errors readst and Heresies.

102.Thou se'st what Task I set Thee, that thou mayst
Be safe and happy, as my Selfe would be.
So shall thy Tears be uselesse, when Thou hast
No Crimes to wash; so shall the Bravery
Of thy sweet Beams for ever be intire,
And fear no mischief from Hells gloomy Fire.

[Page 323]
103.The time will surely come, and shortly too,
Which will this Abstinence of thine requite,
When thou shalt rove and unrestreined goe
Through all the Beauties which make Heav'n so bright:
Discredit not with Earthly sights, those Eyes
Which are design'd to read the glorious skies.

104.The glorious skies; and what more glorious is,
The gallant Eyes of Jesus, whose divine
Irradiations of eternall Bliss
And royal sweetnes upon them shall shine,
When they have done their duty here beneath,
And shall by Him awakened be from death.

105.Which duty surely never will be done,
By dwelling on that Mirrour in thine Hand;
That brittle Embleme of Corruption,
Which though a polish'd out-side doth commend,
Is yet welneer as sleight a thing and vain
As is the Image that it doth sustain.

106.This Charge with anxious and dejected Look
Opsis receiv'd, and trembled at its weight:
That tremor threw her Mirrour down, and broke
It on the ground: which she observing, strait
With many a foolish Tear its Death lamented,
And took her leave, unwillingly contented.

107.The next was Acoe; who came dancing in,
And with her wanton fingers tripped o'r
Her tickled Lute; by which she hop'd to win
The favour of her awfull Soveraign; for
She felt the Pulse of every string, to see
Where d well'd the sweetest Soule of Melodie.

108.Psyche, untill the Galiards Close, was mute:
But then, she said, now lend thy heed to mee,
Who will requite thy Layes: I grant thy Lute
Cheerd and encourag'd by Arts Braverie,
May pant thee Airs more sweet in thy esteem,
Than from my Lips into thine Ears can stream:

109.But what is sweetest, is not alwayes best,
And therefore not so sweet as is its Name:
Else the Inchanters Pipe must be confest
To merit all the loudest Trumps of Fame,
Although its Tunes Hels dangerous Hisses be,
Skinn'd fairely over with false Harmonie.

110.Else should the warbling Siren be preferr'd
Before the Linet and the Nightingale,
Although no roaring Tempest e'r were heard
Which with more certain Poril did assaile
The Mariner, unlesse with timely Care
Against her Musick He seal'd up his Ear.

111.Else the Hyaena, who with friendly tone
Knocks at the Door, unto the Lambs should be
As courteous as his Salutation,
Though all his meaning be but Treacherie;
And that same Mouth which them bespake so fair,
Prepared be the silly Sheep to tear.

112.Else should the Parasite, whose Trade it is
To feed and cloath Himself by praising Thee,
And stroaking all thy rankling Wickednesse,
Be a more usefull trustie Friend, than He
Who for thy breeding Cankers sure prevention
Applies the Corrosive of sound Reprehension.

113.Remember Acoe, with what wiley Words
The Serpent ointed Eve's imprudent Ears:
Yet all the Syllables were two-edg'd swords,
Long-bearded Arrows, or envenomed Spears;
Which flew not onely through Her carelesse Heart,
But to the End of all the World did dart.

114.That Serpent seeing what himself had done;
Took wise and wary Warning ever since:
So did his cunning Generation
Who stop their Ears against the Influence
Of soft Enchantments. And it can be no
Disgrace to learn a Virtue of thy Foe.

115.Had Delilahs tongue not been so Musical,
It ne're had ventur'd upon Sampsons might,
Nor in his Chamber conquer'd more than all
Philistia's Powers could do in open fight.
But when the strongest Bands were all in vain,
With her soft-language she did Him enchain.

116.Puff'd with Heav'n-daring Pride and Victorie,
Great Holofernes fear'd no dint of Fear,
When walled in with his vast Army He
Vow'd, the Jews stock up by the roots to tear:
Yet Judiths glozing Tongue made Him her Prey.
His Heart first, then his Head she stole away.

[Page 324]
117.O then let Prudence stop thy sober Ear
When any worldly Charm doth tune its strings;
Much happier is it to be deaf, than hear
The Musick of those faithlesse Flourishings,
Which sliely stealing to thine Heart, will there
With everlasting Jars thy Conscience tear.

118.The Voice of Truth, though wonderous plain it be,
Flows with more Hony than all Tongues beside;
With Hony so sincere, that Puritie
It selfe a long with all its Streams doth glide:
Here mayst Thou be Luxuriant, yet thine Ear
No Surfet from this Fulnesse needs to Fear.

119.Let others slander't with the Name of Pride;
I'l stile it Virtue in Thee to disdain
That empty Foam of Prattle, which doth ride
Upon the idly-busy Tongues of vain
And shallow Men, who though they all the Day
Spin out their long Discourses, Nothing say.

120.Have patience tickling Accents to forbear
A while, that Thou the best of them mayst gain:
Years post about apace; the Time draws near
When thou exalted on Heav'ns glistering Plain
With those rich Notes shalt enterteined be
Whose Consort makes the Sphearik Melodie.

121.My Philax's blessed Voice there shalt Thou hear,
And all the Winged Quire, whose dainty Tongues
The Triumphs and the Joyes of Heav'n doe chear
With the brisk Raptures of their lofty Songs:
Songs which no Ears must drink, but those which are
On purpose kept, and not enchanted here.

122.On Acoe so hard this Lesson grated,
That in her Heart she wish'd she had been deaf:
Yet since their old Rebellion was defeated,
She feard the Senses could have no Releif
By standing out: And well she knew beside,
Who most should feel it when her Queen did chide.

123.She Sigh'd, and let her Lute-strings down, as though
She loosned had with them those of her Heart
And then, O sweetest Wombe of Pleasures, how
Shall Acoe live, said she, now I must part
With Thee! And here She fetch'd another Sigh,
And kiss'd her Lute, and gently laid it by.

124.Next, Osphresis came in; who in one Hand
Courted a Civet Box, and in the other
A nest of Rose-budds built upon a wand
Of Juniper, and neatly set together.
Which Psyche seeing, Use it warilie,
Roses wear Pricks, as well as Leaves, said She.

125.Could all the Balme of Gilead, all the spice
Of happy Arabie, but inform Thee how
To counterplot those fatal Miseries
Whose certain seeds in thine own heart doe grow,
I could approve such Helps: But They We know
Are frail and mortal Things, as well as Thou.

126.Alas so deep Corruption rooted is
Ev'n in the Centre of thy fading Breast,
That O dours strive in vain to weed and dresse
The tainted Soile. How largely 'tis confest
By former Ages dead and rotten now,
How sure Mortality in Man doth grow!

127.And shall the Son and the Apparent Heir
Of Rottennesse, mispend his Time upon
Unnecessary Sweets, by which the Air
Trimm'd and inriched is, and that alone?
Sweets which each silly Wind which whisketh by
Snatcheth, and scattereth in proud Mockery?

128.Why should'st Thou take such Pains to make the Prey,
Of stinking Wormes so sweet and dainty? why
Upon perfumed Pillows wouldst Thou lay
Thine Head, when it to rot must onely lie?
This Cost and Pains for nothing usefull be
But doubling of Corruptions Victorie.

129.Wert not a cheaper, and a wiser plot
Aforehand with displeasant Smells to be
Acquainted, that the brackish Grave may not
By being strange, be bitterer to Thee?
At least not to be tainted with the Sweet
Contagion which in Perfumes We meet?

130.O Osphresis, that Thou didst truely know
What Crops of Odours and what Beds of Spice;
What Hills of Sweets, what Plains of flowers grow
In the delicious Lap of Paradise;
Thou couldst not chuse but generously disdain
These poor Perfumes of Earth to entertain.

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131.Yet all the purest Names of Odours are
Short of that everlasting Incense which
From Heav'ns high Altar doth its volumes rear,
And Blessednes it self with sweets inrich.
Save than thy self for these which will one day
Thine Abstinence with Plenitude repay.

132.And yet mean while I will to thee allow
Far richer sweets then those Thou throw'st away;
In virtue's Garden doe but walk, and  [...] hou
Shalt meet such spicy Breaths of holy Joy,
As will compell thy ravish'd Soule to think
This Worlds Gentilest sent, but pretious stink.

133.Such Breaths as will perfume thy heart indeed,
And all thy Thoughts and Words aromatize,
Untill their odorous Emanations breed
Delight in Gods own Nostrils, who doth prize
The sweetnes of all Incense by the sent
Of the meek sacrificers pure intent.

134.Here Osphresis thrice on her Civet, and
Thrice on her smiling Posie smelt; but yet
At length she dropp'd them out of either Hand,
When she perceived Psyche's Countenance set
With a wfull Resolution, and strait
As Geusis enterd, meekly did retreat.

135.Geusis brought in her Hand an Honey-combe,
Which prompted Psyche thus the Maid to greet:
What if that Nest of sweetnes hath no room
For any thing that is intirely Sweet?
What if the Bee hath in that Cabinet
More of her sting, than of her Honey set?

136.Full hard it is to eat no more than may
True friend-ship keep twixt safetie and delight,
The least Excess will Thee to Pangs betray,
And break thy Work by day, thy Rest by night.
Indeed a surfet goes most sweetly down,
But strait with Gall the heart is overflown.

137.The raging Sword's a keen and ravenous Thing,
Witness whole Armies swallow'd up by it:
Yet Luxury doth wear a sharper sting,
And wider ope her hungry Throat is set.
No reeking steel thou ever yet didst see
Blush in the guilt of so much Blood as Shee.

138.Of his Sobrieties sage stayed weight
Had great Belshazzar not been cozen'd by
The cruel sweetnes of her soft Deceit,
He had not in Heav'ns scale of Equity
Been found so light, as by Darius down
From his high Empires Zenith to be blown.

139.Of Her in time had Dives taken heed,
When in each Dish for him She lay in wait,
When into every Boule her self she shed,
And made of each superfluous Bit, a Bait;
Beneath the wretched Gallant had not lain
Acting poor Lazarus his part in vain.

140.His broiled Tongue had not so clamorous been
In lamentable Out-cries to obtain
No crowned Cups of lustie foaming Wine,
But a few drops of Water, to restrain
Those free and jovial flames which now did trie
On him another kinde of Luxurie.

141.But Lazarus, whose meek ambition was
No more than with this gluttons Dogs to be
A Commoner; unto the sweet Embrace
Of Abraham, and of Felicitie
Mounted on Angels Wings did ride, and there
Injoy'd a fuller Feast than Dives here.

142.Wise Saint, his stomach he had sav'd, that he
With a full appetite might thither goe
Where sumptuous dainties in their Kingdome be,
And purest Pleasures by whole Rivers flow:
And if thou after him would'st thither climbe,
Be sure to trace his footsteps here in time.

143.I know the Bords of many holy Soules
In fatnes often have been seen to shine,
On which their golden over-flowing Boules
Foamd with the heat of aromatick Wine:
But canst thou say that they themselves did so?
Surely their Looks and Lives will tell thee no.

144.This constant Plenty did but keep them to
Their Temperances daily Exercise;
They into hardy Virtue's Lists did goe
When to their Bords they went, to play the prize
Of Abstinence, and trie their conquering might
On that arrayed Army of Delight.

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145.Heroick  [...] were these, who hedg'd in by
A seige of superfluitie could yet
Maintain brave Moderation; but thy
Metall and Tempet, Geusis, are not fit
To wage War with Temptations; No, 'tis well
If thou by flying canst thy safety steal.

146.To a spare Diet  [...]. There thou may'st eat
And drink thine Health; but never in Excess:
Excess makes Sicknes reek in all thy Meat,
And with thy Liquor doth full Surfets press
Into thy Boule; by which before thou art
Aware, thy Head is drowned, chok'd thy Heart

147.But soveraign Fasting never fails to be
An happy Purge where these bad Humours reign;
Whil'st other Physick drains thy Purse, not thee.
This never doth Evacuate thy Coin.
Not operate on any thing but those
Who are thy Bodies or thy Spirits Foes.

148.Thou know'st my meaning now: But know withall
I love thee better than to let thee be
Unpunished, if thou shalt swerve or fall
From this fair Path unto Felicitie,
And with such Ballast stuff thy self as will
It Heav'n prevent not, lag thee down to Hell.

149.Close all this while had Geusis held her Combe;
But the smart dint of this last Word did smite
It from her Hand, and spill it in the Room;
At which the sullen Maid began to bite
Her lips, but marking then stern Psyches Ey,
She bow'd her head, and made her will comply.

150.Scarce was she out, but mincing Haphe came,
Whose Hands were in a Muff of Sables drown'd;
Her Body was disposed in a frame
Of wide and easie Clothes, courting her round
With silken flattering softnes; neither Pin
Nor Seam presum'd to touch her dainty skin.

151.Psyche smil'd at the sight: And what, said she,
If that soft furniture grow thick with  [...]?
If Hair or Sack-cloth far more gentle be
Which close and strait on hardy Bodies sticks?
Alas the Wounas of  [...] more dangerous far
Than those of sharpest Swords and Arrows are.

152.Those Weapons wounds can never further sink
Then to the Bodies bottome; but a proud
Attixe doth sadly soak the Soule, and drink
Its best blood up; nor knows she how to shrow'd
Her self from this Mis-hap so long as she
 [...] her Delight on outward Braverie.

153.Potiphera was deepar wounded by
The delicacies of her soft Array,
Than holy Joseph who did clothed lie
With Chains, although the Iron made a way
Into his Soule: Her wounds did her destroy,
His cur'd their Earthly Pain with Heav'nly Joy.

154.Thou know'st in what a soft and curious dress
Madam Herodias danced down to Hell;
Whil'st reverend John array'd in simplenes.
All  [...] off-spring nobly did excell;
And though in Herods Court despised, yet
Plain as he was, he into Heav'ns was let.

155.Hadst thou beheld his home-spun Camels hair,
And lethern-Thong which did his Loins embrace;
How would thy Lawns, thy Silks, thy Sables dare
To shew their cowardly effeminate face?
How would thy worthlesse skin indure to see
It self in fairer Roabs than glorious He?

156.Hadst thou beheld that course and rural suit
Which Gods own wisdome did for Adam make;
How would the sight thy gallantry confute
Who all the dainties of the World would'st rake
Thy vulgar Carcase to array, when he
The King of Earth, in Skins must cloathed be!

157.Gods Copie satisfi'd the Saints of old, ( [...] 11. 37
Who sought no further than the skins of sheep
And goats, in which their own they did enfold;
And from that rude and plain Plantation reap
A royall Harvest, now being clothed by
The glittering Roabs of Immortalitie.

158.No Beds of wanton Down desired they 11. 38
Wherein to loose themselves, but were content
In Dens and Caves their manly Heads to lay;
Where they to Rest with suller Comfort  [...]
Than pompous lustie Solomon, when he
Stepp'd up his Couch of stately Ivory.

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159.Nor was it ever known that Perl did lie
In any shells but wonderous course and plain;
That any Search could Gold and Silver spie
But nestled in some dark and dirty vein
Of Earth; that gallant Sparks of Fire could rest
But in some rude Flints black unlikely Breast.

160.I grant Distinctions of Degrees require
Such Garbs as may their Dignities proclaim;
Not that they by their outside beams aspire
To gaudy foolish Glory; since their Aim
Is, or should onely be, by this fine Art
Their Places proper honor to assert.

161.Else the perversly-blear, and peevish Eye
Of rude and stubborn Mortals would not see
What awfull Lustre flames in Majesty;
Nor how the Sacerdotal Temples be
With venerable Priviledges crownd,
Which from their sacred Office doth redound.

162.This made Heav'ns Ordination of old,
The consecrated Body of the Priest
With reverence-commanding Gems and Gold,
And finest Linens Purity invest.
But what's all this to thee, whose private State
All publick Ornaments may well abate?

163.My peremptory Pleasure therefore is
That thou the best Examples copie out;
Since thou delighted art with Tendernesse,
Be Tender of thy Blisse; and never doubt
But that will softer prove, and warmer be
Than are thy Wishes, and that Muffe to thee.

164.Almost as loth as the Beasts back which bred
That furtie Skin at first, did part with it,
Haphe, by this sweet Violence conquered,
Dropp'd down her Muffe, and did her head submit.
But yet she shrunk her Shoulders, and betrayd
She thought the Load sad which on them was layd.

165.Psyche, her Cinque-Ports being thus secured,
For The Tongue
Glossa call'd; who cheerfully came in,
And with a thousand Complements allured
The good opinion of her frowning Queen:
But thou mistaken art, said She, for I
By numerous Phrases count not Loyalty

166.Truth's quickly said; for pure unspotted she
Delights in her own genuine Nakednesse,
And scorns that ceremonious Bravery
Which Flatteries deformity doth dresse.
Dull Wood alone doth Vernice need, but Gems
Are brave in their own native naked Beams.

167.Much Talk is either stretched out by lies
Which poyson all the Streams wherein they flow;
Or tricked up with handsorne Vanities,
Which like fond Ribands serve but for a show,
And rather catch Spectators Eyes, than tie
That unto which their false Knots they apply;

168.The idle froth which plays upon the face
Of troubled Waters, swelleth not with Winde
So thin and faint and sleight and empty, as
Is that which bubbles from a royled Minde,
When over-flowing Wisdomes sober  [...]
In drunken Prattle on the Lips it swimms.

169.As thy next Neighbour Geusis soon may be
Luxurious by too much Taking in;
So thou must of an opposite Luxurie
Be carefull; for if once thy Lips begin
To give the Reins to Words, it is great chance
But they will drown thee in Intemperance.

170.Silence, her Master never did undoe
But ô how guilty is Multiloquie
Of this unhappy Treason! Nature, who
The Danger spi'd by Providences eye,
Was studious this Mischief to prevent,
Whilst unto thee a double Guard she lent.

171.The outer are thy Lips, which though they be
But soft and tender, yet their two-leav'd Door
So close they shut, that not the first Degree
Of Words, not Breath it selfe, has power to bore
Its way, but forced is to goe about,
And through the Notes Sluces wrestle our.

172.The inner are thoso Ranks of Ivory
Which strougly barracadoe up thy way;
No itching busie Bubble can get by
Except its Passage these to it betray.
Tis no hard task for thee to rest in peace,
Who strengthned art by two such  [...]

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173.Before Thou speakest, Thou art Queen alone
And hast the free command of thine own Thought;
But unto forreign Jurisdiction
Thou yeeldest it when Words have blown it out,
For strait 'tis subject to the cruel Laws
Of every Auditors censorious Jaws.

174.When thou giv'st leave to other Tongues to walk,
They travell for thy Gain; if Wise he be
Who speaks, thou learnest Wisdome by his Talk,
If Foolish, thou getst by his Vanitie
A wholsome Warning: But when thine own Cock
Alone doth run, thou spendest on the Stock.

175.Fear no discredit by Pauciloquie;
All Jesu's footsteps high and noble are,
Never was humble Sheep more mute then He
Before those who his humane fleece did shear:
And if the Word himself was not ashamed
Of Silence, why should it in Thee be blamed?

176.What will it boot thee to enhance the score
Of these Debts which to Heav'ns Judge thou dost owe:
A strict Acconnt Thou must give up before
His dreadfull Throne, of all the Words that flow
From thee in vain; why then wilt Thou to death
Be sentenced by thine own lavish Breath?

177.Improve it rather in a holy Thrift,
And unto Heav'n let it thy Prayers blow,
Or thy loud Hallelujahs thither lift;
And not, like wanton Windes, play here below.
But if Thou needs wilt idely prattle, I
Must deal in  [...] with thy Vanity.

178.No Word could Glossa unto this reply,
But look'd demurely, and obeysance did:
Her conge to withdraw, in Psyche's Eye
And in her Nod, no sooner did she read,
But out She meekly went, and left the room
Unto the Passions who were thither come.

179.As these in order stood before the Throne,
With serious Looks the Queen first awed Them;
Then thus She spake: Now you are here alone,
I am content to tell you what esteem
I have of you, so long as you can be
What Heav'n has made you, to your selves, and Me.

180.Of all the Commons which Allegiance owe
To this my Crown, I you repute the best;
More quick and generous Service you can show
Than those whose utmost Faculties doe rest
In grosse exterior things, which onely are
Labouring in Sensibilities dull Sphear.

181.Upon your backs I can far higher slice,
And with more speed, than on the Senses Wings:
By you I wellcome bid, or I defie
The Tributes which to Me their Service brings:
You are the lively Mirrour which presents
My dispositions truest Lineaments.

182.The inward Body of the Soule are you,
The Outside of the hidden Heart: All springs
Which peep up there, apparently doe flow
In your free Chanels; the abstrusest Things
Which in the Mindes dark Temper nestling ly,
By you exposed are to every Eye.

183.But as your naturall Power and Worth is high,
So is the Guilt of your Extravagance:
Though Wormes, the Sons of Dirts all nuzzling  [...]
In their Dames bosome, they do not inhance
Their Basenesse; but should Birds do so, in them
The Crime would foule and most unnatural seem.

184.Be then but truely what you are; but flie
In your own Sphear; and you shall surely meet
Together with your own felicitie
My Praise and Love: damp not that generous  [...]
Whose embers in your Veins desire to flame
Into the lustre of eternal fame.

185.Love know thy Self, and own an holy Pride;
Thine Arms were never framed to embrace
Such low and worthlesse things as can abide
Beasts for their Owners: Never then disgrace
The gallantrie of thy illustrious Wings
By flagging here about vile earthly Things.

186.Though to Humilities submissive Law
Thou a sworn subject art; thine Aim may be
At Excellencies fairest Top; for know
That Meeknes traceth Jesu's steps; and He,
Ev'n through Contempts black Valley, did ascend
To Glories brightest Throne at Gods right Hand.

[Page]
187.Virtue, and Heav'n (the soile whence it did spring)
Exposed are to Thee a noble Prey:
If rotten Earth can more allurements bring,
More Worth, more satisfaction, than They;
Poure Scorn upon Them, and thy Self apply
To hug the Pleasures of Mortality.

188.The great Adventures of all Saints deride,
Who spent their lives those Prizes to obtein;
And blesse those Spirits who swum down the Tide
Of  [...] short Sweets, into that Gulfe of Pain
Where endlesse Horrors boile, and where ev'n Love
It self is changed, and doth Hatred prove.

189.Fear, be not Thou afraid to know thy Part:
'Tis not to Quake at all the Powers which Hell
Or Earth can band against thy jealous Heart:
Those Tempests all are chained, and can swell
No highet than that Hand permits, which is
Stretch d out to sheild Thee from their Boisterousnes.

190.See'st Thou that single Hair which shivering lies
Upon thy Breast, & dreads the gentlest Winde?
Were all th' Aerial Principalities
Into one Knot of Violence comb in'd,
'T would pose their Might and Wit to tear it thence,
If stopped by that Hand of Providence.

191.Thy duty is to tremble at the Sight
Of that foule Monster which makes Hell so black;
Sins face alone is that which needs affright
Thy tender Eyes; a Face, whose Beames can make
The Basilisks fell Emanations yeild
To them the glorie of all Poisons field,

192.Yet if thy wilfull Eyes will not attend
Unto the Terrors of that dismall Look;
View but the Horrors of a Cursed End,
And make Eternall flames a while thy Book;
There shalt Thou read what will deserve to be
With frightfull Quaking ente rtain'd by Thee,

193.And in this shaking fit shalt Thou admire
What Madnesse makes fond Men to tremble at
The frowns of Fortune, or a Princes Ire;
Yet never fear the Wrath of Vengeance, that
Enrag'd by Brimstone in the Burning Pit,
Gapes wide for All who, sleighting, merit it.

194.But when with soft and gentle Tremor Thou
Wousd'st sweetly exercise thy Self, apply
Thy reverent Thoughts to Him upon whose Brow
Sits the bright Crown of highest Majesty:
God to wards thire will his own Eyes incline,
And on thy Heart with daintie Awe will shine.

195.And thou, stern Hatred, as relentlesse be
As Rocks, or Soules of Tigres, in thy Spight;
But see the Dart of this thy Crueltie
Misse not its proper Butt; thine onely fight
Must be with Wickednesse, on which accurst
And dangerous Enemy, doe all thy worst.

196.All other Foes, how fell so e'r, belong
Unto Loves Jurisdiction, for She
Knows how revenge to take on any Wrong
By drowning it in mighty Charitie:
Thy Wrath is sharp, but Hers is gentle; Thou
With Steel dost break but She with Warmth doth thaw.

197.Be wary then to guide thy Stroke aright,
For close the Sin and Sinner joyned are;
Least when against the Crime Thou think'st to fight.
Unto the Person thou extend'st thy War:
The Person's Gods, who Nothing Hates which He
Hath made, and therefore will not suffer Thee.

198.Hope, lavish not thy fruitlesse Expectation
On any Birth which this World forth can bring;
Why should st Thou dance Attendance on Vexation:
On Winde, on Froth, on Shaddowes vanishing
In their original; and gape to be
Replenished with pure Vacuitie?

199.On Fulnesse rather wait, and lift thine Eye,
Thy longing Eye, to Heav'n, where it doth dwell;
Far off indeed the Object is, but thy
Discerning Power at distance doth excell:
Be brave, and confident, Thou canst not misse
A Mark so ample, and so fair as this.

200.Since Absence than is Nothing unto Thee
But its bare Name, (for to thy reaching Eye
The Thing is Present, though it hidden be
In the dark Bosome of Futuritie,)
O be Fruition;  [...] thy  [...].
And climbe  [...] into  [...].

[Page 330]
201.But Thou, tart Anger, nev r gad abroad
To finde Meat for thy washpish Appetite,
Home will supply Thee with sufficient food.
Food which would fatten Thee with true Delight:
What faults soever Thou espiest here,
Fall to, and make thee merry with the Cheer.

202.This Item doth no lesse belong to Thee
Pale thoughtfull Jealousie; Let no surmise
Of Others Bus nes breed Perplexitie
In thine; but in ward turn thy prying Eyes,
And give the reins to thy Suspition here
In any thing which is not fair and clear.

203.I give thee leave, ev'n not to spare thy Queen;
Be diligent, and if thou wilt seveer;
For such an One in time past hadst Thou been,
Immured safe in neversleeping fear
Psyche could not have layn subdued by
The Charms of Lust, and fouler Hercsy.

204.Yet Sorrow, thou thy Tears may'st safely spend
On forreign and on publick Mischiefs; Thou
Mayst help Compassion freely to extend
Her reaching Bowels, and her Bounty show
In sympathetick Tendernesse to All
Whom tyrannous Disasters hold in Thrall.

205.Provided, all thy Store thou pour'st not forth
To quench thy Neighbours flames, but savest some
To wash away the stains which from thy Birth
Have daily multiplyed here at Home.
These well deserve them; but no Drop shalt Thou
On any Temporal Losse of mine bestow.

206.O no! A Tear's nobler Thing than so,
Nor must be squander'd in such vain Expence:
No Oriental Pearls, though married to
Some rich Embroydery, show such pretence
To Beauty; as the pretious Beads, whose Mine
Lives in the fertile Wombe of humane Eyn.

207.Let wanton Fortune take her proud Delight
In trampling on what Error Goods doth call;
That Title on their Back cannot sit right
Which at vain Changes beck must Rise and fall:
Let her insult; why should thy Tears flow down
For Fortunes fault, and not lament thine own?

208.Joy, thou hast heretofore too carelesse been
In distribution of thy lavish Smiles;
What is't to Thee, if fields abroad are green,
If Plenty with her Blisse thy Coffers fils,
If any thing without Thee prospers, when
Thou poor, and parch'd, and barren art within:

209.If thou at Home canst nothing worthy finde
Of thy applauding Notice; no brave feat
Of resolute Virtue, no soule-plying Winde
Of Heav ns great Spirit, no adventarous Heat
Of holy Love; alas thy Merriment
Is but th' Hypocrisie of Discontent.

210.'Tis but a Shaddowie Dreaming Pleasure which
Doth float and play in thy fantastick Brain,
And cannot unto thy Hearts Region reach
Which still beclowded is with pensive Pain:
Yea ev'n thy Laughter doth with Wrinckles plow,
Thy face, and in thy Mirth, Cares Visage show.

211.Wherefore in God, and what of Him in thy
Own bosome thou canst see, fix thy Delight:
And then walk out; yet onely to descry
What Hearts doe pant like thine; that onely sight
Abroad, deserves Thou shouldst Spectator be;
All else with Grief suit better, than with Thee,

212.And you the Rest, whose neer attendance on
My royall Person doth in you require
Exact and generous Duty; see you run
Not on the bus nesse of your own Desire,
But mine; which should be yours: and know, that I
Better than you your selves can you imploy.

213.So in this Realm of ours such Peace shall rest
As the intrusion of no storm shall fear:
So of your selves you all shall be possest,
And reign in your own Bounds, as I doe here:
So no Agenor henceforth shall entise
You to conspire to your own Miseries,

214.But if you scorn to walk in Honors Way;
(Which way, is, Doing what becomes you best.)
Yet must not I permit you to betray
Your own Capacitie of Welfare, least
In your Mishap I prove a Sharer: no,
Your Queen her Power better knows than so.

[Page 331]
215.She ending here: The Passions each on other
Cast their uncertain Eys, and much adoe
They had their itching way wardnes to smother,
These strict Injunctions did gripe them so:
Yet none so venturous was, as to lead up
Against the Queen, their Stomachs forlorn Hope.

216.Thus vex'd at one anothers Faintnesse, they
Hung down their sheepish looks, and bent their knees
In token they were ready to obey
What Laws soe'r her Majesty would please
On them to lay; and so went blushing out
That they into Subjections guilt were brought.

217.For those whose Palats never yet did taste
The blessed Sweets of Holy Discipline,
By wilfull Licences mad Revels cast
Up their Accounts of Freedome, and repine
At any Chains, although they keep them in
From rushing to the slaverie of sin.

218.Psyche observ'd how they this Regular Bit
Into their Mouths like sullen Horses took,
How peevishly they foam'd and champ'd on it,
As loth such serious servitude to brook:
This made her instantly resolve to ride
Them hard, and weary out their lustie Pride.

219.Nor theirs alone; but the loose Senc's too,
Whom their new Laws had almost Passions made,
So hard they grated on their Necks, and so
Straitly they ty'd them to a stricter trade
Than they before had practis'd, or then was
Profess'd about the World where they did passe.

220.She by a Peremptorie brave Decree,
Enacted Scorn of every thing which here
Earth useth as a Bait, to Luxurie,
Pride, Avarice, or any Crime which bear
Cheif Rule in Mortal Hearts, whil'st heedlesse they
Mark not the Hook, ev'n when they are its Prey.

221.A general Proclamation then she made,
That none who unto her did homage owe
In any Case presume abroad to gad,
Unlesse Necessitie along did goe
As their Companion, who might limits set
Both to their Walk, and what they did in it.

222.As when an head-strong Torrent, wont to throw
His lawlesse Arms or every Mead where He
Listed to riot, is enjoyn'd to slow
In a strait Chanels Regularitie,
The Stream with belking indignation beats,
And foams agamst the Banks with murmuring threats.

223.So with vexatious, and yet fearfull, Wrath,
Her Subjects pent up in these narrow bounds,
In sighs and groans rebell against their Path,
And every one his fretfull greif expounds
In a long commentary of Complaint;
The onely freedome of their new restraint,

224.Were, other Subjects yok'd so close as We,
Their Company would lighter make our yoke;
For Misery spred in Communitie
Abates the terror of her cruel look:
But how, said they, shall we endure alone
The total weight of her Dominion

225.Were it the Fashion any where beside
For Sence and Passion thus in Chains to lye;
Our Soules it would not torture to be ty'd
At home in endlesse slavery: but why
Must all the World laugh at our woes, whil'st we
The sole examples of this Bondage be?

226.Psyche, who all their struggling Murmurs heard,
With awfull Majesty enflam'd her Eye;
And, Come, said she, if I must needs be Fear'd,
Who would much rather have been Loved by
All you my Subjects; be it so; for still
Keep you intirely such I must, and will.

227.Yet since the Fashion's all your plea, and you
Of singularitie tax this your state;
As far as Reason leads, I will allow
You your own Wish: But see you kick not at
My royal Love, not force me to the Fashion
Which Princes use in Rebels Insultation.

228.Know then the Fashion I have put you in
Is that which made the Saints of old so sine,
That they the Eyes of Heav'n it self could win,
And ravish all, but those to whom divine
And earth-despising Bravery doth seem
Dimmer than is pale Gold and Silvers beam.

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229.Yea that illustrious Realm whose situation
Lies higher than the Stars, does not disdain
To own what you repute a servile Fashion,
But every Angel his own Will doth chain
Close to his Soveraigns Law, and never flies
Abroad, but when great Bus'nesse him imployes.

230.Tell Me not then, what Garbs and Humors are
By the blinde foolish World ador'd; but take
Your copie from those Patterns which out-dare
The Worth of any Parallel; and make
Those Men your Pitty, who make you their Scorn;
Your Fashion gorgeous is, but theirs forlorne.

231.These Words with such convincing Horror flew
Upon the faces of the mutinous Rout,
That all their Murmurs Blasts away they blew,
And still'd the thoughts which in their bosoms wrought
And since their Stomacks nothing had to Say,
They nothing had to Doe, but to Obey.

232.Thus from exterior Troubles sequestred,
Psyche at home close to her Bus'nesse fell:
She, long before the Sun, was out of Bed,
And call'd it Morning, e'r the East could tell
Aurora rising was; for I; said she,
Have fiercer Steeds to rule than Phoebu's be.

233.Then, higher into Heav'n than He doth ride,
She took her leap; so stout and sinewie were
Her early Mattens, which her Soul did guide
Unto the Pinnacle of Glory, where
Her Praises, and her Prayers she before
The foot-stool of her mighty Spouse did poure.

234.Her Hands then letting down, she set them to
Their early Task; and this was to prepare
Clothes for the Orphans and the Widdows who
Now all by Charities Adoption were
Become her Children: thus did prudent she
Bravely make fruitfull her Virginity.

235.(And in this voluntary Off-spring she
Took high delight: for those who Parents are
By Natures Work, too oft engaged be
In an unnatural Broods vexatious care;
But she from hers no Discontent could finde,
Being the chosen Children of her Minde.)

236.Yet with her Work her Prayers she mingled so,
That she of both a goodly Checker made:
In whatsoever Bus'nesse she did goe,
Heav'n interwoven was; for all her Trade
Was but a faithfull Prentise-hood to Him
Whose royal Temples wear Heav'ns Diademe,

237.So though the Mariner with busie care
Attends his Card, yet oft he lifts his Eye
To take direction from that trustie Star
Which darteth on his Voyage Certainty;
And by this mixed study safely rides
Over the proudest and the furthest Tides.

238.No idle Visits her abroad could draw:
Yet whensoever the despised Poor
Were sick, she by the royal Gospel Law
Thought her selfe thither summon'd, to restore
Unto her needy Lord the help which she
Had oft receiv'd from his Benignity.

239.For Him on all those fickly Beds she saw,
His pained broken Limbs, His parched Skin,
His burning Tumors, His black stripes, His raw
And gaping Wounds; which did so strongly win
On her Compassion, that her own they proved,
Whilst her soft Bowells them both felt and loved.

240.The odious Sores which would have loathing bred
Ev'n in the Surgions eyes, she gently view'd;
Her choisest Plaisters tenderly she spred,
And all her Powders with delight she strew'd;
Her Selfe of her own Clothes she robb'd, to winde
About the Naked, and the Maimed binde.

241.By the Diseases greatnesse she did measure
The worth of her distressed Company:
The foulest Lepers yeilded choisest Pleasure
To her Attendance, who aspir'd to be
A Servant unto those whose Noisomeness
Both Parents Love and Childrens, did suppress.

242.In vain her Senses turned back their head,
Since She what they abhorr'd, resolv'd to love;
In vain her daintier Passions murmured,
And to recall her from that Office strove;
Her Resolution she the more profest,
And ever Kiss'd the Sores which she had drest.

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243.The coy-ey'd Ladies with a squeamish Look
Admir'd and loath'd her lowly Complement;
Not for a World would their fine Fingers brook
The Touch of what her Kisses did resent
As soft and sweet: yet could not their Disdain
Her Zeal discourage, or her Lips restrain.

244.Still She her Mercifull Designe persues,
And by divine Insinuation tries
How in her Potions she may Heav'n infuse,
And reach the Soules mysterious Maladies.
Heart-startling Hints she sprinkles here and there,
And poures in heav'nly Cordials every where.

245.Nor by this paradoxick Zeal alone
Did she run counter to the Worlds carreer;
But valiant in her high Devotion,
Adventur'd further yet to domineer
Over her Flesh and Blood, whose lustie Heat
By rigid Abstinence she down did beat.

246.She ne'r by set and customary Time
Was summon'd to unneceslary Meat;
But earnest Hunger alway told the Chime
By which she was admonished to Eate;
And then her Meal she measured not by
Her Stomackfull, but bare Sufficiency.

247.And thus her food she did her Servant make,
Whilst others Slaves to their own Tables are;
Thus did she rellish every Bit, and take
The genuine Delight of all her Fare,
Whilst those whom Plenty alwayes fat doth keep,
Their Palats proper Joyes can never reap.

248.This Art so pluck'd her Bodies Plumes, that she
Could easily graspe and rule it with her Will;
For soon she snatch'd it from the Suavitie
Of all those Cates which pamper'd Skins doe fill;
And if it winch'd and struggled, space to get,
Straiter and straiter still she grasped it.

249.The Gardens roseal and lilie Store,
With all its Wealth of Spice and Odours, she
For being such, did shun: of Eastern Ore,
'Cause it was rich, she would no Hoarder be:
From Lute and Harp, because they pleasing were,
Beligiously she did abstein her Ear.

250.(For yet Religions cheerly jovial Dayes
Encourag'd not the Christian Hemisphear;
No Musick yet mix'd instrumental Layes
With the Liturgick Anthems, striving here
To echo that triumphant Melody
Which in th' Angelick Quire is streind so high,

251.For surely Psyches Soule must needs have leap'd
At such Delights; and her sweet-tuned Heart
With its exultant Pulse, due time have keep'd
To all such pious Airs; which by the Art
Of charming Sanctitie can steal upon
The coldest Bosome, hot Devotion.)

252.Delicious Wine, because it guilty was
But of it selfe, exactly she eschued;
The Gallantrie of Clothes, she held Disgrace
In those whose Hearts had Vanitie subdued:
By simple Natures Rules she strove to square
What she did Touch, or Taste, Smell, See, or Hear.

253.To Heav'n she caus'd on Fervors wings to ride
All those Affections which could traffick there.
To be her Factors, and her Stock provide,
Against her Death should thither send up her.
And those whose Bus'nesse here below did lie.
She strictly to their proper Tasks did tie.

254.By constant waiting on her Penitence,
Her Tears acquir'd so quick an Habit, that
No Tide with such perpetual Effluence
Its swelling Brine above the Chanel shot:
Her flood disdained all set houres to keep,
And day and night her Cheeks and Breast did steep.

255.Etesian Windes could never hold so long
In breath, as did her Sighs unwearied Blast;
Nor could the common Gales blow halfe so strong
As these, or ever follow on so fast:
And none so fit for her, as such a Gale.
Who through the Ocean of Griefe did sail.

256.Indeed when Times of Euangelick Joy,
The reverend Feasts of holy Church, did dawn;
She layd aside her penitent Annoy,
And with the Catholick Triumph mix'd her own:
Yet still her Sighs and Tears she could not choose,
At least for loving Joy, to interpose.

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257.As for her Bed, it was made every where,
Her sleep being onely on the naked Ground:
Fore-casting as she was, her lodging there
She chose in time, that when she should be bound
To her last Couch, the Grave might not to her
Right hardy skin, strange and uncooth appear.

258.And though this Bed did rude and churlish seem,
She felt it courteous in the best of Love;
Those lusty thoughts which in a soft-lay'd Dream
With hot uncleanesse through the fancy rove,
Were curbed by this sober Hard-ships Rein
Which cool'd all mutinies in her chaste brain.

259.For wanton Cogitations Cowards are,
Being the tender Sons of easie Rest:
They painfull Virtues hardy lodging fear,
And onely love an idle Downy Nest;
Soft are their Wings, and therefore warm and drie
They must be kept, and upon Feathers lie.

260.When sparing Capricorn would not allow
As liberal space to Day, as unto Night;
She no advantage took, but studied how
To peece up curtail'd Day with Candle-light;
And still was up, though Phoebus were in Bed,
Till she her purpos'd task had finished.

261.But that of such extension was, that she
Was often overtaken, even by
The laziest Morn, before her Work could be
Drawn up unto its full Maturity:
Yet then unto her rest she went not, till
Her weary Head down on her Prayer-Book fell.

262.For Time, inestimable Time, was that
On which her onely Avarice she fed;
Griev'd that the World with such elaborate
And costly idlenesse had studied
A thousand courtly Pastimes out, since They
Alas pass not the Time, but Man, away.

263.Madly-improvident Man; who though vain He
Be sure of nothing, but that He must Dye;
Though the next Moment in his Power be
No more than the next Age; yet labours by
The help of long-extended empty Sport
To make the too too posting houres seem short.

264.Psyche ne're found so tedious a Day,
But still she thought Night crowded on too fast:
She knew, as hard and narrow, so the Way
To Heav'n was long; and though she made all haste,
She fear'd Deaths darknesse would rush on, e'r she
Safe at her mighty Journe's end could be.

265.Unwearied custome in this strictnesse made
The World unfavorie to her palate seem;
The Senses rellish'd not their wonted Trade;
The Passions all were tractable and tame;
The Body humbled and beat down so low,
That no rank weeds in its drie soile could grow.

266.Her Roabs of flesh about her Soule did sit
So close and fit, that well they Her became;
A Maid more handsome delicate and neat
In Heav'ns judicious Eye she now did seem,
Than when she wore a larger bulk without her,
And her full Body ruffled more about her.

267.So spruce and strait her feature was, that no
Distortions, or Distempers room could spie
Where to assail her; Health about did goe
Through every Part, and brisk Activitie
Liv'd in her joynts, although her yeilding  [...]
Look'd neer as pale, as she was pure within.

268.But yet her Mental Powers more lively were,
Being not hampered nor clogged by
Those Fumes and Clouds which from luxuriant  [...]
Full at the face of heedlesse Reason flye,
And damp those Eyes with lazie dimnesse, which
Objects sublime intended were to reach.

269.The Bow of all her sprightfull Faculties
At an high pitch stood always ready bent;
No sudden busines ever could surprise
Her heart at unawares; she never meant
Concoctions leasure to attend, but still
As ready as her Work, she to it fell.

270.Thus she at length perceiv'd her troubled skie
Cleard of its gloomy frowns, and turn'd into
The cheerfull beauty of Serenity;
She saw her rude unruly Servants, who
Disturb'd her region, in one Calme united;
And at this sight of Peace, her Soule delighted.

[Page 335]
271.But as the gallant Spark is not content
To climbe up to the top of Airs first Stage,
Since by the servor of its Naturall Bent
Above the Third it aims, nor can aswage
The vehemence of that noble Spur, till it
Into Fires elemental Bosome get:

272.So Psyche, who unto Perfections Sphear
Bent her brave course, now for a second flight
Her wings and Resolution did prepare;
Knowing a Third remained still, which might
Eas ly deterr her Courage, if in this
She coward turn d, and bow'd to Wearinesse,

273.No: generous as she was, she vow'd to trie
 [...] of her strength; and feard not what
 [...]  [...] intercept her Bravery:
Though Chance's Wheel in her hand rolled not,
In Gods it did; and upon that would I
Rather than on mine own, said she, rely.

274.Logos into her Closet She did call,
Where with grave Countnance thus she Him bespake:
Thou see'st with what exact Obedience all
My vulgar Subjects on their Necks doe take
My heaviest Yokes; and far, far be it Thou
 [...] loyall Love to Me than They, shouldst show.

275.If common Herbs and Grasse can learn to give
Faithfull Attendance on their Lord the Sun;
What Candour can the Marygold repreive
From Censure and from Shame, if she alone
Whom Nature joyneth unto Him so neer,
Refuse her constant Duty to preferr?

276.Couldst Thou have e'r imagined that They
My other Servants could have found such dear
And full Content, when I on them did lay
Such loads as slew at first their Hearts with fear?
Yet now Tranquillity and Joy and Blisse
The fruit of my seveer Injunctions is.

277.To Brutish Dulnesse being neer of Kin
Their  [...] Reasons sweetest Plea;
And hard it was for heavy them to win
Upon their carnall Selves, and bow to me:
But Thou art Reasons Secretarie, and
Her Will (and that is mine,) dost understand.

278.Yea and thy Load is lesse than theirs; but far
Greater thy Strength: No Arrow with such speed
Snatcheth its shortest journey through the Aire;
No Lightning with such nimble Wings doth spread
Its selfe about the World; as Thou canst Flie
Ev'n to the Crest of all Sublimitie,

279.Abuse not then that brave Activity
By hankering and flagging here below;
Stout-winged Eagles ne'r were made to be
Companions unto Dunghill flies, O how
Wilt Thou thine own Worth answer, if thine aim
Thou take'st beneath thy selfe, and thy high Name I

280.Alas these sublunary Matters be
So  [...] of Emptinesse, that wretched They
Will shrink and melt into meer Vanity
When thou beginst to grasp them: Never play
At such poor Game which will but mock thy pains;
So far are they from answering Thee with Gains.

281.Learning, which looks so big, and nods  [...]
Upon illiterate Swains, could never yet
Beyond that self-tormenting Wit attain
Of seeing cleerly its own Want of Wit;
Whilst Simple Soules are never vexed by
Those stinging Checks of learn d Simplicity

282.Yet no disdainfull Knower e'r can gain
That Admiration which ambitious He
Hunts for with studious and pale-fac d pain,
Unlesse his Auditors unlearned be:
Art wonders not at Art; but Ignorance
Alone the fame of Learning doth advance.

283.(What are the busy Scholes, but a perplex'd
And implicated Maze, in whose Meander
With thousand knotty scrupulous By-paths vex'd
The ever-doubting Student's forc d to wander?
Learning her Self's a Circle, and the Soule
Can finde no rest where it must always  [...].)

284.Had any Rest dwelt there, thou hadst not in
Ecclesia's glorious Hall  [...] how all
The Patriarchs of  [...] Wit did  [...]
Upon the Chains which held them there in Thrall,
And roar in helplesse  [...]
That they had  [...] so, to be  [...],

[Page 336]
285.What Gains reap'dst thou thy Selfe, when thou didst sow
In the Cerint hian or the Nazareen Soil;
When Heav'ns Instruction Thou away didst throw
And with fond earthly Wisdom didst beguile
Thy better Knowledge? In thy Blush I see
Confession of that costly Vanitie,

286.But ask thy Memory, and she will tell
Thee what thou undertookst when thou wert freed
From fair-tongud Heresies foule-hearted Hell:
Didst Thou not then intirely make a Deed
Of thy whole Selfe to Me? which still doth stand
In force; I'm sure I cancell'd not the Bond

287.And now Performance I require, nor will
I bate a Tittle of the Obligation:
If this strict Course involved any Ill
To thee, I would admit thy Deprecation;
But thou art Bound to thine own Happinesse
And Heav'n forbid that I should Thee dismisse.

288.What could Indulgence towards Thee be now
But most malitious Tyranny in Me?
Sooner among the Clouds shall Dolphins row,
And Eagles flutter through the de epest Sea,
Than I will accessory be to thy
Enslaving Freedome, and Selfe-felony.

289.No: thy perpetuall Task henceforth shall be
In the soft Air of Heav'n thy Wings to stretch:
Say not they are too short; for Constancie
Of Exercise will quickly make them reach,
And Thee enable gallantly to rise
And sore amongst the Birds of Paradise.

290.Amongst those Birds who on the royall Face
Of the eternall Sun of Majesty
In meek audacitie for ever gaze,
Reading his mighty Providential Eye,
And all those other Marvels gracious He
Will let created Contemplation see.

291.These shalt thou see, and fix thy studie there;
But ever with this Caution, that thine Eye
Trust not its own Powers which are weak and bleat,
But on that never-erring Glasse rely
Which in Ecclesia s Court to thee was given,
Truthes mirrour, and the Spectacles of Heav'n

292.Thy vast Capacity can onely there
Meet with a Feast sufficient Thee to fill,
Where thou hast free leave to fall to that Cheer,
Which wouldst thou  [...], the whole World could not sell;
That Cheer, whose Worth s above the World as far
As its Exuberance and Dwelling are.

293.Leaps not thy Soule at this? If any where
Thou canst discover a more worthy Prize,
I  [...] not command thy Strength to wrestle here:
But since all other Treasures this outvies,
I must not suffer Scorn to say of thee:
Logos could Reason finde a Fool to be.

294.And that Anqmuesis thine Hand-mayd, may
Advance thy brave Adventure, upon Her
My strict and peremptory Charge I lay
To see no Trash pollute her Register;
For many a Toy which wears an harmlesse Look
Will easily defloure her virgin book.

295.Wilde Fancy would be tame did she not finde
A thousand Shapes of vain and uselesse Things
Wandring about the Store-house of the Minde.
Upon whose backs she gets, and madly flings
About the Region of the Brain, when Sleep
In her blind Arms doth Thee a Pris'ner keep.

296.All fond Romances, and all wanton Songs,
With Idlenesses Bus nes, tickling News,
Which swarm so thick upon unwary Tongues,
And Mans sole Treasure, pretious Time, abuse,
Must not that Bosome clog and pester where
Heav'n is desir'd to be a Sojourner.

297.No; Heav'n is large, and our poor Hearts are narrow,
Heav'n will our utmost Stowage fraught, and more;
The ample Breasts of Seraphs could We borrow,
Still in Capacity We should be poor;
Still by the full-tide Wealth of Piety
Our highest Banks would overflowed be.

298.That Knowledge which doth its due Tribute pay
To Sanctity, I will not Her forbid;
But her prime care and task shall be to lay
Up store of that pure heav n descended Bread,
Which Manna's famous Bounty doth outgive
Teaching frail Men eternal Lives to live

[Page]
299.That Bread which flourish'd from the Mouth of Blisse,
Gods sacred Word, the reverend Scriptures, where
Wisdomes best Jewells, and the rich Excesse
Of purest Knowledge all enshrined are;
That living Mine of Oracles, that spring
Of every sober-heart-contenting Thing.

300.Such pretious Eloquence ne'r made its hive
On any Romane or Athenian Tongue,
As in this honey-shaming Book doth live;
Such  [...] Sweets were never wrung
From humane Poets love-oppressed Soule
As there in every Leaf and Line doth roule.

301.For what is every Leaf and every Line
But a fair Chanel through whose bosome glides
The soft and supple Soule of most divine,
Most satisfying Truth, whose generous Tides
Difdain all Ebbs, and with unwearied Store
Of royal Pleasures flow for evermore.

302.Her prudent Bottles she at every one
Of these dear Streams must learn to fill; yet she
Shall with more constant ardent study run
To Davids blessed Well, where Suavity
In three times fifty Springs doth bubble up,
And liquid Heav'n to thirsty Soules set ope.

303.And in the Song of Songs (that is, of Love,
Who there in sacred Wantonnesse doth play,
Streining his strong enamored Notes above
The loftiest Sphears most sublimated Lay,)
Her pious Revells she may keep, and run
O'r the best Riches of great Solomon.

304.But at the Euangelick Fountains she
The Streams of purest Holinesse shall draw;
Streams in whose more than Chrystall Clarity
Innumerable Virgin Graces row;
Streams where Humility, who onely hath
All Virtues for her Handmayds, joyes to bathe.

305.All Mysteries array'd in Sweetnesse there,
And no where else, She shall not faile to see;
There Gods own Motions in an Humane Sphear,
Accommodated to her Weaknesse, she
Shall safely read; and from the dropping Lip
Of Jesus, how much more than Nectar sip.

306.And thus layd in, thy Stock so great will be
That thou mayst eas'ly undertake to drive
That generous Trade which I enjoyned Thee;
And never doubt but thou shalt bravely thrive:
'Tis  [...] Wealth makes Bankrupts such, but thine
Estate shall be immortal and divine.

307.Here Psyche ceas'd. But Logos scratch'd his head,
As something jealous that this Task would sit
Sad on his back: Yet when he pondered
The grounds which fortifi'd and flanker'd it,
He found himselfe fore-stall'd of what to say,
And therefore to his Soveraigns Will gave way.

308.She, glad on any terms, that Logos had
Buckled his Shoulders to receive the Yoak;
In all his Task a decent Method made,
That Time it selfe might call him to his Book,
And turn his Leaves, and shew him every day
What Lesson ready for his Study lay.

309.A noble Week of Attributes she chose
In the vast Treasures of the Deitie;
And prest her seav'n Dayes to attend on those
Each in his order; by which practise she
Knew how Time went, not by the posting  [...]
But her own Contemplations Motion.

310.That Morn which to the World did Sunday ope,
(That Suns fair Day which did at Salem rise,)
Awak'd her not, but found her ready up,
And busie at her Work; the reverent Eyes
Of Logos wide were ope, and earnestly
Fix'd on the Godheads wonderous Unity,

311.Nothing is lac'd so close and strait into
It selfe, as this immeasurable Nature;
The Singularity which seemeth so
Compleat in every Individual Creature.
Hangs loose about them, if they judged be
By the pure Rule of this  [...]

312.A dull Passivity doth sneaking lie
About the center of the  [...] Hearts,
Checking those Flames of their  [...]
Which seem all Spirit: And  [...] Parts.
Are found, although their  [...]
Be close, the Whose's not absolutely One.

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313.O no: should God dissolve that secret Glue
Which in their own Subsistence up doth knit
Angelick Natures; that which now doth shew
So strait and single, would in sunder split;
Their Wings would melt and moult, their Flames would by,
And they themselves from their own selves would fly

314.Ev'n Unity it selfe had never been
It selfe, unlesse it had been formed by
This Prototype; that Unity I mean
Which hugs and girteth up the Things which ly
Under the Foot of that eternal Throne
On which He reigns who is supreamly One.

315.Yet not more truely One, than He is Three,
But knit in an high and mystick Knot
Of simple singular Triplicitie:
Which Psyche though she comprehended not,
Yet with admiring Eyes she dwelt upon,
As Eagles on the Light, the Flame, the Sun.

316.There she beheld how infinitely Bold
And equaly besotted, was their Sin,
Who had in their Religions List enroll'd
A Crowd of Gods: She now could easlyer win
Upon her Faith, to think that there were none
At all; then yeild there could be more than One.

317.O how she praised and ador'd that high
And burning Jelousy, which though she saw
Flaming with most resolved Ardency
Upon the Fore-head of the ancient Law,
Till now, she knew not so profoundly why
Heav'ns deepest Hate was foule Idolatry.

318.But then encourag'd by Heroick Heat,
Neerer and neerer to this Knot she drew;
And prostrate at her mighty Makers Feet,
This panting Crie upon his Footstool threw:
Great Lord, why may not I with Thee be One,
Though not by Unitie, by Union?

319.O I am now a thousand Things a day!
But were I once to Thee intirely joyn'd;
No Objects should thy Psyche steal away,
Whilst They into Themselves transform Her Minde:
Thy Selfe, and mine, I should behold in Thee,
And all Things else I could desire to see.

320.The next Days Dawn, her Meditations drew
To feed upon the Truth of her dear Lord,
Truth so supreem and infinitely True,
As boundlesse Satisfaction did afford
Unto her Intellect, whose daintiest Feast
By Truth alone is furnished and drest.

321.Solid substantiall Treasures here she saw,
To which all other Things but Shaddows are;
Compulsive Reason here she found to draw
That strange Conclusion to a Naturall Ear,
That God is in such soveraign Certainty
Himselfe, that Nothing truely Is, but He.

322.The Fulnes of this Universe is founded
On Emptinesse, and therefore cannot be
More real than its Bottome: What is grounded
On Frothy Bubbles, sticks to Vanity
Close by the Roots; and seeing All Things came
From Nothings Wombe, they must be like their
Dame,

323.When a quick-paced Intellect doth trace
The Lines of any Creatures Being, though
At first it meets with what presents a face
Of solid Something; it will quickly grow
To its vain journies end; and stopped be
By the huge Gulfe of meer Vacuitie.

324.But when it launceth out into the Sea
Of increated Nature, it doth sail
Through True and genuine Substantialtie,
Which never will its Contemplation fail,
By terminating Wants ignoble Shore,
But lets it drive its Course for evermore.

325.And in this blessed Ocean Psyche met
Such vast Reality, that in disdain
She call'd the World, and all that swell'd in it,
A mighty Lie, dress'd up and trimm'd with vain
Embellishments, whose outside Flatteries
Abuse but blear and unconsidering Eyes,

326.Yet sweeter was her Third Days Work than this,
For then her Speculation fix'd its Eye
Upon the Goodnesse of her Lord, which is
The Fountain of unbounded Suavity;
A Fountain which it selfe at home doth fill,
And springs through all the Universe doth thrill

[Page 339]
327.For as the Sun on  [...] Star doth poure
The bounty of his inexhausted Beams,
Making them rich with his illustrious store,
Who else could ne're have kindled their own flames;
So all the Rays of Goodnes which make fine
Created Eyes, are Sparks of the Divine.

328.Meer Sparks indeed, who of their weaknes by
Their twinckling tremor plain Confession make:
But Gods supream original Bonity
From its own Home doth its Dimensions take;
It lives, and flames in his unbounded Breast,
And fils with sweetest fulnes all its nest.

329.Heer The lema leap'd in, who now had found
That God alone was absolutely good,
And fain she would her ravish'd self have drown'd
In this delicious Attribute's deer flood:
But Psyche reind her in, whose life she meant
Should in another sacrifice be spent.

330.Her fourth days Task was wonderous hard and high,
For now her thoughts adventured to look
On the vast Volumes of Immensitie;
Which were the sacred admirable Book
Of her great Makers face; a Book which made
All Heav'n and Earth to lesse than Nothing fade.

331.But as her Contemplations wander'd here,
The further they went on, the further they
Were from their end; and in their boundlesse Spheat
Lost both themselves, and their increasing way.
Yet Psyche found her Heart fill'd with Delight
Thus to be lost from Morning unto Night.

332.Oft did she cry; What though by Loosing, I
Am fain to finde; and by being Blinde, to See?
What though I cannot Comprehend, but by
Granting mine own want of Capacitie?
I am content, dear Lord, since I by this
Negation, thy Greatnes doe Confesse.

333.I see thou art Immense and Infinite;
Therefore I see thee not; yet see thee more
By this unable and denying sight,
Than they whose saucy Eyes dare by the poor
Comparison of whatsoe'r it be
Expresse the Measure of the Deitie.

334.But since thou art so great, ô mighty Lord.
Whence is it, that Mans narrow Heart to thee
An acceptable dwelling can afford!
How is it, that thy Eave's Immensitie
Shrinks up thy Nature's! which is yet as great
As 'twas before; ev'n in this litle seat.

335.The fifth day summond all her Might, to view
The matchlesse Power of the Deitie.
Strait, in her face the whole Creation flew,
With witnes of its Author's strength, which she
Read from the fairest Heav'ns sublimest Crest
Down to the gloomy Centre's lowest Nest.

336.And though the universal Fabrick were
The full Expansion of Magnificence;
Yet oft she chose the smallest Character
Of close short-writ Epitomies, and thence
Observ'd Gods finger-worke in little flies.
As great, as was his Arms in widest skies,

337.But Man took up her deepest Admiration,
Man, the rich extract of all things beside,
The wondrous Juncture of the whole Creation
By which the Heav'n unto the Earth is ty'd;
Yea, more than Heav'n, for God unto the Creature
Is married by none but Humane Nature.

338.Yet not content thus at the second Hand
To feed her hungry Meditations, she
Gallantly made a further venture, and
Gaz'd on her Makers naked Potencie,
Where she discover'd strength enough to build
More Worlds, than Atoms she in this beheld.

339.No Bounds nor Bars she saw, which could forbid
The pleasure of his Hand, but onely those
Which Contradiction had established:
Yet they were not his Power to enclose,
But to demonstrate that his noble Might
Could nothing doe but what was True and Right.

340.O how she pittied those Princes, who
Upon exterior helps misplace the Name
Of strength, and dread not what all foes can doe
If they have once prevail'd with vaunting Fame
To publish to the World their numerous Force
Of Castles, Ships, Arms, Money, Men, and Horse.

[Page 340]
341.For what are those swoll'n Names unto a King,
Whose Arms as short, whose Sinews are as weak
As are his meanest Servants; who can bring
No Legions into the field, nor wreak
His challeng'd furie on his ready foe,
Unless His, be his Subjects Pleasure too.

342.Can his sole Word the Battell fight, and wrest
The Laurell from his strugling Enemies?
O no; his Power doth in Others rest
More than himself; and if by Mutinies
Unhappy Spark, Rebellions flame breaks out,
By his own Strength his Overthrow is wrought.

343.But Psyche saw how her Creators Might
Fast unto his own Will alone was cham'd;
Omnipotence, when e'r he pleas'd to fight,
 [...] all his Marches, for it reignd
In  [...] vast Hand, which doth support and stay
All other Arms from mouldering away.

344.Yet though thus Potent, He is also  [...],
And She as such the sixt Day Him admired:
Deeply she weighed how all Ages held
One Principle of Boldness, and conspired
Against their Patient God, as if his strong
Right-hand were bound, because He held his Tongue.

345.Amaz'd she was, to see how He kept under
Incensed Justice, who would fain have thrown
His ready Veng'ance dress'd in dreadfull Thunder,
In Warrs, in Plagues, in Drought, in Famine, down
Upon the wretched Heads and Hearts of those
Who durst in spight of Mercy, be his Foes.

346.Indeed she saw that Mercy fix her Eye
Upon the Rainbow; where she seem'd to read
An Obligation of her Lenitie,
Though Heav'n-defying Sin bore up its Head
Never so high: Yet by her own Consent
Yea and Desire, that Signall Bow was bent.

347.The Bow was bent; yet not to shoot, but show
How Mercy bound her self to doe her best
The World to shelter from a second Blow,
Which from the first her onely Love releast:
Else had the Deluge not repented, and
To Earth made restitution of drie Land.

348.This Speculation inform'd her how
Much more heroick is the Victory
When Sweetness wreaths the Bay about the Brow,
Than when plain force doth snatch it thither: He
In whom both are supreme, takes more delight
In conquering by his Mercy than his Might.

349.And ô may I, said when Night at length
Warn'd this her Meditation to conclude.
Not by the Dint of thy all-conquering Strength,
Dear Lord, but by thy Mercy be subdu'd!
If on a Worme thy Power thou wilt trie,
O let it be the Might of Lenity.

350.But then the seavnth Day gave her Thoughts their cue
To trace the Wonders of his Glory, which
Did from the antecedent Week accrew,
And with transcendent Brightnes Him enrich;
Brightness which gave Heav'ns Quire their task to sing
Eternal Hallelujahs to their King.

351.And ravish'd heer with mighty Joy and Love,
She needs would take with Them her Part of Praise:
With utmost Zeals intension she strove
Her Acclamations to their Key to raise:
And though she could not sing so high nor clear,
Yet did her Musick please Heavn's candid ear.

352.She Thought, and Sung, and then she Thought again,
For still new floods came rouling in upon Her;
God's other Attributes illustrious Train
Themselves in Homage pay unto his Honour,
In whose incomparable Vastness they
Can all their owne Infinitudes display.

353.What ever breaths, or lives, or has the least
Share of Existence, constant Tribute brings
Unto this Treasurie, as well's the best
And brightest Cherub: yea ev'n empty Things,
Defects and Sinns, though not by Doing, yet
By Suffring what they merit, render it.

354.And shall I onely be a barren Tree
When all the World besides so fruitfull is?
Forbid it mighty King of Souls, said she:
Let not thy Psyches Heart the glory miss
Of honouring Thee, although my life it cost;
That life's best saved which for Thee is lost.

[Page 341]
355.Much time in this Imployment having spent,
She chang'd her Task, but not her Industry:
For, next, her Contemplations she sent
To wait upon her Spouses Majesty;
The Marvells of his mighty Love to read,
Which over her, and all the World was spread.

356.And here with sympathetick Exultation
And amorous fervor she her Soule did melt;
For in the tract of every Speculation
His Acts and Passions in her Breast she felt,
Which alwayes Sad or Cheerly was, as she
His Sorrows or his Joyes in thought did see.

357.A longer Pilgrimage she now did make,
And travell'd all the way with more Delight,
Than when by Phylax's Conduct she did take
To holy Palestine her Zealous flight;
Longer she dwelt on every Monument
Of what her Lord for her had done, or spent.

358.A thousand times she sigh'd and wonder'd why
Brisk generous Spirits who hunt noble Stories,
Through all Books else, should not be ravish'd by
The Lustre of the Euangelick Glories,
But more exactly strave to know the List
Of Casars Acts, than what was done by Christ.

359.She sigh'd, and wonder'd how a Christian Heart
Which did not give its blessed Name the lie,
Could possibly forbear to snatch its part
In its Redeemers noble History;
How Love could quit its loyal selfe, and yet
Not know whatever of its Spouse was writ.

360.But all this while on Logo's Wings she flew;
(Though sometimes Thelema did flutter by,)
And these were much too short and weak, she knew,
To towre, and double that Sublimity
Which makes Perfections third, and highest Story,
The Crown of Saints, and all the Angels Glory.

361.She therefore taking Thelema apart;
With all the winning Art of Courtesie
Devised first to charin her mighty Heart,
And make it plyant to the Plot, which she
Had laid to catch her into Blisle: And then
She gently grasp'd her hand, and thus began.

362.O Thou the dearest of my Servants, who
Dost wear the Keyes of all that I possesse;
Yea and of Me thy native Soveraign too,
Who have no power to stir abroad unlesse
Thou op'st the Door; How doe I wish that I
Had more to trust with thy Fidelity!

363.But since I neither am, nor have, no more;
Let this suffice to binde thine Heart to Me:
In gratitude thou canst no lesse restore
Than prest Complyance, though I ask of thee
Some hard and costly Matter, so to prove
The rate and value of my Steward's Love.

364.But I my proper Interest can bate,
And by my Subjects Gains account mine own:
What e'r advantage doth inhance their State
I take it as Accrewment to my Crown;
They are my Riches, nor can I be poor,
So long as they increase their teeming Store.

365.All I desire, shall onely be, That thou
Wouldst venture to imbrace thy highest Blisse;
And now dull Sense and Passion valiant grow,
Now Logos through all Heav'n so busie is,
Not Flinch alone, nor be content to stay
In any lower Region, than They.

366.Remember that thy Wings of Strength are made
And that no Flight's too high or long for thee;
That nothing ever made thy Courage fade
Unlesse thy Selfe didst timorously agree
To thy Defeat: Henceforth be brave and bold,
Thou canst not fail, if thou but holdst thine Hold.

367.Jesus the Soveraign Lord of Thee and Me,
Will give thee leave to make Himselfe thy Prey;
Reach then thine Arms of noble Love, that he
Imprisoned in thy Imbraces, may
Thorough thy happy Heart his Sweetnesse thrill,
And with the best of Heav'n thy bosome fill.

368.If this Adventure thou esteem'st too high;
Throw down thy Selfe before His blessed Feet:
He cannot let thee there despised lie,
But with his ready favour thee will greet;
And for that Resignation of thing,
Hug and imbrace thee till thou prov'st divine.

[Page 342]
369.This gallant Challenge wrought so strong upon
The generous Heart of Thelema, that she
The forwardnesse of her submission
Forthwith profess'd upon her bended Knee:
And, Heav'n forbid, said she, I should deny
Your Pleasure, or mine own Felicity.

370.Though not at Jesu's royal Feet, (ô no,
I am too vile to aime my Pride so high,)
Yet, Madame, here at yours, my Selfe I throw
To be accepted, and disposed by
Your Love and Wisdome; Use Me as you please,
Loe I return you yours, and mine own Keyes.

371.Triumphant Joy straight flam'd in Psyche's Breast
The Virgins ready Loyalty to see:
Whom she embraced thrice, and thrice she kist,
And sweetly forced to rise from her Knee:
Then all her  [...] she took, which to her side
(Weeping and Smiling,) in one Knot she ti'd.

372.And now I feel my Selfe a Queen, said she,
A Queen indeed: Yet be assured thou
O faithfull Mayd, shalt finde thy Selfe more free
By this Subjection, than when thou didst bow
To thine own Inclinations, which have
To Vanity full oft made Thee a Slave.

373.Exalated thus unto her own Desire,
Into her pious Oratory She
More cheerfully than ever did retire
To celebrate a new Solemnity;
An Holocaust she hastes to sacrifice,
For which her own brave Zeal the Fire supplies.

374.Did golden Mountains tempt her now to stay;
Did Millions of Worlds made up in one
Inestimable Bait, lie in her way,
And woo her but to let one Minute run
Before She fell to work; not all the force
Of those strong Complements could stop her Course.

375.No: She of joyous Love in travell is,
And feels the dainty Pangs of Parturition;
Till she brings  [...] her mighty Sacrifice
'Tis not all Heav'n can ease her smart condition.
Speed, Speed alone, would usefull be she knew;
Whose Wings she snatch'd, and to her Bus'nes flew.

376.A Preface then of thousand Sighs and Tears
Before her brave Oblation she spred.
As many Groans unto her Soveraigns ears
Like Harbengers of her Designe she sped.
Then prostrate on the ground her face she layd.
And of her humble Heart the Altar made.

377.Upon this Altar, bound both Hands and Feet,
Her Thelema she for the Offring threw:
And bend thy gracious Eye said Shee, thou sweet
And gentle Lamb of Heav'n, to Me, who sue
For thy acceptance of this Sacrifice
Which at the footstool of thy Mercy lies.

378.Thy royal Bounty gave it unto Me;
But I, alas perceive my Self too weak
To manage such a great Estate; To thee
I therefore render it: O gently take
It home again, and govern it for Me
The feeble Handmayd of thy Majesty.

379.Doe with it what Thou wilt; so it be Thine,
I care not what betide it; for I know
Thy Pleasure, like thy Self, must be Divine.
O see, how it pants and heav's! if Thou
Wilt not accept it, let it lie, for Me:
How can I love, what is despis'd by Thee?

380.As when the Lightning flasheth from the Skie,
Down to the ground it flames without delay;
So did the fervor of this Prayer flie,
And snatch'd from earth to Heav'n its sudden way;
Nor made it there a stop at any Sphear,
But scour'd through all, and reached Jesus ear,

381.Propitious He straight yeilded his Consent,
And opening wide his blessed Arms, embraced
The dear Oblation with as high Content,
As if He, more than Psyche had ben graced.
O King of Sweetest Love; who would not bring
To such a God as Thee, his Offering!

382.But now, as zealous Psyche thought to send
Her Altar up, after her Sacrifice;
Behold a sudden Fulnesse did extend
Her bosome with such ravishing Rarities,
That she perplex'd with unknown Sweets,  [...]
With what strange Paradise she was inspired.

[Page 343]
383.At length examining her encroaching Blisse,
Another Thelema in her Heart she spied;
But in so lovely and majestick Dresse,
That by her Looks she instantly descryed
From whence she came, and that she needs must be
One of her heav'nly Spouse's familie.

384.His Will it was indeed: for Noble He
Disdaineth, not to give more than he takes:
No sooner Psyches Offring He did see,
But he this greater Present ready makes,
Then with innumerable Blessings drest
Shoots it into her soft and pious Breast.

385.This grasp'd her Soule so fast, and knit it so
Intirely to her Spouse's Heart, that she
Forthwith seem'd to have nothing more to doe
With what she was her self, since potent He
Was seized of her; and her Will being gone,
She to Loves Tyranny was left alone.

386.Nor did Love loose his time, but domineer'd
In her subdued heart with full carreer;
And she as glad to be his Slave appear'd
As he rejoyced to triumph on her;
For by his Conquests she did count her own,
Being by every fall far higher thrown.

387.Thrown up into new stages of Delight,
And fresh Excesse of those immortal things
Which never were debas'd to mortal sight,
Nor stoop'd to please the Ears of proudest Kings;
Things which, the Heart of Man doth pant in vain
When it doth stretch, and struggle to contain.

388.And now her Soule, like a new weaned Childe
Which wholly hangs upon its Nurses Will,
It self not by it self did move and weild,
But absolutely resting on the skill
And care of her dear Lord who tutor'd it,
Was carried wheresoever he thought fit.

389.This made all Sweets and Dainties here below
(For with these names our fond mistakes doe grace them)
Disrellish in her accurate Taste, and grow
Truly themselves; which was enough to chase them
From wise acceptance; for their borrow'd shape
Is that alone which doth our love entrap.

390.On God, and onely him her joyes did feast,
His royall Pleasure was her pretious Blisse:
So well did all his Laws and Statutes taste
To her Hearts palate, that the Pleasantnesse
Both of the Honey and the Honey-combe
Had in her approbation no room.

391.What grated hard upon her Soule before,
Wrongs, Slanders, Pains, Distresse, Calamities,
Mishaps, and Sicknesse; tortur'd her no more;
For on her Spouses Will she fix'd her Eyes,
And still embraced as the best, what he
Did either order, or permit to be.

392.This kindled such a Bonfire of Delight
Throughout her Breast, that had she been invited
Ev'n by all Paradise, to yeild her right
In this Possession, she would have sleighted
The mighty Bait, and triumph'd still to be
The Holocaust of Loves Extremitie.

393.Yet was her Passions wonderous violence
Sweetned with such divine serenitie,
That with lesse undisturbed influence
The Suns full Beams through all the World doe flie
To light the day; then did these flames of Love
Through all her calm hearts blessed Regions move.

394.In dainty silence she her Soule possest,
With firm Adhaesion unto her Blisse:
Ev'n all her Motions mingled were with rest,
Because they did concentricate with his
Whose Actions, though all infinite they be,
Their number is ty'd up in Unitie.

395.Indeed the World, whom her Austeritie
Seveerly chode and stung; by peevish scorn
Reveng'd themselves: for lo, said they, how she
By Melancholies blacknesse grown forlorn,
Esteems her self as fair as if the best
Of heav'ns bright beauties had her count'nance  [...]

396.She from her self: by wilfull Robberie,
Plunders those honest Sweets, which courteous heav'n
To check Lifes tide of infelicitie,
Hath into Moderations Bosome given;
And taxeth Gods own bounty by refusing,
What we cannot approve, but by our  [...].

[Page 344]
397.Should any paltry Begger serve Her so,
Sure she would not believe He did despise
Her Almes alone; but was contemptuous too
Against her self; Nor would his humble guise
Perswade her that his stomacks inward Pride
Was by Devotions fervor Mortifi'd.

398.Thus did the Ravens against the Swan inveigh:
But now no seeds of Discontent remaind
In Psyche's heart, she let them say their say,
And from their Envie a new Laurel gaind;
Her silent Patience answerd all their scorn,
And to her Crown their Calumnies did turn.

399.But as she rested in this mystick Peace,
Hers, and all pious Soules, eternal Foe,
Who counted his own trouble by her ease,
Tore his fell heart with studying what to doe:
Atlength resolved, haste he makes to dress
In a faire vizard his foule wickednesse.

400.Time was, when he Precentor of that quire
Which all the Sphears with Hallelujahs fill,
Arrayed was in glorious attire,
Whose gallantry did then become him well;
But when a monstrous Rebell He became,
The Crime invested him, with hideous shame.

401.Yet He, remembring his original guise,
And being well skil'd in Hypocrisie,
Patch'd up himself a coat of gorgeous Lies,
Wherein to shelter his Doformitie;
That though he were the King of blackest night,
He might an Angel seem of fairest light.

402.His ragged Horns of steel He pulled in;
And on his rustie brazen looks he spred
A soft, a ruddy, and well polish'd skin;
His front, with envious wrinkles furrowed,
He planed over, sweetning all his face
With blooming youthfulnes, and smiling grace.

403.Into a Knot he gather'd up his Taile,
And ty'd it at his back: of every Toe
And Finger carefully he cut the Naile;
And then his Hands and Feet he painted so,
That what before was harsh and footie, now
Did cleanly, delicate, and beauteous grow.

404.His bushie snarled Locks of fretfull Snakes
He shaved off; for which, to shade his Head,
Into the new-erected Tombe he breaks
Of an embalmed Virgin lately dead,
And stealing thence her fresh perfumed Tresses,
His Baldnes he with Curles of Amber dresses.

405.An hundred Swans then having plundered;
Their fairest and their softest feathers he
In two brave Combinations marshalled,
And measured, and poised equalie;
Then to his shoulders them he fitted, and
A Pair of goodly Wings had at Command.

406.A Roab he chose whose colour scorn'd the Milk,
And with his wings did correspondence hold;
Its texture was of light and pliant Silk,
Belac'd and fring'd with oriental Gold,
That both its Purenesse and its Splendor might
Profess that down from Heav'n he took his flight.

407.Accouter'd thus: as Psyche wearied by
Her holy Vigils, yeelded unto Sleep,
The slie Impostor silently did flye
Into her Chamber, and with cunning creep
Under the ey-lids of her heart, where he
Himself presented in fain'd Claritie.

408.But as the Virgins Soule began to start:
Fear not, said he, for Phylax is thy friend;
These Rays of mine did never terror dart,
But to thy Weaknes, Strength and Comfort lend;
And Heav'n forbid that I should prove unkinde
Now thou my favour most deserv'st to finde.

409.The Gallantrie of thy Devotion I
Come to applaud, and to increase its Fire:
I grant thy zealous Wings have towred high,
But yet thy Spouse would have them labour higher,
And as immoderate in their answer prove
As is to thee the Challenge of his Love.

410.The Watches frequent are, and long, which thou
In deer attendance upon Him dost keep;
Yet oftner generous he, and longer too
To purchase rest for thee, did loose his sleep.
Be noble now; remembring thou shalt have
Sufficient sleeping time in thy still Grave.

[Page 345]
411.Low hast thou pluck'd thy Bodies Plumes; but He
Was rent and torn, and furrow'd up with Lashes:
And can the Zeal of thy Austerity
More legibly appear than in such Gashes?
I know thou lovest not thy Skin, but yet
'T were not amisse thus much were writ on it.

412.Severe and resolute thy Fastings be
If scanned by the faint Worlds vulgar fashion:
But Fourty Dayes thy Spouse did Fast for thee,
And now expects thy faithfull Imitation:  [...]
As well He may, who an eternal Feast,  [...]
To quit a few Dayes Fast, in Heav'n has drest.

413.Since then He means that thou with Us shalt reign,
Betimes it will become Thee to prepare
Thy Selfe for out Society, and strein
Out all the Dreggs thou hast contracted here,
That raised to the Purity in which
We Angels shine, thou mayst our Region reach.

414.By Moses, and Elias, who beheld
At such vast distance Jesu's glimmering face,
Shall Psyche be in Abstinence excell'd!
Can she on whom the Euangelick Grace
With such full luster beats, by those whom blinde
And shady Types invelop'd, be out-shin'd!

415.O no; dear Pupill; since thy generous Breast
Dar'd wish to be enflamed by that fire
Whose Aime's Perfection, Let no lazie Rest
Clog the brave Wings of thy sublime Desire.
What though thy Death it hastens? Thou and I
Shall but the sooner to Lifes Kingdome flie.

416.Thus sought the wily Tempter to invite
The Virgin to a fatal Precipice.
But as the Lamb is taught by natural Fright
To fear and hate the Wolfe, though in the Fleece,
The honest Fleece of the milde Sheep he be
Array'd, and courts her with smooth Flattery:

417.So Psyches Heart, [for heav'nly Charis there
Close in the Centre of her Soule did lie,]
Misgave her at the Sight, and quak'd for fear
Of this fair-tongued Angels Courtesie;
For all his dainty Look, and Skin, yet She
Assured was, it could not Phylax be.

418.None of those soft and blessed Heats, she felt
Which sweetly, when her Phylax us'd to speak,
Did all her Breast into Complyance melt,
And way to their own gentle Conquests make:
Besides, the Voice, though woudrous Sweet it were,
Yet something out of tune it seem'd to her.

419.Too high it seem'd, and of too loud a Strein:
Still was the Musick of her Spouse; and she
No Saints remembred that did e'r complain
That Jesus call'd them to Extremity,
That Trumpets did the Gospel usher in,
And Wars Alarm the Calme of Peace begin.

420.Had this great Message from her Spouse been sent.
She knew her Heart [which now did pant and move
By His sole Motions,] must needs relent,
And by Submission His Command approve:
But now she by reluctant Nausoousnesse
Felt, whosefoe'r it were, 'twas none of His.

421.Awakning therefore all her Confidence,
And with three Invocations having sued,
Her Saviour to engage in her Defence,
Upon her faithfull Forehead she renued
His potent Signe, and then with courage cri'd:
In Lights fair Looks why dost thou Darknesse hide

422.Whate'r thy face doth preach unto mine Eye;
The language of thy Tongue-unto mine Ear,
Sounds nothing lesse than Phylax: wherefore hie
Thee hence, false Fiend, and seek thy Booty where
A beauteous Count'nance, and a snowie Pair
Of Wings, the full Proof of an Angel are.

423.As when the Suns neer Beams burst out upon
A waxen Idoll, straight its goodly Face
Too weak to bear that glorious Dint, doth run
Away in droiling Drops, and foules the place
Which it before adorn'd: So here the Fiend
Melted as soon's this servent Answer shin'd.

424.Off fell his Coat, his Periwig, his Wings,
His roseal Vizard, and his Milkie Skin:
And in the room of those usurped I hings
His proper shape of Horror did begin
To clothe him round: at which, indignant He,
Least Psyche should triumph his shame to see,

[Page 346]
425.Tore his Way down to Hell, that there in Night
He might his Head, and Ignominie hide;
A thousand Stinks behinde him, at his flight,
He left: and being gotten home, he tri'd
Upon the Soules which in his Brimstone Lake
All yelling lay, his vexed Spight to wreak.

426.Mean while, as Psyche those quaint Spoils admired
Which dropped from her beauteous-hideons Foe,
And with her Sacrifice of Thanks aspired
Unto the foot-stoool of her Saviour, who
Had in that fight her faithfull Champion been:
Her true and genuine Phylax flutter'd in,

427.O how her Heart leap'd at the welcome sight,
And thus broke from her Lips! Thou, Thou art He,
I know thee at the dawning of thy Light
In which no Fawnings, no Impostures be:
Spare all Probations; Thou needst not tell
Me who thou art: I know my Phylax well.

428.This said; Her selfe down at his feet she threw,
Which hugging fast, she welcom'd with a Kisse.
He gave her Passion leave a while to shew
The meek Impatience of this sweet Excesse:
Then up he took her, and return'd upon
Her Lip, what she unto his Feet had done.

429.And, Joy, said he, my dearest Dear, of thy
Victorious-Encounter with thy Foe:
That goodly Furniture of Treason, I
As well as thou who art the Victor, know:
I saw the pilfering Traytor when he pick'd
It up, and when with it himselfe he trick'd.

430.Close at his heels I followed, when he
His forgerie advanc'd, and hither flew:
I was Spectator when he set on Thee,
And in Heav'ns Name his Hell against thee drew:
Unseen, I saw the dangerous Battell; and
By it I stood, but aided not thine Hand.

431.No: thy dear Spouse, who never doth forget
His humble faithfull Servants, did supply
Abundant Power, and conveied it
By ever-ready Chari's Ministry.
I claim no share at all: thy Thanks to none
But Him, and Her are due, and must be done.

432.Thou se'st how bountifully They repay
The Loyalty of thy Mortification,
And what thou gainst by giving Thelema
To Him who will not be in Debt. Thy Station
Is now Secure, unlesse thou back dost start,
And fondly home again recall thine Heart.

433.Surely thou never hadst so much thy Will,
As since thou hadst it not; for All things now
Throughout the Universe thy Minde fullfill,
And Netures Laws unto thy Pleasure bow:
 [...] Pleasure, which is not thine own, but His
Who of Omnipotence the Soveraign is.

434.The dainty Peace which thou didst prize so high
Hath now its Lodging taken in thy Breast;
Nor could the Tempter's potent Subtiltie
Disturb thy Calme, or undermine thy Rest.
Be then Content for ever to possesse,
By holding fast thine Hold, thine Happinesse.

435.For if thou let'st it slip, and weary be
Of blessed Ease, it soon will flie away:
In this low flitting World, no Certainty
Was ever yet Inhabitant; and they
Alone be out of Change's reach, who are
Infeof d above in endlesse Quiet's Sphear.

436.'Tis true, those everlasting Chains which tie
Heav'ns Destinations to their Ends, excell
All Adamantine Power, and can by
No opposition of Eartn or Hell
Be forced to betray their Hold: yet this
No ground of Confidence to Mortals is.

437.For those Decrees profoundly treasur'd are
In that bright Bosome which no Angels Eye
Can peep into. This maketh pious Fear,
Religious Awe, and holy Jealousie,
The onely Anchors which Assurance can
Afford unto the tossed Heart of Man.

438.And 'tis Heav'ns mighty Favour too; least He
Should bold and carelesse grow, if once he saw
The Patent of his own Felicity
Were sign'd and seal'd so sure, that by the Law
Of absolute Necessity, he through
All Tempests, safely to his Port must row

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439.For then were He no better than a Slave
Unto that Blisse, whose Crown prepared is
For them who venture at it by the brave
Ambition of humble holinesse.
Then, if He would, his mighty God might He
Disdain, and dare Him with his own Decree,

440.O then with reverent dread march on, my dear,
In the designe of thy high virtue; and
Think it sufficient happines, if here
Thy Fear can Desperation countermand;
If thou by trembling canst Victorious be,
And win at length supream Felicitie.

441.As for these Spoiles, the Trophies they shall be
Of what by Loves assistance Thou hast done:
This Memorandum of thy Victorie
May keep awake thy wise Devotion:
Lo, here I hang them up; and if agin
The Serpent hither creep, shew Him his skin.

PSYCHE: OR LOVES MYSTERIE. CANTO XVIII. The Persecution.

ARGUMENT.

SAtan makes war on Psyche's Constancie
Both by his own, and Persecution's Hand;
Yet still impregnably-resolved She
Their Ambushes and Onsets did withstand,
Vntill her Guardian by a Blessed Cheat
Enforc'd her to a glorious Retreat.

1.THough Joies, and Loves, and Bliss, their Nest do make
In Peace's bosome; often times beneath
That surface of Securitie a Snake
His unsuspected Venomous spight doth breathe.
For 'tis an everlasting statute, That
No genuine Rest can here below be got.

2.The Creatures courteous Faithlesnes, who still
Shrink from our grasping Hands, and Cheat our Hope,
Admonish our desires themselves to fill
At those pure Spings of fulnesse, which stand ope
In Heav'n alone; and never fancie here
Compleat Content's and Satisfaction's sphear.

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3.This maketh brave and hardy Exercise
Dearer to Virtue than is lazie Quiet;
This maketh her so highly Patience prize,
So constantly her selfe with Suffrings diet,
That this sharp Sauce may wholesomly represse
Of Peace's Sweets and Fat the Fulsomnesse.

4.Affiction is the onely Schole where she
In Magnanimities high Rules is taught;
The Theatre on which her Gallantrie
Before the royal Eyes of Heav'n is brought:
For both the Angels, and their Severaign there
Ernest Spectators of her Courage are.

5.Full well she knows, that stealing Rust will creep
Upon the briskest Sword, if lazilie
In its blinde quiet Scabberd it doth sleep,
And be not rubb'd, uor chaf'd, nor vexed by
Harsh Scouring, churlish Whetting, or kept bright
By its perpetual Bus'nes in the fight.

6.That never Horse was made of so much Fire,
Nor temper'd for so proud impatient speed;
(Though a true Pegasus had been his Sire,
Or He of Phoebu's Coursers had been bred,)
But, it he from his Manger ne'r did move,
Would restie, lame, and illcondition'd prove.

7.That when the Air by long tranquillity
Lies loytering in the Sun, it putrid grows:
But when 'tis startled and afllicted by
Thunder and Lightning; when it feels the Blows
Of boistrous Windes, its drowsy dull Disease
Wakes at the frightfull News, and vanishes

8.That sluggish Lakes, which always sleeping lie
Upon their easy Beds of Mud, beget
Of Toads and Stinks a nasty Progeny:
But those brisk Rils which, though they be beset
With craggy Hindrances, still running be,
Preserve intire their Native Puritie.

9.That never Soil was so ingenuous yet,
But if it were not often digg'd and plow'd,
Harrow'd and torn, aud forced to be fit,
And Weeded oftner far than it was Sow'd;
In stead of Herbs, and Floures, and honest Corn,
With peevish Bryars and Thorns would be forlorn.

10.That never Tree was known so thrifty, as
To spare its stock of Juice, and use it right;
But to loose idle Twigs would let it passe,
Which onely sery'd, and scarcely that, for Sight,
Till the strict Discipline of the Pruning Hook
Lopp'd off those Wantons, and reform'd the Stock.

11.That finest Roabs, when they did idle lie,
Would gather nasty Dust, and fertile prove
In an ungratefull ever-fretting Frie
Of Mothes, unlesse the Wands and Brushes strove
Against their lazinesse, and day by day
Those busy bold Incroachers whipp'd away.

12.That Mariners who in the easy Bay
Did both their Winter and their Summer waste,
Would never learn to steet their Bark, till they
Were by some Tempest into Danger cast,
And had accustomed their venturous Mindes
To ken the boystrous Language of the Windes

13.That Soldiers listed are in vain, and wear
Steel by their Side, and Brasse upon their head,
If in the pitched Feild they ne'r appear
To See the hostile Ranks, and Standards spread,
To meet the Shock, and bring away their Skars
As Letters Testimonial of their Wars.

14.And though no Life scarce any Name doth merit
But that of War, (so many Enemies
Poor Man doth by his wtetched Birth inherit,
Since all the World did in Rebellion rise
Against unhappy Adam) yet no State
More than the Christian, is beseig'd with Hate.

15.The Christian Life the furest Warfare is,
And though a thousand Victories it gains
Yen still more and more Armies on it presse;
More Care, more Sweat, more Labour still remains.
Though Peace may an internal Calme beget,
Affliction still will Us without beset.

16.Though all the stickling Senses and the Passions,
Which breed intestine Perturbations, be
Bow'd to the Yoke; though all the  [...]
Of Will and Reason, by the industrie
Of the  [...] Soule be tam'd, yet still
There is a World without to work her ill.

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17.For by her Christian Course against the Tide
Of all the World she rows; and therefore by
Eternal Opposition is tri d
And hardned to victorious Constancy:
For had she floated down the willing stream,
No way was there Magnanimous to seem.

18.But now her gallant Metall whetted is,
Her vain luxuriant Twigs are prun'd away,
Her Clothes are brush'd from Mothes and Dustinesse,
Her Soile is digg'd and dress'd; the lazie Bay
She changeth for the active manly Main,
And in pitch'd Field her Foes doth entertain.

19.Her Beasts unto their Pace are strictly kept,
And rid hard every Day; her wholesome Air
By  [...] Tempests of loud Sighs is swept,
And all her Bosomes Region made more fair;
The Torrents of her Eyes continue clear,
Because perpetualy they flowing are,

20.Thus, though Afflictions Looks be sad and soure,
Her Heart is Kinde, and she the best of Friends;
Whilst Flattery doth Poyson gently poure,
Her Antidotes She most severely lends:
Her Physick smart and searching Corsives be,
But their Conclusion's alwayes Lenitie.

21.And Psyche's Spouse, though dear to Him she were
As the bright Apple of his blessed Eye,
Unto Afflictions swindge abandon'd her:
That as the Sun through the Conspiracy
Of blackest Clouds doth break with fairest Rayes,
So might her Virtue pluck from Bryars Bays.

22.As Satan from his late Repulse did flie
Stung with confounding Shame and fretfull Rage,
He in the Aire spi'd a wing'd Company
To heav'n returning in fair equipage,
Having their Embassies dispatched here
With which to Men they delegated were.

23.This prompted him unto a new Device:
With sprightfuil Speed he playd the Thief again,
And having stole a  [...] of Gallantries,
After the Angel Troop he posts amain,
Trimming his cursed Feature as he flew,
Till like a Bird of that fair Brood he grew

24.Something behinde he lagg'd, least piercing They
His impudent Impossure should  [...],
And intercept his Project by the Way
In just Disdam of his foule Company.
So at wise distance doth the Traytor sneak
When he with Honest Men doth entrance seek,

25.But as he siutter'd through the Sphears, he bit
His Lips to see the fatal Way whereby
He once was tumbled headlong down: and yet
Though they with Curses and fell Blasphemy
Were big, he durst not ope them, knowing well
Heav'n ill would bear the dialect of Hell.

26.Arrived at the everlasting Gate
Of the imperial Palace of the Skies,
The Angels entred in triumphant State,
Account to tender of their Embassies:
But Satan siarted so, that he well neer
Shok'd off his Vizard by his trembling fear.

27.The mighty Lustre of his Makers  [...]
Flashed such Dread on his, that swarthy He
Who had been us'd to Nights black Prodigies,
Was dazled at the naked Majesty
Of more than Day: Three times he wink'd, & ther,
With both his Hands his spurious Eyes did screen.

28.Such fright upon the ougly Batt doth seize
When Highnoon's darts of Lustre shoot her through.
The woefull Ghosts, who in Nights Shades doe please
Their gloomy Thoughts, thus terrified grow
If fair Aurora's Curtains ope be drawn,
And she her selfe gets up e'r they be down,

29.The gallant Spectacles which here he saw
Were greater Torments than he felt at home;
Each Glorie's Splendor which about did flow
Burnt him far more than his own tiery Doom
Each holy Joy a Torture was, and He
Fri'd in the midst of this  [...],

30.He fri'd and flam'd, and straight his  [...],
His polish'd Looks, his curled Grove of Hair,
His dainty Coat, and all his stollen Things
A Sacrifice unto the Lightning were
Of Jesu's Eyes, and in his  [...]
He now appear'd of  [...].

[Page 350]
31.The Angels started from Him at the sight,
And standing in a Circle far away,
Gaz'd on the Portent; who try'd all the Might
Of desperate Boldnesse, yet could not gain-say
The guilty shame which now did Him aslail:
Down hung his Head, his Tallons, and his Tail.

32.Thus when the conscious Traytors hatefull Face
Is in the Presence of the Prince descry'd,
And persecuted by the full disgrace
Of all the loyall Court; against that Tide
Of Ignominy He in vain contends;
Such Horror all his Impudence transcends.

33.As Jesus saw the Feind a bashed so,
He charg'd Him to relate from whence He came:
Nor durst the thus commanded Monster, though
Lyes were his onely Trade, a Fiction frame:
Yet scorning to forget his peevish Pride,
With dogged sullennesse He thus repli'd:

34.Whence can I come, but from beneath? Unlesse
There be some higher Place than this your Heav'n;
This Heav'n, from whence by you, I must confesse,
(But let all judge how justly,) I was driven.
From visiting the Earth I come, where I
Have far more Subjects than your Deitie.

35.But mine, said Jesus, (for He scorn'd to chide
The stomackfull Feind, since ever-damned He
Sufficiently pays for his endlesse Pride,)
Although so rare and few, yet pretious be:
Vain Multitudes to thee their Homage pay;
Mine not by number, but by weight I weigh.

36.Let one Example speak the praise of All,
My Hand-maid Psyche: Hath thy watchfull Eye,
Which scoureth round about the terreen Ball,
Full notice taken of her Piety?
And how none live in all the World who be
Higher above it, than is Virtuous she?

37.Is not her Heart intirely fixed here,
Preoccupating Heav'n and endlesse Blisse?
Nor Earth nor Hell can strike her Soule with fear,
But He alone who her Creator is;
Of Him she alway stands in dainty Aw,
For still she Loves, as much as Dreads His Law.

38.But wheresoe'r she reads the open face,
Or can discover but a Limb or Claw
Of hideous sin, she flyes the dangerous Place,
And into any hard shifts doth withdraw,
Rather than hazard to be over-run
With a delicious Destruction.

39.Is not the Temper of her wary Heart,
Admonished by wise instinct, afraid
Of every Bait which by the subtlest Art
Of Spight and Wickednes for her is laid?
Or is there any thing which she doth more
Than thee, ev'n in thy fairest looks, abhor?

40.Stung by these Words, with strong intestine Pain
His heart-strings stretch'd and torn the Monster felt;
Yet that he might not bear these Pangs in vain,
But be afore-hand still in shamelesse guilt,
He reard his face of everlasting Brasse,
And what He spake, of the same metall was:

41.Is not your mighty Providential Arm
Become that simple Maidens Hedge, said he,
Infallibly to shut out Fear and Harm,
And make her Pris'ner to Securitie?
Is not brave Phylax forc'd to be her squire,
And dance attendance upon her desire?

42.On all her Errands runs not servile He?
Has he not trotted from the furthest West
In duty to her Curiositie,
And spent his time in tracing of the East;
Where like a silly Pilgrim, up and down
Forsooth, the Angel went from town to town.

43.Besides, your Daughter Charis, (and yet who
Would think her so, who her imployment sees?)
As though in Heav'n she nothing had to doe,
Down to vile Earth is sent, and set to please
This Imp of dust, on whom her noble store
Of sweets, to win the Vrcheon, she doth doth poure.

44.A proper purchase you have got; but I
For my part, would not buy a worm so deer:
If wretched Psyche's price must be so high,
Surely you need no other Chapmen fear:
Onely by this proportion, I would know
To purchase Me, what rate you would allow.

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45.But as for Her, if I had leave to trie,
I soon would shew you of what kinde of Clay
She moulded is. Might Phylax but stand by,
And on her naked Shoulder let Me lay
This Hand of mine, no Touchstone you should see
Was ever nimbler at Discoverie;

46.Upon your pamperd Darling should Distresse
With full and free Commission domineer
That Tongue which now your Praises doth professe
(For to the Task 'tis hird, and hir'd full dear,)
Would change its Tune, & on your Face would spit
More Curses than my Selfe e'r did on it.

47.If Psyche's Breast doe harbour any seed
Of such profound Ingratitude, replyed
Almighty Jesus, 'tis no more than need
The ougly Embryo be in time descryed.
Goe, use thy Skill; full Power to Thee I give,
Nor Phylax shall against thy Project strive.

48.But yet thy Tether shall not reach so farr
As to her Life; no, that belongs to Me;
For in my Hand th' authentick Volumes are
Of mortal and immortal Destinie:
Nor couldst Thou thy Experiment take, unlesse
She Lives, to spit out her Unthank fulnesse.

49.As when the Lyon's let loose to his prey,
With furious Joy he shakes his dreadfull Crest,
He mounts his sirly Tail, and tears his way
Into the Theater: So Satan prest
Down through the Sphears, and thought his shame was cheap
He suffer'd there, since he his End did reap.

50.At first he hop'd he might have reach'd his Aim
By the fell Agents he dispatch'd from Hell:
But when without their Errand home they came,
Himselfe thus to the cursed Bus'nes fell,
Resolv'd whatever labour or Disgrace
It cost Him, Psyche should not scape his chase.

51.Down through the Sphears he prest, and proudly threw
Scorn on the Stars which He could not possesse,
Then through the Aire imperiously He flew,
And by his Looks proclaim'd that Realm was his:
The blackest Clouds which there did swimm, made haste
Away, till He more black than they, were past.

52.His swarthy Wings lash'd the soft Element
With violent speed, and made it roar aloud;
No Winde did ever with such furious Bent
Or hideous Noise through the milde Region crowd;
No Bolt of Thunder ever rent its path
With such impatient and tumultuous Wrath,

53.Thus came the Monster to his dearest Place
On Earth, a Palace wondrous large and high;
For on seav'n Mountains it erected was,
All which it higher rais'd with Majesty;
Thus by its seav'n-fold Tumor copying
The number of the Horns which crown'd its King

54.Of dead Mens Bones were all th' exterior Wals
Rais'd to a fair, but yet an hideous Height;
In answer to which strange Materials,
A Ditch digg'd wondrous deep and broad, did wait
Upon the Works, fill'd with a piteous flood
Of every soft of holy harmlesse Blood,

55.Those awfull Birds, whose Joy is ravenous War,
Strong-tallond Eagles, perch'd upon the head
Of every Turret, took their prospect far
And wide about the World, and questioned
Each Winde that came that way, to know if they
Could tell them news of any bloody Prey.

56.The inner Bulwarks were of shineing Brasse,
With Firmitude and Pride all Buttressed;
In at the Gate of polish'd Steel did passe
The whole Worlds Confluence, and offered
Their slavish Necks, to take the Yoke which there
That Places Tyrant did for Them prepare.

57.But thick, within the Line, erected were
Innumerable Prisons, plated round
With massie Iron, and with jealous Fear;
In every one of which was a profound
And mirey Dungeon, where contagious Stink
Cold, Anguish, Horror, had their dismall sink

58.In these, press'd down with Chains of fretting Braffe
Ten thousand innocent Lambs did bleatingly,
Whose woefull Groans, help'd by the hollow Place
Summon'd Compassion from the Passers by;
But every one they as relentlesse found
As was the Brasse which them to Sorrow bound.

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59.For they designed for the Shambles were,
To feast the Tyrants greedy Crueltie,
Who could be pleased with no other Fare;
So barbarous was her constant Luxurie:
Though other store she had for her repast,
She with an hundred Lives would break her fast.

60.Vast were the Treasures of her House; yet she
Took pleasure in no other Furniture
But choisest tools of Inhumanitie,
Which might her bloody Ends to her assure:
This made her Palace thick with Engins ly,
And every Room become an Armory.

61.Swords, Daggers, Bodkins, bearded Arrows, Spears,
Nails, Pinsers, Crosses, Gibbets, Hurdles, Ropes,
Tallons of Griffens, Paws and Teeth of Bears,
Tygres and Lyons Mouths, hot-iron Hoops,
Racks, Wheels, Strappado's, brazen Cauldrons which
Boiled with oyle, barrels of flaming Pitch:

62.Yea things more barbarous yet than these were there;
Fairfaced Promises, but lin'd with spight;
High royal out side Courtesies, yet meer
Traps and Conspiracies, which with Delight
To heedlesse Men the worst of Poisons give,
And stealing to their Hearts, slay them alive.

63.Satan arrived here, strait entred in;
(For well He knew the Place, and well was known,)
The fawning Courtiers all were proud to win
His gracious Look, and in his way fell down
To beg his Blessing, and his Hand to Kisse,
As in unto their Soveraign He did presse.

64.She then (for long within she could not stay)
Was marching out, her Chariot to take,
So loud her stomack bark'd for some new Prey:
But spying Belzebub, she started back,
Being surpris'd with reverence to see
The presence of her onely Deitie.

65.Then down she fell, and pray'd him to ascend
Her throne imperial, which was standing there,
And thence his Pleasure unto her-commend,
Prepar'd with all Humilitie to hear
What busines made her God vouchsafe to come
And visit worthlesse her in her poor home.

66.But kindely He took up his loyall Creature
And in his scaley Arms did her embrace,
Enamor'd of her correspondent Feature
Which rendered Him his own Infernal Face.
Three times He Kiss'd and hug'd her close, and round
About her Waste his royal tail He wound.

67.And, I have no such leisure now, said He,
To climbe thy throne, who must look to mine own;
I have discover'd in my Britanie
The Seeds of dangerous Rebellion sown,
Which, if it grow unto an Harvest, may
Disturb mine Empire, and thine oversway.

68.The Christian spreading Canker there hath got
Deep footing in the Hearts of carelesse Men,
Who to the poore Mechanick God are not
Asham'd to pay their holiest Homage, when
With credit They might it to Me prefer,
Who am, I trow, more than a Carpenter.

69.Me thinks my Scepter should as noble be
As Ax or Mallet; and as brave my Train
Of Heav'n descended Sparks, the gallanty
Of whose high Soules did Gods own yoke disdain,
As those who leaping from their Fishing Boat,
Into the thred-bare Court of Jesus got.

70.They use to cast it in our Teeth, that We
By the black Powers of Spels and Incantations
Do both support and spread our Monarchie:
As if there were not stranger Conjurations
In this besotting Witchery which can
Make more than Beasts of Reasonable Man.

71.For canst thou pick out any Beasts among
The silliest Flocks, who would themselves commit,
To Him who leaves them free to any Wrong,
And tels them plainly they must suffer it
For his dear sake? Right dear, indeed, if they
Their lives unto His Memory must pay.

72.Mad were the Sheep which would attendant be
Upon a Sheepheard who did them assure
That for that onely Cause the Tyrannie
Of thousand Wolves and Bears they must endure
Nay Sheep would never be so sheepish; yet
Men to this Paradox themselves submit.

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73.Grant Heav'n be in reversion their own;
What shall the fondlings get by being there,
Who must eternaly be crouching down
And paying Praise's tribute to His Ear
Who will requite them with a Chain which shall
Keep ev'n their Wils in everlasting Thrall.

74.Were not their Soules more generous, if they
The gallant freedome of our Hell would choose,
Which knows not what it meaneth to Obey,
But lets full Blasphemy for ever loose?
Faint-hearted fools, who needs will Vassals be,
(For fear least I should make them truely free.

75.Thou see'st this sin is crying, and for high
Revenge beats loud upon my royal Ear:
And should my Fury wake, and instantly
Those mad  [...] all in peeces tear,
Surely my Justice I could well acquit;
However envious Heav'n would raile at it.

76.But I (for this doth best become a King)
A better rellish finde in Lenity:
I know the Galileans Tongues doe ring
With restlesse Clamours on my Tyranny,
Forgetting that their Lord did banish Me
From Heav'n, against all Law and Equitie.

77.Yet shall not they Me so ignoble make
As to requite their Basenesse in its kinde:
No: let them henceforth Demonstration take
In what a pack of Forgeries combin'd
Unto my Charge they lay all Cruelties:
Judge all the World, who Father is of lyes.

78.For I resolved am at first to try
Them by my royall Mercy to reclaim:
Far rather would I win them thus, than by
Stern Vengeance utterly extirpate them.
The Peoples fault alas, is not so great
As His, whose Gospel Pipe charm'd them to it.

79.My pleasure therefore is, that thou mak'st speed
To Britain, and divulge my Proclamation
Of Grace and Pardon unto every Head
Which strait abjures that dangerous Innovation,
And, penitent for his Christian Heresie,
With orthodox Devotion Bows to Me.

80.But if my princely favour be despised,
Both Heav'n and Earth must needs my Rage approve;
Denounce all Vengance that can be devised
By scorn'd, and therefore most indignant Love:
Make all the stupid stubborn Rebels feel
That Maries Son cannot my Wrath repell.

81.This said, The Furie, who had all this while
Smiled in hopes of her new Task, made haste
To take her Coach, and thought each step a Mile
As through the spatious House to it she past.
Then mounting at the Gate, they parted, He
Home to his Hell, and to wards Britain She.

82.Forth with in terrible Magnificence
An hundred Trumpets sent their Voice before
To tell the People that their awfull Prince
Her Progress now began: That stately Roar
Through every street imperiously flew,
And warned  [...], this mightie sight to view.

83.When lo the sweating throngs bespred her way
With admirations of her Pomp and Train:
Before the Chariot two road single, they
Suspition were and Envy; both did rein
Their fitting Steeds, the one a Fox, the other
A Wolfe, and forced them to march together,

84.Next follow'd Pride upon a sirly Horse,
Whose stomack neer as high as hers did swell;
Fire sparkled in his eyes, and martial force
In the bent Bow of his large neck did dwell;
About he flung his Foam, and champ'd his Bit,
For both his Rider he disdain'd, and it.

85.But she an Ensigne in her right Hand held,
Whose bosome she displayed to the Winde:
Forth with the Flag with stately fulnes swell'd,
Wherein the Tyrants golden Scutcheon shin'd,
A wide-spred Eagle, whose faire Pinions seem'd
To bear her up still as the Colours stream'd.

86.Then came the Coach, which two strange Monsters drew,
For one a dreadfull Lybian Dragon was,
Who from his Mouth did flaming Sulphure spew,
And poisned all the Way which he did passe:
The other an enormous Crocodile
The most accursed Son of happy Nile.

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87.On them two feirce Postillions mounted were;
Intolerable head-strong Anger, who
To lash her Dragon never did forbear
Though he with Furie's violent Feet did goe;
And Cruelty, whose Heart was harder than
Her knotty  [...] black iron Skin.

88.Upon the Coachbox sate a Driver hight
Selfe-will, a mad-braind most outrageous He:
Who in impatient Speed doth still delight:
Though thousand Perils in his Passage be:
Never could Hils or Dales, or Sea or Land,
Or desperate Precipices make Him stand.

89.The Metall of the Chariot all was Brasse,
Bright burning Brasse, which upon either side
With sharp and cruel Hooks thick platted was,
To mow down All it met: In this did ride
The dreadfull Queen, a Queen of mighty Fame;
Who hath not heard of Persecutions Name

90.Whatever makes the Tigres Faces be
Of ravenous Crueltie the hideous Book,
With indefatigable Industry
She had transcrib'd into her monstrous Look:
Heav'n sheild all pious Soules, and turn their Fears
To generous Faith when ever She appears.

91.Her Coat is Steell, besmeared all with blood,
And in her Hand she holds a Twist of Snakes,
With which, though still her Coachman never stood,
Eternaly she threshes Him, and makes
His furious Speedmore speedy grow, that she
Might at her Prey as soons her Wishes be.

92.Thus whirl'd she through the Popular Rout and flew
To her desired Isle the straitest way.
Behinde the Coach her cursed Train, she drew
All glad to tread her cruel Steps, for they
No other were but her own hellish Brood
Whom she had nurs'd and fatned up with Blood.

93.Upon a Goat, more stinking far than he,
Rode Ravishment, who threw his licorish Eyes.
And they black fire, on every Company
Of Females of what everage or guise:
The Chariots haste he curs'd a thousand times
Which snatch'd Him from the fuel of his Crimes

94.Perch'd on a Vultures back was  [...], who
In length of  [...] did that Bird exceed;
Starv'd with  [...] though fat in Spoils, she so
 [...] was, that still she wish'd more speed
Had hurried on the Coach, that ravenous she
Might sooner at her British Banquet be.

95.Upon an Ostrich, more unnatural
Than was her barbarous Bird, rode Astorgie,
Vowing aloud to tear in sunder all
Those cords of love which did together tie
The Soules of Parents and of Children, and
Break the sweet Links of every Nuptial Band.

96.Mounted upon an Hydra, Heresie
With more and stranger heads than had her Steed.
Rejoyc'd in hope that now contagious she
Her Poison to another World should spread,
And Albions Sands which brideled in the Sea
Should by her stouter Tide o'r-flowed be.

97.On a black grizlie Dog rode Profanation;
She who ne'r learn'd distinction of Place
Or Time or Things; who never yet could fashion
A modest Look, or paint upon her face
The least glimpse of a Blush; who would not hear
That Altars holyer then Dressers were.

98.Bold Sacrilegde sate pertly on a Kite;
And though her Claws were burn'd, and sing'd her Wings,
E'r since she from the Altar took her flight,
(For vengefull Coals stuck to the Sacred Things,
Branding the saucy Theif,) yet shamelesse she
A robbing Heav'n and God, again would be.

99.Upon a Serpent bred in Hell beneath,
Which belched fire at every Step he took,
Which reached Heav'n with his pestiferous breath.
Which fought with holy Incense by the Smoke
Of his foule Throat, rode fouler Blasphemie,
And dared all the way Divinity.

100.But on an Heifer of AEgyptian Race;
Right proud of his Extraction, (for he
The Heir of Apis and of Isis was,)
Sate full as grosse a Brute, Idolatrie:
And yet Devote's, grosser than her Beast,
Or she, about her with their Offrings prest

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101.And this was  [...] royal Train,
Which all the way she went, stroke mortal fright
Into the Countries, travelling in Pain,
As she in Triumph, till her speedy flight
Had born her past them, and gave them release
From their dark Dens and hollow Privacies.

102.Poor Albion thrice started as she drew
Neer to her shore, and would have further run
Into the Sea: but now the Tyrant flew
With cursed joy into possession
Of the unhappy Isle, where dreadfull She
Took up her quarters in a Colonie.

103.From thence she issued out her Proclamations
Of Pardon unto all that would come in;
But back'd it with severest Denuntiations
To those who still continued in their Sin,
Who still would waste their Piety upon
The Carpenters poor Crucified Son.

104.She summond all the Isle to Reformation,
That mighty Jove by whose high blessing she
Reign'd Queen of all the World, in worthy fashion
And like his supream Self, might Worshipp'd be;
That pleased He might rain his favours down,
And Albion with Peace and Plenty crown.

105.For by her royal Declaration She
All blastings, mildews, droughts, plagues, earthquakes, wars,
Laid to the sole charge of Christianitie:
Which impious Sect, said she, so boldly dares
The Wrath of all the Gods, that righteous They
Upon the Earth must needs this veng'ance lay.

106.Forthwith, all those whose bosomes tainted were
With the rank Venome of Idolatry,
Luxuriously joy'd the news to heare,
And with immediate Consluence did fly
To doe their homage, and their thanks prefer
Ev'n in the Name of succoured Jove, to Her.

107.Then They, who could have loved Prety,
Yet none but faint and timorous Virtue knew,
They in whose Hearts the World and Self did ly,
As well as Jesus; They who would have drew
In th' Euangelick yoke with patience, so
Mean while their secular Plough might also go;

108.They who conceiv'd for Wives and Childrens sake,
Who were depending upon their sole Care,
(So dream's the faithlesse fondlings) they might make
A little bold with God; And they who were
In hopes Heav'n to their Prayers would courteous be
And wink at what flow'd from  [...],

109.Came in the Reare like Men who Scarcely came,
For not so much as half their Mindes were there;
Under the Evenings guilty veil their shame
They sheltered, for they Days Eys did fear.
Unhappy Men, what aile you thus to go?
Your selves condemn your selves for what you doe.

110.But they whose loyalty was firm and sound,
They who to Love intirely had resign'd
Themselves, such sweetnes in his service found
As left the Baits of all the World behinde:
Such sweetnes as enforced to be sweet
That Gall which flow d in Persecutions Threat.

111.Sooner will They be charmed by the Hisse
Of a fell Dragon, to his Den to goe,
Than be perswaded to accept of this
So treacherous and destructive Pardon: no,
What e'r They loose, they from their Losse will  [...]
This noble Gain, that they Themselves will keep.

112.Their Life, their Fame, Estate, and Liberty,
They can more easily than their Conscience spare:
They nothing count their Own, which cannot be
Without Impiety possest; and are
Content with any Thing but God to part,
Who onely can secure Them their own Heart.

113.Psyche was one, and not the meanest One,
Of these brave Champions, who, since Phylax had
(Heav'n having so dispos'd) left her alone,
Her meek Addresses to Uranius made;
An holy Priest was He, and unto Her
An Oracle in any Doubt or fear.

114.To you, said She, my reverend Father,
Now Persecutions furious Storm doth  [...],
As to my wise and faithfull Pilot fly,
Not to be steered where Calamities
May never reach my Uessel; but to know
The neerest way how I to them may row.

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115.Forbid it genuine Love, that I should fly
The noblest Testimony I can give
Of my, ô how deserved, Loyalty
Unto my Spouse, for whom alone I live:
For him I live; and must that Truth deny,
If in his Quarrell I refuse to dy.

116.Was not His Life ten thousand times more dear
And pretious than Mine? yet generous He
The utmost drop of his Heart-blood could spare
Ev'n for the worst of Worms, vile sinfull Me:
Loud cries the merit of this Blood, and I
Could I dy oft for Him, in debt should dy.

117.And, should I shrink from one poor Death, what Eye
Would not shoot Wrath at such Unthankfulnesse?
How should I hate my Selfe, and strive to dy
For shame of Fearing Death? yet, I confesse,
This Life so wretched is and poor, that we
By Martyrdome do Heav'n no Courtesie.

118.Mine all the Gains will be; nor know I how
To scape this Profit: which if I could shun,
My Death more Solace would to me allow,
And to the Stake I cheerlier should run.
But since that may not be; since Blisse is still
Ti'd to these Suffrings. let Love have his Will.

119.Let Love assert his own Magnificence,
And make Us for our very Service be
Deeper in Debt to him: yet I will hence
Revenge me of His Liberality,
And doe my best to run upon the Score
With this great Creditor forevermore.

120.But sage Uranius, who was better read
In the cool Gospel Discipline repli'd,
The fire by which those flames of thine are bred
Is pure and genuine; but they blaze too wide:
Dear Daughter be content, and think that I
Can wish and dare, as well as you, to Dy.

121.Yet I am not so hasty to prevent
My Spouse's pleasure, who, for ought I know,
Desires Vranius should rest content
To wrestle still with Sorrows here below;
Still  [...] be exil'd from the blessed Sight
Of his dear Eyes, and grovell here in Night

122.Besides, if I before His Call should run,
This hot Impatience might out-strip his Grace:
And how should feeble I, thus left alone,
Finde courage to out-look the dreadfull Face
Of Death, when dress'd in martial Array
He gives the Onset to my Dust and Clay.

123.What General will thank that Captain, who
Without Commission has presum'd to fight?
Into the Lists of any Prisner goe
With Tigres or with Bears to trie his Might
E r He be call'd, what Eye will grieve to see
His torn Limbs pay for his Temeritie.

124.It is enough if when We challeng'd are,
We flinch not from Professing his sweet Name,
Which in our Bosomes sits more neer and dear
Than Life it selfe. Mean while think it no  [...]
To balk the Tempest, which will easily  [...]
Thy Haven, and Thee, if Jesus have a minde.

125.As the young Soldier, who was more on fire
Than his fierce sparkling Steed, the Charge to give,
When by some old Commander his Desire
As rash and perilous, doth a Curb receive,
Almost as hard he findes it to subdue
His single Selfe, as all his Hostile Crew.

126.So Psyche crossed in her venturous Way
By the grave bulk of the sage Priests Advice;
Found it an heavy troublous Task to stay,
And shun the winning of her dearest Prize:
Yet knowing He was wiser far than She,
She bravely yeilds, and gains Selfe-victory.

127.Uranius well remembred now how He,
Then young and shiftlesse: by his Parents was
Into a Nest of silent Privacie,
To which they through a Wildernes did passe,
Hurri'd by Night, when such a Storm as this
Into the Britain Hemisphear did presse.

128.Thither, when Ev'n had muffled up the Eye
Of Heav'n, and those of Earth, he Psyche led;
For by a Lanthorn which would not descry
More than he pleas'd, her way he governed;
And so arrived at the Cavern, where
Cheerly he bad the Mayd be of good cheer.

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129.It is no new Adventure this, said he,
But practis'd and well season'd to our hand:
Moses, that Man of God, was glad to flee,
And wander up and down a forreing Land:
No Partridge on the Mountains ever was
More than good David, chas'd from place to place.

130.Noble Elyah in the Desert hid
His persecuted head, when Jezebel,
Our Tyrants Type, her threatnings thundered
Against his Life: there he alone did dwell
Having no kinde of Caterer or Cook
But a poor Raven, no Cellar but a Brook,

131.Nay, even Jesus too himselfe did flie,
When bloody Herod drew his desperate Sword:
And never think it can discredit thy
Devotion to follow Him thy Lord
In any of his Steps, who onely was
The Way by which We to Perfection passe.

132.Whilst thus the good old Man encourag'd her:
A Troop of furious Soldiers had by night
Beset their Houses, in presumption there
To finde their helplesse Prey; But when their flight
They understood, their frustrate Expectation
Flam'd into most impatient Vexation.

133.All rooms they ransack'd, where what Goods 'they met
Were hungry Plunders instant Sacrifice:
Yet still their Rage unsatisfied, set
The Houses too on Fire, and with loud Cries
Threatned to serve the Owners so, when e'r
Justice could make Discovery where they were.

134.If any of the Neighbours, wounded by
The salvage Spectacle, but smote their Breast,
Or shak'd their Head, or mourned in a Sigh;
The bar barous Caytiffs took it for confest
That to their Queen they ill affected were,
And instantly to Prison them did tear.

135.Yet by the way, the cruel Courtesie
Of hungry Theeves they freely offer'd them
Who ready were their lives and liberty
With present summs of Money to redeem:
Their Queen is safe enough, so they can line
Their greedy Purses with Delinquents Coin.

136.But through the Eastern Rubie Portals now
Aurora op'd the Passage to the Day:
When loe an old and shaggie Lyon, who
Had busie been all night about his Prey,
Came panting Home, and roaring loudly when
He drew neer to the Entrance of his Den,

137.This Den was that in which for shelter lay
The good Vranius and Psyche, who
Rouz d by the Noise, but having now no way
To flie the presence of their salvage Foe,
Their Hearts to Heav'n with instant fervor sent,
Imploring Succour in this Perils dint.

138.In came the Beast, whose dreadfull Mouth and Paw
Still reeked with the Blood of his torn Prey:
But those unwonted Guests when there he saw,
Stroke with the awsull News, he made a stay,
And as he wistly look'd, he smooth'd his frown,
And by degrees his Crest and Tail let down.

139.Uranius musing what the Lyon meant
To melt so from himselfe, thus him bespake:
If He who is our Lord and thine, hath sent
Thee hither with Commission to take
Our lives, by gentler Tyrannie than that
From which We fled; loe we deny them not

140.Much Solace it will be to Us, that we
Augment not by our Deaths the Guilt of Men;
This bloody Trade doth better suit with Thee
Of salvagenes the dreadfull Soveraign, than
With them, whose softer Constitutions be
Temper'd and tuned fit for Clemencie.

141.Yet if thou dost not on Heav'ns Errand come,
But the sole bus'nesse of thy barbarous Thrist;
Unarmed though we be, no Peril from
Thy Paws or Jaws we dread; doe all thy worst,
So faithfull He: and so said Psyche too;
And waited what the Beast would dare to doe.

142.When loe, the trusty generous Lyon, who
No Vengance ought to Men, but where he saw
The print of Guilt, and of Rebellion to
Their common Soveraign; did meekly throw
Himselfe before these Saints, in whom he read
The Lines of reverend Innocence fairly spred.

[Page 358]
143.Then having humbly lick'd their holy Feet,
And seem'd to beg their blessings e'r he went;
What universal Providence findes meet,
Uranius cry'd, (perceiving what he meant,
And usefull for thee, may it given be
In due requital of thy Pietie.

144.Which said, the joyfull Lyon took his leave
With the best manners his rude Education
Could him afford. The sight made Psyche grieve
Reflecting with a sober Meditation
On those unmanly Men she fled from who
In Barbarousnes did wildest Beasts  [...]

145.And well she might: for now a trusty Friend
Both to the Priest and Her, who knew the Place
Of their abode, his way did thither rend
With Ashes on his head, grief in his Face
He being entred, silent stood a while,
For Groans his breast, and sighs his Mouth did fill,

146.But having prefac'd thus, alas, he cry'd.
That I have liv'd to bring this wofull News
Your selves have by your flight escap'd the tide
Of Salvagenes which all our Town embrues;
But nothing else; for what behinde you left,
The Booty is of most outrageous Theft

147.Your Houses, turn'd to their own funerall Pile,
Now in their Ashes lye — vast sorrow here
Stifeled the rest But then, thy stories stile
To Us is not so dreadfull; never fear
That what remains will trouble us, replies
The Priest, who dare embrace our Miseries.

148.What e'r was ours, alas We never Made,
But by Donation did it Possesse:
All that We had, We but as Stewards had;
Well may our Master call for what was His.
And Blessed be his Name, who Us from these
Encumbrances so freely doth release.

149.Chidden by this Heroick Braverie
The Messenger took heart, and thus went on:
Had furious Tyranny presum'd to flie
No higher than at you, and yours, alone,
Tears might have reach'd that losse: but who can wail
Enough, when God himself it doth assail

150.The desperate  [...] feared not to break
Into the sacted Oratorie, (where
Our Busnes We with Heav'n dispatch'd, for lack
Of publike safetie for our Rites,) and there
Made desperat havock, challenging, in spight,
God for his Temple and Himself to fight.

151.The Sacred Bible they no sooner saw,
But in foule indignation they cry'd,
Behold these Galileans lawlesse Law,
Which doth all other Statutes break beside
Whether of Caesar or of Jove: but We
Will try if this may now not broken be,

152.With that, they in a thousand peeces tor't:
Then on Devotions Prop, the Liturgie,
They made their equaly malitious sport,
Crying, these are those leaves of Witcherie,
That Bulk of Conjurations and Charms.
Which have occasioned the whole Worlds Harms

153.Next, all the Altars reverend Furniture
They snatch'd, and scrambled who should rifle most:
The sacerdotal Vestments, white and pure,
About the room at first in scorn they tost,
Then with new Insolence put them on themselves;
So in meek Lamb-skins walk the murdering Wolves.

154.Upon the Chalice when they had espied
The Shepheard bringing home the strayed Sheep,
Like roaring Hel-hounds with one voice they cryed,
Look how these Christians set their God to keep
Their Wine: but fools they should have hir'd a friend?
Which might his Godship from our hands defend.

155.Is not our Pan more like a God than this!
Pan, who doth all the Tribe of Shepheards keep,
Whil'st this poor servile Thing contented is
To spend his time on silly rotten Sheep;
But since He's here of Silver, in our need
His Deitie may stand Us in some stead.

156.When in these Contumelies they their fill
Had wantonized; one a dead Dog brings,
Which, having stopp'd his Nose, (for the rank  [...]
Reveng'd his Crimt,) He on the Altar  [...],
And with blasphemous supphcation cryes,
Accept ô Christ, my bounden Sacrifice

[Page 359]
157.Then, said Another, We must not forget
Humbly to tender our Drink-offring too
With that, upon the Altar thrice he spit,
And having sill'd a putrified shoe
With his vile Urine, on his bended Knee
He poured out his foule Impiety.

158.But then a third, to make their sin compleat,
Yelling and rayling, ser the Place on Fire;
For since, said he, this Josusis so great
A God, his Deity may well require
An  [...]: which Word, and Act, the Rout
Applauded with an universall Shout.

159.No more, Uranius  [...]; dear Friend for bear,
Till We have pour'd out our due Tears for this,
That  [...] and his Temple wronged are,
Our  [...] and ours alone, the reason is.
 [...] of his Commandments is the Gap
Which let into his house this foule Mishap.

160.This said; the Reins unto loud Lamentation
Both He and Psyche liberaly gave.
When loe a strong and mix'd Vociferation
Conquer'd their Cries, and triumph'd in the Cave:
They thought some Huntsmen were abroad, and so
It prov'd: for hunting they for Men did goe.

161.It was that Rout, who when thy mis'd the Priest
At his own house, concluded he was fled,
And in the Desert sought some private Nest
Wherein to hide his Persecuted Head:
But They all bent and sworn to hunt him out
A Pack of Bloodhounds with them thither brought.

162.As up and down they trac'd the Solitude,
A busie Cur unto the Cave drew neer;
Who having found the wished Sent, persu'd
It close, and entred where those Weepers were
Whom spying, wide He opened, and hould,
Till he to all the Rabble Tales had told.

163.This brought them  [...] thither; where when they
Beheld Uranius, with a barbarous Crie
 [...] Voice and Hands, to pull Dismay
 [...] their Prisner; whom forthwith they tie
Unto  [...] Hound which found him out, that he
Night  [...] contempable Conducter be

164.The holy Captive knew it was in vain
To ask their Madnesse why it us'd Him so;
Or what Offence of his had ern'd that Chain:
But in meek Silence ready was to goe.
Thus harmlesse Lambs are in their Suffrings mute,
And never with the Butchers Knife dispute.

165.As Psyche at his Back lamenting stood,
One who pretended to have something still
Of Man and Kindnesse, bad her stop that flood
Which poor seduced she amisse did spill,
And weep no more to see Him Prisner, who
Had by Enchantments her enslaved so,

166.For this your lurking, and your wailing here,
Tell Us he hath bewitched you to his
Rediculous Religion; yet were
That onely such, said He, we would not presse
The Law against Him; but the whole World knows
That with the worst of Wickednesse if flows.

167.Him, the Ring-leader of the Crime will We
To Justice sacrifice: but as for you,
Whose Guilt, we hope, is but Simplicity,
To your lesse fault we pardon will allow:
And to your silly Servant here, if He
Henceforth will doe his best, more Wise to be.

168.Psyche with silent and with sad Disdain
Threw back his Courtesie into his face.
For though her heart at present did refrain
To speak it selfe, yet she resolved was;
Resolved not to leave her Friend that day,
Though Death and Devills did obstruct her way,

169.And now the raging Caytiffs drew the Priest
Unto the Town with shamelesse Exclamations;
And all the way his Patience opprest
With Kicks, and  [...], and Taunts, and  [...],
Which sad Procession  [...] was
By the Tribunal, where the Saint they place,

170.A Deputy of Perjecution there
Was ready on the Bench, and standing  [...]
A fan and new erected  [...] where
Prepaied Coals of fire did glowing  [...],
Neer which stood one with  [...] in his Hand
To wait upon the  [...],

[Page 360]
171.Uranius thus presented at the Bar;
The  [...] begins an insolent Oration,
In which  [...] taken had sufficient care
To blast and to blaspheme the Christian Nation,
Unto whose chage He boldly layed all
The Miseries which did that Age befall.

172.Nor those alone, (which his Queens Declaration
Prompted Him with,) but all that Calumny
 [...] possibly invent; the Combination
Of bloody and unclean Impiety
Which made the Gnosticks Name so horrid, He
Avow'd the Christian Discipline to be

173.His Pagan Gods He praised to the skies,
(A place which they, alas, could never reach,)
But heap'd on Christ all slanderous Injuries
Which Envy could suggest, or Hell could teach.
And at each Period the Peoples Roar
Pour'd proud Applause upon their Orator.

174.But in the Close He gravely turn'd his Speech
With cruel Pitty to Uranius,
Whom by his reverend Age He did beseech
No longer to be fool'd and cheated thus
By silly Wickednes, but choose their ods,
And take for One, a multitude of Gods.

175.He straitly Him conjured to prefer
The Deities the whole World did adore,
Before the single simple Carpenter
Who found no worship but amongst a poor
Few sneaking and despised Soules, which He
(Vain God) could not protect from Miserie.

176.And if He now refused to present
Incense to Jove, upon that Altar there,
He theatned him the utmost Punishment
Which mock'd and scorned Mercy could prepare.
This said: He shrunk his fawning face into
A frown, and waited what the Priest would doe.

177.But He, right brave defiance did return
Upon the Judge for this his treacherous Love:
And, sooner I, said He, my Self will burn,
Then Incense to an Idoll: Could you prove
Your favour would not surely me destroy,
I it would hug with humble Thanks and Joy.

178.But Sir, I am not now to learn, that they
On whom you thrust the Name of Deities,
Are weaker far than We poore things of Clay;
And that the Carpenter you so despise,
Is He who fram'd both you and me, and all
The Fabrick of this universal Ball.

179.And His revenging Arm it is which now
Lasheth the World with those Calamities
Which to the charge of our Religion you
So freely lay: your own Idolatries
Force Him to Justice, who had rather be
Known unto all his World by Lenitie.

180.If he thinks fit to rescue Me, it is
Not all your Power, or your Queens, can stand
Against his Might. Yet though I must by His,
Permitted be to your tyrannick Hand,
His Pleasure dearer is than life to Me:
I durst Die, but dare not Apostate be.

181.No Sea repulsed by a solid Rock
E'r swell'd, and foam'd, and roar'd, with more disdain;
Than now the Judge to heare the Prisner mock
His Gods and Him: His throat he wide did strain,
And cry'd, then let Him Burn; since He denies
To offer, make Him be, Joves Sacrifice.

182.The Souldiers who where much afrayd least He
Should have accepted of the Judges Grace,
Rejoyc'd and clapp'd their cursed Hands to see
That to their rage he now condemned was.
Away they hale him to the stake, and there
A Fort of Fagots round about him rear.

183.Then, with a Brand, they from Joves Altar brought,
The Pile they kindle, and blow up the flame:
Which as it rose, they bellow'd out a Shout,
And cry'd, May this Reward betide all them
Who scorn the Gods, and fondly trust in Him
Who from the Crosse could not himself redeem.

184.But milde Vranius, having kiss'd the stake,
And every Fagot which his Lips could reach;
Strong supplications unto Heav'n did make
For pardon for his raging Murderers, which
Blinded with spight, and Superstition,
Perceived not at all what they had done.

[Page 361]
185.Then purer than the Flame, and brighter far
Which mounted from his Pile, his Soule did fly:
Higher than that it flew, and reach'd the Sphear
Not of the Stars, but of Felicity;
Where it was welcom'd to its final Home
By the illustrious Crown of Martyrdome.

186.So when brave Gold hath by the Cruelty
Of the incensed Furnace been refined;
Its genuine Substance is allow'd to be
With the Imperial Image fairly signed:
Free leave and full authority it has
Current through all its Soveraigns Realm to passe.

187.Psyche, who with sweet Tendernesse attended
 [...] is holy Tragick-Comedie,
No  [...] saw how gloriously it ended;
But,  [...] with her pious Plaudit, she
Forgetfull of the furious Standers by,
Thus eas'd her Soules exultant Ecstasie,

188.Goe valiant Saint, thy Conquest is compleat;
Goe, where immortal Laurel ready is
With endlesse Triumphs thy brave Head to meet;
Goe and possesse thy Masters Realm of Blisse:
Thy Name and Fame shall reverend be beneath
So long as Piety on earth shall breath.

189.O may poor Psyche but obtain the Grace,
Though at the price of all the Worlds worst spight,
To kisse thy glorious Feet, and win a place
Where on thy Triumph I may wait: O might
I through thy hottest Flames climbe after Thee,
And from this mortal Drosse refined be.

190.This pious Passion well beseemed Her,
And made good Musick in all holy Ears:
But like flat Discord it did grate and jar
Upon the Soldiers, whose most studious Cares
Were how to tune their Curses to a Key
Of wilde impetuous Importunity.

191.And how intolerable unto Them
Was this her Note, they make her fully feel,
For running on her in a surious Stream,
With headlong haste they hurry her untill
They come unto the Judge, in Hopes that He
Their bloody Hungers Caterer would be.

192.Here they exclaim that this bold Woman was
As manly as the Priest in wickednesse;
That she nor fear'd nor blush'd to make his Case
Heav'ns Quarrel, and his cursed Death to blesse:
That she must needs as guilty be as He
Of Sins Perfection, Christianity.

193.Yea of the worst and foulest Part of it;
Witnesse the Sheltre of the Night, and Cave
In which they took them napping: which could fit
None but Lusts filthy Work. And now you have
Just Sir, said they, arreigned here before
Your Judgment Seat, a Christian and a Whore,

194.But she, commanded by the Judge to make
Her own Apologie, (which best, said he
Will be evinc'd, if you that  [...] take,
And by your Offring, choak all Calumnie;)
With elevated Eyes thank'd Heav'n for this
Occasion to aspire unto her Blisse.

195.Then spreading all her face with gallant Joy,
Like a brave Champion ready for the fight,
Or like a Bride dress'd on her wedding Day,
Or silver Venus smiling in the Night,
Or brisk Aurora garnishing the Morn,
Or goodly Ceres golden in her Corn,

196.Or rather like that glorious Deacon who
First op'd the rubie Gate of Martyrdome,
Whom sweet and princely Beams embellish'd so
That Heav'n it selfe aforehand seem'd to come
And pitch upon his Face, which to his Foes
An Angels Count'nance did in Mans disclose,

197.She thus began: No Confutation, I,
But Thanks alone to my Accusers owe,
Who charge on Me no vulgar Piety,
But rank me with Vranius, and allow
That simple I deserve no lesse than he
With Martyrdomes fair Crown adornd to be,

198.Onely I must take leave to tell my Foes,
Their Spight in one thing much mistaketh Me;
For if I freedome had my Flames to choose,
I rather would for ever schorched be
With all Hells burning Sulphure, than give way
That Lnsts black Fire should make my hearts its  [...]

[Page 362]
199.But how have I demean'd my Selfe, that You
Wise Sir, should think this wretched Life to Me
Can be more pretious, than the Faith I owe
To Him, who can from Deaths Captivity
Redeem his Subjects; and a Course will take
Uranius from his Ashes how to rake.

200.If e'r this Tongue of mine was known to spill
The least Consent or seeming Approbation
Of You or of your Gods, (which sure my Will
Was never privie to,) this Detestation
May wipe it off, and make my Guilt proceed
As high as my Accusers it did plead.

201.Jove is no more, nay not so much, to Me,
As you, or as the meanest Wight that lives:
He to your Fancies ows his Deity,
And from your Superstition receives
His livelihood: and therefore well may you
Be bold with him, and what you please allow.

202.Sometimes a Bull must serve, sometimes a Swan,
For King of Gods Men; sometimes a shoure
Of Gold, and when you kindest are, a Man;
But such a Man, as waste's his God-ships Power
In Lust and Luxurie, that prudent Yee
May by your Gods Example wicked be.

203.And must I offer Incense to perfume
His Name, the Name of Filth and Stinks? must I
Tempted by such a wretched Bait, presume
On Jesu's pure and mighty Majesty?
No: Him indeed I fear, but dread not you,
Which with my Life I ready am to show.

204.Were I as foule as are your Thoughts of Me,
Were I the worst of horrid Things, a Whore;
I see not why your goodly Piety
Should not convince you forthwith to adore
My wickednesse, and Me, unlesse you will
Deny your Venus is a Goddesse still.

205.What Perfica, Pertunda, Mutunns,
What Cyprian Rites, what Ithyphallies, mean,
What sacred sport old Baubo's glorious
Invention made to cheer up Harvests Queen,
You, and your Temples know: but pardon Me,
If I blush to declare such Villanie.

206.No: it shall never stain this Tongue of mine,
This Tongue which doth its utmost homage owe
To Jesu's Name; that Name of most divine
Unspotted Sweetnesse. Doubt not Sir; although
I am a feeble Female, His dear Sake
My Resolution Masculine can make.

207.The Judge, stung by this valiant Reply,
And highly scorning to acknowledge in
A Woman such heroick Constancy,
With envious Cunning cri'd, Now I have seen
More than enough to quit Fame from a lie,
Which charg'd such Charms on Christianity.

208.If ever silly Soule enchanted were
With fawning undermining Witchery;
This obstinate and retchlesse Woman here
Is captive to that curs'd Impiety,
Being so monstrously Transform'd, that to
The Gods, and to her Selfe, she's open Foe.

209.But we must not be fierce, 'cause she is Mad:
Perhaps this Spell is of short date, and she
Tam'd by a Prisons Hardship, may be glad
To turn into herselfe again, and be
Content (which may the Gods vouchsafe to grant!)
Her Blasphemy and Boldnesse to recant.

210.Great Jove, who heard when she did him  [...],
Forbore to fling his Lightning at her head;
And by that sweet and heav'nly Lenity,
Of Patience to Us a Lecture read.
To Prison with her, and instruct her there
By Chains, to quit these Bands which captive her,

211.Laden with Irons, but much more with Scorn,
Poor Psyche thus unto the Goale is led:
There in a Dungeon dark, deep, and forlorn,
That she might double be imprisoned,
She plunged was; where, as she 'gan to sink
Into the nastie Mire, she wak'd the Stink.

212.A Stink which would have scorn'd what Arabie
And all its Odours could against it doe;
An aged Stink which did a mellowing lie
In that foule Grot; for it was long agoe
Since any Thing disquieted the Heap
Of poisnous Loathsomenesse which there did sleep

[Page 363]
213.Fast in this torment stuck, afflicted she
No succour could receive from any friend;
The Jailer barr'd out all their Pietie
Who willing were some help to her to lend;
And onely once a day her furnished
With puddle Water, and course mouldy Bread,

214.Yet harder than this Diet, was the Grace
He said to it: Repent unhappy Wretch,
Repent he cry'd: Why should this wofull Place
Be dearer to thee than the favour which
The  [...] Judge doth offer thee, if thou,
With Him, and our great Queen, to Jove wilt bow.

215.This cursed Preachment grated sore upon
The Bowels of her tender Heart, who in
This  [...] Leisure set her thoughts to run
Over the Ages most unhappy Sin,
Which now with zealous superstition rung
From her destructive Keepers pittying tongue.

216.No Member e'r with such soft Sympathy
The wounds of its fraternal Part did feel;
As She that most contagious Malady
Which now had tainted Albions Common-weal,
And, like the Plague indeed, into the Heart
Its desperate Poison did directly dart.

217.Inestimable Soules, (for such the Price
Which Jesus payed, proved them to be)
Their own illustrious value did dispise,
Selling themselves to poore Idolatry,
And at no higher Rate then to escape
Some wordly shame, and temporal mishap.

218.Their dear Redeemers most transcendent Love
They kick'd and scorned, and his Heav'n with it;
And gave their service to ignoble Jove,
Although no Guerdon, but the lowest Pit
Of everflaming Torments did attend them,
Where ev'n that Jove himself no help could lend them.

219.This stung her Soule so deep, that she could give
Her life ten thousand times to death, if she
Might at that cost be able to reprieve
Her Friends and Foes, from this mad Miserie.
But  [...] this unfeasible, the sight
Redoubled her compassionate sorrows weight.

220.This fair advantage envious Satan took
To work upon her rockie Constancy:
Trusting at length that He should her provoke
To kisse the Judge's offerd Courtesie:
He hop'd that Desolation, gall'd by Grief,
Would stoop at length, and not disdain  [...].

221.And yet her Charitable Meditation
Highly displeas'd Him: wherefore crafty He
Resolv'd perforce to knit her Contemplation
Close to her own new  [...] Calamitie:
For all her Body He with flames did fill,
Which into burning Perls and Boils did swell.

222.Her skin which was so white and sleek before,
All rugged now with odious tumors is:
From head to foot one universal sore
Arrays her round in a tormenting dress:
Thus the renouned Prince of Uz, of old
Wore this sad raiment, for his Roabs of Gold.

223.Yet on dry Ashes He had leave to sit,
And with a Pot-sheard scrape his scurfie skin,
A comfort which poor Psyche could not get,
Being a weak and helpelesse Captive in
The thick relentlesse Mire, where she is fain
To rub her torturing swellings with her Chain.

224.And yet these Torments lesse tormenting were
Than those which now her Parents treacherous Love
Heap'd on her wounded Soule: The Judge's ear,
And then his leave, they got, to come and prove
What their Persuasions with their Childe could do,
And cunningly they did their busnes too.

225.Upon the Dungeons brink their Lamentation
They poured first, and then this charming cry:
Psyche, ô Psyche, if thy Tribulation
Be yet too weak to make thee bow to thy
Own rest and quiet; let thy Parents  [...]
At least, by thy consent, obtain Reliefe,

226.The staffe of our decrepit years art Thou
Alone, dear daughter; all our joys in thee
Are fresh and young: O do not rob Us now
Of that by which we live, thy libertie:
Thy liberty, which we would rather choose
By any Hand, than by thine own to loose.

[Page 364]
227.The Judge would yeeld thee back to Us again:
And wilt Thou cruel be, when He is Kinde?
By thee have We deserved to be slain,
Who from all others Love and Pitty finde?
Though thine own Life thou strangely scornest, yet
Abhor not ours to whom thou owest it.

228.Surely thy Christ, if He as Gentle be
As thou didst vaunt Him for, will never give
Thee thanks for this unnatural Pietie
Which both thine own, and Parents Lives doth strive
To undermine: O no! His Grace We know,
And honour His Compassion more than you.

229.Our Faith in His abundant Mercy makes
 [...] be blown away, Comply.
His  [...] all Hearts its Prospect takes,
 [...] ours pant still with loyalty
 [...] and his dear Laws: and therefore He
Propitious to our Out-side fault will be.

230.And so, sweet Daughter will He be to thine:
O then accept of what thou  [...] to Crave;
Enjoy the courteous Sun  [...] it doth shine,
And let this Dungeon not forestall thy grave:
Speak, speak; and bid Us live with thee; or by
Thy wilful silence, send Us home to dy.

231.So pleaded they. But Psyche with a Groan
Fetch'd deeper than the bottome of her Grot,
First vanquished their Lamentation;
Then, with this most athletick Answer, what
Artillery their crafty tongues had brought
From Pieties strong hold to force her out:

232.I now no longer can the Jailer blame
Who tempted me my Liberty to gain
By being slave to Joves accursed Name,
And scorning him who on Heav'ns Throne doth reign:
Why should I look that Pagan He should be
Kinder than you my Parents are to Me?

233.My Christian Parents; if you yet dare own
That holy title, who invite me now
To kick at Christ. Alas that I am grown
So execrable in your Eys, that you
[As if this Dungeon were not deep enough,]
Into Hels bottom Me should strive to throw.

234.The sacred Law of Filial Duty I
Hold dearer than this World; for well I know
(Nor shall all Torments force me to deny
This truth.) that unto you my Life I ow;
Which in your service if I shun or fear
To spend, may I prove an Idolater.

235.But that's the Life by which I Prisner am
In this unworthy World; A Life I have
Which truer is unto its active Name,
A Life to high and pretious, that to save
It from the Jaws of endlesse Death, his own
The King of Heav'n thought not much to lay down

236.That Life I mean, by which my Soule doth live;
A Life which from your Loins I never drew;
And therefore you doe but your selves deceive
To think that this is to your Pleasures due.
God is my onely Father here, and I
Intire to Him must keep my loyalty.

237.As fast as in this Mire I stick, the way
Of His Commands I now am running; and
Though you your Prayers, or your Necks should lay
Full in my path my passage to withstand,
I would not hear my mortal duty plead,
But on your Necks and Prayers freely tread.

238.Yet Heav'n forbid I should be forc'd to take
This hard experiment of Pietie.
O rather help to lead me to the stake,
And of my Combat there Spectators be:
You'l ne re repent you to have seen your own
Childe climbing up to Martyrdomes fair Crown

239.But since you know so well the vast extent
Of Jesus Mercy; know it not in vain:
Your own decrepit years bid you repent
With speediest speed: The foule and cankering stain
Of your Idolatrous Complyance dares
The utmost Power of your fullest Tears.

240.Mispend not then those pretious Beads on Me,
Your selves need all their Ornament: and I
This onely favour crave, that you would be
But so courageous as yet to rely
On Heav'ns Protection: Speak, ô speak, and ease
My throbbing hearts tormenting Jealousies.

[Page]
241.I burn, I burn in Anguish, till I hear
You by a brave Profession defie
Those Baits of secular ignoble fear
Which lured you to your Apostasie.
Speak then, and make my Life be sweet, in spight
Of all these Tortures which against it fight.

242.So pious She. But feeble-hearted They,
Leaving no Answer but a faithlesse Sigh
Their Griefs and Fears to witnesse, went their way,
Confounded by their Daughters Constancy.
Yet by this foule Retreat They gave her more
Soule-piercing Wounds, then They had done before.

243.For now her ominous Meditations threw
Her down into that Gulfe of flaming Pain,
Which to Apostate Wickednesse was due;
Where every Torment, every Rack and Chain
To which her Parents seemed now to goe,
Pour'd on her tender Heart a Sea of Woe.

244.But as She struggled to maintain this fight
Of mighty Charitie, She gan to faint.
When loe a sudden unexpected Light
(A Thing with which that Grot did ne'r acquaint,)
The Place, and Her, with Glory did surprise,
Offring a radiant Stranger to her Eyes.

245.For at her right Hand She beheld a Mayd
On whose fair Head a diamond Crown did shine;
With gentle Majesty She was arrayd,
And all her Ornaments appear'd divine:
Psyche amazed at the heav'nly Sight,
Would fain have kneel'd to doe the Virgin right.

246.But as her Sorenesse, Mire, and Chains forbad
That reverence, She fete'd a modest Sigh:
To which the Stranger this milde Answer made:
I see thy Minde in thy ingenous Eye;
Thy Courtesie by thy Desire is done,
And now my ear'nd Requital must comeon.

247.This said, She hugg'd her with a strait Embrace;
Softrait, that closer than her Chains or Mire
It stuck, and deeplyer  [...] was
Than her Disease, through which it did  [...]
Into her Heart, and  [...] it up so close
That now no Anguish there could interpose.

248.As He who is some wager'd Race to run,
Having his Loyns girt up, and being so
Collected and ti'd to Himself  [...],
With lighter stouter Nimblenesse doth goe,
Than when his waste He loose about him ware,
And there for  [...] had room to  [...];

249.Embraced Psyche thus perceiv'd her  [...]
Lace'd strait, and shrunk into Collections  [...];
As first She wonder'd her  [...] Guest
So much should presse her  [...] but it  [...],
As that fresh Vigour glowed in her  [...],
She knew She onely  [...] out her Smart.

250.And now such Courage in her Soule did reign,
That She rejoyc'd She had so hard a Race:
Her gauntlet She dares give to any Pain,
And the most tedious Death look in the face;
Her Chains to her no more then Bracelets are
Her boiling Sores as Pearls indeed appear.

251.Her Parents Case She to Heav'ns Soveraign Wilt
Can freely now resigne; that Will which though
It bitter seem to worldly Tastes, yet still
Doth unto uncorrupted Palats flow
With all the Soule of Sweetnesse, and can make
From springs of Galla flood of Honey break.

252.She seems as yet not to have gain'd her share
Of Pangs and Sufferings, and fears not to pray
That He Who did such Strength for her prepare,
Would still more load upon her Shoulders lay;
More fewell still unto her tervour give,
Who now by nothing but by Pains could live.

253.Nor was it wonder; for the Stranger here,
(Thenceforth a Stranger unto her no more)
Was sent from Heav'n a special  [...]
To heal her Heart, beginning to be sore
With her Weak Body: Willingly She  [...]
And did her Work, for  [...] was  [...]

254.The Eyes of Lambs ne'r darred meeker Raies
Then stream'd from hers; and yet the Lyons face
With stouter Bravery did never raise
His royal Looks, nor with more Courage gaze
Upon, and challenge Terrors, than does She,
Though soft as honey, or as Oyle She be.

[Page 366]
255.All over she was nothing else but skars
Wnt large and fair to testifie what she
Had undergone in Heav'ns victorious Wars;
And yet these Characters her beautie be;
For with such silver light they smile, that they
Much like a Tire of Stars do her array

256.Her busines being thus dispatched, she
The cheer'd reso'ved Prisner leaves: when loe
The Judge's  [...] to see
If Psyche yet were fully  [...] or no:
And standing at the  [...] mouth, he cryes,
Learn wretched Maid, at length learn to be wise.

257.The Judge, upon whose Will thy Fate depends,
In spight of thy  [...] tender is;
And me on Mercies Errand hither sends
To offer to thee at an easie price
Thy Life and Libertie; and more than so,
If thou thy Irreligion wilt forgo.

258.His noble Word, more sure than Bond or Seal,
He freely gives to change thy Povertie
Into a wealthy State; not shalt thou feel
Henceforth what scorns and ignominies be;
But living in soft Peace and Psenteousnesse
His Favour, and the Worlds esteem possesse

259.But if you obstinately yet deny
To offer incense unto mighty Jove,
You dam the way unto all Clemency,
And a deserved Sacrifice must prove
To your own Madnesse: the Decree is past,
You must Vraniu's fate to morrow taste.

260.As when the tossed Mariner descries
The Promontories of his native Soile,
Within whose craggie Hornis his Harbour lies;
He strait forgets his long Tempestuous toile,
And doth his new-revived Bosome finde
Swell'd more with Joy, than are his sails with winde,

261.So Psyche, hearing that her Doom was past
Which to her long-wish t Hav'n would her convey;
Her arms in triumph up to Heav'n she cast,
With thanks and praises for that happy Day;
And in defiance of his offer'd grace,
Threw this stout answer at the Serjants face:

262.My thanks unto the Judge go carry back:
High is his favour, and  [...] embrace:
But sure your  [...] you did much mistake,
Or foulie at the least, your Words misplace:
My Life and Libertie no favour is;
Death I accept with humble  [...].

263.As for your vain and wretched Jupiter
Were He but half so true a thing as you,
 [...] respect would unto Him defer;
But unto Nothing what can I allow
But what it is? and though your Incense be
But Smoke, 'tis more substantial than He

264.Deceive your foolish selves no longer,  [...]
Am not enchantea, but all you are so:
What  [...] should make you dream I fear to dy,
Who through Deaths door shall to Lifes Palace go?
A way, and pray your Master, it He be
An honest Man, to keep his Word with Me.

265.This Answer, (which the Bearer fully did,)
Enrag'd the Judge to make his the eatuings good:
But all in vain his wrath he marsh alled;
Heav'ns milde, against his bloody Purpose stood;
Nor had fierce Belzebub who set Him on,
Power to step further than he now had gone,

266.Mean while such Joy in Psyche's bosome glow  [...]
Through expectation of the fire and stake,
That all her Pains and Torments to it bow'd,
And in sweet quiet she that Night did break
Her redious Vigils and permitted sleep
With its soft feet upon her eyes to creep.

267.But Phylax, who had all this while withdrew,
(For Heav'n so order'd it,) now gainted leave
His presence to his pretious Charge to shew,
And from the Tyrants rury her reprieve:
Down to the Dungeon he as gladly  [...]
As ever he had towred to the Skies.

268.Where finding her not onely Prisner to
Her it on Chains, but in sleeps silken Bands
Tied as fast; He  [...] his Work to doe
Whil'st she was yet at rest: His potent Hands
Upon her burning sores he gently laid,
Which quenched strait, as of his touch afraid.

[Page 367]
269.Her scursie Rough-cast scaled off, and all
Her Skin to fresh and tender Smoothnesse left:
So when of old the Syrian General
In Jordan did exchange his leprous shift,
His Flesh appeard as soft and pure, as were
The Virgin Streams which smil'd and sported there.

270.With like Facilitie he did but touch
The massie Chains which heavy on her lay.
And none of all their brasen Locks did grutch
To that strange virtual Key strait to give way,
But down they tumbled, clashing as they fell,
Which Noise to Psyche did their ruine tell.

271.She startled up, and sought to understand
What that Sound ment, in hopes it had been Day,
And that the hasty Judge had sent Command
Unto the Stake to hurry her away,
That hungry He might other Charges save,
And Her for's Breakfast ready rosted have.

272.When loe, her Selfe in Phylax's Arms she found
Chain'd by a soft and delicate Embrace;
Her other Gives she saw upon the ground,
Confuted all and shatter'd: Bnt she was
Amazed most, to finde she had no Sore
To rub, for knawing her, as heretofore.

273.But then, My Dear, said Phylax, We have now
No time to stay and look, but must away.
Three times she shak'd her head, & rubb'd her Brow;
But when she saw these wonderous Sights would stay,
She yeilded, fully to attend the Dream;
For unto her it nothing else did seem.

274.Up from the Dungeon the Angel flew,
Proud of the Prize which in his Arms he bore.
The Bolts and Locks fled from his radiant View,
So did the Prisons seav'n-fold Brasen Door,
Yet durst not make the least Complaint, or bear
By any Noise, tales to the Jailers ear.

275.Thus through the Town unseen unheard He past,
 [...] his Pupill in an unknown Way:
Great was his Care of Her, and great his Haste
 [...] He had brought her into Safeties Bay;
This was a Place which in the Desert He
For her immured had with Privacie.

276.A Place removed far beyond the Sent
Of any Blood-hound, whither Man or Beast;
A Place well furnished with sweet Content,
And all Conveniences ready drest:
Where, having brought her in, No more mistake
Thy Blisse, He cri'd, but know Thou art awake.

277.Thy Spouse is pleas'd with this Experiment,
And doth accept thy faithfull Patience:
To free Thee from thy Chains and  [...], he sent
Me hither, and from all that Violence
The furious Tyrant hath prepar d to day
Upon thine undeserving Head to lay.

278.Psyche appall'd at this unlook'd for Word
And well perceiving that she heard and saw;
Was with such hearty Indignation stirr'd
Against her Guardian; that had not the Law
Of virtuous Modesty dwelt in her Tongue,
Full in his Face Defiance she had flung.

279.And yet thus far she ventured to ease
Her belking Heart: O Phylax, how art Thou
Known hitherto to Me by Courtesies,
Into mine Enemie transformed now?
How art Thou made more Tyrant unto Me,
Than He from whom thou now hast set Me free?

280.I by His Help, this Morning should have seen
That Day which from my Spouse's Eyes doth rise;
Nor had I any longer troubled been
Upward to look, when I would read the Skies:
O no! Uranius now looks down when He
The region of the Sun and Stars would see.

281.What is this Life of Banishment, to Me,
Who have no settled Home but that above?
What boots it that my Chains and Maladie
Are shaken off, if Psyche still must prove
A Pris'ner to this heavy Flesh and Bone,
Which more torments me than they could have done?

282.Are the fair Palms, and ever-radiant Crown
Of Martyrdome, so poor and vile a prize;
Are Heav'n and Jesu's Company now grown
Things so indifferent, that my longing Eyes
Should spare their Tears, when I am snatch'd away
From them, and fore'd on for did Earth to stay:

[Page 368]
283.O Phylax Thou hast not repreived Me
From any of my Pains: I'm at the Stake,
I burn, I burn; nor will my Agonie
But by my final Dissolution slake.
She fainted here — But Phylax took her up,
And hasted thus her Sorrows Tide to stop.

284.Courage, my Dear, and be assured I
Have not deceiv'd thee of try Noble Aim:
Thy Spouse designs a Martyrdome whereby
To draw thee to himselfe, but not the same
By which he snatch'd  [...]: no; for thee
He treasured hath a braven  [...]

285. [...] long, more strong, and  [...] Pain
 [...] be, than from the Spight
Of this, though  [...],  [...]  [...]
Thou  [...] for  [...] Fight
Then  [...]  [...] fought; and this shall be,
The Theater of thy mighty  [...]

286.Here in this very Place shalt thou maintain
 [...] Combat, whilst thy Spouse and all
His  [...]  [...] on his royal Train
Will be Spectators: O doe not forestall
Thy greater Fame by hasty Zeal, but stay
With patience for thy Coronation Day.

287.This ample Answer such Refreshment blew
On Psyche s Heats, that meek and pliant she
Cool'd her importunate Desires, and grew
Content to wait the full Maturity
Of her affected laurel, though as yet
She little knew how she must Gather  [...]

[Page 369]

PSYCHE: OR LOVES MYSTERIE. CANTO XIX. The Dereliction,

ARGUMENT.

PSyche abandon'd to the Solitude
Of Soule and Body, by the resolute Might
Of patient loyal Constancie, subdu'd
Hels Champion Dispair, in single fight.
Yet in her Conquest no free Joy could have,
Because she still was Derelictions Slave.

1.HOw grim, how cold, how comfortless soe'r
Thou look st, dear Solitude; sure in thy breast
Some worthy Sweets thou dost  [...] bear;
Witness that Vilenesse, and that high Request
By which betwixt the lazie earthly heart,
And Pious Soule thou so divided art.

2.He who when e'r his Conscience him doth take
Alone, it  [...] full on his guilty face;
A large Inditement doth against thee make,
And on thee poures the bottome of Disgrace,
Calling thee Mother of vexatious Folly,
Of Horrors and dispaning Melancholy

3.He no where but among his roaring Boyes
Can meet a quire whose Musick suits his Ear,
Whil'st in the tumult of that boistrous noise
He drowns those thoughts which would his bosome tear;
And in the throng of Sinners cannot finde
Free room to take a view of his own Minde.

4.And thus, unhappy Man, he onely lives
In his outside, and therefore liveth not:
But when sure 'Death his wofull summons gives,
Strangely amazed, and not knowing what
To do or think, in vain for help he cryes;
And to himself a wretched stranger dies.

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5.He dies; and leaves that Body which would not
Endure to be a little while alone,
In the Graves tedious Solitude to rot;
Whilst in the Tumult of Damnation
His now uncloysterd Soule is forc'd to dwel
Amongst the Roarers of eternal Hell.

6.But he who dares his Bosome ransack, and
Take a survey of every thing within,
That he may always ready have at Hand
An Inventary of himself, and win
Time upon Death by prudent Preparation
To entertain and kisse his Consummation;

7.He who both Leisure and Desire can finde
To sequester Impertinences, that
His proper busnes he may onely minde,
And by industrious Thrift mend his Estate.
So that though naked he goes to his grave,
An endlesse stock of riches he may have.

8.He, He's the Man whom all the Cities joyes
And proud excess; the Countries hearty sport;
The Licence, endlesse Fashions, glittering Toies,
And all the Pomp and Glories of the Court
Cannot so far enchant, but sober he
Can of plain Solitude inamored be.

9.He there more store of Company can meet,
And of more high and worthy quality,
Than in the thickest Theatre doth sweat,
Where Spectacles professe to court the Eye;
Such Presses justle out all Heav'n, but He
Reads it at large in this Vacuitie.

10.An undisturbed view he here can take
Of all its fairest and its loftiest stories;
His Contemplation here can freely break
Through all the Treasures of its boundlesse glories;
And in the Court where Blisse and Pleasures reign
With Saints and Angels brave Acquaintance gain.

11.Here to the Universe's King can He
His free attendance pay from Morn to Night,
Whil'st in the everlasting One and Three
He learns both to Divide and to Unite
His mystick Homage, as the Spirits Gale
Makes him through this Abysse of Wonders sail.

12.Here he doth always stand upon his Watch,
That when the roaring Lyon, who doth run
About the World his carelesse Preys to catch,
Hunteth that way, his On-set he may shun;
Or with awakened and prepared Might
Confront his Foe, and entertain the fight.

13.Here from the saplesse Worlds enchanting Breast
Where nothing but the froth of Milk doth spring,
Himself he weans; and studies how to feast
Upon some masculine substantial thing,
Which may not mock him with short false Content,
But to his Soul yeeld solid Nutriment.

14.No Humor of the Times, no Garbs or Fashions,
Can here take up his Care; No boistrous News
Of publike Woes, or fatal Alterations,
The Calm of this his Harbour can abuse
No storms can rage but in the open seas;
His private Bay the Cloister is of Ease.

15.His righteous Soule is not afflicted here
To See and Hear how wretched Worms defie
Omnipotence's King, and scorn to fear
The Jaws of Hell, to which their Villany
Makes them apparent Heirs; but take delight
The Love and Blood of Jesus to despight.

16.Here past the reach of those bewitching Darts
Which flash with radiant Bane from wanton eyes,
And make both timorous and martial hearts
Yeeld to fantastick self-made Wounds, He lies
Secure and safe, and undisturbed may
Prepare for his eternal Nuptial Day.

17.Here leave and leisure he enjoys to weed
And cultivate his Heart, in which he plants
Each Herb of Grace, and sows the blessed Seed
Of every Virtue which his bosome wants;
In certain hopes his labours will conclude
In a full Harvest of Beatitude.

18.With prudent foresight here he doth provide
An ample stock that he may ready be
To bear all Charges which may Him betide
In managing a publike Life, if he
Be called from his private Nest, and made
Against the thronging stream of Sin to wade.

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19.More furnished with strength of Argument
From learned Athens never Student came,
Though He his nimblest years and Spirits had spent
The Engins of most active Wit to frame;
Then doth this sagely-sprightfull Champion from
His private Schole of publick Virtue come.

20.For having learned their due Scorn to throw
Upon those Incerests and Baits which make
The biass'd Hearts of Men unmanly grow,
And cowardly Sins sneaking By paths take;
In spight of all the World which dares say No,
He in the King of Heav'ns High-way will go

21.Thus in all Sorts of high Advantage this
Life of Retirement, doth the Garland wear;
Which therefore onely dear and pretious is
To Them who Sons of Heav'n and Wisdome are:
And which, insipid timorous Soules, as They
Cannot beleeve, so never can enjoy.

22.Psyche, who now conducted was into
This solitary State, though fervent She
Did in Uraniu's Steps desire to goe,
Yet since it might not on the sudden be,
Appeas'd the flames of her Impatience by
The streaming Comforts of her Privacy.

23.If in the tumult of the World She still
Had mingled been, the Crowd had surely slain her;
For all Earths furniture and friendlyest Skill
Could not with any Solace entertain her:
Her Heart already was in Heav'n, and She
Was best, where She could least behinde it be.

24.And that was here, where by no secular Care
Or Interruption She molested was;
But dwelling in a calmie Hemisphear,
Upon free Meditations Wings could Passe
Above the Moon and Sun, and Troops of fair
Stars, which upon Heav'ns Plains embatled are.

25.But as at length She gan to pant again
For that dear Day of final Conflict She
By Phyla'x Promise hoped to obtein,
And that alone; Loe, on the sudden He,
Call d thence by other Buisnesse, takes his leave
Yet telling her He would not her deceive.

26.As She made haste to ask the reason; He
Took Wing, and instantly outfled her Eye:
A Sigh strait strove to follow Him, but She
Repulsed it with noble Constancy,
And cri'd, It must not, and it shall not grieve me;
Did Heav'n not call Him, Phylax would not leave me.

27.Then down upon her humble Knees She fell,
And casting up ward her most loyal Eyes,
So long as Thou as truely here dost dwell
Sweet Lord, said She, as in the highest skies,
Though Phyla'x Wings now shelter not my head,
Yet thine are alwayes o'r thine Handmayd spred.

28.Though pretious is His Company to Me,
Yet not so dear as is thy blessed Will;
Though here alone a feeble Thing I be,
I can and dare be more abandon'd still,
If mighty Thou, who never wilt forsake Me,
With neerer Losses pleased art to rack Me.

29.Fain would I quit the Debt in which to Thee,
And mine own Vows I stand; fain would I prove
By combating with any Misery
The Truth of my (how deep-obliged) love:
Thou bidd'st Us Follow with our Crosse, and loe
I in thy bloodyest Steps desire to goe.

30.I would not to a Figures Courtesie
Beholden be in my Affliction, nor
To such a tender Crosse condemned be
As must be helped by a Metaphor
To make its hard Name good; for that I'm sure
Was true and real which Thou didst endure.

31.No golden Plenty do I crave of Thee,
No soft Content, or silken Peace: Impart
Those favours unto whome Thou wilt, for Me;
Thy sharpest Blessings best will please my Heart:
My heart, which burneth in profound desire
Of some Heroick and consuming fire.

32.O do not slay Me by denying Death!
To suffer want of Suffrings, is to Me
The onely Dregs which from thy deepest Wrath
Can squeazed be: from this one Misery
Which is the Pith of all, I beg repreive:
I dy in torment if in ease I live.

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33.Jesus whose Ear is alwayes ope to them
Who speak Loves Dialect, straight heard her Crie:
Which made such welcome Musick unto him
That her Petition he could not deny:
His sweetned Bitternesse apace he sent,
And bless'd her with her begged Punishment.

34.Charis, accustom'd open House to keep
In her free Heart, he there shut up so close
That now no nimble glimmering Ray could peep
Forth from that Nest of Light: Nor could she choose
But be suspitious that the Spring was dri'd
From whence no Emanations did glide.

35.When loe, the Welkin, which before was clear,
And flowed with the Suns transparent Gold;
Started from its fair Looks with sudden fear,
And did in swarthy Beams it selfe enfold.
Day was abash'd to see how boldly Night
Incroach'd upon her, and despis'd her Light.

36.The Aire presageing what outrageous Pain
Would tear her tender weatherbeaten Sides,
With hollow Groans and Mournings did complain
Aforehand of the Storm; which as she  [...],
She but awakes, and so provokes to rage
With louder furie on the whole Earths Stage.

37.Forthwith the Clouds came tumbling one upon
Anothers back, for fear to loose their Place
And Office in that blinde Confusion
With which the Element now gravid was:
Close quaking in his Cave lay every Beast,
And every Bird lamenting in his Nest.

38.Strange Phantoms dressed in a spurious Light,
Fed by foule Sulphure, flashed all about;
Fell griezly Ghosts arrayed all in Fright
Both with themselves and one another fought;
Whole Troops of gastly Fiends and Furies rent
Their Snakes, as through the sable Aire they went.

39.The labouring Clouds at length with open Crie
Brought forth their Griefe, and thunder'd their Com­plaint
The most obdurate Rocks could not deny
Their Pitty, but straight trembled and grew faint:
So did the massie Earth, which quak'd to hear
The woefull Outcrie of its Neighbour Sphear.

40.Psyche alone, as yet refus'd to melt
By any tremor; onely in her Heart
A kinde of Numnesse creeping on she felt,
'Cause Charis there forbore her wonted Part:
When loe, an heavy black condensed Cloud
Down to the Ground before her face did crow'd.

41.Where having op'd its hideous Curtains wide,
Forth at the Gap a Stream of Lightning broke;
Whose sudden dazeling, though now harmlesse, Tide
The resolute Mayd with some amazement stroke:
But straight an Hand reach'd out it Selfe and held
A mighty Cup, with greater Terrors fill'd.

42.It held it to her Lip, and what before
Was Thunder, now prov'd an articulate Voice:
And bad her drink up all that dreadfull Store,
Since she had been so venturous in her choise:
She nothing more than Pleasures fear'd, and here
Was nothing lesse than what her Heart did fear.

43.Thus challeng'd by the Voice, whose Sound she knew,
And durst not disobey; She sent her Eye
Into the Cup to take a plenal View
Of the black Liquor which in it did ly.
Wherein such boyling Horrors she descried,
That down she prostrate fell, and thus she cried:

44.Weak Woman as I was, how has my Pride,
My silly Pride, betrayed me to Woe!
On Confidence's Wings I needs would ride
Although I towr'd but to my Overthrow:
Had I remembred that a Worm I am,
I ne'r had crawl'd so high to mine own Shame.

45.How is it Jesu, that Griefs mighty Cup
Which thou didst once unto the Bottome drink,
Is to its woefull Brim now filled up!
What has renu'd this more than deadly Sink,
Whose Sorrows though to thine they shallow be,
Yet are too deep for poor unhappy Me.

46.Alas thy naked Anger here I see,
In which no glimpse of Favour mixed is:
What will become of weak abandon'd Me
Who in thy Count'nance read mine onely Blisse,
If I be drowned in this Sea of Night,
And cover'd up from my dear Spouse's sight!

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47.Sweet was the Cup of which Uranius drunk;
For being swallow'd up in Streams of Fire,
Thrice happy Saint, to Heav'n he onely sunk:
But I in this black Gulfe of hideous Ire,
Must downward dive, and overwhelmed be
In Derelictions vast Profunditie.

48.I would not fear the most appalling Face
Of any Sorrow, which did not preclude
The sight of Thine; but now Thine Eyes, alas,
By these of Mine no longer must be viewd;
How shall I steer through this vast Sea, who may
Not see the Stars which are to guide my way?

49.Here having knock'd her Breast, and turn'd her Eye,
Her generous Eye, three times unto the Cup;
She chid her Selfe profoundly with a Sigh,
And looking then with noble fervor up,
Yet why should I demur, she cri'd, since mine
Own Will is not mine own, but long since Thine?

50.If any Title to my Selfe I had,
I might be tender of my Ease and Rest:
But since to Thee a Deed of Gift I made,
(Or rather of due Pay,) Thou art possest
Intirely of Me; nor must I refuse
That Thou what is thine own shouldst freely use.

51.I am no further I, than thou wilt grant;
Propriety is no such Thing to Me:
And I who nothing have, can Nothing want
So long as I resigned am to Thee:
Thy Will in Sweetnesse alwayes equal is
Though our false Taste doe sometimes judge amisse.

52.And now I know thy Will is mingled here
With this sad Potion, what soever be
The present Rellish, Psyche doth not fear
But it will end in purest Suavity.
I fear it not: and here she took the Cup,
And bravely to the Bottome drunk it up.

53.As he who has in Poison quaffed deep,
And drownd Himselfe in what he swallow'd down;
Quickly perceives the groping Mischief creep
About his Heart; where being Victor grown,
Its fatal Chains of cold and heavy Lead
Upon its fainting Prisner it doth spread.

54.So Psyche having poured down this sad
And horrid Draught, soon felt its woefull Force
Upon her Soule its Patterie it made,
Which prov'd to weak to stop its mighty Course:
The Deluge broke into her Heart, and there
With uncontrolled Power did domineer,

55.Forth with the Clouds which had beset the Aire
Broke up their gloomy Seige, the Phantomes fled,
Serenity made all the Welkin fair,
The Rocks left Quaking, Birds began to spred
Their cheerly Wings abroad, Beasts ventur'd out,
So did the Sun, and pour'd his Gold about,

56.The World to every Thing grew fresh and clear,
But unto Psyche; for distressed she
Perceived no mutation which could cheer
The cloudy Region of her Agonie:
The Brightnesse of the Day to her was more
Black than the Veil of Pitch She saw before,

57.Thus cheerly Musick is but Torment to
A pained Ear; Thus Neighbours Liberty
With stricter Chains doth gripe the Prisners Woe;
Thus Candles to the Blinde but Mockings be;
Thus Gales, though cool and gentle, nothing slake
The boiling Flames, but them more furious make,

58.Alas her outward Selfe long since had she
Forgot, and knew not what such Comforts meant;
Above the Sphear of Sensibility
She had established her sole Content:
What is't to her that Phoebus shineth fair
Upon her face, whose Joies above him were?

59.This little glaring Thing, this mortal Sun,
Was not the King and Father of her Day:
Her Morning dawn'd with Jesu's eyes alone,
The glorious Fountains of her gallant Joy;
And how, how can she live, now she no more
Can feed upon that Blisse as heretofore?

60.Her Soule look'd up, alas, but look'd in  [...];
For on its Eye-lids sate so thick a Night,
That from that happy Prospect it did chain
And keep close Prisner her unhappy Sight;
And lesse is Blinde Mens Grief, than theirs  [...]
Nothing at all,  [...] their own Misery.

[Page 374]
61.For unto this, and this alone, her Eyes
Wide open were, yea though she shut then  [...]
Still her importunate Calamities
And Desolations, would themselves expose
In full array unto her View, in spight
Of any Veil which could against them fight

62.Tortur'd by this unsufferable Losse,
(For she had never been alone till now,)
Spreading to Heav'n her woefull Hands  [...]
To her Devotions she her Knees did bow
And in an helplesse lamentable hue,
Thus to her  [...] wonted  [...] did sue

63.My God, where e'r Thou art, Why, Why wilt Thou
Who every where canst thy great Selte display
Unto thine Handmaid not one glimpse allow
Who once enjoy'd thy Favoure Highnoon Day
Which had I never done, my present Pain
With such excessive Anguish would not reign.

64.Hath not thy boundlesse Sweetnesse taught my Heart
Compleat Disrellish of all Things beside?
Where grows the Balsame then which for my Smart,
And Me, can any Lenitive provide;
So long as most abandon'd I in this
Black Death the Life of thy sweet Aspect  [...]

65.Strong was this Crie; for all the Heav'ns it rent,
But yet it could not make them hear; and She
Who never untill now had thither sent
Her Prayers in vain, amazed was to see
These which so loud about her Spouse resounded
Back to her Breast with Emptinesse rebounded.

66.Yet, as the noble Palme, though on her Head
A massie, churlish, sturdy Burden lies,
With valiant Patience still goes on to spreac
Her inderatigable Arms, and tries
How she may both her sad Affiiction bear,
And her ambitious Boughs still higher rear:

67.So galiant Psyche, though now on her Back
This Load more ponderous than Mountains lay
Bravely resolved not to let it crack,
Nor her most loyal Patience betray:
She knew what Jesus underwent before,
And that his Love deserv'd thus much, and more

68.Confirmed therefore to her Task she went,
And spurr'd up Logos to his daily Part;
Whom upon Contemplations Wings she sent
To fetch some Comfort for her pined Heart:
Vnto Heav'ns Treasurie she sent Him, where
 [...] meet with high and holy Chear.

69.But every Night when he returned home.
Alas he nothing brought but saplesse Fare,
Lank drie Results, whose Bulk and Total Sum
She never saw amount to more than bare
And flashie Uselessenesse, resembling that
 [...] thither lately shot

 [...]This sad Miscartiage fully did a wake
The fountains of her Eyes, which liberal were
In  [...] Drops by that thick showre to slake,
Or empty out the Grief which flam'd in her:
Yet all this woefull Brine she thus did poure
But onely  [...] Cheeks and  [...] her more.

71.Thus cross'd and disappointed every way
Though she a fair and full Temptation had
No more to Mock her selfe, and waste the day
In fruitlesse Toile: Yet she this Statute made,
Unto her Selfe, Her Duty still to doe,
Whether Heav'n would regard her Pains, or  [...]

72.So when the unrelenting Storm hath driven
The Mariner into the boiling Main,
And with thick Clouds so veild the face of Heav'n
That he direction from no Star can gain;
He yeildeth not to all those Miseries,
But plies his Oars, whether He lives or dies,

73.Her Tears she poured still, her Sighs she blew,
Her Hands she Lifted up, her Knees she bent,
She knock'd her Breast, her Contemplations fiew
Their wonted flight, her Groans her Bosome rent,
Her Heart did pant with Languishments of Love
By Watching, Prayers, & Fasts, with God she  [...]

74.With God she strove, and with her selfe; for all
This while her Soule was out of tune and taste:
Those Exercises savoured now of Call,
Whose Sweetnesse pos d the Honey in times past
Yet she this tedious Gall would not forsake,
Nor  [...] exchange the Dew of Hybla take

[Page 375]
75.Thus, when soule Humors have usurp'd, and reign
In his weak Stomach, still the hungry Man
Ingests his wholesome Diet, though in vain;
For every houre his Meat, doe what he can,
Onely mispent, and half-corrupted is,
And then regorg d with painfull Nauseousnesse.

76.Her heavy Breast was now become as cold
And dead, as if it ne'r had been the Seat
Of  [...] Fire, and Heav'n: and He that would
Have paralleld her Soules and Bodies State,
(Though wondrous drie this was,) might soon have spyed
How that, far more than This was Mortified.

77.And this scru d her Conditions Anguish high;
For still she neither thought she Watch'd nor Pray'd,
Nor shed a Fear, nor heaved up a Sigh,
Nor managed her Contemplations Trade,
Nor Groand, nor Lovd; because she never felt
Her Heart in any of these Actions melt.

78.What Man upon the thanklesse Rocks can plow,
Or found his Building on the faithlesse Sand,
Or in the stormy Oceans Furrows sow,
Or wash the tawny AEthiopians Hand,
And still be patient, though his Pains and Cost
A thousand times already have been lost?

79.Where's that stout He, who though He be imploy'd
In busines of Fire and Flames, and set
With sulphury fuel to keep up the Tide
Of iron Fornaces enraged Heat,
Can be content mean while Himselfe to be
Shrivell'd and nipp'd up by Frosts Tyranny?

80.Yet through these Riddles of Disconsolation
Brave Psyche waded, and bore up her Head
Aloft the Flood; whilst far above all Passion
Her Passion she embrac'd, and wearied
Her Selfe with no lesse Quiet, than if she
Down stream had sloated with facilitie.

81.For patiently she  [...] was, and sound
No Comfort in this  [...] of her  [...]
Yet though she every day and houre were  [...]
 [...] she  [...], she  [...] did  [...]
The  [...] and her  [...] did give
 [...] in this  [...]  [...].

82.Long liv'd she in it: and although her Fasts
She duely kept, yet did she not forbear
When Nature challeng'd them, her spare Repasts,
She being stor'd by Phylax s loving Care:
Although she were ambitious to die,
She scorn'd to hasten on her Destiny.

83.Long liv'd she in it, for her Spouse was now
Resolv d her Valonrs full Extent to trie.
But envious Satan who ran prieing through
All Quarters of this lower World to spie
Where He might finde new Booties for his spight,
Discover'd her in this disconsolate Plight.

84.But as a Coward who hath oft been beat,
Yet still on base revengefull Hope doth feed,
Waits opportunity when He may meet
His brave Antagonist impoverished
In strength and Spirits by some other Fight,
And on that Weaknesse builds his stollen Might:

85.So now base-hearted He the fight forbore
Till Psyches Courage He conceived spent;
And then, with prouder Hopes then e'r before,
Unto his damned Home pufft up he went:
(Fool as He was; to let his Looks professe
His Triumph, e'r the Victory was His.)

86.Then haveing climb'd his Throne, and from his face
Wip'd off the coalblack Sweat, into a Smile
He forced it: The Feinds admir'd whar cause
Their Kings Austerity could so beguile;
Yet, in compliance every One begun
To shrivell up his Cheeks, and gently grin.

87.When Satan thus: Hate and Defiance first
To Heav'n, and then all Glory to my Selfe.
You know to what expence of Pains that  [...]
And though most feeble, yet most peevish  [...].
Jesus his Mistresse, long hath put Me, yet
Upon that Worm my Will I could not get.

88.But now the feat is done, and  [...]
Is by her goodly Spouse divore'd, and lies
To the just Vengance of our Majesty
A most abandoned and woefull Prize.
I saw her as she lay, but scorn d to bring
Her with Me No, it  [...],  [...] with a King.

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89.But thou Dispair, (and here he turn'd aside.
For standing at his right Hand was the Feind,
Shalt fetch her hither: Thou maist finde her hid
In that  [...] deserts farthest closest end
Which lies next to that superstitious sink
Where Arimathean  [...] bones do stink.

90.The  [...] Furie made no stay,
(For what so  [...] is as Desperation?)
But posted upward, snatching by the way
Her dismall Engins in such furious Fashion
That all her Sisters  [...] at her haste,
And  [...] was glad when she by it was past.

91. [...] the  [...] the hilly Peak
 [...] Way;
 [...] impatience she did break.
 [...] trembling lay,
 [...] the dull sleeping  [...]
Awak'd for fear and  [...] about its Bed.

92.All Beasts which saw the  [...], as she flew
Distracted at the horror of the sight,
Themselves down fatal Precipices threw;
All Birds unable to maintain their flight,
Let their Wings flag, and hung their Heads aside.
And having chang'd their tunes to shreikings, di'd.

93.But still the frightfull Furie posted on,
Till she arriv'd at her desired Place:
Where finding sorrowfull Psyche all alone.
She set her hideous self full in her face:
All shapes of horror which did ever fright
The  [...] Eys, must stoop unto this sight.

94.Pale Ghastlines did in her Viiage reign;
Which yet self-Rage in part confuted had,
Black hideous Gore full many a wofull stain
Pump'd from her own accursed Veins, had made:
For oft her madnesse on her self she show'd,
And her Cheeks valleys with her nailes had plow'd.

95.Her Locks were half torn off, so was her Gown,
And most by careless Naftiness was she
Array'd than by her Cloths: Her breasts hung down
All lank and torn, and flapp'd upon her knee,
Which gap'd, and shew'd the naked shatter'd Bone
She  [...] had dash'd on a sharp stont.

96.But every Part did handsome seem and fair.
Unto her hollow, and yet staring, Eys;
In which such soveraign Terrors marshall'd were
As no Description can equalize:
For  [...] was like to nothing but the other,
And  [...] which should outstare his Brother.

97.These were the ominous Mirrours where each Wight
Whose Bosome was not innocent and clear,
No sooner look'd, but in a fatal Plight
He saw himself and all his Crimes, which there
Appearing double, did affright him so
That from his cursed self he wish'd to go.

98.The  [...] Basilisks mischievous Eys,
And those of fascinating Witches, be
Far  [...] Glasses, than these Prodigies
Which  [...] with Danger's worst extremitie.
Heav'n  [...] the Man whose miserable Chance
 [...] him into the  [...] of their glance.

99.Nor was the furniture of this foule Hag
Unanswerable to her hideous looks;
For in her starved sharp Arms she did lag
A load of rusty Swords, Knives, Daggers, Hooks,
With poisnous Cups and Boxes, all bound up
And hung in many a fatal Withe and Rope.

100.Appointed thus, she stood a while and stared
On desolate Psyche; who at first was stroke
(For unexpectedly the Fiend appeared,
And with a sudden dint,) at her fell look:
And yet not so as to be beaten over;
For strait her strength, and self, she did recover.

101.The Tower thus, which at the furious Blast
Of rushing Tempests yeilds a while to quake;
Forgetteth not withall to stand more fast
Than those proud Buildings which disdain to shake;
And therefore by an instant Ruine down
From their exalted Confidence are thrown.

102.Dispair percerving that her looks were vain,
Drew her more dangerous Weapon out; and this
Was her be witching tongur, which she did strain
Unto the highest Key of Crastines;
And casting down her luggage, thus assaid
To doe as much upon the constant Maid:

[Page 377]
103.If I thy doubtfull Count'nance read aright,
Thou neither understandest who am I,
Nor who thy Selfe: But this thy  [...] plight
So charms my Pitty, that I must descrie
Both unto Thee; and if thou wilt befriend
Thy selfe thou maist thy  [...] state amend.

104.I knew my  [...] speaketh nothing lesse,
Than  [...]. But Things which fairest be
Doe often veil in their enchanting Dresse
The  [...] Stings of odious Treachery;
And soher Wisdome alway doth commend
 [...] Friend.

105.Were it not so, thy Selfe hadst never strove
Against the  [...] Tide of Things below.
 [...] sull alwayes of the soothing Love
With which the Worlds inviting Smiles did slow,
Were it not so, what Price could be so high
To  [...] Thee thus thy Selfe to Mortisic?

106.Suspect not then my Looks, which needs must show
Like Terrors most abhorred Book to them
Whose vain deluded Bosomes overflow
With secular Pleasures frothy empty Stream:
These think each Winde, though it would blow them to
The Haven, will prove a Storm, and them undoe.

107.But thy Condition, if Thou weigh'st it right,
Will teach Thee better what concerns thy Blisse;
Remember then, that since Thou saw'st the Light
Thou ne'r had st reason to be friends with this
Unhappy Life, which from thy Cradle to
This Houre, hath swarm'd with Nothing but thy wo.

108.The dainty Budds of thy young Vigorous years
Serv'd not trim a Gatland for Delight;
By Virtue's rigid and untimely Cares
They blasted were; and Thou ev'n in despight
Of blooming Tendernesse preventedst Time
And provedst old and withered in thy Prime.

109.Whilst other Maydons  [...] for  [...] joy,
Gather d the sweetest  [...] of cheerly  [...],
Thou joyn'dst thy self in marriage to  [...]
Living a  [...] and Single  [...]
And thus of Griefs a numerous  [...]
Thou springing from thy virgin  [...]  [...],

110. [...] from this Isle of Blisse, thy native Home,
Thy  [...] Zeal drove Thee into the East;
Where Thou about  [...] Palistine didst rome
Both to the Place a  [...], and to Rest:
What found'st thou there but thine own Loss, whilst Thou
 [...] which the  [...] did dow?

111.Alas, the dear  [...] of thy Lord
Which with thine hankering Eys thou there didst read,
Did but Assurance to thy Soule afford
That He, its onely Joy, to Heav n was  [...]:
And surely here at home Thou wert as neer
The skies, as thou wert in thine Exile there.

112.Thus having wasted out thy Strength, and Time,
(And Credit too, with those who lov'd Thee best;)
Back wert thou hurried to thy British Clime
Lake a  [...] wearied Bird to her poor Nest:
Where when thou countedst up thy Journeys Gains
Thou onely foundst thy Labour for thy Pains.

113.Then fired by unhappy Piety,
Upon thy Selfe thou didst the Tyrant play
Thy lamentable Body she weth by
Its ghastly Leanesse, how thou strov'st to slay
Thy guiltlesse Flesh, and what Pains thou didst  [...]
Languid and senselesse every Sense to make.

114.And for no other End, but to refine
Thy Selfe from this dull clogging Earth. unto
A State which might thy backward Spouse  [...]
To love thy loyal Heart, which laboured so
To trace his hardiest Steps, and cheerly tosse
Upon her Shoulders his most heavy Crosse.

115.Yet when thou justly didst thy Boon expect,
(Lesse due unto Uranius, than to Thee;)
Unto a Dungeon He did thee reject;
(A Place how far from  [...] Liberty.)
Where thou who in the  [...] long'dst to expire,
Wert forc'd to lead a dying Life in  [...].

116.Remember what intolerable Chains
Into thy Soule their cruel  [...] prest,
What Heaps of boiling Sores, and  [...] Pains
Were pour'd upon Thee, and  [...];
Whence when the Romane  [...]  [...] prepared
 [...] thee free, thy freedome  [...].

[Page 378]
117.It was debarred by no other Hand
But that which rather should have lent thee Aid
What Phylax did, was by thy Lords Command,
When from that Gaole he stole thee, and betray'd
Thy Hopes of Martyrdome, which now was grown
Mature, and offered  [...] thine Head its Crown.

118.I grant thy torturing Sores He healed, but
Deserv'd nor Pay nor Thanks for that his Cure,
Which did but thy repaired Body put
In a fit able posture to endure
This greater Load, whose mercilesle Excesse
Doth thy unpittied Shoulders  [...]

119.Shoulders unpittied by Him from whom
Thou hadst most reason to expect Relief
But in his cruel Ears there is no Room
To lodge and entertain the Suit of Grief:
Had there been any, surely He would not
Thy mighty Supplications out have shut.

120.How has the Stroke of thy impetuous Crie
Taught this dumb Desert. Mournings Dialect;
Whilst all its Rocks and Caverns shaken by
Thy Groans and Lamentations, them reflect
To Heav'n with doubled fervor, and agree
Fellow-Petitioners to be with Thee

121.And yet thy grated Throat is not so drie,
As are thy now exhausted Eyes, from whence
Thy Spouse's cruel Heart to mollifie
Thou freely pourdst thine utmost Influence:
But still the Stone which on his Breast doth grow
Will not by all those Drops be pierced through

122.O no! unkindly He doth turn away
His Face, least any Glimpie should leap to Thee:
And thou long flatter'd by his Favours Day,
Art now betrayed to the Misery
Of blackest Night O may all Soules beware
How they Heav'ns wiley Prince doe trust too far

123.Alas, thy desolate Heart too well doth know
That thy Condition I doe not mistake;
And with secure Presumption, Psyche, Thou
Maist from my Art this sound Conclusion make
That I who can discover all thy Grief
May tell what physick will yeild thee  [...]

124.Thy Phylax, once esteem'd thy trustiest Friend,
Well understands the depth of thy Disease:
Yet finding all his skill too weak to lend
Thee any real Aid, himselfe he frees
From fruitlesse Trouble, and is fled away,
Ashamed now his weaknesse to betray

125.I know not how, but alwaies at a Pinch,
When great Extremities crave equal Aid,
Your common Comforters use still to flinch,
And crie, Heav'ns Will be done: But I afraid
Of nothing am, no not Heav'ns Destination
 [...] along can feel no Desperation,

126.I, I the onely able Doctresse, who
In desperate Cases certain Physick give,
In pitty of thy unregarded Woe,
Am hither come prepared to relceve
Thy helplesse Heart: Nor doe I ask a Fee:
My  [...] Guerdon shall thy  [...]

127.Loe here store of Receipts: When noble Saul
The field, his Kingdome, and his God had lost;
No sooner on this Swords Point he did fall,
But all the Plot of his Mishaps he crost,
And, maugrè all Philistia's Powers, fell
Down to the Rest of holy Samuel.

128.Disgrac'd by Hushai, and rejected by
Fond Absalom, profound  [...]
Himselfe to teskue from this Misery
Consulted with his own deep Oracle,
And found no  [...] way than by this Rope
His Breath his Lite, and his Contempt to stop.

129.Great Annibal accustom'd long to ride
In Triumphs Chariot, being overborn
By undeserv'd Misfortunes powerfull Tide,
Least he should prove the Romane Song and  [...],
Sipp'd but a little of that Poison there,
And went in glorious Peace unto his Beer,

130.Renouned Cato, when by peevish Fate
Thrust into Straits too narrow to contain
His mighty Spirit; by a little hate
Of wretched Life,  [...] Rest did gain;
There lies the Sword still with his brave blood  [...]
By which he op d the Way, and free'd his Soule

[Page]

[...]

[...] gallant Antony to overthrow;

[...] that it ever should be said

That noble He, though conquered, would [...],

He with that Weapon cut th' unhappy Thred

Of life, and layd him down in [...] Bed

132.Say not that these were Men, and Female Thou
 [...] manage  [...]
Thy  [...] high Exploits will not allow
 [...] Yet could I cite to Thee
 [...] thy most extreem Distresse
 [...] be thy Warrant for this Manlynesse.

133. [...] rusty with the blood,
 [...] Blood, of Female Lucrece; she
 [...] to her Tears poor Womanish  [...];
 [...] her Directions from Me;
And with that Instrument broach'd from her Veins
 [...],  [...] wish the blacknesse of her Stains.

134. [...], when her Disasters grew
 [...] thick and crosse that they had almost shut
The way to all Releif, found out a new
Road unto Death, and down her Throat she put
The Fire which made Her her own Sacrifice:
Part of the Coals still in that Casketlies.

135.Although sweet Antony was wont to rest
In  [...] s dainty Bosome; yet
When Losses her beseig'd, unto her breast,
Her lovely breast, an odious Aspe she set,
Which suckd out her sad Life: and in that round
Box lies the Serpent up in Circles wound.

136. [...]
As  [...]  [...], thou hast witnesse by
 [...] who
 [...]
 [...] the  [...] by whose vntue she
 [...]

137. [...]
 [...]
 [...]
 [...]
 [...]
 [...]

 [...] [...]
 [...]
 [...]
 [...]
 [...]
 [...]

 [...]But hate not thou thy Selfe, cause I am kinde,
Nor scorn the Bounty of my Pitty: Know.
It stands not with a truely  [...] minde
To fear her own, more than anothers Blow.
If thou  [...]  [...]; be Brave, and Die
The Life of Fame doth reach Eternitie,

140.Come then, and since thy Spouse so cruel is,
Give Him his  [...], and  [...] Him to his face:
Come choose the Way unto by  [...] Blisse,
And  [...] send  [...] Self unto the  [...]
Where  [...], who did this  [...]
Safe in the Arms of  [...] main.

141.Thou hast too long already waited on
The  [...] of regardlesse Heav'n, since thou
Art able by thy valiant Hand alone
To give thy Self what that will not allow:
A Martyrdome's thy Wish, and Thou mayst be
A Martyr unto thine own Bravery.

142.So spake Dispair. But Psyche all the  [...]
Stood firm and constant, us the resolute Rock
For well she understood her fatal Guile,
And therefore arm'd her Selfe against the Shock
Of this Assault, which, as she made can end,
She thus rebounded back upon the  [...];

143. [...]
 [...]
 [...]
 [...]
 [...]
 [...]

 [...] [...]
 [...]
 [...]
 [...]
 [...]
 [...]

[Page 380]
145.'Tis true, my Spouse hath hid his joyous face,
And sure I have deserv'd He should do so:
Yet ne'r was Night so long, but did give place
At length to cheerly Day, but that which you
Grone in beneath; and therefore wonderous fain
Into that endlesse Darknesse Me would gain.

146.Let Jesus use his Pleasure on me, I
His Dust and Ashes am: and so goe tell
Your envious father Belzebub; for by
His delegation you are come from Hell:
Tell him, though Jesus kill Me, yet I must,
And in his Goodnesse will, repose my Trust.

147.The Furie to this Word made no reply,
But by an hideous Shreik, which split the Air
And rent the earth, rebounding on the Skie
And Heart of Hell at once: all Thunders were
But murmurs to this fragor; and the Sea
But Whispers when her Billows loudest be.

148.Then snatching up her Baggage with one Hand;
And with the other tearing off her Hair,
Her Skin, her flesh; She cursed Jesus, and
Ran bleeding to the gloomy Cavern, where
She shreik'd again, and shaked Hell before
She enter'd through the Gulf of its black Door.

149.Great Satan started when the Feind he saw
Come thus lamenting home without her Prey:
Upon her throat he clapp'd his iron Paw,
And through it tore his Indignations Way;
For Pain She roared, so did He for Spight,
Whilst all Hell trembled at the dreadfull sight.

150.But Psyche, though her victorie were great,
And might in other Hearts have Triumph bred;
No joy could rellish in her glorious Feat,
For to all Comfort She was cold and dead,
And in her Conquest did remain as sad
As if her Self had been a Captive made.

151.Her woefull Hands She wrung, and smote her Breast,
And cri'd, What is this good Successe to Me?
So long as Heav'n is deaf to my Request,
So long as I grope in Obscurity,
So long as from my Spouses Eyes the wide
Black Curtains of Disfavour mine do hide.

152.Now now alas, by dear Experience I
Have learn'd that Sweets and Pleasures no where are
Truely themselves, but in the Treasurie
Of Jesu's all-enamoring Countenance; there,
There are they lodg'd alone, and hid from Me
Who ev'n in Joy finde nought but Misery.

153.As in the depth of this Disconsolation
She plunged lay, and saw no Way to Rise:
Phylax quite tir'd with his long sequestration
From his dear Charge, of whose Calamities
He jealous was; with importunitie
Wrested from Heav'n a Licence Her to see.

154.No Winde its Wings more stoutly ever stretch'd,
Or flew with brisker nimblenesse than He:
But when his Speed this wished Place had reach'd,
Far from his Wishes He the Place did see;
Down fell his Plumes, and Eys, back flew his Blood,
And He, ô how unlike an Angel, stood!

155.Such havock Grief had made in Psyches face,
That in her Self, her Self He scarce could spie:
Besides the blessed Beams of heav'nly Grace
Which us'd to sparkle in her holy Eye,
Were damp'd with deadish Dulnesse, and no signe
Peep'd forth of any Thing within divine.

156.This further spurred on his Serch to see
What kinde of Weather it was in her Breast;
Where finding thick and heavy Darknesse, He
Would to the Centre of her Heart have prest;
But Charis there so close lay locked up,
That all his sweet Powers could not charm it ope.

157.At this Amazed, and amazed too
That She who with impatient Love had used
To bid Him welcome, and his feet to woe
With humble Kisses, stood like One amused,
And doubtfull whither now it were not best
To throw Neglect on her unsent-for Guest.

158.And yet, resolv'd to trie the Strength of Love,
And not be dash'd out of his sweet Intent,
He kindely her imbrac'd, and gently strove
To warm and win her by that Complement:
He wrought with all his heav'nly Heats to thaw
Her Soule, where frost He domineering saw.

[Page 381]
159.But what can tardy Salves and Balsams do
If Life the Member once has bid Adieu?
In vain does Phylax hug his Pupil, who
Beyond the reach of finite Comfort grew;
In vain he blew those Ashes, in whose heap
No Embers, nor no hopefull spark did sleep.

160.This stroke into his heart so deep a Wound,
That he forgot with him he brought his Tongue;
And pitching sadly down upon the ground,
His anxious Thoughts and Eys on her he hung,
Whil st Silence sate upon his Lips, and quite
Sealed them up for many a day and night.

161.So when the desolate Idumean Prince
Not worth so much as his own skin was left;
(For by an universal Confluence
Of boiling Sores he was of it bereft;)
His dearest Friends sate by him on the ground
In silent Grief and stupifaction drown'd.

162.But then perceiving this long expectation
Bred no relenting in her stiff Disease,
Into the Dialect of Consolation
He op'd his Mouth, and tri'd his best, by these
Most tender Lenitives to venture on
Her heart, and fight with its cold heavy stone.

163.O Psyche, (if Thou yet remainest she,)
What means this strange aversnesse in thine Eye?
How hast thou lost thy memorie of Me
Who still am Phylax; and Calamitie
Me thinks should make thee not forget my Name,
Who by my Office thy Protector am.

164.If ever thou hadst found Me false, when thy
Distresse has called for my helping hand:
Or if thy present heavy Misery
Doth not in need of my Assistance stand,
Well might'st thou by this strange deportment dart
Disdain upon the Comforts I impart.

165.It was no busnes of mine own which drew
Me from thy Company, most dear to me;
Witness the time when I so cheerly slew
To Palestine, and back again, with thee;
Forsaking all that while the sphear where I
In soveraign blessednes was wont to fly.

166.But He who both my Master is, and thine,
Call'd me away; if yet it were away:
For my imployment was not so much mine
As thine, for whose sweet sake thy Spouse did lay
That charge upon me: Then be of good Cheer,
And to the happy news I bring, give Ear.

167.When I in Heav'n had long attendance pay'd,
To Jesu's Soveraign pleasure; Gracious He
Hearing my sighs, in gentlenes array'd
His looks, and to his foot-stool beckned me:
Where having on my face ador'd him thrice,
He blessed Me as oft, and bad Me rise.

168.Then looking to his own right Hand, at which
His radiant Mother kneel'd, who makes the light
Of heav'n it self with her sweet Lustre, rich;
Behold, said he to Me, my dearest sight;
Behold the Queen of all this joy and bliss
Which by my Regal title I possesse.

169.But her Retinue is not so compleat
As she deserveth, and I needs must grant;
Soft Snowie Followers, answering her sweet
And ever-virgin Self she still doth want;
And from my Nurserie below must I
Her worthy Train with fitting Plants supply,

170.And one of those is humble Psyche, she
Whose Watering and whose Pruning is thy Charge:
Her from unworthy Dusts Captivitie
And all her other straits, I will enlarge
E'r long, when I have proved her to be
By Fires true Witness, fitting Gold for me.

171.In that bright Station shall her dwelling be,
(And he to Maries right hand pointed here,)
There shall the Clouds of her Humilitie
Break up into a Day of Glory; there
Her Sufferings all shall prove Divine; and go
And from my Mouth assure thy Pupill so.

172.I prostrate fell and took my leave; and flew
More on Joys Wings than these, through the vast sea
Of glorious Blessedness; but as I drew
Neer thine old Friend Uranius (For he
Reigns on a lower throne than thine,) he cri'd,
What fortune Phylax, doth thy Charge betide?

[Page 382]
173.That shall you shortly see, said I; and so
Posted directly hither unto thee.
And if this News cannot outlook thy  [...];
Tell me why thou disdain'st Felicitie;
Why Phylax ne're lesse welcome was, then now
He of thine highest Hopes the Dawn doth show:

174.Why thou, against the meek ingenuous law
Of civil Gratitude, dost not embrace
With joyous heart, and with unfurrowed brow,
This mighty token of Heav'ns royall Grace:
Why thou thine own Ambition contradictest,
Whil'st, with his Promise thou thy Spouse rejectest.

175.So spake the Angel. But the heavy Maid
Grown deas to every Word that sounded Joy,
Her dolefull hand upon her Bosome laid,
And, pressed with the Burden of Annoy,
Hung down her Head, replying by a flood
Of tears, how little him she understood.

176.But when she saw he was unsatisfi'd
With that dumb Answer, first an heavy Groan
She helped forth, then flinging open wide
Her lamentable Arms, Let me alone
She  [...], and to my domineering Grief
Afford, at least in Pitty, this Relief.

177.I know you were of old, and still would be
My faithfull Friend; I well remember you
Are Phylax, and what blessed Suavitie
You constantly did to my heart allow;
But that was when my heart alive you found,
Which now in Desolation is drown'd.

178.What Comfort gains a Carkase cold and dead
By the warm Courtesie of Fomentations?
In vain are Tables sumptuously spred
And furnish'd with luxurious Preparations
To court a stomach, all whose Appetite
By Nauseousnesse is slain unto Delight.

179.Blame me not Phylax, for I love you still,
And of your Presence fain the sweets would reap;
But now my greater joy is damp'd, my Will
Reacheth her Arms to this in vain; you heap
But  [...] on Me, whil'st before my Face
You set those Pleasures I cannot embrace.

180.Should I but strive to grasp them, envious they
Would shrink to emptiness, and mock my hand;
Or from their own sweet selves quite fly away,
Degenerating into Sorrows, and
Right-down  [...], rather than impart
One Taste of Joy to my afflicted heart.

181.For ô what Rellish can there be to Me
In any Dainties which you can provide,
So long's the Lord of my Felicitie
From my devorced Eyes himself doth hide!
If Phoebus once withdraws his Soveraign Ray,
What can poor Candles do to cheer up Day!

182.Did but the wonted Beams of heav'nly Grace
Vouchsafe to smile upon my  [...];
They easily would out-look the sourest face
Of all the  [...] which are frowning there:
But since sweet  [...] is ecclips'd to Me,
Phylax is Absent though he Present be.

183.Surely your News had glorious been, and sweet
If carryed unto any One but Me:
But I in Heav'ns and Blisse's Names can meet
No Melodie at all, since Miserie
Hath seal'd, and frozen up my Breast, and I
Unto my self alone abandon'd ly.

184.Though I were now perch'd on the Battlement
Of highest Glorie, and beneath me saw
Each flaming Seraph; I should not resent
That Place as Glorious: still, still below
Should I esteem my self, so long as I
Am muffied up from seeing the most High.

185.Yet now that Jesus, whose poor Worm I am,
Is pleased thus to leave Me to my Dust;
His Pleasure I must not presume to blame,
Which though it bitter seem, is surely Just.
His mighty Name I still adore and bless;
His heavy Rod which plows my Soule, I kiss.

186.Here manly Sorrow stop'd her Mouth, and she
From Phylax having turn d her gastly Eye,
Folded her Arms about her breast: Which He
No sooner saw, but deeply pierced by
Her mighty Wound, He hung his sad eyes down,
And answer d all her Groanings, with his own.

[Page 383]

PSYCHE: OR LOVES MYSTERIE. CANTO XX. The Consummation.

ARGUMENT.

REstor'd to Grace's Light, and Ravish'd by
The Splendor of Beatitude, which shin'd
In her clos'd sleeping Eyes, Psyche with high
Desires Impatience feels her fervent Minde
Fall all on a light Fire; and thus she dies,
As she had liv'd before, LOVES Sacrifice.

1.SWeet END, thou Sea of Satisfaction, which
The weary Streams into thy Bosome tak'st;
The Spring unto the Spring Thou first dost reach,
And by thy inexbausted Kindnesse mak'st
It fall so deep in Love with Thee, that through
All Rocks and Mountains it to Thee doth flow.

2.Thou art the Centre in whose close embrace
From the wide wilde Cireumference each Line
Directly runs to finde its resting Place.
Upon their swiftest Wings, to perch on thine
Enobling Breast, which is their onely Butt,
The Arrows of all high Desires are shot.

3.All Labours pant and languish after Thee,
Stretching their longest Arms to catch their Blisse;
Which in the Way, how sweet so e'r it be,
They never finde; but with all earnestnesse
Presse further on, untill they can pull down
Upon their stour Heads, Thee, their onely Crown.

4.The Plowman answers not the smiling Spring
With Smiles again, but jealous is untill
Thy happy Season his long Hopes doth bring
Unto their Ripenesse with his Corn, and fill
His Barn with plenteous Sheaves, with Joy his  [...],
For Thou, and onely Thou, his Harvest art.

[Page 384]
5.The Traveller suspecteth every Way
Although they traced and fair-beaten be:
Nor is secure but that his Leader may
Perchance mistaken be, as well as He,
Or that his strength may fail Him; till he win
Possession of Thee, his wished Inn.

6.Nobely besmeared with Olympik Dust
And hardy sweat, the Runner holds his pace
With obstinate Celeritie, in trust
That thou wilt wipe and glorifie his face:
His Prize's soule art Thou, whose pretious sake
Makes Him these mighty Pains with Pleasure take.

7.The Mariner will trust no Winde, although
Upon his Sails it blows all Flatterie;
The fawning Sea, when smoothest it doth show,
Cannot allure him to Security;
He credits none but Thee. who art his Bay.
To which through Calmes and Storms He hunts his way.

8.And so have I, cheerd up with Hopes at last
To double Thee, endur'd this tedious Sea;
Through the Times foaming Tempests I have past.
Through flattering Calms of private Suavity;
Through interrupting Companies thick Presse;
Through the vast Deep of mine own Lazinesse;

9.Through many Sirens Charms which me invited
To dance to Ease's Tunes, the Tunes in fashion;
Through many cross misgiving Thoughts, which frigh­ted
My jealous Pen; and through the Conjuration
Of Ignorant and Envious Censures, which
Implacabley, against all Poems  [...];

10.But cheifly Those which venture in a Way
Unbeaten yet by any Muse's feet;
Which trust that Psyche, and her Jesus may
As well become a Verse, and look as sweet,
As Venus and her Son; that Truth can be
A nobler Theme than wanton  [...].

11.And seeing now I am in ken of Thee,
The Harbour which enfiamed my Desire,
And with this constant Patience steered Me
To bring my Bark to rest; I am on fire
Till I my Seife in thy sweet Arms doe throw,
And on the Shore hang up my finish'd  [...].

12.Nor will thy Pleasantnesse lesse wellcome be
To Patient Psyche who so long hath saild
Through the deep Ocean of Calamity,
And over many a boystrous Storm prevaild;
Who through the Smiles and through the Frowns of Heaven
With equal Meeknesse hath till now been driven.

13.For still on Thee she fix'd her longing Eye,
On Thee, who wilt unto her Soule afford
The plenitude of her Felicity,
The dear Enjoyment of her pretious Lord,
And then exchange thy  [...] Name, and be
No longer End, but firm Eternitie.

14.As she sate teaching Phylax how to greive,
Who faithfully her Sorrows copyed;
The Time approach'd when Heav'n would her, re-preive
From this sad Duty, and upon her Head
Let fall the Crown which in this noble Fight
She bravely erned by her constant Might.

15.With Joyeuse Horror on the sudden she
Started and trembled, and leap'd from the ground;
The Angel wonder'd what the Cause might be,
Whose quick Effect did upon Him rebound;
For up he rose, and in suspense expected
What rais'd the Mayd, so much before dejected.

16.When loe, the Joy which kindled in her Breast,
Broke forth and flamed in her cheerfull Eye
For blessed Charis, who so long supprest
In the close Centre of her Heart did lie,
Was now unlock'd by Jesus, and had leave
To her sweet Influence the Reins to give.

17.So when thick Clouds have dammed up the Day,
And dolefull Blacknesse veild the Welkins face;
If Phoebus through those Curtains rends his way,
And bids the Darknesse to his Beams give place,
The Aire surprised by her sudden Blisse
At first with frightfull Gladnesse startled is.

18.So when that unexpected virgin Light
Broke from the glorius Mouth of God, upon
The rude disconsolate Heap of first-born Night;
That sudden Morn with cheerfull Terror ran
About the universal Deep, which was
Amazed at the dint of Lustre s face.

[Page 385]
19.With Pleasures strong Incursion Psyche thus
Being  [...] and shaken; e'r she leisure had
To tell her Gladnesse, sweet and bounteous
Charis a passage through her Bosome made,
And in th' exuberance of Suavity
Her smiling Selfe presented to her Eye.

20.But Humane Soules are in Capacity
So poor and dull while here they dwell below,
They know not how to bear ev'n Courtesie,
Unlesse by slow Degrees on them it grow:
Delights, if rushing in a sudden Stream,
A Deluge prove of Torments unto Them.

21.This Spectacle bred such Extremities
Of over-flowing Joyes in Psyche's Breast,
That she, alas, too narrow to comprise
This swelling Sea of which she was possest,
Resign d her Selfe to it, and by a Sown
In its delicious Depths sunk gently down,

22.But Charis being Mistresse of the Tide,
So brideled in the pliant Floods, that they
Submitted to her Hand their dainty Pride,
And for her gentler Complement made way:
This was a soft Embrace, by which the Mayd
She girded, and her fainting Passion stayd.

23.Then with incomparable Sweetnesse she
Her Eyes upon her fix'd, and thus began:
My Dear, and has Disuse such Potency
That it upon my cheerly Presence can
Disrellish cast; or are my Beams too strong
For thee, who hast in Darknesse grop'd so long?

24.Henceforth take Courage, for no more will I
(And here Thou hast in Pawn my royall Word,)
Leave thee to wade in gloomy Misery,
But trustie Light to all thy waies afford;
Full broad-day Light: for all this while I gave
Thee secret Beams which thou didst not perceive.

25.And had  [...] done so; had I not  [...]
Close at the bottome of thine Heart, to keep
Thy Soules foundation firm and sure; in  [...]
Laborious Zeal had duely broke thy sleep,
In vain had all thy Signs and Tears been spent.
In vain thy Prayers had to Heav'n been sent.

26.Unto its dismall Name too truely true
Thy Dereliction had prov'd, had I
With never-sleeping Care not lain perdu
To watch the Motions of thy Enemy;
That Enemy whose fatal Company
Makes Desolation, Desolation be.

27.When that infernal Hag, the damned Queen
Of Hideousnesse, advanced to the fight,
Armed both Hand and Tongue; had I not been
In thy main Fort (however out of Sight,)
Sure She had undermined it, and thou
Hadst by Dispair been quite blown up e'r now,

28.Yet close I lurk'd, thy Courage so to trie
When thou no Second didst perceive at Hand:
This was the Plot of LOVE himselfe, and I
My Ambush placed but at his Command:
LOVE hid my face; and so he did his own;
But all that while he weav'd for thee a Crown.

29.The Crown which thy long loyal Patience
In the bright Realm of humble Saints shall wear;
And till Thou thither art translated hence,
I in thy Breast my Tent at large will rear;
That till the greater Heav'n receiveth thee,
Thou mayst contain it in Epitomie,

30.This said: She gather'd up her Train of Light,
Which in an Orb was all about her spred,
And shrinking up her Selfe with heav'nly Sleight
Within her sprightfull Selfe, she entered
The Virgins Breast again; and there begun
To exercise her full Dominion.

31.Forth with a Tumult boild in Psyche's Heart;
But boild and foam'd in vain; for instantly
The Rout by Chari's most unconquer'd Art.
Was forc'd from that usurped Hold to flie:
Vain Dread was first which shrunk & turned  [...]
And so these Cowards flying Armie  [...].

32.For She, her Selfe no sooner  [...] out,
But at her heels Lamenting Sorrow came
Tearing her hair and flinging it about;
Then leare-ey d  [...], unworthy Shame,
Pale-fac'd Disconsolation, and  [...],
With Indevotion's dead and  [...]  [...].

[Page 386]
33.But in the Rear rush'd out Forgetfulnes,
A dim and swarthy Thing; and hand in hand
Led her Compatriots and Associates: These
Were sluggish Mists, dull Night, thick Blacknesse, and
Whatever is of kin to them, whatever
Can block up heav'n and Soules from light dissever.

34.Compar'd with these, all Soot, and Ink, and Pitch,
Were Compositions of Milk and Snow;
So was the gross and triduan Darknesse which
Did on the face of shameless Memphis grow;
Or that which lock'd up Sodom's Eylids more
Close than Lot's utmost Care had done his Door.

35.Psyche admiring stood to see her Breast
So fertile in this hideous Progeny;
Which, as she veiwed them, directly prest
Downward into the Wombe of Earth, to be
Conveyed back unto their native Home;
For from beneath this gloomy  [...] did come

36.And now she found her Bosome full as clear
As when to Heav'n she Thelema presented:
Now all her Passions unhamper'd were,
And every Bond to Libertie relented;
All things were sweet and fair within, and she
Releas'd into compleat Serenitie.

37.Love, Anger, Hatred, Jelousie, and Fear
And all the rest of that swift-winged Crew,
With holy sprightfulnesse revived were,
And to their proper Objects nimbly flew:
They  [...], and clashed not their Wings together
But kindely help'd and cheered one another.

38.Hope, which had grop'd and languished till now
In deplorable Mists; new courage took,
And challeng'd every Winde its worst to blow,
Since she perceiv'd her Cable was not broke,
But that her trusty Anchor held its hold
Whilst Desolations Sea about her roll'd.

39.And Logos too, sad heretofore, and drie,
Felt cneerly Vigor flaming in his Heart;
Which spurr'd him on to beg her leave to try
Whether he could not now perform his part
With more successefull strength, and from the Trea­sures
Of Heav'n, fetch Contempletions solid Pleasure:

40.His Motion she heard with joyus Ear,
And turn'd to Heav'n her gladsome Ey, to see
Whether the way to it, Companion were
In her brisk Bosomes new Serenity:
She turn'd her Ey, and in Heav'ns volumes read
More than her own desires had coveted.

41.For lo the sullen Clouds which heretofore
Had damm'd the way to her rejected sight,
Drown'd in repentant Tears, themselves did poure,
And dash in sunder, to lay ope a bright
And undisturbed Passage to that Spheat
Where Psyche's Jewels all ensh rined were

42.In bounteous Beams of royall Influence
Her open Sun bestow'd himself upon her:
And this awak'd her long astonish'd sence
To finde and feel the sweets of this dear Honor;
This swell'd her Bosom with such Ravishment,
That through her lips she hast's to give it vent,

43.And now, ô my delicious Lord, said she,
I thank thee for that Famine I endured:
I little dream'd that this Felicitie
Could by this torturing anguish be procured:
But in the Wisdome of thy Love didst thou
Then make me Fast the more to Feast me now.

44.Thou with that wholesome Tempest tossed'st me,
That I might throughly understand the blisse
Of this sweet Calm: by the Ariditie
Of cold and tedious Death didst thou suppress
My secular Spirits, that revived I
Might live to thee, as to the World I die

45.Now, now, I taste this life indeed; which I
Though I enjoy'd it, did not know before:
Alas, We fools are best instructed by
Absence, and Losse, to prize the richest store:
These thanks I to my Dereliction ow,
That I can rellish my Fruition now

46.So deep I rellish it, dear Jesu, that
I would not for the Cream of Paradise
But have been drowned in that desolate State,
Whence to the Blisse of mine own Blisse I rise.
For what were Paradise to me, unless
I feelingly perceiv'd its Pleasantnes?

[Page 387]
47.O that more Thelema's I had, which I
Might sacrifice in witnesse of this Debt
Since thy revealed Countnance upon my
Unworthy Head this mighty Score hath set:
Yet what doe our poor Wils by being thine,
But onely make Themselves, not Thee, divine?

48.I now could covetous be, and wish that all
The Treasures both of Heav'n and Earth were mine,
That with this Offring I might prostrate fall
And dedicate it at thy Favours shrine.
Yet what were all the World to that which I
Ow to thy Soveraign Benignity!

49.Had I ten thousand Lives to spend on thee.
That  [...] Expence would but my Gains augment.
How  [...] where Gratitude her Selfe must be
 [...], can poor I due Thanks present?
Sweet Lord informaud help my Soule, which fain
Would tender something back to thee again.

50.She ceased here: And Phylax, who attended
The leisure of her fervent Exultation;
With equal Joy and Ardor, where she ended,
Began her Praises; and Congratulation:
Joy, joy, deer Pupill, of this Morn, said he,
Which hath dispell'd thy Night of Misery.

51.I see what reason thou hadst to be sad,
Beyond my Comforts reach; because I see
The sweet Occasion which hath made thee glad;
Such mighty Greif could onely chased be
By that Meridian Almighty Ray,
Which drives the Life of Woe, ev'n Death away.

52.The high Excesse of his  [...] Joy
Would let him speak no more; but spuir'd him on
With Kisses and Embraces to allay
The dainty Wrath of his strong Passion.
Full close he chain'd her in the tender Bands
Of zealous Love, his blessed Arms and Hands.

53. [...] Mayd, who would not to this  [...]
Belong in debt, thus, in a snnle,  [...]
 [...] begging of my  [...] you  [...]
But for my Thanks, they must  [...]
 [...] hence to be full and  [...]
 [...] best he  [...]

54.Surely the other Day you were the same
Which you are now, in every Ornament
Of gratious Sweetnesse, when you hither came
And your best Cordials did to Me present:
But clownish Senselesse I could not embrace
You  [...] landy r offred Grace.

55.Had this Behaviour quench'd your Love to Me.
To none but my rude Selfe had Blame been due,
Yet you with faithfull patient fervencie
More carefull still, and still more render grew.
My Greif you to your Selfe assum'd as you
Were able,  [...] for Me with Tears did slow,

56.Though Thy Heav'n and Earth abandon was,
And psung'd into the Cull of Desolation;
To own Me in  [...] despicable Case
You blushed not, but by, your high Narration
Of what Love  [...] to releive my mart,
Endeavored to cheer my drooping Heart,

57.Well I remember how I then forgot
My selfe and you; how dead and cold I lay
Before that flaming News, which might have shot
Life into any Soule but mine; away
I turn'd my foolish head from that which through
A thousand Deaths would run after now.

58.For ô my indefatigable Friend,
I feel your sweetnesse thrilling in my Heart;
Which there with Charis Intluence doth blend,
And a new Soule unto my Soule impart:
Forbid it Heav n, my Mind should e'r forget
Thee, who hast help'd to raise and double it.

59.When Earth denies her Vapours to repay
To Heav'n whose Bounty sent her down the  [...]
When Fountains bid their posting Curronts stay,
Whose Thanks were slowing to their mother  [...]
When Building, scorn their freindly  [...]
Will then neglect thy  [...] and  [...]

 [...]In this  [...]
Then Words and Killes sweetly  [...]
Till the  [...]
Which common Mortals  [...]
 [...]
 [...]

[Page 388]
61.And now her high and holy busines she
Perform'd no more with cold and fruitlesse pains;
But mounting up with cheerly Fervencie,
Reap'd, in the middle of her Work, its Gains;
For now she knew her Prayers welcom'd were
Into her Spouse's ready open Ear.

62.Phylax, mean while by Heav'ns appointment flew
To learn her Parents fortunes out: which He
No sooner full, sow, but fir'd with new
Excess of Joy, he back return'd, when she
From her Devotions rose, and thus display'd
His blessed Message to the  [...]

63.News Psyche, happy News, for now I come
From holy Valours Sceen, that signal Place
Where thy Uranius his brave Martyrdome
Of late atcheiv'd, and finished his Race
That Race thou fear'dst had been too hard for thy
 [...] Parents limping  [...]

64.But at the Stake I found them Bothe, where they
Before the face of Heav'n and Earth to thy
Sole charge that Resolution did lay
Which fir'd them to contemn those Flames; for by
Our Daughters Zeal, said they, this sacred heat
In our old froazen fearfull Veins doth beat.

65.That heav'nly Answer from the Dungeon she
Gave to our cruel kindenes. though with shame
It sent Us weeping home; yet instantlie
Those causeless tears it dried by this flame
Of Christian courage, whil'st admonish'd by
Our second thoughts, our first we did defie.

66.And Heav'n require her wheresoe'r she be
Who, whil'st we tempted her idolize,
Did nobley fright Us from Idolatrie,
And reach Us how We safelier might  [...]
Both Life and Death, than Jesus, who alone
Holds over both supream Dominion.

67.Then let Him shew it now, the Solaiers  [...]
Kindling the Pile, and shouting loud, that they
In spight or Darknesse, thus could turn the Tide
Of Night, by Christian Bonfires, into Day,
O Blessed pair! said I, who in a new
Marriage thus joyned are, and hither  [...].

68.So Phylax spake. When Psyche ravish'd by
This unexpected Bliss, could not contain
The pious Fountain of her joyfull Eye,
Nor her Tongues sweeter stronger streams restrain;
Abundant Tears she shed, yet larger far
Her thanks to Jesus, and her Praises were.

69.But as she oft had wearied been before
With heavinesses mighty Burden; so
Surcharged now with joys exuberant store
She laid her down in sweet submission to
This pleasing load, and sunk into the deep
But soft untroubled Gulfe of do why sleep.

70.When Charis, upon whose eternal Eye
No Slumber ever creeps, begun a new
And heav'nly work; for with Activity
About Imaginations Orb she flew,
And cull'd and cropp'd those Fancies here and there
Which for her purpose serviceable were.

71.Thus furnished with all Materials, she
In the fair Theatre of Psyche's Breast
By orderly Degrees the Gallantrie
Of her incomparable Pageant drest:
She first reard up a goodly Throne, which might
Out-vie the Hyperborean Snow in White.

72.Forthwith she placed on this royal Seat
A Prince who gave more Beauty unto it;
No Monark ever in more awfull State
On his imperial Chair of Gold did sit:
Indeed all Potentates but shaddows be
To this authentick Soveraigns Majestie.

73.His copious Robe down from his Shoulders flow'd
Unto his Feet, with streams of gracefulnesse;
A Girdle of illustrious Gold, which ow'd
Its birth not unto Earth, but Heav'n, did kiss
And closely hug his blessed Paps, which yet
In goodly Richnes far outshined it.

74.No  [...] labour ever made so white
The finest Wool, as was his daintier Hair,
Which poured down the  [...] of its bright
And Silken Curles with curious careless Care
About his Alabaster Neck, which stood
Like a white Pillar in that Snowie  [...].

[Page 398]
75.As in their venerable Sockets on
The sacred Altar glorious Tapers flame,
So look'd his Eys; whose reverend Beams alone
About the Temple of his Face did stream,
And made his Countnance like the Suns, when he
Is a wfull in his High-noon Claritie.

76.The most resin'd Corinthian Brass, which in
The bosome of the slaming Furnace lies,
Doth not with more illustrious l error shine,
Than from his burning Feet of Glorie sties.
Thus was this radiant King from Foot to Head
With supream Majestie embellished.

77.Innumerable Angels then she brought
To furnish out his Court and fill his Train;
These all their Stations took as quick as Thought,
And with their golden Trumpets in a strein
Which through the roused Universe rebounded,
The glory of their mighty Soveraign founded.

78.But his bright Standard to the open Air
She poured out, in which embroyderd stood
Most dreadfully illustrious and fair
His Arms imperial, stained all with Blood:
For 'twas his Cross, encompass'd now with more
Notorious Honour, than with Shame before.

79.As thus he sate triumphant on his Throne,
He lifted up his Face, and look'd about:
Strait way the frighted Earth began to run
From his intolerable Eys; the stout
And hardy Rocks felt their hearts split for Dread.
The proudest Hils and Mountains trembling fled.

80.The Sphears above his Aspects Power felt,
And breaking off their losty Harmony,
In Dissolutions Tears began to melt:
The Sun and Stars, abashed now to see
There was no need of them by Day or Night.
Fell head-long down, and choaked their own Light.

81.Yet in this  [...] haste, the Sea and Land
Were inindefull of their Faith, and honestly
Resror'd the Pledges which into their Hand
Were put by Fate, Sin, and Mortalitie
Giving up punctually a true and just
Account of every Drain of Humanc  [...]

82.Forth with Corruption started from the Heap
Of Ashes, and fled after Earth and Sea;
When loe the Mass threw off its deadly sleep,
And waked into Lifes Activitie:
Each Peice awak'd, and nimbly rose, and shew'd
For one cold Heap, a vigorous Multitude.

83.Adam and Eve, the Springs of all the rest,
Stood in the Front: on whom attended all
The Senior World. Then Noah forward prest,
Who reimpeopled this whole shipwrackd Ball;
And after Him, the Tribes and Nations which
Their Colonies through all the Earth did reach.

84.Not one was missing who did ever draw
The breath of Life, and see the Face of Light:
But now the proudest bore his head as low
As did the poorest and ignoblest wight:
This Day had rased such Distinctions out,
And all into one Size and Measure brought.

85.Those whom their tedious Age had bowed down
Unto their brisker years were called back;
And those who in their Bud were crop'd, and thrown
Into untimely Graves, did nothing lack
Of fulgrown and accomplish'd vigour, which
Fix'd all and every one in equal pitch.

86.And yet so different their Conditions were,
That now the ready Angels, who attended
Their Soveraigns Beck, with quick unerring Care
Parted the croud which was together blended;
With his right-hand the harmless Sheep they graced,
But at his left the stinking Goats they placed.

87.Psyche rejoye'd her Parents here to see
Rank'd on the Dexter Wing: But fuller was
Her holy Exultation, when she
Perceiv'd her own  [...] had the grace
There to be marshalled; for though the slepe,
Her waking Soule at the sweet Omen leape.

88.When loe, as thus her Hopes and Joyes  [...]
At this illustrious Spectacle; before
The Throne two Books of vast  [...]
Were open flung: No volumes ever bore
So huge a bulk as these, which written be
With the where worlds  [...]

[Page 390]
89.The one was black as Horrors darkest Face,
The Book of Death, writ with the Ink of Hell,
Wherein each Word some foule Transgression was
Scor'd upon their Accounts who did rebell
Against their Blisse, and needs would labour to
Attain Vexation, and Themselves undoe.

90.The other was as fair, as this was foule,
The  [...] Book of Life, whose Words did shine
Clearer than those, bright Notes which make the Scroul
Of Heav'n appear so glorious and divine;
For here each Line doth part of God expresse
Character'd in his Servants Holinesse,

91.There blessed Leaves the King no sooner read,
But to the Right-hand Troop he turn'd his Eye.
Which with Majestick Sweetnesse prefaced
Unto there Words: Come Yee, whose Piety
Is by my  [...] Benediction grown
Mature, and of full Age to wear its Crown:

92.Come take your full Possession with Me
Of that fair Kingdome, whose Foundations were
Laid upon stable Perpetuity
Long e'r the Earth sunk down beneath, long e'r
The Air and Fire grew light and upward fled
Long e'r the Curtains of the Heav'ns were; spred.

93.For in this faithfull Register I see
Your brave Deserts recorded full and fair:
When I exposed was to Misery
Your pious Charity made Me your Heir;
The Debt I here acknowledge, and to Day
The Principal and Use. I must repay.

94.Then turning to the gloomy Book, and to
The other Company which stood agast,
With frowns of killing Wrath He  [...] Goe
Ye cursed Brood,  [...] Evidence hath Cast
You all; these Leaves  [...] Witnesse bear,
For all your  [...] staring here.

95. [...] Eyes no  [...] would afford to Me
When  [...], and Nakedness
Call'd for  [...]: and strict Equity
Now  [...] up  [...]  [...] your due  [...]:
Goe,  [...] for, take
 [...] Lake.

 [...]The  [...]
With  [...] Pride
Which flam'd  [...] fight
When  [...] tri'd:
For you  [...]
Have  [...]

 [...]The Adamantine Sentence thus  [...]
The courteous Angels with  [...] Joy
Upon the Saints their dear Imbrace  [...]
 [...] this their Coronation Day;
And joyned then their Tongues with them to  [...]
 [...] to their gratious King.

98.But as this Melody was sweet and  [...]:
So were the Yellings horrid, which  [...]
The throats and bosomes of that Company
 [...] were;
For thousand  [...]  [...] about them flew,
And in  [...] threw.

99.But dressed in more  [...] Array
Than ever see infernal Hae deformed,
Their  [...]  [...] on them did lay
Their  [...] of  [...] Wrath, all  [...]
With  [...] their Breafts
And  [...] did  [...]

100.When on the sudden the  [...]
Opening its Mouth, and gaping for its Prey,
The first fruits of their flames on them old spit,
And warn'd the Fiends to hasten them away
To their full Harvest O what Tongue can tell
The Anguish which now on these Wretches fell!

101.Upon their shreiking Throats, and frighted Hair
Damnations Serjeants clapp'd their flaming Paws:
Whilst other Officers, who furnish'd were
With Whips of  [...] Snakes, and Harpies Claws
Lash'd them so sore, that they made haste to Hell
In hopes that lesser Torments there did dwell.

102.Down plung'd this mixed  [...], which almost  [...]
The greedy  [...] of the  [...] Deep:
Loud was the Noise of this  [...] Fall, but yet
Far  [...] was  [...]
Eternal  [...] still  [...] and
 [...]

[Page 391]
103.The hasty Fire soon flew upon this Feast,
And with unbounded Riot gormandised;
Resolving thenceforth never more to Fast,
Nor yet with all this store to be sufficed;
But oft it gap'd and belch'd, whence upward broke
Black volumes of contagious stink and smoak

104.About the Brink some Devils hankerd still;
So did two Monsters far more foule than they
Thin gastly Death, and poisnous Sin; untill
The King design'd an Angel them to slay,
Who threw them head-long down the Pit; for this
And this alone, eternal Slaughter is.

105.That done: the Sentence firm and sure to make,
Upon the Caves wide Mouth his Seal he set:
A Seal which no reluctancy can break,
For his Omnipotence had temperd it
Of such a Mixture, that Eternitie
It self, as soon as that, shall brittle be.

106.The Saints and Angels seeing nothing now
But Joy, and Life, and Bliss, and Holines;
Themselves before the Conquerours Throne did throw
Meekly ambitious joyntly to express
Their Thanks and Praise in a triumphant Song,
Whence all the World with Hallelujahs rung.

107.When lo, a Flood of new and gorgeous Light
Came sweetly pouring down, and chang'd the Sceen;
Which swallow'd up the former Pageant quite,
For nothing now but Claritude was seen.
This fetch'd a sigh from Psyche, who had view'd
With hearty joy that holy Multitude.

108.But Charis quickly her again did cheer,
For by her speedie skill she instantly
A wonderous City on the stage did rear,
Whose beauty so enamored Psyche's Ey,
That she was sad no longer for the Change,
But joy'd about the spectacle to range.

109.Square was the City, for it was the Seat
Of everlasting Firmitude; and this
Substantial Figure which it self doth meet
In every equal Angle, tyed is
Sure to it self: but the Round rolling World
Alas, before, was into Nothing hurld

110.The Fabrick of the Wall was fair and high,
Much higher than the proudest Battlement
Of the old Heav'ns, whose lofty Majesty
Down unto Mortal Eys such wonder sent:
For they were but the Type and shade of this,
Which Heav'n of Heav'ns, and Crest of glory is.

111.And correspondent was it mighty Base
Unto that Height, for upon twelve Foundations
All most unmoved, it erected was:
No wonder that it fears no Perturbations,
No wonder that this onely City is
Of Peace and Quiet the Metropolis.

112.The first Foundation is of Jasper green,
For Florid must this Building ever be:
The next of Sapphire, in whose face are seen
The proper Lines of heav'nly Claritie;
Astone which doth corroborate the Heart,
And friendly help to Chastity impart.

113.The third of Star-like Chalcedonie, which
Upon the Sapphir's Region being set,
With Constellations doth it enrich:
A cheerly Gem is this, and scorns to let
The tedious insulations of Fear,
Or of Disconsolation to draw neer.

114.The fourth of Emerald, of Lust the true
And constant Foe, and of all Poisons too:
The fift of Sardonyx, of blushing hue;
The sixt of Sardie, antidore of Woe,
Quickner of Wit: The seav'nth of Chrysolite,
Which Melancholie's Mists away doth fright.

115.The eight of Berill, rich in modest grace;
The nineth of Topaz, full of flaming Gold
Which dares out-look black Night: Of Chrysoprase
The tenth, of kin unto the formers mould:
The next the cordial Jacinth, and the last
The sober and the healthfull Amethyst.

116.On these Foundations stood engraven fair
Twelve honored Names, the Names of them who spred.
The gentle Lambs Religion every where,
And stones to build this City gathered
From every Soile, and from the furthest Shores
On which the barbarous Ocean foams and roars.

[Page 392]
117.As Psyche reach'd her Wonder round about
This gallant Structure, she on every side
Three goodly Gates, of which each One was wrought
Out of a single massie Perl, espi'd:
With these did LOVE keep open House, and all
The East, and West, the North and South did call.

118.Invited therefore thus, She enter'd in,
Where paved all with Gold she found the Street,
With Gold not of our earthly Metalls kin,
But of a purer nobler Breed, and meet
To kisse the Feet of Saints, it being as
Tralucid as the fairest virgin Glasse.

119.But straight a purer Thing than that she met,
A River all of living Chrystall, which
Came smiling down the Street; and over it
A multiplying Tree its Arms did reach
From either side, whose Twigs though sound and strong,
Bow'd with the blessed Fruit which on them hung.

120.Twelve Sorts of Fruits it duely bore, and yet
Faild not each Moneth again to Bud and Blow;
Such endlesse Vigor reign'd all over it,
That to its smallest Leaves it did allow
More Virtue than Arabia's Spices had,
Or all the famous Balm of Gilead.

121.They never were applyed to the Wound
Of any Nations, but forthwith from Pain
Releas'd they were, and rendred whole and Sound,
When Humane Surgery had strove in vain.
O noble Tree! whose very Shaddow is
Th' eternal Roof of sure substantial Blisse.

122.Under these verdant Boughs, and on this shore
Of flowing Life, walk'd Psyche to descry
The Spring which was the Mother to such store
Of pure and ever-reeming Suavity:
When loe a glorious Throne she spi'd, from whence
Gush'd out these vivid Blisse's Influence.

123.A Throne of pure and solid Splendor framed,
On which the Soveraign of Immensity
With such intolerable Brightnesse flamed,
That none of all the purest Standers by
Could with Cherubick or Seraphick Eyes
His vast  [...] comprise.

124.But at his Right Hand, mitigated by
His Marriage with poor Flesh, did sit the Lamb,
Whose spotlesse Fleece was sweetned Majesty
Whose Sceptre with Loves gentle Rayes did stream,
Whose Hand to poure his Blessings forth, was spred,
Whose Crown was Honor wreath'd about his head.

125.From his fair Eyes flow'd that eternal Day
Which all this new Jerusalem doth gild;
No other Phoebus needed to display
Himselfe upon this Region, which was fill'd
With cleer enlivening Fires that did  [...]
And make ev'n grosse and mortal Eyes Divine.

126.Here Psyche cleerly saw those things which she
Before by Logos, her Embassader,
Descri'd at distance and imperfectly:
Gods naked Attributes were marshall'd here,
Deep Mysteries in one another wove,
Infinitudes, and Miracles of Love.

127.Here vast oraculous Profundities,
And wondrous Words from Wisdomes Lipps she heard;
Such Words as taught her where the Reason lies
Why God himselfe doth wear the Name of Word;
Words raised to so soveraign a Pitch
As mortal Tongues must never hope to reach.

128.Here she beheld how from Divinity
Beatitude its glorious Selfe displaid,
And unto all the holy Company
Its unexhausted Influence convey'd;
For Millions of Millions at hand
With meek Attendance on the Lamb did stand.

129.Right gallant was the Equipage in which
They were disposed: That symmetrious Grace
Which round about the World it selfe did reach,
To this far fairer order'd State gave place,
When, guilty onely of it selfe, it slunk
Aside, and into Inanition sunk.

130.Never was Graecian or Romane Court
(Though Fame had trumpetted their Praises high,
Contrived in such wise Majestick Sort
As this, Perfections own Polity,
Which by one universal Spirit doth move,
And by no Laws is governed, but Love.

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131.All Saints and Angels knew their proper place,
And lov d it best because it was their own:
Among them all no difference there was
Of Inclinations, for each one had thrown
His Will down at his Soveraigns Footstool, and
Own'd no Desires but onely his Command.

132.In him they liv'd, and lov'd, and joy'd, and by
That Resignation received were
Into some Portion of Divinity:
For Jesu's Fulnesse had enough to spare,
Nor was his Diademe diminsh'd, though
To all of Them their Crowns he did allow.

133.They all were Crown'd, and yet not flattered
With  [...] and empty Soveraignty:
So wide the Circuit of this Glory spred,
That All with boundlesse Bounds it did supply;
This Reaim of Blisse, of Kingdomes was the Spring,
And every Subject made a mighty King.

134.For what was proper unto every One,
Proved the Joy and Riches of the Rest:
That supream Diademe which flam'd upon
The Head of Jesus, fully was possest
Of all this Multitude, for bounteous He
Did lay in Common all Propriety.

135.Thus whatsoever Honor decks the Brow,
Or Consolation smileth in the Heart;
Its beams are not confined there, but flow
With Brotherly Affection to each Part,
That the whole Body may engaged be
To make a private Comfort, publike Glee.

136.And yet these so united Spirits were
By several Stations distinguished:
Nine blessed Orders were divided there,
Which in three Hierarchik Classe's did
Conjoin again, and by their single Three
Thrice imitate th' eternal Trinity.

137.With these the Saints did intermixed reign
And fill'd the Places of those Spirits who
Hoping against their Maker to maintain
Their sturdy Stomacks, into Arms did goe;
But over-whelm'd by his Almighty Tide,
Their Rume onely gained by their Pride.

138.By that proportion of Humility
And holy Love, they practis'd here below,
The Measures of their Recompence, the high
And righteous King of Bounty did bestow:
Which, though they in degrees much difference shew'd,
Yet every One enjoyed Plenitude.

139.So when a thousand Vessells, great and small,
Into the Sea are thrown, though some receive
More of the Ocean far than others, All
Are fill'd brim full; nor can the Lesser grieve
Their Brethrens fairer Amplitude to see,
Since they no fuller than the Smallest be.

140.But how to blazon these bright Honors, how
To sound this boundlesse Sea of equal Pleasures,
How to compute this vast Account, and know
The Total Summ of perfect Blisse's Treasures,
Posed their highest strength and deepest Wit,
Who were infeofed and possest of it.

141.Yet all the Homage which they paid for this
Supremacy of Glory, was to Praise,
Admire, and Love, and Blesse, and Chant out His
Eternal Name and Fame, who then did raise
To this Capacity of Exulation.
O blessed Life! whose Task is Acclamation.

142.Through this illustrious Maze of Joy and Blisse
As Psyche laboured, and seem'd to be
In heav'n afresh at every Step; by this
Unwearied Quires Heroick Peans she
Perceiv'd the entertainment neer as high
Which cheer'd her Ear, as that which fill'd her Eye.

143.And now her Wonder could endure no Rein,
She sacrific'd her Soule to Ecstasie;
When loe the Seraphs Pipes let flie a Strein
Of holy Triumph so exceeding high,
That starting at the mighty Song she shaked
Her pretious Dream insunder, and awaked.

144.As when unhappy Adam was expell'd
Out of the Sceen of Blisse, sweet Paradise,
And on the sudden all the World beheld
Planted with desolate thorny Miseries;
Aghast He look'd, his woefull Hands he wrung,
And sigh'd and sobb'd to think whence he was flung:

[Page 394]
145.So Psyche having lost this glorious Sight,
And ravishing Musick, (which perplexed Her
In sweet confufion, for by this Delight
She tempted was to wish her selfe all Ear,
By that, intirely Eye; or else that she
Could teach her Eyes to Hear, her Ears to See,)

146.Surprised was with lamentable Fright
To see the grosse face of Mortality,
To see the glaring Beams of Natures Light,
To see her Selfe on her poor Pallet ly
So far remov'd from Blisse's royal Sphear,
That on dull Earth She still was groveling here.

147.Alas, She cri'd what injury have I
Done unto Sleep that it should mock me thus?
To have me up unto the glorious Skie
Why should my Dreams be so industrious,
If by so sudden a defection They
Me back unto this Deep meant to betray?

148.Unhapp Life! which, whilst we are Awake:
With nothing else but Dreams dost fill our Eyes:
The burly Show this Mortal World doth make
Is but a puffed Bulk of Vanities,
Where whilst we hope substantial Worth to finde,
We mocked are with foolish empty Winde.

149.But when by Sleep We robbed are of more
Than halfe our Selves, and in Deaths Embleme ly,
Then onely dost thou suffer Us to sore
To solid Joyes; which yet being carried by
Our Dreams faint Wings, by them betrayed be,
And soon forget their own Soliditie.

150.Deceitfull Sleep, which wear'st the Name of Rest,
Why wilt Thou never make it good to Me?
Why was I with thy highest Favours blest,
If they must onely torture Waking Me?
Why Slept I, if I needs must Wake, and misse
By setting ope mine Eyes, my Sight of Blisse?

151.Phylax, who all this while with piercing Eye
Div'd through her Bosome, and Spectator was
How Charis order'd all that Pageantry
Which through his Pupills wondering Soule did passe,
Stopp'd with a Kisse that tide of Grief which ran
From her complaining Lips; then thus began:

152.To Joy this Morning sacred is, my Dear:
If thine Eys bottles Thou wouldst rightly spend,
On Sorrow lavish not the Smallest Tear,
But all thy Streams to Exultation lend.
Thy Dream has not deceiv'd Thee; all was true
Which it displaid to thine admiring View.

153.It is enough that Heav'n doth condescend
To Act it Selfe aforehand unto Thee;
Nor canst thou think thy Saviour doth entend
To put Thee off with this: No; royal He
Prepares thine Eyes by this short glimpse of Blisse
Henceforth to See its endlesse bright Excesse.

154.In patience then thine humble Soule possesse;
For sure this prize is worth thine Expectation,
Although it should attended be till this
Firm World grows Weak, & stoops to Consummation:
Time at its utmost Tether cannot be
More than a Span unto Eternity.

155.Eternity is that which shall enhance
Beatitude, and crown its Diademes:
In hopes of which, doe thou thy Soule advance
And never troubled be to think that Dreams
Which on thin Fancie their Foundation lay
Are fickle fluid Things, and start away.

156.Courageous Friend, the Mayd to this repli'd,
Brave is the Metall of thy sprightfull Heart,
Which easily beats back all Misfortunes Tide,
And can the Streams of Grief to Joy convert:
Full well those cheerly Looks with thee doe suit,
Who all my Losse canst with a Smile confute.

157.But I cannot doe so; Mischances throw
Their own upon my Smiles, with high disdain;
My deep Passivity will not allow
Me any Art or Power to maintain
A fight with Suffrings so as not to feel
The Wound, when in my Heart I finde the Steel.

158.It is but lately since unhappy I
Was quite lost in the Mist of Desolation;
And heavy was that blinde Calamity
Which did both muffle up my Contemplation,
And clip those Wings that had been us'd before
Unto the Pinnacles of Heav'n to sore.

[Page 395]
159.But now her Eyes again unmaked are,
And unto their full length her Feathers grown;
No sooner I in Heav'ns illustrious Sphear
Or read, or flie, but I am tumbled down,
And by my journey (to compleat my Crosse)
No Profit reap, but Knowledge of My Losse.

160.O I acquit my Dream from the least Guilt
Of fairfac'd Fraud; in every blessed Part
The genuine Pulse of Truth I cleerly felt
Beating right time with my exultant Heart.
I would not have it false for Heav'n, and yet
Its being true begetteth this regret.

161.For had it not been the unfeined Sceen
Of brave Beatitude in full Display;
Without this stinging Torment that had been
Snatched from Me, or I from that, away:
But now what Comfort can breath Me Content,
When from my Heart, my Heart it selfe is rent!

162.If Lucifer had never walk'd upon
Compleat Felicities transcendent Stories,
If He had never view'd Heav'ns radiant Throne,
And sweet Eternities excessive Glories;
His Losse had finite been; he had not fell
So low as now, nor had his Hell been Hell.

163.I might have dwelt contented in dull Night
Had I not known and seen Lifes royal Day;
These rotten Raggs of Dust and Ashes might
Have pleased Me, had not the bright Array
Which clothe's the Saints with Immortality
Been open thrown before my mortal Eye.

164.Yon' Phaebus, who with Virgin Gold doth gild
The Mornings cheeks, I might with some Delight
Have gazed on; if I had not beheld
The far more Sun-like Eyes of Jesus, bright
With Blisse, and Love, and Joy, and every Thing
Which can become the Looks of Glories King.

165.Then since I fully understand my Losse;
O doe not envy Me, sweet Guardian, leave
Not to be fondly stupid; doe not crosse
My course of Woe, who have such cause to grieve;
For Grief their Daughters onely Dowrie is,
Whilst my dear Parents reign in joyous Blisse.

166.These Words with such commanding Passion she
On facil Phylax blew, that he gave way:
Yet, prudent as he was, and piercing, He
Observ'd how wisely Love his Plot did lay,
And that for his sweet Psyche he this kinde
Of softest-hardest Martyrdome design'd.

167.But Charis, (who still in her Breast did lie,)
Although the blessed Dream had taken Wing,
Yet on the Tables of her Memory
Fairly transcrib'd and fastned every thing;
There shin'd the total Apparition still,
And all her Thoughts With Ravishment did fill,

168.With Ravishment, which proved fuel to
Her ancient Fire of Love; a fire which now
Flash'd resolutely out, and feasted so
On this vast Banquet, which did alwayes flow
With fresh Infinitude upon it, that
The flames all Bridles and all Bounds forgot.

169.Like Wax which flows before the Summers Sun;
So in the presence of this scorching Heat
Her Bowells melted, and her Heart did run
About her bosome, labouring to get
Releasment from this Furnace: but in vain;
Heav'n still to her Sweet Torment her did chain.

170.In dainty Agonie She lay and fried,
Till from her Lips at last the Flame did break;
And unto Phylax thus aloud she cried:
O why to Persecutions gentler Stake
Was I not bound; why might I not expire
In the milde bosome of that courteous Fire!

171.Tkat Fire would soon have drunk up all my Breath.
And into Ashes parch'd my Life; but this
Playes with my Pangs, and freshly Furnisheth
My fainting Heart with passive vigorousnesse;
This, woefull Immortality doth give,
Unto my Dust, and teacheth Death to live.

172.Nor Etna's, nor Vesuviu's bowells were
E'r gravid with such teeming Flames, as mine;
Should Humber, Thames and Severn, by thy Care
Their everflowing Mouthes together join,
And empty out themselves upon my Heart,
Alas they could not quench my burning Smart.

[Page 396]
173.Nay flatter Me not with thy smiling Eye;
Compassion, is the utmost Thou canst lend
He, he, alone can cure my Malady
Who did to Me this flaming Feaver send.
If thou canst hasten down His help, ô doe;
 [...] tell Me when he will  [...] my Woe

174.The Angel, who her blessed Sickness knew,
Had now no longer power to pitty Her
Into Invisibility He flew,
That her Seraphick pains might domineer,
And she, being left alone, might sooner prove
The  [...]  [...] of  [...]  [...]

175.But yet her modest tender Jealousie
Could not interprest his Discession se;
She fear'd that by indecent Passion she
Had urg'd his Patience, and fore'd Him to
Withdraw, till hastie she grew Calm again,
And fir his  [...] to entertain

176.This made her cheek her boiling Fervor by
Deep Recollection of her Spouses Will
She knockt her Breast which first made its Renly
In sighs and groans, then in these words O still
This tumult of my Soule dear Lord whose  [...]
Doth all my Bosome in Combustion set

 [...]Although my long'd-for Union with  [...]
Be dearer than a thousand Lives;  [...]
Desire and Languor all my Essence  [...]
Till to  [...] of thee I grow:
Yet since thy Will prolongs my Banishment
From Heav'n and thee, (peace heart) I am conten.

178.I am content: For All I Am. is Thine
The freedom of thy Pleasure use on Me
If I thine Arrows smartest Dint decline
Then sav I lov'd my self, but lov'd not Thee;
Upon this Heart poure all thine amorous  [...]
And slay Me, if thou wilt, from Morn to  [...]

179.But it I still must live this Death,  [...]
I live it unto Thee, and Thee  [...]
O let some hard heroick Task  [...]
This Fervors edge which thou hast  [...]
My ravish'd Soule, that being  [...]
May lesse perceive the Flames in  [...]

180.Shall I to Perfecutions Court, and there
Erect thy Standard in the Tyrants Face?
Shall I her Racks and Arts of Torture dare?
Her Altars and her Gods down shall I rase?
Against her Proclamations shall I
 [...] the Pleasure of thy  [...]

181.Shall all the Bruises, Wounds, Boils, Sores and Pains,
Shall every Grief, Distemper, Maladie,
Shall all the Hungers, Thirsts, and Stripes, and Chains,
Which through the whole World the sad Portion be
Of thine abused patient Members, joyn
 [...]

182.Shall I he  [...] the Hate of Man and Beast?
Shall I  [...] and kicked round about
 [...] shall I be prest
 [...]
Of  [...] and Furies, and be dragged through
 [...] where torments in their kingdom grow

183.Surely  [...] this, and more for thy dear sake
To whom I ow it, I could well sustain
Speak then ô most deserving Soveraing, speak,
And by some sufferings mitigate my pain
Set Me my hardy Task. that I may prove
On  [...] Terms how much I love thy Love

184.Thus nanted loval she till tired by
Her Fervors high Intension. she descendea
Into her self again: But instantly
That strong Combustion she hop'd was ended,
Met her amidst her Breast, and did conspire
As  [...] as ever by enflam'd Desire.

185.By Resignation to her Spouse sne  [...]
To quench it; but in vain: Still Day by Day
Her self  [...] rouna in amorous  [...] wasted,
And waking Night by Night, and longing lay
For whilit  [...] from place to place, to win
Some ease,  [...] bore her Torment  [...] within

186. [...]
 [...]
 [...]
 [...]
 [...]
 [...]

[Page 397]
187.So did her testless Memerie to Her
The beauteous Wonders of her Dream object,
With all Beatitudes bright Furniture:
In vain her Eys she studied to deflect,
Which were in every Corner crost by this
 [...] of strange importunate Bliss.

188.When  [...] Prayers she went, she could not Pray,
 [...] and Amazement strait were crowding in:
When to her Book she went, she could not say.
 [...] stopp'd her as she did begin:
When to her Psalms she went, she could not sing,
 [...] in her Fars did ring.

189.When  [...] her Meat she went, she could not Eat,
The  [...] of endlesse Life her thonghts took up;
When to the Fountain of her Drink, the sweet
 [...] of Heav'n her Course and Thirst did stop:
When to her sleep, she was disturbed by
The  [...] Rest of Fternity.

190.The dear Remembrance of her Soverdign Lord
Boild in her Soule, and would not slaked be:
So that while tortured she could not afford
Unto her Body, what Necessitie
Crav dat her Hands, she faint and feeble grew,
And by Degrees her Mortal self she slew.

191.She slew her Flesh, which pin'd and sunk away;
She slew the Vigor of her Senses, which
Like unbent Bows, all damp'd and uselesse lay:
But by these Slaughters she did but inrich
The Life of her afflicted Heart, which still
With stouter and more active Fire did swell.

192.So high it swell'd that what soe'r came neer
The mighty Torrent, strait became its Prey:
Yea ev n the Bridles too subdned were
Which still she hop'd and strove on it to lay,
Her Meditations all to Passion turned;
And whatso'er she Did, or  [...],  [...].

193. [...]
 [...]
In  [...] unto such a  [...],
 [...]
The Sceptie of his  [...] and  [...]
 [...]

194. [...], be it of a Thing
But weak and mortal, and Dust's wretched Heir;
Doth with immortal Pains and Wishes sting
And spur the Soule unto unwearied Care:
Discouragement in vain doth muster up
All Troops of Obstacles  [...] way to stop.

195.No, no; the generous Lovers Heart disdains
Not to approve his Passion infinite;
With gallant Obstinacie he maintains
Against the Will of Heav'n and Earth, the fight
 [...] win his Idol; for whose sake, had he
Ten thousand  [...], they all should ventur'd be

196.For in her Image, which He hath enshrin'd
High in the  [...] of his loyal Breast,
Such Charms and strong Attractions He doth finde
As rob Him of all Power to resist:
He runs; and in such strange and furious wise,
That Love is slandered with want of Eys,

197.The whole World knows how Hamors royal Son
Scorn'd his Religion and his foreskin too,
When Dinah's Love had full possession
Of his subdued Soule: How David, who
Was Heav'ns choise Darling, durst Heav'ns Law de­spise
For what he read in Bathsheba's fair Eys,

198.Who hath not heard what Power one Heart  [...]
Upon two mighty Nations, both content
For love or her, to run so strangely mad
Upon a mortal War, whose furie rent
Up Ilium by the roots; which to the  [...]
Of Lust, a wofull Holocaust became.

199.No  [...] then  [...]
With such mtolerable  [...],
Whose  [...]
 [...] Charms whose royall  [...]
Draw with  [...]
Outvi'd by  [...]

 [...] [...]
 [...]
 [...]
 [...]
 [...]
 [...]

[Page 398]
201.For all those Wounds bleed nothing else but Fire;
Fire, which remembring its original Flame,
With never-wearied struggling doth aspire
Back to the radiant place from whence it came:
Its proper Element are Jesu's eyes,
And thither in heroick Zeal it flies.

202.And what can tortured Psyche doe, who by
This most unruly Heat, to Heav'n is haled;
And yet by Mortal Lifes repugnancy
Fast to her Body, and dull Earth, is sealed?
What can she doe in this Extremity
Of raging Life and Death at once; but Crie?

203.Hardy and bold she grows in her Complaint;
For lifting upward her enamored Eyes,
Although her sickly Voice were low and faint,
Yet full of sinews were her serious Cries:
Which thus she, suiting them unto her Passion,
Tun'd by the stout Key of Expostulation.

204.O Lord of Gentlenesse, ô why dost Thou
Make Love so cruel to tormented Me!
Why would thy bounteous Justice not allow
Me any other Rack, but Suavitie!
Why must my Gall be onely Honey! why
Of nothing else but Life must Psyche die!

205.Why didst Thou not permit Me to decease
When thou hadst left Me to my Selfe alone?
So had thine Handmaid been repriev'd from these
Extremities of Pangs; so had I gone
Whole to my Grave, who now must Melted be
By thine unsufferable Sweets, and Thee.

206.And am I not a Worm, or worse than so?
Why dost Thou build such Triumph then on Me?
Why dost thou not pick out some Seraph, who
With this sublime and blessed Misery
Might bravely grapple? or why might'st Thou not
At Phylax's nobler Breast my Dart have shot?

207.O be not angry! 'tis not I that speak,
But tortured Necessity: my Heart
A thousand times desir'd, but cannot break;
Else had my Lips not dared thus to part
And ope themselves into Complaints: but now
Excuse together with my Fault doth flow.

208.Not for innumerable Worlds would I
Have been without that Apparition: but
Should full as many Worlds their Tyranny
Combine against my Soul; they could not put
Me unto any Torture so extream,
As the Remembrance of my blessed Dream:

209.In Sweetnesse why art thou so Infinite!
Or why must that Infinitude appear
Unto a Soule, to fire it with Delight,
If to the Fountain it must not draw neer
To quench its burning Thirst? O Jesu be
Still what thou art; but then be so to Me.

210.Be so to Me; and ô, be so with Speed!
Death is not Death, compared with Delay.
Alas one Moment now doth far exceed
All those long years which I till this sad Day
Have tediously measured; and now
I older by an Age, each Minute, grow.

211.Fain fain would I Let thee alone, and be
Content to wait thy longest Leisure still:
But ô, all-lovely Thou still urgest Me
And violently dragg'st my Conquer'd Will.
Thou dragg'st me; yet wilt not permit that I
Should follow home to my Felicity.

212.If thou wilt Kill Me, loe I am Content:
But ô, vouchsafe to let my Slaughter be
By Death, not by this breathing Banishment
From my best Life, most ameable Thee!
O pitty, pitty thy poor Handmaids Crie,
Whose Tongue cleaves to her Mouth, whose Throat is drie!

213.Fain would she here have fainted; but her Pain,
Whose load so heavy on her Shoulders lay,
With courteous Cruelty help'd to sustein
Her parched Vigour, that it still might prey
Upon her Patience, and consume her still.
O strange Disease, which doth by Curing Kill:

214.Phylax, mean while, unseen, perceiv'd that she
Unto Heav'ns Suburbs was arrived now,
And that the Springs of her Mortality
By this high Stretch began to crack: for though
Her Selfe her Change's Dawn could not descry,
He saw her final Houre was drawing nigh.

[Page 399]
215.This rous'd his Love in due time to prepare
For his dear Pupills neverending End:
About her funeral he took decent Care,
Because himselfe could not stay to attend
Those Rites, when she had once Expir'd, for he
Her noble Paranymphus was to be.

216.He was to be her Convoy when she flew
Unto her royal Spouses marriage Bed:
This made him dresse his Count nance with a new
Festivity; his Wings this made him spread
With fresh and snowie Down, that his Lords Bride
In that soft Coach of triumph home might ride.

217.And in this joyous Hue to her he came:
Yet his sweet Presence She regarded not,
For Burning in her more delicious flame,
She of all other Things the Sense forgot:
The Phaenix thus amidst her funeral fires,
See's nothing else, and nothing else desires.

218.The double Fountain of her Tears was drie,
Her Groans were weary, and her Languishment
If felfe did languish: But her  [...]
Outrageous grew, and, like a Gyam; bent
The mighty Bow of her Desires; by which
The Mark of all her Hopes She was to reach.

219.Then, having bid unto the Earth adieu,
And firmly fix'd her loving longing Eye
Upon the Heav'ns, to keep her Aim in view;
Her Flames triumphant Tempest swell'd so high,
That She, unable to contain its Tide,
With a deep Sigh, cri'd out, O LOVE, and did.
 [...]

FINIS.

[Page]

Correct the Errors of the Presse thus: Canto 11. read the 198. Stanza before the 197.

Canto 1.
Stanza.	Line.	Read,
34.	4	Take
122.	1	Morn.
143.	4	Waken's
152.	1	mak's
	4	heaving
Canto 2.
79.	2	Assistance
110.	3	wroth
Canto 3.
69.	3	all wayes
97.	6	Fathers
		Fames
178.	3	here
190.	4	Flame
Canto 4.
25.	2	of an
54.	1	crownd
115	5	Guests
Canto 5.
66.	2	An
215.	1	rigid fare
Canto 6.
26.	2	hath
[...].	1	was
113.	4	vales
171.	1	Gate
184.	1	deep set
205.	2	thorough
226.	6	untrid
248.	6	every
258.	3	Parian
274.	1	thorough
Canto 7.
213.	4	stirr'd
Canto 8.
74.	3	Sorrow's
139.	3	more
157.	5	what
159.	5	Expects
173.	2	of windows
262.	3	grow
283.	5	be cause
Canto 9.
16.	1	These lend
83.	2	are
97.	5	Brink
112.	3	bestdeserving
123.	2	Devoto's
147.	5	Some time
159.	1	Bows
201.	4	loth
220.	2	fat
225.	6	carreer
246.	3	where on
Canto 10.
85.	1	holier
93.	4	Elxai
107.	5	thy
110.	3	his
118.	5	Sun
125.	3	hand as
160.	2	to
Canto 11.
4.	1	the
45.	5	stream
47.	5	fall she
52.	4	Riches
83.	2	pil'd
144.	4	by
173.	2	it
196.	3	one
197.	2	Lord's
Canto 12.
80.	4	dele (?)
157.	4.	meet
Canto 13
61.	5	dele (?)
211.	3	Ensignes
224.	3	gaping
301.	2	own
314.	3	please these
349.	3	poised
352.	1	least
428.	5	meditating
433.	3	War
442.	4	amorous
Canto 14.
15.	4	vanquishd
73.	3	prize
78.	2	preys
92.	3	teach
170.	2	own
255.	5	requited
262.	3	his
263.	5	thorough
288.	2	When
304.	4	feuel
Canto 15.
79.	2	Song
132.	2	wept
156.	1	Flood
163.	2	firm persp.
299.	6	Antichrists
Canto 16.
36.	6	vessell
72.	1	her
90.	1	skill
112.	4	ramm'd
127.	3	so
Canto 17.
59.	5	strict
131.	4	then
183.	3	dirt
311.	4	dele period
324.	1	launcheth
Canto 18.
69.	3	Gallantry
87.	6	crocodiles
212.	4	was
273.	6	for
Canto 19.
54.	4	too
135.	3	Crosses
146.	4	His
Canto 20.
101.	4.	Harpies

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